2026 NHL Draft Round One Recap: Top-Three Picks Breakdown and More

Hey folks. Today, we bring you full coverage of the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft from Buffalo, where the opening night already was defined by chaos before a single pick was even made. Leading into draft day, we saw a wave of blockbuster movement across the league, with multiple top-15 draft picks changing hands in rapid succession as teams reshaped their futures in real time.

What was expected to be a relatively stable first round quickly turned into a full-scale trade frenzy, with Buffalo at the center of it all as front offices aggressively moved up, moved down, and completely reworked their draft boards in the final hours. Several contenders pushed all-in for elite prospects while rebuilding teams accumulated assets in what has become one of the most unpredictable draft nights in recent memory.

As always, we'll run through every selection from the opening round, while also diving deeper into the top-three picks from a fantasy lens and highlighting the prospects you'll want to keep an eye on in dynasty formats for years to come, so let's dive in.

Make sure to check out our Fantasy Hockey Average Draft Position (ADP) tool. You can select the amount of teams in your league, number of rounds, your pick position, and even select keepers. Do a mock draft, and be ready for your draft!

Round One: Top-3 Picks

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna

McKenna is one of the more unique prospects we've seen in a while, both in terms of his path and the way he plays the game. Now at Penn State as a freshman, he's a player who, when things are going right, looks every bit like a top-end NHL winger in the making and someone who could land in that top-15 winger range once he fully matures.

What stands out most with McKenna is how clean everything looks when he's confident. The skating is elite in all four directions, he can open up space on his own, and there's a creativity to his game that very few players in this draft can match. He sees plays a step ahead, and when you combine that with a quick, pro-ready release, he's the type of player who can tilt shifts without needing a lot of room or time.

There is still some work to be done defensively, and like a lot of high-end offensive players, he's going to need to be put in the right situation early on so he isn't asked to carry too much away from the puck. But the upside here is obvious. If everything comes together, you're looking at a player who can drive a top line and become a true franchise level winger.

Thanks Justin Bieber for welcoming the wizard of Whitehorse to Toronto, while your hit song “Yukon” was playing.

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg

Stenberg is one of those players who doesn't always jump off the page in a flashy way, but the more you watch him, the more you start to appreciate just how controlled and polished his game is. He's a shifty, deceptive forward with elite skating ability who can dictate pace depending on what the shift calls for, either slowing things down or turning it up when space opens.

What stands out is how often he makes the right play in tight areas. Stenberg has high-end vision and a calmness under pressure that allows him to extend plays and create chances that don't always look like they are there at first glance. He doesn't force offense, he just consistently finds ways to generate it through poise and smart reads.

He isn't an overly physical player, but he's not shy either and will finish checks when the opportunity presents itself. The overall profile here is a very cerebral, pace-controlling winger who can fit into a top six role and complement higher-end finishers if he continues to round out his game. Despite being selected second overall, this was really a 2A pick.

3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra

Malhotra is one of the most complete and trusted centers in this draft class, and the more you dig into his game, the more you understand why teams are comfortable projecting him into a top-six NHL role. He's been a major minutes driver for Brantford in the OHL and has quickly established himself as a player coaches lean on in all situations, not just offensive ones.

What stands out with Malhotra is how well he controls the pace of the game. He has elite hockey sense and the ability to arrive in space early, which allows him to dictate where plays are going before defenders can close on him. There's real speed in his game, but it's not just straightline pace - it's how efficiently he processes the ice and puts himself in the right spots that makes him so effective. He elevates linemates consistently and has become the type of center that stabilizes shifts rather than just finishing them.

Defensively, he's already very reliable for his age, supporting low in the zone and handling tough matchups without getting exposed. There is still some question around how much high-end offensive ceiling he ultimately reaches at the NHL level, but the floor here is very strong. He projects as a two-way, matchup center who can be trusted in playoff environments and grow into a core piece on a winning team.

One huge notable for this pick is that the Canucks just hired former NHLer Manny Malhotra, who they thought was the best coach available and is Caleb's dad. Caleb got a one up on his dad with being selected third overall as Manny was selected seventh overall in the 1998 NHL draft by the New York Rangers. What a feel good selection for the Canucks!
One last fun fact, he is the nephew of former NBA two-time MVP; Steve Nash.

Round One: Rest of the Top-10 Picks

4. Buffalo Sabres: Daxon Rudolph

Rudolph is a right-handed defensemen who brings size and a scoring touch. He had 37 goals last season, and over 100 penalty minutes. He will be a crash and bang blueliner who checks all the boxes and is also an offensive threat.

5. New York Rangers: Alberts Smits

Smits played in the World Junior Championship and the Olympics, and was the youngest player on the German Olympic team. Another solid defensemen. He is coming in NHL ready, and has a high floor skillwise, though not likely as high of a projected ceiling as some of his draftmates.

6. Calgary Flames: Carson Carels

Carels is a left-handed two-way defenseman who is a great transitional player. He brings size and strength to his game, and spent the draft working on his family cattle farm in Manitoba, which should tell you about his worth ethic.

7. Seattle Kraken: Chase Reid

Reid is a point per game defensemen, who is right-handed and was projected to be the first defensemen to be selected making this a steal for the Kraken. He has a huge offensive upside to him, and can carry the puck but also has a playmaker's vision.

8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Bjorck

Bjorck is a smaller center who plays big and is fearless. He has great penalty killing ability, and is projected to be an elite top six player. He was the youngest player on team Sweden at the World Championship and scored six points in eight games.

9. San Jose Sharks: Keaton Verhoeff

Verhoeff is a 17-year-old who has the fourth most points by a defensemen in NCAA history. He also was the youngest defensemen in the NCAA last season, and had four points in five games at the World Juniors. He is projected to be an absolute stud. The Sharks, despite using both of their top-10 draft picks have seemingly gotten away with robbery with the two players they selected.

10. Nashville Predators: Wyatt Cullen

Cullen steadily moved up the draft and has NHL blood. His dad Matt Cullen is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. He is a strong skating winger, with soft hands and great stick handling, is an elite talent with a bit of swagger, and has been putting on size.

Picks 11-32

11. St. Louis Blues: Tynan Lawrence

12. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Command

13. New York Islanders: Malte Gustafsson

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Oscar Hemming

15. Anaheim Ducks: Nikita Klepov

16. St. Louis Blues: Maddox Dagenais

17. Utah Mammoth: Ethan Belchetz

18. Washington Capitals: Oliver Suvanto

19. Los Angeles Kings: Elton Hermansson 

20. Buffalo Sabres: Ilya Morozov

21. San Jose Sharks: Ryan Lin

22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Liam Ruck

23. Detroit Red Wings: JP Hurlbert

24. Vancouver Canucks: Adam Novotny

25. Ottawa Senators: Jonas Legenberg Hoen

26. Montreal Canadiens: Gleb Pugachyov

27. Philadelphia Flyers: Maksim Sokolovskii

28. Anaheim Ducks: Marcus Nordmark

29. Vegas Golden Knights: Juho Piiparinen

30. Calgary Flames: Jack Hextall

31. Nashville Predators: Thomas Bleyl

32. Ottawa Senators: Jaxon Cover