In the 2026 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs are predicted to select Gavin McKenna, a left-wing (LW) from Penn State (NCAA). This choice is based on the league's growing conviction and the player's visit to Toronto post-combine. The San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, are considering Ivar Stenberg, a left-wing (LW) from Frölunda (SHL), as their top pick. The Vancouver Canucks are leaning towards Caleb Malhotra, a center (C) from Brantford (OHL), while the Chicago Blackhawks are likely to choose Carson Carels, a left-hand defenseman (LHD) from Prince George (WHL).
The New York Rangers are considering Chase Reid, a right-hand defenseman (RHD) from Soo (OHL), and the Calgary Flames are likely to select Alberts Šmits, a left-hand defenseman (LHD) from Munich (DEL). The Seattle Kraken are expected to pick Keaton Verhoeff, a right-hand defenseman (RHD) from North Dakota (NCAA).
The Winnipeg Jets are likely to choose Viggo Björck, a center (C) from Djurgården (SHL), and the Florida Panthers are expected to select Daxon Rudolph, a right-hand defenseman (RHD) from Prince Albert (WHL). The Nashville Predators are predicted to pick Ethan Belchetz, a left-wing (LW) from Windsor (OHL).
The St. Louis Blues are likely to select Tynan Lawrence, a center (C) from Boston University (NCAA), and the New Jersey Devils are expected to choose Wyatt Cullen, a left-wing (LW) from U.S. NTDP (USHL). The New York Islanders are predicted to pick Alexander Command, a center (C) from Örebro (U20 Nationell).
The Columbus Blue Jackets are likely to select Oscar Hemming, a left-wing (LW) from Boston College (NCAA), and the St. Louis Blues are expected to pick Malte Gustafsson, a left-hand defenseman (LHD) from HV71 (SHL). The Washington Capitals are likely to select Oliver Suvanto, a center (C) from Tappara (Liiga).
The Los Angeles Kings are expected to select Elton Hermansson, a right-wing (RW) from MoDo (SHL), and the Washington Capitals are likely to pick Nikita Klepov, a left-wing (LW) from Saginaw (OHL). The Utah Mammoth are predicted to select Ryan Lin, a right-hand defenseman (RHD) from Vancouver (WHL).
The San Jose Sharks are expected to pick Tommy Bleyl, a right-hand defenseman (RHD) from Moncton (QMJHL), and the Philadelphia Flyers are likely to select Maksim Sokolovskii, a left-hand defenseman (LHD) from London (OHL). The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to pick Ilia Morozov, a center (C) from Miami (NCAA).
The Boston Bruins are likely to select JP Hurlbert, a left-wing (LW) from Kamloops (WHL), and the Vancouver Canucks are expected to pick Mathis Preston, a right-wing (RW) from Vancouver (WHL). The Seattle Kraken are likely to select William Håkansson, a left-hand defenseman (LHD) from Luleå (SHL).
The New York Rangers are expected to pick Maddox Dagenais, a center (C) from Quebec (QMJHL), and the Buffalo Sabres are likely to select Gleb Pugachyov, a right-wing (RW) from Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (MHL). The Montreal Canadiens are expected to pick Adam Novotný, a left-wing (LW) from Peterborough (OHL).
The St. Louis Blues are likely to select Jack Hextall, a center (C) from Youngstown (USHL), and the Calgary Flames are expected to pick Liam Ruck, a right-wing (RW) from Medicine Hat (WHL). The Carolina Hurricanes are likely to select Niklas Aaram-Olsen, a left-wing (LW) from Örebro (SHL).
Finally, the Ottawa Senators are expected to pick Brooks Rogowski, a center (C) from Oshawa (OHL).
