It was a wild first day of the 2026 NHL Draft, with many top of the lineup players changing teams and even more first round draft picks on the move. The Rangers made one trade, one pick, and signed one massive contract. Here’s the Rangers 2026 draft day 1 summary. Naturally, there will be more tomorrow. The first round is still ongoing, but it sounds like the Rangers are done until tomorrow’s second day for rounds 2 through 7.
- Rangers trade the 26th overall, 92nd overall, and a 2028 1st (top 10 protected) to Vegas for Pavel Dorofeyev.
- Rangers take defenseman Alberts Smits 5th overall.
- Rangers sign Dorofeyev to massive 7 year, $11 million contract.
- Mason McTavish, heavily rumored to go to the Rangers, went to St. Louis for a pair of 2026 first rounders.
All in all, the Rangers got a young scoring winger to replace Artemi Panarin, giving the Rangers more balanced offense. Dorofeyev should fit right in and be a primary offensive star for the Rangers.
In Smits, the Rangers got an elite skating big body defenseman who plays a solid all around game. Chase Reid had the higher offensive ceiling, but Smits plays with that mean streak that Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan like. Even if you preferred Reid, Smits is a solid pick and a great prospect. He might break camp with the Rangers this Fall.
More About:Draft Signings Trades