2026 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 17-32

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

17. Los Angeles Kings: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami Ohio
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings are going to move Quinton Byfield up from the second line to the first line with Anze Kopitar retiring. One player the Los Angeles Kings may draft here is Miami Ohio center Ilia Morozov.
    
    
    
    Ilia Morozov has the speed, 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. Ilia Morozov has the floor of a third line center and the ceiling of a first line center making him the seventeenth player with the experience and ceiling to play on a top line. With Byfield on the Kings, Morozov will probably be eased into a second line center role which might suit him better.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 205 lb Ilia Morozov had 11 goals, 11 assists, and 22 points as a first line center on the Tri-City Storm in the USHL 2024-2025 as a 16-year-old. Ilia Morozov had 8 goals, 12 assists, and 20 points on Miami Ohio as a freshman in 2025-2026 after beginning the season as the youngest player in Division 1 hockey.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
    
    
18. Washington Capitals: Maddox Dagenais, RW, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
    
    
    Washington got Anaheim's first round pick when they traded their most experienced defender John Carlsson away. One player Washington likes that they could stash for the future is Maddox Dagenais.
    
    
    
    The top foward available is Maddox Dagenais the Quebec Remparts center. Maddox Dagenais was drafted first overall by the Quebec Remparts in the 2024 QMJHL Draft. Maddox Dagenais was originally a center, but he converted to right winger in his NHL Draft year.
    
    
    
    Maddox Dagenais has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, versatility, 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. Maddox Dagenais has the floor of a third line center on an NHL team and the ceiling of a first line center. He moved to right winger and started out as a second line right winger and got promoted to a first line right winger. Maddox Dagenais is the eighteenth player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 196 lb Maddox Dagenais had 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points in 43 QMJHL games in 2024-2025. Maddox Dagenais had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 4 games in the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs. Maddox Dagenais had 30 goals, 32 assists, 62 points, 10 power play goals, and 4 game-winning-goals in 62 games averaging a point per game in 2025-2026. Maddox Dagenais had 3 goals, 3 assists, and 6 points in 11 games during the 2026 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Maddox Dagenais can return to the QMJHL. He could replace Anthony Beaulivier whose in a contract year as early as next season in 2027.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
    
    
    
    
19. Utah Mammoth: Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
    
    
    Utah could have Clayton Keller as their first line left winger, Logan Cooley as their first line center, and Dylan Guenther as their first line right winger next season. Utah could have Tij Iginla as their second line left winger, Caleb Desnoyers as their second line center, and Daniil But as their second line right winger. Utah could have JJ Peterka as their third line left winger, Barrett Hayton as their third line center, and Michael Carcone as thier third line right wiger. Utah could have Jack McBain as their fourth line left winger, Nick Schmaltz as their fourth line center, and Brandon Tanev as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Mackenzie Weegar and Mikhail Sergachev the two first line defensemen on the Utah Mammoth are both back with both defensemen under contract through 2030-2031. John Marino and Nate Schmidt, the two second line defensemen on the Utah Mammoth are both back next season. Sean Durzi will be back as the number five defenseman. Dmitri Simashev could take over for Ian Cole as the number six defenseman on this third line next season after being a 2023 first round pick that was drafted sixth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2023 one year before the franchise moved to Utah.
    
    
    
    Karel Vejmelka will be back as the starting goalie for the Utah Mammoth. Vitek Vanecek is a UFA, but hif he leaves, Utah could bring up Michael Hrabel the goalie that was ddrafted by Arizona in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft as a backup goalie on a rookie deal since Jacob Fowler is already in the NHL now as a backup goalie since Hrabel was drafted ahead of Jacob Fowler. If Utah doesn't re-sign Vanecek and does not want to bring up Hrabel, they could target another goalie while reloading this roster with younger players on rookie deals to replace the UFA's with only $5 million in cap space.
    
    
    
    Utah drafts a player to stash and develop. Adam Novotny was drafted eighth overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Adam Novotny has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger.
    
    
    
    Adam Novotny has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, 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. Adam Novotny has the ceiling of a top 15 pick and the floor of a top 20 pick. Adam Novotny is the nineteenth player with experience as well as potenital to be a first line player in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 204 lb Adam Novotny had 34 goals, 31 assists, 65 points, 8 power play goals, 8 game-winning goals, 1 short-handed goal and a 278 goals in his rookie season with the Peterborough Petes in 2025-2026. Adam Novotny had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 6 games during the 2026 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Adam Novotny would be a player that Utah develops long-term. Clayton Keller is a UFA in 2028, and I'm guessing that is when Adam Novotny would arrive in the NHL if Clayton Keller didn't get extended when he becomes a UFA. If Utah extends Keller, then he will probably spend a year in the AHL before competing for a spot on Utah in 2029.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Adam Nemec, LW, HK Nitra (Tipos)
    
    
20. San Jose Sharks: Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (Elitserien)
    
    
    San Jose owns the Edmonton Oilers 2026 first round pick. San Jose took a left winger at 2 in Ivar Stenberg. They use this pick to add a defenseman.
    
    
    
    San Jose has Dmitry Orlov and Shakir Mukhamadullin, the New Jersey Devils third 2020 first round pick from the Timo Meier trade as their two first line defensemen. Sam Dickinson, San Jose's second 2024 first round pick who many had going in the top 10 of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft will be promoted from the number four defenseman on the second line to the number three defenseman anchoring the second line with Luca Cagnoni their 2023 fifth round pick that I had a second round grade on complimenting him. It's also possible that Sam Dickinson beats out Shakir Mukhamadullin for the number two defenseman spot on the first line in camp next year. John Klingberg is a UFA and Luca Cagonin their 2023 fifth round pick that I had a second round grade on got some limited NHL action as a number six defenseman and looked good, so he might get an opportunity to play on the second line with a strong camp. San Jose needs two more defensemen short-term and two more defensemen long-term if 2025 second round pick Simon Wang pans out. Malte Gustafsson the Swedish defenseman on HV71 has shown he can be a number two defenseman on a first line overseas in Sweden, and with him being a consensus top 16 prospect, he's an obvious choice for the San Jose Sharks at 20.
    
    
    
    Malte Gustafsson 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. Malte Gustafsson is the twentieth player with experience on a first line or potential to play on a first line in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 201 lb Malte Gustafsson had 0 goals, 3 assists, and 3 points in 27 SHL games in 2025-2026. Malte Gustafsson had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 4 games during the 2026 SHL Playoffs in the league once known as Elitserien now more commonly referred to as the SHL.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    
    
21. Philadelphia Flyers: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
    
    
    Philadelphia could have Tyson Foerster their 2020 first round pick as their first line left winger, Trevor Zegras as their first line center, and Porter Martone their 2025 first round pick as their first line right winger. Philadelphia could have Owen Tippett back at full health as their second line left winger, Christian Dvorak who got some reps at first line center in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as their second line center, and Matvei Michkov their 2023 first round pick as their second line right winger. Denver Barkey, Philadelphia's 2023 third round pick could be their third line left winger, Jett Luchanko, Philadelphia's 2024 first round pick could be their third line center, and Travis Konecny, Philadelphia's 2015 first round pick will remain the third line right winger behind the Philadelphia Flyers young stars at right winger despite being an alternate captain. Philadelphia could have Noah Cates as their fourth line left winger, Sean Couturier, Philadelphia's 2011 first round pick as well as team captain as their fourth line center, and Garnet Hathaway as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia has Jamie Drysdale and Travis Sanheim back as their two first line defenseman. Oliver Bonk, Philadelphia's second 2023 first round pick is the number three defenseman on the second line with Cam York their 2019 first round pick complimenting him as the number four defensemen on the second line. Philadelphia could have Rasmus Ristolainen if he comes back or David Jiricek if he doesn't as their number five defenseman anchoring the third line with Nick Seeler as their number six defenseman.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia has Dan Vladar in a contract year at goalie next season. Samuel Ersson the Philadelphia Flyers 2018 fifth round pick is an RFA. Both goalies showed they could be low-end starters and Carson Bjarnason, Philadelphia's 2023 second round pick is already showing promise on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia is in a great spot at 21. JP Hurlbert has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. That versatility is why JP Hurlbert comes off the board here. JP Hurlbert was drafted twentieth overall by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    JP Hurlbert 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. JP Hurlbert is the twenty first player with experience or potential to play on a first line in the NHL since he was a top line guy at the WHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 182 lb JP Hurlbert had 42 goals, 55 assists, 97 points, 9 power play goals, 4 game-winning goals, 249 shots on goal, 170 face off wins, and a +13 +/- ratio in 68 WHL games in 2025-2026. JP Hurlbert had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 4 games in the 2026 WHL Playoffs
    
    
    
    Philadelphia is building an exceptional young core of forwards with Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone headlining that core of young stars. That young core allowed them to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff series. JP Hurlbert won the Jim Piggot Memorial Trophy as the WHL Rookie Of The Year and JP Hurlbert is going to Michigan this Fall. All four of Michigan's centers are under contract until 2030. I think JP Herlbert will spend three years at Michigan if the Flyers draft him and will be signed in 2029 spending a year with Lehigh Valley in the AHL before making the jump to the NHL in 2030.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
    
    
22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    Pittsburgh drafts their goalie for the future. One goalie that wowed me at the 2025 USHL Fall Classic was Youngstown Phantoms goalie Tobias Trejbal who had a 33 save shutout back in September. When I watched Trejbal at that time he had a sixth round grade, but I knew he was going to be the first goalie drafted in that moment after watching him play in person.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 188 lb Tobias Trejbal went 30-9-3 witha 2.12 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in 42 USHL games in 2025-2026. Tobias Trejbal went 1-2-1 witha 1.66 goals against average and a .896 save percentage in the 2026 USHL Playoffs. Tobias Trejbal was a finalist for 2025-2026 USHL Rookie Of The Year. He was the 2026 USHL Goalie Of The Year just like Jacob Fowler.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Tobias Trejbal is the best goalie in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and he checks off all ten boxes. I believe he's gonna be an NHL starting goalie and Pittsburgh needs a long-term goalie. Tobias Trejbal is going to play college hockeyin the NCAA at the Unversity of Massachusetts.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
    
    
    
    
23. Boston Bruins: William Hakansson, D, Lulea HF (Elitserien)
    
    
    Boston is looking at drafting a defenseman at 23. William Hakansson makes a lot of sense here as he has the upside to develop into a first line defenseman.
    
    
    
    William Hakansson 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. William Hakansson is the twenty second skater with experience or potential to play on a first line. The other player in my first round was Youngstown Phantoms goalie Tobias Trejbal. I had Jacob Fowler at twenty first on my big board in 2023, and I only got Trejbal one spot lower on my 2026 NHL Draft Big Board.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 207 lb William Hakansson had 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in 22 SHL games in 2025-2026. William Hakansson had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 9 games in the 2026 SHL Playoffs. William Hakanson showed he could execute a wrist shot and slap shot effectively despite not scoring in the SHL. He's great at blocking shots and hitting players by crashing them into the boards which is why some have him and Malte Gustafsson in the defensive defenseman category.
    
    
    
    William Hakansson's contract with Lulea HF runs through 2027-2028. William Hakansson will not be on the NHL team that drafts him until 2028 at the very earliest despite his ceiling.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)
    
    
24. Vancouver Canucks: Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
    
    
    Vancouver gets their left winger of the future. Ryan Roobroeck has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. That versatility is what makes Ryan Roobroeck a first round pick still even after a down year in his draft year. Ryan Roobroeck was drafted second overall by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2023 OHL Draft after entering that draft as the favorite to go first overall following the 2022 OHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Ryan Roobroeck 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. Ryan Roobroeck is the fifth of ten players in the 2026 NHL Draft with experience on the first line along with Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verahoeff, Ivar Stenberg, and Ryan Lin.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 215 lb Ryan Roobroeck had 28 goals, 23 assists, 51 points, and a -34 +/- ratio in 63 OHL games as a rookie on the Niagara IceDogs as a second line center in 2023-2024. Ryan Roobroeck had 41 goals, 46 assists, 87 points, and a -7 +/- ratio in 64 OHL games in 2024-2025. Ryan Roobroeck had 3 goals, 3 assists, and 6 points in 5 games during the 2025 OHL Playoffs. Ryan Roobroeck had 30 goals, 28 assists, 58 points, a 1+/- ratio, 10 power play goals, 6 game-winning goals, and 2 face off wins after converting from center to left winger full-time in 2025-2026.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo Hockey (Elitserien)
    
    
    
    
25. Seattle Kraken: Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
    
    
    Seattle uses this first round pick on a right winger for depth. Liam Ruck had an excellent season with the Medicine Hat Tigers stepping up after Gavin McKenna left for Penn State.
    
    
    
    Liam Ruck was drafted ninth overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2023 WHL Draft. Liam Ruck also has a twin brother named Markus Ruck that plays center.
    
    
    
    Liam Ruck has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, 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. Liam Ruck is the twenty fourth player with experience on a first line or potential to play on the first line in the NHL..
    
    
    
    The 6-0 175 lb Liam Ruck had 25 goals, 16 assists, 41 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 51 WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2024-2025. Liam Ruck had 6 goals, 4 assists, and 10 points in 18 games helping the Medicine Hat Tigers win the WHL during the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Liam Ruck had 45 goals, 59 assists, 104 points, 16 power play goals, 3 short-handed goals, 223 shots on goal, and 10 game-winning goals in 2025-2026. Liam Ruck had 8 goals, 4 assists, and 12 points in 14 games during the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
    
    
26. New York Rangers: Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
    
    
    New York owns the Dallas Stars 2026 first round pick thanks to the Mikko Rantanen trade. The New York Rangers got the higher of the two Carolina Hurricanes 2026 first round picks.
    
    
    
    Markus Ruck was drafted twenty first overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2023 WHL Draft. Markus Ruck also has a twin brother named Liam Ruck that plays right winger.
    
    
    
    Markus Ruck 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. Markus Ruck is the twenty fifth player with experience on a first line or potential to be a top line center in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 167 lb Markus Ruck had 8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a +12 +/- ratio in 62 WHL games in 2024-2025. Markus Ruck had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 14 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs helping the Medicine Hat Tigers win the 2025 WHL Championship. Markus Ruck had 21 goals, 87 assists, 108 points, a +45 +/- ratio, 190 face-off wins, and 132 shots on goal in 2025-2026. Markus Ruck had 4 goals, 9 assists, and 13 points in 15 games during the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Tipos)
    
    
    
    
27. Buffalo Sabres: Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
    
    
    The Buffalo Sabres have Zach Benson their 2023 first round pick as their first line left winger, Josh Norris as their first line center, and Tage Thompson as their first line left winger. Buffalo has Josh Doan as their second line left winger, Ryan McLeod as their second line center, and Jack Quinn Buffalo's 2020 first round pick probably gets promoted from third line right winger to second line right winger if Alex Tuch, the Buffalo Sabres second line right winger leaves since Alex Tuch is a UFA. Buffalo has Jason Zucker as their third line left winger and Konsta Helnius their 2024 first round pick as their third line center. Jordan Greenway is back as their fourth line left winger, but becomes a UFA in 2027. Buffalo will promote Jiri Kulich their 2022 first round pick to replace Peyton Krebs. They will try to bring back Alex Tuch, but if they cannot expect Buffalo to reload at right winger in Free Agency.
    
    
    
    The Buffalo Sabres have Rasmus Dahlin and Matias Samuelsson as their two first line defensemen. Buffalo has Owen Power and Bowen Byram as their two second line defensemen. Buffalo has Connor Timmins and Zach Metsa as their two third line defensemen.
    
    
    
    Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the Buffalo Sabres starting goalie. Colten Ellis is the backup goalie. Devon Levi and Topias Leinonen Buffalo's 2022 second round pick are the two AHL goalies in Buffalo's prospect pool.
    
    
    
    The Buffalo Sabres get a left winger that can replace Jordan Greenway down the road. Pierce Mbuyi is the best player available at this point in the first round and he's going to Penn State to replace Gavin McKenna if McKenna goes straight to the NHL.
    
    
    
    Pierce Mbuyi was drafted seventh overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2024 OHL Draft. Pierce Mbuyi was a player I wasn't enamored with entering the OHL as I gave the Owen Sound Attack a B+ grade instead of an A+ grade when they drafted him, but he's lived up to the draft hype with a strong rookie season and looks like someone that is a strong bet to get picked in the back end of the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Pierce Mbuyi 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. Pierce Mbuyi has the floor of a third line left winger in the NHL and ceiling of a first line left winger in the NHL making Pierce Mbuyi the twenty sixth player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 153 lb Pierce Mbuyi had 29 goals, 23 assists, 52 points, 46 penalty minutes, and a +8 +/- ratio in 63 OHL games in 2024-2025. Pierce Mbuyi had 1 goal, 1 assists, and 2 points in 4 games in the 2025 OHL Playoffs. Pierce Mbuyi lined up as a first line left winger in one game recording a hat trick by scoring 3 goals in the first period. Pierce Mbuyi is the only player to do this in the 2026 NHL Draft. Pierce Mbuyi had 32 goals, 43 assists, and 75 points in 68 games with the Owen Sound Attack in 2025-2026. Pierce Mbuyi had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 point in 4 games in the 2026 OHL Playoffs. Pierce Mbuyi is going to Penn State this Fall and the only thing that you could argue drags him down to the second round is his size. If you look at just what he does on tape and look past the size, I'd argue he's a late first round prospect.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
    
    
28. Carolina Hurricanes: Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
    
    
    The New York Rangers get the earlier of the Carolina Hurricanes two first round picks either Carolina's 2026 first round pick or the Dallas Stars 2026 first round pick for trading K'Andre Miller to Carolina. Carolina has the fowards and goaltending to get back to the playoffs, but I don't see K'Andre Miller being a upgrade over Brent Burns since he's a second line defenseman. I also think Carolina will struggle defensively on their second and third lines relying heavily on their goalie and forwards to win them games. I gave the New York Rangers Sarnia Sting center Beckham Edwards which means the Carolina Hurricanes get the Dallas Stars 2026 first round pick in this mock draft.
    
    
    
    Beckham Edwards was the Sarnia Sting's 2024 third round pick as Beckham Edwards has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. Beckham Edwards outperformed Alessandro Di Iorio who was drafted second overall by the Sanria Sting in the 2024 OHL Draft. Not only did Beckham Edwards get more points than Alessandro Di Iorio, he also played more games with the Sarnia Sting on the first line last year in his plus 1 year.
    
    
    
    Beckham Edwards has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, 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. Beckham Edwards has the floor of a third line forward at center as well as left winger with the ceiling of a first line forward at center as well as left winger makign Beckham Eddwards the eighteenth player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Beckham Edwards had 25 goals, 20 assists, and 45 points in 62 OHL games in 2024-2025. Beckham Edwards can play any forward role, but I believe he will end up playing center in the NHL.
    
    
    
    
    
29. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
    
    
    Carson Carels is someone who could replace K'Andre Miller with the pick that the New York Rangers own since the New York Rangers opted to send their 2025 first round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov on the first line. 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, 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.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 194 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 has the floor of a third line defenseman and the ceiling of a first line defenseman. Like with Chase Reid, Carson Carels is closer to his ceiling than his floor and is the ninteenth different player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    If New York can find a way to get one of the top seven defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft to replace K'Andre Miller it will do wonders for the New York Rangers. The New York Rangers could compete for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance as early as 2028 and as late as 2030 with the core they have as long as Chris Drury stays patient with his core players.
    
    
    
30. St. Louis Blues: Joe Iginla, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
    
    
    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 20. Joe Iginla is the younger brother of 2024 first round pick Tij Iginla who was drafted sixth overall by Utah and the youngest son of former NHL player Jarome Iginla. The Edmonton Oil Kings drafted Joe Iginla twelfth overall in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Joe Iginla 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, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Joe Iginla needs to improve his defensive awareness, but he is the twentieth player with potential to play on first line in the 2026 NHL Draft as Joe Iginla has the floor of a third line right winger and the ceiling of a first line right winger.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 166 lb Joe Iginla only had 9 goals, 7 assists, and 16 points in 61 WHL games with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2024-2025. Joe Iginla had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 3 games in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Joe Iginla can hit shots in the upper corner of the goalie net just like Anton Frondell. Not only does Iginla do that, he did that in a game on film against the eventual WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers. Also Tij Iginla had 18 points before he popped with 84 points in his draft year. I'm putting zero stock into Joe Iginla having only 16 points because like Tij, I believe Joe Iginla ends up popping in his draft year with a 70 to 80 point season incoming for Joe Iginla in his draft year.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Boston Bruins: Landon Nycz, D, Massachusetts
    
    
    Boston owns the Toronto Maple Leafs 2026 first round pick thanks to the Brandon Carlo trade that sent Carlo from Boston to Toronto. Boston goes for a defenseman with this pick as this draft only has one more defenseman with experience on a first line. Landon Nycz got drafted by the Waterloo Blackhawks, but was traded to the Sioux City Musketeers.
    
    
    
    Landon Nycz has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Landon Nycz 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. Landon Nycz has the floor of a third line defenseman given his time with the Waterloo Blackhawks and the ceiling of a first line defenseman if you watch his tape on the Sioux City Musketeers. I believe Landon Nycz is closer to his ceiling than his floor as he is the twenty first player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 201 lb Landon Nycz had 8 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, 31 penalty minutes, and a +13 +/- ratio in 56 USHL games in 2024-2025. Landon Nycz had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 3 games during the 2025 USHL Playoffs. Landon Nycz` was the only defender I watched on tape outside of Keaton Verhoeff to go two periods without giving up a goal on tape as Landon Nycz is going to Massachusetts to play college hockey in 2025.
    
    
    
32. Vancouver Canucks: Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Evander Kane only has one year on his contract and drafting a future second line left winger makes a lot of sense for Vancouver. Simon Katolicky looked great in the film I saw, but despite playing in Finland he was born in the Czech Republic with one person calling him the best skater in the Czech Republic since Jaromir Jagr.
    
    
    
    Simon Katolicky 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. Simon Katolicky has the floor of a first line left winger in the AHL and ceiling of a first line left winger in the NHL making Simon Katolicky the twenty second player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 198 lb Simon Katolicky had 24 goals, 28 assists, and 52 points in 30 games with the Tappara Under 18 Team as their first line left winger. He will play on the Tappara Under 20 Team this Fall and has a shot to get promoted to Tappara's main roster in Liiga with a strong performance on Tappara's Under 20 Team. Simon Katolicky models his game after Matthew Tkachuk on the Florida Panthers.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
33. Calgary Flames: Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
    
    
    Calgary is back on the clock thanks to owning the Vegas Golden Knights 2026 first round pick. Vegas did get Mitch Marner in Free Agency to pair with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. Their best defenseman Alex Pieterangelo had a career ending injury. Without him, the Vegas Golden Knights are due to regress for a few years until they draft a defenseman good enough to replace him. I had Noah Hanifin graded as the third best defenseman in the 2015 NHL Draft behind Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski who I both liked more on tape than Hanifin. Also, I had Hanifin graded as a second line defenseman instead of a first line defenseman like most coming out of Boston College. Noah Hanifin showed he could be a decent number two complimentary defenseman for the first time in his career when he got traded to Vegas, but his NHL career so far has been up and down the first and second line whether that was the case in Carolina, Calgary, or Vegas.
    
    
    
    Noah Hanifin will get the opportunity to finally shine as a number one defenseman, but something tells me Hanifin squanders this opportunity. If I am right, there is a chance Vegas drafts this high in both 2026 and 2027 even with the addition of Mitch Marner. At this point, I believe Adin Hill has to be in the running to win the Vezina Trophy at goalie in order for the Vegas Golden Knights to return to the playoffs unless this team leads the NHL in both hits and penalty killing without their best defenseman to compensate for losing Alex Pietrangelo. Most of their core players from their 2023 Stanley Cup Championship team still on the roster are in or entering their thirties.
    
    
    
    When Vegas lost to Dallas in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their cup window closed for good depsite having the talent to be a playoff team on a yearly basis. With their best defender suffering a career ending injury and 70 percent of this roster heading into their thirties or in their thirties, Vegas feels like a team that may be closer to a rebuild than a cup contender. That is why I gave the Calgary Flames the eleventh pick from Vegas. Vegas ended up at 16 in my 2027 NHL Mock barely missing the playoffs. This year feels like a transition year for Vegas without Alex Pieterangelo since Noah Hanifin a guy who is a number two or three defenseman on an NHL team whose good in that role on most teams now has to be the number one defenseman. Minnesota led the first round series against 2-1 leading game 4 with home ice before Vegas came back to win in 6 games. Edmonton also beat the Vegas Golden Knights in 5 games.
    
    
    
    Calgary is getting a defenseman here. Xavier Villenueve was the number four defenseman playing a complimentary role on the second line of Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defense among their three lines in the QMJHL. Xavier Villenueve was drafted seventh overall by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the 2023 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Xavier Villenueve 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. Xavier Villenueve has the traits of a first line NHL defenseman on a top defensive line pairing, the experience of a second line defenseman, and the size of a third line defenseman. A player with that kind of skill set could end up all over the place as he could end up being the eleventh player in the 2026 NHL Draft, but he could also be a bust.
    
    
    
    The thing is, Xavier Villenueve also won the Emile-Bouchard trophy for the best defenseman in the entire QMJHL despite being undersized. Despite his lack of size he did post 62 points in 61 games and became the first defenseman to win the Emile-Bouchard trophy in his plus one draft year since J.J. Daigenault a defenseman that went tenth overall in the 1984 NHL Draft that was headlined by Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux. J.J. Daigenault had a sixteen year NHL career helping the Philadelphia Flyers make a Stanley Cup while also winning a Stanley Cup in Montreal despite the early part of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, the team that drafted him not working out.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 150 lb Xavier Villenueve was 5-9 139 only adding 11 lbs of muscle since being drafted into the QMJHL two years ago. Xavier Villenueve posted 8 goals, 35 assists, 43 points, 26 penalty minutes, and a -10 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2023-2024. Xavier Villanueve had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in 7 games during the 2024 QMJHL Playoffs. Xavier Villenueve posted 12 goals, 50 assists, 62 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a +14 +/- ratio in 61 QMJHL games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in 2024-2025. Xavier Villeneuve did worse in the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs with 0 goals, 4 assists, and 4 points in 5 games during the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Some NHL teams have Xavier Villeneueve as the second best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft behind only Keaton Verhoeff. Some have him third behind Verhoeff and Ryan Lin. Others have him fourth behind Verhoeff, Lin, and Daxon Rudolph. I loved Lane Hutson the player Villeneueve is being compared to, but my gut is telling me Villenueve is a bust. My friend believes I am overthinking this and that I am wrong. One team that reportedly loves Xavier Villeneuve is the Pittsburgh Penguins as he is a guy there fanbase is high on too. The more I talk about this guy the more I am convinced Xavier Villenueve last years Emile-Bouchard Trophy winner is the most polarizing layer in the 2026 NHL Draft. Someone will take him earlier than they should because of his offensive skillset.
    
    
    
34. Montreal Canadiens: Colin Fitzgerald, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
    
    
    Montreal drafts the best player on the board at 12. Colin Fitzgerald was once considered a top 5 talent in this draft. He ends up dropping to 12 in my first 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Colin Fitzgerald was drafted third overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2024 OHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Colin Fitzgerald 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, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Colin Fitzgerald needs to improve his defensive awareness, but he is the twelfth player with potential to play on first line in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 207 lb Colin Fitzgerald had 12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points, and a -21 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Colin Fitzgerald has the floor of a third line center in the NHL and the ceiling of a first line center in the NHL in terms of his potential. He probably projects as a second line center in the NHL, but Montreal is a perfect fit for Colin Fitzgerald since he would start out as a third line center behind Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach. He is also someone Montreal can ease into a bigger role.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
35. Washington Capitals: Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
    
    
    Pierce Mbuyi was drafted seventh overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2024 OHL Draft. Pierce Mbuyi was a player I wasn't enamored with entering the OHL as I gave the Owen Sound Attack a B+ grade instead of an A+ grade when they drafted him, but he's lived up to the draft hype with a strong rookie season and looks like someone that is a strong bet to get picked in the back end of the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Pierce Mbuyi 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. Pierce Mbuyi has the floor of a third line left winger in the NHL and ceiling of a first line left winger in the NHL making Pierce Mbuyi the twenty third player with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 153 lb Pierce Mbuyi had 29 goals, 23 assists, 52 points, 46 penalty minutes, and a +8 +/- ratio in 63 OHL games in 2024-2025. Pierce Mbuyi had 1 goal, 1 assists, and 2 points in 4 games in the 2025 OHL Playoffs. Pierce Mbuyi lined up as a first line left winger in one game recording a hat trick by scoring 3 goals in the first period. Pierce Mbuyi is the only player to do this in the 2026 NHL Draft unless Gavin McKenna also managed to do this with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL last year.
    
    
    
36. New York Islanders: Nils Bartholdsson, RW, Rogle BK (Elitserien)
    
    
    The New York Islanders got this 2026 first round pick from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade. Colorado is three lines deep at forward, three lines deep at defenseman, and has a quality goalie but Colorado is not four lines deep at forward and they do not have a top 5 goalie in the league like the best team in the Central Division that has had their number three times this decade since 2020. Unfortunately that matters against a team like the Dallas Stars which is the team Colorado avoided when winning the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. Even if Colorado won the Central Division they would probably still lose to Dallas in 7 games in overtime in a 4 to 3 high scoring contest while Dallas would beat Colorado in 5 or 6 games with Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen at full health. The gap between the Stars and Avalanche is that wide with or without Peter DeBoer. Let's get back to the New York Islanders since they own this draft pick from the Colorado Avalanche.
    
    
    
    Nils Bartholdsson on Rogle BK is one of the best right wingers from Sweden in the 2026 NHL Draft. Most have him projected at the end of the second round right now, but he's a player who could end up creeping into the late first round by the time the 2026 NHL Draft rolls around.
    
    
    
    Nils Bartholdsson 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. Nils Bartholdsson has the floor of a first line right winger on an AHL team and the ceiling of a first line right winger on an NHL team making him the twenty seventh player in the 2026 NHL Draft with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 174 lb Nils Bartholdsson had 15 goals, 22 assists, 37 points, 39 penalty minutes, and a +2 +/- ratio in 39 games with the Rogle BK Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Nils Bartholdsson had 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points in 6 playoff games.
    
    
    
    
    
37. Ottawa Senators: Maddox Dagenais, RW, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
    
    
    Last year I only had five teams in consideration for the 2025 Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers among that group of five with Florida needing to make a couple of splashes at the trade deadline to have a shot at repeating. Colorado replaces Toronto as that fifth best team for me in 2026, but I don't think they are as complete as New Jersey, Dallas, Edmonton, or Florida when those four are fully healthy. I had New Jersey making the Eastern Conference Finals last year too only to lose to Toronto in the preseason and get the growing pains experience of losing in the conference finals. This year the New Jersey Devils might get that Eastern Conference Finals growing pains expereince. Most have Carolina coming out of the Metropolitan Division again, but I believe New Jersey and Columbus are the two best teams in the Metropolitan Division when fully healthy that have the best chance to make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals and push a team like Florida to 7 games like Toronto did last year before losing to Florida in 7.
    
    
    
    New Jersey has two centers that are UFA's in 2027 and Dawson Mercer is an RFA in 2027 with Jack Hughes as the only center under contract for 2027 at the moment. Drafting the best center on the board and reloading at center is the smartest play the New Jersey Devils can make if they keep their 2026 first round pick. The top center available is Maddox Dagenais the Quebec Remparts center. Maddox Dagenais was drafted first overall by the Quebec Remparts in the 2024 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Maddox Dagenais 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. Maddox Dagenais has the floor of a third line center on an NHL team and the ceiling of a first line center on an NHL team making him the twenty eighth player in the 2026 NHL Draft with first line potential in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 2025 NHL Draft had 28 players with first line experience while the 2026 NHL Draft had 28 players with first line potential making this the strongest NHL Draft class since the Connor McDavid draft back in the 2015 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 196 lb Maddox Dagenais had 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points in 43 QMJHL games in 2024-2025. Maddox Dagenais had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 4 games in the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs.