Fresh NHL Mock Draft Trends for Notable Prospects Rising and Falling

The Stanley Cup Final is over, and the Carolina Hurricanes are your 2026 NHL champions. Carolina secured the cup on Sunday night with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Now that the postseason is complete, all eyes turn to the 2026 offseason.

The draft, which is slated to begin on June 26, is the next big event on the calendar. The Toronto Maple Leafs are widely expected to snag Penn State star Gavin McKenna with the first overall selection, but things are a bit of a mystery after that.

Here, we'll dive into some recent mock drafts from the web's top experts and examine the latest pre-draft trends.

Mock Top 10 Comparisons

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Gavin McKenna

Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report

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

2. Sharks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

3. Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

4. Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

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

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

7. Kraken: Viggo Björck, C, Djugarden (SHL)

8. Jets: Alberts Šmits, LHD, Munchen (DEL)

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

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

Scott Wheeler, The Athleteic

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

2. Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

3. Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

4. Blackhawks: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)

5. Rangers: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6. Flames: Alberts Šmits, LHD, Munchen (DEL)

7. Kraken: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)

8. Jets: Viggo Björck, C, Djugarden (SHL)

9. Panthers: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

10. Predators: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

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

2. Sharks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

3. Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

4. Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

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

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

7. Kraken: Viggo Björck, C, Djugarden (SHL)

8. Jets: Alberts Šmits, LHD, Munchen (DEL)

9. Panthers: Wyatt Cullen, LW, NTDP (USHL)

10. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Wyatt Cullen, LW, NTDP (USHL)

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Wyatt Cullen of the U.S. Development Team only landed in the top 10 of one of our mocks. However, Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff named the 17-year-old on his list of rising prospects:

"Cullen was more of a late-round prospect heading into the season, with his smaller 5-foot-8 frame not doing much to impress scouts. But he grew to 6-foot-1—and he established himself as a point-per-game player with the USNTDP, for good measure."

Unsurprisingly, Ellis mocked Cullen to the Florida Panthers at No. 9 in his mock draft. Bleacher Report's Hannah Stuart, however, had him lasting until the 22nd pick, selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler paired him with the New Jersey Devils at No. 12 overall.

"This is the range for Gustafsson, Command and Hemming, but the Devils are unlikely to target a D here, and I'd guess they favor the skill and skating of Cullen," Wheeler wrote.

It's unclear just how highly Cullen may be selected, but he appears to have cemented himself as a first-round pick.

Falling: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota

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North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff is an intriguing prospect with top-three potential. In fact, The Athletic's Corey Pronman has him ranked as his No. 3 prospect behind only McKenna and Chase Reid.

However, Verhoeff's draft stock took a slight hit during the U18 World Championship, according to Chris Peters and Cam Robinson of Called Up: The Prospects Podcast.

Coincidentally, Verhoeff fell outside of the top five in all three mocks we examined. It would appear that the 17-year-old isn't quite as developed as other top prospects in this class.

"It would be good for him to play another season of college hockey and to work with a good skating coach in the process," Bleacher Report's Hannah Stuart wrote.

Still, it'll be a mild surprise if Verhoeff falls out of the top 10, and whichever team selects him may eventually wind up with an elite defender.

Rising: Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK

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Unlike Cullen, Swedish center Alexander Command may not make a push into the top 10. However, he's a high-floor prospect who was also highlighted by Ellis as a riser:

"There's always a 'safe' pick that emerges around here—someone who might not be flashy but can be reliable in a handful of different areas. Command is a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better."

Command may not have true start potential, but he's currently trending as a mid-first-round selection. He landed with the Washington Capitals at No. 16 in Ellis' mock, with the Philadelphia Flyers at No. 21 in Stuart's mock, and with the New York Islanders at No. 13 in Wheeler's mock.

"Projectable centers go early because there are a lot of teams that need them, and the Islanders are one of those teams," Wheeler wrote. "I think this is the start of Command's range as a result, and some have him as the next-best center after the big three now."

Fans shouldn't be surprised if Command does go toward the top of his range on draft night.