BHN x PhHN: First Round NHL Mock Draft

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BHN x PhHN: First Round NHL Mock Draft

BHN x PhHN: First Round NHL Mock Draft — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jack Studley · Boston Hockey Now

Thu, Jun 25, 2026 ·

6 min read

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The NHL Draft is tomorrow, and the Boston Bruins pick 23rd.

Two spots ahead of them? The Philadelphia Flyers .

I teamed up with Will James of Philly Hockey Now to piece together a mock draft, filling out all 32 draft picks in Friday's first round.

Eleven first-round picks have been moved from their original owner, some twice, some thrice, and a top-five pick was moved for the first time since 2008. It has been a busy week leading up to the draft, and draft day usually provides more fireworks. Four trades were made during the first round last year in Los Angeles .

Let's get into the picks.

James: No. 1, Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

This one is a no-brainer. The top talent in the 2026 NHL Draft goes to the team with the top pick. Gavin McKenna has the hands and the offensive skill to be an absolute game-changer for the Maple Leafs.

Studley: No. 2, San Jose Sharks – Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SWE)

This one is also a no-brainer. After the Sharks' trade on Tuesday, all signs pointed to Ivar Stenberg landing in San Jose . Out with one Swedish winger, and in with another. The Sharks have a loaded young core of forwards, and after McKenna, Stenberg is the clear No. 2 in this draft.

James: No. 3, Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

Even before the Canucks hired Manny Malhotra as their head coach, it felt inevitable that they would select Caleb Malhotra to be their top center of the future. The two-way centerman has high ceilings on all 200 feet of the ice.

Studley: No. 4, Chicago Blackhawks – Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

After dealing Bowen Byram for this pick, the Sabres are in a prime position to bolster their blue line even further by drafting the top defenseman in the draft. Reid at four is too good to pass up on, and while the Sabres may not need him immediately, their blue line will be set for the foreseeable future.

James: No. 5, New York Rangers – Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)

The top 4 feel all but certain to go in some order, but after that, it can be uncertain. To me, Carson Carels is a complete defenseman with high-end offensive ability and elite physicality. He has No. 1 defenseman potential.

Studley: No. 6, Calgary Flames – Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djugardens (SWE)

Bjorck was knocked down draft boards because of his height. He is still a top-10 talent, proving it at the World Juniors and with Djugårdens of the SHL. The Flames just dumped some future first-rounders to land Simon Nemec , and it's hard to pass up on the best player available at six.

James: No. 7, Seattle Kraken – Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)

Another 1D potential player in the top 10. Keaton Verhoeff was considered to be a threat to go No. 1, but after the NCAA season did not go as expected for the young Canadian, his stock dropped. Any team would be thrilled to have him outside of the top 4. Size, physicality, and offensive production. If he can smooth up his skating, Verhoeff will be a monster.

Studley: No. 8, Winnipeg Jets – Alberts Smits, LHD, Jukurit (Liiga)

Smits , a 6'3" left-shot defenseman, helps address the Jets' need for defensive help in the pipeline. While there is still room to grow into a top-pair defenseman in the NHL, his trajectory has skyrocketed over the last two seasons. He played in 38 games with Jukurit and established himself as a top-pair option in Finland this season.

James: No. 9, San Jose Sharks (via FLA , OTT) – Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)

After the Sharks traded William Eklund , it becomes all but certain that they go Stenberg at No. 2. With the added Top 10 pick, the Sharks could, and probably should, go with the best defenseman available. In this case, that's Daxon Rudolph . More of an offensive threat, Rudolph brings size, a heavy shot, and dangerous scoring potential

Studley: No. 10, Nashville Predators – Tynan Lawrence, C, BU (NCAA)

Jumping from Muskegon (USHL) to BU during the season may have hurt Lawrence 's stock just a bit, but not enough to take him out of the top 10. The Predators grab a two-way center who just got started with Jay Pandolfo at BU, and can grow to become a key piece down the middle for the new-regimed Nashville.

James: No. 11, St. Louis Blues – Ryan Lin, RD, Vancouver (WHL)

Ryan Lin could go anywhere from 10 to 25. He thrives as a complete defender, doing every job well. He can be a high-end puck mover, but also a reliable defender. Those sorts of traits get you drafted high, and with multiple firsts, I see the Blues taking the best player available.

Studley: No. 12, New Jersey Devils – Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

The Devils are looking for depth scoring in their lineup, so they will take the best player on the board. While Belchetz does not provide immediate help, he is a scoring winger, and he does not shy away from a physical game at 6'5".

James: No. 13, New York Islanders – Alex Command, C, Orebro HK (SWE)

The Islanders loaded up on talented wingers over the past few drafts. Now it's time to add someone down the middle. For someone 6'0", Command plays much, much bigger than he is. He is reliable in the defensive zone and has good finishing skills to be a middle-six NHLer.

Studley: No. 14, Columbus Blue Jackets – Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (SWE)

The Blue Jackets grab 6'4" Swedish defenseman Malte Gustafsson and add more size to their prospect pool. He played 27 games with HV71 in Sweden's senior league, where he will return next year. He projects to be one of the safer bets in the draft, and his shutdown game gives the Blue Jackets additional help on the left side of the blue line.

James: No. 15, St. Louis Blues (via DET) – Wyatt Cullen, F, USNTDP

Wyatt Cullen is another player with a wide draft range. The mightily talented offensive winger is as skilled a scorer as anyone in this draft. He can create opportunities for himself with ease, which helps his teammates as well.

Studley: No. 16, St. Louis Blues (via WSH) – Oscar Hemming, LW, BC (NCAA)

Oscar Hemming joined BC's lineup halfway through this past season, and it started great. He gelled immediately and worked really well with James Hagens , but the back half of his season was quiet. He will stay at BC next season, and it's only an added bonus that both Blues' minor league affiliates are located right down the Mass Pike.

James: No. 17, Los Angeles Kings – Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL)

Adam Novotny is a pure skater and a good shooter who plays with pace. He's drawn comparisons to Adrian Kempe , so it's fitting that he could fall to the Kings. While physical is not a word used to describe his game, Novotny does know how to use his body to protect pucks and knock opponents off.

Studley: No. 18, Washington Capitals (via ANA ) – Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (FIN)

After trading the 16th pick in the Kyrou trade , the Capitals will grab a center here. They are set on the wings, so a power forward works down the middle. Suvanto played in 48 games with Tappara at Finland's highest level, only playing three with the U20 team before making the jump.

James: No. 19, Utah Mammoth – Nikita Klepov, F, Saginaw (OHL)

Nikita Klepov is another highly talented offensive winger. The high-scoring forward was dominant as a 17-year-old in the OHL. The Mammoth have plenty of young centers in the pipeline. Now, it's time to add a winger.

Studley: No. 20, Buffalo Sabres (via SJS, EDM) – JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)

The Sabres already grabbed the top defenseman in the draft, so they pivot to an explosive shot in JP Hurlbert . He left the NTDP and posted 97 points (42-55–97) with the Kamloops Blazers, and it's apparent his shot is one of his strong suits. The Sabres are a young and fast team, and adding the Michigan commit only gives them a heavier shot on the wing.

James: No. 21, Philadelphia Flyers – Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

The Flyers need a big, power center. They drafted one last year with Jack Nesbitt. This year, they should double down and take the towering Maddox Dagenais . He brings scoring potential and a ton of physicality. If he keeps up his level of play from the end of the season, the Flyers could get a steal.

Studley: No. 22, Pittsburgh Penguins – Tommy Bleyl, RHD, Moncton (QMJHL)

Tommy Bleyl . One of my favorite prospects in the draft, and a recent high-riser through the rankings. He is a puck-moving right-shot defenseman who set the QMJHL rookie defenseman record with 81 points (13-68–81) this season, and he is committed to Michigan State for the 2027-28 season. It's hard to envision Kyle Dubas passing on Bleyl if the 5'11 defenseman is available.

Studley: No. 23, Boston Bruins – Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (SWE)

With Bleyl gone, the Bruins pivot from a need to the best player available. Elton Hermansson is exactly that. A creative, offensively gifted winger who established himself with the Swedish U18 team, finishing with 33 points in 18 games. The two-way and physical game still needs work, but the Bruins are betting on high-end offensive talent that projects into a top-six role down the line.

James: No. 24 Vancouver Canucks (via MIN) – Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)

The first of the high-scoring Ruck twins duo stays in Western Canada. Liam Ruck is the scorer of the duo. The Canucks get their center by drafting Malhotra. Ruck gives them an elite offensive winger for the pipeline as well.

James: No. 25, Ottawa Senators (via TBL, SEA, FLA) – Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (OH) (NCAA)

The Senators' brief stint with a top-10 pick lasted about 48 hours. Now, their first draft pick is at No. 25 overall. The Sens could land Ilia Morozov , a skilled defensive centerman with the offensive abilities to be a 2C. Morozov was one of the youngest players in the NCAA at 17 last season, and he held his own. He's an impressive young player.

Studley: No. 26, New York Rangers (via DAL) – Casey Mutryn, RW, NTDP

The Rangers, much like Buffalo, grabbed one of the top defensemen with their first pick. They will pivot to Norwell, MA native and BC commit Casey Mutryn . The 6'3" winger plays a physical and creative game, but he can develop into a reliable middle-six checking option.

James: No. 27, San Jose Sharks (via BUF) – Mathis Preston, F, Vancouver (WHL)

Call Mathis Preston your William Eklund replacement. Preston is an undersized forward with blazing speed and an elite shot. He's a rush player who may get lost on defense, but the offensive upside is too much to pass up on.

Studley: No. 28, Montreal Canadiens – Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (OHL)

The Canadiens are not necessarily the league's tallest team, so they pick up a 6'7" center. Rogowski finished with 42 points in 46 games with Oshawa this season, up from 23 in 66 his first year. He is a project, committed to Michigan State for the 2027-28 season, but he gives an already young team a lot more upside.

James: No. 29, St. Louis Blues (via COL) – Maksim Sokolovskii, LD, London (OHL)

When you have four first-round picks, you can afford to take a big swing. Maksim Sokolovskii is the definition of a big swing. The 6'7" defender has the size and physicality to be an absolute monster if he pans out. He is a nasty, mean defenseman.

Studley: No. 30, Calgary Flames (via VGK) – Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville (QMJHL)

Villeneuve is one of the more offensively gifted defensemen in the draft, and Calgary picks him up at No. 30 after he has been sliding down rankings ahead of the draft. The 5'11" left-shot defenseman was hampered by an injury that kept him out part of the back half of the season, and his playoffs were not as impactful as his performance during the beginning of his year, but with Bjorck drafted earlier, the Flames go for high-upside help on the blue line.

James: No. 31, Carolina Hurricanes – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)

The Michigan State-bound Jack Hextall lacks speed, but makes up for it with playmaking and defensive instincts. If he were quicker, he could be a much higher pick. Instead, the two-way center could fall all the way to the defending champs, who, with a late-1st, should just take the best player.

Studley: No. 32, Ottawa Senators – Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (FIN)

With the last pick of the first round, the Senators grab the best defenseman still on the board. Piiparinen has become more of a well-rounded defensive defenseman, and spent this season primarily playing in Finland's top league as a 17-year-old.

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The post BHN x PhHN: First Round NHL Mock Draft appeared first on Boston Hockey Now .

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