NHL reporters project first 16 picks in 2026 draft mock
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 6
NHL reporters project first 16 picks in 2026 draft mock
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 6
After Tuesday's lottery, Toronto was mocked to take Gavin McKenna first, while San Jose, which jumped from ninth to second, was projected to select Ivar Stenberg.
The mock draft also had Vancouver taking Caleb Malhotra third and Chicago Carson Carels fourth, reflecting teams' needs for elite forwards, centres and top-pairing defencemen.
Toronto won the top pick with an 8.5% lottery chance, and the 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27 in Buffalo, New York.
With scouts divided on the top prospects, is the 2026 NHL draft class more unpredictable than it appears?
Can generational talent Gavin McKenna truly fix the Maple Leafs' deep-rooted roster and contract problems?
Will the Sharks draft another top forward or trade the second overall pick to fix their defense?