2026 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 1-16

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is headlined by Penn State left winger Gavin McKenna. Find out who got Gavin McKenna.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 26, 2026.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
   
   
   Toronto needed to stay in the top 5 to win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Not only did Toronto stay in the top 5, they won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and will now pick first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Toronto moved up from 5 to 1 after winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
   
   
   
   The 2026 NHL Draft is headlined by Gavin McKenna who has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. He will probably play left winger on the Toronto Maple Leafs. I got an 2026 NHL Draft Simulator you can check out as well.
   
   
   
   Gavin McKenna was drafted first overall in the 2022 WHL Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers as Gavin McKenna was the first 14-year-old drafted into the CHL with most players being 16 and some players in the WHL being 15 when they get drafted. Gavin McKenna led the Medicine Hat Tigers to a WHL Championship in his third season in the 2024-2025 WHL Season as the Medicine Hat Tigers were the runner up in the 2025 Memorial Cup after going 3-0 in the round robin before losing the championship to last years runner up the London Knights. Gavin McKenna talked about how the older players on the Medicine Hat Tigers deserved to win the Memorial Cup more than anything, so Gavin McKenna has excellent character and is mature beyond his years. Gavin McKenna is enrolling at Penn State to play college hockey this Fall.
   
   
   
   Gavin McKenna has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. One thing I wrote in my WHL Draft writeup on McKenna is that he processes the game so fast. That is an understatement as McKenna processes the game at a supersonic rate after seeing him play the last few years with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
   
   
   
   The 6-0 155 lb Gavin McKenna had 4 goals, 14 assists, and 18 points in only 16 games in 2022-2023. Gavin McKenna had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 point in 4 games in the 2023 WHL Playoffs. Gavin McKenna had 34 goals, 63 assists, and 97 points in his first full WHL season as a sophomore in 2023-2024. Gavin McKenna had 2 goals, 4 assists, and 6 points in 5 games in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Gavin McKenna had 41 goals, 88 assists, 129 points, and a +60 +/- ratio in his third and final WHL season in 2024-2025. Gavin McKenna had 9 goals, 29 assists, and 38 points in 19 games averaging 2 points per game during the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Gavin McKenna had 15 goals, 36 assists, and 51 points during his freshman season at Penn State getting Penn State to the Regional Semfinals of the 2026 College Hockey Tournament where Penn State lost to Minnesota Duluth in the Round of 16 in 2025-2026.
   
   
   
   Gavin McKenna is making the transition from the WHL to the NCAA as Gavin McKenna is the first of ten players that played on their teams first line in his plus one draft year with Gavin McKenna having the skill set to translate to a first line player in the NHL. I still believe Gavin McKenna will go first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. That is the type of talent Gavin McKenna is and why he is the top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft with all 15/15 scouting services including us at Draft Utopia having Gavin McKenna as the top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Gavin McKenna will be Toronto's first line left winger. He will be on the same line as first line center Auston Matthews, the first overall pick in the NHL Draft ten years ago provided that Toronto does not trade Matthews and William Nylander, Toronto's 2014 first round pick whose the first line right winger on Toronto to give Toronto a deadly first line of fowards. John Tavares will be the second line center with Matthew Knies complimenting him.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Landon Nycz, D, Massachusetts
   
   
2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)
   
   
   San Jose ended up getting the second pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. San Jose moved up from 9 to 2 following the 2026 NHL Drat Lottery.
   
   
   
   San Jose is reportedly looking at three players with the second pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Those three playrs are Ivar Stenberg the left winger on the Frolunda Indians, Albert Smits a defenseman on Jukurit in Finland, and Carson Carels the defenseman on the Prince George Cougars. Mike Grier said he is taking the best available player at 2 rather than drafting for need. Ivar Stenberg is the one player left in this draft outside of Gavin McKenna that could make the jump to the NHL as early as this season.
   
   
   
   Ivar Stenberg has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ivar Stenberg played 25 SHL games in the league once known as Elitserien with 12 games on the third line, 12 games on the second line, and 1 game on the first line making Ivar Stenberg the first NHL prospect outside of the United States or Canada to play on the first line as a 16-year-old since Aleksander Barkov. He also has the best point per game total among Swedes since Henrik Sedin the former Vancouver Canucks first line left winger with Ivar Stenberg being the third player with first line potential in the NHL.
   
   
   
   The 6-0 181 lb Ivar Stenberg had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 25 SHL games with Frolunda HC in 2024-2025. Ivar Stenberg had 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 2025-2026. Ivar Stenberg helped Frolunda HC get the 2 seed in the 2026 SHL Playoffs before losing to 7 seed Lulea HF in the opening round in with 0 goals, 4 assists, and 4 points in 6 games.
   
   
   
   San Jose would have Ivar Stenberg, Macklin Celebrini, and Will Smith on the first line of their forward group. Igor Chernyshov, Michael Misa, and William Eklund would play on the second line giving the San Jose Sharks a deadly top 6 group of forwards. San Jose still needs to improve the defense, but passing on McKenna or Stenberg whoever Toronto passes on at 2 does not seem like an option if San Jose wants to draft the best player on their board since either of those players would be the Sharks first line left winger.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
   
   
   
   
3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
   
   
   Vancouver had the NHL's worst regular season record. They fell from 1 to 3 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
   
   
   
   Caleb Malhotra was drafted eighth overall by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2024 OHL Draft. Kingston would end up trading Caleb Malhotra to the Brantford Bulldogs, who didn'tplay Caleb Malhotra until this season.
   
   
   
   Caleb Malhotra is the son of Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra. His mom Joann played soccer at Victoria and her brother is NBA superstar Steve Nash.
   
   
   
   Caleb Malhotra has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Caleb Malhotra emerged and took the first line center job from Jake O'Brien who went eighth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. I've heard for a few weeks leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery that Vancouver would take Caleb Malhotra third overall if they failed to secure either of the top two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
   
   
   
   The 6-2 182 lb Caleb Malhotra had 29 goals, 55 assists, 84 points, and a +33 +/- ratio in 67 OHL games in 2025-2026. Caleb Malhotra had 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 15 OHL Playoff games taking the Brantford Bulldogs to the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.
   
   
   
   Caleb Malhotra is going to Boston University this Fall. He will compete with Tynan Lawrence the other center in the 2026 NHL Draft at Boston University to be the first line center there this Fall. He will probably get signed to an NHL contract after his freshman season provided he beats out Tynan Lawrence for that first line center job.
   
   
   
   Drafting Caleb Malhotra gives the Vancouver Canucks long-term stability at center. Vancouver could have Jake DeBrusk as their first line left winger, Elias Petersson as their first line center, and Brock Boeser as their first line right winger. Vancouver could have Liam Ohgren, the Minnesota Wild's 2022 first round pick part of the Quinn Hughes trade as their second line left winger, Marco Rossi who they got from Minnesota in the Quinn Hughes trade as their second line center, and Linus Karlsson as their second line right winger. Vancouver could have Ty Mueller as their third line left winger, Caleb Malhotra as their third line center,and Nils Hoglander as their third line right winger. Braden Cootes, their 2025 first round pick could be the eventual fourth line center with Aatu Raty complimenting him as their fourth line right winger.
   
   
   
   After trading Quinn Hughes away, Vancouver had Filip Hronek and Zeev Buium, Minnesota's 2024 first round pick as their two first line defensemen. Tom Willander and Marcus Petersson were the two second line defensemen. Kirill Kudryavtsev and Elias Nils Petersson were Vancouver's two third line defensemen.
   
   
   
   Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen, and Nikia Tolopilo are all under contract at goalie next year. Vancouver is still in a long-term rebuild, but if they draft Caleb Malhotra at 3 they can use 24 on a left winger for the future. Then they can use their day 2 picks in rounds 2-7 on long-term players that will take longer to develop possibly significantly longer to develop than Malhotra and the left winger they draft at 24.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (SM Liiga)
   
   
4. Chicago Blackhawks: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
   
   
   The Chicago Blackhawks had the second worst record, but dropped to 4 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Keaton Verhoeff was drafted fourth overall by the Victoria Royals in the 2023 WHL Draft. Keaton Verhoeff is going to North Dakota the alma matter of former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. I mocked Keaton Verhoeff to Chicago second overall in my first 2026 NHL Mock Draft back in August and still have Chicago taking Verhoeff since the Chicago Blackhawks sent a ton of scouts to NCAA College Hockey Tournament Games. They were tracking guys they drafted, but they were also scouting Keaton Verhoeff extensively knowing they would be picking in the top 5. Keaton Verhoeff was my second best player behind Gavin McKenna entering the season, and now he falls to Chicago at 4 due to Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra surpassing him in NHL Draft Rankings.
   
   
   
   Keaton Verhoeff has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Keaton Verhoeff can play all three zones the offensive zone, defensive zone, and the neutral zone. He can be an ace on the power play or an enforcer on the penaly killing unit.
   
   
   
   The Victoria Royals GM called him an outstanding person that leads by example. Keaton Verhoeff took the number one defenseman job on the Victoria Royals from team captain Justin Kipkie who moved over to the number two defenseman role on the top line next to Keaton Verhoeff with Keaton Verhoeff demonstrating elite shot blocking as Verhoeff did more in his +1 draft year than last years number one pick Matthew Schaefer and that's not a knock on Schaefer as much as it is praise to Verhoeff and his all around game. Keaton Verhoeff will be a number one defenseman and a first line defenseman for the team that drafts him in the NHL.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 215 lb Keaton Verhoeff was 191 when he entered the WHL, but has added 24 lbs of muscle since entering the WHL three years ago. Keaton Verhoeff only had 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, and a +0 +/- ratio in 12 games in his rookie season in 2023-2024. Keaton Verhoeff had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Keaton Verhoeff had 21 goals, 24 assists, 45 points, 14 penalty minutes taking only 7 penalies with 0 minutes for fighting, and a +23 +/- ratio as the Victoria Royals number one defenseman in 2024-2025. Keaton Verhoeff had 1 goal, 9 assists, and 10 points in 11 games in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Keaton Verhoeff had 6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points, a +7 +/- rato, and helped North Dakota record 5 shutouts with two of those shutouts coming in the 2026 College Hockey Men's Tournament with those shutouts guiding North Dakota to the 2026 Frozen Four where they lost to Wisconsin during his freshman season at North Dakota in 2025-2026.
   
   
   
   Chicago would have a loaded defensive core if they drafted Keaton Verhoeff. The Chicago Blackhawks would have Keaton Verhoeff and Artyom Levshunov the defenseman they drafted second overall in 2024 on the first line with Levshunov as a number two defenseman on a top line instead of a number one defenseman. Sam Rinzel their third 2022 first round pick would compliment Alex Vlasic a 2019 second round pick on the second line. Chicago would also have Kevin Korchinski their first player drafted seventh overall in 2022 and Wyatt Kaiser a 2020 third round pick as their two third line defenseman. With that defensive core helping goalies like Spencer Knight and Drew Comesso out, the Chicago Blackhawks would finally get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Connor Bedard beginning his lengthy contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks following his rookie deal.
   
   
   
   Chicago already has stability at center with Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell last years third overall pick, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore their second 2023 first round pick that was ranked in my top 10, and Sasha Boisvert their second 2024 first round pick all having NHL experience. The Blackhawks also have stability at goalie. You'd like to get a star winger, but the star wingers are off the board. Drafting a defender as good as Keaton Verhoeff is a must here. Even if he's not NHL ready in the Fall, he probably will be ready for the NHL following his sophomore season at North Dakota.
   
   
   
   
   
5. New York Rangers: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
   
   
   New York fell from 3 to 5 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. New York would love to get Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, but know that's unrealistic. The New York Rangers reportedly love Caleb Malhotra too, but with Vancouver having family ties to Malhotra and Chicago having a history of drafting players on the Brantford Bulldogs, I highly doubt he gets to 5. New York is looking at drafting either a left sided defenseman or a right sided defenseman at 5 if the top two left wingers and Malhotra are off the board. The top left sided defenseman on their board is Prince George Cougars defenseman Carson Carels, who I mocked to the New York Rangers in my preseason mock back in August. The two right sided defensemen that the New York Rangers are looking at are Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Chase Reid and Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph. I believe the Rangers will pick Chase Reid if all three of those defenders drop to 5.
   
   
   
   Chase Reid has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Chase Reid needs to develop his shot with both his wrist shot and his slap shot in terms of shooting power as well as shooting accuracy with both shots, but he's probably the best shot blocking defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft outside of Keaton Verahoeff and Daxon Rudolph. Chase Reid really improved his wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy in his draft year which was his weakness coming into this year. He did so well that both Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler of the Athletic now have Chase Reid ahead of Keaton Verhoeff, whose been the consensus top defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft all year.
   
   
   
   Chase Reid played on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds third line, second line, and first line. He spent most games on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds second line, but was the number one first line defenseman in the game I watched on Prospect Shifts. Chase Reid has the floor of a third line defenseman and the ceiling of a first line defenseman making Chase Reid the fifth player in the 2026 NHL Draft with first line potential.
   
   
   
   The 6-2 185 Chase Reid had 7 goals, 33 assists, 40 points, 32 penalty minutes, and a +4 +/- ratio in 39 OHL games in 2024-2025. Chase Reid had 0 goals, 3 assists, and 3 points in 5 games during the 2025 OHL Playoffs. Chase Reid had 18 goals, 30 assists, 48 points, a +27 +/- ratio and 8 power play goals on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2025-2026. Chase Reid had 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, and a +3 +/- ratio in 10 games during the 2026 OHL Playoffs.
   
   
   
   The New York Rangers have Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov as their two first line defensemen on their top line when healthy. Braden Schneider, the New York Rangers 2020 first round pick finally got top line minutes with Adam Fox missing time with injuries and showed he earned a promotion from the third line to the second line making him the number three defenseman on the New York Rangers. Drew Fortescue a 2023 third round pick made the New York Rangers roster late in the regular season and is now the number four defenseman. If the Rangers draft Chase Reid, both Chase Reid, and EJ Emery their 2024 first round pick could be competing for bottom pairing roles on the New York Rangers third line as early as the end of the 2026-2027 NHL Season after next years College Hockey Season ends. Having that kind of stability on the New York Rangers blue line puts the New York Rangers back in the drivers seat to make another run at a playoff appearance as early as 2027-2028.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
   
   
6. Calgary Flames: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
   
   
   Calgary fell from 4 to 6 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy mentioned that there are six players in this draft Calgary loved. He also stated whichever one falls to 6 is who we are taking. I'm guessing those six players are Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra, Keaton Verhoeff, Chase, Reid, and Carson Carels. Conroy added that he's taking the best player on the board regardless of position whether that is left winger, center, right winger, defenseman, or goalie despite giving starting goalie Dustin Wolf, a former 2019 seventh round pick, a 7-year contract last Off-Season after a very strong rookie year that nearly got Calgary into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The only one of those players still on the board is Carson Carels who would be a great defender to pair with Zayne Parekh long-term. This would give Dustin Wolf two excellent defenders that can take pressure off of him.
   
   
   
   Carson Carels is someone who could push Zayne Parekh to be Calgary's number one defenseman. Carson Carels was drafted fifteenth overall by the Prince George Cougars in the 2023 WHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Carson Carels has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, vision, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Carson Carels needs to develop his shot with both his wrist shot and his slap shot in terms of shooting power as well as shooting accuracy with both shots, but he's probably the best shot blocking defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft outside of Keaton Verahoeff, Daxon Rudolph, and Chase Reid. Carson Carels did a great job developing his wrist shot power and wrist shot accuracy in his draft year. I still want to see his slap shot power and slap shot accuracy improve, but his ability as a shooter is no longer a question mark like it was heading into this season. Carson Carels improved his ability on the power play as well as his ability on the penalty killing showing the stamina to play on the ice for 31 minutes.
   
   
   
   The 6-1 175 lb Carson Carels had 6 goals, 29 assists, 35 points, 42 penalty minutes, a +22 +/- ratio iin 60 WHL games with the Prince George Cougars in 2024-2025. Carson Carels had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 7 games in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Carson Carels had 20 goals, 53 assists, 73 points, and a +23 +/- ratio nearly tripling his shots on goal from last season from 82 to 219 in 2025-2026. Carson Carels had 1 goal, 9 assists, 10 points, and a -1 +/- in 10 games in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
   
   
   
   Carson Carels has the floor of a third line defenseman and the ceiling of a first line defenseman. Carson Carels is the sixth different player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft. Carson Carels was a nominee for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy Defenseman Of The Year in his draft year while also getting voted alternate captain of the Prince George Cougars.
   
   
   
   Carson Carels will go to the NCAA and play for North Dakota. My guess is if he makes the NHL, the earliest it will be is 2027-2028 since Calgary's new arena opens then. It is also possible Carels has to wait until 2028-2029 to make his NHL debut if Calgary lets him finish out his time in the WHL. Whoever Calgary takes at 6 will get another year to develop and then would compete for an NHL roster spot when the Calgary Flames new arena opens in 2027-2028. Zayne Parekh got to win the 2025 Memorial Cup before playing one game with Calgary. I imagine Carson Carels will have a similar development path as Parekh, if Calgary drafts him at 6.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
   
   
   
   
7. Seattle Kraken: Albert Smits, D, Mikkelin Jukurit (SM Liiga)
   
   
   Seattle dropped one spot from 6 to 7 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Seattle finally drafts a defenseman here. There are 8 players they are looking at 7 including the top six off the board. The two players still on the board that they are looking at are Albert Smits a defenseman that plays for Mikkelin Jukurit in SM Liiga and Daxon Rudolph of the Prince Albert Raiders. I heard Smits may be as high as third on Seattle's big board behind only Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. If that is the case Albert Smits will be the pick for the Seattle Kraken at 7.
   
   
   
   Albert Smits has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Albert Smits does need to develop his shot by improving his wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy. He's good on special teams effective on both the power play and as a penalty killer.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 205 lb Albert Smits had 6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, and a -3 +/- ratio in 38 games in Liiga in 2025-2026. He's under contract with Mikkel Jukurit through the 2027-2028 season. This means Seattle will not get to see Albert Smits in the NHL until 2028-2029 at the very earliest.
   
   
   
   Albert Smits is already the number one defenseman on Mikkel Jukurit. He is the seventh player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Braidy Wassilyn, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
   
   
8. Winnipeg Jets: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
   
   
   Winnipeg dropped one spot from 7 to 8 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Winnipeg needs more bodies on the blue line besides Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk. This team was 1.6 seconds away from losing to the St. Louis Blues in the first round because of this before tying that game 7 and winning in overtime before losing to Dallas in the next round. Winnipeg added Jonathan Toews at center to compliment Adam Lowry, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Mark Scheifele. Meanwhile Winnipeg should have Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi back as the first line wingers. Cole Perfetti will be the second line left winger replacing Nioklaj Ehlers with Gustav Nyquist moving to second line right winger where Perfetti played. Colby Barlow should be in the NHL as a third line left winger with Nino Neidereitter on the fourth line. I believe Winnipeg has one of the NHL's bottom 10 defensive pairings, but they are deeper at both center and left winger. As long as Connor Hellebuyck stays healthy at goalie with the two time Vezina Trophy winner back at goalie, it's hard to argue that Winnipeg misses the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs even if the team regresses due to poor defensive play, but that's exactly what happened and why Winnipeg is picking eighth overall.
   
   
   
   Teams with complete lines at forward and defenseman will give Winnipeg their best this season. Sascha Boudemine could be a good second line defensemen down the road, but he's still developing at Boston University. Winnipeg regressed without that top line defenseman, but they can get that in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
   The best player on the board at 8 for the Winnipeg Jets is Daxon Rudolph who went first overall in the 2023 WHL Draft. Daxon Rudolph could realistically be Winnipeg's number one defenseman down the road if he ends up on the Winnipeg Jets.
   
   
   
   Daxon Rudolph has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Daxon Rudolph has the traits you want from an NHL defenseman as he plays all three zones at a high level in the offensive zone, defensive zone, and neutral zone. He is the best shot blocker not named Keaton Verhoeff in the 2026 NHL Draft. Daxon Rudolph is the eighth player with experience playing on the first line in the 2026 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   The 6-2 202 lb Daxon Rudolph had 7 goals, 34 assists, 41 points, 30 penalty minutes from 15 penalties, and a +13 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Daxon Rudolph had 1 goal, 11 assists, and 12 points in 11 games in the 2025 WHL Playoffs averaging 1 assist per game. Daxon Rudolph had 28 goals, 50 assists, 78 points, a +32 +/- ratio, and 13 power play goals with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2025-2026. Daxon Rudolph currently has 9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points, and a +10 +/- ratio. Daxon Rudolph got the Prince Albert Raiders to the 2026 WHL Championship game where they are facing Landon DuPont the top defenseman in the 2027 NHL Draft and the Everett Silvertips.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
   
   
   
   
9. Florida Panthers: Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
   
   
   The 2026 first round pick that Florida sent the Chicago Blackhawks for Seth Jones was top ten protected. Florida had the eighth worst record and only fell one spot following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
   
   
   
   Florida is looking at two centers from Scandanavia. The Swedish center they are looking at is Viggo Bjorck. The center from Finland they are looking at is Oliver Suvanto. I believe Florida will take Viggo Bjorck here at 9.
   
   
   
   Viggo Bjorck entered the Fall of 2024 as the favorite to go second overall behind Gavin McKenna in the 2026 NHL Draft. Viggo Bjorck has played on the first line, second line, third line, and fourth line on the Djurgardens Under 20 Team. He also played all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. When Anton Frondell got injured, he took the first line center job from him on the Under 20 Team and did not give it back due to a breakout campaign where he posted 74 points after entering the Fall of 2024 as the number two player behind McKenna, but this top 10 is so stacked that Bjorck plummetted all the way from 2 to 10 occupying the final spot in the top 10 of my first 2026 NHL Mock Draft.
   
   
   
   Viggo Bjorck was the third line center on the Sweden Under 20 Team at the World Junior Summer Showcase. Like Ivar Stenberg he got promoted to the top line. Viggo Bjorck has the eye popping production that I wish Frondell showed me in Sweden. He also lacks expereince against men mainly playing against players his own age despite having amazing traits on tape while Frondell has some experience playing older players.
   
   
   
   Viggo Bjorck had 6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points, and a +5 +/- ratio in 42 games in 2024-2025. Viggo Bjorck had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 3 games during the 2026 SHL Playoffs.
   
   
   
   Viggo Bjorck has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Viggo Bjorck is the tenth player with first line potential and enters his final season with Djurgardens IF next season.
   
   
   
   Florida would have Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, and Viggo Bjorck in 2027-2028. It is possible Florida plays Bjorck in the AHL in 2027-2028 and brings him up to the NHL in 2028-2029 too.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Adam Valentini, C, Michigan
   
   
10. Nashville Predators: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
    
    
    Nashville goes with a center at 10 which is where Nashville was projected to pick before the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, and this is also where Nashville will pick. Tyson Jost is a Free Agent and I expect Brady Martin to replace him next season. Matthew Wood, Nashville's 2023 first round pick did well as a second line center, but he's better off as a right winger. Drafting Boston University center Tynan Lawrence gives you a center tandem of Ryan O'Reilly, Brady Martin, Tynan Lawrence, and Fydor Svechkov while moving Matthew Wood back to right winger if you extend Ryan O'Reilly this offseason. Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Zachary L'Heureux, and Reid Schaefer will remain the left wingers on this roster. Roman Josi remains your best defenseman and Jusse Saros is your starting goalie giving the Nashville Predators a decent core down the road since Nashville and the Dallas Stars were the only two teams to get all A+ grades in the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Tynan Lawrence has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tynan Lawrence is the tenth player in the 2026 NHL Draft with experience on the first line.
    
    
    
    Tynan Lawrence was a first round pick in the QMJHL Draft. He opted for the USHL over the QMJHL despite going undrafted in the USHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 170 lb Tynan Lawrence had 25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points, and a +23 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Tynan Lawrence had 8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points, and only 2 penalty minutes in the 2025 USHL Playoffs after taking 49 in the regular season in 14 games during the 2025 USHL Playoffs leading the Muskegon Lumberjacks to the 2025 Clarke Cup. Tynan Lawrence missed the beginning of the USHL season, but came back brielfy before enrolling at Boston University early. Tynan Lawrence had 2 goals, 5 assists, and 7 points in 18 games with Boston University as a freshman in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    I think Tynan Lawrence will play his sophomore and junior seasons at Boston University. He will be a line 2 center once again behind Caleb Malhotra before taking on the top line role in 2027-2028. He should be ready for Nashville by 2028-2029 which is when first line center Ryan O'Reilly is a UFA. Nashville could end up having Brady Martin on the first line and Tynan Lawrence on the second line by this point if they do not bring back Ryan O'Reilly. If Ryan O'Reilly gets re-signed, then Tynan Lawrence would start out as a third line center and get eased into the lineup. Nashville is about to begin an arena renovation at Bridgestone Arena that will run through 2030, which is why I think the Nashville Predators will be as patient as possible with draft picks between now and 2030 unless they are picking higher than 10 next season.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
    
    
    
    
11. St. Louis Blues: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
    
    
    St. Louis remained at 11 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. St. Louis has a well rounded roster for the most part. This gives the St. Louis Blues the luxury to draft for value over need at 11. Ethan Belchetz was drafted first overall in the OHL Draft two years ago. Former number one picks in the OHL and WHL Drafts rarely fall out of the top 10 of NHL Drafts.
    
    
    
    Ethan Belchetz was drafted first overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2024 OHL Draft. Ethan Belchetz was also someone that an OHL scout told me could be a top 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Quite frankly he still could be if he dominates in his draft year.
    
    
    
    Ethan Belchetz has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ethan Belchetz is the eleventh player with experience on a first line.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 227 lb Ethan Belchetz had 17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points, 48 penalty minutes, and a -3 +/- ratio in 56 OHL games in 2024-2025. Ethan Belchetz was the Windsor Spitfires first line left winger in a majority of the games he played when he was healthy. The OHL regular season is 66 games, so Belchetz only missed 10 games with an injury which is why I would not put too much stock into his injury history. Ethan Belchetz had 34 goals, 25 assists, 59 points, a +19 +/- ratio, 10 power play goals, and 7 game-winning goals in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    St. Louis does need a left winger prospect in their prospect pool with their fourth line left winger set to become a UFA in 2027. That's why Ethan Belchetz is such a great fit here.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Joe Iginla, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
    
    
12. New Jersey Devils: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo Hockey (Elitserien)
    
    
    New Jersey remained at 12 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. New Jersey has Timo Meier as their first line left winger, Nico Hischier as their first line center, and Dawson Mercer as their first line right winger. New Jersey has Jesper Bratt as their second line left winger, Jack Hughes as their second line center, and Connor Brown as their second line right winger. Stefan Noesenn, Cody Glass, and Arseny Gritsyuk are the three third line forwards at left winger, center, and right winger. Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes are the two first line defensemen. Simon Nemec and Jonas Siegenthaler are their two second line defensemen. New Jersey has Jake Allen and Nico Daws at goalie even if Jacob Markstrom leaves as a UFA.
    
    
    
    New Jersey gets a winger here. Elton Hermansson has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger, but mainly plays at right winger.
    
    
    
    Elton Hermansson is the son of Lennart Hermansson who had a 17 year career as a professional hockey player in Sweden. Elton Hermansson has the versatility to play both right winger and left winger even though right winger is his main position. New Jersey can draft Elton Hermansson to be a right winger of the future on either the first or second line.
    
    
    
    Elton Hermansson has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Elton Hermansson needs to improve his defensive awareness, but he is the twelfth with potential to play on first line in the 2026 NHL Draft as Elton Hermansson has the floor of a third line right winger and the ceiling of a first line right winger. That might slot him into a second line role at best on a team like the New Jersey Devils.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Elton Hermansson had 17 goals, 19 assists, and 36 points in 41 games with Orebro HK's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Elton Hermansson had 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 38 games with Modo Hockey in 2025-2026. Elotn Hermansson had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 point in 13 playoff games.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Maddox Dagenais, RW Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
    
    
    
    
13. New York Islanders: Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
    
    
    New York ended up staying at 13 following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. The New York Islanders draft another right winger. Nikita Klepov led the OHL in points as a rookie after the Saginaw Spirit took him in the first round of the CHL Import Draft.
    
    
    
    Nikita Klepov has the skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Nikita Klepov was born in Deerfield Beach, Florida, but played hockey in Russia before returning to North America to play in the USHL before being drafted by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 180 lb Nikita Klepov had 37 goals, 60 assists, 97 points, a +9 +/- ratio, 13 power play goals, and 240 shots on goal in 67 OHL games in 2025-2026. Nikita Klepov had 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in the 2026 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Nikita Klepov is the thirteenth player in the 2026 NHL Draft with experience on a first line. New York drafted Victor Eklund as a future first line right winger as Eklund played on the top line with Bo Horvat in the Islanders regular season finale. Calum Ritchie is the second line right winger. Brayden Schenn is the second line left winger. Ondrej Palat is now on the Islanders too.
    
    
    
    Nikita Klepov is going to Michigan State this Fall. He will play in the NCAA for a year or two. I believe he will be on the New York Islanders in 2028 at the very earliest. I see Klepov going to Michigan State for either two years or one year with a season in the AHL before making the jump to the AHL.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
    
    
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
    
    
    Columbus ended up picking at 14 in the 2026 NHL Draft following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Columbus has Kirill Marchenko as their first line left winger, Adam Fantilli as their frst line center, and Isac Lundestrom as their first line right winger. Cole Silinger is their second line left winger, Sean Monahan as thier second line center, and Conor Garland as their second line right winger. Kent Johnson is their third line left winger.
    
    
    
    Columbus has Zach Werenski and Dante Fabbro on their first line. Denton Mateychuk and Ivan Provorov are the two second line defensemen. Erik Gudbranson is a good number five defensemna on the third line.
    
    
    
    Columbus gets a right winger to stash and develop for the future. One guy that has the floor of a third line right winger and the ceiling of a first line right winger is Boston College right winger Oscar Hemming, the younger brother of Dallas Stars 2024 first round pick Emil Hemming.
    
    
    
    Oscar Hemming has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Oscar Hemming lined up as both a first line left winger and a first line right winger in the final three games for Boston University. Oscar Hemming's hockey sense is his best quality.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 200 lb Oscar Hemming had 1 goal, 7 assists, and 8 points in 19 games with Boston College as a freshman in 2025-2026. Oscar Hemming left Finland to go to Boston College.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Arseni Ilyin, LW, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)
    
    
    
    
15. St. Louis Blues: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
    
    
    The St. Louis Blues ended up picking at 15 from the Detroit Red Wings following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. St. Louis uses this 2026 first round pick from the Detroit Red Wings on a defenseman. Ryan Lin was a preseason top five pick in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft. St. Louis can draft Ryan Lin here.
    
    
    
    Ryan Lin has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ryan Lin has the traits you want from an NHL defenseman. He does not dominate all three zones like Keaton Verhoeff and is not as big as Verhoeff, but he is a number one defenseman on his teams first line.
    
    
    
    There were only three defenseman that generated 50 points at the age of 16 in the WHL. One of those defenseman was New Jersey Devils legend Scott Niedermeyer. The other two are Ryan Lin the second best defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft and the other guy is Landon DuPont, the first pick in the 2024 WHL Draft who won the WHL Rookie Of The Year last season guiding the Everett Silvertips to the leagues best regular season record as DuPont is the favorite to go first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft. Ryan Lin was drafted sixth overall by the Vancouver Giants in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 172 lb Ryan Lin has gained 20 lbs of muscle since being drafted by the Vancouver Giants with the sixth pick in the 2023 WHL Draft. Ryan Lin has a long stride when skating on the ice. He also knows how to take risks and when to take risks with his timing for taking risks at a precise level. Ryan Lin had 5 goals, 48 assists, 53 points, 14 penalty minutes only taking 7 penalties all season, and a +11 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Ryan Lin had 0 goals, 2 assists, and 2 points in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Ryan Lin had 14 goals, 43 assists, 57 pints, and a -19 +/- ratio after getting promoted to alternate captain in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    Ryan Lin is the fifteenth player with experience on a first line. Ryan Lin will probably go to the NCAA and develop on the Denver Pioneers next season and possibly the year after that.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Mikey Berchild, C, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
16. Washington Capitals: Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
    
    
    Washington ended up picking at 16 the 2026 NHL Draft following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Washington has Pierre-Luc Dubois as their first line center, Dylan Strome as their second line center, Hendrix Lapierre as their third line center, and Ilya Protas Washington's 2024 third round pick is the fourth line center, but played on the second line. Washington has Anthony Beauvillier, Tom Wilson, Ryan Leonard, and Ivan Miroshnichenko at right winger. Andrew Cristall, Washington's 2023 second round pick probably replaces Alex Ovechkin next year with Aliaksei Protas also on that top six. Dylan Strome enters a contract year next season, so drafting a center to stash and develop. Jakob Chychrun is now the Washington Capitals number one defenseman with Cole Hutson being the number two defenseman on the first line. Matt Roy is the number three defenseman on the Washington Capitals.
    
    
    
    There are multiple players Washington loves at the center position. Egor Shilov also spelled Yegor Shilov was drafted third overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. The Russian center had a great rookie season in the QMJHL.
    
    
    
    Egor Shilov has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Egor Shilov is the sixteenth player with experience and potential to play on a first line in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 180 lb Egor Shilov had 32 goals, 50 assists, 82 points, and a -11 +/- ratio in 63 QMJHL games. Egor Shilov had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points in 4 games during the 2026 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)