NHL 2026 Mock Draft: Rangers and Islanders Eye Key Prospects

WHO:

NY Post - The New York Rangers traded Brett Berard to the Canadiens in a draft day prospect swap.

NY Post - The New York Islanders selected Malte Gustafsson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Sportskeeda - Gavin McKenna is expected to be one of the first names called at the 2026 NHL Draft despite an off-ice legal case.

Audacy - The San Jose Sharks are predicted to select Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Vancouver Canucks are predicted to select Chase Reid with the third overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Buffalo Sabres are predicted to select Caleb Malhotra with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The New York Rangers are predicted to select Carson Carels with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Calgary Flames are predicted to select Keaton Verhoeff with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Seattle Kraken are predicted to select Alberts Smits with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Winnipeg Jets are predicted to select Viggo Bjorck with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The San Jose Sharks are predicted to select Daxon Rudolph with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Nashville Predators are predicted to select Tynan Lawrence with the tenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The St. Louis Blues are predicted to select Malte Gustafsson with the eleventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The New Jersey Devils are predicted to select Ethan Belchetz with the twelfth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The New York Islanders are predicted to select Oliver Suvanto with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Columbus Blue Jackets are predicted to select Wyatt Cullen with the fourteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The St. Louis Blues (from Detroit Red Wings) are predicted to select Alexander Command with the fifteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The St. Louis Blues (from Washington Capitals) are predicted to select Nikita Klepov with the sixteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Los Angeles Kings are predicted to select Ilia Morozov with the seventeenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Washington Capitals (from Anaheim Ducks) are predicted to select Ryan Lin with the eighteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Utah Mammoth are predicted to select Oscar Hemming with the nineteenth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Buffalo Sabres (from San Jose Sharks) are predicted to select Adam Novotny with the twentieth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Philadelphia Flyers are predicted to select Tommy Bleyl with the twenty-first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Pittsburgh Penguins are predicted to select Xavier Villeneuve with the twenty-second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Boston Bruins are predicted to select J.P. Hurlbert with the twenty-third overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Vancouver Canucks (from Minnesota Wild) are predicted to select Mathis Preston with the twenty-fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Ottawa Senators (from Florida Panthers via Seattle Kraken via Tampa Bay Lightning) are predicted to select Maddox Dagenais with the twenty-fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The New York Rangers (from Dallas Stars via Carolina Hurricanes) are predicted to select Jack Hextall with the twenty-sixth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo Sabres) are predicted to select Gleb Pugachyov with the twenty-seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Montreal Canadiens are predicted to select Elton Hermansson with the twenty-eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The St. Louis Blues (from Colorado Avalanche via New York Islanders) are predicted to select Marcus Nordmark with the twenty-ninth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Calgary Flames (via Vegas Golden Knights) are predicted to select Liam Ruck with the thirtieth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The Carolina Hurricanes are predicted to select Niklas Aaram-Olsen with the thirty-first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

NY Post - The Rangers are set to make more than one pick during Day 1 of the NHL draft for the first time since they won the lottery in 2020.

Audacy - Gavin McKenna is a winger who played for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL before moving to Penn State University.

Audacy - Ivar Stenberg is a left winger from Frölunda HC in the SHL.

NY Post - New York Rangers and New York Islanders are involved in the NHL draft.

Audacy - Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Caleb Malhotra, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, Viggo Bjorck, Daxon Rudolph, Tynan Lawrence, Malte Gustafsson, Ethan Belchetz, Oliver Suvanto, Wyatt Cullen, Alexander Command, Nikita Klepov, Ilia Morozov, Ryan Lin, Oscar Hemming, Adam Novotny, Tommy Bleyl, Xavier Villeneuve, J.P. Hurlbert, Mathis Preston, Maddox Dagenais, Jack Hextall, Gleb Pugachyov, Elton Hermansson, Marcus Nordmark, Liam Ruck, Niklas Aaram-Olsen are all prospects in the draft.

WHAT:

NY Post - The 2026 NHL Draft featured 32 players selected in the first round.

Sportskeeda - The Buffalo Sabres made their third major trade before the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Sportskeeda - Gavin McKenna scored 244 points (79 goals, 165 assists) in 133 games over three seasons in the WHL.

Audacy - Ivar Stenberg recorded 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 7 games at the IIHF World Junior Championship and helped Sweden win a gold medal.

Audacy - Chase Reid scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 45 games in the OHL and represented the U.S. at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.

Audacy - Caleb Malhotra had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 playoff games in the OHL.

Audacy - Carson Carels scored 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Daxon Rudolph finished with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Tynan Lawrence scored 10 goals and 7 assists in 13 games in the USHL.

Sportskeeda - The 2026 NHL Draft featured 32 players selected in the first round.

Sportskeeda - The Buffalo Sabres made their third major trade before the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - The 2026 NHL Draft will feature 32 players selected in the first round.

Audacy - The draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo, New York.

Newsweek - The Buffalo Sabres are considering a third major trade before the first round of the 2026 NHL draft.

Sportskeeda - Gavin McKenna's season included an off-ice legal case, which has led to controversy ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Audacy - Gavin McKenna scored 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games during the 2025-26 NCAA season.

Audacy - Ivar Stenberg recorded 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 7 games at the IIHF World Junior Championship and helped Sweden win a gold medal.

Audacy - Chase Reid scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 45 games in the OHL and represented the U.S. at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.

Audacy - Caleb Malhotra had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 playoff games in the OHL.

Audacy - Carson Carels scored 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Daxon Rudolph finished with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Tynan Lawrence scored 10 goals and 7 assists in 13 games in the USHL.

Audacy - The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place, with Round 1 starting on Friday night.

Audacy - Gavin McKenna is widely regarded as the top prospect in the draft class.

Audacy - McKenna scored 244 points (79 goals, 165 assists) in 133 games over three seasons in the WHL.

Audacy - Ivar Stenberg had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games in the SHL, the most points by an 18-year-old SHL player since 1998-99.

Audacy - Chase Reid scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 45 games in the OHL.

Audacy - Caleb Malhotra scored 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games in the OHL.

Audacy - Carson Carels scored 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Daxon Rudolph scored 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games in the WHL.

Audacy - Tynan Lawrence scored 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists) in 13 games in the USHL.

WHERE:

Audacy - The NHL Draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo.

WHEN:

Audacy - Rounds 2-7 of the NHL Draft will start Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.

Audacy - The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place on Friday night, with Rounds 2-7 starting Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.

Audacy - Rounds 2-7 of the NHL Draft will start Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.

WHY:

NY Post - The Rangers are looking to replenish their roster through the draft.

HOW:

Audacy - The draft will involve teams selecting players based on their performance and potential as evaluated by scouts and analysts.

NY Post - The Rangers traded Brett Berard to the Canadiens in a draft day prospect swap.

Audacy - The draft will involve teams selecting players based on their performance and potential as evaluated by scouts and analysts.

(UPDATED June 27, 2026 13:19 UTC)

In a significant move during the 2026 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers traded Brett Berard to the Canadiens in a prospect swap. The draft featured 32 players selected in the first round, and rounds two through seven are set to begin Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m. Teams will continue to select players based on their performance and potential as evaluated by scouts and analysts.

(UPDATED June 27, 2026 07:49 UTC)

The New York Islanders have chosen Malte Gustafsson with the thirteenth pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which saw a total of thirty-two players selected in the first round. Gavin McKenna is anticipated to be one of the early picks despite facing an off-ice legal issue, while the Buffalo Sabres made their third significant trade before the first round began. Rounds two through seven of the NHL Draft are set to kick off on Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.

(UPDATED June 27, 2026 04:18 UTC)

The San Jose Sharks are predicted to select Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, which will take place at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo, New York. Following them, the Vancouver Canucks are expected to choose Chase Reid with the third overall pick, while the Buffalo Sabres are projected to select Caleb Malhotra with the fourth pick. Rounds two through seven of the NHL Draft will kick off Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 19:32 UTC)

The Rangers are gearing up to make more than one pick during Day 1 of the NHL draft for the first time since winning the lottery in 2020, following a trade that sent Brett Berard to the Canadiens in a draft day prospect swap. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres are contemplating a third major trade before the first round of the 2026 NHL draft. Adding to the drama, Gavin McKenna's season has been marred by an off-ice legal case, stirring controversy just ahead of the upcoming draft.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 17:29 UTC)

The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo, with Rounds 2 through 7 starting Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m. Among the standout players, Gavin McKenna scored 51 points during the NCAA season, while Ivar Stenberg helped Sweden secure a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship with 10 points. Other notable performances include Chase Reid's 48 points in the OHL and Daxon Rudolph's impressive 78 points in the WHL, showcasing the depth of talent entering the draft.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 15:46 UTC)

The NHL Draft is set to kick off at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo, with Round 1 starting on Friday night. Among the top prospects is Gavin McKenna, who scored an impressive 244 points over three seasons in the WHL, along with notable players like Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid, who also had strong performances in their respective leagues. Rounds 2 through 7 will follow on Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m., as the New York Rangers aim to bolster their roster through these selections.