Multiple Authors
The 2026 NHL draft is complete and there were some truly wonderful moments. From the Ruck twins going together to the Pittsburgh Penguins, to the reaction of Jaxon Cover’s family to the Cayman Islands product being selected with the final pick in the first round, and much more over the course of 224 picks in two days.
Now, it is time for draft grades. These marks are about what the teams did with their selections, how they maneuvered the draft board and how much value they gained or left on the board where they picked.
There are a couple of clear winners, as well as quite a few teams who left value on the board — and even allowed divisional rivals to accumulate that talent.
Note: Teams are listed alphabetically within each letter grade.
Jump ahead to your team
A grades
San Jose Sharks
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam12Ivar StenbergLWSWE5′ 11″190Frolunda (SWEDEN)19Keaton VerhoeffDCAN6′ 4″215North Dakota (NCHC)121Ryan LinDCAN5′ 11″180Vancouver (WHL)4127Brady KnowlingGCAN6′ 5″208USNTDP (USHL)6174Jake GustafsonCUSA6′ 4″182Portland (WHL)7201Alexander KarmanovDMDA7′ 1″272North Bay (OHL)
It isn’t even just an A-plus; it’s 100%, aced the test, 10/10 no notes.
The Sharks had one of the best first rounds in draft history in terms of value at the positions they selected and the ability to add elite talent in positions of need. Not only were the Sharks able to address key organizational needs, but they were patient, and in doing so, were able to extract tremendous draft value with their selections.
There is a decent chance that San Jose walks away with two of the top five defensemen in the class when we look back at this draft years from now. Everything after that was gravy. And, as if they didn’t already have a couple of young goaltenders in the organization with high-end upside, they managed to grab Brady Knowling at the end of the fourth round.
Finally, the Sharks also drafted 7-footer Alexander Karmanov, who would be the tallest player in NHL history if he were to make it to the league. The Sharks absolutely crushed this draft. Truly elite asset management and use of picks, continuing to put the building blocks in place for a very long contention window.
Toronto Maple Leafs
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam11Gavin McKennaLWCAN6′ 0″170Penn State (BIG10)260Alexander BileckiDCAN6′ 2″175Kitchener (OHL)369Ethan MacKenzieDCAN6′ 1″190Edmonton (WHL)373Zach OlsenRWCAN6′ 1″207Saskatoon (WHL)376Mans GudmundssonDSWE6′ 3″185Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)385Juuso AinastoGFIN6′ 4″198Jokerit Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)4114Patriks PluminsGLVA6′ 4″214Zemgale (LATVIA)5158Cooper WilliamsCCAN6′ 1″168Saskatoon (WHL)6161Yaroslav FedoseyevDRUS6′ 1″188Chelyabinsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)6169Brody PepoyRWUSA6′ 1″173Saginaw (OHL)
In terms of talent, this is the best draft the Leafs have had in a very long time, maybe ever from a pick-optimization perspective.
The Leafs passed the (Gavin) McKenna test. Great start. But there had been a distinct lack of upside swings in Toronto in years past. That was not the case this year, with the Leafs swinging on players who have quality profiles and skills that can translate to the NHL.
They got solid draft value at the end of the second round taking Alexander Bilecki, who was a key difference-maker in the Memorial Cup. I really liked the swings in the third round on Ethan MacKenzie, Zach Olsen and Mans Gudmundsson, getting second-round talents in the third. Add in goaltenders with legitimate NHL upside and Cooper Williams in the late rounds, and there is a lot to love about what the Leafs did.
The process of getting good value with their selections and adding players with legitimate NHL potential to their organization is one that will pay off. A very good start for new GM John Chayka and his staff.
Anaheim Ducks
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam115Nikita KlepovRWUSA6′ 0″186Saginaw (OHL)128Marcus NordmarkLWSWE6′ 2″190Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)245Jayden KurtzDUSA6′ 3″190Rogers (HIGH-MN)250Mathis PrestonRWCAN5′ 11″172Vancouver (WHL)382Rian ChudzinskiRWUSA6′ 1″191Moncton (QMJHL)5146Eric FrossardDCAN6′ 6″206Guelph (OHL)6178Gleb PeshkovGRUS6′ 3″212Vladivostok Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)6192Noah KosickCDEU6′ 0″160Seattle (WHL)7210James RieberDUSA6′ 2″176Waterloo (USHL)
For a team that entered the draft with zero first-round picks, ending up with two of the most talented forwards in the draft class is quite something.
The Ducks got tremendous value with Nikita Klepov at No. 15 and took a big swing on elite skill with Marcus Nordmark. They were then gift-wrapped Mathis Preston in the second round and made no mistake: full marks to the front office for continuing to bet on skill and adding more offensive talent to the organization.
As the draft continued, the team made educated bets with Jayden Kurtz, Rian Chudzinksi and Eric Frossard. The Ducks have stiff competition in the Pacific, but they had one of the best drafts outside of San Jose and are primed to continue to add highly skilled players to their lineup.
Nashville Predators
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam110Wyatt CullenLWUSA6′ 1″183USNTDP (USHL)131Tommy BleylDUSA5′ 11″170Moncton (QMJHL)370Dmitri BorichevGRUS6′ 2″188Loko-76 Yaroslavl (RUSSIA-JR.)4106Jakub FlorisDSVK6′ 3″194Lukko Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)4118Justin GrafLWUSA6′ 1″174Cedar Rapids (USHL)5138Philip HemmyrLWSWE6′ 1″170Bjorkloven (SWEDEN-2)6179Benjamin Cossette AyotteDCAN6′ 1″185Val-D’Or (QMJHL)7202Charlie PuglisiCUSA6′ 0″162Winchendon (HIGH-MA)
Nashville’s first round was excellent, as the drafted highly skilled players with top-of-the-lineup ceilings in Wyatt Cullen and Tommy Bleyl. Bleyl represented tremendous value at No. 31 with elite offensive upside because of his skating and puck-moving ability. Dmitri Borichev is high-end value in the third round, too.
The late-round selections were nothing to write home about, but the value the team extracted with its first few selections cannot be overstated. There is a decent chance that the Predators drafted three NHL players — and two potential stars. That is exactly the type of start the Predators needed under new GM Chris MacFarland.
Pittsburgh Penguins
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam122Liam RuckRWCAN6′ 0″174Medicine Hat (WHL)239Markus RuckCCAN6′ 0″164Medicine Hat (WHL)254Tomas GalvasDCZE5′ 10″168Liberec (CZECHIA)386Pierce MbuyiLWCAN5′ 10″160Owen Sound (OHL)4111Parker Von RichterDCAN6′ 1″205Barrie (OHL)5160Matvei NikonovichGBLR6′ 1″150Togliatti Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
The Ruck brothers are united! There is a decent chance that the Penguins drafted two top-six forwards who will be centered by Ben Kindel at the NHL level.
Overall, the Penguins had a solid approach, drafting for scoring profiles. I liked the Tomas Galvas pick, even if it was a little early, as he’s another likely NHL player. The Penguins got great value with Pierce Mbuyi in the third round, as he has a quality scoring profile and elite athleticism. They took chances on over-agers in the middle rounds, and, like Finn Harding, Parker Von Richter has a decent NHL shot.
There’s a lot to love about what the Penguins did in this draft, and the confidence to take a calculated risk with the Rucks with a sizable gap between picks was executed brilliantly. The Penguins deserve full marks for conviction and execution of their entire draft.
Los Angeles Kings
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam119Elton HermanssonRWSWE6′ 1″182Modo (SWEDEN-2)246Liam LefebvreCCAN6′ 3″201Chicoutimi (QMJHL)249Adam GoljerDSVK6′ 1″200Trencin (SLOVAKIA)380Blake ZielinskiCUSA5′ 11″190Des Moines (USHL)389Yegor RybkinGRUS6′ 6″212Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)4103Thomas VandenbergCCAN6′ 0″180Ottawa (OHL)5145Vertti SvenskDFIN6′ 0″169Saipa Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)5153Giorgos PantelasDCAN6′ 3″211Brandon (WHL)6177Alex KostovRWCAN6′ 4″207Flint (OHL)7209Tobias KrestanRWDEU6′ 2″195HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)7223Lucas AmbrosioDCAN6′ 4″194Erie (OHL)
For an organization with zero prospects projected to play in the top six, the Kings took quality swings with Elton Hermansson and Liam Lefebvre, two players with exciting scoring profiles. Getting Adam Goljer in the middle of the second was fair value, adding a quality prospect on defense.
Blake Zielinski and Thomas Vandenberg represent tremendous value in the middle rounds, adding two more players with potential complementary offense in the middle six. Grabbing Giorgos Pantelas in the fifth was a tidy bit of work for a player widely expected to go in the top 100.
Seattle Kraken
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam17Chase ReidDUSA6′ 3″190Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)238Casey MutrynRWUSA6′ 3″206USNTDP (USHL)499Viktor FedorovCRUS5′ 11″183Torpedo-Gorky Nn (RUSSIA-2)5131Finn KearnsDCAN6′ 3″206St. Andrews College (HIGH-ON)5148Luken HuffDUSA6′ 3″200Cedar Rapids (USHL)6166Ola PalmeDSWE6′ 1″198Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)7198Rylan SinghDCAN6′ 0″176Guelph (OHL)7204William TomkoCUSA6′ 0″190Sioux City (USHL)
There is no way anyone in Seattle thought Chase Reid would be available at No. 7. The Kraken wasted no time addressing a significant area of need and getting plus value on the selection. Reid is exactly the type of talent Seattle needs on the blue line.
They extracted value with Casey Mutryn in the second round and made a lot of educated bets on players in the middle rounds, too. I liked the Finn Kearns selection in the fifth round, as he has potential to grow into a bottom-six NHL player with some development time.
Bottom line, the Kraken got one of the very best defensemen in the draft at seventh overall and another first-round talent in Mutryn, who should be a middle-of-the-lineup contributor on the wing. The Kraken should be happy with how things turned out at this year’s draft.
Winnipeg Jets
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam18Viggo BjorckCSWE5′ 9″180Djurgarden (SWEDEN)371Samuel HrenakGSVK6′ 3″190Fargo (USHL)4116Zach WootenLWUSA6′ 2″205Green Bay (USHL)5135Alexandre TailleferDCAN6′ 0″164Quebec (QMJHL)6167Landon HafeleCUSA6′ 0″179Green Bay (USHL)7199Alofa Tunoa Ta’amuDUSA6′ 2″228Edmonton (WHL)7220John ParsonsGUSA6′ 3″194Providence (H-EAST)
There is a decent chance the Jets got the best center in the draft at No. 8 in Viggo Bjorck. It is very rare to say that in any NHL draft; usually, those players are gone in the top five. Addressing a key area of need while getting excellent value kicked off a decent draft for the Jets.
The Jets aren’t a free agent destination, so when the goaltender they draft is in near tears saying he was hoping to be picked by the team, you’re getting marks for value and fit. I like the Zach Wooten selection in the fourth round, given his potential to continue developing into an NHL player. The Jets swung on quality prospects throughout the draft — including Landon Hafele in the sixth — giving them the best chance to find NHL players.
B grades
Buffalo Sabres
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam14Daxon RudolphDCAN6′ 3″205Prince Albert (WHL)120Ilia MorozovCRUS6′ 3″205Miami (NCHC)4124Olivers MurnieksCLVA6′ 1″192Saint John (QMJHL)5156Doman SzongothCHUN6′ 1″195Kookoo Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)6188Dylan DumontRWCAN6′ 0″168Drummondville (QMJHL)
Turning Bowen Byram into Daxon Rudolph and Olen Zellweger is elite-level management.
The Sabres are betting Rudolph is the best offensive defenseman in the draft, and although taking him at No. 4 was a bit rich, that’s a swing they could afford to take. Ilia Morozov was a fine pick at No. 20, but leaving Ryan Lin and Adam Novotny on the board wasn’t ideal. I really liked the selection of Olivers Murnieks in the fourth round, getting good draft value there.
The Sabres’ method of acquiring their selections was tremendous, but this grade would likely be an A-plus if they had taken Carson Carels and then either Lin or Novotny with one of their first two selections. As a whole, Sabres fans should be excited about the immediate future of the franchise.
Calgary Flames
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam16Carson CarelsDCAN6′ 2″194Prince George (WHL)130Jack HextallCUSA6′ 1″195Youngstown (USHL)236Chase HarringtonLWCAN6′ 1″202Spokane (WHL)242Tobias TrejbalGCZE6′ 4″198Youngstown (USHL)255Alan ShaikhlislamovRWRUS6′ 0″190Ufa Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)365Joe IginlaRWCAN5′ 10″170Vancouver (WHL)4100Egor BarabanovCRUS6′ 0″175Saginaw (OHL)5132Simon KatolickyLWCZE6′ 5″197Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)6164Bode LaylinDUSA5′ 11″178Tri-City (USHL)
On the whole, the Flames come out pretty well given their selections. I loved the addition of Carels at sixth overall. The Flames got draft value and potentially the most impactful defenseman in the class.
I thought the Flames should have taken Bleyl at No. 30 instead of trying to address an organizational need at the center position with Jack Hextall. Full marks for getting Tobias Trejbal in the second round.
Joe Iginla was a fine pick in the third round, especially when you consider the family ties. Good swing on Egor Barabanov in the fourth round, getting a player with good offensive skills and some bite. Simon Katolicky in the fifth round was another value selection, as he has NHL depth potential.
Carolina Hurricanes
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam251William HakanssonDSWE6′ 5″217Lulea (SWEDEN)261Wiggo SorenssonCSWE5′ 10″180Boro/Vetlanda (SWEDEN-4)368Zachary LansardRWCAN6′ 0″172Regina (WHL)4105Michael BerchildLWUSA5′ 10″180USNTDP (USHL)4125Ryder FetterolfGUSA6′ 0″184Ottawa (OHL)6165Zachary JovanovskiGCAN6′ 3″185Guelph (OHL)
The Hurricanes get full marks for trading back multiple times and accumulating multiple picks to select players they probably coveted earlier in the draft.
William Hakansson is a different player than they usually draft from a scoring-profile perspective. There was some belief he might have gone in the first round, giving the pick decent value in the back half of the second. Getting Michael Berchild in the fourth round is high-end draft value and an excellent organizational fit for the type of player the Canes like.
Using the last pick of the sixth round to acquire the negotiating rights to John Carlson — who is, without a doubt, better than any player they would have selected — is good asset management. If the Canes believe there is a greater than 5% chance that Carlson signs, that is the best use of that selection.
Utah Mammoth
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam117Ethan BelchetzLWCAN6′ 5″230Windsor (OHL)396Adam ValentiniCCAN5′ 10″183Michigan (BIG10)4115Carl AxelssonGSWE6′ 3″184Muskegon (USHL)5130Theodor KnightsDSWE6′ 4″194Modo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)5147Florent HouleRWCAN6′ 0″191Sherbrooke (QMJHL)7211Artem PrimaLWRUS6′ 0″178Minot (NAHL)
On draft value alone, the Ethan Belchetz pick earned the Mammoth a B-plus if they did nothing else with the rest of their selections. There is a decent chance he is the best power forward in the draft class, and trading up two picks to get him was the right move. Any time you can address an organizational area of need and extract tremendous draft value, you’re getting top marks.
Acquiring Sebastian Cossa with the pick from Boston in the JJ Peterka trade is a fine bet, although a little rich for my blood. I loved the Adam Valentini selection, which represented some of the best draft value on Day 2.
Even if the Mammoth get only one player (Belchetz) from this class, the likelihood that he’s a top-six difference-maker for them is relatively high.
Colorado Avalanche
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam243Egor ShilovCRUS6′ 1″177Victoriaville (QMJHL)374Beckett HamiltonCUSA5′ 11″174Red Deer (WHL)4126Tobias TvrznikGCZE6′ 4″193Wenatchee (WHL)4128Axel ElofssonDSWE5′ 10″169Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)5140Cole TuminaroDUSA6′ 4″225Chicago (USHL)5152Theodore LechnerDUSA6′ 2″164Holy Angels (HIGH-MN)7195Shawn CarrierLWCAN5′ 10″186Halifax (QMJHL)7214Ondrej RumlDCZE6′ 0″171Ottawa (OHL)7215Alexandre RaymondGCAN6′ 4″201Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
The Avalanche patiently waiting to get first-round talent in Egor Shilov in the middle of the second was a great move. They didn’t have many picks, but they continued to extract draft value with their middle-round selections of Beckett Hamilton and Axel Elofsson, as well.
With what they had, the Avalanche did better than they should have.
Columbus Blue Jackets
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam114Oscar HemmingLWFIN6′ 4″204Boston College (H-EAST)394Alessandro Di IorioCCAN6′ 0″195Sarnia (OHL)4121Evan JardineLWUSA6′ 0″185Youngstown (USHL)5142Parker SnellGCAN6′ 2″176Edmonton (WHL)6182Anttoni UronenCFIN6′ 0″201Hifk (FINLAND)6185Jonas WooDCAN5′ 9″175Medicine Hat (WHL)7206Filip NovakLWCZE6′ 2″206Sparta Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.)
This was a mixed bag for the Blue Jackets. They didn’t draft the best power winger available with their first selection, and they left significant value on the board.
However, I loved the Alessandro Di Iorio selection at the end of the third round. There is a real chance his production explodes next season.
I absolutely loved the Anttoni Uronen and Jonas Woo selections in the sixth round. Both have high-end scoring profiles with NHL potential. It is rare that those types of scoring profiles are available in the sixth.
Dallas Stars
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam259Jakub VanecekDCZE6′ 2″203Tri-City (WHL)5155Ryan BrownLWCAN5′ 11″177London (OHL)6187Anton Emil Wilde LarsenGDNK6′ 2″191Frederikshavn (DENMARK)7197Jasper KuhtaCFIN6′ 3″194Ottawa (OHL)7219Mikhail CherepanovDRUS6′ 1″188New Hampshire (NAHL)
The Stars did a great job with their selections despite not having a ton of draft capital.
They got value on the Jakub Vanecek selection, given that he could have gone much earlier on Day 2, and I really liked the Ryan Brown pick. There is serious potential for Brown to pop and become an effective bottom-six NHL player who can contribute offense. The Stars took educated risks that could pay off.
Detroit Red Wings
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam123JP HurlbertLWUSA6′ 0″190Kamloops (WHL)247Victor PlanteLWUSA5′ 10″165USNTDP (USHL)379Michal OrsulakGCZE6′ 4″224Prince Albert (WHL)4108Adam LevacCCAN6′ 0″176Peterborough (OHL)5143Beckham EdwardsCCAN6′ 1″190Sarnia (OHL)6175Luka ArkkoLWFIN6′ 3″212Pelicans Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)7196Myles BrosnanDUSA6′ 0″194Dexter School (HIGH-MA)
Turning Sebastian Cossa into JP Hurlbert and adding Victor Plante in the second round is good work for the Red Wings. I really liked the uniting of the Plante brothers in the organization.
With Cossa going out, the Red Wings adding Michal Orsulak makes a lot of sense. He’s great value in the third round.
Beckham Edwards in the fifth round was another nice selection. He slipped in rankings through the season but profiles as a depth NHL player, which presents decent value.
Overall, the Red Wings did fairly well with what they had, not getting high-end value anywhere but adding players with legitimate NHL upside.
Florida Panthers
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam240Simas IgnataviciusRWUSA6′ 3″201Geneve (SWISS)248Ryder CaliCCHE6′ 2″214North Bay (OHL)498Jonas KempsDUSA6′ 6″195Chicago (USHL)6168Vilho VanhataloRWFIN6′ 3″194Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)6181Cole ZurawskiRWCAN6′ 1″188Owen Sound (OHL)7217Louis-Antoine DenaultGCAN6′ 8″210Newfoundland (QMJHL)
The Panthers got excellent value with three of their picks, and it wouldn’t surprise me if all of them played NHL games.
With their first two picks, they got prospects who are high-probability NHL players in Simas Ignatavicius and Ryder Cali. Both are going to fit right in with Florida’s “hard to play against” mantra. Add in Vilho Vanhatalo — who was a potential top-50 pick to start the season — in the sixth round, and the Panthers did well with the draft capital they had, adding to a barren prospect pipeline.
New Jersey Devils
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam112Alexander CommandCSWE6′ 1″187Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)237Matias VanhanenLWFIN5′ 11″180Everett (WHL)244Nikita ShcherbakovDRUS6′ 5″187Ufa Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)4119Lavr GashilovCRUS5′ 11″186Yekaterinburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)5149Daniil RusakovichGBLR6′ 4″188Dinamo-Shinnik Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)6172Luke WilfleyCUSA6′ 1″182Portland (WHL)7222Quinn McKenzieCUSA5′ 8″178Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
The Devils are clearly addressing some needs in their organization this offseason, and although they left some draft value on the board with their first two picks, there is a high likelihood that their top two picks play NHL games in a meaningful middle-of-the-lineup roles.
I loved Nikita Shcherbakov in the second round. I also really liked the high-risk, high-reward selection of Lavr Gashilov, who owns a high-end scoring profile in the MHL. Quinn McKenzie was an excellent swing in the seventh round as a prospect who could blossom into a bottom-of-the-lineup player.
On the whole, the Devils got players who will contribute, but the team left some serious upside on the board. That’s why New Jersey was downgraded from a B-plus to a B.
New York Islanders
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam113Malte GustafssonDSWE6′ 5″203HV71 (SWEDEN)4109Lincoln KuehneDUSA6′ 2″210Arizona State (NCHC)5141Vladimir DraveckyDUSA5′ 11″193Brantford (OHL)6173Artyom MatyukCRUS6′ 1″174Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)7205Robert CowanRWUSA5′ 11″176Western Michigan (NCHC)
The Isles came into the draft with a pretty clear need, and credit where it’s due: They addressed it.
I liked the Malte Gustafsson selection in the first round, a fair value there, but thought Lin or Belchetz would have been better selections for what the Islanders need.
The Islanders did get good draft value with Lincoln Kuehne, who is a high-end talent and fills a significant need for a right-handed defenseman in the organization. He has potential to become a depth player. The same goes for Vladimir Dravecky, who fills a need and could easily outperform his selection.
The Isles still lack a high-end right-handed defender, but they have given themselves a couple of decent shots at NHL depth defenders on the right side.
Vancouver Canucks
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam13Caleb MalhotraCCAN6′ 2″185Brantford (OHL)124Adam NovotnyLWCZE6′ 1″200Peterborough (OHL)233Brooks RogowskiCUSA6′ 7″235Oshawa (OHL)241Niklas Aaram-OlsenLWNOR6′ 0″185Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)378Dmitri IvchenkoGRUS6′ 3″179Omsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)497Yaroslav BryzgalovLWBLR6′ 3″216Medicine Hat (WHL)5129Connor DavisRWCAN6′ 0″188Cedar Rapids (USHL)6176Lucian BernatRWSVK6′ 4″201Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)6184Samuel ErikssonDSWE6′ 6″212Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
The Canucks got great value with Novotny, and I like the Niklas Aaram-Olsen pick even if I preferred other players at that spot. Going for need at the top of the draft has burned them before, but Caleb Malhotra should be a quality second-line, two-way center for the team.
I also liked the Brooks Rogowski selection; he has upside as a big-body, middle-of-the-lineup, secondary scoring forward. The Yaroslav Bryzgalov selection as a potential depth scorer in the future is a fun bet, too.
In the later rounds, the Canucks went for size over upside bets, and they are hoping some NHL traits develop in the likes of Samuel Eriksson and Connor Davis. At the end of the day, passing on the likes of Reid and Preston — and gift-wrapping them to divisional rivals — is not ideal, and that factors into the grade.
1:21
‘I’m only wearing my dad hat tonight’: Manny Malhotra reacts to Canucks drafting son, Caleb
Chicago Blackhawks
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam234Xavier VilleneuveDCAN5′ 11″164Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)235Ryan RoobroeckLWCAN6′ 3″210Niagara (OHL)366Samu AlalauriDFIN6′ 2″221Pelicans Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)7194Alexander IvanovDRUS6′ 2″181Bars Kazan (RUSSIA-2)7200William SorbrandCSWE6′ 3″203Timra Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
One of the toughest teams to grade in this draft.
The Blackhawks selected the defenseman with arguably the highest ceiling in the draft in Xavier Villeneuve and followed it up with another excellent value in Ryan Roobroeck. With no first-round picks after a trade earlier in the week, the Blackhawks managed to get two players with high ceilings who could be top-of-the-lineup contributors if they develop properly.
But they are boom-or-bust prospects. Ultimately, the Blackhawks got solid value and took swings with their picks, but giving up the No. 4 selection for Bowen Byram factors in as a questionable use of draft capital when they could have had their choice of all the top defensemen available.
Minnesota Wild
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam383Adam AnderssonCSWE6′ 4″218Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)4112Kayden LemireRWCAN6′ 4″194Prince George (WHL)5137Filip RuzickaGCZE6′ 7″230Brandon (WHL)
The Wild had few selections after their trades. They did not waste those picks, however, addressing areas of need and choosing players with good draft value.
I loved the selection of Adam Andersson in the third round, as some thought he would go in the second. Given the need for centers, he is most certainly an organizational fit. The Wild got decent draft value with Kayden Lemire and Filip Ruzicka in the middle rounds simply by taking players with high ceilings who need development time. Andersson is likely to be a bottom-six center.
Montreal Canadiens
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam126Gleb PugachyovRWKAZ6′ 3″224Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)257Timofei RuntsoDUSA6′ 3″194Victoria (WHL)393Cooper CleavesDUSA6′ 3″203Dartmouth (ECAC)4117Brayden KlimpkeDCAN6′ 0″174Saskatoon (WHL)6189Parker TrottierLWUSA6′ 1″186USNTDP (USHL)6190Wesley RoystonRWCAN6′ 4″186Owen Sound (OHL)7221Jean-Samuel DaigneaultDCAN6′ 3″194Muskegon (USHL)7224Tyler DeakosRWCAN6′ 1″175Waterloo (USHL)
The Canadiens drafted for need with their first few picks, and certainly left value on the board, but they are likely to get quality NHL minutes at the bottom of their lineup from their players they chose. Given where Montreal is in its contention cycle, you can understand why it wants to address needs, so the strategy is defensible.
I really liked the Parker Trottier and Wesley Royston selections in the sixth round. Trottier is one of the most competitive, fiery and seriously annoying players to play against. It will not surprise me in the slightest if he becomes a fourth-line pest in the NHL.
St. Louis Blues
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam111Tynan LawrenceCCAN6′ 1″183Boston University (H-EAST)116Maddox DagenaisCCAN6′ 4″198Quebec (QMJHL)375Luke SchairerDUSA6′ 3″194USNTDP (USHL)4107Landon NyczDUSA6′ 3″210UMass (H-EAST)4123Vladimir ProskurinGRUS6′ 0″158Mytischi Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)5139Nicholas BogasDUSA6′ 0″190USNTDP (USHL)5150Carter StevensRWCAN6′ 2″195Guelph (OHL)6171Lars SteinerRWCHE5′ 10″175Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)7203Colin FitzgeraldCCAN6′ 3″197Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Leaving Belchetz on the board twice when he was the best player available for prospects with lower ceilings meant the Blues started behind the eight ball from a value perspective.
The trade to acquire Mason McTavish will help the team immediately, but you want top-of-the-lineup players with two picks in the first half of the first round, and I’m not sure the Blues got even one.
They did get excellent draft value with Luke Schairer in the third round, Nicholas Bogas in the fifth and Lars Steiner in the sixth. After conceding a ton of value in the first few picks, the Blues did very well on Day 2 with their selections, bumping up their grade.
Vegas Golden Knights
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam129Juho PiiparinenDFIN6′ 2″204Tappara (FINLAND)263Forfeited———-392Benjamin WilmottCUSA6′ 1″188Barrie (OHL)395Sean BurickDUSA6′ 8″214Penticton (WHL)4113Jonah SivertsonRWCAN6′ 3″198Prince Albert (WHL)5159Will McLaughlinDCAN6′ 2″168Portland (WHL)6191Matthew MinchakGUSA6′ 5″195Kingston (OHL)7207Noel PakarinenLWUSA6′ 2″200K-Espoo Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
The Golden Knights traded back into the first round and grabbed Juho Piiparinen, who was right in that area for me. There’s a chance he’ll pop and become a top-four defender in the NHL for a long time.
I absolutely loved the value of the Jonah Sivertson selection, jumping up to No. 113 to get him. Vegas didn’t enter the draft with many selections — and you certainly lose marks for forfeiting a pick — but the Knights did fairly well with what they had.
C grades
Boston Bruins
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam256Yuri IvanovGRUS6′ 3″166Spartak Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)388Nils BartholdssonRWSWE5′ 10″179Rogle Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)4104Matvei KotkovRWRUS6′ 1″183Yaroslavl Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)4122Oscar OlssonLWSWE6′ 4″187Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)5157Jacob VandevenDCAN6′ 5″183Komoka (GOHL)6170Roberto HenriquezGSVK6′ 1″168Green Bay (USHL)7216Cullen McCrateDUSA6′ 1″199Fargo (USHL)
Acquiring a proven NHL player is almost always better than taking a chance with a draft pick. JJ Peterka is who the Bruins opted for, sending a first-round pick to Utah in the deal.
Yuri Ivanov is a very young goaltender who is going to take time but has solid NHL potential. Oscar Olsson is a decent bet in the fourth round with potential.
The Bruins might not get any NHL players from their draft class, but using their first pick as part of a package to acquire a proven talent is good business for where the team is in its competitive window.
Edmonton Oilers
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam258Rudolfs BerzkalnsCLVA6′ 4″205Muskegon (USHL)384Malcom GastrinLWSWE6′ 0″174Modo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)5133Andrew RobinsonDCAN6′ 0″190Windsor (OHL)6180Caden HarveyCUSA6′ 1″183Windsor (OHL)7212Ryan CameronGUSA6′ 2″183Cedar Rapids (USHL)
There’s not a lot to write home about, but I loved the Rudolfs Berzkalns pick. To trade down, accumulate another pick and get a solid player who should play in the bottom of the lineup for the Oilers is good asset management.
Following that, Malcolm Gastrin has upside as a pest forward toward the bottom of the lineup. Ultimately, the Oilers didn’t have a ton to work with, and they might get just one NHL player from the draft, but he could be a nice contributor for their bottom six.
New York Rangers
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam15Alberts SmitsDLVA6′ 3″209Munchen (GERMANY)264Benjamin MacBeathDCAN6′ 2″196Calgary (WHL)367Danai ShaiikovGKAZ6′ 2″186Gatineau (QMJHL)377Charlie MorrisonDCAN6′ 4″200Quebec (QMJHL)381Tomas ChrenkoCSVK5′ 11″172Nitra (SLOVAKIA)4102Spencer BowesLWCAN6′ 0″172Ottawa (OHL)6162Andre MondouxDCAN6′ 3″201Kingston (OHL)6163Darian AndersonRWUSA6′ 3″196Flint (OHL)7193Ivan PatrikhayevDRUS6′ 0″185CSKA (RUSSIA)
Understanding the desire to remain competitive right now, I get why Alberts Smits is an attractive prospect. Having said that, leaving both Carels and Reid on the board is … suboptimal. That is far too much value at a premier position to pass on in favor of a player who can play now.
Smits should be a good top-four defenseman, but the Rangers had the opportunity to draft a potential star and opted for the safety net. They got good value on Ben MacBeath at the end of the second round, and I really liked the Charlie Morrison and Tomas Chrenko selections in the third. But when you pass on some of the best talent at the top of the draft in favor of a more NHL-ready player, you lose marks on your process.
The educated bets on Day 2 elevated the draft grade, but the Rangers still have a lot of work to do in adding talent to the organization.
Ottawa Senators
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam125Jonas Lagerberg HoenRWSWE6′ 3″178Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)132Jaxon CoverRWUSA6′ 2″183London (OHL)372Adam NemecLWSVK6′ 1″180Sudbury (OHL)387Oscar HolmertzCSWE6′ 0″187Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)391Louis Felix BourqueRWCAN6′ 2″214Drummondville (QMJHL)4110Elliot LennonGCAN6′ 5″181Deerfield (HIGH-MA)5151Harris PangretitschDCAN6′ 4″219Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)6183Alexander GruninDRUS6′ 3″176Novosibirsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
The Sens started the year with zero first-round picks, and ended up selecting twice on Night 1. They took home run swings with both picks, but left significant value on the board at No. 25 and got fair value at No. 32. Jaxon Cover is more raw but has the chance to play to his first-round pedigree, much like Easton Cowan did the year after he was drafted. It is better to swing on skill than size, and the Sens get some credit for that despite leaving high-end talent on the board with both of their firsts.
I liked the Adam Nemec pick in the third round; the Sens landed good draft value there. Outside of that, the Sens don’t have a ton of projectable NHL talent from this draft class. The hope is that some of their swings pop in their draft-plus-one years to give them a better shot at NHL minutes.
Philadelphia Flyers
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam127Maksim SokolovskiiDKAZ6′ 7″240London (OHL)253Brek LiskeDCAN6′ 1″190Everett (WHL)262Martin PsohlavecGCZE6′ 5″183Karlovy Vary Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.)4120Marek SklenickaGCZE6′ 3″171Seattle (WHL)5136Kent SauerCUSA6′ 3″202Andover (HIGH-MN)7213Max LaatikainenDSWE6′ 0″185K-Espoo Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
Kudos to the Flyers for trading back, understanding they could be patient and accumulate pick value. They left some value on the board in favor of drafting for organizational fit, but got decent value with the Brek Liske pick.
Max Laatikainen is an excellent bet in the seventh round as the youngest player in the draft and a prospect with potential.
At the end of the day, you need to draft high-end talent to compete. The Flyers passing on upside for players who fit the style their coach wants to play is risky business and certainly costs them some grading points.
Washington Capitals
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam118Oliver SuvantoCFIN6′ 3″213Tappara (FINLAND)4101Tyus SparksCUSA6′ 0″190Spokane (WHL)5144Brian McFaddenDUSA6′ 5″183Thayer Academy (HIGH-MA)7208Logan StuartCUSA5′ 11″175USNTDP (USHL)
They didn’t have a ton of picks, but their selections were fine. Oliver Suvanto was a little rich for my blood given the talent that was available on the board, but he probably will end up as a quality third-line center.
Trading up to get a falling Tyus Sparks was a good move, as he’s got potential to be an energy player in the bottom six. I liked the seventh-round swing on Logan Stuart, who could develop into a depth defender at the NHL level.
Tampa Bay Lightning
RoundOverallPlayerPosCountryHtWtTeam252Oleg KulebiakinRWRUS5′ 10″178Halifax (QMJHL)390Tomas KralovicDSVK6′ 3″202Bratislava (SLOVAKIA)5134Morgan AnderbergCSWE5′ 11″174Vaxjo (SWEDEN)5154Cooper SollerCUSA5′ 10″172Sioux Falls (USHL)6186Stepan ShuryginGRUS6′ 5″207Saginaw (OHL)7218Max VilenDSWE6′ 3″198Moncton (QMJHL)
The Bolts didn’t have many selections and didn’t do much with the ones they had. They traded up for Oleg Kulebiakin, who I believe they could have waited on or passed on to select a player with better upside. Neither of their middle-round picks have profiles that would indicate NHL potential, but that can change if Tampa Bay’s development system extracts more.
