2026 NHL Mock Draft: Pre-World Junior Championship First Round Update ...Middle East

The NHL is on break for Christmas, but the hockey world can now turn its collective attention to the start of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins today in Minnesota.

There will be a lot of players already drafted by NHL teams competing in the tournament. There are also some who are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler at The Athletic wrote their list of the top prospects — drafted and eligible — in the tournament. That mix makes considering players in a mock draft a lot of fun this time of year.

So let’s update our 2026 NHL Mock Draft!

Again, I’m including links to the EliteProspects profiles for each player in this mock draft so you can see where they’re playing and how they’re producing.

2026 NHL Mock Draft — First Round

1. Chicago Blackhawks — Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon (USHL)

Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks have the best odds of winning the lottery at this point, so they’re on the clock first in our new mock draft. And, yes, I do not have them selecting Gavin McKenna. Lawrence is an elite playmaker and scorer who is committed to play at Boston University next year; the Blackhawks have a good relationship with BU and I really think he fits the Blackhawks’ profile best in this draft class. I like what Pronman at The Athletic said about Lawrence (in the photo above) as a fit in Chicago. “Tynan Lawrence feels like their type of player,” Pronman said. “He’s a supercharged version of Oliver Moore and would give them an elite young group of centers”

2. Vancouver Canucks — Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)

This is not me necessarily buying that McKenna’s stock is “falling” as much as Verhoeff is a big, physical right-handed defenseman who would be an ideal partner for the recently acquired Zeev Buium on Vancouver’s blue line. He could be the Seabrook to Buium’s Keith, if you will. Right now, I think this is a pick that makes sense.

3. Calgary Flames — Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

Whichever team calls McKenna’s name at the 2026 NHL Draft is going to be thrilled. And they’re going to sell a lot of jerseys. We’ve seen early projected No. 1 picks slide and get over-analyzed in the past, and he’s going thru that now skating for Penn State in the competitive Big Ten Conference. By the end of the World Juniors, McKenna may make enough noise to be back as the clear No. 1 prospect.

4. Winnipeg Jets — Ivar Stenberg, RW, Frölunda (SHL)

Stenberg feels like the easy call for the “consolation prize” after McKenna and Verhoeff, but don’t sleep on him maybe hearing his name earlier than expected like Leo Carlsson did in 2023. He checks every box. The Jets could use an elite offensive player; their offense is why they’re picking this high at this point. Stenberg is in the mix to go No. 1 entering the World Juniors.

5. St. Louis Blues — Chase Reid, RHD, Soo (OHL)

Reid’s stock has seen a meteoric rise over the past year; he was passed over by USA Hockey for the U18 roster, and now he’s making a case to be one of the top defensemen taken in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Blues have some young forwards right now but need to rebuild their blue line. Reid’s a good one.

6. Utah Mammoth — Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)

Carels is the hottest name heading into the World Juniors. He stood out in the first game of the CHL USA Prospect Challenge. He has ideal size (6-2, 194) and is averaging better than a point-per-game with Prince Albert to start the season. The defense group in this draft is really good and we will likely see a run on the blue line in the top ten picks.

7. Nashville Predators — Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

The Preds would likely love to get a top center in this draft, or find some future help on their blue line. But, at this point in our mock draft, Belchetz is easily the best player available. He’s a big (6-5, 227) power forward who plays with an edge. “He’s a wrecking ball.”

8. San Jose Sharks — Ryan Lin, RHD, Vancouver (WHL)

If the Sharks want to have a dynamic defenseman on the back end, Lin might be a sleeper in this draft class. He won’t fall because of his ability to play the game; Lin is listed at only 5-11 and 176 pounds. With some other, bigger defensemen in this class, he could be an absolute steal. He’s the total package.

9. Columbus Blue Jackets — Alberts Šmits, LHD, Jukurit (Liiga)

Šmits is a big-time helium prospect in the draft class right now. He’s got the size (6-3, 205) that scouts love and has been producing better than many anticipated. The Latvian defenseman could be the second player playing overseas to come off the board.

10. Seattle Kraken — Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

Malhotra checks most of the boxes for a Seattle team that has two picks in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. There’s leadership, scoring, responsibility — he’s a guy the Kraken can build around. And he would be a good complement to some of the forwards on their existing roster as well.

11. Boston Bruins (from TOR) — Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)

The Bruins could use a big body on the back end and Rudolph is that (6-2, 205). He’s been a productive postseason player in his previous stops and is wearing an A for Prince Albert this season.

12. New York Rangers — Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane (WHL)

Preston was arguably the biggest winner in the first game of the CHL USA Prospect Challenge with regards to draft stock. He’s got a great shot and showed it off in the first game. He’s another guy whose stock would likely be higher if his height began with a six.

13. Boston Bruins — Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Suvanto might be one of the guys not a lot of people are talking about… yet. But a big performance at the World Juniors could see him moving up the board. He’s got great size already (6-3, 209), is young (September 2008 birthday) and is a left-handed shot at center. The Bruins getting a top center and a big defenseman would make this first round a home run mock draft for Boston.

14. Los Angeles Kings — Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 U18 (U18 Region)

Gustafsson has good size (6-4, 198) and is an August 2008 birthday. The Kings will eventually need to consider the future of their blue line after Drew Doughty, and we have them going defense first in our mock draft.

15. Pittsburgh Penguins — Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

There are two blue line prospects in this draft who will be fascinating to track in the coming months: Lin and Villeneuve. Both have the skill and production to warrant a high pick, but they’re both under six-feet tall. And, in the case of Villeneuve, being listed under 160 pounds also doesn’t help. But he’s been compared to Lane Hutson and plays a feisty game.

16. New Jersey Devils — Elton Hermansson, W, MoDo (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Hermansson was dominant at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored six goals with five assists in six games for Sweden. This would be a nice offensive addition to their pipeline up front for a Devils team that has struggled offensively when Jack Hughes takes his seemingly annual time on IR.

17. Buffalo Sabres — JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)

The Sabres are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NHL, which means their pick is sliding down the first round. Hurlbert is putting up enormous numbers in the WHL to start the year. There are some questions about his skating and size, which could cost him a few spots in the draft. Buffalo getting a dynamic scorer is a big get here.

18. San Jose Sharks (from EDM) — Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (Liiga)

This starts the next tier of defensemen in this year’s draft class for me. The Sharks went with a right-handed defenseman earlier in this mock draft, but I have them doubling down here with another. With Sam Dickinson already in the mix and their collection of young forwards already making an impact in the NHL, it’s time to hoard defensemen. They get a couple good ones in this mock draft.

19. Washington Capitals — Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough (OHL)

Novotný left Kobylice, Czechia to play in the OHL this season to help improve his draft stock. He’s doing that quite well, averaging better than a point per game with Peterborough. He was part of the CHL squad in the CHL USA Prospect Challenge games.

20. Chicago Blackhawks (from FLA) — Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)

Klepov, a late-June birthday, is off to a great start in the OHL this season, passing all of his 59-game numbers in 24 appearances to start this year. Klepov hits Christmas with 19 goals and 21 assists in 32 games with Saginaw. He’s committed to Michigan State for the 2026-27 season where he’ll play with Blackhawks’ 2025 first-round pick Mason West. The Blackhawks have a strong relationship with MSU.

21. New York Islanders — Ilya Morozov, C, Miami (OH) University (NCAA)

The Islanders have two picks in the first round, and their own keeps sliding later in the draft. Morozov is a name that keeps climbing draft boards as he puts up solid numbers (14 points in 18 games) as a freshman playing college hockey. He’s got terrific size (6-3, 205) to be a difference maker down the middle for the Islanders.

22. Anaheim Ducks — Viggo Björck, C, Djurgårdens (SHL)

Björck is a polarizing prospect because of his size. The skill and talent are there to make him dangerous, but he’s a haircut under 5-10 and listed at only 172 pounds, which has some scouts questioning about his projection to the next levels in North America. The Ducks have shown a willingness to take skill despite potential “red flags” before, and this makes sense for them to add more skill up front.

23. Seattle Kraken (from TB) — Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara (OHL)

Scouts don’t agree much on Roobroeck. He’s been ranked anywhere between No. 4 and 27 overall recently, which is interesting. One thing the scouts can agree on: he’s a massive center (6-4, 216). And those tend to trend favorably around draft time. A worthy gamble for Seattle with their second pick in our mock draft.

24. Montreal Canadiens — Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Shilov left Russia before the 2024-25 season and has been really good in his stops on North America thus far. He’s committed to Boston University for next season. There’s decent size (6-1, 181) and great production here for the Canadiens to consider adding to their system.

25. Detroit Red Wings — Niklas Aaram-Olsen, W, Örebro HK (SHL)

Out of Norway, Aaram-Olsen has already played in SHL games in his pre-draft season with Örebro. He has strong puckhandling skills and is a good facilitator on the power play.

26. Philadelphia Flyers — Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)

This might feel like a convenient “hey, we know that last name” pick for Philadelphia, but Hextall is a legit first-round prospect who is having a solid season in the USHL. He’s committed to play at Michigan State next year.

27. Calgary Flames (from VGK) — William Håkansson, LHD, Luleå (SHL)

Håkansson is an older prospect (October 2007 birthday) but has good size (6-4, 207) on the back end. If the Flames can walk away from the first round with McKenna up front and a big defenseman in Håkansson, this would be a nice win for them.

28. Vancouver Canucks (from MIN) — Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia (OHL)

The Canucks get to pick again late in the first round because, since our last mock draft, they traded Quinn Hughes to the Wild. I have the Canucks going with a big, right-handed defenseman early in the draft, so coming back with a good center later in the first round makes sense. Edwards is committed to play at Notre Dame next year.

29. Carolina Hurricanes (from DAL) — Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra U20 (Slovakia U20)

Chrenko’s stock has slid since the start of the rankings cycle began after the 2025 NHL Draft; he was initially considered potentially a top-half of the first round guy, but now he seems to be in the mid- to late-20s. Nice player with good skills who could be a middle-six player.

30. New York Rangers (from CAR) — Giorgos Pantelas, RHD, Brandon (WHL)

Pantelas (6-2, 214) already has the size to be an impactful defenseman in the NHL. He has a high hockey IQ and, while he doesn’t dazzle as much as some of the guys at the top of this defense class, he might have one of the higher floors in the group. 

31. New York Islanders (from COL) — Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia (OHL)

Yeah, we have two centers from Sarnia coming off the board late in our new mock draft. Di Iorio wore an A for Canada at the most recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup and has decent size (6-1, 190) to help the Islanders up front.

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