2026 NHL Draft Preview and Key Prospects

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft kicks off remotely as GMs dial in from home bases, hoping to smooth out last year’s glitches. Gavin McKenna remains the top projected pick, with Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid hot on his heels. After McKenna, the next tier features Stenberg, Reid, and Caleb Malhotra among the top forwards, followed by a deep pool of elite defensemen. Wyatt Cullen and Malte Gustafsson are surging up draft boards after standout performances, while big Ethan Belchetz and undersized Viggo Björck could also hear their names called early. Follow every pick live with The Hockey Writers’ real-time tracker — this draft promises top-tier talent ready to make waves. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a56ee18fb7787fd8