2026 NHL Mock Draft 1st-Round Predictions and Latest Draft Order

The Vancouver Canucks have put themselves in the best position to win the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes.

McKenna is the top prospect in the class of 2026 and will likely be the No. 1 overall pick.

However, the worst record in the NHL doesn't always guarantee you the top selection.

Vancouver, Chicago and Calgary currently have the three best odds to claim the No. 1 overall pick, but any of the franchises entered into the lottery will have a chance at landing a franchise-altering player.

Updated 2026 NHL Draft Order and Mock Draft

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Draft order based on record after March 31. Draft lottery to take place on May 5

Vancouver - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State

Chicago - Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda

Calgary - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota

New York Rangers - Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit

St. Louis - Chase Reid, D, Soo (OHL)

Florida - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

Boston (via Toronto) - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston U.

Winnipeg - Viggo Bjorck, C/RW. Djurgardens

Seattle - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

Nashville - Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)

Los Angeles - Oscar Hemming, F, Boston College

New Jersey - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

Washington - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)

Philadelphia - Ilya Morozov, F, Miami (Ohio)

St. Louis (via Detroit) - Adam Novotny, LW/RW, Peterborough (OHL)

San Jose - Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara

Calgary (via Vegas) - Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

Utah - Elton Hermansson, RW/LW, MoDo

San Jose (via Edmonton) - Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71

New York Islanders - JP Hurlbert, F, Kamloops (WHL)

Columbus - Nikita Klepov, F, Saginaw (OHL)

Pittsburgh - Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens

Boston - Wyatt Cullen, F, U.S. Development Program

Vancouver (via Minnesota) - Mathis Preston, F, Vancouver (WHL)

Montreal - Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Seattle (via Tampa Bay) - Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara

New York Rangers (via Dallas) - Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara (OHL)

Washington (via Anaheim) - William Hakansson, D, Lulea

Buffalo - Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

Carolina - Liam Ruck, F, Medicine Hat (WHL)

St. Louis (via Colorado) - Alexander Command, C, Orebro

Ottawa - Niklas Aaram-Olsen, RW/LW, Orebro

Race Is On to Land Gavin McKenna

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Gavin McKenna has been the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft for over a year.

The winger totaled 51 points during his freshman season at Penn State. He had 129 points in the WHL with Medicine Hat two seasons ago.

McKenna is the type of player that could turn around a franchise, something that Vancouver and Calgary need in the worst way.

The Canucks will have the highest odds to pick first in the May 5 draft lottery. They have 18 fewer points than Chicago.

If Chicago lands the top pick, it can pair McKenna on a line with Connor Bedard and would probably catapult up the Western Conference standings next year.

The Canucks and Flames would have to build more around McKenna, but the two Canadian clubs would love to win the draft lottery and re-charge their rebuilds.

Keaton Verhoeff Is Top-Ranked Defenseman

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Keaton Verhoeff sits at the top of the defenseman rankings in the class of 2026.

The Canadian defenseman, who played this season at North Dakota, would be an excellent addition for a handful of teams that could pick in the top five.

Verhoeff would be a terrific consolation prize for the Flames, if they don't land McKenna, because they have a hole on the blue line after they traded Mackenzie Weegar.

St. Louis would love to have the opportunity to land Verhoeff as well to replace the recently-traded Justin Faulk.

He may not have the immediate impact as Matthew Schaefer is having with the New York Islanders this season, but Verhoeff can be a solid long-term addition to any team's defense.