Ivar Stenberg is now the favorite to go first overall after entering the preseason as the third best player. I update our readers on a midseason NHL Mock Draft following the NHL Standings during the Olympic Break versus what I think will happen in the postseason a mock based on that may be featured at a certain point.
Round 1
- Vancouver Canucks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)
Vancouver’s two best players in franchise history were the Sedin Brothers from Sweden. I imagine drafting Ivar Stenberg after extending Elias Petersson gives the Vancouver Canucks the best opportunity to recreate this. I do think Gavin McKenna is the best player in this draft, but I also believe the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL’s current worst team would take Ivar Stenberg first overall if the 2026 NHL Draft were held today in hopes of taking the Sedin Brothers. Stenberg is seen as the most NHL ready player while Gavin McKenna the preseason number one pick is seen as the guy with the highest upside.
- St. Louis Blues: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Gavin McKenna will still go top 2 even though I believe he should go first overall. The St. Louis Blues would honestly probably prefer McKenna over Stenberg, but both players had more points than any active player on the St. Louis Blues roster with the points leader on the Blues generating a meager 33 points. St. Louis has a good core of guys when everyone is playing, but no players with an All Star ceiling to elevate the team and no superstar to command the building. Gavin McKenna could be that star player that the St. Louis Blues covet here at 2.
- New York Rangers: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
The only reason the New York Rangers are drafting this high is because their number one defenseman Adam Fox and starting goalie Igor Shesterkin are both on injured reserve. Both guys are arguably top 5 in the league at their positions at defenseman and goalie when fully healthy. New York would have four excellent defensemen with a healthy Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, and Keaton Verhoeff on their top two lines which is going to take so much pressure off of Igor Shesterkin next season or in 2027-2028 if Keaton Verhoeff goes back to North Dakota State for one more season. E.J. Emery, the New York Rangers 2024 first round pick is currently in his sophomore season at North Dakota with Keaton Verhoeff and is on pace to potentially be a bottom pairing defenseman in 2027 or 2028 behind Fox, Gavrikov, Schneider, and Verhoeff. New York has good long-term stability at defense and goalie, but will have great long-term stability on the blue line with the arrival of Keaton Verhoeff as he will be able to be the New York Rangers number one defenseman if Adam Fox develops an injury history in the coming years.
- Calgary Flames: Albert Smits, D, Jukurit Liiga
The 6-3 205 lb Albert Smits was not in my preseason first round mock back in October. I watched his tape and he showed me he could be a number one defenseman in the NHL level. I had six number one defensemen and seven first line defensemen in my first 2026 NHL Mock back in October. Now I have 7 number one defensemen and eight first line defensemen projected in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Albert Smits is a left shot defenseman, but he played on the right side as the number one defenseman on Jukurit. A defensive pairing of Zayne Parekh, Calgary’s ninth overall pick in 2024 and Albert Smits with both guys pushing each other to be the number one defenseman gives Calgary one line that can take pressure off of young star goaltender Dustin Wolf.
- Winnipeg Jets: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
I’ve been saying Winnipeg will not win anything with goalie Connor Hellebuyck until they get better defenseman for a while now. I had Winnipeg picking thirteenth in the 2025 NHL Draft before they won the Presidents Trophy. Winnipeg can draft either Carson Carels or Chase Reid here, but Carson Carels will make a quicker jump to the NHL with both defensemen like Keaton Verhoeff and Albert Smits being guys with experience to be a first line defenseman at the NHL level.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Caleb Malhorta, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
I think Chicago is more likely to draft a forward than a defender at 6. Kyle Davidson has drafted a player on the Brantford Bulldogs in the 2023 NHL Draft, 2024 NHL Draft, and the 2025 NHL Draft. Drafting Caleb Malhorta whose had a mind boggling 72 points and taken the first line center job from last years first round pick Jake O’Brien while Jake O’Brien was injured has caused Caleb Malhorta to catapult his way into the top 10 of this draft class. Caleb Malhorta is going to Boston University next fall where he will compete with Sacha Boisvert and Tynan Lawrence for the first line center role unless Boisvert signs his rookie contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. When you consider that Boisvert got worse this season versus his freshman season at Boston University, he might come back for his junior season.
- New Jersey Devils: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Ryan Lin was fourth in my preseason rankings. He may have moved out of the top 5, but he has not done poorly enough to move out of the top 10 as he has upside to be a number one defenseman and has posted two seasons with above 50 points in the WHL. Ryan Lin got promoted to team captain of the Vancouver Giants.
- Nashville Predators: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Daxon Rudolph was the former first pick in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft that featured both Keaton Verhoeff from his time on the Victoria Royals before he enrolled at North Dakota and Ryan Lin. Daxon Rudolph may reach the NHL before Chase Reid as this is the biggest reason I have him ahead of Chase Reid at the moment.
- San Jose Sharks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Chase Reid has played well enough to where you can argue for him as high as third overall. He will play two years of college hockey and probably will not sign his entry level contract until after the 2027-2028 college hockey season at Michigan State. If he was projected to sign his entry level deal earlier, he would be in my top 5. San Jose gets a steal with Chase Reid at 9 to bolster their backline.
- Florida Panthers: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Florida’s 2026 first round pick that they sent to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Spencer Knight trade was top 10 protected. Florida goes for value here. Ethan Belchetz has incredilbe size and was the first pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. He might be just a bottom six guy according to some scouts, but I see more. I see a guy who can crack a top line as well as a guy who can thrive on a second or third line. With Carter Verhaeghe and Brad Marchand two first line left wingers in the top six, Belchetz can compliment Anton Lundell as a very good third line winger in Florida that could become a second line winger to Verhaeghe when Marchand retires.
- Los Angeles Kings: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Tynan Lawrence is a top 10 prospect. He was voted team captain of his USHL team on the Muskegon Lumberjacks after returning from his injury. This guy was a first line center on the 2025 Clarke Cup Champion Muskegon Lumberjacks, but did so well that Boston University let him enroll early. This is the next player I will post a scouting report of. He has struggled to take the first line center job from Sacha Bosivert, Chicago’s 2024 first round pick. If Tynan Lawrence slips out of the top 10, the Los Angeles Kings might be the fastest team to turn in their card on draft day. Anze Kopitar is retiring and even if Lawrence is a line 2 center behind Quinton Byfield, he’s a sure fire top six forward and line 2 center at worst on a Los Angeles Kings team without Kopitar.
- Philadelphia Flyers: Viggo Bjork, C, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
Viggo Bjorck is another preseason top 10 player that fell out of the top 10. If he is on the board at 12, the Philadelphia Flyers will be one of the fastest teams to turn in their card on draft day.
- Washington Capitals: Elton Hermansson, RW, Orebro HK (SHL)
Elton Hermansson was a guy with first line potential that I had in the back half of the first round back in the preseason. With so many players from my preseason rankings underperfoming, there is now a chance that Elton Hermansson goes in the top half of the 2026 NHL Draft. Elton Hermansson is versatile enough to play either winger role too.
- Boston Bruins (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL
Xavier Villenueve is one of the best offensive defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft. He won the Emile-Bouchard trophy and his offensive upside is why some believe he can be a number one defenseman on an NHL team. He is the final defenseman from my preseason rankings with upside to be a number one defenseman.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: William Hankansson, D, Lulea HF (SHL)
Ottawa was stripped of their 2026 first round pick, so Columbus and every team below them moves up a spot. There are three defenders on the board that have emerged that were not on my preseason radar. William Hankansson showed he can be a number one defender on a top line, so Columbus drafts him and stashes him to their prospect pool as adding William Hankansson as another prospect along with Jackson Smith giving Columbus life on the blue line after Zach Werenski.
- San Jose Sharks (from Edmonton Oilers): Axel Elofsson, D, Rogle BK (SHL)
Alex Elofsson showed he could play on a top line. He did it on the Rogle Under 20 Team though versus an actual SHL roster. I want to see him get promoted to the SHL, but the ability to be a number six through number four defenseman on San Jose is there. He could push Simon Wang to be the best defender on San Jose’s second line down the road.
- Utah Mammoth: Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SHL)
Malte Gustafsson plays against men in the SHL rather than kids his own age in Sweden. He is the left sided defenseman on HV71’s first line making him the number two defenseman on that team. Like William Hankansson and Axel Elofsson, this is a guy whose emerged in Sweden as a defender with top line NHL traits on film.
- Anahiem Ducks: Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Ryan Roobroeck was a preseason top 5 pick. He has had a down year, but the crazy part is he is on pae to match last years total. Anaheim is loaded at center and would move Ryan Roobroeck to the wing as Ryan Roobroeck has the versatility to play both left winger and center.
- Seattle Kraken: Landon Nycz, D, Massachusetts
Landon Nycz is someone that I projected as a first line defender that can play a number two defenseman on an NHL teams top line. Right now Landon Nycz is projected to go at the top of the third round on Tankathon after struggling this season. I believe Nycz will be one of the biggest steals of this draft regardless of whether he ends up in the first round, second round, or third round. Even with his rough freshman year at Massachusetts, also known as UMass, this is still a guy I would pound the table for. The Sioux City Musketeers gave up 8 goals in their season opener without Landon Nycz which really illustrates how much of a difference maker this guy was as their best defender before going to play college with the Massachusetts Minutemen.
- New York Islanders: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
JP Hulbert is a guy that New York can stash and develop. He is a first line center on the Kamloops Blazers, but with Bo Horvat, Matthew Barzal, and Callum Richie, Colorado’s 2023 first round pick in the Brock Nelson trade emerging, as a top six forward and line 2 center with Barzal at right wing. Hurlbert becomes a player that the New York Islanders can stash and develop.
- Boston Bruins: Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
Oscar Hemming, the younger brother of Emil Hemming has the floor of a third line winger and the ceiling of a first line winger. He probably projects as a second line winger in the NHL. Oscar Hemming will not fall past Boston here and I’m sure he would love to be teammates with James Hagens at the NHL level too.
- Buffalo Sabres: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami Ohio
Buffalo has needed a first line center for ages. They finally get that guy in Ilia Morozov. Morozov projects as a guy with the floor of a line 3 center and the ceiling of a first line center. Ilia Morozov is probably a second line center, but there’s an outside chance he becomes Buffalo’s first line center. Buffalo fired GM Kevyn Adams, got hot in December, and now the Sabres are on pace to break their playoff drought.
- Detroit Red Wings: Adam Nemec, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Adam Nemec is the younger brother of Simon Nemec. He was the only player in the 11-16 range from the preseason that didn’t disappoint me. He might drop out of the top 22, but he could still get picked in the late first round.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
The 6-4 190 lb Tobias Trejbal dominated the 2025 USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Mario Lemieux Sports Complex with a 33 save shutout. This is a very weak goalie draft, but Tobias Trejbal is the one standout in this class at goalie. He began the year as a sixth round pick and has already moved into the second round with him being projected to Pittsburgh in round 2. He’s on pace to potentially move into the back end of the first round. Considering how successful former Youngstown Phantoms goalie Jacob Fowler has been so far going from Clark Cup Champion in 2023 to breaking out at Boston College as a sophomore to starting on the Montreal Canadiens in 2026, the Youngstown Phantoms may end up developing a factory of goalies down the road as there is a good chance Tobias Trejbal goes higher than 69 which was where Fowler was drafted in 2023 sicne Tobias Trejbal is taller than Jacob Fowler. I spoke with the goalie coach on Youngstown at the UPMC Mario Lemieux Sports Complex who raved about how cool Jacob Fowler was. I had a first round grade on Jacob Fowler coming out of Youngstown three years ago and also have a first round grade on Trejbal after seeing him dominate in person back in September. Tobias Trejbal is going to Massachusetts for a college hockey scholarship.
- Montreal Canadiens: Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Adam Novotny is the first line left winger on the Peterborough Petes. He is versatile enough to play either winger role and is 6-1 201. This is a guy that is closing in on 30 goals and 30 assists with the Peterborough Petes. Montreal can take a flyer on him if he slips to this point in the first round.
- Vancouver Canucks (from Minnesota Wild): Giorgos Pantelas, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
The Vancouver Canucks traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for Marco Rossi a center Minnesota drafted in the top 10 of 2020, Liam Ohgren a left winger Minnesota drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Zeev Buium a defender they drafted in the top 12 of the 2024 NHL Draft, and this 2026 first round pick for Quinn Hughes. I feel like Minnesota gave up too much for Hughes, but you have to take that return for Hughes if you are a small market NHL team like Vancouver if you don’t want to overpay Hughes. Giorgos Pantelas is the number one defenseman on the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL as he is the closest thing you can get to a viable replacement to Quinn Hughes. He is currently the final first round player in most consensus mock drafts. He will move up into the late part of the first round before the draft process is over. The problem right now is there is not any game film on Pantelas at the moment.
- New York Rangers (from Dallas Stars): Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)
If Dallas is fully healthy entering the playoffs, they could go on a deep run and possibly win the whole thing. I may mock them lower when I post a new mock on Draft Utopia after the lottery. For mock drafts on Draft Prospect Hockey I will use the official draft order based on the NHL standings to save time. The 6-3 209 lb Oliver Suvanto is not a top line center, but he is a consensus first round prospect that now has a top fifteen grade in most mock drafts. He does model his game after Aleksander Barkov. I don’t like his tape personally, but I acknowledge that the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, or Dallas Stars would all take a flyer on this Finnish Hulk of a center at this point in the late part of the first round should he make it to pick 27. He has the floor of a fourth line center and the ceiling of a second line one. He is a third line center that can develop into a top 6 forward on the second line if his offense improves.
- Calgary Flames (from Vegas Golden Knights): Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Maddox Dagenais was the first pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft. Maddox showed improvement from year one to year two with the Quebec Remparts. Calgary can roll the dice on Maddox Dagenais at this point in the first round and hope he becomes something. He has the floor of a third line center in the NHL and the ceiling of a first line player, so he is probably a second line center.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Jakub Vanecek, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Jakub Vanecek is the number two defenseman on the Tri-City Americans first line defense this year. Jackson Smith was the number one defenseman on Tri-City last year. Jakub Vanecek is currently a mid second round prospect, but something tells me Vanecek could sneak into the first round with the lack of quality forward options this year since there is not a guy with experience or potential to play on an NHL first line after pick 20 in this draft. This is not just the strongest defender draft that I’ve seen since 2018. It also feels like the weakest center draft since 2018 and that was a draft that saw both of the top two centers that were outside of my top 10 in Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Barrett Hayton get pushed into the top five. You can argue that taking Malhorta and Lawrence over either of those two centers in the top 5 is less of a reach in terms of value meaning you cannot fault a team for taking one of those two in the top ten.
- Seattle Kraken (from Tampa Bay Lightning): Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
The 6-0 180 lb Nikita Klepov has 33 goals, 48 assists, and 89 points. He’s fourth in the OHL in points, but he is playing on the Saginaw Spirit’s third line. That means a lot of his points are coming against OHL teams worst defensive pairings. I was going to mock either Klepov, Mathis Preston, the one player that Anthony had in his top 10 in the preseason that disappointed, or Lars Steiner the one player I had in my preseason top 10 that disappointed. I don’t think Lars Steiner or Mathis Preston did enough to beat out Klepov for this spot. Klepov is bigger than Preston too for all the size queens in the NHL Draft scouting community in addition to having way more points in a third line role that Preston plays in the WHL.
- New York Islanders (from Colorado Avalanche): Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Liiga)
The New York Islanders will probably either take Juho Piiparinen or Mathis Preston here to wrap up the first round. You can argue Preston wins out from a need standpoint. You can also counter argue that Piiparinen wins out since he is a 6-3 203 lb defenseman in Finland while Preston is only 5-11 176 lbs. I want to see the record for most defenseman in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft with 13 defenseman get broken. I had 13 defenseman going in the top 30 prior to this pick with all of those defensemen having experience on a first line, but I want to break a record rather than tie it. You can argue that with six quality defenders on the Islanders, Matthew Schaefer’s success, and Kashawn Aitcheson in the Islanders prospect pool, that Preston wins out. I’m going with Piiparinen since both guys look like third line players at their respective positions and size may win out if that junior hockey projection for both current players holds up at the NHL level.
Round 2
- Vancouver Canucks: Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Mathis Preston is a round one talent that could fall to the second round. If he falls to day 2, don’t expect him to be on the board for very long.
- Columbus Blue Jackets (from St. Louis Blues): Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
The Ruck twins have stepped up for the Medicine Hat Tigers since the departure of Gavin McKenna. Liam Ruck, the current first line right winger next to first line left winger Andrew Basha and first line center Markus Ruck have 80 and 79 points respectively which ranks third and fourth in the WHL. I can see the Ruck Twins being the first two guys picked right after Mathis Preston. Columbus gets Liam Ruck.
- Utah Mammoth (from New York Rangers): Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Markus Ruck is excellent at winning face offs. He can also be a first line power play center. He could be a guy that pushes for a fourth line center role even with Logan Cooley, Caleb Desnoyers, and Barrett Hayton as his teammates on the Utah Mammoth down the road. He could also be Hayton’s replacement down the road if Utah only wants to make Cooley and Desnoyers the top two centers down the road as well.
- Calgary Flames: Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
I had a first round grade on Pierce Mbuyi in the preseason. His offensive production is great despite being undersized. Pierce Mbuyi will be Gavin McKenna’s eventual replacement at Penn State if McKenna makes the jump to the NHL next season.
- Pittsburgh Penguins (from Winnipeg Jets): Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
I had Beckham Edwards at 18 in my preseason 2026 NHL Mock Draft. I still like him as a guy that could go in the back end of the first round. He should not fall any further than this though.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Yegor Shilov was the best player available on the Draft Prospect Hockey Top 32 that the Prospect Don created. Shilov or Jack Hextall would be steals here strictly from a value standpoint even though the Blackhawks prospect pool is stacked.
- New Jersey Devils: Niklas Aaram-Olsen, RW, Orebro HK (SHL)
Niklas Aaram-Olsen moved into the Prospect Dons top 32. I am not sold on him yet. His tape and traits are good despite him not being a top line guy at the NHL.
- Nashville Predators: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
More people talked about Jack Hextall than Tobias Trejbal at the 2025 USHL Prospects Game back in September. Even though I got a second on Hextall he’s in the Prospect Don’s top 32. He is a top 40 talent regardless of whether you agree with Anthony Donateli or myself.
- Vancouver Canucks (from San Jose Sharks): Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Brooks Rogowski is the final player in The Prospect Don’s top 32. Vancouver stashes him in their prospect pool as the Vancouver Canucks currently have four picks in the top forty meaning they will be fine even if they end up with 3 and do not win the NHL Draft Lottery.
- Florida Panthers: Nikita Shcherbakov, D, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Nikita Shcherbarkov is already playing on a top line in the KHL against men in Russia. Florida stashes him as a future number four defenseman. With Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Gustav Forsling locked up, Florida can be patient with Nikita Shcherbakov and have him as their future complimentary line two defenseman.
- Los Angeles Kings: Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Tipos)
Tomas Chrenko was one of my preseason first round prospects. With Adam Nemec making the jump to the CHL, Tomas Chrenko is now the top player playing in Slovakia in the 2026 NHL Draft.
- Philadelphia Flyers: Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Lars Steiner was in my preseason top 10 after an impressive plus one year where he won the first line right winger job on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies as a 16 year old. Lars Steiner will not improve on what he did last year which is why he is now in my second round.
- Florida Panthers (from Washington Capitals): Dmitri Borichev, G, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Dmitri Borichev actually has a better goals against average and save percentage than Tobias Trejbal. The problem is he is still playing at the MHL level instead of the KHL level. Also, Trejbal showed me he could dominate on tape and I have yet to see that from Dmitri Borichev. Florida does need a successor to Sergei Bobrovsky though. If Trejbal goes in the first round, then Borichev who has a third round grade will catapult into the second round of a really weak goalie draft with a huge drop off after Trejbal and Borichev.
- Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (Liiga)
Simon Katolicky was one of my preseason first round prospects. The Tappara left winger should be a second round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
- Utah Mammoth (from Ottawa Senators): Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK (SHL)
Alexander Command is starting to generate some late first round buzz. He looks like he will get picked in the top 50 as long as he doesn’t interview poorly at the 2026 NHL Combine.
- Los Angeles Kings (from Columbus Blue Jackets): Braidy Wassilyn, LW, London Knights (OHL)
Braidy Wassilyn was a preseason first round prospect. He is no longer in that discussion and has to interview well at the 2026 NHL Combine to guarantee a spot in the second round.
- Edmonton Oilers: Oscar Holmertz, C, Linkoping HC (SHL)
Oscar Holmertz is already playing on Linkoping’s SHL team as a top line player. He needs to generate points against men because that is the only thing keeping him from moving into the first round. Edmonton can stash and develop Holmertz here in the second round.
- Utah Mammoth: Ben Macbeath, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Ben Macbeath will be a solid defenseman. He will be either a second or third line defenseman on an NHL team down the road.
- Anaheim Ducks: Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Wyatt Cullen has now replaced Mikey Berchild as the top NHL Draft Prospect on the USNTDP team. Anaheim continues to reload their prospect pool at winger.
- Seattle Kraken: Mikey Berchild, C, USNTDP (USHL)
Berchild can go to college for three to four years before signing his rookie contract with Seattle. He can also get some time in Coachella Valley giving him 5-6 years of development before the Seattle Kraken will need him. Seattle has Matty Beniers, Chandler Stevenson, Shane Wright, Berkly Catton, and Jake O’Brien. Seattle has drafted a center in the first round in four of their first five NHL drafts since entering the league. I still see the Kraken going for Berchild, but the possibility of moving him to left winger when he gets to the NHL is on the table since the Kraken are just loaded at center.
- Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders): Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
Marcus Nordmark was one of my final two preseason first round picks. I like Nordmark at this point in the second round for Chicago.
- Boston Bruins: Adam Valentini, LW, Michigan
Adam Valentini did not impress me when watching his tape despite having him in my preseason top 31. This is good spot for a guy that projects as a third line left winger in the NHL once he develops.
- Ottawa Senators (from Buffalo Sabres): Landon Hafele, C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Landon Hafele is the first line center on the Green Bay Gamblers. He impressed me at the 2025 USHL Prospects Game. He will be taking the NCAA route meaning Ottawa can stash and develop him.
- Detroit Red Wings: Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Cooper Williams reminds me of Nate MacKinnon and Connor Bedard as a skater. He showed a lot of promise as a shooter and passer in his plus one year. He has not been as strong this season. His skating traits alone make him a second round pick at the very worst.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Nils Bartholdsson, RW, Rogle BK (SHL)
Nils Bartholdsson was one of my preseason first round grades. This guy could be an ideal successor to Bryan Rust if the Penguins remain patient with his development.
- Montreal Canadiens: Jaxon Cover, LW, London Knights (OHL)
Jaxon Cover is the top prospect on the London Knights in the 2026 NHL Draft. Cover has a consensus second round grade and someone will gamble on him here.
- Nashville Predators (from Minnesota Wild): Colin Fitzgerald, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Colin Fitzgerald was a preseason top fifteen prospect. He is now on the same OHL team that Brady Martin, Nashville’s 2025 first round pick plays for. This might be a guy Barry Trotz gambles on in the second round.
- Dallas Stars: Joe Erickson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Joe Erickson is a name not a lot of people are talking about right now. They will be talking about him by June because I believe he is this years version of Mason West. Mason West was a two sport athlete that began last year with a fifth round grade and moved into the first round by the end of the draft process. Joe Erickson has only played 2 USHL games with the Chicago Steel, but you have to watch the Blake High School captains tape at Blake High School to get a better idea of how good he can be. Jim Nill hasn’t drafted a high school player since Riley Tufte back in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, but he may buck that trend this year. The 6-4 201 lb Joe Erickson has 32 goals, 30 assists, and 62 points in 27 games. He also played for Wisconsin Windigo in the NAHL where he had 2 goals in addition to the Chicago Steel. Erickson is already a top five player when it comes to deking in this entire draft class. He has the size and deking down. His wrist shot is already elite and he can pass the puck well. Refining his slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, improving his face off percentage, and getting better defensively are the four things he needs to work on if he wants to reach the NHL one day. Dallas has Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, and Matt Duchene locked up for the next three years after this season. That means, Dallas can be patient with Joe Erickson and let him develop in the NCAA. He might be ready for the Texas Stars in the AHL by the time Duchene enters his contract year with Dallas. I think this guy could be ready for the NHL by 2029 and he should be ready for the NHL by the time the new decade starts in 2030 when Wyatt Johnston’s contract expires with Roope Hintz entering a contract year in his thirties. The Stars are my favorite team in real life, so I am giving them an under the radar talent here.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Simas Ignatavicius, LW, Geneve-Servette HC (National League A)
Simas Ignatavicius has 6 goals, 6 assists, and 12 points against men in the National League A in Switzerland. Vegas gets a future back six left winger here.
- New York Rangers (from Carolina Hurricanes): Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Alessandro Di Iorio is a player the New York Rangers could gamble on in the second round. Alessandro Di Iorio was a preseason first round pick on some boards, but I always had him in the second round. He has less points this year compared to his plus one season.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Vladimir Dravecky, D, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Vladimir Dravecky is my second best player on the Brantford Bulldogs in this years 2026 NHL Draft. I have a late second round grade on him.
- San Jose Sharks (from Colorado Avalanche): Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Tommy Bleyl has 10 goals, 57 assists, and 67 points so far in the QMJHL this season. He’s going to Michigan State to develop further this Fall.