The hockey world keeps flying, and last night’s thrilling conclusion to the 2026 World Junior Championship is a checkmark on the bigger timeline for hockey that we’re turning the page to a new calendar year. It also gives us a good time to take stock of how some prospects performed in that tournament and update our 2026 NHL Mock Draft!
Some players really helped their draft stock with strong performances at the World Juniors. Other players continue to build strong resumes with their play in other leagues around the globe.
NHL teams are starting to consider their direction before the trade deadline this season before the Olympic break in February. There could be some movement before that break, and some of the moves could impact which teams have what selections when the draft begins in June.
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.
Note I: for this mock draft, the order was set based on the NHL standings thru games played on Jan. 4, 2026. Note II: there are only 31 selections in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Ottawa forfeited their first-round pick because of the Evgenii Dadonov trade. Barry Reeger-Imagn Images2026 NHL Mock Draft — First Round
1. Winnipeg Jets — Ivar Stenberg, RW, Frölunda (SHL)
Stenberg’s stock is up after a stellar performance at the World Junior Championship. He’s been in the conversation for the top overall pick for a while now and he certainly looks the part of a franchise pillar based on this performance against international talent.
2. Vancouver Canucks — 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. His World Juniors performance was good — not great. I can also see the Canucks strongly considering defenseman Keaton Verhoeff here.
3. St. Louis Blues — Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)
Verhoeff didn’t play as big of a role as some hoped/expected at the World Juniors, but he performed okay. What he’s going in the NCAA ranks is the basis for him being in the mix to be the top overall pick. He’s a big (6-4, 212) right-handed defenseman who the Blues could build their blue line around for the future.
4. Utah Mammoth — 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. His performance at the World Juniors should help his stock rise even further. Utah has a good group of young forwards. Reid could be their future No. 1 defenseman.
5. Calgary Flames — Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon (USHL)
The Flames are absolutely in best player available territory right now, but they already have some intriguing young players to build around. Lawrence would be the dynamic offensive threat they need as a centerpiece for the future. He projects as a No. 1 center at the next level.
6. Chicago Blackhawks — Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)
The Blackhawks already have a strong collection of prospects coming. What they don’t have a lot of is size that could impact their top six forward mix. The Hawks have seen plenty of Belchetz this season; he’s a teammate of Chicago prospect AJ Spellacy with Windsor. Belchetz is a legit power forward with size (6-5, 227) who can score.
7. Nashville Predators — 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. He was very good at the World Juniors as well. The Latvian defenseman could be the second player playing overseas to come off the board.
8. New York Rangers — Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)
Carels was 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. There isn’t a forward here who would be the best player available for the Blue Shirts.
9. San Jose Sharks — Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)
The Sharks have a lot of good, young forwards on their current NHL roster. They also love the potential of Sam Dickinson on their back end. If Rudolph (6-1, 194) and Dickinson (6-3, 200) becomes a pair San Jose can run with for big minutes in the future, that’s a foundation to building a solid blue line.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets — Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
Malhotra checks most of the boxes for a Columbus team that that wants/needs to be better soon. There’s leadership, scoring, responsibility — he would be a good complement to some of the young forwards on their existing roster as well.
11. Los Angeles Kings — Ryan Lin, RHD, Vancouver (WHL)
If the Kings need to replace Drew Doughty at some point, and could be intrigued by 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.
12. Boston Bruins — 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. His performance at the World Juniors likely elevates him back into talk about being a top-ten pick.
13. San Jose Sharks (from EDM) — 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 very good at the World Juniors as well, and his stock is likely up after that performance. Novotný was also part of the CHL squad in the CHL USA Prospect Challenge games.
14. New Jersey Devils — Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane (WHL)
The Devils are a tough team to figure out. Who are they? And what do they need to take a big step forward? 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.
15. Boston Bruins (from TOR) — Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)
Suvanto had a terrific World Juniors, and that performance 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 skilled offensive threat on the wing would make this first round a home run mock draft for Boston.
16. Anaheim Ducks — Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra U20 (Slovakia U20)
Chrenko is going to be an interesting player to watch between now and the draft. His stock dipped before the World Juniors, but he was terrific for Slovakia in the tournament (five goals in five games — three on the power play). The Ducks’ current front office has never had a problem taking the best player on their board no matter where others rank the player. He could be a nice fit in Anaheim.
17. Seattle Kraken — 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. Villeneuve starts the second wave of defenseman to come off the board in our mock draft.
18. Washington Capitals — Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 U18 (U18 Region)
Gustafsson has good size (6-4, 198) and is an August 2008 birthday. The Caps need to continue collecting youth to help supplement their NHL roster, and Gustafsson could be a nice piece on their blue line in the future.
19. Chicago Blackhawks (from FLA) — Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
Klepov, a late-June birthday, got 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 is 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.
20. 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.
21. Calgary Flames (from VGK) — Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (Liiga)
The Flames went with a highly skilled forward at the top of the draft, so taking a big right-handed defenseman later in the first round of our mock draft makes a lot of sense — especially if Rasmus Andersson is on his way out after this season.
22. New York Islanders — 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 the surprising Islanders with the first of their two picks in our mock draft.
23. Pittsburgh Penguins — 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 the Penguins’ pipeline up front for a team that has some really nice pieces on their NHL roster and still coming.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Montreal Canadiens — Ilya Morozov, C, Miami (OH) University (NCAA)
The Canadiens are enjoying a nice season, but they could use some more size down the middle. Morozov (6-3, 205) is playing well in the NCAA right now and could be a nice complement to their current group of forwards.
27. New York Rangers (from CAR) — 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 Rangers to consider adding to their system. Picking Carels and Shilov is a nice mock draft for the Rangers.
28. Vancouver Canucks (from MIN) — 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. He might be a future partner for the recently acquired Zeev Buium on Vancouver’s blue line.
29. Carolina Hurricanes (from DAL) — Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia (OHL)
The Hurricanes traded their first-round pick, but got one back from Dallas in the Mikko Rantanen trade. In this mock draft, those transactions only costs them two spots in the first round. Edwards is a nice center who could be a middle-six contributor in Carolina.
30. Seattle Kraken (from TB) — Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia (OHL)
How about back-to-back centers from Sarnia in our 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 Kraken build up front. Another team with two picks in the first round of our mock draft, adding Villeneuve and Di Iorio to the pipeline would be a positive for the Kraken.
31. New York Islanders (from COL) — 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 Islanders love what Matthew Schaefer is doing with the puck on the back end now, having this big body join him back there would be a nice add. Adding both Roobroeck and Håkansson would make this a physically big mock draft for the Islanders.
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