NHL Mock Draft 2026: Gavin McKenna to Leafs, Caleb Malhotra to Canucks in Round 1 projection
Today is my second attempt to project the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. This is based on my best understanding of the range I think players could go in, team preferences, needs and any other information I’ve heard over the past few weeks.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
McKenna is the consensus favorite for the top pick, and sources in the league still believe he is the likeliest outcome at this slot. However, it is a tight top group, and when new Toronto GM John Chayka was in Arizona, he was a huge public proponent of premium positions in the draft. You can read into that as you will, but my hunch is McKenna is still very likely the pick here.
2. San Jose Sharks: Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
If McKenna goes first, the Sharks face a massive debate between adding another high-skill forward into what’s becoming a crowded young power play or anchoring their blue line. Reid’s name comes up often in those conversations as arguably the draft’s most talented defender who can quarterback the power play with those forwards for a decade. Most of the league thinks that’s who San Jose will go with.
3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
The Malhotra noise in Vancouver has become palpable to the point where I question a bit how much of it is real, as do some sources in the league, but I still think the smart money is on Malhotra at this pick, even if Ivar Stenberg or Reid would very much be in the conversation here, too.
4. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (SHL)
This is an ideal scenario for Chicago. They get a dynamic offensive player, even if he’s yet another small player, to line up with Connor Bedard and add to a promising young core. If Stenberg is gone, it becomes a bit trickier, and I would guess the Blackhawks would lean toward a defenseman with this pick.
5. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)
If the board goes like this to start, I think you will see a run on defensemen, as there is a very good top group of blueliners remaining. Carels’ heavy, competitive style to go with some offense will certainly fit what the Rangers like from their defenders.
6. Calgary Flames: Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)
Calgary needs everything right now in its rebuild, except probably a power-play QB after taking Zayne Parekh. Verhoeff’s combination of size, feet and offense will be hard to pass up at No. 6.
7. Seattle Kraken: Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)
Seattle has heavily drafted forwards in recent years, leading to early speculation that they might pivot to the blue line with this pick. Talent evaluators around the league love Rudolph; his elite brain makes him a strong top-10 pick candidate, and he offers the type of steady, high-end projection they need with the potential to run a power play in a few years.
8. Winnipeg Jets: Alberts Šmits, LHD, Munchen (DEL)
Winnipeg has a track record of coveting big, rangy defensemen. Šmits offers great size and mobility along with decent offensive skills, which could make him a prime target if they look for someone to play major NHL minutes in their top four.
9. Florida Panthers: Wyatt Cullen, LW, NTDP (USHL)
It’s been a while since Florida picked this high, so it’s hard to get a read on the Panthers’ preferences. Cullen’s massive recent growth spurt has his stock rising, making him one of the true wild cards of the top 10 due to his elite skill level. Guys with late helium tend to keep rising, and he’s been one of the real late risers in this draft cycle.
10. Nashville Predators: Viggo Björck, C, Djugarden (SHL)
Where Björck lands will be fascinating because he is extremely talented and competitive, but he is also 5-foot-9. Teams will wrestle with whether he’s more like Brayden Point or closer to Marco Rossi or Matt Savoie. Nashville takes the swing on his immense ceiling as the team looks to add some needed high-end skill to its depth chart.
11. St. Louis Blues: Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (SHL)
Gustafsson’s name has generated a lot of buzz in this range recently after a great U18 worlds. His excellent gap control, good puck-moving skills and rugged play make him an easy projection for a top-four in the NHL. He and Adam Jiricek would project to play a lot of minutes for the Blues over the next decade.
12. New Jersey Devils: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)
Belchetz was once thought of as a potential top-five pick due to his massive 6-foot-5 frame, hard elements and ability to score. He didn’t have a great season, though, and scouts have concerns about his pace. This deep into the draft, though, he starts to become very enticing, and New Jersey takes the swing on his rare physical tools.
13. New York Islanders: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Lawrence was very well thought of by evaluators six months ago, with many teams having him as a top-three prospect, but he’s plummeted in the second half of the season after average performances in college and at the U18 worlds. He’s a great skater and competitor down the middle, but the level of offense in his game is a minor concern. The Islanders are happy to get him at 13, though, given their thin center depth.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)
Hemming is very well thought of in the league. He’s highly physical with size, while also having a good amount of talent that makes him a potential hard-nosed top-six winger for the Blue Jackets.
15. St. Louis Blues: Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)
With their second pick, the Blues bolster their center depth. Suvanto’s direct, highly competitive net-front style to go along with legit offense is a highly desirable player type, even if his feet are a bit heavy. Between him and Gustafsson, they have now added two legit players at premium positions.
16. Washington Capitals: Alexander Command, C, Orebro (J20 Nationell)
Washington ideally will add a center or defenseman at this pick after drafting a lot of wingers high in recent years. Command is a very competitive, skilled player who projects as a middle-six center.
17. Los Angeles Kings: Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (Allsvenskan)
Hermansson’s stock is a bit all over the place right now, with teams loving his skill but questioning his consistency. He is coming off a great tournament at the U18s, where he led Sweden to gold, though. He’s one of the most purely talented players left in the draft, and the Kings have shown they are willing to take swings on this type of skill.
18. Washington Capitals: JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
After getting a well-rounded center with its first pick, Washington rolls the dice in some ways on a much more skilled player in Hurlbert, who has more holes. Hurlbert is one of the more purely talented scorers and playmakers in the draft, but he’s just an OK skater who can be inconsistent.
19. Utah Mammoth: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA)
Utah grabs a big, physical center in Morozov, who plays a style that translates directly to winning playoff hockey. He skates well for his size, uses his frame to win battles and competes at a high level. He may never be a prolific point producer, but if he can be a third-line center on a winning team, the Mammoth will be happy with him at No. 19.
20. San Jose Sharks: Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (MHL)
After securing an elite defenseman at the top of the draft, the Sharks add a big, heavy winger to their forward corps with this pick. Pugachyov has exciting pure tools, skates well and plays with a ton of bite. While there are some questions about his pure offense, his heavy elements will complement the skill in San Jose’s system.
21. Philadelphia Flyers: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
Philadelphia continues to build its young center depth with this pick. Hextall is a highly intelligent, diligent pivot who’s a slick playmaker with excellent offensive sense. He doesn’t shy away from going into traffic to make plays. Though his skating doesn’t stand out and he hasn’t been a prolific scorer, his strong two-way detail makes him a very safe bet to be a useful pro down the middle for the Flyers.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Ryan Lin, RHD, Vancouver (WHL)
Pittsburgh doesn’t really have a future power-play QB in its prospect pool, and Lin could be one. He’s a highly intelligent defenseman, and despite being undersized and having average skating, he competes hard and wins a surprising amount of battles, giving him a chance to be a quality NHL defenseman.
23. Boston Bruins: Adam Goljer, RHD, Trencin (Extraliga)
Goljer is trending up with teams after a strong U18 worlds. He skates well, breaks up plays effectively and makes a good first pass, even if he doesn’t project as a major offensive driver. He projects as a two-way defenseman of whom the Bruins have very little of in their system.
24. Vancouver Canucks: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
After taking Malhotra at No. 3, the Canucks use their second first-rounder on a talented center in Dagenais. He’s big, fast, skilled and physical, although inconsistent.
25. Buffalo Sabres: Casey Mutryn, RW, NTDP (USHL)
Buffalo adds some much-needed heaviness and jam to its prospect pool with Mutryn to complement all the skill it has drafted recently. He’s a hardworking, physical 6-foot-3 winger who plays at an NHL tempo and has some offensive touch, too.
26. Seattle Kraken: Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
Seattle uses its second first-round pick on the versatile Novotný. He has NHL-level speed and skill and can play in a variety of spots in a lineup, giving the Kraken a player they hope projects as a dependable middle-six forward.
27. New York Rangers: Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (OHL)
The Rangers take a massive swing on sheer upside with Rogowski, whose aesthetic tools are impossible to ignore. A 6-foot-7 center who moves well with enough puck skills is a rare thing to see. His ultimate scoring potential will be debated, but he’s just as talented as someone like Dean Letourneau was at the same point.
28. Montreal Canadiens: Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Montreal has shown it isn’t afraid to bet on sheer hockey sense, making Ruck an intriguing target here. He’s a dangerous, intelligent scoring winger who relies on his great stick and brain rather than elite athletic tools. Despite being an average skater, he gets to the hard areas to generate offense, giving him a chance to be a middle-six contributor.
29. St. Louis Blues: Tommy Bleyl, RHD, Moncton (QMJHL)
With their third pick of the first round, the Blues can afford to swing on Bleyl’s immense raw offensive talent. An undersized, dynamic puck-mover, he skates very well, possesses highly gifted hands, and can break open a shift with his flashy abilities. He comes with notable risk due to his frame, but he has the potential to be a PP QB in the NHL.
30. Calgary Flames: William Håkansson, LHD, Luleå (SHL)
Calgary adds a massive, highly competitive defenseman in Håkansson with its second pick. He moves very well for his size, plays the body aggressively and excels at killing plays defensively. While his offensive ceiling and puck play are limited, his high-end compete level and physical tools project him as a highly dependable NHL defender.
31. Carolina Hurricanes: Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
Carolina has a long history of betting on pure hockey sense and skill in the draft, and Klepov fits that mold perfectly. He’s a highly intelligent winger with the ability to consistently make difficult plays and potentially run an NHL power play. He lacks dynamic athleticism and can be pushed to the perimeter, but the Hurricanes are the exact type of organization to bet on his talent after a strong OHL season.
32. Ottawa Senators: Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (Liiga)
Ottawa closes out the first round by adding a steady, projectable right-shot defenseman to its system. Piiparinen is a mobile blueliner who moves pucks up the ice cleanly and uses his length to break up plays defensively. He doesn’t truly excel at any one specific trait, and his offensive upside is a question mark, but he’s a dependable defender whom coaches tend to trust and who projects to log a decent number of NHL minutes.
