The 2026 NHL Draft saw significant activity, including major trades and the selection of top prospects. The event began with Justin Bieber announcing the first overall pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a selection that had been widely anticipated.
Before the first pick was made, a notable trade occurred with the Boston Bruins acquiring JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth. As the draft continued, the New York Rangers secured pending-RFA Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas, subsequently signing him to a new deal. The St. Louis Blues also made a move, trading with Anaheim to bring centre Mason McTavish to their team.
Sharks make significant moves
The San Jose Sharks were a prominent team during the draft, moving up to the second overall pick. Initially, there was speculation about whether the Sharks might trade this pick for immediate roster help. However, the team opted to invest in their future by also acquiring the ninth-overall selection from Ottawa.
With these two high picks, the Sharks’ General Manager Mike Grier was expected to select Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg second overall. The team then hoped to pick up a defenceman at ninth overall. Unexpectedly, defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, a six-foot-four right-shooting player, became available at that spot. Verhoeff had previously been ranked highly, though his offensive statistics saw a dip during his freshman year at North Dakota. He is expected to play another season of NCAA hockey and could potentially captain Canada at a 2027 World Junior Championship in his home province of Alberta before turning professional.
The addition of Verhoeff complements the Sharks’ existing blue-line talent, including six-foot-three defenceman Sam Dickinson, who was drafted by the team two years prior at pick number 11. Verhoeff is seen as a player who can anchor a second defensive pairing for the developing club. The Sharks further strengthened their defence by trading up to select another right-shot defenceman, Ryan Lin, at pick 21.
The Sharks’ draft strategy, securing Stenberg and Verhoeff, is considered a strong move, drawing comparisons to their 2024 draft success with Macklin Celebrini and Dickinson.
Kraken and Jets bolster rosters
The Seattle Kraken had an unexpected opportunity when Chase Reid, a player who had risen in draft rankings, fell to them at pick number seven. Reid, a right-shot defenceman from the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, was at one point considered a potential top-four pick. The Kraken, who had reportedly been unsuccessful in signing pending-RFA Jason Robertson to a contract, gained a significant prospect in Reid. He is expected to be an offensive driver and a power-play fixture after completing his college career at Michigan State University. Reid’s six-foot-two frame also offers a larger physical presence compared to other offensive defencemen like Cale Makar or Adam Fox.
The Winnipeg Jets, holding the eighth-overall pick, were in a position to select a strong player. There was concern that a player who could fill their long-standing second-line centre need, such as Caleb Malhotra or Viggo Björck, might be unavailable by their turn. However, a series of defenceman selections from picks four through seven meant that Björck was still available for General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. The Jets hope that Björck, a skilled Swedish player with a high motor, can address a key positional gap for the franchise.
Maple Leafs secure top pick, Blues reinforce centre depth
The Toronto Maple Leafs experienced a shift in their season on May 5 when they won the draft lottery, moving from a projected fifth pick to the first overall selection. This victory transformed discussions about potentially trading their sixth-overall pick to Boston into excitement over drafting Gavin McKenna. McKenna, an 18-year-old with exceptional skill, has been a projected top pick for several years and is expected to be a significant offensive force for Toronto.
In Buffalo, N.Y., McKenna watched as Bieber approached the stage at KeyBank Center to announce the first pick. Bieber, a noted Maple Leafs fan, was chosen by the franchise for this role. McKenna, ranked as the top North American skater by Central Scouting, had been linked to the Maple Leafs since their lottery win.
The St. Louis Blues focused on strengthening their centre position during the draft. They first selected Tynan Lawrence with the 11th pick. Lawrence, a skilled centre, had a challenging period at Boston University after moving from the USHL mid-season. The Blues then used their other two first-round picks, numbers 15 and 29, to acquire McTavish from the Ducks. With Robert Thomas reportedly remaining with the team, the Blues anticipate that Thomas and McTavish will drive the team from the centre, with Lawrence potentially contributing in the near future.
Eastern Conference playoff race intensifies
The draft results suggest an increasingly competitive landscape for Eastern Conference Playoff hopefuls. The New York Rangers, who finished as the worst team in the East, acquired sniper Pavel Dorofeyev. The Maple Leafs, the second-worst team in the conference, secured the first overall pick. These moves, combined with earlier off-season acquisitions by non-playoff teams—such as the Florida Panthers adding Brady Tkachuk and the Washington Capitals acquiring both Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch—indicate a tougher path to a top-eight finish in the East next season. It took 99 points to make the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, and a similar or higher threshold is expected for the upcoming spring.
The Chicago Blackhawks faced a setback during the draft season, largely due to trading their fourth-overall selection to Buffalo for Bowen Byram. While adding a defenceman like Byram made sense, Chicago’s initial hope was reportedly to draft Stenberg at number four. However, the Sharks’ acquisition of a second top-10 pick reduced the likelihood of Stenberg being available. While Chicago’s pivot is understandable, there is a sentiment that they could have leveraged their original pick for a more substantial return.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
