2026 NHL mock draft: Chaos ensues as trades continue to pile on

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2026 NHL mock draft: Chaos ensues as trades continue to pile on originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NHL has been chaotic this week, to say the least.

So many trades have happened, including a top 10 selection being dealt twice. The Florida Panthers kicked things off when they dealt the ninth overall pick and two other first-round picks to the Ottawa Senators, who then used the ninth overall pick to land William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks.

The Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks were active as well, with the Sabres acquiring the fourth overall pick in exchange for a package surrounding Bowen Byram.

Elsewhere, we saw the St. Louis Blues grab a fourth first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft when they dealt Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals.

Best of all, more deals are expected to be made on draft night, as it’s shaping up to be one of the wildest draft events in NHL history.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW​

Gavin McKenna is the surefire first overall pick. He has excellent hockey IQ and can elevate his linemates with his pass-first offensive style. If McKenna rounds out his defensive game a bit, he will be a star.

2. San Jose Sharks: Keaton Verhoeff, D​

Despite the flurry of moves San Jose has made, their biggest need is on the back end. Scouts have told me Keaton Verhoeff is “the next Alex Pietrangelo.” A cornerstone defenseman in the vein of Pietrangelo greatly expedites San Jose’s return to the playoffs.

3. Vancouver Canucks: Ivar Stenberg, LW​

Ivar Stenberg is a 200-foot workhorse with loads of offensive talent. Now that the Sedin brothers are co-presidents of hockey operations, it makes sense to bring in a talented player with a background similar to that of his numerous countrymen already on the roster.

MORE: Top 10 wingers in the 2026 NHL draft include Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Wyatt Cullen

4. Buffalo Sabres: Alberts Smits, D​

Buffalo impressed the hockey world with their playoff run in the 2025-26 season. Adding Alberts Smits to their blue line makes them serious contenders. Although his ceiling may not be as high as Verhoeff’s, Smits is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most NHL-ready defenseman.

5. New York Rangers: Chase Reid, D​

Chase Reid works incredibly hard, has excellent hands, and is a good skater in the offensive zone. Those upsides are evident, making him a solid offensive defenseman. I have a few significant concerns about Reid. Chief among them are Reid’s inconsistency in his own end and lack of post-season production. However, the New York Rangers need a complement to Adam Fox, regardless of the unknowns.

6. Calgary Flames: Caleb Malhotra, C​

The Calgary Flames have put together an underrated forward group of wingers, including Matt Coronato, Yegor Sharangovich, and Matvei Gridin. Still, they are missing depth down the middle. With Mikael Backlund turning 38 in March, it would be wise to line up their future number one center by selecting Caleb Malhotra.

MORE: 2026 NHL draft: Top 10 centers include several potential two-way stars

7. Seattle Kraken: Carson Carels, D​

The Seattle Kraken made significant hockey operations changes last summer, naming Jason Botterill their new GM, and saw more this off-season with Ron Francis leaving the organization. While it is too early to see his vision, the Kraken have several quality forwards in their pipeline. Carson Carels is a versatile defenseman, making him both the right and safe choice.

MORE: 'I'm Pumped': NHL Draft Prospects Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff Reunite In North Dakota

8. Winnipeg Jets: Tynan Lawrence, C​

Tynan Lawrence is the perfect pick here, given his skill set and intensity, which have drawn comparisons to Macklin Celebrini. Winnipeg is just two years removed from a Presidents’ Trophy and rostering three good centers. Lawrence can jump onto a playoff team and make an impact no different than he did at Boston University.

MORE: 2026 NHL Draft: Each Team's Picks And Prospect Pool Needs

9. San Jose Sharks: Daxon Rudolph, D​

The San Jose Sharks continue to bolster their blue line with this selection. Daxon Rudolph is an outstanding puck-moving defenseman with great size. Being a right shot on top of it makes Rudolph that much sweeter a choice.

10. Nashville Predators: Viggo Bjorck, C​

Viggo Bjorck will get passed on by some due to his size. What Bjorck lacks in height, he makes up for with speed, agility and stickhandling. He may marinate in AHL Milwaukee for a bit, but that’s a good thing as Nashville goes full force into their rebuild.

11. St. Louis Blues: Malte Gustafsson, D​

Another large defenseman off the board early, Malte Gustafsson, could slot in alongside right-handed shooting 2024 16th overall choice Adam Jiricek. Some have suggested that Philip Broberg could serve as a mentor for his fellow Swede, an idea that would build solid team chemistry if implemented.

MORE: Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff highlight the top 10 defensemen in the 2026 NHL draft

12. New Jersey Devils: Wyatt Cullen, LW​

The New Jersey Devils largely have their forward group set for this season. 2027 is a different story. Glass and Noesen are on expiring deals as UFAs and may not return. Wyatt Cullen could work his way into and up the Devils’ lineup after a year or two at Minnesota.

13. New York Islanders: Nikita Klepov, RW​

The New York Islanders continue to solidify their core group of young talent. While this pick may seem gutsy now, Nikita Klepov’s sensational scoring and intense work ethic will make him a fan favorite on Long Island.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Oscar Hemming, LW​

Oscar Hemming isn’t flashy or explosive, but he fills a middle-to-bottom role that Columbus didn’t have much of down the stretch. Lack of depth was a significant factor in the Blue Jackets missing the playoffs by seven points. He will be a welcome addition.

15. St. Louis Blues: Ryan Lin, D​

St. Louis’ back end hasn’t been the same since the injury to Torey Krug. The Blues get a player similar to him in size and style, just on the opposite side. Ryan Lin should flourish at the University of Denver before heading to the Gateway Arch.

MORE: Blues Own Four First-Round Picks Following Jordan Kyrou Trade; Is A Bigger Move Next?

16. St. Louis Blues: Alexander Command, C​

Alexander Command has exquisite vision and a great motor to power its use. He gives St. Louis a 200-foot offensive piece who will continue to grow with the Blues as he develops his game.

17. Los Angeles Kings: Oliver Suvanto, C​

Oliver Suvanto won’t turn 18 until Sept. 3, but he has already won a Liiga Championship while facing much older competition. Adding to the hype surrounding Suvanto was that he prepared for the 2026 IIHF World Championships with fellow Finn Aleksander Barkov. As Los Angeles looks for a worthy replacement to Anze Kopitar, Suvanto is a good start.

18. Washington Capitals: J.P. Hurlbert LW​

J.P. Hurlbert is a physical scoring machine, reminding me a lot of a young Tom Wilson. Yes, his defensive skills need some work, but that should be addressed by the time he leaves the University of Michigan.

MORE: Kyrou Looking Forward To Fresh Start With Capitals, Says He Has More To Prove: 'It's Nice Seeing A Team Really Want Me'

19. Utah Mammoth: Tommy Bleyl, D​

The Utah Mattoth don’t have that X-Factor on defense as of right now. The organization can change that by picking up Tommy Bleyl. He already quarterbacks a power play unit in juniors like a professional, so one can only imagine what he can do in Salt Lake City with players like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Clayton Keller to work with.

20. Buffalo Sabres: Ilia Morozov, C​

An absolutely massive 17-year-old center at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Ilia Morozov’s work ethic, physicality, and constant motor make him the kind of player any NHL team would be lucky to take.

21. Philadelphia Flyers: Adam Novotny, LW​

If Adam Novotny falls to 21, the Philadelphia Flyers should be elated. He matches their in-your-face style with his power forward game. Novotny’s nonstop forecheck makes him that much more impactful as a power forward.

MORE: Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free Agency

22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jack Hextall, C​

As Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s tenures get closer to their conclusion, the Pittsburgh Penguins need to look for the next men up. Hextall is a well-oiled machine down the middle whose smooth skating and accurate release are reminiscent of Patrice Bergeron.

23. Boston Bruins: Xavier Villeneuve, D​

Xavier Villeneuve is a guy that Boston will jump all over. He is similar in size and modus operandi on the blue line; he has shades of Charlie McAvoy but shoots left. They could work well together whenever Villeneuve departs Boston University.

24. Vancouver Canucks: Liam Ruck, RW​

Liam Ruck is an agile, intelligent forward who uses his hockey IQ to make scoring look simple. He collaborates in all three zones, making him a tenacious, multifaceted contributor. If his brother, Markus, is available, the Canucks could secure him with pick number 33.

Writing: 3 Canucks who could be traded before the 2026 NHL draft

25. Seattle Kraken: Egor Shilov, C​

Seattle is in desperate need of offensive firepower. The Kraken get it by drafting Egor Shilov. NHL Central Scouting’s J.F. Damphousse believes Shilov is one of the best stickhandlers and puck movers in the class.

26. New York Rangers: Maddox Dagenais, C​

The Rangers’ already strong power-play gets better with the addition of Maddox Dagenais. His willingness to go hard to the net and throw pucks on net gives New York a blend of scoring and sandpaper.

27. San Jose Sharks: Brooks Rogowski, C​

The Sharks have a plethora of picks, so they can shoot for size up the middle. At 6-foot-7, 236 pounds and nearly a point per game in the OHL, Brooks Rogowski is someone who could be valuable as a middle to bottom-six performer in a few years.

MORE: Recent trades give the Sharks plenty of flexibility ahead of 2026 NHL draft

28. Montreal Canadiens: Maksim Sokolovskii, D​

Aside from Bryce Pickford and possibly Bogdan Konyushkov, Montreal has few defensive prospects in its system. Sokolovskii provides an imposing shutdown presence via his 6-foot-8, 238-pound frame.

29. St. Louis Blues: Tobias Trejbal, G​

With reports continuing to surface that the Blues are shopping Jordan Binnington, St. Louis can take their potential goalie of the future here. Tobias Trejbal’s swagger between the pipes is reminiscent of Binnington. The 2026 USHL Goaltender of the Year is headed to the University of Massachusetts this fall.

MORE: Top 5 goaltenders of the 2026 NHL draft

30. Calgary Flames: Rudolfs Berzkalns, C​

The Flames go off the board a bit with this late first-round pick, but it makes sense. Rudolfs Berzkalns is a middle-six scoring center who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. He also comes from the same Muskegon Lumberjacks system where current Flames winger Gridin developed.

31. Carolina Hurricanes: Ben Macbeath, D​

Pending RFA Alexander Nikishin is reportedly being shopped around, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. If Carolina is unable to hold onto Nikishin, they should secure the services of Ben Macbeath, a well-rounded defenseman.

32. Ottawa Senators: Casey Mutryn RW​

Ottawa just lost Brady Tkachuk, but they get a player cut from the same cloth here. Casey Mutryn was captain of the U.S. NTDP and approaches the game similarly to Brady Tkachuk, whom NHL.com reported he was a fan of.

More NHL News​

• Top 10 wingers in the 2026 NHL draft include Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Wyatt Cullen
• Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff highlight the top 10 defensemen in the 2026 NHL draft
• Top 5 NHL free agents over the age of 35
• 2026 NHL mock draft: Maple Leafs, Blackhawks add wingers for Auston Matthews, Connor Bedard; Sharks take No. 1 defenseman
• Top 5 goaltenders of the 2026 NHL draft

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