Rangers chasing Gavin McKenna jackpot with strong NHL draft lottery odds again
The New York Rangers have the third-best odds (11.5%) in the 2026 NHL draft lottery, positioning them for a chance to select projected top pick Gavin McKenna. This marks their second time in six years with strong odds for a top-two pick, following previous high draft successes and setbacks. The draft lottery will determine the order for the first 16 picks, with the event airing live on ESPN.
- ▪The Rangers finished the 2025-26 season with the third-worst record in the NHL, guaranteeing them a top-five draft pick.
- ▪Gavin McKenna, a standout from Penn State, is widely viewed as NHL-ready and the consensus top prospect for the 2026 draft.
- ▪The NHL draft lottery uses a four-ball system with 1,001 possible combinations, and teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the draft order.
- ▪Vancouver, which finished last, has the highest odds with 185 combinations, while the Rangers have 115.
- ▪Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg is projected to be the second overall pick if the Rangers do not secure the top selection.
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NHL New York Rangers Rangers chasing Gavin McKenna jackpot with strong NHL draft lottery odds again By Mollie Walker Published May 4, 2026, 9:21 p.m. ET The Rangers enter the NHL draft lottery Tuesday with the third-best odds of winning the No. 1 pick for the second time in six years. Access the Rangers beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers. tRY IT NOW Already guaranteed a top five selection after finishing this past season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the third-worst overall, the Blueshirts have an 11.5 percent chance of earning the right to draft projected top pick Gavin McKenna on the KeyBank Center stage in Buffalo on June 26.
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