The NHL Draft is finally here and it has already been a wild week. Trades have shaken up the top 10, which is especially rare. It has somewhat changed the outlook of what can and will happen during the draft. There’s so much intrigue, it feels like doing a mock is even more chaotic than most years.

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While we all believe Gavin McKenna is going No. 1, there are endless possibilities about where the draft goes from there. On top of that, it feels almost inevitable that there will be more trades and movement over the course of the day. With how the picks are currently spread out, this is our last, best guess at how things will play out Friday night.

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Chris Peters' Final 2026 NHL Mock Draft

1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State

All signs point to Toronto taking the premier winger in the draft. They’ll get a player with 100-point potential and the natural long-term replacement for Mitch Marner. Maple Leafs fans should exercise some patience with the player, but the skill and sense for McKenna is special.

2. San Jose Sharks – Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda

The Sharks wheeling and dealing seemingly telegraphed their plans with No. 2. Though Mike Grier said not to speculate, it seems that trading William Eklund and staying in the top 10 suggests they go premium wing and address defense later. Though it would be kind of funny if Mike Grier selects Chase Reid instead considering all of the maneuvering. There's no doubt he was in their mix for this pick.

3. Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs

There has been a lot of chatter about this pick and what Vancouver is going to do. While I think they will consider Chase Reid long and hard here, the opportunity to get a long-term center and a player that is familiar with the organization on a very personal level still seems possible. The odd dynamic with his dad being the new head coach is absolutely a factor, so I wouldn’t be stunned if they decide not to do the thing we all thought they’d do.

4. Buffalo Sabres (via CHI) – Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds

Who knew the Sabres would be in this spot a few days ago? Certainly not me, but here they are and while they have a very strong defense corps, Chase Reid is too big a talent to pass up here.

5. New York Rangers – Alberts Šmits, D, Jukurit

If the board plays out this way, the Rangers have to look at defense and there’s a growing belief that they like Šmits. He’s the most pro-ready of the blueliners and while he doesn’t have the offensive upside of some, he has a profile that projects favorably into a long-term top four defenseman.

6. Calgary Flames – Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars

I think Calgary will strongly consider Viggo Björck here, but the opportunity to nab a hard-nosed Western Canadian with some solid offense to complement what they have now in right-shot offensive dynamo Zayne Parekh. Could be a long-term top pairing for the Flames.

7. Seattle Kraken – Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders

The Kraken have not drafted a defenseman with their first pick yet and that has to change. It likely will here even though you better believe they’ll be tempted by Viggo Björck. Rudolph is the most offensive among the remaining defenseman on the board and they need offense everywhere.

8. Winnipeg Jets – Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota

The Jets have needs in a lot of places, but getting a Western Canadian defenseman who is playing just down the road in Grand Forks would be a massive win. Verhoeff is big, mobile and he is still growing into his game. 

9. San Jose Sharks (via FLA) – Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71

I think the Sharks would hope one of the top right-shot blueliners would be available with this pick, but in recent days and even hours, I’m a little more skeptical they will. Gustafsson may be a left shot, but he’s very much put himself in the conversation with these other defensemen as a physical, all-around defenseman with size. He’s not as offensive as the others, but he looks like a guy who will play a ton of minutes at the next level.

10. Nashville Predators – Viggo Björck, C, Djurgardens

I could see the Preds going a number of directions with this pick, but Björck is so highly regarded coming out of the last few weeks that it’s hard to see him slipping out of the top 10. He’s 5-foot-9, but competes like crazy and while Nashville is under a new regime, you’d have to think the scouts love everything about him except the size.

11. St. Louis Blues – Alexander Command, C, Orebro

The Blues are believed to be hard after a center and Alexander Command just looks like a St. Louis Blue.  He has been a major riser among scouts over the course of the season and his physical, competitive nature on top of a high-end shot gives teams an idea he’s going to be a two-way force.

12. New Jersey Devils – Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires

A 6-foot-5 power winger to add into the forward lineup would be especially enticing. Belchetz could go a bit sooner here, but New Jersey would be thrilled to add a player with a bit of snarl and some legit scoring pop. 

13. New York Islanders – Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University

There is a belief Lawrence is slipping a little bit on boards, but the Isles could take advantage of that and land a high-end two-way center. There are definitely warts in Lawrence’s game that became more evident when he went to BU. There’s still a lot of talent in there and the Isles could use a center in their system. He’s the best one available.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Wyatt Cullen, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team

This would be somewhat fortuitous I’d say for Columbus. Cullen is one of the most dynamic players in the draft. He’s a legit playmaker and Columbus could use a more dynamic element in their lineup. I think Cullen has a chance to be among the most productive players in this class.

15. St. Louis Blues (via DET) – Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College

I’m not sure if we’ll see the Blues make all of their picks in this draft, but if they do, Hemming would provide a big winger with some scoring pop. He had an odd draft year, but teams are still enamored with a player at his size and skill level and rightfully so.

16. St. Louis Blues (via WSH) – Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough Petes

I think ideally, the Blues would land a defenseman here, but the opportunity to continue building out the forward group with another player that just seems to fit their profile. Novotny can score, but he’s a committed all-around player with good physical strength.

17. Los Angeles Kings – Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara

The Kings have plenty of needs, but Suvanto would best address a premium position and could afford the Kings a player that’s in their middle six for a long time. Suvanto’s offensive game is unrefined, but he is versatile and impressive in all the hard areas of the ice. He’d fit well in the Pacific.

18. Washington Capitals (via ANA) – Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod

The Caps have a number of good options here, but a big Russian winger with scoring pop and some true tenacity would be a good future bet here. It’s clear this team is in win now mode with the moves they have made to add Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch, so who knows if they even make this pick.

19. Utah Mammoth – Ilya Morozov, C, Miami University

The Mammoth like their big two-way centers, but Morozov could be a little more than meets the eye. He has skill and there’s some belief there’s more offense to come from him. A team that has never been shy about selecting Russians won’t start being shy now with a player with Mozov’s upside on the board.

20. Buffalo Sabres (via EDM) – Elton Hermansson, LW, MODO

After getting a defenseman earlier, the Sabres can add some scoring pop to their mix. Hermansson is among the most skilled players still on the board here and he would put a little higher-octane offensive pop into Buffalo’s system.

21. Philadelphia Flyers – Maddox Dagenais, C/W, Quebec Remparts

The Flyers have good options here and could consider defense as we get into this range where I think we see another run on D. That said, a 6-foot-4 forward with some higher-end skill and scoring ability has to be enticing. I think Dagenais has been a little underrated in the class, but he’s a solid fit for a team that has a lot of offensive firepower on the way.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins – Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants

The Penguins have been a team that has long been rumored about wanting to move up in the draft and they still may. If they don’t however, Lin fits the profile of the players they’ve drafted previously. He has high-end hockey sense, good compete and he also has the ability to move pucks and make some plays.

23. Boston Bruins – Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton Wildcats

The Bruins could look at the forwards here, but defense is something they can address and they can do it with one of the most electric skaters in the draft. Bleyl has been a fast riser this year with his insane production in the QMJHL. Bruins will have to be patient with this player, but he checks a lot of boxes.

24. Vancouver Canucks (via MIN) – Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals

A 6-foot-7 center who is still developing and growing into his game, Rogowski is among the more intriguing prospects to watch at the tail end of the first round. Someone is going to take a chance on him and help him develop. He’s likely more a depth center, but if Vancouver gets an everyday NHLer at his size and ability, they’ll have to be pleased. Also, Ryan Johnson intimated that Vancouver is not afraid of drafting American born players.

25. Ottawa Senators (via TBL) – Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London Knights

The Senators love their big players and Sokolovskii is massive. The over 6-foot-7 defenseman has gotten a ton of love for his play in the postseason. There’s next to no offense there, but scouts are adamant he plays a winning brand of hockey with his physical nature and defensive acumen.

26. New York Rangers (via DAL) --  Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team

Mutryn is a big forward with some power elements in his game. He can score, too, and likely would be a solid middle-six option for the Rangers long term. NHL teams have stayed high on him amid a down season overall for players out of the NTDP.

27. San Jose Sharks (via BUF) – Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit

Injecting more high-end skill into the lineup at this range is tough to do, but if Klepov does slip here and that’s no guarantee, the Sharks have reason to be excited to nab a special playmaker who is a good shot-pass threat that led the OHL in scoring this year.

28. Montreal Canadiens – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms

There’s been plenty of scuttle about Canadian teams shying away from Americans, but Montreal never does. Hextall is a talented two-way, right-shot center who has a higher-end motor. He can score, too.

29. St. Louis Blues (via COL) – William Hakansson, D, Luleå

Since the Blues got all those forwards earlier in this mock, it’s only natural to go after a defender here. Hakansson is more of a shutdown defender, but he has size, he can skate and he’s looked solid playing mostly against pros this year.

30. Calgary Flames (via VGK) – Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers

The Ruck twins are among the most intriguing players. Could Calgary go after Liam in the first and see if Markus is there in the second? They do have No. 36 as well, which might be a bit higher than some teams would be willing to go on Markus, but it wouldn’t shock me. They were the top two scorers in the WHL this season.

31. Carolina Hurricanes – JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops Blazers

A 97-point season in his first year in the WHL makes Hurlbert an intriguing option this late. The Hurricanes tend to believe in players that score and while Hurlbert doesn’t perfectly fit the profile of the kind of player they draft, he’s a good value add in this range. Another exciting player to watch here is Marcus Nordmark.

32. Ottawa Senators – Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown Phantoms

I’m not 100% sold a goalie goes in the first round, but the Senators are locked into the 32nd pick and there’s a lot of love out there for Trejbal after a strong season in the USHL. He seems to be the consensus top goalie available and if you want to jump the line, this is the time.

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