After months of preparation, the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is finally here. Like last year, the NHL will host a decentralized draft, with fans and top prospects gathering in Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, while the general managers, scouts, and other personnel remain in their home bases and will submit their picks remotely. Last year’s event had plenty of issues, so it will be interesting to see what the league learned and what they will change for 2026.
Gavin McKenna is projected to be the first overall pick, even with Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid close on his heels. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ surprising win in the draft lottery likely won’t change that, as McKenna could be just what Auston Matthews needs to rebound as the NHL’s most dangerous goal-scorer. After him, though, it’s anyone’s guess as to how things shake out after the flurry of moves leading up to Friday. Stenberg, Reid, and Caleb Malhotra are the next best options, followed by a cohort of top-tier defencemen.
American Wyatt Cullen has had a spectacular rise after his U18 World Junior performance, as has defenceman Malte Gustafsson, and both now look like potential top-10 picks. Ethan Belchetz and Viggo Björck could also get some top-10 consideration, although they are on opposite ends of the size spectrum; Belchetz stands an impressive 6-foot-5, while Björck is just 5-foot-9.
As we have done in previous years, the Live Draft Tracker is back at The Hockey Writers. The tracker will be updated after each and every pick throughout the first and second days of the draft (all seven rounds!). Be sure to check back regularly to see which prospects go to your favourite NHL team.
Make sure to refresh (F5 or CMD + R) throughout the event to see the most recent updates
First Round
Second Round
Third Round
Fourth Round
Fifth Round
Sixth Round
Seventh Round
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