The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is complete, with nine new prospects joining the Vancouver Canucks' organization. The common theme for this draft appeared to be size, as only two of the nine prospects are listed at 6'0" or shorter. Vancouver also added five prospects listed at 200 lbs or heavier, indicating a desire to build a stronger, heavier prospect pool. 

This draft was the first under Ryan Johnson as GM. While there was a regime change, the scouting staff remained the same, including Todd Harvey, the Canucks' Director of Amateur Scouting. After the draft, Harvey spoke to the media and highlighted Vancouver's plan for the 2026 draft. 

"Well, obviously we've got direction, and things have changed here, obviously," said Harvey. "And you know, our direction was we wanted to get quicker. We wanted to get bigger and harder to play against. We kind of went down, sat, we talked through the list. You guys don't want to know how many times we've gone through that list. We've done it over and over again. And we got it to where we thought everything aligned, and you never know what the draft, how it kind of plays out. But to get the guys we got and kind of targeted really fit the mould here."

The Canucks newest draft class also had an international feel as eight different countries were represented. Of the eight, the only country that featured multiple prospects was Canada, with players from Belarus, Czechia, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the US also hearing their names called. For Harvey and his staff, the main focus of the draft is picking the best prospect, regardless of nationality. 

"It's kind of funny now. Everybody's coming over. You have (Niklas Aaram-Olsen) going to BU. It's all about their development path. And, you know, I don't think we look at it that way. There were players that were from the West that were on our board, and there was players from Quebec that were on our board. So we just kind of felt that in the late round, we had some size and some speed, and he's coming over here, and I thought that was a good way we should go."

Vancouver's new draft class also features a handful of players who have already committed to the NCAA for either this season or the 2027-28 campaign. This includes third overall pick Caleb Malhotra as well as Brooks Rogowski, who was selected 33rd overall. As Harvey explained, he and his staff want to have an idea of a prospect's timeline before potentially selecting them. 

"We talk about it when we're sitting in our meetings. That's a big thing. Where's he going? What's his plan? You really like when, especially when you're in the interview process with the kids, you like to know that they have a plan and kind of know the path that they're on. It does make a bit of a difference. I think this whole new way of things has changed a lot of things. And I think it's good for the players, because a lot of them sometimes aren't ready physically, and this is another path that they can go on."

Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Entry Draft Selection TrackerA list with articles on all prospects the Vancouver Canucks select at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, updated throughout the draft.

Harvey was asked about the contract status of Ian Clark, who is listed on the team site under Scout and Goalie Development. Clark has helped shape the Canucks' goaltending group for nearly a decade and is considered one of the best goalie coaches in the NHL. Harvey was unable to provide an update, but did say that the organization has been in contact with Clark. 

Lastly, Harvey revealed that eight of the nine prospects drafted are expected to attend development camp this year. The only exception is Russian goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko. Development camp will take place in Abbotsford this year, with on-ice sessions open to the public. 

Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Selections:

3rd Overall: Center Caleb Malhotra

24th Overall: Left Winger Adam Novotný

33rd Overall: Center Brooks Rogowski

41st Overall: Left Winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen

78th Overall: Goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko

97th Overall: Left Winger Yaroslav Bryzgalov

129th Overall: Right Winger Connor Davis

176th Overall: Right Winger Lucian Bernat

184th Overall: Defenceman Samuel Eriksson

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In the middle of all that Draft chaos, we almost forgot that a trade happened!

The Bruins announced that they have traded Forward Prospect Fabian Lysell to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Prospect Ivan Ivan. The trade is one for one.

The Bruins acquired Lysell in the 2021 NHL Draft as a first round selection. While he is unquestionably talented, the AHL level seemed to be where his skillset was best utilized, as after his single season with the Vancouver Giants, he joined the Providence Bruins, and was one of their better forwards. He was, however, rarely utilized at the NHL level, only playing 12 games with the big boy club and all of it from last year. As it increasingly became clear this was not going to be a viable option for him, I think a trade like this became inevitable for the young Swede.

Ivan Ivan, on top of maybe being the best name in the NHL, was an undrafted signing for the Avalanche who has split time between the Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche. He has been a major part of the Eagles’ success through the last few years, and while he hasn’t been able to do much with last year’s Avalanche, this could be a much better opportunity for the young man to get some strong minutes, as Boston’s roster is notoriously in flux.

Analytically, Ivan Ivan is a solid depth guy who’s strength is in backchecking.

Given the team he just joined, I think he’ll do just fine.

Let’s all welcome Ivan to the Boston Bruins!

The Colorado Avalanche moved on from Ivan Ivan on Saturday—but the deal was about far more than just a name.

In a one-for-one trade with the Boston Bruins, Colorado acquired former 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell, a once-hyped offensive winger still trying to turn prospect pedigree into consistent NHL production. In return, the Avalanche parted ways with Ivan, a depth forward who carved out an NHL role after arriving to the organization as an undrafted free agent.

For Colorado, it’s a bet on untapped upside. For Boston, it’s a swap for reliability.

Lysell arrives in Denver after spending most of last season with the Providence Bruins, where he put together 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 57 AHL games. He was a key contributor on a Providence team that finished with the league’s best regular-season record and claimed the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, finishing sixth on the roster in scoring and fifth in both goals and assists.

Across four seasons in the AHL, the 23-year-old Swedish winger has been productive, totaling 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points in 219 games with Providence. At the NHL level, he has appeared in 12 games for Boston in the 2024-25 season, recording one goal and adding two assists.

His track record before turning pro reinforced the offensive projection. With the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021–22, Lysell posted 62 points in 53 games and then elevated his game in the playoffs with 21 points in 12 contests, leading the league with 17 assists during that run.

Originally selected 21st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Lysell also developed through Luleå HF in Sweden’s SHL after coming up in Frölunda’s junior system. On the international stage, he has represented Sweden twice at major tournaments, earning bronze at both the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Ivan’s path looks very different.

Signed by Colorado in March 2024 after going undrafted, he worked his way into 49 NHL games with the Avalanche, producing five goals and four assists while establishing himself as a steady, energy-driven bottom-six presence. He also logged extensive time with the Colorado Eagles, recording 25 goals and 44 assists across 169 AHL appearances. That should have been enough to graduate to the NHL level but with his contract now complete the Avalanche were at a crossroads with him.

The move ultimately comes down to projection versus production. Colorado is wagering that Lysell’s offensive toolkit still hasn’t fully translated at the NHL level, while Boston adds a player whose role and identity are already defined. Both are Restricted Free Agents but with Lysell coming off his Entry Level Contract he does not hold arbitration rights like Ivan does. Clearly Colorado’s strategy is to hope one of these 2021 first round picks (along with Fyodor Svechkov and Zach L’Heureux) stick hoping another organization’s development will pay off for them.

Just when it appeared they were probably done selecting in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins snuck in to snag one more player to complete their draft class.

The Penguins acquired the 160th overall pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick and used it to draft Russian goaltender Matvei Nikonovich. The Belarusian netminder posted impressive numbers last season in the MHL - Russia's junior league - including a 20-14-4 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average in 38 games. 

He stands at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, and, according to Elite Prospects, he is known for his strong tracking ability as well as his power. 

Nikonovich was one of 31 goaltenders selected in this year's draft, which is an atypically high number. He was obviously what the Penguins deemed a "value pick" in the later rounds, where they've found some value before: top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov - a fellow Russian - was a fourth-round selection (118th overall) in 2022, and he took a similar path as Nikonovich and had similar numbers in the MHL.

He completes the Penguins' 2026 draft class, which also consisted of twin brothers Liam (22nd overall) and Markus Ruck (39th overall), defenseman Tomas Galvas (54th overall), left wing Pierce Mbuyi (86th overall), and defenseman Parker Von Richter (111th overall).

Family Reunion: Penguins Select Markus Ruck With 39th Pick, Get Both TwinsIt appears a family reunion is in order for the Ruck family in Pittsburgh.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

After a frantic Friday that featured two first-round picks, two trades and a contract extension, Saturday was a little quieter for the Ottawa Senators.

But while there wasn't nearly as much drama, day two of the NHL Draft revealed a lot about organizational need. When a team spends its first five picks on skilled forwards, it's difficult not to conclude that management believes the organization needs more skill up front.

The Senators had three picks in round three, then the standard single pick in rounds four, five, and six. Just as they did in round one with Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover, the Sens used all of their third-round picks on skilled forwards.

72 W Adam Nemec (OHL, Sudbury)
87 C Oscar Holmertz (SWE-Jr, Linkoping HC)
91 W Louis-Felix Bourque (QMJHL, Drummondville)
110 G Elliot Lennon (MA-HS, Deerfield)
151 D Harris Pangretitsch (OHL, Sault Ste. Marie)
183 D Alexander Grunin (RUS-MHL, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk)

72 W Adam Nemec (OHL, Sudbury)

The Sens opened day 2 of the draft at 72 with number 71 from the Sudbury Wolves, Adam Nemec. Nemec certainly comes from fine NHL bloodlines as his older brother, Simon, was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Simon, an RFA, was just traded from New Jersey to Calgary.

The younger Nemec started his draft year in Slovakia, playing 28-games with HK Nitra. But being a men's league, he didn't get a ton of ice time, which wasn't ideal for his NHL draft year. So after putting up five points in five games at the World Juniors, he shifted to the OHL, right in the middle of the season, to play for the Sudbury Wolves.

If that proved to be a culture shock, it didn't show. Nemec, a 6-foot, 173 pound winger, put up 35 points in 31 games for the Wolves.

87 C Oscar Holmertz (SWE-Jr, Linkoping HC)

The Senators have suddenly developed a fondness for Swedish players.

In the last week, they've acquired winger William Eklund, goalie Samuel Ersson, winger Andre Burakovsky, and at the draft they made Jonas Lagerberg Hoen their first pick at 25th overall.

On Saturday, they went with another Swedish forward at 87, drafting Oscar Holmertz. The 6-foot, 187 pound centre had 34 points in 36 games with Linkoping HC Jr. He also got into 11 games with Linkoping's men's team.

91 W Louis-Felix Bourque (QMJHL, Drummondville)

The Senators stayed with their forward theme with their final third-round pick, taking Louis-Felix Bourque. Bourque had 24 goals and 49 points in 54 games for Drummondville in the Q this season. At just 17, he already possesses NHL size at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds.

110 G Elliot Lennon (MA-HS, Deerfield)

In round four, the Senators decided to end the run of forwards by adding to their goaltending depth, drafting 6-foot-six high schooler, Elliot Lennon. As you might imagine, Lennon posted fantastic stats in his three years at Deerfield Academy. He's committed to Brown University for the 2027-28 season. He'll play this fall for the USHL's Madison Capitols. He suited up for two games with the Caps this season.

151 D Harris Pangretitsch (OHL, Sault Ste. Marie)

At this stage in the draft, the Senators turned their attention to shutdown defensemen with size, and at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, the right-shot Pangretitsch certainly fits that bill. He won't drive offence, but his improvements through the season were obvious.

Pangretitsch also has a strong academic reputation, reportedly carrying a 95 average in school.

183 D Alexander Grunin (RUS-MHL, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk)

At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Grunin still has some filling out to do, but he's also seen as a shutdown defenseman with good mobility. He scored 15 points in 44 games with the wonderfully-named Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk. (RUS-MHL).

Dylan Griffing from Elite Prospects mentioned on social media that Grunin is very raw, but hyper-mobile and one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, but also had a scary year-end, getting stretchered off the ice during the Russian U18 Finals. He played in the following game, but only for a few minutes.

The Sens' 2026 draft class paints a fairly clear picture.

The team prioritized offensive skill early, leaned heavily into European talent, and then rounded out the class with size on D. As with any draft, it will be years before we can properly evaluate these choices, but the organization's blueprint was hard to miss.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

In the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Kings selected Elton Hermansson with the 19th overall pick. This selection was crucial for Los Angeles, and it might be the best decision for the team’s future.

Hermansson is a young prospect from Modo Hockey, which is a team from the professional Swedish league, HockeyAllsvenskan. In this league, the 18-year-old winger showed immense promise as a goalscorer.

As the second-youngest player on the Modo Hockey roster in 2026, Hermansson recorded 11 goals. He had the fourth-highest goal total on the team and was the only player under 25 in the top five.

While Hermansson was a key contributor to Modo Hockey, he generated his production in fewer games. He only played 38 games, which ranked nineteenth in most games played on the team.

Despite having a smaller sample size, Hermansson generated 21 total points and a plus-nine in total net rating. Thus demonstrating the amount of impact Hermansson had when he was on the ice.

Only one year removed from Örebro U20, Hermansson managed to translate his production into a league against grown men. While the NHL is another level above HockeyAllsvenskan, it is still worth noting how well Hermansson can adjust to better leagues.

Early in his Modo Hockey tenure, Hermansson learned that he couldn’t live on the perimeter. This allowed Hermansson to adjust his game by becoming more physical and more drives to the net.

This allowed Hermansson to mature as a puck handler and overall playmaker within the offense. The maturation of a young player to adjust his game against more experienced players, is a valuable trait.

Maturing as a player is the reason why Hermanson improved in the HockeyAllsvenskan and why he was drafted in the first place. Hermanson will have to adapt and evolve his game once again when he suits up for the Kings.

Los Angeles selected Hermansson hoping that he could become the forward that could reshape this struggling offense. Last season, the Kings scored 2.68 goals per game, which ranked 29th in the NHL.

Along with other moves like hiring Peter Laviolette as the coach, the Kings are orchestrating moves to help in the future. The next few years are set for Los Angeles to build a culture around a stronger offense.

Hermansson is part of that piece in that process as a scoring wing for this team. There is plenty of excitement for Hermansson to eventually find his way on the Kings roster.

“The team is great. You know a lot of Swedes played there, like Kempe [and] Grundstrom, said Hermansson. “Great team, great history. Looking forward to visiting the city there and the facilities.”

Before Hermansson finally makes the NHL, there is a development process that will take place. This includes more time with Modo Hockey and most likely some time with the Ontario Reign.

So when the time comes for Hermansson to play his first game for the Kings, he is expected to be a valuable contributor on offense. This draft pick can help Los Angeles find that winger who delivers the firepower this team has desperately needed.

The Nashville Predators ended Friday with a bang at the NHL Draft in Buffalo, drafting forward Wyatt Cullen (10th overall) and defenseman Thomas Bleyl (31st overall) in the first round. 

MORE: Nashville Predators Select forward Wyatt Cullen With 10th Overall Pick In NHL Draft

MORE: Nashville Predators Select Defensemen Tommy Bleyl After Acquiring Pick 31 From Hurricanes

After dealing off both of their second-round picks for Carolina's 31st overall selection, the Predators had a slow start to Saturday, kicking off the day in the third round. However, they still had eight slots left to fill before the day was over 

Here is every transaction the Predators made in rounds 3-7 of the NHL Draft. 

PICK: 3rd Round, 70th Overall: Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko 76 Yaroslavl (Russia) 

Got our goalie 👊

Welcome to Smashville, Dmitri! pic.twitter.com/9D2Vp02vav

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

Nashville opened the day selecting its first goalie of this year's draft in Dmitri Borichev, a 6-foot-2, 188-pound goalie from Vologda, Russia, at 70th overall. 

He played this past season with Loko 76 Yaroslavl, Russia's MHL junior league. In 24 games, Borichev posted a 12-8-3 record, with three shutouts. He had a .929 save percentage and a 2.25 goals against average. 

Borichev was named the NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked international goaltender for this year's Draft.   

Borichev is expected to return to the MHL next season. 

TRADE: Massimo Rizzo, 148th Pick To Rangers For Forward Adam Edstrom

TRADE 🔄

We've acquired forward Adam Edstrom from the Rangers in exchange for forward Massimo Rizzo and pick no. 148 in this year's draft.

Full details » https://t.co/S9JNj9tV6kpic.twitter.com/vWfFjIIsmF

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

The first active player that the Predators have acquired in this draft, Nashville sent center Massimo Rizzo and the 148th overall pick to the New Rangers for forward Adam Edstrom. 

He is a massive addition to the lineup, size-wise, with a 6-foot-7, 232-pound build. Edstrom played 35 games with the Rangers this season, recording five points off three goals and two assists. 

Edstrom's time in New York was marred by injuries as he missed the majority of last season with a fractured ankle. Upon his return in March, he was scratched for the final 11 games of the season. 

He's played in 97 NHL games from the 2023-24 season, recording 16 points off 10 goals and six assists. 

Rizzo has not played a game in Nashville since his acquisition from the Boston Bruins in 2025 and has played 13 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 5 points.

PICK: 4th Round, 106th overall Jakub Floris, D, Lukko (Finland) 

Welcome to Smashville, Jakub! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AL8okUKdtN

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

Nashville opened up the fourth round selecting Jakub Floris, a 6-foot-3, 183-pound right-shot defenseman from Bratislava, Slovakia, at 106th overall. 

He played this past season with Lukko Jr. in Finland's U-20 league. There, he recorded 18 points in 38 games, with 10 goals and eight assists. 

Floris also played for Slovakia at the IIHF U-18 World Championship, scoring four points off two goals and two assists in seven games. He is expected to make the jump to Liiga, Finland's top professional hockey league, this fall. 

PICK: 4th Round, 118th overall Justin Graf, LW, Cedar Rapids (USHL) 

Justin is joining the squad 🤝 pic.twitter.com/LZ6F47kByH

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

The second American selection by the Predators comes in the form of Justin Graf, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound left-shot center from Boston, Massachusetts, at 118th overall. 

In his first season in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Graf had 55 points in 52 games, with 23 goals and 32 assists. 

He won a Gold Medal with Team USA at the U19 World Junior A Challenge, recording an assist in five games. Graf will be playing at Harvard University starting this fall. 

Graf also has some NHL roots in his family as his brother is Colin Graf, a forward with the San Jose Sharks. 

PICK: 5th Round, 138th overall Philip Hemmyr, LW, Bjrokloven (Sweden) 

How Swede it is! Welcome to Smashville, Philip 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rYeeDgHFLQ

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

The third lefty shot of this draft, the Predators selected Philip Hemmyr, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-winger from Umeå, Sweden, with the 138th overall pick. 

He primarily played with Bjrokloven in Sweden's second-tier professional league, scoring 12 points in 36 games, with six goals and six assists.

Hemmyr was promoted to the league after a dominant 27-game stretch in Sweden's U-20 league, scoring 44 points off 19 goals and 25 assists.

He's expected to stay with Bjrokloven this coming season, but play in the Swedish Hockey League, the country's top league. 

TRADE: 160th Overall Pick To Pittsburgh Penguins For 2028 Fifth Round Pick

The Predators now have 10 picks in the 2028 NHL Draft, two in the fifth round. 

PICK: 6th Round, 179th Overall Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte, D, Val-D'Or (QMJHL)

Checking in at 1️⃣7️⃣9️⃣

Welcome to Smashville, Benjamin! pic.twitter.com/2BegewVeVY

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

Just two selections in this draft from the Canadian Hockey League as Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte comes in at 179th overall, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-shot defenseman from Trios-Rivières, Quebec. 

He spent this past season with the Val-D'Or Foreurs in the QMJHL, scoring 38 points, with 4 goals and 34 assists, in 62 games. It was his second season in the league and first as an assistant captain. 

PICK: 7th Round, 202nd Overall Charlie Puglisi, C, Winchendon School (HS-MA) 

Our final pick of the #NHLDraft 👏

Welcome to Smashville, Charlie! pic.twitter.com/K0ENFJt8DM

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 27, 2026

The Predators' final pick of the 2026 NHL Draft came in Charlie Puglisi at 202nd overall, a 6-foot, 162-pound right-shot center from Latham, New York. 

Unlike his counterparts, he did not play junior or professional hockey this year, but high school hockey in Massachusetts. Puglisi played at Winchendon School, scoring 76 points off 26 goals and 50 assists in 35 games. 

He also played in the Eastern Hockey Federation's U-18 league with the Islanders Hockey Club Prep East, scoring 31 points (10 goals and 21 assists) in 25 games. 

Puglisi will play with the Kitchener Rangers this coming season and is committed to Cornell University for the 2027-28 season. 

Nashville Predators Final 2026 NHL Draft Board 

1st Round, 10th overall: Wyatt Cullen, LW, NTDP-USHL 

1st Round, 31st overall: Thomas Bleyl, D, Moncton-QMJHL

3rd Round, 70th overall: Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko 76 Yaroslavl-Russia Jr. 

4th Round, 106th overall: Jakub Floris, D, Lukko Jr.-Finland Jr. 

4th Round, 118th overall: Justin Graf, LW, Cedar Rapids-USHL 

5th Round, 138th overall: Philip Hemmyr, LW, Bjorkloven-HockeyAllsvenskan

6th Round, 179th overall: Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte, D, Val-D'Or-QMJHL 

7th Round, 202nd overall: Charlie Puglisi, C, Winchendon School-HS-MA