The Chicago Blackhawks went a long while without making a selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, but they came back on the clock twice during the seventh round.
With their first of two, they took Russian defenseman Alexander Ivanov with the 194th pick. Ivanov is more of a defensive defenseman with size, standing at 6'1" and 181 lbs.
There is not one part of Ivanov's game that sticks out as NHL caliber, which will have to change if he ever wants to make it, but he is a well-rounded player who knows how to play the position. He has pro experience under his belt already, so it's on him to work his way over to North America.
With the 200th overall pick, the Blackhawks selected William Sorbrand. This was a case of the Blackhawks adding a big forward with their last pick, as Sorbrand of Sweden comes in at 6'4" and 209 lbs.
During his draft year, he spent time with each level of the Swedish Elite League as a member of Timra IK.
That made it five total picks for the Blackhawks over the course of the entire draft, which is the least they've made in the Kyle Davidson era, including no first-round selections for the first time.
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The Anaheim Ducks made nine selections in the 2026 NHL Draft over the two-day event in Buffalo, NY on June 26 and 27.
They made two significant trades on Day 1 of the draft, parting with young center Mason McTavish (3rd overall in 2021) and young, budding defenseman Olen Zellweger (33rd in ’21). On the eve of the draft night, the Ducks didn’t have any first-round picks for the first time since 2017, but by trading McTavish, they acquired two: the 15th and 29th overall picks.
Due to the uncertain nature of evaluating draft picks, as they’re incredibly young and likely will take several years to reach the NHL, if at all, it’s difficult to dislike any selection made by any team at any point in the draft. With that said, for this exercise, instead of typical letter grades, I have graded the Ducks' selections in terms of “Cold Stone Creamery” ice cream sizes, which reflect varying degrees of enjoyment: “Like It,” Love It,” and “Gotta Have It.”
15. Nikita Klepov, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
6-Foot | 187 Pounds
Grade: Gotta Have It
Heading into the draft, Klepov was ranked around this position, with a range of 15 to 25. He led the OHL in scoring with 97 points (37-60=97) in 67 regular season games, and dictates every aspect of play with the puck on his stick. He’s calculating, deceptive, tenacious, and has some of the top pure skill in this entire draft class.
The reason this pick receives such a high grade from me is, in large part, the cost it took to make this selection. The Ducks had Klepov targeted, and general manager Pat Verbeek stated that if he weren’t available at 15, the Ducks wouldn’t have made the deal. Klepov will forever be tied to Mason McTavish for the duration of their careers, and the Ducks put their neck out by trading a former third-overall pick in a trade where he’s the centerpiece coming back.
Other players that Verbeek and Martin Madden, as a duo, have staked their reputation on whether it’s selecting them higher than they were projected or have traded up for in the first round include Leo Carlsson (2nd in ’23), Beckett Sennecke (3rd in ’24), and Stian Solberg (23rd in ’24).
“I think our scouts were super excited, but I was (also) super excited to get to him just because I think he provides what I call a 50-50 player in a sense,” Verbeek told media after the first round. “He's equal part goalscorer, equal part playmaker. He does have creativity, has really good hockey sense, and with an 18-year-old, they need to get stronger.
“And I believe over the next year or so, if we get him stronger, he's going to be in a place that's going to be really good to play in the NHL. We just like his compete level. We like the drive that he has to score goals. And right now, it's just a matter of getting him stronger because there's a lot of really top-notch athletic ability with this player as well.”
Beyond the top ten, for the most part, the Ducks have been relatively safe with the type of player they select in the late-first round and into the second round. They’ve preferred more projectable, potentially lower-ceiling players. However, with this pick and their second first-round pick, they gambled big on upside.
28. Marcus Nordmark, W, Djurgardens IF (U20 Sweden)
6-foot-2 | 187 Pounds
Grade: Like It
This pick was a significant bet on talent for the Ducks, looking to add dynamism to their forward pipeline. Nordmark has every imaginable physical tool aside from skating. His processing speed with the puck on his stick is high-level, his release is quick and heavy, and he’s a plus facilitator.
The question marks surrounding Nordmark’s game appear to be mostly between the ears. He lacks consistency, and with that, his compete level can appear lacking. He has good defensive instincts, but could stand to improve his forechecking and stride-to-stride involvement.
The Ducks clearly believe in their development staff to get the most out of the mental aspects of Nordmark’s game. This is a bet on upside that most followers crave their teams make at this position in the draft.
In an unusual tactic, the Ducks traded up one single spot from 29 to 28 to take Nordmark.
“That's the deal. When you start looking at your board, and you start looking at your list, you don't want to take a chance,” Verbeek said when asked about trading up so minimally. “I didn't feel like we had the chance to do it (at 29th overall versus 28th overall), and I don't like taking chances to hope that that player is going to be there. We like the player a lot, and we want to be aggressive to make sure that we got that player.”
45. Jayden Kurtz, RHD, Rogers High School (USHS-MN)
6-foot-3 | 194 Pounds
Grade: Like It
As has become tradition to an extent, the Ducks went a bit off the board with an early Day 2 pick when they selected Jayden Kurtz from the Minnesota high school hockey circuit. Kurtz is a long, responsible defender who could be classified as a “long-term project” for Anaheim.
Kurtz scored 38 points (13-25=38) in 26 high school games in 2025-26 and added three points (1-2=3) in 16 USHL games in a stint with the Chicago Steel to end the campaign. This selection is reminiscent of when they selected Jackson LaCombe with the 39th overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Kurtz will play his 2026-27 season at the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA.
50. Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5-foot-11 | 176 Pounds
Grade: Gotta Have It
This is yet another bet on upside, as Preston is one of the more electric players in the 2026 Draft. He’s the shiftiest, fastest skater in the class with lightning hands and a lightning release. He’s more of a transition expert than a cycle play driver, but his instant offense is a tool that any team could use.
His length is roughly NHL average, but he’ll need to add to his 176-pound frame in the next couple of seasons to round out his toolkit. Preston’s lack of a “B Game” is what likely caused his drop into the second round, but the Ducks can afford to take a gamble on tremendous offensive upside, which is why this is my favorite pick of the draft.
Mathis finished his WHL season with 44 points (18-26=44) in 46 games, split between the Spokane Chiefs and Vancouver Giants, and ended his season playing for Canada at the U18 World Championships, where he scored six points (2-4=6) in five games.
“I think I’m a dynamic skater. I love to attack off the rush, play in-zone,” Preston said after he was drafted. “I think I make my teammates around me better, and I learn people’s games so that I can help them. I know their strengths and where they’re comfortable. I think that helps the team, overall.”
82. Rian Chudzinski, RW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
6-foot-1 | 191 Pounds
Grade: Like It
After four high-upside potential projects, the Ducks went back to the well of selecting a translatable, responsible, north/south forward in the third round with their selection of Rian Chudzinski.
Chudzinski plays a pacey “meat and potatoes” game, where he makes an impact on the forecheck, provides a physical presence, and gets to the hard areas of the ice. The production will likely never come around, and he projects to top out with a fourth-line toolkit.
He scored 38 points (21-17=38) in 54 games and added 17 (6-11=17) in 21 playoff games during Moncton’s run to the QMJHL final. It’s unclear where he’ll play his hockey in 2026-27.
146. Eric Frossard, LHD, Guelph Storm (OHL)
6-foot-6 | 206 Pounds
Grade: Love It
Frossard’s size, defensive fundamentals, and projectability render it somewhat of a surprise that he was available this late into the draft for the Ducks. His skills aren’t dazzling, but are good enough to retrieve a puck, make a first pass, and feed shots through from the point.
His expertise is defense, specifically eliminating angles and protecting the net front. He likely has bottom pair upside, and it will take him several years of development before he may even sniff NHL action, but certainly a worthwhile gamble in the fifth round.
He scored 14 points (5-9=14) in 51 games for Guelph in 2025-26. He’ll look to round out and develop more of a robust offensive game in 2026-27, again playing for Guelph, but he’ll make the jump to the NCAA in 2027-28 to play for the University of Notre Dame.
“I’m a big defenseman who skates really well, plays a really strong defensive game, use my stick, closes fast, but also has some offensive ability and more of a two-way style,” Frossard said after his selection. “I use my skating to join the rush and try to help the team score as well.”
178. Gleb Peshkov, G, Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL Russia)
6-foot-3 | 212 Pounds
Grade: Love It
The Ducks rarely exit a draft without selecting a goaltender. This year, it was Peshkov in the sixth round. The Ducks will add him to their goalie pipeline that includes Tomas Suchanek, Damian Clara, Vyacheslav Buteyets, and Elijah Neuenschwander.
Peshkov is reported to be an athletic, but very raw goaltender who managed a .930 SV% in 47 MHL games in 2025-26. Positioning and puck tracking seem to be areas in need of improvement for Peshkov before he potentially makes the transition to North America.
192. Noah Kosick, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
6-foot | 160 Pounds
Grade: Like It
The Ducks acquired the 192nd pick in the 2026 NHL draft along with ECHL defenseman Kyle Masters (23) from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the signing rights for veteran defenseman John Carlson. With the pick, the Ducks selected Kosick, a playmaking center from the WHL who has good vision, hockey sense, and puck skills, but needs to round out every other aspect of his game.
He scored 54 points (16-38=54) in 69 games in 2025-26, split between the Swift Current Broncos and Seattle Thunderbirds. He is reportedly heading to the University of Michigan in the NCAA for the 2026-27 season.
210. James Rieber, RHD, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
6-foot-2 | 176 Pounds
Grade: Like It
With their final selection in the draft, the Ducks took a swing on Rieber, who scored 11 points (2-9=11) in 60 regular season USHL games. He’s committed to Miami University (Ohio) in the NCAA for the 2027-28 season and will presumably play another year in the USHL next season.
Ducks defenseman John Carlson speaks to the media during his 2025-26 exit interview.
The writing appeared to be on the wall when it came to John Carlson leaving the Ducks via free agency, but it was confirmed on Saturday afternoon after they traded Carlson’s rights to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Kyle Masters and the 192nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Ducks used that pick to select forward Noah Kostick from the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL.
Carlson was acquired this past March from the Washington Capitals and after a delayed debut due to a lingering lower-body injury that he suffered prior to the trade, he played in 16 regular season games for the Ducks. He scored his first professional hat trick on Apr. 9 against the San Jose Sharks and arguably helped the Ducks reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
He helped solidify the right side of the Ducks’ defense behind Jacob Trouba and contributed well during their Round 1 series against the Edmonton Oilers. However, he did not fare as well in Round 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights’ suffocating forecheck and stingy penalty kill.
Following the conclusion of the Ducks 2025-26 season after their Round 2 loss to the Golden Knights, reports began to surface that Carlson was seeking a return to the East Coast. Eventually, Carlson’s agent, Rick Curran, confirmed that Carlson would not be returning to the Ducks.
Saturday’s trade helps Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek recoup a small amount of value for Carlson after initially trading a first-round pick and a third-round pick for him.
With their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, 201st overall, the San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1, 280-pound left-handed Moldovan defenseman Alexander Karmanov.
If Karmanov makes it to the NHL, which is seen as a long shot at this point, he'll surpass Zdeno Chara and Curtis Douglas as the tallest player in NHL history. On top of that, he is also the first Moldovan selected in the NHL Draft.
Last season, Karmanov split his time between the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League and the Brantford Titans of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. In Brantford, Karmanov scored three goals and tallied a total of seven points in 15 games. Then, during his time with North Bay, he just two assists in 20 games, but was a +6 with 29 penalty minutes.
Karmanov is committed to Penn State University for the 2027-28 season, but he'll spend the 2026-27 season with North Bay once again.
Karmanov is seen as a massive project. His reach is certainly beneficial, but his size does have a number of disadvantages when it comes to skating. He often struggles to get back up to speed and as a result, forwards are able to blow past him.
The Colorado Avalanche lost two Ivans on Saturday.
Well, sort of.
Colorado traded forward Ivan Ivan to the Boston Bruins in exchange for former first-round pick Fabian Lysell, ending the brief Avalanche tenure of one of the NHL's most unforgettable names while taking a chance on a former top prospect still searching for his breakthrough.
It's a classic change-of-scenery trade.
Colorado parts with a reliable depth forward who exceeded expectations after signing as an undrafted free agent, while Boston sends away a skilled winger whose offensive potential has yet to translate consistently at the NHL level.
Fabian Lysell is the latest Avalanche reclamation project. Credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images
The 23-year-old Lysell spent last season with the Providence Bruins, recording 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 57 American Hockey League games. He helped Providence finish with the AHL's best regular-season record and capture the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, ranking sixth on the team in scoring while finishing fifth in both goals and assists.
The Swedish winger has quietly been one of the AHL's more productive young forwards since turning professional. Over four seasons with Providence, Lysell amassed 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points in 219 regular-season games. He has also appeared in 12 NHL games with Boston, collecting one goal and two assists.
A change of scenery may be exactly what he needs.
Selected 21st overall by the Bruins in the 2021 NHL Draft, Lysell entered professional hockey carrying the reputation of a dynamic offensive talent. While that promise hasn't fully materialized in Boston, the Avalanche are betting there's still another level to his game.
Before turning pro, Lysell starred for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants, tallying 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 53 games during the 2021-22 season. He elevated his play in the postseason, recording four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 12 playoff games, with his 17 assists leading the entire WHL.
Prior to arriving in North America, the Gothenburg, Sweden, native played professionally with Luleå HF in the Swedish Hockey League after developing in Frölunda's respected junior system.
Lysell has also represented Sweden on the international stage, earning bronze medals at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
Ivan, meanwhile, leaves Colorado after three seasons. Signed by the Avalanche as an undrafted free agent in March 2024, he appeared in 49 games with the club, recording five goals and four assists while earning a reputation as a dependable, high-energy bottom-six forward.
He spent a majority of his time with the Colorado Eagles, where he produced 25 goals and 44 assists in 169 career AHL games.
Whether the trade ultimately pays off will depend on which player benefits more from his new surroundings. Colorado is betting Lysell's first-round pedigree still carries untapped potential, while Boston adds a player who has already shown he can carve out a role at the NHL level.
The Vancouver Canucks have selected Samuel Eriksson 184th overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The left-shot defenceman played last season with Färjestad BK's program in the J20 Nationell. Listed at 6'6", 212 lbs, Eriksson scored three goals while recording nine points in 2025-26.
In addition to his play in the J20 Nationell, Eriksson also represented Sweden at multiple tournaments last year. He was part of Sweden's U18 team that captured Gold. Eriksson also played at the World Junior A Challenge, where he won a Bronze Medal.
Eriksson was the 31st-ranked European Skater by NHL Central Scouting. The 18-year-old is considered a defensive defenceman who plays a physical brand of hockey. Eriksson is the second-tallest player Vancouver selected in this draft, only behind 6'7" center Brooks Rogowski.
Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; The logo for the NHL draft during the first round at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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In the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders selected center Artyom Matyuk from Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL.
Matyuk scored 13 goals with 26 assists in 39 games in Russia’s premier junior hockey league. He was the third-leading scorer on a team headlined by other prospects, including Montreal Canadiens first-round pick Gleb Pugachyov.
Left-shot center out of Russia. Played in the MHL the last two seasons, their junior league.
First and foremost, the Russian center is an agile skater with a high motor and compete level. Despite being listed at 6’0” and only 165 pounds, Matyuk logged 53 penalty minutes last season and has a reputation for outworking opponents in puck battles.
Matyuk has above-average offensive instincts, using his hockey sense and vision to whip up plays. He was ranked as the 58th-best EU skater by NHL Central Scouting before the draft.
Matyuk was ranked 58th amongst EU skaters by NHL Central Scouting. #Isles
A 6-foot-4 winger, Bernat's shot is one of the notable parts of his game, with the forward having scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 37 games with Tappara's U-20 team. He scored a goal and three assists in his team's 13-game playoff run.
Internationally, Bernat represented Slovakia at the U-18 World Junior Championship this season, putting together a four-point effort in his team's seven games at the tournament.
Bernat was selected by the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL import draft and is expected to play in Canada during the 2026-27 season.
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The video board shows the 20th overall pick for the Columbus Blue Jackets is about to be announced in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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On Friday night, the Montreal Canadiens picked Gleb Pugachyov with the 26th overall pick, a third Russian in as many years and another Gold Star client. On Saturday, The Athletic’s Arpon Basu confirmed with his agent, Dan Milstein, that the prospect weighed 224 pounds, not 198 as listed on the Central Scouting final list and that he had two years left on his contract in the KHL.
Interestingly, Milstein also stated that there’s a chance the big forward could attend next week’s development camp, scheduled for June 30 to July 2 at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, provided the visa process is efficient. The prospect is currently in Florida at the Gold Star camp, which could speed up the process.
Given the fact that GM Kent Hughes has said that Pugachyov’s play is quite mature and that he may be near ready for NHL action, it would certainly be interesting to see how he measures up with the other prospects of the organization.
Given the Canadiens’ lineup needs at this stage, one has to wonder whether Pugachyov’s arrival in the organization might mean Montreal would be more willing to move Alexander Zharovsky for immediate help, provided it’s for a player who really moves the needle the right way. However, it’s worth remembering that when Hughes spoke to the media on Friday night, it was clear that he highly values the organization’s top prospects and won’t be talked into trading them unless he feels he is getting good value.
The 2025 draft product might have been a second-round pick, but most would agree he should have been selected in the first round, making him a bit of a steal for the Canadiens. Given the fact that Nick Bobrov has said the Canadiens would have picked him at 16 or 17 overall had they not traded the picks, they clearly think very highly of him.
As things stand, at least from an outside standpoint, it would make more sense to move Zharovsky than to move Michael Hage. While it’s far from guaranteed that Hage will turn out to be a center in the NHL, there are plenty of players who struggle filling that role at the highest level. The Canadiens would be ill-advised to trade him unless they are absolutely certain that he won’t turn into a real top-six center when he makes the jump in the NHL. Unless, of course, he’s part of a package to land an already established top-six pivot.
This weekend’s draft has marked a real shift in the Canadiens’ drafting strategy. While they are, of course, still mindful of taking the best prospect available, it certainly feels like they’ve made a conscious effort to get bigger after being physically dominated in the last two postseasons.
With their second pick on Saturday, the San Jose Sharks selected San Jose native, and San Jose Jr. Sharks alumnus, center Jake Gustafson in the sixth round, 174th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Gustafson's father, Jon Gustafson, is currently the president of the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda and is also the senior vice president of the SAP Center and Sharks Ice. He previously served as the vice president of the Baracuda, joining the organization over a decade ago.
Jake Gustafson left the Jr. Sharks to attend Shattuck St. Mary's during the 2024-25 season, and then later moved to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. During his first year with the Winterhawks, he scored 13 goals and totaled 25 points in 68 games.
Gustafson brings a big frame to the Sharks' prospect pool, standing at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds.
"Jake Gustafsson can be a highly disruptive forward," Elite Prospects scout David St. Louis wrote in May. "He looked faster here, making some defensive interceptions, and he played his role in the defensive formation, staying connected with teammates and removing options from the opposition. Good routes defensively. A C-grade forward with a chance at a bottom-line role."
In the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders selected right-shot defenseman Vladimir Dravecky out of the Guelph Storm in the OHL.
Under a stacked Brantford Bulldogs team last year, Dravecky tallied nine goals with 19 assists for 28 points in 58 games, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games. Dravecky also scored five assists in 11 games with the Czechia U20 team in international competition, but was held scoreless at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Dravecky was traded from Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) to Guelph Storm on June 9.
Standing at 6’0” and 192 pounds, Dravecky has a well-rounded game, possessing strong mobility and hockey sense. The blueliner doesn’t have a standout trait, but he may have scored more on a less talented team; Dravecky was stuck behind other defensemen within the Brantford depth chart.
Dravecky was expected to be selected around the third round by some scouts, so the Islanders may have found some value by picking him in the fifth.
Islanders just picked up Vladimir Davecky who was a bit buried on an elite Brantford team, but you could see signs of the ability he has. He'll be featured more at Guelph next year as they build towards the Memorial Cup. Right shot, can move pucks and make some plays.
Dravecky is now the third defenseman selected by New York, and the second right-shot blueliner chosen by general manager Mathieu Darche, who is seeking to bolster the weak right side in his team’s prospect pool.
The Islanders are slated to draft two more times, once each in rounds six and seven. Day 2 of the NHL Draft is available to watch on NHL Network, Sportsnet, and ESPN+.
The Detroit Red Wings initially entered the 2026 NHL Draft without a first-round selection, but that was remedied on Friday evening with the acquisition of the No. 23 overall pick from the Utah Mammoth in return for goaltender Sebastian Cossa.
With the selection, they drafted forward J.P. Hurlbert.
Heading into the second day of the NHL Draft on Saturday, the Red Wings selected a familiar name with the 47th overall pick, welcoming winger Victor Plante to the organization.
Plante's excitement was on full display, as he couldn't stop beaming throughout his first official NHL media availability session.
"I mean, it's so awesome," Plante said about his initial reaction. "Going (in) the same spot as my brother, the same exact pick too, it's pretty funny. But a huge honor, going to the Detroit Red Wings, an Original 6 franchise, it's awesome."
His family also includes brother Zam, taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022, along with father Derek Plante, a former NHL player.
"I wouldn't be there without them, they're so awesome and so supportive," he said of his family. "They pushed me so hard, which is awesome. Just to live in that house is a huge honor, and it's great."
Meanwhile, knowing that he's now part of the Red Wings organization is nothing short of exciting for him.
"Just the fact that I get to go to the same franchise as my brother, which is so awesome," he said. "And just the fact that it's Detroit. So much history there, such a great franchise. There's just not enough words to be said about it, it's awesome."
Plante, who will be playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth this fall, scored 21 goals with 27 assists for the U.S. National Development Team this past season in Plymouth.
He even lived with former Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood during the season and took in a few games at Little Caesars Arena.
"It was great, he's a fun guy to be around," Plante said of Osgood. "He took me to about four or five games. It was sick.
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The Vancouver Canucks have selected Connor Davis with the 129th-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Davis, a re-draft who is currently 19 years old, spent the 2025-26 season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, scoring 26 goals and 29 assists in 59 games with the club. During the post-season, he scored two goals in two games. Prior to this season, he played for Salisbury School in USHS-Prep, putting together 21 goals and 23 assists in 31 games played.
Davis is currently committed to the University of North Dakota in the NCAA for the 2026-27 season.
As it stands, Davis is the sixth forward the Canucks have selected at the 2026 NHL Draft, with their only other non-forward selected being a goaltender.
Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; The logo for the NHL draft during the first round at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
The Canucks now have three picks remaining at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Through the first four rounds of this year’s draft, Vancouver selected Caleb Malhotra (3rd-overall), Adam Novotný (24th-overall), Brooks Rogowski (33rd-overall), Niklas Aaram-Olsen (41st-overall), Dmitri Ivchenko (78th-overall), and Yaroslav Bryzgalov (97th-overall). Their next selection will take place in the sixth round, when they select 161st-overall.
Follow along with the Canucks’ 2026 NHL Entry Draft picks via our tracker:
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils introduce General Manager Sunny Mehta at Prudential Center on April 21, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI vis Getty Images
After acquiring the 119th overall pick in the fourth round from the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft when they traded down from 35th to 37th in the second round, the New Jersey Devils selected Lavr Gashilov from Avto Yekaterinburg of the MHL. In the 2025-26 season, Gashilov scored 16 goals and had 53 assisst in 51 MHL games while also getting into two VHL games and three KHL games. Gashilov stands at 5’11” and 185 pounds (per Elite Propsects, though he is listed much taller elsewhere [as high as 6’3″, with the KHL having him at 6’2″]) and is a left-handed center. Per Byron Bader’s Hockey Prospecting, Gashilov may be the steal of the later rounds with first-round level production.
Gashilov is highly regarded as a playmaker with defensive deficiencies. However, he looks pretty good in the offensive zone! In HSD Prospects’ highlight package on him, you can see just how lethal a passer he is from anywhere on the ice.
In Smaht Scouting’s midseason rankings, Gashilov was ranked 38th. However, they did knock him for his skating. Here’s what Dan Haurin had to say about him there:
He plays with an above average motor, constantly keeping his feet moving and involving himself in the play. He also plays a strong physical game, putting bodies on opposition every chance he gets, while showing an ability to make quick plays to teammates while tangled up in battles. He’s got some soft hands and an ability to feather pucks through tight lanes to teammates in the offensive zone. The skating is a question at this point in his development however, with his strides being a bit too choppy and lacking an element of explosiveness and quickness on his edges.
This does contrast with NHL Network’s view of the player, where he was regarded as a plus skater who completely lacks physicality. I guess we will see. Watching him skate in his highlight package, I do tend towards the Smaht Scouting view of him. He seems like far less of a rush threat than the forwards the Devils have previously selected this draft, and his soft hands and high-level offensive IQ should be a boon to the Devils when they do establish possession. He looks like a PP1-type player who probably should not play on a shutdown line, which is fine. Player development should focus on maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses, rather than washing over what makes a player valuable in the first place.
Importantly, Gashilov is only under contract through the 2026-27 season. If he does not get established in the KHL by the end of this season, he could very easily be signed by Sunny Mehta to play in the AHL or NHL after the upcoming year. Since Gashilov is coming out of the MHL, I could very well see him going to the VHL to continue developing his skills in the second-tier Russian league. He certainly has little left to learn in Russian juniors.
In all, I am a fan of these picks. Our previous GM regime put little value on these kinds of high-scoring, low-risk picks in the later rounds, and that has seemed to reflect in the lack of prospect viability over the last few years. Gashilov has a lottery-level NHLe. And while I wish I could have the data to look at his microstats to evaluate his playdriving ability, what publicly available analytics we can see seem to like him as well.
The New Jersey Devils came into Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft with just four selections to make, and two of them were in the second round. However, they moved back two spots from 35 to 37 with the Chicago Blackhawks, and took on the 119th overall pick as a result.
With the 119th pick in the draft, the Devils selected forward Lavr Gashilov of Russia. He played in the MHL, which is the minor league to the KHL, and had 16 goals and 53 assists for 69 points in 51 games played.
He has the ability to score some goals, but the playmaking is where he has thrived so far in his young career. Having 50 assists is an incredible achievement, even with it being the lesser of the two prominent Russian leagues.
Gashilov is the first player to lead the MHL in assists during a draft-eligible season. He did a lot of his great work on the power play, which is a major part of his game.
If you're looking for areas of improvement within Gashilov, his play away from the puck stands out the most. That is an area of concern for a lot of prospects who prioritize offense, and it's something that the Devils must develop within his game if he is going to become an NHL forward.
Usually, players with his set of skills only have a place in the top six of an NHL lineup. If he never reaches the potential to play in that role, he is unlikely to have the tools to be a bottom-six forward.
Sunny Mehta, with a lot of his selections so far, has used his selections on players with high ceilings and low floors. The development staff has their work cut out for them, but the reward could be players who make a difference.
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