NHL Mock Draft 2026: Pronman, Wheeler and Bultman Make First-Round Picks as General Managers
This mock draft exercise imagines NHL teams making their own selections based on organizational needs and each writer’s prospect rankings, rather than a standard predictive mock. For a fourth straight year, the draft order was randomized and the first-round selections were made by Corey Pronman, Max Bultman, and Scott Wheeler, with the results shaped by team fit, long-term upside, and positional value.
Toronto opened the first round by taking Chase Reid, a highly skilled, mobile right-shot defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie. The pick was framed as a franchise-oriented bet on a potential top-pair blue-liner, even though Toronto is in win-now mode. San Jose followed with Carson Carels, a smooth-skating left defenseman from Prince George, choosing to strengthen its blue line rather than add another forward to an already deep system. Vancouver then landed the draft’s top-ranked player, Gavin McKenna, giving the Canucks the star talent they have long lacked.
Chicago selected Alberts Smits, a two-way left defenseman from München, while the Rangers chose Ivar Stenberg, a highly skilled winger from Frölunda who had a standout season in the SHL. Calgary used its first pick on Caleb Malhotra, a center from Brantford viewed as a future No. 1 center, and Seattle added Keaton Verhoeff, a big right-shot defenseman from North Dakota who projects as a major-minute NHL blueliner.
The first half of the round emphasized size, skill, and balance. Winnipeg took Viggo Björck, a dynamic center from Djurgården; Florida selected Daxon Rudolph, a right-shot defenseman from Prince Albert; Nashville chose Wyatt Cullen, a creative winger from the U.S. NTDP; and St. Louis used another pick on Ethan Belchetz, a powerful winger from Windsor. New Jersey picked Tynan Lawrence, a center from Boston University, to address its lack of center prospects. The Islanders added Malte Gustafsson, a left defenseman from HV71, and Columbus chose Oscar Hemming, a big, hard-to-play-against winger from Boston College.
Later selections continued to reflect organizational needs. Washington addressed center depth with Oliver Suvanto and later added winger Elton Hermansson. Los Angeles took center Alexander Command, while Utah selected versatile winger Casey Mutryn. San Jose doubled up with offensive winger Adam Novotný, Philadelphia added skill with Nikita Klepov, and Pittsburgh took a high-upside power winger in Gleb Pugachyov.
On defense, Boston drafted Adam Goljer, Vancouver added JP Hurlbert, Seattle took center Jack Hextall, and Buffalo selected Xavier Villeneuve. Calgary returned to the center position with Brooks Rogowski, Montreal picked physical defenseman William Håkansson, and Carolina gambled on skilled winger Marcus Nordmark. St. Louis finished with goalie Tobias Trejbal, and Ottawa closed the round with Liam Ruck, a goal-scoring winger with strong offensive instincts.
Overall, the mock draft prioritized long-term impact, premium positions, and organizational balance over immediate NHL readiness, producing a first round filled with high-ceiling defenders, centers, and power forwards.
