With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching after the league's return from the Olympic break, the upcoming draft is quickly coming into focus for hockey fans around the world.
The 2026 draft class, headlined by Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff, features a ton of talent that has the chance to become foundational pieces of NHL franchises for a long time.
Considering the standings and the needs of the teams positioned to select in the top 16 of the first round, let's take a crack at what those picks could look like in June.
(Draft order determined by standings, sorted by points percentage, before games played on Feb. 26)
NHL mock draft: Top 16 picks
1. Vancouver Canucks: Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg
Stenberg's historic offensive pace in the Swedish League is just one of many reasons why he's proved to be the top player in this class. His compete level is off the charts in his ability to fight off defenders and retrieve pucks, all while possessing the playmaking, shooting and cerebral game to be a threat in every area of the offensive zone. He's a difference-maker on every single shift and rises to the occasion when the lights are the brightest.
2. St. Louis Blues: Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna
McKenna has been on a tear with Penn State as of late, putting together a dominant eight-point performance against Ohio State as part of a two-game series where he finished with two goals and eight assists. He's operating with the level of confidence and swagger that he had in his WHL days, and he's been much more engaged without the puck as of late. He's inching closer to reclaiming his spot as the top prospect in this class.
3. New York Rangers: North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
Verhoeff's raw athleticism has become one of his defining traits as a freshman at North Dakota. While his skating will be the biggest point of emphasis for his development, he's got great range with his stick and is efficient at closing gaps when defending oncoming pressure. He's got room to grow offensively, but the creative foundation is there, making him the most projectable two-way defender in this class for the time being.
4. Calgary Flames: Boston University (NCAA) center Tynan Lawrence
Lawrence's offensive production in the NCAA hasn't translated to the same level of dominance he displayed in the USHL, which, to an extent, was to be expected. However, his transition game remains elite, and he processes offense at a high level, all without compromising his defensive effort. There's nobody with a higher ceiling at the center position in this class than Lawrence, and if the Flames trade top center Nazem Kadri in the next week, they'll eventually need another No. 1 pivot.
5. Chicago Blackhawks: Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz
At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Belchetz possesses the physical profile that scouts rarely pass up on when combined with his hands, shot and playmaking vision. His pace of play has been a concern at times, but in Chicago, where he wouldn't be relied on as a primary puck carrier, he should be more than capable of becoming a complementary top-line winger alongside Connor Bedard.
6. Winnipeg Jets: Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
Smits played a sizable role for Latvia at the Olympics, an incredible accomplishment for the 18-year-old. While his team was heavily outmatched from a talent standpoint, it allowed everyone to see he's capable of playing a more conservative, defensive game than we're used to seeing with Jukurit, while still being incredibly poised with the puck and calm while under pressure.
7. New Jersey Devils: Djurgarden (Sweden) center Viggo Bjorck
Despite being an undersized player, Bjorck proved all of his doubters wrong with a stellar performance at the world juniors with Sweden, recording nine points in the team's seven games, including two assists in the gold medal win over Czechia. As a result, he's seen a major uptick in ice time with Djurgarden, where his tenacious forechecking and creative playmaking have made him one of this draft's biggest risers.
8. Nashville Predators: Brantford (OHL) center Caleb Malhotra
Malhotra is a stable, detailed center with great hockey sense who has shown flashes of offensive brilliance in his time with Brantford this season. He's always trying to find ways to drive the middle of the offensive zone and knows how to create advantages with his size despite not being an overly physical player. Coaches will gravitate toward Malhotra's approach to the game, and he projects as a reliable middle-six center.
9. Los Angeles Kings: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) defenseman Chase Reid
Reid controls the flow of play in all three zones with his high-end mobility being used to break out pucks on offense and kill rush plays when defending the opposition. His puck skills are strong as well, zipping passes to hit teammates in stride while being able to manipulate opponents in order to create space. With a blistering shot in his arsenal as well, Reid may have the highest ceiling among all defensemen in this class.
10. San Jose Sharks: Prince Albert (WHL) defenseman Daxon Rudolph
The Sharks could use another first-round defenseman to develop alongside 19-year-old rookie Sam Dickinson. Rudolph brings decent size at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, and he's a smooth skater. In his last 10 games in the WHL, he's recorded at least a point in eight of them, totalling nine points. While Dickinson shoots left, Rudolph shoots right, which would better balance out the Sharks' future on the back end.
11. Philadelphia Flyers: Prince George (WHL) defenseman Carson Carels
Carels is a two-way defenseman who logs a ton of minutes with Prince George and has proven to be trusted in all on-ice situations. He's great at adapting to what the game demands of him, being relied on to push the pace offensively and to play a shutdown role. While he's put together a campaign that makes him worthy of being selected in this range, there isn't a true standout trait that Carels has shown just yet.
12. Chicago Blackhawks (via Florida): Vancouver (WHL) defenseman Ryan Lin
Lin has been a stabilising presence on the Vancouver Giants' blueline over the past two seasons, remaining one of the most defensively detailed players in this class. He's also put up strong offensive numbers with 50 points in 42 games this season, though his defensive positioning and ability to read and react to opponents at this stage of his development make him projectable as a top-four defender at the NHL level.
13. Boston Bruins (via Toronto): Boston College (NCAA) left wing Oscar Hemming
Hemming has a physical edge to his game that would fit perfectly in Boston. He's a powerful forechecker who lays thunderous hits, giving opponents little to no time to make plays and often causing turnovers in dangerous areas of the ice. He doesn't get enough credit for his offensive instincts, proving capable with the puck on the rush while also reading off his teammates well in the offensive zone.
14. Ottawa Senators: Forfeited draft pick
The Ottawa Senators must forfeit this year's first-round pick after not disclosing Evgenii Dadonov's limited no-trade clause when they sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021. That led to an invalidated trade between the Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks the following year.
15. Washington Capitals: Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) defenseman Xavier Villeneuve
Villeneuve is the most dynamic blueliner in this class, with his deception and skating ability being the biggest highlights as a gifted offensive defenseman. He's averaged over a point per game in back-to-back QMJHL seasons. While there are concerns about his commitment in the defensive zone, he has all the makings of a top power-play quarterback at the NHL level. There's a chance he goes much higher on draft day.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets: Tappara (Finland) center Oliver Suvanto
Suvanto is a proficient net-front presence who engages well in the defensive zone, showing dominant physical traits while playing against older competition. He's shown instances of being able to generate offense in a way that's translatable to the NHL, but will have to do so more consistently to be projected beyond a bottom-six center at this point. With few long-term solutions at center, this would be a safe pick for the Blue Jackets.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL mock draft 2026: Where could Gavin McKenna and other prospects go?
