#NHLPeachy @NHL #NHLStats Pack: Looking Ahead to the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft
Round 1 will take place on Friday, June 26 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2‑7 will be held on Saturday, June 27 (11 a.m. ET, NHLN, ESPN+, SN).
NHL DRAFT RETURNS TO BUFFALO
After a resurgent year that saw the Sabres finish as the No. 1 seed in their division for the first time in 16 years, clinch a playoff spot for the first time in 15 years and earn a series win for the first time in 19 years, it seems fitting that the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft returns to Buffalo after many pieces of their core were drafted and developed by the franchise, including No. 1 picks Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. It will mark the first time in a decade and the fourth time overall the franchise will host the draft.
* CLICK HERE for 125 prospect profiles including scouting reports (updated June 18)
* CLICK HERE for legacy prospects and NHL ties
* CLICK HERE for notable team picks at current drafting position (Picks 1-32)
* The first 16 selections were determined at the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on May 5 – the remaining order was announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
* There is a memorable history of No. 1 picks who had their name called at an NHL Draft hosted in Buffalo going on to have an impactful career: Hall of Famer, Canada Cup and Olympic champion Eric Lindros (1991 by QUE), Stanley Cup champion and World Cup of Hockey winner/MVP Vincent Lecavalier (1998 by TBL) and Olympic gold medalist Auston Matthews (2016 by TOR) who stands as the only active player to hold an all-time goals record for an Original Six franchise.
DÉJÀ VU A DECADE LATER FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS
When the NHL Draft was last held in Buffalo a decade ago, the Maple Leafs retained the No. 1 pick through the NHL Draft Lottery and took to the podium in Buffalo looking for a new face of the franchise – selecting Auston Matthews first overall in 2016. Matthews made an immediate impact on the roster: Toronto qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his first nine NHL seasons (they had missed in 10 of the previous 11 campaigns), he set the franchise’s all-time goals record as well as a new mark for goals in a season (69 in 2023-24) and has served as captain since 2024-25.
* Toronto enters the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft again holding the No. 1 pick after missing the playoffs for the first time during Matthews’ tenure, with two of the top prospects wingers who could potentially flank the captain in the coming years: Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna (No. 1-ranked North American skater) and Frolunda left wing Ivar Stenberg (No. 1-ranked international skater).
* Prior to his season in Penn State, McKenna skated for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, the same path that a Hall of Fame, fan-favorite Maple Leafs winger also took. Lanny McDonald, who was selected fourth overall by Toronto in 1973, also played junior hockey for the Medicine Hat Tigers and like McKenna in 2025, McDonald won a then WCHL championship in his final junior season (1973).
* Should Stenberg become the first overall selection, he could be part of the storied history the Maple Leafs have with players from Sweden including two Hall of Famers – although they did not draft either one. Mats Sundin was the first European player ever selected first overall in an NHL Draft (No. 1 in 1989 by QUE) and played the majority of his career in Toronto where he served as captain for 11 seasons, sits first on the franchise’s all-time points list and as of May 4 serves as the Senior Executive Advisor to Hockey Operations. Prior to Sundin, Hall of Fame pioneer Borje Salming patrolled the blue line for 16 seasons with Toronto starting in 1973-74 and to this day holds the franchise records for goals, assists and points by a defenseman. More on McKenna and Stenberg below.
* In addition to Matthews, the only other time the Maple Leafs held the first-overall pick was in 1985 when they selected Wendel Clark, who like Matthews captained the team (1991-92 to 1993-94), had three separate stints with the franchise and ranks 10th on the franchise’s all-time goals list.
OTHER TEAMS WITH A TOP FIVE PICK LOOK TO ADD FUTURE STAR
The Sharks won the second drawing of the NHL Draft Lottery, moving up from ninth position to the second overall pick – their third consecutive draft with a top-two selection after Macklin Celebrini (No. 1 in 2024) and Michael Misa (No. 2 in 2025). San Jose could become the fifth franchise in NHL history to make a top two selection in three straight years following the Penguins (4 from 2003 to 2006), Thrashers (4 from 1999 to 2002), Oilers (3 from 2010 to 2012) and Nordiques (3 from 1989 to 1991).
* The Canucks (third overall) are slated to make a top-three pick in the NHL Draft for the first time since 1999, when then general manager Brian Burke orchestrated a series of trades that would result in Vancouver owning the second and third overall picks. They would use those selections to draft future franchise icons Daniel Sedin (No. 2) and Henrik Sedin (No. 3).
* The Blackhawks (fourth overall) are in line to make a top-four selection in the NHL Draft for the fourth consecutive year following Connor Bedard (No. 1 in 2023), Artyom Levshunov (No. 2 in 2024) and Anton Frondell (No. 3 in 2025). Chicago (and San Jose) could become the first franchises to make a top-four pick in four straight NHL Drafts since the Penguins selected Marc-Andre Fleury (No. 1 in 2003), Evgeni Malkin (No. 2 in 2004), Sidney Crosby (No. 1 in 2005) and Jordan Staal (No. 2 in 2006). Only two franchises have had a top-four selection in five consecutive draft years: Ottawa from 1992-1996 and Quebec from 1988-1992.
* The Rangers have never selected fifth overall in the NHL Draft but have made a top-five pick seven times in franchise history, with the two most recent coming in back-to-back years: Alexis Lafrenière (No. 1 in 2020) and Kaapo Kakko (No. 2 in 2019).
GAVIN McKENNA: FROM THE YUKON TO THE NHL…
Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) is the top-ranked North American skater after a freshman season at Penn State in which he finished fifth in NCAA scoring with 15-36—51 in 35 GP and can join a very small group of players born in Canada’s Yukon Territory to be selected in the NHL Draft or appear in an NHL game. He would join Max Graham (No. 139 in 2024 by NJD; currently in PIT organization), Dylan Cozens (No. 7 in 2019 by BUF; currently plays for OTT), Peter Sturgeon (No. 36 in 1974 by BOS; 6 GP in NHL) and Bryon Baltimore (undrafted; 2 GP in NHL).
* McKenna is a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation and takes pride in his indigenous heritage. He wore a vest honoring his indigenous roots, which was made by his grandmother, to Canada’s games at the World Juniors and displays a tattoo on his arm that honors his grandfather and his heritage. McKenna was the first First Nations player from the Yukon to represent Canada at the World Junior Championship.
* The high-scoring winger grew up playing on an outdoor rink in his backyard built by his father, Willy, where he spent at least an hour a day, almost every day, out on that ice in temperatures at times as low as -20 to -30 Celsius (- 4 to -20 Fahrenheit). His favorite player growing up was Patrick Kane with McKenna routinely watching Kane highlights on YouTube.
* At 18 years of age, McKenna’s trophy case already includes Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025-26), a WHL championship (2025-26), WHL and CHL Player of the Year (2024-25), WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year (2023-24) and on the international stage, gold at the 2024 Under-18 World Championship and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as bronze at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
* McKenna can become the fifth player selected first overall from U.S. College Hockey and the third in a six-year span. Across the previous five NHL Drafts (2021 to 2025) six NCAA players have been selected among the top five picks: Macklin Celebrini (No. 1 in 2024; Boston University), Owen Power (No. 1 in 2021; Michigan), Artyom Levshunov (No. 2 in 2024; Michigan State), Matty Beniers (No. 2 in 2021; Michigan), Adam Fantilli (No. 3 in 2023; Michigan) and Kent Johnson (No. 5 in 2021; Michigan). McKenna is on course to become the first player drafted out of Penn State to be selected in Round 1.
STENBERG: SWEDEN’S LATEST SENSATION
Ivar Stenberg (Stockholm, Sweden) is the top-ranked international skater. Stenberg spent the 2025-26 season skating for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League – the top men’s league in the country – where the 18-year-old forward led all SHL teenagers with 11-22—33 in 43 GP ahead of already drafted skaters Anton Frondell (No. 3 in 2025 by CHI), Eddie Genborg (No. 44 in 2025 by DET) and Victor Eklund (No. 16 in 2025 by NYI).
* On the international stage, Stenberg helped Team Sweden win gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship where he tied for the team lead and fifth in tournament scoring with 4-6—10 in 7 GP including a goal and two assists in the gold medal game. He also represented his country at the 2026 World Championship.
* His brother, Otto Stenberg, was a first-round pick by the Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft (25th overall) who appeared in 32 NHL games in 2025-26. The Stenberg siblings could become the fourth set of Swedish brothers to both be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft following Daniel Sedin (No. 2 in 1999) and Henrik Sedin (No. 3 in 1999), William Nylander (No. 8 in 2014) and Alex Nylander (No. 8 in 2016) as well as William Eklund (No. 7 in 2021) and Victor Eklund (No. 16 in 2025). Of note, the Nylander brothers were both born in Canada, but are Sweden nationals who represent their country in international competition.
* Stenberg could become just the ninth Swedish-born player to be selected among the top three picks in an NHL Draft and should he go first, would join Mats Sundin (1989) and Rasmus Dahlin (2018) as the only players from his country chosen with the No. 1 pick.
DEEP POOL OF DEFENSEMEN AT TOP OF DRAFT
There is a group of five defensemen who all have potential to be selected early in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft – potentially as early as the top five selections – including an Olympian, a former OHL rookie assist leader, a 17-year-old college freshman and a pair of 20-goal blueliners from the WHL.
* Alberts Smits is the top-ranked international defenseman who played big minutes in European men’s leagues in Finland with Jukurit (6-7—13 in 38 GP) and then on loan in Germany with Munchen (2-4—6 in 11 playoff games). Smits also hit the international trifecta this season representing his home country of Latvia at the World Junior Championship, Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and the World Championship. Smits could surpass Zemgus Girgensens (No. 14 in 2012) as the highest selected Latvian player in NHL Draft history.
* Chase Reid of the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds followed up a 2024-25 season in which he led all rookies, regardless of position, with 33 assists by ranking fifth among OHL blueliners in goals and 12th in points (18-30—48 in 45 GP) to close out the 2025-26 campaign. At the 2026 World Junior Championship, Reid’s four points (2-2—4 in 5 GP) matched Capitals prospect Cole Hutson (1-3—4 in 3 GP) for the most among U.S. blueliners.
* Carson Carels grew up with over 500 cattle on his family farm in Cypress River, Man., and sits as the No. 3-ranked North American skater for the 2026 NHL Draft. Carels, who still works on the family farm during the summer, had a busy 2025-26 campaign in which he helped Team Canada earn bronze at the 2026 World Junior Championship and finished fourth in scoring among WHL defensemen (20-53—73 in 58 GP).
* Keaton Verhoeff, the No. 4-ranked North American skater, was among the youngest players in NCAA hockey in 2025-26, skating the entirety of his freshman season at 17 years of age while helping the University of North Dakota sit at the top of the NCHC standings at the completion of the regular season. Verhoeff not only produced 6-14—20 in 36 college games, he also produced at near a point-per-game pace (0-4—4 in 5 GP) for Team Canada’s bronze medal entry at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
* Daxon Rudolph, the No. 5-ranked North American skater, is an offensive dynamo from the blueline who ranked third among WHL defensemen with 28-50—78 in 68 GP including 35 points on the power play (tops among WHL defensemen). His offense continued into the postseason where he ranked tied for first in the WHL Playoffs, regardless of position, with 9-18—27 in 19 GP to help the Prince Albert Raiders reach the 2026 WHL Championship Series.
DID YOU KNOW? FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND INTERESTING PROSPECT STORIES
From family connections to unusual hockey origins, a look at some of the prospects with interesting stories heading into the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
* Caleb Malhotra of the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs, the No. 6-ranked North American skater and top-ranked center for the NHL Draft, had a debut OHL season to remember ranking second in rookie scoring with 29-55—84 in 67 GP during the regular season and topping all rookie skaters in the playoffs with 13-13—26 in 15 GP. His father, Manny Malhotra, is the new head coach of the Canucks and was a longtime NHL forward who skated in 991 career NHL games. His uncle is two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.
* Forward Wyatt Cullen (No. 13-ranked N.A. skater) is the highest ranked 2026 draft-eligible prospect from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and the son of Matt Cullen, a three-time Stanley Cup champion (2006, 2016 & 2017) who skated in 1,516 career NHL games – the most ever by a U.S.-born forward – with the Ducks, Panthers, Hurricanes, Rangers, Senators, Wild, Predators and Penguins from 1997-98 to 2018-19.
* Markus Ruck (21-87—108 in 68 GP) and Liam Ruck (45-59—104 in 68 GP) are mirror twins who finished first and second in WHL scoring during the 2025-26 regular season. The Ruck siblings could both go in Round 1 of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft – if that happens they would become just the third set of brothers to both be selected in the first round of the same draft year joining Daniel and Henrik Sedin (Nos. 2 & 3 in 1999) as well as Ron and Rich Sutter (Nos. 4 & 10 in 1982).
* Two ranked prospects got their start in the game playing roller hockey in the Cayman Islands: Swiss-born and Cayman-raised Ryder Cali (No. 24-ranked N.A. Skater) of the North Bay Battalion, who didn’t start playing hockey on ice until he moved to Canada at age seven and whose mother, Fiona McLeod, played for the Lugano Women’s team in the Swiss professional women’s league after three years at St. Cloud State University. The other prospect with roots in the Cayman Islands is London Knights forward Jaxon Cover (No. 29-ranked N.A. skater), who was born in Miami, played roller hockey as a child growing up in the Cayman Islands and then pursued ice hockey when he moved to Canada around age 12. The two prospects, who played roller hockey together for a couple of years in the Cayman Islands, reunited recently at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics.
