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The 2026 NHL draft lottery is in the books. The lottery featured plenty of excitement, as two teams with already superstar players will make the first two selections in the NHL draft on June 26.
Toronto will pick first for just the third time in franchise history, as they jumped four spots to No. 1. The San Jose Sharks will make the second pick, jumping seven spots, and Vancouver will complete the podium.
With the draft order for the first 16 picks now set, I break down my top ten selections based on best available and team need.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
What hasn’t already been said about Gavin McKenna? He’s the clear-cut first overall selection. McKenna has elite hockey IQ and the silky hands to turn his ideas into tangible offense.
His pass-first game could elevate the other two forwards on his unit. Yes, he needs a bit of defensive help, but that can be worked on throughout his development.
I’m excited to see what he can do on a line with Auston Matthews or John Tavares. A pure playmaker like McKenna with an elite goal scorer like Matthews.
2. San Jose Sharks: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)
This isn’t a knock on Ivar Stenberg, but rather a reminder of the position San Jose needs to fill. This season, the Sharks had just three rostered blueliners under 25.
Additionally, there aren’t many high-end defenders in their pipeline, so selecting Verhoeff just makes sense. NHL Scouts I have spoken with compare him to Alex Pietrangelo. If he can live up to even half of that hype, San Jose is in good shape.
3. Vancouver Canucks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda (Swe.)
The Canucks love their Swedish players, so this pick is a match made in hockey heaven. Stenberg’s 200-foot game will mesh well with the current Canucks roster.
Snap him on a line with fellow countrymen Elias Petterson and Nils Hoglander, and you’ve got a group with similar backgrounds that can produce well together.
4. Chicago Blackhawks: Albert Smits, D, EHC Red Bull München (Ger.)
Chicago is chomping at the bit to re-enter the post-season. The Blackhawks will greatly increase that probability by taking Smits.
Smits is the most NHL-ready defenseman in the draft by a wide margin. He has played top minutes in more skill-based Finland before transitioning to a heavier style in Germany. In both leagues, he played a top-pairing role. This should be a fairly easy pick for Chicago.
5. New York Rangers: Chase Reid, D, Sault St. Marie (OHL)
Reid is something of an enigma for me. He’s very mobile with smooth hands and good skating to boot. His offensive upside is exceptional. Still, consistency within Reid’s defensive game gives me pause.
After Soo’s elimination at the hands of Kitchener, Reid’s next step is the NCAA. If Reid rounds out his backcheck while at Michigan State, I could see him paired with Adam Fox in the not-so-distant future, someone he has been compared to.
6. Calgary Flames: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
Calgary has a high-octane group of young forwards, featuring Matt Coranato, Tyson Gross, and Matvei Gridin. Malhotra would be a dynamic addition to that group.
He has consistently lit up the OHL throughout his rookie season. As a pure center, his value is higher than nearly all wingers in the draft. His inherited athletic intellect, stemming from his NHL-veteran father Manny and NBA legend uncle Steve Nash, just makes Caleb that much more dangerous.
7. Seattle Kraken: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)
The Kraken have their center group pretty well set, including prospect Jake O’Brien coming down the tubes. This allows Seattle to take a big-bodied offensive blueliner in Carson Carels.
He is a jack of all trades on defense, producing offensively and not afraid to get his hands dirty, laying out big hits. Carels could very well be the Kraken’s cornerstone on the back end.
8. Winnipeg Jets: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
Winnipeg is just a season removed from a Presidents’ Trophy. Clearly, their group has a lot of talent. Daxon Rudolph is a tall, skilled right defenseman whose right-handed shot makes him highly coveted.
He may well join the Jets organization as soon as this fall, providing much-needed reinforcement in front of Connor Hellebuyck. If coach Scott Arniel integrates him well, Rudolph might impose a right-shot reign of terror for the Jets.
9. Florida Panthers: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Florida is still in win-now mode, allowing Lawrence to develop while they steadily pursue another Stanley Cup. He has shown great resilience, making the midseason jump to Boston University, all while dealing with a significant injury.
Lawrence had a solid performance at the World U-18s, showing more of the skill we saw in Muskegon. The timeline for Lawrence’s development and Florida’s championship ambitions line up to make this pick the right fit.
10. Nashville Predators Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.)
Viggo Bjorck certainly has his detractors because of his size. I am not one of them.
He is a skilled forward with natural strength and vision. His smaller statue allows him to slip between defenders and drive hard to the net. If Bjorck spends time with AHL Milwaukee next season, adding more grit to his game, he could be a mighty forward for the Nashville Predators.
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