With the New York Rangers deep into a retool and the white flag effectively raised on the 2025-26 season, all eyes are now on the 2026 NHL Draft. Sitting 30th in the league standings at the Olympic break with a 22-29-6 record, the Rangers are staring down the barrel of a top-10 pick - potentially even No. 1 overall, with an 11.6% shot at winning the draft lottery, per Tankathon.
Plenty can change over the final stretch of the regular season, but the direction is clear: the Rangers are in prime position to add a franchise-altering talent for the first time since they landed Alexis Lafrenière at No. 1 back in 2020. And with a second first-rounder from the Carolina Hurricanes in their back pocket, New York has the kind of draft capital that can reshape a roster.
Now comes the hard part - identifying the right piece. While Penn State forward Gavin McKenna has been widely projected as the top overall pick, the Rangers may be better off looking toward the blue line.
With Adam Fox missing a significant chunk of the season due to injury, the lack of depth behind him has been glaring. When a player of Fox’s caliber goes down, and there’s no one ready to step into even a fraction of that role, it exposes more than just a gap - it reveals a structural weakness.
That’s where Chase Reid enters the conversation.
Chase Reid: The Two-Way Anchor the Rangers Could Build Around
Reid, a right-shot defenseman from the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, has emerged as the top two-way blueliner in the 2026 class. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he brings the kind of size, mobility, and hockey IQ that NHL teams covet on the back end. Through 42 games this season, Reid has racked up 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) and boasts a plus-30 rating - all while playing a mature, composed game in all three zones.
And the growth curve is steep in the best way. After being cut from the U.S.
U18 team last year, Reid not only made the U20 squad this time around - he made an impact, logging four points (two goals, two assists) in five games at the 2026 World Junior Championship. That kind of bounce-back speaks volumes about his trajectory.
Offensively, Reid plays with pace and creativity. He’s a smooth skater with strong edges and great vision, which makes him a natural power-play quarterback.
He’s comfortable walking the blue line, threading passes through seams, or letting a heavy shot fly through traffic. Even when he doesn’t score, he’s generating second-chance opportunities with rebounds and deflections.
He’s already signed a letter of intent to play at Michigan State next season, but if he’s taken in the top three - and that’s very much in play - the NHL might come calling sooner than expected.
Defensively, Reid’s game is just as polished. He closes gaps quickly, reads plays like a seasoned pro, and rarely gets caught out of position.
His anticipation and footwork are elite for an 18-year-old, and he’s not afraid to play with a little edge. He’s the kind of player who can anchor a top pairing down the line - and maybe even take the reins from Fox one day.
The Rangers Have Options - But Reid Is the Gold Standard
Of course, the Rangers aren’t locked into Reid. They’ve got options, especially if he’s off the board by the time they pick.
One name to know: Keaton Verhoeff, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound defenseman who plays alongside 2024 Rangers first-rounder EJ Emery at North Dakota. Verhoeff doesn’t have Reid’s offensive pop, but he’s a rock-solid presence on the back end.
Calm under pressure, poised with the puck, and rarely out of sync, he plays a mature game that belies his age. He may not light up the scoreboard, but he’s the kind of player coaches trust in tough minutes.
Among top scouting services, his lowest ranking is sixth - a testament to how steady and reliable he is.
Then there’s Albert Smits, the rising Latvian blueliner who brings a different flavor. A left-handed shot with a punishing physical edge, Smits is a shutdown defender with sneaky-good passing skills.
He’s not just throwing his weight around - he’s making smart first passes and controlling the tempo in his own zone. Smits is expected to become the first Latvian player ever selected in the top 10, and for a team like the Rangers that could use more snarl and structure on the left side, he’d be a strong fit behind someone like Vladislav Gavrikov.
No Need to Rush - But the Future Starts Now
The Rangers aren’t in a rush to throw a young defenseman into the fire. With Fox, Will Borgen, Braden Schneider, and Scott Morrow already holding down NHL spots, and Emery developing nicely at North Dakota, there’s no pressure to fast-track a prospect. That’s a luxury - and a smart one to use.
Reid himself sounds excited about the college path. “I wanted to play close to home,” he told The Hockey News.
“The coaches were unbelievable, and everything about the facilities and the fans, seeing the environment the guys play in, it was pretty much a no-brainer. My aunt played volleyball for the Spartans, and I always wanted to go there - we’re a Spartan family.”
As for who he models his game after? Zach Werenski.
“He’s a big, strong defenseman who does all the little things right,” Reid said. “He plays fast in transition, he’s got a bomb for a shot, and he uses his size to his advantage.”
Sound familiar?
The Blueprint Is Clear: Build from the Back End Out
For a team in transition, the 2026 NHL Draft is more than just a chance to add talent - it’s a chance to reset the foundation. And if the Rangers stick to the tried-and-true formula - building from the blue line out - they’ll be in good shape. Whether it’s Reid, Verhoeff, or Smits, the opportunity is there to land a cornerstone defenseman who can help shape the next era of Rangers hockey.
And if that pick turns into Chase Reid? Well, the future on Broadway might just start looking a whole lot brighter.