Tier 1 — Elite
1
Gavin McKenna
LW · Penn State (NCAA) · 6'0" · 170 lbs
Forward
McKenna or Stenberg; McKenna widely favoured. 51 pts in 35 NCAA games.
2
Chase Reid
RD · Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) · 6'2" · 187 lbs
Defence
Sharks need D depth. Puck-moving RHD; Evan Bouchard comp. Stenberg also possible.
3
Ivar Stenberg
LW/RW · Frölunda HC (SHL) · 6'0" · 181 lbs
Forward
Fell from expected top-2. Swedish forward with top-line upside. William Nylander comp.
Tier 2 — Top-pair / Top-line upside
4
Keaton Verhoeff
RD · North Dakota (NCAA) · 6'1" · 192 lbs
Defence
Once considered top-2. Two-way D from North Dakota. Malhotra also in play.
5
Alberts Smits
LD · Jukurit/München (Liiga/DEL) · 6'3" · 205 lbs
Defence
Youngest player at 2026 Winter Olympics. High upside, elite size and skating.
6
Daxon Rudolph
RD · Saskatoon (WHL) · 6'2" · 190 lbs
Defence
Elite skater and puck mover. Could partner Zayne Parekh. Bouchard/Hanifin comp.
7
Caleb Malhotra
C · USNTDP · 6'0" · 185 lbs
Forward
Two-way centre with top-6 NHL projection. Can be cornerstone of a contender.
8
Carson Carels
LD · Moose Jaw (WHL) · 6'1" · 188 lbs
Defence
Polished two-way D. Strong defensive awareness and reliable all-around game.
Tier 3 — Solid first-round talent
9
Ethan Belchetz
LW · Ottawa (OHL) · 6'3" · 205 lbs
Forward
Big, physical winger with top-10 upside. Former top-3 candidate.
10
Viggo Björck
C/RW · Djurgårdens (SHL-J) · 6'0" · 178 lbs
Forward
Smart, effective Swedish forward. High hockey IQ and two-way capability.
11
Tynan Lawrence
C · Windsor (OHL) · 6'0" · 183 lbs
Forward
Strong faceoff centre; drives play in both ends. Rising draft boards.
12
Ryan Lin
RD · Boston University (NCAA) · 5'11" · 178 lbs
Defence
Most polished player in class per some scouts. Reliable two-way RHD.
13
Oscar Hemming
F · Brynäs (SHL-J) · 6'2" · 190 lbs
Forward
Big Swedish forward with projectable offensive upside.
14
J.P. Hurlbert
F · USNTDP · 6'1" · 192 lbs
Forward
Physical American forward. Strong at both ends of the ice.
15
Oliver Suvanto
C · TPS (Liiga) · 6'0" · 181 lbs
Forward
Finnish centre from Liiga. Effective two-way game with offensive instincts.
16
Nikita Klepov
F · SKA St. Petersburg (MHL) · 6'0" · 176 lbs
Forward
Under-the-radar Russian prospect. Creative playmaker with high hockey IQ.
Note: Picks 1–16 determined by the NHL Draft Lottery. Toronto won #1, San Jose jumped to #2. Picks 17–32 are slotted as playoff teams are eliminated — Colorado, Vegas, Carolina, and Buffalo/Montreal are still competing and will be assigned picks based on regular-season finish. The 2026 NHL Draft takes place June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.