Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

The New York Rangers head into the 2026 NHL Draft holding 11 picks — including No. 5 overall and two in the first round — and the stakes couldn't be higher. Jim Cerny sits down with FloHockey's Chris Peters, one of the most respected NHL draft analysts in the game, to break down exactly what the Rangers should expect at No. 5 and why this class is deeper than you might think at the top of the blue line.Peters explains why five is actually a favorable spot this year, discusses the prospects most likely to be available and digs into why player development decisions after the draft may matter even more than the pick itself. He also weighs in on EJ Emery's progress and the Rangers' thin prospect pool heading into a massive offseason.Then Jim goes solo for segment two — reacting to the Dylan Garand signing, breaking down the Brady Tkachuk trade and what it means for New York, making the case for a Patrick Laine flier in free agency, and previewing what the Rangers need to do before training camp.🏒 Subscribe to Rink Rap for ongoing New York Rangers coverage from the Forever Blueshirts network.📝 Full written coverage: ForeverBlueshirts.comChapters:0:00 - Intro: Rangers & Draft Week Context0:57 - Chris Peters Joins: FloHockey Draft Expert1:20 - Rangers' History of Blown Top Picks (Lafreniere, Kaco, Sanderson)3:48 - Why Pick No. 5 Is Actually a Good Spot This Year5:54 - Development Decisions Matter as Much as the Draft Pick8:04 - Carson Carlson: Should He Turn Pro or Go to North Dakota?10:00 - College Path vs. AHL: The New Development Landscape11:33 - Who's Likely Gone Before No. 5? (Stenberg, Reed, McKenna)13:08 - Malhotra, Carlson, Smiths & Who Falls to the Rangers15:11 - Ronan Smiths: Most NHL-Ready Prospect in the Class?16:34 - Smiths' Personality & Pro Maturity17:53 - Carlson vs. Reed: Breaking Down the Two Top D-Men20:44 - EJ Emery: Where Is His Development at Right Now?24:28 - Does Emery's Status Factor Into the No. 5 Decision?26:33 - Rangers' 11 Picks: Trade Up, Package Thirds, or Hold?29:47 - What Chris Peters Will Be Doing During Draft Weekend 31:02 - Liam Greentree & Nathan Aspinall: Prospect Spotlight33:58 - Goodbye to Chris Peters; Teaser for Segment 235:54 - Segment 2: Jim Solo — Dylan Granlund Re-Signed38:34 - Should Rangers Sign a Veteran Backup Goalie in Free Agency?42:00 - Brady Kachuk Trade: How It Affects New York45:18 - The Case for Patrick Laine on a Prove-It Deal51:13 - Why Anthony Mantha Is a Hard Pass for the Rangers52:53 - Florida Panthers With Both Kachuks & Barkov: A Scary Team1:01:44 - Kevin Stanlec: A Sleeper Free Agent Target for the Rangers1:06:00 - Lava–Carter–Cooley Third Line Vision1:07:00 - NHL Notes: Babcock Cleared, Darren Raddysh to Toronto1:08:14 - Closing: Live Draft Reaction Show Coming This Weekend

Jim reacts to the Dylan Garand re-signing, the Brady Kachuk blockbuster, why the Rangers should take a flier on Patrick Laine, and which free agents could fit the rebuild.

The '94 Cup-winning GM praises the Knicks' run, shares what overwhelmed him at the '94 parade, breaks down Carolina's Cup-clinching goalie change, and questions whether the Rangers' retool is really a plan at all.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now joins Jim for a "misery loves company" Rangers-Devils sitdown — the Jack Hughes Chicago dinner injury, the Markstrom-Shesterkin fight, the Quinn Hughes mess that ended Tom Fitzgerald, and whether Sunny Mehta packages the No. 12 pick for an aggressive move.