- Viggo Bjorck: 1st Round, 8th Overall, Centre
- Samuel Hrenak: 3rd Round, 71st Overall, Goaltender
- Zach Wooten: 4th Round, 116th Overall, Centre
- Alexandre Taillefer: 5th Round, 135th Overall, Defenseman
- Landon Hafele: 6th Round, 167th Overall, Centre
- Noa Ta’Amu: 7th Round, 199th Overall, Defenceman
- John Parsons: 7th Round, 220th Overall, Goaltender
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff added seven players to his prospect pipeline Friday and Saturday in Buffalo. It was the first time since 2022 he had more than five picks and the first time since 2016 he had a pick within the top 10.
It’s time to meet the Jets’ 2026 NHL Entry Draft class.
Viggo Bjorck: 1st Round, 8th Overall, Centre
In perhaps his most-important pick in a decade, Cheveldayoff selected Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck.
The 5-foot-9 right shooter — who says he “plays big even though he isn’t the tallest” — is someone the Jets will hope can become the second-line centre they’ve been seeking for a number of seasons. Despite being just 18, Bjorck spent the entire 2025-26 season in the professional Swedish Hockey League with Djurgardens IF and posted six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 42 games. In 2024-25, with Djurgarden’s U20 team, he piled up 27 goals and 47 assists for 74 points in just 42 games and helped them win the Swedish junior championship.
“The things that jump off the page are first and foremost, his compete, and he’s one of those guys when you go to scout him and you watch him play, and you become a fan, like you’re not a scout anymore,” Cheveldayoff said Friday evening. “You’re watching, you’re entertained, you’re wondering who this player is that the puck is on his stick all the time, making dynamic plays, always in the right spot defensively, just an exciting player.”
Cheveldayoff also said he had some trade options lined up and was ready to trade down, but when Bjorck was available at eighth, he was too good to pass up on.
When it comes to Bjorck’s strengths, “his hockey IQ, vision and playmaking are the biggest things scouts point out,”The Hockey Writers’ Matthew Zator writes in a prospect profile.
“Like most undersized players, his work ethic, motor and competitiveness are also strong suits of his game, along with being strong on his skates and a willingness to get involved in the dirty areas of the ice. His shot is described as accurate and deceptive, which has shown itself regularly on the power play. He is also exceptional defensively and a great penalty killer,” Zator writes.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic writes “I don’t think it would surprise anyone if three years from now, we’re talking about Björck as one of the best forwards in the draft.” (From ‘NHL Draft 2026 grades for every first-round pick,’ The Athletic, June 26, 2026.)
Bjorck really put himself on the map and improved his draft stock with a strong performance at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he produced top-six numbers and played key roles for the gold-medal winning Swedes in the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill. He finished with three goals and nine points in seven games and was noticeable almost every time he was on the ice.
“Super special, I mean, you grew up playing hockey, and like getting to the NHL is your dream, and I think this is a good step on the way,” Bjorck said after being drafted.
Having Bjorck become a viable NHLer while still on his entry-level contract will be crucial considering the spiking salary cap that the Jets may not be able to keep up with over the next couple of seasons and their need for more players who can make sizeable impacts on the cheap. The fact he’s already played a year of pro hockey — and is under contract with Djurgardens for next season — means there’s potential for his journey to the NHL to not include multiple seasons in the minors.
For those concerned about his size, Bjorck had a simple message: “People can talk.”
Samuel Hrenak: 3rd Round, 71st Overall, Goaltender
63 picks and a day later, Cheveldayoff kicked off his Saturday portion of the draft by selecting Slovakian goaltender Samuel Hrenak.
The 6-foot-3, 183-pound 18 year old spent time with three Slovakian teams in 2025-26 — Team Slovakia U18 (Slovakia2), Team Slovakia U18, and HK Dukla Trencin U20 — before joining the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Fargo Force. In Fargo, he posted a 7-1-1 record, 2.20 goals against average (GAA), .918 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout in nine games, while also scoring a goal on March 28.
“Hrenak is an absolute dog — something he no doubt learned he needed to be to survive against pro competition in Slovakia. He pairs that engine with quick feet, which allow him to reach the play with his feet, even if he’s late to a read. He became more confident in his backdoor play reads and has the quickness and athleticism to extend and make those stops consistently,” Elite Prospects writes in a draft profile.
“He’s also impressive on his posts, with confident and effective use in both the (reverse vertical horizontal) and overlap positions. Hrenak often scans to anticipate plays, which allows him to execute reads by adjusting his depth and angle to tackle threats efficiently.”
Elite Prospects notes that various aspects of his game needs refinement, writing “he can struggle to follow through after rebounds and lose sight of the puck as a result. He can also lose his cool under pressure, which causes his technical foundation for a scrambling style to falter, which is detrimental to his positioning and play-reading. Hrenak’s edges and stance can sometimes limit his ability to get pushes off, and he will occasionally he will abandon proper hand form and just punch pucks back into the slot.”
Hrenak is the second-highest drafted goaltender in Jets. 2.0 history behind Eric Comrie, who was selected 59th overall in 2013.
“Today, when I was awake at 4 a.m., I couldn’t think of wearing any other jersey than the Winnipeg Jets,” Hrenak said. “I’m not saying that because it sounds good but that’s kind of the truth. And I’m excited and I’m so grateful that I can be part of this amazing organization.”
Zach Wooten: 4th Round, 116th Overall, Centre
With his fourth-round pick, Cheveldayoff went back to the Minnesota well he’s drawn from so often, selecting left-handed centre and Apple Valley product Zach Wooten.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound 20 year old spent this season with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers as an “overager” and led the team in points, posting 62 (35 goals and 27 assists) in 61 games while being named a USHL All-Star. It was a vast improvement over his 2024-25 with the Gamblers, when he had 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 36 games.
“Wooten’s motor never stops; he overwhelms opponents with a breakneck pace and intensity, forcing turnovers in all three zones and crushing opponents with hits,” Elite Prospects writes. “When his unrelenting pressure inevitably creates opportunities for his team, he can generate offence, too. He has a powerful one-timer, the result of violent shooting mechanics, and the brain to rotate and find a shooting position.”
“In his best games, Wooten is a dynamic rusher, too. He reloads to take the middle and attack defenders with his feet churning. His speed is an advantage at the USHL level and will likely remain an advantage at higher levels, especially because he has the skill to deke and shoot around sticks at full speed.”
He is committed to the University of Wisconsin for next season.
The 116th-overall pick originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets received it from the Buffalo Sabres as part of the 2026 Trade Deadline deal that sent Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn the other way.
Alexandre Taillefer: 5th Round, 135th Overall, Defenseman
With his fifth-rounder, Cheveldayoff selected his first defenseman of the draft in the left-shooting Alexandre Taillefer.
The 6-foot, 18 year old Quebecker spent this season with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Quebec Remparts, posting two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 28 games before sustaining a season-ending injury in December.
“While he’s on the lighter side and only stands at 6-foot, our scouts consistently noted his large defensive range, his ability to deflect passes, jump from check to check, and battle with opponents on the walls,” Elite Prospects writes. “Taillefer is surprisingly physical in the defensive zone, landing the occasional hit and always standing in the opposition’s way, pushing back against them and getting the interior position on pucks.”
To become an NHLer, he needs to add strength and more all-around skill to his game, Elite Prospects notes.
He is the first player from the QMJHL the Jets have drafted since 2017, when they took defenseman Leon Gawanke 136th overall.
Landon Hafele: 6th Round, 167th Overall, Centre
With his sixth-rounder, Cheveldayoff selected his third USHL product of the day in Alaskan centre Landon Hafele.
A teammate of Wooten’s with the Gamblers this season, the left-shooting 18 year old posted 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points in 52 games. He spent 2023-24 and 2024-25 with the U.S. National Team Development Program.
“Pace is Hafele’s game. His feet never stop moving, using tons of rapid crossovers to close gaps and drive play forward,” Elite Prospects writes. “He finishes hits and disrupts breakouts with his speed. It’s common to see him deny an exit route, then come across and steal the puck on the other side of the rink. Plus, he brings defensive value with his fast close-outs that force turnovers high in the zone.”
“In most viewings, Hafele’s pace worked against him offensively. He still managed to generate offence through his superior speed, but he missed options, forced passes into closed lanes, and skated himself into trouble.”
Hafele delayed his start in college by a year to play with the Gamblers, and is committed to Arizona State University for next season.
Noa Ta’Amu: 7th Round, 199th Overall, Defenceman
With the first of two seventh rounders, Cheveldayoff selected his second left-handed defender of the day in Noa Ta’Amu.
The 6-foot-2, 228 pound 18 year old — described as a “disruptor and bruiser archetype” and “one of the Western Hockey League’s strongest players” — posted three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 62 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“Ta’amu’s game is all about disruption and strength,” Elite Prospects writes. “Agile with surprisingly quick feet, he’s a deft rush defender, capable of matching footwork, timing poke checks, and even surfing into angle-offs. Clamping down on secondary threats and refusing to give up the inside lane were habits throughout his game. Throughout the season, his aggression improved, leveraging his mobility to close gaps sooner and strength to make bigger impacts.”
“There were moments across our viewings where Ta’amu’s strength seemed otherworldly in moments. He’s impossible to move down low, pins opponents like clockwork, possesses a mean streak, and can be a nightmare to deal with as a net-front screen.”
His strength perhaps is not too surprising considering his father, Ed Ta’amu, is a former professional football offensive lineman. Noa is the first-ever player of Samoan descent drafted into the NHL.
John Parsons: 7th Round, 220th Overall, Goaltender
To close out his draft, Cheveldayoff selected his second goaltender of the day in John Parsons.
The 6-foot-4 20 year old, who also goes by Jack Parsons, spent his season with Providence College in the NCAA and posted a 13-5-0 record, 2.05 GAA, and .922 SV%. He previously spent time in the USHL with the Chicago Steel and in the U.S. National Team Development Program.
“Parsons is a very refined goaltender with impressive play-reading and an ideal 6-foot-4 frame,” Elite Prospects writes. “It’s unlikely to find Parsons out of position, as he consistently keeps himself square to the shooter with great depth. His hands are extremely strong, with little double coverage, projecting them outward to reduce the angle and make his frame appear larger.
“His ability to use those hands is even stronger, consistently directing pucks with his blocker and swallowing pucks with his glove. On top of his positional and technical strengths, Parsons also has an athletic background, boasting good edge work and explosiveness.”
Elite Prospects notes he sometimes lacks urgency and his handling of screens and backwards skating could use improvement.
The 220th-overall pick originally belonged to the Sabres. The Jets acquired it in the 2026 Trade Deadline deal that sent Tanner Pearson the other way.
The Jets will now shift their focus to NHL free agency, which begins Wednesday, July 1.
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