Latest News About Nhl Mock Draft 2026

Here’s a quick update on the latest NHL mock drafts for 2026.

• Most outlets have Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State) as the consensus top pick in early 2026, with several mocks still debating the final order but typically placing him at or near No. 1.[4][7]
• After McKenna, common names that appear in the top 10 include Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, and other high-talent forwards and defensemen from major junior and NCAA programs, though exact order varies by source.[1][7][4]
• Trade-deadline activity and the Olympic break in early 2026 are often cited by mock drafts as potential catalysts to reshuffle the top picks, especially for teams with multiple first-round selections.[2][4]
• Notable outlets with ongoing updates include Bleacher Report’s first-round mock and ClutchPoints’ multiple 2026 mock drafts released around late 2025 to early 2026; they frequently adjust for trades and player performance cadence.[7][1]

Illustration (typical top-10 flavor)

• 1: Gavin McKenna (Gavin McKenna is widely projected as the top pick by multiple mock drafts)
• 2–5: A mix of centers and wingers from North American junior leagues and NCAA programs (players like Stenberg or similar profiles appear across several lists)
• 6–10: Defenders or versatile forwards who show strong two-way games

If you’d like, I can pull the latest three or four published mock drafts and summarize their top 10 with exact names and teams, or compare how their top-5 projections differ. I can also track any notable changes around the Milan Olympics window or the March–April trade activity.

Citations:

• Mock draft snapshots and top-prospect discussions frequently cite Gavin McKenna as a leading No. 1 candidate.[4]
• Debates around the No. 1 pick and post-Olympics/late-season reshuffles are covered by multiple outlets, including Bleacher Report and ClutchPoints.[1][2][7]