2026 NHL Draft Lottery Results and Mock Draft Projections

Lottery Results

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft following the draft lottery. The San Jose Sharks moved up to the second overall pick by winning the second draw. The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place June 26-27 in Buffalo, N.Y.

Multiple mock drafts have been released projecting potential selections for the first round. The following information consolidates projections from NHL reporters, agents, scouts, and team staff.

The Maple Leafs won the lottery with an 8.5% chance, while the Sharks moved from No. 9 to No. 2.

Lottery Results

• Pick 1: Toronto Maple Leafs (won lottery with 8.5% chance)
• Pick 2: San Jose Sharks (won second draw, moved from No. 9)
• Pick 3: Vancouver Canucks
• Pick 4: Chicago Blackhawks
• Pick 5: New York Rangers
• Pick 6: Calgary Flames
• Pick 7: Seattle Kraken
• Pick 8: Winnipeg Jets
• Pick 9: Florida Panthers
• Pick 10: Nashville Predators
• Pick 11: St. Louis Blues
• Pick 12: New Jersey Devils
• Pick 13: New York Islanders
• Pick 14: Columbus Blue Jackets
• Pick 15: St. Louis Blues
• Pick 16: Washington Capitals

First-Round Mock Draft Projections

Projections for the first 16 picks varied between sources. The table below presents selections from two mock drafts.

Notable Differences Between Sources

• Pick 2: One source projected the Sharks would select Ivar Stenberg as the best player available, while another projected Chase Reid to address a need for a top-pairing defenseman.
• Pick 4: One source projected Carson Carels, while another projected Ivar Stenberg.
• Pick 5: One source projected Chase Reid as the best defenseman available, while another projected Keaton Verhoeff.
• Pick 6: One source projected Keaton Verhoeff, citing his size and physical attributes, while another projected Carson Carels as a competitive, minute-eating defenseman.
• Pick 8: One source projected Alberts Smits, described as a left-handed defenseman with mobility and a hard shot, while another projected Tynan Lawrence, described as a competitive, two-way center.
• Pick 9: One source projected Ethan Belchetz, described as a big, powerful winger, while another projected Alberts Smits.
• Pick 10: One source projected Tynan Lawrence, while another projected Viggo Björck, described as a skilled, high-IQ forward.
• Pick 11: One source projected Viggo Björck, while another projected Ethan Belchetz.
• Pick 13: One source projected Ryan Lin, a right-handed defenseman with 57 points in 53 WHL games, while another projected Oscar Hemming, described as a 6'4" winger.
• Pick 14: One source projected Oscar Hemming, while another projected Malte Gustafsson, described as a 6'4" left-handed defenseman.
• Pick 15: One source projected Malte Gustafsson, while another projected Oliver Suvanto, described as a 6'3" center.
• Pick 16: One source projected Oliver Suvanto, while another projected Ryan Lin.

Extended First-Round Projections

One source included projections for picks 17-32. No alternative projections were available for these selections.

• Pick 17: Los Angeles Kings – Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA)
• Pick 18: Washington Capitals – Alexander Command, C, Örebro (U20 Nationell)
• Pick 19: Utah Mammoth – Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
• Pick 20: San Jose Sharks – Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (SHL)
• Pick 21: Philadelphia Flyers – Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (Liiga)
• Pick 22: Pittsburgh Penguins – JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
• Pick 23: Boston Bruins – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
• Pick 24: Vancouver Canucks – William Håkansson, LHD, Luleå (SHL)
• Pick 25: Montreal Canadiens – Simas Ignatavicius, C, Genève-Servette (NL)
• Pick 26: Seattle Kraken – Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
• Pick 27: New York Rangers – Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
• Pick 28: Calgary Flames – Nikita Klepov, LW, Saginaw (OHL)
• Pick 29: Buffalo Sabres – Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara (OHL)
• Pick 30: Carolina Hurricanes – Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgården (U20 Nationell)
• Pick 31: St. Louis Blues – Tommy Bleyl, RHD, Moncton (QMJHL)
• Pick 32: Ottawa Senators – Ryder Cali, C, North Bay (OHL)

Player Profiles

The following profiles are based on descriptions provided in mock draft analyses and reflect assessments from scouts and evaluators.

Top Prospects (Picks 1-5)

Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

• Position: Left wing | League: NCAA

Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

• Position: Center | League: OHL

Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (SHL)

• Position: Left wing | League: SHL

Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

• Position: Right-handed defenseman | League: OHL

Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)

• Position: Left-handed defenseman | League: WHL

Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)

• Position: Right-handed defenseman | League: NCAA

Defensive Prospects (Picks 7-9)

Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)

• Position: Right-handed defenseman | League: WHL | Height: 6'2"

Alberts Smits, LHD, Munich (DEL)

• Position: Left-handed defenseman | League: DEL

Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

• Position: Left wing | League: OHL

Center Prospects (Picks 10-11)

Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

• Position: Center | League: NCAA

Viggo Björck, C, Djurgården (SHL)

• Position: Center | League: SHL | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 177 lbs

Forward Prospects (Picks 12-14)

Wyatt Cullen, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

• Position: Left wing | League: USHL
• Note: Son of former NHL player Matt Cullen; committed to University of Minnesota.

Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

• Position: Left wing | League: NCAA | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 195 lbs

Ryan Lin, RHD, Vancouver (WHL)

• Position: Right-handed defenseman | League: WHL
• Note: 57 points in 53 WHL games; committed to University of Denver.

Late First-Round Prospects (Picks 15-16)

Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (SHL)

• Position: Left-handed defenseman | League: SHL | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs

Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)

• Position: Center | League: Liiga | Height: 6'3"