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2026 NHL mock draft: Maple Leafs, Blackhawks add wingers for Auston Matthews, Connor Bedard; Sharks take No. 1 defenseman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the Carolina Hurricanes crowned Stanley Cup Champions, all eyes shift focus to the 2026 NHL off-season, with the draft first up on June 26-27.
This class features high-end talent in all areas of the ice, headlined by skilled wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, as well as gifted defenseman Chase Reid, who all have the chance to alter the future of a franchise overnight.
With just one week until the first round gets underway at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, let’s take a look at one way the top 32 picks of this year’s draft could fall.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW
The Toronto Maple Leafs should ultimately go with Gavin McKenna, who has the highest offensive ceiling among all skaters in this class. There’s a clear path for him to develop into a perennial 100-point player alongside Auston Matthews, with the ability to control the pace of play through his playmaking and offensive creativity.
MORE: 3 best 2026 NHL draft options for the Maple Leafs at first overall
2. San Jose Sharks: Chase Reid, D
After landing premium offensive talent in the draft over the past few seasons, Chase Reid could be the missing piece of the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild. Reid is a dynamic puck-moving defenseman who skates at a high level and is a threat in transition, giving him all the tools to become a cornerstone piece on the Sharks’ blueline.
MORE: 2026 NHL draft: Do the Sharks give Macklin Celebrini another star winger or a No. 1 defenseman?
3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C
Caleb Malhotra’s ability to make difficult plays with pace while having detailed, two-way habits led to his emergence as the top center in this class. The Vancouver Canucks’ hiring of his father, Manny, as head coach may create some outside noise, but his talent and leadership make him a strong fit for the organization.
4. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW
Chicago Blackhawks fans should be thrilled if Ivar Stenberg falls to them. The dynamic winger had a historic offensive season as a draft-eligible player in the SHL and was a difference-maker with and without the puck on every shift. Stenberg could be the linemate for Connor Bedard the team has long been searching for.
5. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, D
With K’Andre Miller already gone and rumours swirling around the future of Adam Fox, the New York Rangers need long-term insurance on their back end, and Carson Carels provides that. He’s effective in all on-ice situations and can play any way that’s asked of him, whether it’s as an offensive creator or in a late-game shutdown role.
6. Calgary Flames: Alberts Smits, D
Alberts Smits is a mature, competitive defender who has shown offensive flashes against grown men during his time playing pro in Finland, Germany, and with Latvia on the Olympic stage earlier this year. The Calgary Flames are thin on the back end, but adding the most NHL-ready defender in this class in Smits could be a huge win.
7. Seattle Kraken: Keaton Verhoeff, D
Once viewed as a potential top-3 pick, scouts have softened on Keaton Verhoeff and what his ceiling truly could be at the NHL level. However, his size, raw offensive tools, and ability to log big minutes will be hard to pass on for a Seattle Kraken team that lacks a high-end blueliner in their prospect pool.
8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Bjorck, C
Despite being 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, Viggo Bjorck plays well above his size. He’s a tenacious forechecker with great hands in tight and recently had an impressive showing against bigger, NHL-calibre competition at the World Championships this year with Sweden. The Winnipeg Jets desperately need a play-driving center of the future, and Bjorck fits the bill.
MORE: 2026 NHL Draft: Top Five Centers Include Bjorck, Malhotra And Lawrence
9. Florida Panthers: Daxon Rudolph, D
Daxon Rudolph developed into a high-end offensive player with Prince Albert this season, scoring 25 goals and 66 points in the regular season before leading the Raiders to the WHL final with 27 points in 19 playoff games. The Florida Panthers’ defense is an older group, so it would be in their best interest to inject some youth into their blueline.
10. Nashville Predators: Ethan Belchetz, LW
Standing at 6-foot-5, weighing 227 pounds, Ethan Belchetz is a power forward with the hands of a playmaker. His skating has kept him from maintaining his status as a top-5 talent in this class, but his offensive upside is undeniable. Nashville needs improvements in multiple areas, so Belchetz fits as the best available talent.
11. St. Louis Blues: Tynan Lawrence, C
Tynan Lawrence is one of the best skaters in this class and is a dangerous player in transition. For the majority of the season, he was widely considered the top center of the draft, but his scoring struggles in the NCAA derailed his stock. The St. Louis Blues historically like to build around detailed two-way players, and Lawrence would fit perfectly.
12. New Jersey Devils: Wyatt Cullen, LW
Wyatt Cullen is a shifty skater and puck handler who proved to be far and away the best player on USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program this year. He’s one of the draft’s purely offensively-driven players with potential to be a high-end, top-six producer at the NHL level, which the Devils will take all day at this range.
MORE: 2026 NHL Draft: Top Five Goalies Include Trejbal, Boettiger And Knowling
13. New York Islanders: Oliver Suvanto, C
Oliver Suvanto is a pesky two-way forward who works extremely hard in the defensive zone and has proven to be a solid net-front presence while playing against pro competition in Finland. The New York Islanders have an older bottom-six rotation of forwards, and Suvanto could be their third-line center of the future.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Oscar Hemming, LW
Oscar Hemming projects to be a complementary middle-six winger who plays with a ton of physicality. He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but he’s got solid instincts, an above-average shot, and has shown flashes of creative playmaking in the NCAA. After some misses at the draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to land a player with a projectable NHL career, and Hemming has that.
15. St. Louis Blues (via DET): Malte Gustafsson, D
After taking Lawrence with the 11th pick, the Blues land one of the smartest and physically imposing defenders in this class with Malte Gustafsson. His hockey IQ is off the charts, as he consistently makes the right decisions when defending on the rush and moving the puck out of his own zone. There’s a real chance he’s a top-10 pick.
MORE: 2026 NHL Draft: Top Five Defensemen Include Smits, Reid And Verhoeff
16. Washington Capitals: Alexander Command, C
Alexander Command plays with a high motor and is a relentless forechecker, making him a tough matchup on any given night. His game isn’t flashy, but coaches will appreciate his energy and versatility across the lineup, which aligns with what the Washington Capitals are building offensively.
17. Los Angeles Kings: Nikita Klepov, RW
Nikita Klepov became the first rookie to win the OHL scoring title since the 1973-74 season after putting up 37 goals and 97 points in 67 games with the Saginaw Spirit. He’s got skill and creativity that allows him to thrive in open space, and he could fit in as a second-line winger with the Los Angeles Kings.
18. Washington Capitals (via ANA): Ryan Lin, D
Ryan Lin is one of the draft’s most defensively-detailed players with a translatable offensive game, indicating he could be a long-time NHLer. The Capitals have their next offensive defenseman in Cole Hutson, and landing Lin as a reliable two-way asset could be the ideal complementary piece they need.
19. Utah Mammoth: Tommy Bleyl, D
Tommy Bleyl is one of this draft’s best skaters. With the puck, his mobility can shake defenders with ease to find shooting or passing lanes. While defending, he gaps up on opposing players well and can shut down transition plays. He would bring a dynamic element that’s missing from the Utah Mammoth’s defensive pipeline.
20. Buffalo Sabres (from EDM via SJ): Elton Hermansson, RW
Elton Hermansson has electrifying skill that’s impossible to miss. He built up his game in Sweden’s second-tier professional league this year after a standout performance at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, showing off the hands and vision that could make him a legitimate top-six forward with top-line upside. He’ll have every opportunity to compete for that role in the Buffalo Sabres prospect pool.
21. Philadelphia Flyers: Xavier Villeneuve, D
The Philadelphia Flyers have been missing a true power-play quarterback for years, and Xavier Villeneuve could be the perfect fit. At his best, he is this draft’s most offensively gifted defenseman, drawing comparisons to Lane Hutson. Villeneuve is undersized, and there are improvements needed in his defensive game, but he’s got a ton of talent that’s worth betting on.
MORE: 2026 NHL mock draft: Maple Leafs, Sharks win big in draft lottery
22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jack Hextall, C
Jack Hextall showed a ton of versatility throughout the season in the USHL, serving as an effective presence at center and on the wing with the Youngstown Phantoms. He sees the ice very well and has an NHL-calibre shot that beats goalies regularly from distance. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a plethora of aging centers, making this an intriguing fit.
23. Boston Bruins: Adam Novotny, LW
Adam Novotny has off-puck habits and a polished defensive game beyond his years, projecting as a middle-six winger that showed his scoring upside with 34 goals in his first full season in the OHL. The Boston Bruins would probably like to take a defenseman, but there aren’t many worthy candidates in this range.
24. Vancouver Canucks: Mathis Preston, RW
Injuries and inconsistent scoring have held Mathis Preston back from climbing back up draft rankings after starting as a top-15 talent. However, he’s had game-breaking moments and stretches of real offensive prowess on the junior and international stages, which may indicate he could be a steal in this range for the Canucks.
25. Seattle Kraken: J.P. Hurlbert, LW
J.P. Hurlbert is one of this draft’s best goal-scorers, finishing fourth in WHL scoring with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games after leaving the USNTDP. His details in the defensive zone need work, but his offense is well worth betting on for the Kraken, who lack a true scoring presence.
26. New York Rangers (from DAL via CAR): Ilia Morozov, C
Ilia Morozov projects as a third-line centre at the NHL level with his proficiency as a net-front presence and defensive abilities. There isn’t much flash to his game, but with Vincent Trochek potentially on the move, the Rangers need as much two-way talent as they can get.
27. San Jose Sharks (via BUF): Casey Mutryn, RW
Casey Mutryn is a power forward who would fit in perfectly in San Jose as a physical presence built for NHL playoff hockey. His skating has limited his ability to be a threat on the rush and his defensive game needs some tuning, but the foundation of what he brings is extremely valuable.
MORE: Sharks Acquire Michael Kesselring, 27th Overall Pick from Buffalo
28. Montreal Canadiens: William Hakansson, D
William Hakansson is an athletic defender who rarely makes mistakes. He could add layers of offense as he develops, but he doesn’t have any standout tools that suggest he would be selected much higher. The Montreal Canadiens need to tighten up defensively, and Hakansson could prove to be just what they need.
29. St. Louis Blues (via COL): Maddox Dagenais, C
It’s unlikely that the Blues keep all of their picks in the first round, but if Maddox Dagenais is around in this range, he’d make sense as a fit. Similarly to Mutryn, Dagenais isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and has a scoring touch that developed this season, leading to a 30-goal campaign in the QMJHL.
30. Calgary Flames (via VGK): Liam Ruck, RW
Liam Ruck is joining his brother Markus in this class as two offensively-gifted players who drove the Medicine Hat Tigers’ offense this year. Liam projects as the better long-term NHLer with his shot and hockey sense being standout traits of his game. Skating will be the biggest area of development, but there’s top-six potential in his game.
MORE: How the Flames can draft both Ruck brothers, Liam and Markus
31. Carolina Hurricanes: Marcus Nordmark, LW
Marcus Nordmark’s offensive inconsistencies prevented him from sustaining momentum as a top-15 pick in this class, but he’s got the foundational skills and offensive instincts to be a middle-six winger in the NHL. The Hurricanes can afford to take a shot on him with their contending window being wide open.
32. Ottawa Senators: Brooks Rogowski, C
The Ottawa Senators love players who are physically engaged in their offense, and Brooks Rogowski, standing at 6-foot-7, could be a nice fit for them at the end of the first round. He’s an athlete and a decent skater for his size, making him someone worthy of reaching on in this range.
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