Welcome to The Win Column’s first 2026 Mock Draft. Based on the draft order on Tuesday, March 31st, our writers have taken on a team each and made selections based on each team’s needs and the players available. Here is how we expect each team to select in the first round.
1. Vancouver Canucks – Gavin McKenna
James J: After a dreadful year, the Canucks don’t need to overthink this. McKenna has the highest ceiling in this draft while also bringing the highest marketability. For a team like the Canucks, McKenna possesses the ability to be a franchise-changing player and put butts in seats next year. He’s the exact type of player the franchise needs as it kickstarts the rebuild. His playmaking ability would give both Vancouver’s forwards and their first power play a big boost.
2. Chicago Blackhawks – Ivar Stenberg
Mackenzie: Ivar Stenberg is an excellent consolation prize for Chicago at second overall. The elite playmaker would be a fantastic winger alongside Connor Bedard or fellow Swede Anton Frondell. Selecting him second is a no-brainer as it improves the team’s winger depth and adds a deadly addition to the power play.
3. New York Rangers – Keaton Verhoeff
Jessica: The New York Rangers are a perfect example of what happens when you move a rebuild along too fast. There will be bumps in the road, but you can’t run away with dumb luck and success. Instant gratification does nothing but send you back to square one. That’s why they should look to bolster their blueline with the best available option in Verhoff.
Verhoff is a 6’4 212lb RHD with an offensive upside. His size and physical play are highly coveted assets that any team would look for, but especially in a right-shot defenceman. The main priority has to be allowing him to develop at his own pace. Verhoff may not be the player you can just throw to the wolves for him to make the most of his development. Patience is key here.
4. Calgary Flames – Viggo Bjorck
Joshua: It’s no secret that the Calgary Flames need high-end forwards. Unfortunately, a late-season surge and a weak forward group at the top of the draft after the big two will leave them with a major dilemma with their first pick. Make the safe pick and take another defenceman in the top 10, or gamble on a forward? I debated going Carson Carels here for the fit on the left side, but I think Viggo Bjorck makes a whole lot of sense at fourth overall.
If there’s any GM in the league who would gamble on high-end skill this early in the draft, it’s Craig Conroy. Bjorck just seems to fit the build of what Conroy targets at the draft. Previous Conroy first-rounders Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, and Cullen Potter all fit the same profile. Dynamic offensive talents with some major question marks.
Once considered a top-three player in the draft, Bjorck has had scouts question his size and the transferability of his game, which has dropped him down draft rankings. Still though, his upside is undeniable, and for my money, he holds the highest upside of any forward in the draft not named McKenna or Stenberg. If you’re Calgary, you desperately need to land a game-changer with this pick, and Bjorck gives them the best chance to do that, even if it’s a risk.
5. Florida Panthers – Chase Reid
Khalid: The major area of need for the Panthers is on the blueline, and having earned a top-five pick, selecting Chase Reid is an excellent piece for the future of this franchise. The right-shot offensive defenceman projects to be the next Adam Fox, which would make him the team’s best prospect by a country mile. Aside from Jack Devine, the team really doesn’t have a prospect that seems like a legit NHLer, and even looking at their top-10 prospects, none are right-shot defencemen. Reid fills a real need on the Panthers’ squad.
6. Boston Bruins (via Toronto Maple Leafs) Carson Carels
Drew: With the Bruins selecting their top-end forward prospect last year, I have them going with a defenceman this time around. The Bruins have their number one, right-handed defenceman in Charlie McAvoy, so why not get the same for the left side? Carson Carels is the perfect all-around defenceman for the Bruins to take at 6th overall. A skillset of high-end edgework, great passing ability, two-way intelligence, and a drive to always be engaged, Carels would be the future backbone of the Bruins’ defence for years.
7. Winnipeg Jets – Daxon Rudolph
James R: Boasting an ideal mixture of size and skill, Rudolph is a high-scoring defenceman who would be the perfect link between the blue line and the Winnipeg Jets’ offensive stars. A right-shot, he should be the perfect piece on the power play when he is ready to make the jump to the NHL.
8. St. Louis Blues – Ryan Lin
Tyler: The St. Louis Blues have a wide range of youth injected into their NHL forward core already with Snuggerud, Neighbours, Holloway, and some quality mid-20’s forwards in Thomas and Kyrou. The Blues have no real puck-moving dynamic two-way defender (Fowler isn’t that anymore, and Broberg never was).
There were lots of options here, but with Reid, Carels, and Rudolph all off the board already, Lin looked like the next best bet. The Giants defender blends dynamic offensive hockey IQ and puck skills with strong defensive physicality.
There is stability, consistency, and a lot to like in all three zones of play with the young defender’s skill set.
9. San Jose Sharks – Alberts Smits
Greg: With a lot of good defencemen expected to go high in the draft, it is imperative that the Sharks are able to grab one. Between his skating, his size, and his play against men already, Smits is as safe a selection as any. There might not be a PP1 offensive upside, but Smits would help anchor the Sharks’ blueline throughout the prime of Macklin Celebrini’s career.
10. Nashville Predators – Tynan Lawrence
Gurpal: Despite the Nashville Predators being in the midst of a retool of some sort, they still find themselves fighting for a playoff spot with the season almost done. Regardless, the team should be looking to get younger as the years go by, and Tynan Lawrence would be a great pick at this point in the draft.
Lawrence is a centre with intelligence and a good work ethic. He’s expected to develop into a top-six forward at the NHL level and would be an excellent addition to the Predators’ prospect pool. Any NHL team would love to add high-potential centres to their system, and Lawrence certainly fits that description.
11. Los Angeles Kings – Caleb Malhotra
Sean L: The Kings will be ecstatic if the rising Caleb Malhotra falls to them at 11. At the moment, the Kings’ prospect pool is thinning out rapidly and is dominated by goaltenders and defenders. After the trading of Liam Greentree, they may only have one forward in their top five prospect list.
What makes Malhotra a great selection for this team is his well-rounded skillset. Although he may be a couple of seasons away, the retirement of Anze Kopitar leaves a massive hole down the middle as the Kings will need an all-situation centre to guide their next competitive window. Malhotra projects to be a top-six centre who can do just that.
12. New Jersey Devils – Ethan Belchetz
James J: The Devils slide nicely into getting arguably the best remaining player available, and also fitting a need. Belchetz is a big, rugged winger who can score, which is exactly what the Devils could currently use. His broken clavicle last month might scare some teams, but I think this is the exact player type the Devils should be looking for. He’s 6’5”, 227 lbs already, so he could make the jump to the Devils roster sooner rather than later.
13. Washington Capitals – Liam Ruck
Cody: The Capitals have an excellent opportunity to add a great scorer to their prospect pool. Already having a former WHL star in their system with Andrew Cristall, they now add Liam Ruck. Ruck is having a phenomenal season in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers. With 104 points in 68 regular-season games, Ruck is one of the best scorers in the draft. I think he is the type of forward to fit well in the Capitals system. He will need a few years to develop, but the Capitals will need the goal-scoring assistance once Ovechkin retires.
14. Philadelphia Flyers – Xavier Villeneuve
Jashan: The Philadelphia Flyers are in a position currently where they have some decent forward prospects. From Porter Martone, who recently made his NHL debut, to Jett Luchanko, as well as Denver Barkey, who has emerged as a solid piece to the team. It is time for Daniel Brière to address the backend of his team. Other than Jamie Drysdale, there really isn’t someone young on their blue line; that’s where Xavier Villeneuve comes in.
With Ryan Lin off the board, Villeneuve would be the next best option for Philadelphia. A mobile, left-handed defenceman, Villneuve moves extremely well with the puck. He does fall on the smaller side at 5’11”, 157lbs, and will need to build some strength before jumping to the NHL, although his ability to headman the puck and make plays shines brightest.
15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit Red Wings) – Malte Gustafson
Tyler: Gustafson is another shot at a defensive prospect for the Blues. The 6’04 defender’s game might not be as offensively dynamic as many other defenders on this list, but Gustafson brings smart defensive habits, shutdown upside, and good skating mobility. He’s about as mistake-free and safe a defender a team could get.
He has real penalty-kill potential and brings consistency to the blueline. Gustafson projects as a possible top-4 shutdown defender and anchor on the blueline, who could be the next version of Colten Parayko.
16. Seattle Kraken – Juho Piiparinen
Sean: Despite a slow start at building up a prospect pool, the Seattle Kraken have made some solid selections in the past couple of years to build a depth chart that is nearing the top-10 in the league. There is one major problem, however. It is almost all forwards. With this pick, Seattle would be wise to bypass a few of the more talented forwards available to select Finnish defender Juho Piiparinen.
Piiparinen is a big, right-shot defender whose primary focus is on the defensive side of the game. He will likely immediately become their top defensive prospect. His defensive instincts are impressive for a player of his age, which should translate well to the NHL level.
He may not be a flashy, stand-out player. But Piiparinen is poised to become a steady and reliable presence on the back-end who can shut down elite competition while helping drive the play the other way down the ice.
17. Calgary Flames (via the Vegas Golden Knights) – Nikita Klepov
Joshua: After taking Bjorck with Calgary’s first pick, I wanted to go defence here. Unfortunately, all of the first round’s top defenders were already gone, so I took another Conroy-esque swing on a dynamic offensive talent because why not? For a team as terrible offensively as the Flames, you can never have enough forward talent in your prospect pool.
Nikita Klepov dominated the OHL this past season, leading the league in points with 97 and establishing himself as one of the draft’s most intriguing forwards. The Michigan State commit offers a ton of high-end skill and has very real top-six upside if he can continue to work on his overall game. With how well the Matvei Gridin pick has worked out so far, why not take another offensively gifted import winger from Russia?
18. Utah Mammoth – Adam Novotny
Gurpal: Adam Novotny has had quite the season with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL, scoring 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games. The Czech forward has been described as a strong skater who possesses a great shot and has a strong skating foundation. He has all the tools to become a top-six forward at the NHL level and would further deepen Utah’s strong prospect pool.
19. San Jose Sharks (via the Edmonton Oilers) – Oliver Suvanto
Greg: While the production is underwhelming, Suvanto projects nicely to higher levels. With his size and defensive ability, he could help round out the Sharks’ forward group. His offence seems to thrive in tight spaces and contested ice. As one of the youngest players in the draft, there is a great combination of high floor and more upside.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets – Lukas Sawchyn
Lexi: The Jackets are solid in quite a few areas; however are lacking in dedicated wingers. They currently have a roster that has extra centres who are playing on the wing. Sawchyn is a solid RW who fits the work-hard mentality of Columbus and can chip in a bit on special teams. Might not be a top-six winger, per se, but projects as solid winger depth that would make the Jackets even tougher to play against.
21. New York Islanders – Marcus Nordmark
Cody: At 21st overall, I have the New York Islanders selecting Swedish winger Marcus Nordmark. He is a 6’2″ forward who can score and be a playmaker in the offensive zone. He has had a great season in Sweden, where he has recorded 38 points in 25 games. I think Nordmark fits well into the Islanders’ system, because they require good young forwards more than anything. With Matthew Schaefer and Kashawn Aitcheson, the main defensive core may already be locked in for the future. With Nordmark, he joins a solid forward core of prospects alongside Victor Eklund and Cole Eiserman.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins – Markus Ruck
Lexi: Markus Ruck is an intriguing pick, playing alongside his twin brother Liam, who is the better goal-scorer. Don’t discount Markus’s abilities, though. The Penguins will need to prepare their centre position for the eventual life after Crosby/Malkin, and a skilled, high-work-ethic player like Markus would fit the Penguins perfectly. Learning from Sidney Crosby wouldn’t hurt either.
23. Boston Bruins – Oscar Hemming
Drew: Oscar Hemming just screams Bruin to me. A hard-nosed, motorized player who applies pressure to opponents. Hemming moves up and down the ice with speed and has an accurate shot up his sleeve, despite only having a singular goal this year. The Bruins’ scouting group for sure saw lots of him, considering he plays at Boston College with top Boston prospect James Hagens.
24. Vancouver Canucks (via Minnesota Wild) – JP Hurlbert
James J: After selecting McKenna, the Canucks add another forward in Hurlbert, who has lit up the WHL this year with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games. Hurlbert is a goal scorer who took the unique path of going to the WHL this year after spending time with the USNTDP. He’s got a great work ethic and a high hockey IQ. After trading Kiefer Sherwood and Conor Garland, Hurlbert would give them a right shot option to help replace those goals in a few years. Hurlbert is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2026–27 season.
25. Montreal Canadiens – Mathis Preston
Jashan: Mathis Preston has truly flown under the radar this season on many draft lists. The forward was seen as a top 15 prospect at the beginning of the season, though as his team around him struggled in Spokane, his stock fell. Now, he is listed anywhere from 10, all the way down to 57 in mock drafts.
After being traded to Vancouver, Preston showed off his offensive prowess once again. He continues to create space and is a primary play driver on whatever team he plays for. He is quick and is flashy, especially with his wicked release that has fooled goalies across the WHL. Montreal picking Preston would bring in another young piece that will eventually make a difference in the NHL.
26. Buffalo Sabres – Ilya Morozov
Greg: Having a strong season as a freshman, Morozov is a big centre who has aptitudes on both sides of the puck. With the Sabres finally showing some growth at the NHL level, Morozov should help the Sabres stay stable at centre. The Sabres might lack true centres, so drafting one helps keep their options open.
27. New York Rangers (via Dallas Stars)-Egor Shilov
The Rangers are looking to restock their prospect cupboard, and you can’t get too far without centre depth. Yegor Shilov is 6’1 and 181 pounds. He has had success in his development thus far, amassing 11 goals and 28 points in 39 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers and 32 goals, 82 points in 63 games.
Playing at Boston University will only help him build upon his current playmaking, agility and face-off skills, all while looking to improve upon his physicality. A solid foundation is laid, and it’d be of great interest for the Rangers to invest in their forward group and not shy away from players that may need some extra time.
28. Washington Capitals (via Anaheim Ducks) – Ben MacBeath
Cody: With the 28th overall selection, I have the Capitals taking defenceman Ben MacBeath. The 18-year-old is having a solid season with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. Through 67 games in the regular season, MacBeath posted 44 assists and 51 points. The defenceman stands at 6’2″ and already weighs in at 181lbs. I think he fits the Capitals system as a solid defensive prospect and would help cap off a solid first round. With Ruck and MacBeath now in the system, the future is all set in DC.
29. Carolina Hurricanes – Jack Hextall
Khalid: While I feel that Carolina likely trades this pick, assuming they make it, Jack Hextall makes a ton of sense. I’m not convinced Ivan Ryabkin is an NHL centre, and aside from Charlie Cerrano, the team doesn’t really have a strong centre in the pipeline. The Youngstown Phantom player looks like one of the top centres in the draft class, and adding him at this point would be excellent for this team. A great value pick at the end of the first round would be on brand for the Canes.
30. Seattle Kraken (via Tampa Bay Lightning) – Alexander Command
Sean L: Although the Kraken would love to get another defender or a goalie with this pick, there are far too many talented forwards left to pass up on. Alexander Command is one of them.
Command is a strong skating, smart centre who has been a major riser in this year’s draft rankings. Due to his strong skating abilities, he should find a fairly easy transition into higher levels of play. It is not just speed that he excels at, though, as Command shows great edge work and positioning instincts to maximize the effectiveness of his skating skills.
A talented forward like Command will help bolster an already impressive prospect pool.
31. St. Louis Blues (via Colorado Avalanche) – Elton Hermason
Tyler: No idea how the Hermason was still available at this spot, but the Blues would certainly take it. The highly touted Swedish playmaker adds to the cupboard of high-end soft skill forwards that can drive the pace of play and create chances all around the ice.
The playmaker’s skillset is best highlighted by his elite puck-handling, offensive senses, and high motor. Will he need to refine some of his puck efficiency and skating? Sure. If he can fine-tune his puck management, skating, and defensive efforts, he will be in a good spot.
Hermason is very much a boom-or-bust forward prospect. With three picks in the first round and a developing forward core already, St. Louis could realistically be that team that can afford to take a chance on Hermason’s untapped elite offensive skill.
32. Ottawa Senators – Maddox Dagenais
James R: There are a few options at centre in this year’s draft, but Maddox Dagenais could be a late first-round steal for the Senators. He was a point per game in the Q this year and already has good size at 6-foot-4, 196lbs. More development is needed, but he could become a valuable contributor in a few years.
Let the draft begin
We’ll soon see how the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft pans out, but there are many reasons for teams to make sure-bet picks, reaches, or outright swing for the stars.
