Welcome to the 2026 NHL Draft!
Hockey fans, it's that time of year again-the NHL Draft, a marquee event in the offseason calendar that promises to shape the future of the league. After an eventful week filled with trades and strategic maneuvers, we're ready to dive into the first round of this two-day, seven-round spectacle. Friday night marks the moment when 32 budding talents will be chosen to embark on their NHL journeys.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, having clinched the draft lottery back in May, are poised to make the first overall pick. All signs point to them selecting forward Gavin McKenna from Penn State, a player whose potential has scouts buzzing. But beyond that, the draft is anyone's game, with the potential for surprises and strategic trades adding a layer of unpredictability to the proceedings.
So grab your favorite jersey and settle in as we track each pick live, offering insights and analysis on the future stars of the NHL. Here's a look at the draft order as we kick off this exciting event:
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- San Jose Sharks
- Vancouver Canucks
- Buffalo Sabres (via Chicago Blackhawks)
- New York Rangers
- Calgary Flames
- Seattle Kraken
- Winnipeg Jets
- San Jose Sharks (via Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators)
- Nashville Predators
- St.
Louis Blues 12.
New Jersey Devils 13.
New York Islanders 14.
Columbus Blue Jackets 15.
St. Louis Blues (via Detroit Red Wings)
- St.
Louis Blues (via Washington Capitals) 17.
Los Angeles Kings 18.
Washington Capitals (via Anaheim Ducks) 19.
Utah Mammoth 20.
Buffalo Sabres (via Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks) 21.
Philadelphia Flyers 22.
Pittsburgh Penguins 23.
Boston Bruins 24.
Vancouver Canucks (via Minnesota Wild) 25.
Ottawa Senators (via Tampa Bay Lightning, Seattle Kraken, Florida Panthers) 26.
New York Rangers (via Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes) 27.
San Jose Sharks (via Buffalo Sabres) 28.
Montreal Canadiens 29.
St. Louis Blues (via Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders)
- Calgary Flames (via Vegas Golden Knights)
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Ottawa Senators
Stay tuned as we break down each selection, offering expert analysis and grades on how each team fares in this pivotal moment for their franchises. Let the draft begin!
In Other News...
Senators Could Lose An RFA Forward For Almost Nothing
The Senators may have another roster issue simmering before the next round of contract business even gets fully underway. Elliotte Friedman reported that a restricted free agent forward is looking for a way out of Ottawa because the path to meaningful NHL minutes is not clear, and the club would still hold his rights if he decides to press the issue. For a team trying to manage its forward depth carefully, it is the kind of situation that can turn into a trade conversation quickly, especially when the player in question is still trying to translate strong minor-league production into a more stable NHL role.
There is also the wrinkle of an offer sheet, which would put Ottawa in a different kind of bind depending on how another club structures the deal. The compensation would hinge on the contract value, with the return changing significantly above or below the relevant threshold, so the Senators could be forced to decide whether to match, negotiate a trade, or risk losing the asset for very little. For a front office that already has to balance opportunity, depth and cap planning, it is one more negotiation thread worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Claude Giroux Suddenly Puts Ottawa In A Position Fans Feared
Claude Girouxs future in Ottawa has quietly become one of the more delicate roster questions of the summer. After four seasons with the Senators, he has given them the kind of reliable two-way presence they value, producing at both ends of the ice while fitting into a lineup that still leans on veteran poise. The problem is that what the Senators want from Giroux and what they can realistically fit into the roster are not quite the same thing right now.
Pierre LeBruns report only sharpened the uncertainty around a player Ottawa would clearly like to keep. The Senators remain interested in bringing him back, but depth on the forward group and salary-cap pressure are pushing the conversation into difficult territory. For a team that has already spent years trying to build the right supporting cast, Girouxs situation is a reminder that sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones involving the players who have helped stabilize the room. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Fans Finally Got A Key Prospect Sign They Needed
For a Senators development camp that has plenty of attention on the usual group of young skaters, the sight of Carter Hensler back on the ice carried a different kind of weight. The defense prospect had been sidelined after an injury in January and spent months working through rehab, so simply getting back into drills this week was an encouraging step for a player whose momentum had been interrupted just as he was trying to build it.
Henslers return also adds another layer to a camp that is already giving Ottawa a look at prospects with different kinds of upside, including Kasper Halttunen, who arrives with a scorers resume and a history of helping drive winning teams. For the Senators, the appeal is obvious: development camp is about talent, but it is also about seeing who can get back on the ice, settle in again and start turning promise into something more reliable. [Read more 🡒]