A picture featuring top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. McKenna, Stenberg and Ried.


TheBigFaceoff 2026 NHL Mock Draft: First-Round Edition

Welcome to TheBigFaceoff’s official 2026 NHL Mock Draft. This year’s class boasts elite offensive talent at the top, a very deep defenseman pool, and strong international prospects with pro experience. Here is our projection for the first 16 picks of the first round, complete with detailed scouting notes, physical profiles, and team-specific fit analysis.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)



Age: 18 | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs | Position: Left Wing (shoots L) McKenna is the clear consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class. He possesses elite vision, playmaking ability, and hockey IQ, backed by exceptional age-adjusted production and a standout freshman season at Penn State. A dynamic, creative winger who dominates in transition with speed, hands, and the ability to drive play, McKenna has the tools to become a future franchise cornerstone. The Maple Leafs need high-end scoring talent to complement their core and push them deeper into the playoffs. this is a franchise-altering selection.

2. San Jose Sharks – Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)



Age: 18 | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs | Position: Defense (shoots R) Reid has climbed draft boards with his smooth skating, elite transitional play, and offensive instincts from the blue line. A mobile right-shot defenseman with good size and two-way reliability, he projects as a future top-pair stalwart. The Sharks are in desperate need of puck-moving defensemen to fuel their rebuild. Reid perfectly addresses that critical need on the back end.

3. Vancouver Canucks – Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frölunda (SHL)




Age: 18 | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 183 lbs | Position: Wing (shoots L) Stenberg is a highly skilled, compete-heavy winger with impressive SHL experience and one of the strongest age-adjusted production numbers in the league. He brings creativity, two-way maturity, and scoring punch. Vancouver’s long-standing preference for Swedish players (the Sedin twins, Elias Pettersson, and recent picks) combined with the Sedins’ influence in management makes this a natural and high-floor fit that adds skill and intelligence to their forward group.

4. Chicago Blackhawks – Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)


Age: 17 | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 212 lbs | Position: Defense (shoots R) Verhoeff is a massive, mobile right-shot defenseman who combines strong defensive awareness with growing offensive tools. He has successfully transitioned to the NCAA and projects as a future top-pair anchor. Chicago needs size, physicality, and reliability on the blueline. Verhoeff gives the Blackhawks a potential long-term cornerstone defender.

5. New York Islanders – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

Age: 17 | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 182 lbs | Position: Center Malhotra is a big, skilled two-way center who offers size, playmaking ability, and reliability at both ends of the ice. He has the potential to anchor a line and develop into a strong 200-foot player. The Islanders place high value on premium center depth and responsible forwards; Malhotra fits their patient, structured development model perfectly.

6. Calgary Flames – Alberts Smits, D



Age: 18 | Height: 6'3" | Weight: ~205 lbs | Position: Defense Smits is a projectable, mobile defenseman with good size, skating, and transitional ability. Calgary continues to focus on rebuilding their defensive core by adding a blueliner with strong two-way potential and future top-four upside. Ideal perfect pairing for Zayne Parehk.

7. Seattle Kraken – Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)


Age: 17 | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 198 lbs | Position: Defense (shoots L) Carels is a fluid skater with elite hockey IQ, strong two-way play, and the ability to handle heavy minutes while driving possession. One of the higher-upside defensemen in the class. Seattle’s system loves smart, projectable D with size and compete; Carels is an outstanding system fit.

8. Winnipeg Jets – Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgården (SHL)

Age: 18 | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 177 lbs | Position: Center Bjorck brings exceptional hockey sense, maturity from SHL play, and strong playmaking skills. Despite his smaller stature, his intelligence and compete level stand out. Winnipeg adds Swedish center depth that complements their gritty, structured team identity.

9. Florida Panthers – Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP


Age: 17 | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs | Position: Left Wing (shoots L) Cullen is a rising skilled winger with excellent vision, offensive tools, and a notable late upward trajectory at the USNTDP and internationally. Florida continues its development-focused drafting by adding a high-upside forward who can thrive in their structured, high-compete system.

10. Nashville Predators – Oscar Hemming, LW


Age: 17 | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 197 lbs | Position: Left Wing Hemming is a big, powerful winger with size, strength, and growing offensive potential. Nashville adds physical forward depth and a player who can develop into a reliable middle-six contributor with upside.

11. St. Louis Blues – Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)


Age: 18 | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 228 lbs | Position: Left Wing Belchetz is a massive power forward who combines physical presence, net-front dominance, and a legitimate scoring touch. St. Louis gains much-needed size and complementary top-six potential in their forward group.

12. New Jersey Devils – Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)



Age: 18 | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 206 lbs | Position: Defense Rudolph is a physical, competitive defenseman who plays hard in all situations and shows solid offensive instincts. New Jersey bolsters its blueline with a big, driven project who can develop into a reliable shutdown or two-way option.

13. New York Islanders – Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (Sweden)


Age: 17 | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs | Position: Defense (shoots L) Gustafsson is a towering Swedish defenseman with good mobility, two-way flashes, and intriguing offensive tools. His recent men’s league experience adds to his appeal. The Islanders continue building defensive depth with high-upside size and projectability.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)


Age: 18 | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 178 lbs | Position: Defense (shoots R) Lin is an explosive, smart right-shot defenseman known for elite vision, transitional play, and play-driving ability. Columbus gains much-needed mobile and creative help on the back end.

15. St. Louis Blues – Xavier Villeneuve, D


Age: 18 | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 162 lbs | Position: Defense Villeneuve is one of the most dynamic offensive defensemen available, with strong puck-rushing skills and the ability to quarterback a power play. St. Louis adds skill and dynamism to their defensive prospect pool.

16. Washington Capitals – Nikita Klepov, RW/LW, Saginaw (OHL)


Age: 17 | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 181 lbs | Position: Forward Klepov is a dynamic, skilled forward with excellent puck skills, vision, and offensive production. Washington adds creativity and scoring talent that fits their need for skilled depth moving forward.