Elite Prospects 2026 NHL Draft Grades - Elite Prospects
Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres show strong draft performances
The Anaheim Ducks adopted an upside-focused strategy during the recent 2026 NHL Draft. With an already strong pool of young talent, the team aimed for high-end assets. Nikita Klepov, a creative playmaker with a strong forecheck, is seen as a good fit for the Ducks’ system. The selection of Marcus Nordmark in the first round was considered a risk, but Anaheim’s prospect depth allowed for such a project. Nordmark possesses above-average skills but needs to develop a more engaged and physical game. Mathis Preston, picked 50th overall, is another high-upside gamble, known for his skating and handling pace.
Anaheim’s philosophy for defencemen involves targeting tools and developing other aspects, exemplified by the selections of Jayden Kurtz and Eric Frossard. The team also added Rian Chudzinski, a speedy, hard-hitting checker, and Gleb Peshkov, a flexible goaltender. Noah Kosick, a pure playmaker, was a late-round bet on growth and high-end potential. The Ducks are considered winners of the draft day.
The Buffalo Sabres made a notable selection in Daxon Rudolph, who is believed to have high theoretical upside among defencemen due to his anticipation, vision, playmaking, and shooting skills. His profile, which lacks physicality and defensive engagement, has been compared to Evan Bouchard and Brandt Clarke, suggesting a need for prime offensive deployment to succeed. The Sabres solidified their first round with Ilia Morozov, who is almost guaranteed a bottom-six role and shows NHL-level engagement. Olivers Mūrnieks, despite an injury-limited season, also has fourth-line centre potential. The Sabres’ draft work was praised for its balance of certainty and upside.
Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks navigate draft day
The Calgary Flames had a strong showing, with Carson Carels highlighted as a foundational piece who performs well across the board, similar to Charlie McAvoy. Carels is physical, an aggressive rush defender, and constantly activates plays, turning them north. He is seen as a player who can support offensive defencemen like Zayne Parekh and Šimon Nemec. Jack Hextall and Cole Reschny, Calgary’s first-rounders from 2025, share a need to develop their skating but possess NHL-ready habits. Hextall’s board play and playmaking were particularly noted.
The Flames also selected wingers Chase Harrington and Alan Shaikhlislamov, along with Tobias Trejbal, who was ranked as the top goalie. Trejbal is seen as a potential major asset for the organization, possibly forming a tandem with Dustin Wolf. Joe Iginla, an undersized player with skating as a weakness, was a bet on his bloodlines and a return to his previous top prospect status. Egor Barabanov, picked later, was considered an exciting pick due to his electric open-ice creativity and upward trajectory. Carels and Trejbal alone could provide the Flames with two significant players.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded their fourth overall pick but acquired a player of similar value in Xavier Villeneuve at 34th overall. Despite some risk related to size and physical potential, Villeneuve’s skating, vision, playmaking, and one-on-one abilities could make him a key offensive defenceman for Chicago. Ryan Roobroeck, a projected top-10 selection, was another high-upside pick with top-six calibre tools, particularly his shot. His on-ice attitude, however, requires improvement. Samu Alalauri was a solid choice for his all-around defensive skills. The Blackhawks’ draft haul was considered good for a team needing to add high-end talent.
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls and other draft outcomes
The Carolina Hurricanes continued their strategy of controlling the draft by trading back to accumulate picks. Their first selection at 51st overall, William Håkansson, could become a bottom-pairing defenceman. The team also targeted pure upside with Wiggo Sörensson, a small forward with playmaking flashes. Zach Lansard and Mikey Berchild are energetic, pacey forwards with scoring potential. Ryder Fetterolf, the CHL Goaltender of the Year, was also a smart pick. The defending Stanley Cup champions had a solid two days adding to their prospect pool.
The Toronto Maple Leafs experienced a significant shift in their season when they won the lottery on May 5, securing the opportunity to draft Gavin McKenna. McKenna, an 18-year-old with exceptional skills, has been a projected top pick for years, and his selection is seen as a massive win for Toronto. The Winnipeg Jets, despite expecting their ideal centre to be unavailable at eighth overall, were able to draft Viggo Björck due to a run on defencemen. Björck, a skilled and high-motor Swede, is hoped to fill a long-standing gap at the centre position for the franchise.
The St. Louis Blues focused on strengthening their centre position. They drafted Tynan Lawrence with the 11th pick, a highly skilled centre who moved to the NCAA from the USHL. St. Louis then acquired Mason McTavish from the Ducks using their other two first-round picks. With Robert Thomas reportedly off the trade market, the Blues aim to push the team forward with Thomas and McTavish at centre, potentially with Lawrence contributing in the future.
The San Jose Sharks made significant moves by moving up to the second overall pick and then acquiring the ninth overall selection from Ottawa. They drafted Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg second overall and then secured defenceman Keaton Verhoeff at ninth. Verhoeff, a six-foot-four right-shooting defenceman, was previously ranked highly and is expected to play another season of NCAA hockey before turning professional. The Sharks also traded up to add another right-shot defenceman, Ryan Lin, at 21st overall. The Seattle Kraken benefited from Chase Reid falling to them at seventh overall. Reid, a right-shot defenceman from the OHL, is expected to be an offensive driver and power-play fixture after his college career at Michigan State University. The 2026 NHL Draft concluded with various teams making strategic selections and trades.
Source: eliteprospects.com
