The Toronto Maple Leafs are locked in to select consensus superstar Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick following a wild week of trades that completely reshaped the first-round order. Massive pre-draft blockbusters—including Chicago trading the No. 4 pick to Buffalo for Bowen Byram, Ottawa flipping a pick to San Jose after trading Brady Tkachuk, and St. Louis stockpiling four first-round selections—have thrown the draft board into an unprecedented blender. More moves could be made before the draft, but this is how I project the 1st round of the 2026 Draft to turn out.
Related: ROUND 1
1. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS- GAVIN MCKENNA (LW) PENN STATE (NCAA)
Gavin McKenna is the undisputed crown jewel of this draft class. Toronto gains a generational franchise cornerstone to play alongside Auston Matthews.
2. SAN JOSE SHARKS- IVAR STENBERG (LW/RW) FROLUNDA (SHL)
San Jose pairs Macklin Celebrini with an elite, dynamic winger. Stenberg instantly replaces the skill lost in recent trades.
3. VANCOUVER CANUCKS- CALEB MALHOLTRA (C) BRANTFORD BULLDOGS (OHL)
Malhotra gives the Canucks a foundational, elite two-way center to build behind Elias Pettersson, solidifying their spine for the next decade. With Manny Malholtra being the head coach of the team now, this pick makes even more sense.
4. BUFFALO SABRES (FROM CHI)- CHASE REID (D) SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS (OHL)
After trading up with Chicago, Buffalo pivots to secure the top right-shot defenseman in the draft. Reid provides the Sabres with a dynamic, puck-moving weapon on the right side to pair long-term with Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power.
5. NEW YORK RANGERS- ALBERTS SMITS (D) JUKURIT (LIIGA)
The Rangers prioritize size and heavy skating. Šmits offers an imposing defensive presence to anchor their future blue line. Although Smits may not be NHL ready immediately, he could be a top pair defensemen if one or two years.
6. CALGARY FLAMES- CARSON CARELS (D) PRINCE GEORGE COUGRS (WHL)
Calgary continues its teardown and rebuild. Carels gives them a high-upside, puck-moving defenseman to build around. Calgary just traded for Simon Nemec and already have Zayne Parekh, adding Carels gives them a pretty good
D core to build around.
7. SEATTLE KRAKEN- DAXON RUDOLPH (D) PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS (WHL)
Seattle targets blue-line stability. Rudolph brings elite hockey IQ and reliable right-side defensive depth. Seattle is looking for depth on the blueline and Rudolph would be in a position where his development wouldn’t be rushed.
8. WINNIPEG JETS- VIGGO BJORCK (C) DJURGARDENS IF (SHL)
Winnipeg secures its future number-two center. Björck plays a heavy, pro-style game built for the Western Conference. Winnipeg is lacking a dynamic 2nd line center behind Mark Scheifele, Bjorck could be exactly that.
9. SAN JOSE SHARKS (FROM FLA/OTT)- KEATON VERHOEFF (D) NORTH DAKOTA (NCAA)
Having landed a winger at pick two, San Jose shifts to defense. Verhoeff provides size and premium right-shot depth. Verhoeff was a consensus top 5 pick in the Midseason, but because of some risers and positional needs, Verhoeff falls into the laps of the Sharks who needs a RHD.
10. NASHVILLE PREDATORS- ETHAN BELCHETZ (LW) WINDSOR SPITFIRES (OHL)
Nashville loves size, power, and physical edge. Belchetz fits Barry Trotz’s vision of a heavy, hard-to-play-against roster. Belchetz will take at least two years to be NHL ready, but Nashville isn’t in a rush to get their prospects to the main roster.
11. ST. LOUIS BLUES- MALTE GUSTAFSSON (D)- HV71 (SHL)
St. Louis uses the first of its four selections on a smooth-skating Swedish defenseman. Gustafsson provides the elite transitional play and zone-exit puck moving that the Blues’ blue line desperately needs.
12. NEW JERSEY DEVILS- WYATT CULLEN (LW/C) USNTDP (USHL)
New Jersey adds high-octane pace and elite work ethic to its top-six forward group. Cullen’s relentless motor and heavy shot perfectly complement the playmaking abilities of Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.
13. NEW YORK ISLANDERS- TYNAN LAWRENCE (C) BOSTON UNIVERSITY (NCAA)
The Islanders prioritize high hockey IQ and reliable defensive awareness. Lawrence gives them a future top-six, pro-style center who can chip in offensively while matching up against the Metro Division’s top stars.
14. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS- RYAN LIN (D) VANCOUVER GIANTS (WHL)
Columbus injects dynamic mobility into its defensive pipeline. Lin is a premium right-shot defender who excels at breaking under-forepressure and quarterbacking a power play.
15. ST. LOUIS BLUES- OSCAR HEMMING (LW) BOSTON COLLEGE (NCAA)
Back on the clock, St. Louis snags pure offensive upside. Hemming is a lethal sniper with a heavy release who projects as a top-six winger capable of filling the net.
16. ST. LOUIS BLUES (FROM WSH)- ALEXANDER COMMAND (C) OREBRO HK (SHL)
Using their third pick of the round (via Washington), the Blues solidify their depth down the middle. Command brings excellent size, reach, and a robust 200-foot game to the center position.
17. LA KINGS- NIKITA KLEPOV (RW) SAGINAW SPIRIT (OHL)
The Kings grab a highly skilled, creative winger to inject pure offense into their system. Klepov plays a fearless, heavy OHL style that blends perfectly with the Kings’ hard-nosed identity.
18. WASHINGTON CAPITALS- OLIVER SUVANTO (C) TAPPARA (LIIGA)
Washington addresses long-term center depth with this pick acquired from Anaheim. Suvanto is a smart, positional playmaker from Finland who excels at slowing the game down and driving possession.
19. UTAH MAMMOTH- ADAM NOVOTNY (LW) PETERBOROUGH PETES (OHL)
Utah adds a highly skilled, dynamic scoring winger to ignite their young forward core. Novotný brings elite offensive instincts and a natural ability to create highlight-reel plays out of nothing.
20. BUFFALO SABRES (FROM SJ)- ILIA MOROZOV (C) MIAMI UNIVERSITY (NCAA)
Having used their earlier pick on defenseman Chase Reid, Buffalo uses this pick (via Edmonton/San Jose) to grab a heavy, physical center. Morozov provides the size, grit, and net-front presence needed for deep playoff runs.
21. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS- MAKSIM SOKOLOVSKII (D) LONDON KNIGHTS (OHL)
Philadelphia targets a mean, hard-nosed defenseman who perfectly fits the broad-street identity. Sokolovskii brings elite shutdown capabilities, heavy physical play, and excellent net-front clearance.
22 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS- JP HURLBERT (LW) KAMLOOPS BLAZERS (WHL)
Pittsburgh prioritizes elite skill and versatility as they build for the post-Crosby era. Hurlbert is a highly creative offensive weapon with elite vision who can easily slide between center and wing.
23. BOSTON BRUINS- TOMMY BLEYL (D) MONTCON WILDCATS (QMJHL)
Boston selects a high-IQ, mobile defenseman to bolster their future blue line. Bleyl is a steady, poised defender who projects as a minute-eating, top-four option capable of playing in all situations.
24. VANCOUVER CANUCKS- MATHIS PRESTON (RW) VANCOUVER GIANTS (WHL)
After grabbing their top center earlier, Vancouver rounds out their forward pipeline with a high-pace scoring winger. Preston brings dynamic speed and a relentless forechecking style that fits Rick Tocchet’s system.
25. OTTAWA SENATORS- MADDOX DAGENAIS (C) QUEBEC REMPARTS (QMJHL)
Ottawa adds premium size and bloodlines down the middle with this acquired pick. Dagenais plays a smart, physical, pro-style game and possesses a lethal shot from the circle.
26. NEW YORK RANGERS- BROOKS ROGOWSKI (C) OSHAWA GENERALS (OHL)
The Rangers continue to prioritize size and heavy hockey down the middle. Rogowski is a big, powerful center who wins wall battles, protects the puck at an elite level, and drives the net hard.
27. SAN JOSE SHARKS- ELTON HERMANSSON (RW) MODO HOCKEY (ALLSVENSKAN)
Armed with their third pick of the night, San Jose looks for pure offensive upside. Hermansson is a highly skilled Swedish winger with exceptional hands and deceptive playmaking ability.
28. MONTREAL CANADIENS- GLEB PUGACHYOV (RW) NIZHNY NOVGOROD (KHL)
Montreal takes a swing on pure skill late in the first round. Pugachyov is a dynamic, explosive skater with high-end offensive instincts who can break a game open on the rush.
29. ST. LOUIS BLUES- JACK HEXTALL (C) YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS (USHL)
The Blues wrap up their historic four-pick first round by adding high-compete center depth. Hextall brings a famous hockey pedigree, an elite work ethic, and a relentless 200-foot engine.
30. CALGARY FLAMES- LIAM RUCK (RW) MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (WHL)
Calgary adds more high-octane scoring to their rebuild. Ruck possesses elite offensive chemistry, high-end finishing ability, and quick lateral agility that makes him highly elusive in the offensive zone.
31. CAROLINA HURRICANES- XAVIER VILLENEUVE (D) BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND (QMJHL)
Carolina selects a textbook Hurricanes defenseman. Villeneuve is an elite skater with exceptional lateral mobility, heavy transitional metrics, and the ability to tilt the ice through aggressive pinching.
32. OTTAWA SENATORS-MARCUS NORDMARK (LW) DJURGARDENS IF JR. (NATIONELL)
Ottawa Senators (Marcus Nordmark, LW): Closing out the first round, Ottawa grabs a high-upside Swedish winger. Nordmark plays a heavy, north-south power game with a great shot, offering an ideal blend of size and skill for their middle-six.
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