The 2026 NHL Draft is less than a week away. But the last few days have thrown major wrenches into the first round order for Friday night. The Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks swapped picks in the 20s last week. And on Sunday, the Florida Panthers traded for Brady Tkachuk, sending two 2026 first-round picks as part of the return to the Ottawa Senators.
There is potential for even more moves at the 2026 NHL Draft before we even get to Friday. With the dust settling on all the action, for now at least, ClutchPoints presents its eighth NHL Mock Draft of the season.
Our final mock will come shortly before the event kicks off at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Previous 2026 NHL Mock Drafts: NHL Mock Draft 1.0, NHL Mock Draft 2.0, NHL Mock Draft 3.0, NHL Mock Draft 4.0, NHL Mock Draft 5.0, NHL Mock Draft 6.0, NHL Mock Draft 7.0
1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are unofficially on the clock, and they will likely bring one of the most hyped prospects to town when the NHL Draft rolls around on Friday. Gavin McKenna has been our No. 1 pick in every mock draft this season and there is no reason to change things now. Expect the Nittany Lions star to form a formidable top-six alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies for years to come.
2. San Jose Sharks – Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)
The San Jose Sharks could certainly take one of the top defensemen in this class. Their defensive depth is a need, without a doubt. But the Sharks don’t have a player with Ivar Stenberg’s potential in their system. Michael Misa comes close, but Stenberg is right there with McKenna as being a projected elite first-line wing for years to come. Put the Swedish phenom with Macklin Celebrini for the next 15 years, and San Jose is going to terrify opposing teams.
3. Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
The obvious connection here is that Caleb Malhotra’s father, Manny, is the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. However, Caleb is going to Vancouver based on merit first, family connection second. Malhotra is the best center in this class, and has been for a while. The Canucks get their future franchise center in this NHL Mock Draft as their rebuild properly commences.
4. Chicago Blackhawks – Alberts Smits, LD, Red Bull Munich (DEL)
The Chicago Blackhawks have invested in the blueline in recent seasons, with Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov being top-10 selections by Chicago. However, they still have a need for depth on the blueline, especially on the right side. Alberts Smits doesn’t have the same offensive profile as Korchinski or Levshunov did when they entered their NHL Drafts. But Smits can certainly become a top-pairing blueliner down the line, and he isn’t an offensive black hole, either.
5. New York Rangers – Chase Reid, RD, Soo Greyhounds
In a change of pace from our previous mocks, the New York Rangers pass on Keaton Verhoeff for Chase Reid at this spot. This is not a knock on Verhoeff by any means. It’s more of a show of our growing appreciation for Reid’s game. He oozes confidence on and off the puck, is a fantastic skater, and finds ways to involve himself in the play at all times. The Rangers need a high-end defenseman, and Reid has the potential to be that for the Blueshirts.
6. Calgary Flames – Keaton Verhoeff, RD, North Dakota (NCAA)
The Calgary Flames have Zayne Parekh, who projects as a potential top pairing defenseman. Ideally, the Flames would go for a high-end forward. If somehow Stenberg fell here, Craig Conroy should invent teleportation to instantly submit that pick to NHL Central Registry. However, if a forward doesn’t fall, Keaton Verhoeff is widely considered the best defenseman in this class. He would give them a high-end talent, which works out well for a rebuilding club like Calgary.
7. Seattle Kraken – Dax Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
The Seattle Kraken have used almost all of their early-round draft capital on forwards in their short existence. As a matter of fact, they have never selected a defenseman in the first round of the NHL Draft. The Kraken need defenders, and adding Dax Rudolph to the mix would be a massive boost to the pipeline. He has incredible hockey sense and an absolute weapon of a shot that can beat goalies from range. The top-four potential here could carry him into the back end of the top-10.
8. Winnipeg Jets – Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
The Winnipeg Jets are hoping to turn around their fortunes for next season. And that work sort of begins at the 2026 NHL Draft. Viggo Bjorck likely won’t make the NHL right away. At the same time, he certainly will be an impactful forward a couple years from now. Whether he plays center or wing is the main question. Bjorck has played down the middle most of the year, but our projection is that he kicks out to the wing. Either way, the Jets add a lot of skill to their pipeline.
9. Ottawa Senators (from FLA) – Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)
The first domino of the Brady Tkachuk trade comes up here. The Senators need a high-end center, and Tynan Lawrence sneaks back into the top-10 as a result. Lawrence had a less-than-stellar showing with Boston University after joining them midseason. His production did improve as the season went along, though, and he still has the tools to be a successful top-six center in the NHL.
10. Nashville Predators – Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)
ClutchPoints remains high on Oliver Suvanto as the NHL Draft nears. He has the play driving skill needed to succeed at the next level. There is some flash to his game, but he mostly plays a heavy game and is a complete two-way player. His play away from the puck is especially strong, and the future is bright for Suvanto if he can continue strengthening his game.
11. St. Louis Blues – Ryan Lin, RD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
The St. Louis Blues would ideally want one of Lawrence or Suvanto to fall to them at this pick. Bjorck is another option if new general manager Alex Steen believes he can stick at center. With those options gone, and another selection due up soon, the Blues add to their defense with Ryan Lin. Lin is undersized, but he possesses incredible skill and has some of the best decision-making for a defenseman in this class. The offensive skill is questionable, but he could be a very good player down the line nonetheless.
12. New Jersey Devils – Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ethan Belchetz is a fascinating prospect, as his draft stock is sort of all over the place. Some have viewed him as a potential top-10 pick, while others question his first-round worthiness in its entirety. ClutchPoints loves Belchetz’s game and has had him in the top-10 a few times. He has a ton of confidence and relentlessly attacks defends when he has the puck. He did suffer an injury in March, which may cause him to drop further, but the potential is certainly there if the Devils are willing to take the chance.
13. New York Islanders – Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
The New York Islanders are back up in this NHL Mock Draft, and they elect to add a bit of skill to the pipeline. Some consider Adam Novotny more of a power forward, and there is merit to that. But a lot of people underrate the natural skill he brings to the ice. He doesn’t exactly have a high-end trait, but he does a lot of things really well. His offense and playmaking should translate to the NHL, and he would join an increasingly interesting Islanders pipeline here.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)
Oscar Hemming got off to a late start in the 2025-26 season, but he eventually made his mark with Boston College. He came out of the gate swinging, and he earned rave reviews. Eventually, he came back down to Earth, and some are questioning his true potential. A full college season could show us the real player underneath the streakiness. His size, speed, and skill combo will need to some team taking a chance on him in round one, and the Blue Jackets could be an excellent fit.
15. St. Louis Blues (from DET) – Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK (SHL)
The Blues are back up with the pick acquired in the Justin Faulk trade at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. As mentioned, they need a center, and Alexander Command is the one they go with in this NHL Mock Draft. Command has risen through the ranks ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. He is a high-floor prospect who makes his teammates better. His off-puck play is strong, and he contributes in the offensive zone. Again, he doesn’t have a high-end trait, but he’s a jack-of-all-trades player who brings immense value to his team.
16. Washington Capitals – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
The Washington Capitals own two of the next three picks and are in need of depth down the middle. Jack Hextall was our pick for Washington in our previous NHL Mock Draft, and he continues to profile as a fit for Washington here. Milton Gastrin is the only center they have who projects to play in the NHL. He has a great shot with impressive skill and work ethic. He can certainly find a role as a middle-six pivot at the next level.
17. Los Angeles Kings – Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
The Los Angeles Kings won’t have Anze Kopitar next season as the longtime captain has retired from the NHL. They will need to find a way to replace his impact, and in this NHL Mock Draft, they add a winger whose calling card is his playmaking. Nikita Klepov is one of the more underrated playmakers in this class. He was the clear star of a mediocre Saginaw Spirit team that was trounced in the OHL playoffs. Klepov has the ability to be a play-driving top-six winger in the NHL.
18. Washington Capitals (from ANA) – Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
The Capitals are back up, and they double-dip at the center position. Markus Ruck was a force to be reckoned with this year with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He and his brother Liam carried the load for Medicine Hat in its first year without Gavin McKenna. Ruck is a fantastic playmaker who does not shy away from getting involved in some of the dirty areas on the ice. He didn’t have a great performance in the WHL playoffs, though, and that may leave a sour taste in the mouth of some scouts.
19. Utah Mammoth – Xavier Villeneuve, LD, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
The Utah Mammoth have a strong NHL defensive group at this time. John Marino, Mikhail Sergachev, and MacKenzie Weegar form a very solid core on the blueline. Dmitri Simashev should be headed to the NHL soon, as well. However, the Mammoth lack a true powerplay quarterback. In this NHL Mock Draft, the Mammoth add that power play quarterback with the selection of Xavier Villeneuve.
20. Buffalo Sabres (from SJ/EDM) – Nikita Shcherbakov, LD, Tolpar Ufa (KHL)
The Buffalo Sabres have no real major weakness in its prospect pipeline. But if there was one area they could stand to address, the left side of the defense stands out. Nikita Shcherbakov brings a ton of size and has impressive strength already. He also has good mobility and is rarely caught flat-footed. His decision making and vision are questionable, but he could certainly develop into a second pairing defenseman down the line.
21. Philadelphia Flyers – William Hakansson, LD, Lulea HF (SHL)
The Philadelphia Flyers also lack depth on the left side of their blueline. The Flyers have a number of options here, but they go with William Hakansson, who a lot of scouts love as a mid-first-round option. He brings a lot of energy on the defensive end of the ice, though he isn’t exactly the most skilled player. He is a fantastic shutdown defender who can take on any team’s best and limit their scoring chances. If some offense comes around, this could be a steal.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins – Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
The Pittsburgh Penguins need to find centers in the worst way possible. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are heading toward the end of their careers. And they don’t have a center who projects to make a major impact at the next level. Maddox Dagenais had a strong run with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL playoffs. He is reliable at both ends and relies on his smarts to generate chances for his teammates.
23. Boston Bruins – Tommy Bleyl, RD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
The Boston Bruins added skill last year when they took James Hagens with their first pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. The Bruins are adding more skill with the selection of Tommy Bleyl in our 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Bleyl has not received a lot of love from NHL Central Scouting, which is a bit peculiar. The Moncton Wildcats star scored 81 points as a rookie, and uses his skill to frustrate defenses. In his own zone, he plays with patience and poise to avoid making major mistakes.
24. Vancouver Canucks (from MIN) – Carson Carels, LD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
ClutchPoints is not as big a fan of Carson Carels as others around the hockey world. Many evaluators have him as a top-five pick in this draft. In our viewings, he is a raw prospect who needs to make major improvements to his stick play and decision-making. However, he certainly has the tools to succeed, and he should be a first-round pick as a result.
25. Ottawa Senators (from FLA/SEA/TBL) – Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)
The Ottawa Senators are up again with the other pick they received in the Brady Tkachuk trade. They continue adding to their forward group in this NHL Mock Draft by selecting Elton Hermansson. Hermansson has a knack for generating offense and putting his team in positions to succeed. He could benefit from adding more urgency to his game in certain areas. But there is a lot to like from the Swedish forward here.
26. New York Rangers (from CAR/DAL) – Ilia Morozov, C, Miami University (NCAA)
The New York Rangers addressed their need for a high-end defenseman earlier in this NHL Mock Draft. Now, the team elects to take a chance on one of the youngest players in this draft. Ilia Morozov plays a calm and collected game which helped him lead Miami University this past season. He is great as a playmaker and also thrives when the puck isn’t on his stick. There is certainly some untapped potential for the Rangers to unlock.
27. San Jose Sharks (from BUF) – Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71 (SHL)
The San Jose Sharks are up with the pick they acquired in the Michael Kesselring trade with the Buffalo Sabres. San Jose went with Stenberg earlier in this NHL Mock Draft, so they follow up with a defenseman. Malte Gustafsson is not the best offensive defenseman, but he brings good mobility and is very good in transition. If the offense comes around, there is a chance he can play a prominent role in the NHL.
28. Montreal Canadiens – JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
JP Hurlbert’s draft stock has fallen hard over the last few months, but he is a good fit for the Montreal Canadiens here. He is a very skilled forward who excels at putting the puck in the net. He dominated the CHL as a rookie, scoring 42 goals and 97 points. He needs to improve his off puck play, and his speed is a concern. But the scoring ability alone should get him into the end of the first round.
29. St. Louis Blues (from NYI/COL) – Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
The St. Louis Blues are taking a swing on upside here. Mathis Preston was once seen as a potential top-10 pick in this draft. Unfortunately, a midseason move to the Vancouver Giants dropped his stock. At the U18 World Championships, though, he raised his profile again with a strong showing for Team Canada. The upside is there, and the Blues will certainly be pleased if they can nab him before the end of round one.
30. Calgary Flames (from VGK) – Ryder Cali, C, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
Ryder Cali is making his first appearance in our NHL Mock Draft, but he’s been on the bubble for a while. He is a big player who plays with power everytime he is on the ice. Cali can thrive with or without the puck, though his production for the Battalion wasn’t anything eye-watering. He could carve out a role as a pesky middle-six center with decent to good playmaking in his game.
31. Carolina Hurricanes – Juho Piiparinen, RD, Tappara (Liiga)
The Carolina Hurricanes are your Stanley Cup champions, and they will certainly be looking to add to their impressive prospect pipeline. Juho Piiparinen is not the sort of impressive-scoring prospect the Canes usually like at this point in the draft. At the same time, he is a very good defensive defenseman whose pure defensive talent rivals anyone in this class. The Hurricanes have a lot of offensively minded defenders who would pair very well with Piiparinen at the next level.
32. Ottawa Senators – Chase Harrington, LW, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
The Ottawa Senators will end our 2026 NHL Mock Draft as part of an NHL ruling over the Evgenii Dadonov trade from 2022. For those wondering, the Senators are not permitted to trade this pick, so they will end the first round no matter what. With this pick, Ottawa swings for upside with another ClutchPoints NHL Mock Draft debutant, Chase Harrington.
Harrington is a relentless worker who wants to hit every single thing that moves on the ice. At the same time, he doesn’t sacrifice offense for physicality. He nearly put up a point-per-game for a middling Spokane Chiefs team that didn’t score a ton this year. There is a real chance Harrington becomes a high-energy middle-six forward who chips in with 40-60 points a season.
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