Charlie Cummings breaks down the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft after the lottery results came in on Tuesday night.
The NHL lottery is in the books. A big night for Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks fans on Tuesday, who watched their teams jump up to the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively. The Stanley Cup Playoffs stop for no one, but for the teams looking ahead to the draft, it’s time to get familiar with some of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft.
2025-26 NCAA Stats: 15 Goals, 36 Assists in 35 games
Gavin McKenna may not have the hype of recent top prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer, but the Maple Leafs certainly won’t complain when he’s wearing blue and white come next season. He dominated in the Western Hockey League before his commitment to Penn State, generating significant 1.1 buzz before stepping into the NCAA.
A smooth skater with a snappy wrist shot, McKenna has great hockey sense and a deep bag of dekes. The toughness he showed going to the NCAA, a considerably grittier league than the WHL, all but confirmed his status as the top overall pick. Barring some madness or an unexpected trade, McKenna will be heading north to his native Canada with the first pick in the draft.
2025-26 SHL Stats: 11 Goals, 22 Assists in 43 Games
Most NHL draft experts agree that this is a two-player class, which makes the jump by the San Jose Sharks all the more valuable. While they do have a serious need on the blue line after stacking tons of blue-chip forward prospects, it would be a surprise to see Stenberg fall past this pick.
Stenberg performed extremely well at the 2026 World Juniors, leading Sweden to a gold medal with 10 points in seven games and three points in the gold-medal game. Following that up with a strong season in the Swedish pro league (as a teenager, no less) helped to solidify his status as a blue-chipper in this draft.
You can make the argument that Stenberg is the most complete forward in this draft. A great skater, passer, and shooter, he brings a strong offensive game to the table. But he has also received plaudits for his defensive game, showing good awareness and discipline with a nose for loose pucks. Nobody’s going to be throwing him on their top penalty kill unit any time soon, but he’s capable of holding his own.
Assuming McKenna is taken with the first pick, Stenberg is one heck of a consolation prize.
2025-26 Stats: 29 Goals, 55 Assists in 67 Games
After the top two picks, things start to get interesting. Caleb Malhotra sure has a strong case to be the third overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks, and it would be a homecoming of sorts. His dad, Manny Malhotra, played in Vancouver from 2010-2013, during which he played some of the best hockey of his career. The Victoria-born Caleb sure wouldn’t mind a return to British Columbia, although he may be making a detour through Boston University, where he committed for the upcoming NCAA season.
Malhotra is arguably the best floor-raiser in this draft. He’s a strong defender, a killer on the faceoff dot, and an excellent passer who consistently elevated his teammates in the OHL. The scoring numbers weren’t astronomical, unlike those of many top OHL prospects, but he still grades out well as an offensive talent. Think Aleksander Barkov lite—no real weaknesses in his game, smooth skates and mitts, and a knack for winning plays. Vancouver will have to think long and hard about him.
2025-26 Stats: 6 Goals, 14 Assists in 36 Games
The race for the top blueliner taken in the 2026 NHL Draft will be an interesting one. Keaton Verhoeff sure has a case to be the top defenseman in this class.
He has prototypical D-man size at 6’4″ and is listed at 212 pounds. He skates well, has a powerful shot, and has considerable discipline in his defensive game. Verhoeff performed well in the WHL as a youngster and got some action with Team Canada at the World Juniors. The numbers don’t jump off the page at North Dakota, but considering his age, he did very well. Verhoeff was crucial in North Dakota’s bid for the Frozen Four this past season.
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) April 2, 2026Keaton Verhoeff and his North Dakota teammates are off to Vegas for the NCAA Frozen Four
I watched his last game, against Quinnipiac, and liked what I saw. Great pace, very active around the ice, and managed his shifts really well for a 17-year-old defender
Some clips (#18): pic.twitter.com/MmFBnNpOaG
At the NHL level, Verhoeff profiles as a top power play unit quarterback, mixing his passing with a booming shot. If the defensive skills translate as well, he shouldn’t have trouble holding down a top pairing spot.
The development curve may be longer than some of his contemporaries at the top of this draft, as it often is for toolsy defensemen. But the teams picking in this range can afford to wait.
2025-26 Stats: 18 Goals, 30 Assists in 45 Games
If Verhoeff isn’t the first blueliner to hear his name called in June, Chase Reid is all but certain to be the first. As smooth of a skater as you could ask for, Reid has one of the highest floors in the class. He brings a strong defensive game to the table, moves the puck well, and knows how to bury a goal or two.
The Reid vs. Verhoeff question is fascinating. Reid doesn’t have the same physical tools but is much further along in his development and nearly bust-proof given his production and play style. But Verhoeff brings an NHL-ready frame, while Reid is a tad shorter and in need of some muscle. Reid is also a near certainty to head to Michigan State, where he committed next season, while Verhoeff could be coaxed into departing North Dakota.
The answer to that question is very much in the eye of the beholder. But, regardless, one of these teams will come away very pleased with Reid as a top pick.
The 2026 NHL Draft will be held on June 26 and 27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
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