New NHL Mock Draft Drops from Scott Wheeler, How Does It Compare to B/R After Brady Tkachuk Trade?

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna led the way in the latest 2026 NHL mock draft released by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler on Tuesday.

Ahead of the first round of the 2026 NHL draft on Friday, Wheeler stuck with the popular projection by mocking McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 overall. The entirety of Wheeler's top 10 is as follows:

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

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, F, Frölunda (SHL)

3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, F, Brantford (OHL)

4. Chicago Blackhawks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

5. New York Rangers: Alberts Šmits, D, Munich (DEL)

6. Calgary Flames: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)

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

8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Björck, F, Djurgårdens (SHL)

9. Ottawa Senators: Ethan Belchetz, F, Windsor (OHL)

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

Wheeler's mock has the same top four selections as the latest one from Bleacher Report's Hannah Stuart, but there are differences elsewhere in the top 10:

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

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, F, Frölunda (SHL)

3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, F, Brantford (OHL)

4. Chicago Blackhawks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

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

6. Calgary Flames: Tynan Lawrence, F, Boston University (NCAA)

7. Seattle Kraken: Viggo Björck, F, Djurgårdens (SHL)

8. Winnipeg Jets: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)

9. Ottawa Senators: Alberts Šmits, D, Munich (DEL)

10. Nashville Predators: Wyatt Cullen, F, USNTDP

Wheeler and Stuart have McKenna, Stenberg, Malhotra and Reid coming off the board in that order, and they also both have Šmits, Carels, Verhoeff and Björck as top-10 picks, albeit in differing spots.

The most significant departures are Wheeler mocking Belchetz ninth overall to the Senators and Rudolph 10th overall to the Predators, whereas Stuart has Belchetz going 16th overall to the Washington Capitals and Rudolph going 11th overall to the St. Louis Blues.

Meanwhile, Stuart has Lawrence at sixth overall to the Flames and Cullen 10th overall to the Preds, and Wheeler projected Lawrence 11th overall to the Blues and Cullen 12th overall to the New Jersey Devils.

The order of selection in the first round of the draft was shaken up Sunday when the Senators sent forward Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for three first-round picks and one second-round pick, including the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

Wheeler has the Senators attempting to find a potential future replacement for Tkachuk in the 6'5" Belchetz at No. 9, while Stuart expects them to try to further bulk up their blue line with Šmits.

Understandably, much of the focus entering the draft among observers is at the very top with McKenna and Stenberg.

McKenna has been the heavy favorite to go first overall for quite some time, and although ESPN's Kristen Shilton reported Tuesday that the difference between McKenna and Stenberg is considered "wafer-thin" in league circles, most draft experts still expect Toronto to go chalk with McKenna.

In addition to potentially being the more dynamic player, McKenna has shown the ability to dominate at multiple levels, putting up 129 points in 56 games for Medicine Hat of the WHL in 2024-25, before recording 51 points in 35 games for Penn State in the NCAA last season.

Stenberg is no pushover either, registering 33 points in 43 games in the Swedish Hockey League last season, which is impressive considering the experience advantage of most other players in that professional league.

The Sharks figure to be happy to nab Stenberg at No. 2 overall if he is available, as it would give them another high-end forward to pair with Macklin Celebrini.