NHL Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick in Round 1

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NHL Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick in Round 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The day is finally here, the first round of the 2026 NHL draft commences tonight.

The NHL draft begins at 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Plenty of fireworks are expected tonight, as the days leading up to the draft have been filled with trades, rumors, and plenty of different implications. Tonight will be a night for players to begin new journeys as they fulfill a lifelong dream.

The 2026 class is headlined by players like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Chase Reid, all of whom could change a franchise overnight.

Throughout the days leading up to the NHL draft, we’ve completed multiple mock drafts, one completed by Eric Cruikshank and Frank Zawrazky, ranked players by position, starting with goaltenders, defenseman, wingers, and centers, and analyzed player fits for several teams.

As each pick is revealed, we will provide a grade and an analysis of who the player is and what he can provide the team.

Follow along to stay informed of all 32 picks of the NHL draft.

NHL Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick​

Round 1​

1. Toronto Maple Leafs​

2. San Jose Sharks​

3. Vancouver Canucks​

4. Buffalo Sabres (from Chicago)​

5. New York Rangers​

6. Calgary Flames​

7. Seattle Kraken​

8. Winnipeg Jets​

9. San Jose Sharks (from Florida via Ottawa)​

10. Nashville Predators​

11. St. Louis Blues​

12. New Jersey Devils​

13. New York Islanders​

14. Columbus Blue Jackets​

15. St. Louis Blues (from Detroit)​

16. St. Louis Blues (from Washington)​

17. Los Angeles Kings​

18. Washington Capitals (from Anaheim)​

19. Utah Mammoth​

20. Buffalo Sabres (from Edmonton via San Jose)​

21. Philadelphia Flyers​

22. Pittsburgh Penguins​

23. Boston Bruins​

24. Vancouver Canucks (from Minnesota)​

25. Ottawa Senators (from Tampa Bay via Seattle and Florida)​

26. New York Rangers (from Dallas via Carolina)​

27. San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo)​

28. Montreal Canadiens​

29. St. Louis Blues (from Colorado via New York Islanders)​

30. Calgary Flames (from Vegas)​

31. Carolina Hurricanes​

32. Ottawa Senators​

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