Congratulations, Toronto Maple Leafs fans. You\u2019re getting a good one.<\/p>\n
The NHL Draft lottery took place Tuesday night, sealing the fate for teams around the league. The final first-round selections are still to be determined based on playoff results. But for the most part, we have a better idea of which players could be available to teams at any given spot.<\/p>\n
The 2026 NHL Draft is bound to be an interesting one, with multiple options to choose from at the pointy end of the field. The\u00a0U-18 World Championship came to a close\u00a0<\/a>this past weekend, giving scouts one last glimpse at more than 100 prospects in one place to close out the season. There\u2019s still some hockey to be played \u2013 most notably in the CHL finals \u2013 but most players eligible for the draft are done for the season. Next up, the NHL Draft Combine will kick off June in Buffalo before everyone returns to the city June 26-27.<\/p>\n This is not a draft ranking. For that, check out our latest top 75<\/a>.<\/a>\u00a0But for those interested in who your team might take, here\u2019s an updated mock draft following Tuesday\u2019s draft lottery:<\/p>\n Oh. My. Gosh. Toronto, you did it. This is the guy who\u2019ll sell jerseys and get fans to love the team again. He\u2019s the most skilled player in the class, and most of the concerns around his game started to disappear after the World Juniors. Does Ivar Stenberg outperform him in the two-way sector? Absolutely. But in terms of raw, game-changing skill, nobody has what McKenna has in this class. He still needs to bulk up to truly succeed in the NHL, but an NHL coaching staff will help. You\u2019d hate to be the team that passes on McKenna this year. Toronto, just make it happen.<\/p>\n This is quite the consolation prize, especially for a team that didn\u2019t expect to pick this high. The Sharks could really use a defender \u2013 but picking the best player available should be the No. 1 goal. They could take Chase Reid here, but passing on Stenberg would come back to bite them. Stenberg is strong with the puck, has a fantastic shot and might have the second-best hockey sense of anyone in the draft behind McKenna. Stenberg\u2019s production fell as the season wore on, but he still had one of the best seasons by a U-19 player in recent SHL history. Stenberg\u2019s ceiling might not be as high as McKenna\u2019s from an offensive production standpoint. But if you\u2019re looking for someone who excels in more facets of the game, Stenberg is the best choice. Keep a close eye on Stenberg at the upcoming World Championship, assuming he does indeed make Sweden\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n Malhotra\u2019s incredible OHL playoff run should ensure he\u2019s a top-five pick \u2013 and, maybe, top-three. Malhotra\u2019s steady, smart play has helped him emerge as the No. 1 center for this draft. It\u2019s not a great group down the middle, but Malhotra looks like a future top-six threat. He was a huge part of Brantford\u2019s success this year, which included 13 goals and 26 points in just 15 playoff games. Malhotra battles hard at both ends, giving opponents little time to make quick, heads-up decisions with the puck. Will he have the natural play-driving ability to excel offensively in the NHL? We\u2019ll see. I think Chase Reid is a good option here, but if it\u2019s tight (and ignoring the family connection), this fits Vancouver\u2019s needs more.<\/p>\n 4. Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>: Chase Reid, RHD (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)<\/p>\n Most scouts expect Reid as the top blueliner in this class. It\u2019s not unthinkable that he\u2019d be the first player taken, period. That really depends on if he\u2019s viewed as a No. 1 blueliner in the NHL or not, something scouts aren\u2019t sure yet. But, man, there\u2019s a lot to like about Reid\u2019s confident game. He was excellent at the World Juniors, stood out at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was consistently one of the best defenders in the OHL. Reid is a great skater, has a solid 6-foot-2 frame and is always involved at both ends of the ice. You can argue that the OHL isn\u2019t as strong as it once was because the older competition jumped to the NCAA early. But the fundamentals in his game \u2013\u00a0size, skill and skating \u2013 should all be able to translate to any level.<\/p>\n I could see the Rangers taking Carels and being thrilled, but there\u2019s still a ton of upside in taking Verhoeff at No. 5. Verhoeff jumped from the WHL to the NCAA this year, and he was productive while playing anywhere in the 16-20 minute range on one of the top teams in the country. He takes up a ton of space at 6-foot-4 and is willing to hit you hard while also making many high-end passes in the offensive zone. Scouts wish he\u2019d add a bit more speed to be a true top-pairing defender, though, but there\u2019s time for him to figure that out. His slow end of the season has dropped his stock, but that could result in found money for the Leafs. I still like the upside here.<\/p>\n Flames fans will feel the pain from falling outside of the top five, but I do wonder if they take the chance to snag Carels. here. Carels was not only one of the best young defenders in the WHL, but he was one of the best defenders in the entire CHL, period. He\u2019s built like a tank and is an absolute powerhouse with the puck. Carels\u2019 defensive awareness, two-way skill, strong physique, and high-end hockey sense make him truly high-end. I think we\u2019re talking about a No. 2-3 defenseman in the NHL, and I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he\u2019s the first or second blueliner taken this year.<\/p>\n The Kraken have never taken a defender in the first round. Seriously, not once. That\u2019s more of a reason to make it happen, but it\u2019s hard to trust that, given their track record. So, if they elect to go the center route, why not go with one with tremendous upside? Bj\u00f6rck played first-line minutes to close the SHL season out, which is incredible given he was 17 for most of the year. He impressed at the World Juniors and has looked excellent with the Swedish men\u2019s team ahead of the World Championship. He might be small, but he\u2019s not afraid of physical play and is a wizard with the puck.<\/p>\n If \u0160mits is available, the Jets should absolutely target him. \u0160mits was a big part of Latvia\u2019s World Junior and Olympic teams this season. The 6-foot-3 blueliner moves well for his size and makes so much happen with the puck. It\u2019s always nice seeing an 18-year-old who plays with a ton of confidence on the power play. He also has plenty of pro experience under his belt, highlighted by a strong first half with Jukurit in the Finnish Liiga before joining M\u00fcnchen to finish the DEL campaign. You don\u2019t find someone in Euro pro leagues who plays between 18-20 minutes as a draft-eligible defender often \u2013 but \u0160mits impressed.<\/p>\n Most expect Florida to be back in playoff contention next year, so landing a pick this high is a total freebie. Cullen is one of the smarter wingers in this draft class. Some scouts think there\u2019s legit potential for Cullen to go in the top five. He was USA\u2019s top player throughout the U-18 World Championship thanks to his high-end hockey sense and the ability to get the whole American attack moving. His deceptiveness with the puck \u2013 both as a shooter and a passer \u2013\u00a0is remarkable. Cullen is a high-end skater who seemingly found a whole other gear once he got up to speed this season. Cullen is a constant scoring threat because he\u2019s always scanning lanes for passes, but he has the quick footwork and lateral mobility to blow by most opponents and put himself into dangerous areas. Few players have risen as high as Cullen in recent months, and you should get on the hype train if you like someone who you can rely on.<\/p>\n A disappointing college tenure, mixed in with a lackluster U-18s, definitely didn\u2019t help Lawrence\u2019s stock. He was once viewed as a legitimate candidate to go first overall \u2013 like, four months ago. The good news? He really found his game near the end of the NCAA season and should play a leading role with BU next year. He\u2019s an aggressive forward who boasts high-end hockey IQ. There\u2019s still a lot to love about his game, but he\u2019ll need to have a huge season in college to really win back scouts. For now, he\u2019s a high-risk, high-reward pick \u2013 but one the Preds should absolutely consider at this point.<\/p>\n Belchetz broke his left clavicle in March, which ended his season prematurely. Still, scouts like him, and he\u2019ll be a menace at the next level. Belchetz has never lacked confidence \u2013 and you have to have loads of it when you\u2019re the Tasmanian Devil on skates. He plays with so much power, which allows him to carve through the middle of the ice with little regard for human life. An injury wasn\u2019t the only reason he slipped, though \u2013 some scouts worry that he doesn\u2019t have any high-end traits beyond his size. <\/p>\n 12. New Jersey Devils<\/a>: Daxon Rudolph, RHD (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)<\/p>\n Devils fans, keep a close eye on the WHL final \u2013 Rudolph is going to be a highly impactful player. He has a booming shot, makes great breakout passes and can knock guys down. Rudolph\u2019s two-way game is intriguing, as is his ability to get himself out of trouble consistently with and without the puck. I think there\u2019s still work to be done to make him more aggressive in the D zone \u2013 he\u2019s a bit too passive for some scouts\u2019 liking. But with the puck, Rudolph should become a top-four threat who can play on one of the power-play units.<\/p>\n 13. New York Islanders<\/a>: Oscar Hemming, LW (Boston College, NCAA)<\/p>\n After missing the first half of the season due to a contract dispute with his Finnish club, Hemming came out swinging with Boston College. He had a pair of assists in just his second game and even had a nice four-point run during a three-game stretch. But after finishing with just two points in his final 11 games, it was a difficult end for a guy many scouts still really like. At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed, and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential. <\/p>\n 14. Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>: Malte Gustafsson, LHD (HV71, Sweden U-20)<\/p>\n Teams took notice of Gustafsson\u2019s hot U-18s, and it\u2019s hard to believe he\u2019ll fall out the top 15 on draft day now. Gustafsson is a 6-foot-4 defender who played well in the SHL, despite having little to show for it on the scoresheet. His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. A lack of flash and high-end offensive instinct likely won\u2019t help his stock to the average fan, but you still need guys who can kill plays and that\u2019s exactly what he does \u2013 quite effectively, I might add.<\/p>\n 15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit Red Wings<\/a>): Ryan Lin, RHD (Vancouver Giants, WHL)<\/p>\n Of note: the Blues are one of the few teams with a chance to land the Ruck twins. Will they? Maybe Liam goes off the board here, we\u2019ll see. But I really like Lin, who is coming off a solid showing at the U-18s. While Lin is small, he\u2019s definitely one of the most skilled defenders in this class. His decision-making is near the top, and he has the skating to burn guys. You put those together and it\u2019s easy to understand why Lin has the puck so often.\u00a0I think he still has a few things to work on, but I believe in Lin\u2019s game enough to think the team that takes him will have a fan favorite on its hands.<\/p>\n 16. Washington Capitals<\/a>: Nikita Klepov, RW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)<\/p>\n The Capitals drafting a Russian? No way! Klepov was born in Florida and has spent a little under half a decade playing in the States. Klepov is a\u00a0stout shooter and wasn\u2019t far off from reaching the 40-goal barrier this season. It was a bit surprising to see how hot he started, given he only put up 31 points in the USHL the year prior. But once he showed how consistent he could be, scouts became believers. The Michigan State University commit plays with a ton of finesse, but he\u2019s physically strong, too. He\u2019s just an OK skater,\u00a0but that\u2019ll improve with time.<\/p>\n 17. Los Angeles Kings<\/a>: Elton Hermansson, RW (MoDo, Allsvenskan)<\/p>\n The Kings need someone who can score goals in the system, especially after trading Liam Greentree, so this is a good fit. Hermansson loves generating offense \u2013 the 12 points at the U-18s are a perfect example of that. He put up solid numbers in the second-tier Swedish league this year, which isn\u2019t easy to do. From an offensive standpoint, there\u2019s a lot to love, especially on the power play. His game away from the puck is just \u201cOK\u201d at best. It feels like he isn\u2019t as impactful as he needs to be when he\u2019s not piling shots on net. I want to see more urgency when attacking opponents to regain possession, though.<\/p>\n 18. Washington Capitals (via Anaheim Ducks<\/a>): Juho Piiparinen, RHD (Tappara, Liiga)<\/p>\n Will the Capitals keep this pick? Will they package up both their first-rounders to move up? Could the Caps land the Ruck twins? What Washington does will be an interesting storyline to follow in the weeks leading up to the draft. If they keep this pick, a smart defender isn\u2019t a bad choice. Piiparinen is a smart defender who doesn\u2019t make many mistakes with the puck. He\u2019s good when he keeps things simple, but he can also rush the puck up the ice and lower the boom when needed. Piiparinen has played decent hockey against men, and his international action has been solid, too.\u00a0Piiparinen isn\u2019t flashy, but he\u2019s calm and collected in his own zone and is generally reliable defensively.<\/p>\n 19. Utah Mammoth<\/a>: Adam Novotny, LW (Peterborough Petes, OHL)<\/p>\n Novotn\u00fd would be an excellent pick here. He\u2019s a rugged forward with an excellent shot \u2013\u00a0something we saw plenty of times with Peterborough. Novotn\u00fd surpassed the 30-goal mark as an OHL rookie with Peterborough and easily finished as the Petes\u2019 No. 1 scorer. Novotn\u00fd loves to get the puck on net by any means necessary, and he\u2019s a strong skater, too. I like his two-way work \u2013 he\u2019s a full-time team player.\u00a0I see a solid middle-six scoring threat here.<\/p>\n 20. San Jose Sharks<\/a>: Xavier Villeneuve, LHD (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)<\/p>\n I\u2019m a Villeneuve fan \u2013 I think the value at this pick would be huge for San Jose. Villeneuve was one of the best defensemen at the 2025 U-18 World Championship, helping Canada win gold. He had 62 points last season in the Q and would have surpassed that this year if he hadn\u2019t missed about 25 games due to injury. Villeneuve can drive the play from the point and is as good as anyone in this draft class on the man advantage. His confidence is remarkable, too. The Sharks could use extra defensive depth, and this feels like the right choice if Piiparinen isn\u2019t available.<\/p>\n 21. Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>: Oliver Suvanto, C (Tappara, Finland U-20)<\/p>\n The Flyers love drafting big dudes, and the 6-foot-3 Suvanto would be a good fit. Suvanto spent most of the season playing against men in Tappara, where he has shown he can play a reliable two-way game. I wish we saw him put up better numbers against junior-aged players, though. Still, I really like his play away from the puck, and I thought he looked solid at the World Juniors in a variety of roles. I think we\u2019re talking about a big, middle-six guy here, but I want him to find another gear, offensively.<\/p>\n 22. Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>: Liam Ruck, RW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)<\/p>\n Ruck finished second in the WHL with 104 points to help him fly up draft boards. His playoff run was surprisingly lackluster, but we\u2019re still talking about a forward who, at his best, was unstoppable with the puck. The chemistry alongside his brother, Markus, definitely didn\u2019t hurt this season. Ruck is a below-average skater, though, and scouts are worried that he wouldn\u2019t be as effective without his brother by his side. Still, there\u2019s some obvious offensive upside, and he\u2019ll go in the first round as a result.<\/p>\n 23. Boston Bruins<\/a>: Mathis Preston, RW (Vancouver Giants, WHL)<\/p>\n Preston would be a great pick here. Preston\u2019s strong showing at the U-18s helped Preston boost his stock in a big way. He finished with six points in five games while being one of the team\u2019s top all-around offensive threats. He was a puck-possession machine, and he consistently got the puck into high-danger areas. Preston is an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing in the back of the net from the slot. His shot looks NHL-ready right now.<\/p>\n 24. Vancouver Canucks (via Minnesota Wild<\/a>): Alexander Command, C (Orebro, Sweden U-20)<\/p>\n Despite his last name, Command doesn\u2019t demand too much attention. Instead, he\u2019s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn\u2019t seem to have many off shifts, and that\u2019s because he\u2019s effective away from the puck, too. He reminds me a bit of Milton Gastrin \u2013 someone who can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I\u2019ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he\u2019s more of a third-liner in the NHL, but one who shouldn\u2019t have many issues being effective, and he\u2019s capable of handling the two-way duties while allowing his linemates to flourish. <\/p>\n 25. Montreal Canadiens<\/a>: J.P. Hurlbert, LW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)<\/p>\n No CHL rookie was as lethal as Hurlbert this year. He recorded 42 goals and 97 points with Kamloops. He\u2019s an exceptionally skilled forward who, at one point, was so far ahead in the WHL scoring race that nobody was in the same area code. The University of Michigan commit has a great one-touch shot that he routinely unleashes on the power play. He\u2019s also an exceptionally smart puck-mover who has very little difficulty getting it where it needs to be against players his own age. My two pre-season concerns \u2013 his play away from the puck and his lack of high-end speed \u2013 remain issues. Still, Montreal has a good opportunity to bet high on talent here.<\/p>\n 26. Seattle Kraken (via Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>): William H\u00e5kansson, LHD (Almtuna IS, Allsvenskan)<\/p>\n OK, for real, it\u2019s time to draft a blueliner. H\u00e5kansson would be a solid pick here, especially with few other quality options around this point. Is he flashy? Absolutely not. Can he kill plays? You bet, and that\u2019s what matters. He uses his big 6-foot-4, 207-pound frame to flatten opponents while being a pain in the rear end defensively. H\u00e5kansson is quite mobile for his frame, too.\u00a0I have little concern about his D-zone play or his ability to be a decent penalty killer. I wouldn\u2019t personally take him this high, but it fills a need for the Kraken.<\/p>\n 27. New York Rangers (via Dallas Stars<\/a>): Ilia Morozov, C (Miami University, NCAA)<\/p>\n Morozov was the youngest player in college hockey, but you couldn\u2019t tell with how often Miami relied on him this year. At 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds, he\u2019s a big center who commands respect. He put up solid numbers on a team that didn\u2019t have a ton of big-time firepower to work with. I also like his confidence and the way he\u2019s always looking to make a pass, even through traffic. Morozov doesn\u2019t have as much offensive upside as some others around this point, like Mathis Preston or Marcus Nordmark. But Morozov\u2019s game away from the puck, mixed in with his overall power, intrigues me.<\/p>\n A lot of Dagenais\u2019 power-forward tendencies come from his bigger frame. But he\u2019s far more than that. He\u2019s a decent skater who battles so hard to win every individual puck battle. Dagenais also loves to keep the puck on his stick. Thanks to his pure muscle, Dagenais is a possession machine, rarely giving the puck up on the rush. Dagenais has a good shot release but tends to choose less-than-ideal locations to fire it off.\u00a0This would be the second center taken by the Flames this year (he played the wing at the U-18s), but one worth targeting for a middle-six spot.<\/p>\n 29. Buffalo Sabres<\/a>: Jack Hextall, C (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL)<\/p>\n Hextall won\u2019t be a play-driver in the NHL, but he\u2019ll be a reliable support player instead. He was no stranger to dominant performances in the USHL this year, showcasing a dynamic skill set with an endless motor. That\u2019s what I love about his game \u2013 he can play a variety of roles while being effective. He has a good shot, but he\u2019s even better as a set-up guy. On the power play, he doesn\u2019t waste much time blasting shots past goalies. I also think he got better physically as the season wore on. <\/p>\n 30. Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>: Egor Shilov, C (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)<\/p>\n Shilov was one of the QMJHL\u2019s most proficient offensive generators this year. The Tigres finished second last in the West and were ultimately bounced in four games in the playoffs. But Shilov finished the season with 32 goals and 82 points while showing instant chemistry with fellow Russian draft prospect Alexei Vlasov (80 points). Nobody else came close to even reaching 50, so Shilov was exceptionally important. He dominates the puck game, and he\u2019s as skilled as you\u2019ll find in the CHL. There\u2019s no lack of talent here \u2013\u00a0but he can get caught watching the puck far too often and simply lacks the pace to thrive at the next level. The Hurricanes don\u2019t need him in the short-term future, so they can be patient with his long-term development.<\/p>\n