The Toronto Maple Leafs have struck gold in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, winning the coveted first overall pick and selecting Gavin McKenna. This young talent is expected to be a cornerstone for the franchise.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks also made waves, moving up the draft ladder to snag Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick. The Vancouver Canucks, despite dropping to third, secured Caleb Malhotra, adding a promising player to their roster.
The draft's drama continued with the Chicago Blackhawks trading their fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres, who selected Daxon Rudolph. Rounding out the top five, the New York Rangers picked Alberts Smits, adding depth to their lineup.
The Anaheim Ducks entered the draft without a first-round pick for the first time since 2017, but they weren't content to sit on the sidelines. They made a bold move by trading forward Mason McTavish to the St.
Louis Blues, acquiring the 15th and 29th overall picks in return. With the 15th pick, the Ducks chose Nikita Klepov, a dynamic right winger from the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL.
Klepov led the OHL in scoring as a rookie, a feat not seen since Patrick Kane's days. Standing at 6'0", Klepov might not be the tallest, but his on-ice performance speaks volumes about his potential.
He's set to continue his development at Michigan State University, where he'll join fellow Anaheim prospect Eric Nilson. Expect Klepov to spend a few years in the NCAA before eyeing a professional debut.
The Ducks weren't done yet. They traded the 29th and 117th picks to move up to the 28th spot, selecting Marcus Nordmark, a skilled left winger from Sweden.
Nordmark showcased his talents across various Swedish leagues, particularly impressing in the U20 Nationell with Djurgardens IF U20. His playoff performance was stellar, tying for third in scoring.
While Nordmark has shown flashes of brilliance, consistency remains the key to unlocking his full potential. He'll likely continue honing his skills in Sweden before making the leap to North America, where a stint in the AHL could be on the horizon.
Anaheim's draft strategy saw them increase their selections from six to eight, thanks to savvy trades. With two first-round and two second-round picks, the Ducks are positioned to bolster their roster further on day two.
They'll be picking 45th, 50th, 82nd, 146th, 178th, and 210th overall. After securing two promising wingers, look for Anaheim to target centers and defensemen in the later rounds, hoping to unearth some hidden gems.
As the dust settles on the first day of the draft, the Ducks have set themselves up for a promising future. With strategic trades and smart selections, they're building a foundation that could pay dividends in the seasons to come.
In Other News...
Ducks Suddenly Look Tied To The Blue Line Move Fans Wanted
The Ducks have spent enough time searching for help on the blue line that any premium defenseman instantly becomes part of the conversation, and Zach Werenski fits that billing. The Columbus star is viewed as one of the leagues elite defensemen, coming off a 2026 Norris Trophy season and carrying the kind of reputation that can alter a rosters direction in a hurry.
Anaheim is among the teams that make sense if the Blue Jackets decide to move him, which is exactly why this has started to get attention around the league. With several clubs weighing the same possibility and Werenski still carrying two seasons of team control, the Ducks are at least in the mix for a move that would satisfy a need fans have been talking about for a while, even if the real question is how far theyd be willing to go to make it happen. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Just Made Another John Carlson Move That Will Split Fans
A quiet offseason asset turned into a small but notable return for Anaheim, which moved on from John Carlson after he finished last season with the club following a trade from Washington. The Ducks added prospect Kyle Masters and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the kind of deal that can look modest now but still matters for a team trying to keep replenishing its pipeline without losing flexibility.
Carlsons rsum still gives the situation real weight. At 36, he remains one of the most decorated active defensemen of his era, with a Stanley Cup ring from Washington and more than 1,100 NHL games on his ledger, so any team willing to chase him is buying experience as much as production. The sticking point is the next contract, and with multiple clubs in the mix, Anaheims decision to move his rights only adds another layer to a market that already figures to be judged harshly by whichever fan base misses out. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Ducks Suddenly Look Like A Real Pacific Power
A year after looking like a team still trying to find its next gear, the Ducks have suddenly created the kind of buzz that changes how the rest of the Pacific talks about them. Their playoff success against Edmonton was only part of the story, because Anaheim also used the momentum to reshape the roster around a youthful core, giving the organization a different kind of edge heading into next season.
What makes the picture even more intriguing is how aggressively the Ducks continued building after the postseason run, staying committed to a younger, faster identity while other division rivals were trying to catch up. Edmonton, meanwhile, is left staring at a long list of questions about its aging roster, the crease and the bench, which only makes Anaheims rise feel more real, even if the West still has plenty of time to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]