*Note: Stats courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey

With the NHL Draft now behind us, we can now analyze the potential outlook for prospects with their new clubs. Which prospects can have an immediate fantasy impact? Let’s take a look at some of the top NHL draftees that we could see with their big clubs sooner rather than later.

10. Gleb Pugaychov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Remember the name; Gleb. After being selected late in the first round by Montreal, his hilarious sound bites have made him an instant fan favorite. The Canadiens aren’t lacking star power in their lineup, but Gleb can bring the physical element that they need, especially in the playoffs. He’s a player that hits anything that moves. General manager Kent Hughes has already stated that Gleb isn’t that far away from the NHL level, despite not being a top selection. For fantasy managers, he will be a fantasy darling in the grit department.

9. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth have one of the best young cores and prospect pools in the NHL. However, they lack size in their top six as players like Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley stand well below 6’0. Insert Ethen Belchetz, who might be one of the biggest draft steals at eighteenth overall. The left-winger stands at 6’5 and looks to be the power forward that the Mammoth have been lacking in their lineup. Once he makes the jump to the NHL, it won’t be long before he has a major fantasy impact, slotting in alongside some talented forwards in Utah.

8. Keaton Verhoeff, D, San Jose Sharks

There was a point in the season where Keaton Verheoff was in the running to be selected first overall in the 2026 Draft. Fast forward a few months, and he fell to San Jose at nine. He adds to the Sharks’ dynamic young core and will be a big piece of their future. As he grows and develops alongside the rest of the team’s youngsters, his fantasy value will only continue to grow as well. Verheoff has the potential to yield first-pairing impact in only a few years.  

7. Carson Carels, D, Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames were very thin on defense heading into this offseason. They had youngster Zayne Parekh and not much else of note on the blue line. As a result, they made a move to acquire another right-shot defenseman in Simon Nemec from New Jersey. Now they chose to select a left-shot in Carson Carels at sixth overall. Carels’ style of play can complement both Parekh and Nemec, forming one of the league’s top potential pairings. With how thin the Flames are on the left side, it won’t be long before we see him in the NHL.

6. Daxon Rudolph, D, Buffalo Sabres

Many were surprised to see Daxon Rudolph be the first defenseman off the board in this year’s draft. However, the Sabres needed a right-shot defenseman to play with Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power, and they clearly saw Rudolph as the ideal partner. They traded Bowen Byram for the fourth overall selection, which allowed them to draft Rudolph. Playing alongside one of two former first overall picks will make life easy for the youngster once he makes the transition to the NHL level.

5. Caleb Malhotra, C, Vancouver Canucks

Caleb Malhotra being selected with the third overall pick by Vancouver gives us the rare opportunity to see a player coached by his father. Manny Malhotra was recently hired as the Canucks next head coach. While Caleb is a worthy top-five pick and the best centreman of this class, the connection obviously played a factor in Vancouver’s decision to draft him. As a result, it likely will influence how soon we see him in a Canucks uniform.

4. Chase Reid, D, Seattle Kraken

Chase Reid was the betting favorite to be the first defenseman off the board in the 2026 draft. Surprisingly, however, three blue liners were selected ahead of him, and he fell into Seattle’s laps at seventh overall. He is committed to Michigan State for next season, but it won’t be long before the Kraken try to integrate him into their lineup. They’ve been starving for star power, and Chase Reid has the potential to be the number one option on the back end that they’ve been searching for.

3. Viggo Bjorck, C, Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have long been searching for a second-line centre to play behind Mark Scheifele. That is exactly what they’re hoping Viggo Bjorck can become after selecting him in the draft. He performed well playing against men in Sweden, and due to the lack of depth down the middle for the Jets, they may bring him over to North America right away. If Bjorck capitalizes on that opportunity, he will have one of the biggest fantasy impacts out of the gate amongst this draft class.

2. Ivar Stenberg, LW, San Jose Sharks

Stenberg is perhaps the most dynamic player in this draft. When the Sharks traded away William Eklund, it was clear they were targeting another Swedish winger in the draft to replace him. Stenberg will immediately jump into the Sharks top-six and top power-play unit. He will slot in alongside Macklin Celebrini or Michael Misa. This young Sharks core will be the envy of the league in a few years, but Stenberg should still have a major fantasy impact next season as he challenges for the Calder trophy.

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

He was taken first overall in the draft and also should be taken the highest in fantasy drafts, as he is the clear favorite to have the biggest fantasy impact amongst his peers next season. Gavin McKenna should immediately step into a top six role with the Maple Leafs, likely alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander. His playmaking ability will complement Matthews well, and he should see him rack up the assists. The Leafs have a lot of offensive weapons up front, as well as newly acquired Darren Raddysh on the point, so it’s unclear whether McKenna will start on the team’s top power-play unit. Regardless, he is the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy in 2026-27.

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