Just because the Blueshirts recently got their hearts broken doesn’t mean they have lost all hope. When it comes to a potential trade up with the San Jose Sharks (No. 2 selection), the Rangers are holding on to a sliver of faith. However, league history indicates they may only be setting themselves up for disappointment.

As reported by Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, the last time a top-two pick was traded in the NHL was nearly 23 years ago. Back then, the Florida Panthers (No. 1) swapped places with the Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 3). Pittsburgh selected Marc-Andre Fleury first overall, while Florida took Nathan Horton third. Needless to say, the team that moved up clearly won that trade.

Trade with Sharks is complicated

Such a precedent not only underlines how improbable a trade between the Rangers and Sharks may be, but also adds another layer of hesitation for San Jose when looking at how things turned out for the last team to move down from a top-two selection.

As a result, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury will have to come up with a very appealing offer for his close friend Mike Grier (Sharks GM) in the Capital of Silicon Valley. It’s either that or praying for Gavin McKenna to slide down from No. 1 and somehow land in New York. The odds of that aren’t looking very promising.

All things considered, the Blueshirts may have no choice but to stay put at No. 5 and take the best player available. According to a report, the Rangers view defenseman Carson Carels as their lone option in the 2026 NHL Draft.

NY Rangers’ picks in 2026 Draft

As things stand, the Blueshirts own 11 picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. Anything can happen, as New York has been transparent about its desire to move up, and such a move would almost certainly require parting ways with additional selections, as well as a roster player or prospect.

Regardless, New York currently owns the second-most picks in this year’s draft of any team, though there is a three-way tie at the top. The Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues each hold 12 selections. As for the Blueshirts, they own two first-round picks. Here’s the complete list of their selections:

• No. 5 overall
• First-round pick (via Dallas)
• Second-round pick (via Carolina)
• Third-round pick
• Third-round pick (via New York)
• Third-round pick (via Los Angeles)
• Third-round pick (via Buffalo)
• Fifth-round pick
• Sixth-round pick
• Sixth-round pick (via Chicago)
• Seventh-round pick (via Vancouver)

As reported by Joe Fortunato on Blueshirt Banter, the Rangers may have a real shot at trading up in the 2026 NHL Draft. Not with the Maple Leafs, who won’t move an inch from their spot on the board, but with the San Jose Sharks—arguably the biggest winners of the Draft Lottery. New York could send its fifth overall pick, as well as a roster player—perhaps right-handed defenseman Braden Schneider, who fits the bill perfectly for San Jose’s needs—or more.

By moving up to No. 2, the Rangers would be knocking on the door of McKenna. Even though he is widely considered the best prospect in the 2026 class, Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg has been making noise of his own. Being taken off the board first overall is expected for McKenna, but it’s not a lock. A lot can happen before Toronto announces its pick at KeyBank Center on June 26.

For the Rangers, trading up is virtually a must. After dropping two spots and being set to pick at No. 5, the Rangers have multiple potential options, but none as exciting (on paper) as McKenna or Stenberg. If they move up to second overall, New York is guaranteed to come away with one of them. Climbing their way to No. 2 sets up a win-win scenario for the Blueshirts.

Why Sharks could accept such a trade

Indeed, the Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery—the sun is shining and birds are singing in Toronto. However, the Sharks may be even bigger winners than the Buds. Once again, chance has been on their side. San Jose jumped up nine spots to secure the No. 2 pick—its fourth straight top-five selection.

Having drafted Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, and Michael Misa with their first picks in the past three years, it’s no secret the Sharks boast one of the best forward groups in the league for years to come. However, San Jose lacks talent on the blue line. It could always add another elite forward prospect, but it might become a headache down the line, especially when the time comes to accommodate Celebrini, Smith, Misa, and a potential addition like McKenna or Stenberg to top-of-the-market deals.

Instead, the safest option seems to be drafting a defenseman, which this class doesn’t lack. By moving down, the Sharks could come away with the best of both worlds by acquiring a current roster player and an exciting defenseman prospect.

Rangers-Sharks trade faces challenge

San Jose’s real concern centers around New York picking fifth. The consensus around the league suggests RHD Chase Reid will be the first blueliner off the board, and the odds of him being available at No. 5 seem low. Keaton Verhoeff may be available, but his size and concerning skating could make for a risky cocktail organizations might opt to steer clear of.

Perhaps San Jose is better off either “reaching” for a defenseman with the second overall pick or trading down with the Vancouver Canucks or Chicago Blackhawks (No. 3 and No. 4, respectively). If the Nucks and Hawks are interested in moving up, it might leave Chris Drury and the Rangers with no choice but to pull out the personal relationship card.

Drury is close friends with Sharks GM Mike Grier, as they were roommates back in college at Boston University. Moreover, the two have a history of working together in the NHL. With Drury’s seat getting hot in the Big Apple, his good ol’ friend in the Capital of Silicon Valley could come to his rescue.

Rangers will try everything

All in all, a lot can happen in the coming weeks leading up to the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Obviously, for the Blueshirts to draft McKenna, they’d need the Maple Leafs to pass on him. It’s improbable, but not impossible. If that happens, the Rangers must give themselves a shot by being in the right place at the right time.

Fortunately for New York, it has friends in high places. What luck hasn’t given the Rangers, they could make up for by working some magic.

According to a report from Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, the Rangers are after a scoring forward in return for Schneider. The Sharks have a surplus of young forwards in their system but are quite thin on the blue line. It’s a match made in heaven, if such a thing even exists in the NHL.

If New York indeed gives up on its former first-round selection (19th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, San Jose could be among the first to knock on the Blueshirts’ door—or vice versa—and it might not take long before the two sides work something out.

Trade between NY Rangers and Sharks makes sense

Whether the Rangers go after the Sharks as they shop Schneider or the Sharks call the Blueshirts as they search for a blue-liner matters little. What’s clear is that there is a very real business opportunity for both organizations as they come off postseason absences.

The Rangers are well aware of that, and both organizations could reach an agreement at some point of the offseason. After all, it seems the two sides have an interesting trade chip the other may covet. Trades in the NHL are rarely that simple, but it looks like New York and San Jose could help each other out.

Can NHL teams make trades?

Following the NHL’s trade deadline in March, players, draft picks, or future considerations can still be moved in the league. However, any player traded after the deadline cannot participate in the ongoing Stanley Cup Playoffs. That means the Rangers and Sharks—neither of which made the postseason—could work out a trade involving Schneider at any given moment.

However, with the rising salary cap in the 2026–27 NHL season, both teams may wait for the new league year (July 1) before making such an impactful exchange. Moreover, both organizations may wait to test out free agency before engaging in a trade. Schneider’s contract situation adds even more layers to this situation.

Schneider set to be an RFA

Playing on a contract year, Schneider is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) in the summer. Before making a move for him, the Sharks would likely hope to learn where things stand between Schneider and the Rangers. Perhaps they ask New York to pull off a sign-and-trade with the 24-year-old defenseman. Schneider is eligible for arbitration, which grants him leverage in case his camp and the Blueshirts can’t reach an agreement.

Acquiring Schneider without a trade seems an unlikely alternative for San Jose. In order to do so, it must extend an offer sheet to Schneider, which New York can match and retain its former first-round pick. If the Rangers pass on that chance, they receive a compensatory draft selection. Based on the fact that the Rangers are hoping to receive an NHL-level forward in return for Schneider, it’s virtually impossible they are content to receive a compensation pick instead.

In more ways than one, all roads lead to a trade if Schneider is to leave the Big Apple. The Rangers are shopping him, and they are tossing their bait into shark-infested waters. Whatever happens next can’t catch them by surprise.

“I do believe that there is a market for [Braden Schneider]. I’ve heard of some teams that poked around on him. San Jose is one, certainly, that I would have my eye on going into the summer,” Vince Mercogliano stated on The Flying V podcast.

After taking a massive step forward in the 2025-26 NHL season, the San Jose Sharks could be on the market for more help at the blueline. Going after a young talent like Schneider may be a bet that pays dividends for the Sharks. Still, it’s one that must wait as San Jose is fully focused on punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now.

Sharks make sense for Schneider

Such a wager could be worth the risk for the Sharks. As things stand, San Jose has five defensemen on expiring contracts: Nick Leddy (34 years old), John Klingberg (33), Mario Ferraro (27), Vincent Desharnais (29), and Shakir Mukhamadullin (24, pending RFA).

Schneider could bring just the perfect mix of youth and experience for one of the youngest rosters in the NHL. According to Elite Prospects, the Sharks have the seventh-youngest lineup by average age.

As for Schneider, a move to San Jose could be just what the doctor ordered. Leaving behind the ever-present drama in The Big Apple for a much more relaxed, yet still passionate Sharks fanbase can help any struggling player to find his footing. Moreover, no organization in the NHL may trend for a brighter future than the Macklin Celebrini-led Sharks.

Schneider’s deal

Because Schneider is under 27 and hasn’t played seven seasons in the NHL, he will become a restricted free agent (RFA) when his two-year, $4.4 million contract expires after the 2025-26 campaign.

Schneider’s production has been far from what the Rangers expected out of a former first-rounder. So far in his career, Schneider has appeared in 348 games, recording 82 points (20 goals and 62 assists).

Rangers face decision on Schneider

All signs indicate the Rangers may be close to waving the white flag, giving up on Schneider’s development, and allowing the 24-year-old blueliner to continue his NHL career elsewhere. That seems to be common sentiment around the Blueshirts.

However, a lot can happen until the offseason. A strong finish to the 2025-26 season may change it all, and convince the Rangers that they’ve found their defenseman of the future in Schneider, who has a lot of games on his back but it is still very young.

The Islanders needed overtime to defeat the red-hot San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in the “Capital of Silicon Valley”. It was a heated matchup between up-and-coming, cross-conference opponents. However, nothing is truly free in the NHL, and even Horvat, who scored the game-winner, must now pay a price.

“NY Islanders’ Bo Horvat has been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct for an incident involving San Jose’s bench,” as confirmed by @NHLPlayerSafety on X.

What did Horvat do?

Though the NHL didn’t provide the exact details of the incident that led to Horvat’s $2,500 fine, fans can get a good idea of what event the league is now addressing. During a scrum near the Sharks’ bench, Horvat exchanged some words with Sharks’ William Eklund, who was off the ice.

In that encounter, the veteran forward delivered a light, upswinging tap at Eklund’s visor, causing his helmet to almost come off. It wasn’t overly aggressive nor ill-intentioned; still, the NHL bars players on the ice from engaging in any physical dispute with those on the bench.

Whether there’s more to the story (perhaps something Horvat said to Eklund or another player) has yet to be reported. Thus, all signs indicate it was the contact with Eklund that led to the fine, which is about half of what the maximum allowable fine would be under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Because of his age, there are countless things Celebrini is not yet allowed to do. However, becoming a national icon in Canada is not one of them. Joining a roster featuring the likes of Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon, and many more, Celebrini stole the spotlight.

Still, the fact him and Canada only—which for the Great White North is little consolation—have just a silver medal to show for does not sit right. As the 2025–26 NHL season resumes, the face of the San Jose Sharks franchise wasted no time sending a bold message.

“We didn’t win, so it’s bitter,” Celebrini admitted, according to NHL.com. “It’s sour that we didn’t win and we came that close, especially everything that we fought through. But I mean, [we] can’t change it now.”

Celebrini and Sharks push for a playoff spot

While the loss with Canada in the gold medal game remains an open wound for Celebrini, he will have opportunities to find closure. Namely in the 2030 Winter Olympics. Still that is a long way down the road. In the more immediate future, Celebrini vies to further establish his place among the new faces of the NHL.

On that note, nothing may be better than for the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy nominee (the NHL’s Rookie of the Year) to lead the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose has proven to be well ahead of schedule in its rebuild. A postseason berth in Celebrini’s sophomore season would only confirm that the rest of the league is now swimming in shark-infested waters.

Coming off the break, the Sharks sit five points behind the second wild-card team, the Seattle Kraken (63 points), with two games in hand. Becoming a playoff team just one year after finishing dead last in the league may not have happened in Celebrini’s wildest dreams, but it is now quite plausible.

Celebrini and San Jose’s future looks bright

San Jose is currently mired in a six-year playoff drought, and many fans were ready to throw in the towel. However, since Celebrini was drafted first overall in 2024, the fan base in the Capital of Silicon Valley has seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and the future looks bright.

The Sharks now boast one of the most appealing outlooks in the league, and Celebrini’s showcase alongside McDavid and Crosby in Milan only helped fuel growing NHL interest in the city. It may not take long before top free agents begin to view San Jose as a preferred destination—largely thanks to the new teenage sensation in town, Macklin Celebrini.

San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini definitely thinks so. The former first overall selection in the 2024 NHL entry Draft voiced a sincere statement on watching his teammate leave for New York. As Sullivan and the Rangers find themselves in the eye of the storm, Celebrini’s message about their latest addition can be a breath of fresh air.

“It’s tough. I know our roster and the numbers we have, it’s tough. He’s a hell of a player, that’s why he got picked up,” Celebrini said about Iorio, via San Jose Hockey Now.

Post-Panarin Rangers

Finally, the ongoing drama around Artemi Panarin came to an end. As Panarin exits the Rangers, revamping the Los Angeles Kings’ projected lines, New York can now move on to the next stage. However, the grass won’t necessarily be greener on the other side.

After the trouble the Rangers have been through in recent years, it’s tough for fans to have faith in the decisions made by the organization. However, if that’s not enough, then perhaps, hearing directly from one of the best players in the league—Celebrini—gives the Blueshirts’ fanbase hope.

Regardless, hope has been a tricky sentiment in New York as of late. It seems every time fans get their hopes up, the Rangers manage to rip it away from them in the most painful ways. As Iorio makes his way into the disheartened lineup in Manhattan, fans should buy into the hype at their own risk.

What Iorio brings to the table

Needless to say, Iorio’s numbers aren’t quite there to call for parades. So far in his career, he has appeared in 30 games, recording four assists (three with the Sharks and one with the Washington Capitals). He has yet to net his first career goal.

After all, San Jose did place him on waivers, so the Sharks can clearly live without the 23-year-old blueliner—even if Celebrini publicly laments the departure. Now, it’s up to Sullivan and the Rangers to help Iorio unlock his full potential—that’s been a major pending assignment for the New York organization in general.

Some extended skids weren’t always the result of a single flaw. Injuries, thin rosters, expansion growing pains and organizational missteps often converged, creating moments where losses became part of the routine.

The league’s longest losing streaks now live as cautionary tales, remembered not just for their length but for what followed. Within those numbers lie turning points, rebuilds, and chapters that helped define NHL history.

Which teams have the longest losing streaks in NHL history?

The record books point to two franchises tied at the top for futility. Both the 1974–75 Washington Capitals and the 1992–93 San Jose Sharks endured 17 straight losses, marking the longest losing streaks in NHL regular-season history.

Those stretches came during formative years for each club, when roster instability and performance struggles compounded night after night. For the Capitals, the skid unfolded as a brutal winter stretch that defined an otherwise difficult inaugural era.

In San Jose, expansion-era growing pains were on full display, with a young Sharks roster unable to find consistency despite flashes of effort. These lengthy droughts now stand as stark reminders of the challenges new or rebuilding teams face in a league where parity can be unforgiving.

More recently, the Buffalo Sabres experienced a 14-game run without a win in the 2014–15 season. Even as game designs, skill levels and structures have changed, the persistence of prolonged losing streaks shows how difficult it can be to halt a downward spiral once it starts.

After his latest statement, it’s safe to say Ryan Reaves may not save the fondest of feelings for Matthews’ Maple Leafs. His time with Toronto wasn’t the best, either. As Reaves’ Sharks visit the Leafs, Reaves had some words for the organization that traded him out of town during the summer.

“They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore. And I’m back,” Reaves admitted to reporters, via Chris Johnston on X. Still the veteran forward stated he holds no grudges against the Leafs. That remains to be seen. Perhaps, fans around the NHL can see that for themselves when the Sharks and Leafs face off.

Reaves’ time with Toronto

Reaves signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in July 2023. When signing with the Buds, the veteran enforcer joined the 6th team in his NHL career—St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks (7th, after Toronto). The Buds handed Reaves a three-year, $4.05 million contract.

From the get-go, many fans expressed skepticism about signing a 36-year-old bottom-six player to such a contract. In the end, it didn’t work out for Reaves in Hogtown. Appearing in 84 games across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, the Winnipegger only recorded 8 points (4 G, 4 A), while being assessed 77 penalty minutes.

Fresh start

Due to the poor performances in Toronto, the Buds traded the 38-year-old forward to the Sharks, who almost everybody expected to be a bottom feeder in the NHL. However, thanks to Macklin Celebrini’s superb season—along with an exciting young core—San Jose is holding its ground against true contenders around the league.

Reaves is mostly deployed on the fourth-line, bringing the energy and veteran leadership to a squad with an average age of 27.7. However, that number is inflated by Reaves—the only player born before 1990 on the team.

Brandon Duhaime added a goal and an assist, Dylan Strome also scored, and Matt Roy contributed three assists. Charlie Lindgren stopped 23 shots for the Capitals, while Yaroslav Askarov allowed four goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Alex Nedeljkovic.

“He did a great job of helping us build that lead,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin, according to NHL.com. “He’s finding himself in and around the net. There’s another example of how good his hands are in tight.”

Ovechkin’s milestones

Ovechkin’s two goals brought his career total to 911, passing Ray Bourque for the sixth-most games with one franchise. He also extended his points streak to six games, tallying four goals and five assists during that stretch.

Rookie Ryan Leonard scored twice and added two assists, becoming the first Capitals rookie with a four-point game since Nicklas Backstrom in March 2008. Leonard’s second goal early in the third period capped a dominating performance from Washington.

Capital’s performance

Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with goals from Ovechkin, Sonny Milano, and Leonard, then added a short-handed strike from Duhaime. Ovechkin’s power-play goal in the second, along with Strome’s deflection, made it 6-0. Leonard scored again in the third, and Dmitry Orlov’s slap shot off Pavol Regenda’s skate finalized the 7-1 win.

Despite late scratches to John Carlson (upper-body) and Justin Sourdif (lower-body), Carbery expects both players to return soon. The Capitals now look to maintain momentum with Ovechkin and Leonard leading the charge.

The Sharks have benefited from his breakout performance, holding an 11–9–3 record and sitting firmly in playoff contention. Beyond stats, teammates and rivals alike have noticed Celebrini’s combination of intelligence, passion, and on-ice maturity.

“His hunger, his passion for the game (and) how hard he works,” Crosby told The Athletic. “He’s an incredible player. Just his all-around game at his age is pretty impressive. He’s committed defensively. He competes hard. He’s got a pretty mature game for his age.”

How does Celebrini compare to NHL stars?

Celebrini’s 34 points in 24 games put him in the company of Connor McDavid (25 games) and trail only Nathan MacKinnon (39 points in 18 games). Scouts, executives, and fellow players are praising his attention to detail, relentless puck pursuit, and early leadership, traits rarely seen in someone so young.

What’s next for Celebrini and the Sharks?

San Jose has notched multiple hat tricks and overtime winners, with Celebrini registering at least one point in every win this season. The Sharks are riding his scoring surge as they aim for the playoffs, and they will face Crosby and the Penguins again on Dec. 13 after Pittsburgh’s 3‑0 victory on Oct. 18.

The remainder of the season will test whether Celebrini can maintain this remarkable pace and continue to solidify his place among the NHL’s elite young stars.