2026 NHL Mock Draft: 5 Stars Who Could Be Traded

Every year, the NHL draft is one of the biggest weekends of the offseason as teams look for the stars of tomorrow and make some of their biggest trades. Even more than at the trade deadline.

It is a time for teams to get a start on their offseason and add both immediate help to their rosters and additional draft picks and prospects.

There are a handful of big-name players who could be on the trade market going into this year's draft, so let's take a look at five who could be moved next month.

Updated 2026 NHL Mock Draft

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FULL PROJECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

2. San Jose Sharks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 

3. Vancouver Canucks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

4. Chicago Blackhawks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

5. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

6. Calgary Flames: Keaton Verhoeff, D, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

7. Seattle Kraken: Viggo Bjorck, C/RW, Djurgardens IF

8. Winnipeg Jets: Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit (Liiga)

9. Florida Panthers: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

10. Nashville Predators: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

11. St. Louis Blues: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

12. New Jersey Devils: Oscar Hemming, F, Boston College (NCAA)

13. New York Islanders: Adam Novotny, LW/RW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

15. St. Louis Blues (via DET): Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)

16. Washington Capitals: Nikita Klepov, LW, Saginaw Spirit

17. Los Angeles Kings: Elton Hermansson, RW/LW, MoDo Hockey (Hockey Allsvenskan)

18. Washington Capitals (via ANA): Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SHL)

19. Utah Mammoth: Ilia Morozov, F, Miami University (NCAA)

20. San Jose Sharks (via EDM): Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

21. Philadelphia Flyers: Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Liiga)

22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

23. Boston Bruins: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

24. Vancouver Canucks (via MIN): Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)

25. Montreal Canadiens: Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP

26. Seattle Kraken (via TBL): Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

27. New York Rangers (via DAL): Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

28. Calgary Flames (via VGK): Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

29. Buffalo Sabres: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

30. Carolina Hurricanes: Jaxon Cover, LW, London Knights (OHL)

31. St. Louis Blues (via COL): Adam Valentini, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

32. Ottawa Senators: Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) 

Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs

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Almost immediately after the Maple Leafs won the 2026 draft lottery and received the No. 1 overall pick, the trade speculation started to grow.

Could they trade out of the No. 1 spot, get more picks, and maybe add defensive help? Could they do the near-unthinkable and trade the pick itself in a blockbuster deal? Could they deal Auston Matthews and replace him with Gavin McKenna?

None of those seems like a realistic option.

What does seem like a realistic option is trading forward Matthew Knies.

The 23-year-old's name has already been linked to trade rumors since the deadline, and it would make a lot more sense to deal him for defensive help or more future draft assets than to try to move the No. 1 pick or Matthews.

There would also be a pretty robust market for Knies, given his age, production, potential, and his long-term contract.

Toronto needs picks and defensemen, but it has few options to acquire either. Knies could be the best choice, especially with a No. 1 overall pick forward joining the organization.

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

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This would be a seismic move on the NHL landscape, and it is one the Dallas Stars should try to avoid.

They don't need to move him. As long as their Stanley Cup window is open (and it still very much is), they are a better team with him on their roster.

The 26-year-old is also still a restricted free agent, and the Stars still hold a lot of the cards here.

In an ideal world, they would move somebody else (even multiple players), shed salary elsewhere on the roster and do everything in their power to keep one of the NHL's best, most productive players who is still in the prime of his career.

That is still the most likely option.

Until he gets signed, though, there will be trade speculation floating around, and there is no new contract at this point.

There is also a real concern about how high the Stars are willing to go with their offer, and whether they can meet Robertson's asking price. If they can't, a trade becomes more in play. The draft would be an ideal time for that to happen, as it would allow Dallas to at least get some prime picks back as part of a potential return.

It's not a move we should be expecting, but it's not completely out of the question.

Keep it on your radar.

Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

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The Rangers told their fans in the middle of the 2025-26 season that it was time for another retooling or rebuild, and it began with some trades involving pending unrestricted free agents.

But is that all they had in mind when it came to turning the page on this disappointing core? It can't be.

They are not really close to being a contender, and they still have too many players on the wrong side of 30 with big contracts.

Trocheck isn't necessarily a problem for the Rangers. Quite the opposite. He is still a very good player and signed to a reasonable contract for a second-line center. But it's that production, level of play and contract that could make the 32-year-old a massive trade chip going into the summer.

A lot of contending teams (or teams that hope to be a contender sooner rather than later) need a center like Trocheck, and there are not many options on the trade market that could be had.

There are also almost no good options on the free-agent market, which is mostly full of third-tier players just waiting for a bad contract. This could be a great opportunity for the Rangers to really add a significant long-term piece or two into their organization.

Sometimes, you have to sell high on a good player, and the market for Trocheck may never be higher than it is right now.

Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils

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Hamilton may not be quite on the level he was a few years ago when he was getting significant Norris Trophy consideration, but he is still a great player who can push play, drive possession and chip in offense.

The 32-year-old has also consistently been a better defensive player than he has ever received credit for being throughout his career.

He can still help a lot of teams, including the Devils, but the issue is his $9 million per year price tag.

The Devils have defensive options, still need to re-sign restricted free agent Simon Nemec, have to worry about top center Nico Hischier entering the final year of his contract, while also needing to make necessary improvements to fix a roster that underachieved during the 2025-26 season. That is a lot of work.

Moving Hamilton could not only help bring back some help elsewhere on the roster, but it could also help clear up significant salary-cap space over the next two full seasons.

Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues

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The Blues' top forward duo of Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou have been regular names on the trade rumor mill for more than a year now, and that looks like it will continue going into this offseason.

While Thomas would bring back a significant return, that is kind of the problem with potentially trading him: not many teams are going to have the assets to meet what the Blues would need to consider moving him.

Thomas is one of the best playmaking centers in the league and a legitimate top-line producer. He is also still signed long-term for what is now starting to look like a wildly team-friendly contract under the rising cap. It would require a massive haul to move him, and not many teams have the resources to pull it off.

Kyrou could be a little more attainable while also giving the Blues a potential trade chip to continue retooling a team that has already undergone some major changes in recent months (trading both Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk).

The 28-year-old could also probably benefit from a fresh start in a new environment, coming off a down year offensively.

Unless he forces his way out, Thomas should remain a part of the Blues' core alongside Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud. But Kyrou could be a player who is made available to help bring in some much-needed defensive help.