Rangers land Carels, Mutryn in 1st round of 2026 NHL Mock Draft
The 2026 NHL Draft takes place this Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, in Buffalo. The New York Rangers have 11 picks, including two in the first round and seven in the first three rounds.
Let’s take a look at how Jess Rubenstein from The Prospect Park sees the first round breaking down with his Mock Draft.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs — Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State (NCAA)
McKenna dominated the Big Ten as an 18‑year‑old, finishing fifth in national scoring and earning a Hobey Baker finalist spot. He creates space with elite processing speed and sees seams most players miss. Toronto gets a franchise driver.
2. San Jose Sharks — Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Reid is a 6‑foot‑2 right‑shot defenseman who skates effortlessly and logged nearly 30 minutes a night. He brings poise, transition strength and top‑unit power‑play upside. He fits San Jose’s rebuild perfectly.
3. Vancouver Canucks — Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
Malhotra led Brantford with 84 points, then had 26 in 15 playoff games. He’s the top center in the class and projects as a future captain. Vancouver gets its rebuild cornerstone.
4. Buffalo Sabres — Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (Sweden)
Stenberg’s 33 points in 43 SHL games mark the best draft‑year production by a Swedish junior since the Sedin twins. He’s nearly NHL‑ready and would have challenged for No. 1 overall had he played in North America.
5. New York Rangers — Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)
Carels put up 73 points and controlled games from the back end. He brings maturity, strength and playoff‑style habits. Carels just might be the most well-rounded defenseman in this class, and playing at North Dakota should sharpen his defensive polish.
6. Calgary Flames — Alberts Smits, LHD, Jukerit (Finland)
Smits is a 6‑foot‑3 defender from Latvia with elite mobility and a heavy edge. He logged pro minutes in Europe and impressed when representing Latvia on the international stage, including at the Milan-Cortina Olympic. Calgary gets an instant top‑four piece, one who draws comparisons to Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings.
7. Seattle Kraken — Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Cullen missed 22 games but returned to finish as the NTDP’s only point‑per‑game player. He brings pace, work ethic and raw upside. A season or two at the University of Minnesota should refine his decision‑making.
8. Winnipeg Jets — Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)
Rudolph scored 28 goals from the blue line and broke the team’s power‑play record for defensemen. His skating and deception mirror Josh Morrissey’s junior profile.
9. San Jose Sharks — Viggo Björck, C, Djurgårdens (Sweden)
Björck plays a smart, 200‑foot game and draws Nick Suzuki comparisons. He excelled against men and held his own at the Worlds.
10. Nashville Predators — Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Lawrence is a safe, reliable center with strong habits and low‑turnover play. Boston University gives him a perfect development runway.
11. St. Louis Blues — Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)
Verhoeff is a physical, minute‑eating defender with room to grow offensively. He fills a major organizational need for St. Louis.
12. New Jersey Devils — Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)
Belchetz is a 6‑foot‑5, 228‑pound power forward with surprising hands. He will develop further at Michigan State and eventually create space for Jack Hughes.
13. New York Islanders — Oliver Suvanto, C, Taappara (Finland)
Suvanto skipped junior hockey to play pro at 17. At 6‑foot‑3 and 209 pounds, he’s a force on the cycle and fits the Islanders’ need for size down the middle.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets — Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (Sweden)
Gustafsson is a smooth, poised defender with pro habits and strong first‑pass ability. Columbus adds a foundational blue‑line piece.
15. St. Louis Blues — Alexander Command, C, Orebro (Sweden)
Command lacks a single elite skill but excels everywhere. He protects pucks, reads play well and frustrates opponents. A strong value pick.
16. St. Louis Blues — Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)
Hemming’s season was fragmented across leagues, but his power‑forward toolkit is undeniable. Another year at BC should stabilize his development.
17. Los Angeles Kings — Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
The OHL scoring champion and Rookie of the Year slides due to defensive questions and his NCAA commitment. His offensive ceiling is enormous.
18. Washington Capitals — Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Villeneuve is a smooth puck‑mover who walks the blue line with ease. Washington adds another skilled young piece.
19. Utah Mammoth — Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Ruck scored 45 goals and totaled 104 points in the WHL, and heads to North Dakota with twin brother Markus. He models his game after Sam Reinhart and kills penalties.
20. Buffalo Sabres — Tommy Bleyl, RHD, Moncton (QMJHL)
Bleyl broke the QMJHL rookie scoring record for defensemen with 81 points. He projects as a solid second-unit, power‑play quarterback.
21. Philadelphia Flyers — Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
Novotný is a heavy, crease‑driving wing with a scorer’s mentality. He’s difficult to move once he sets position.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins — Ilia Morozov, C, Miami-Ohio (NCAA)
Morozov finished high school at 16 and was the youngest NCAA player last season at Miami-Ohio. He plays a calculated, complete 200‑foot game.
23. Boston Bruins — Maddox Dagenais, C/LW, Quebec (QMJHL)
Dagenais models his game after Tage Thompson and Juraj Slafkovsky. At 6‑foot‑4, he protects pucks well and forechecks with force.
24. Vancouver Canucks — Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (Sweden)
Hermansson flashes first‑line talent but battles inconsistency. The rebuilding Canucks must manage his compete level.
25. Ottawa Senators — JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
Hurlbert scored 97 points and won the WHL Rookie of the Year award. His first‑step issues drop him, but his scoring instincts are elite.
26. New York Rangers — Casey Mutryn, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
Mutryn is a big, physical wing and former NTDP captain. Playing at Boston College should help him round out his defensive game.
27. San Jose Sharks — Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Nizhny-Novogorod (Russia)
Pugachyov is one of the most punishing wings in this class. He held his own against men in the KHL and could become Macklin Celebrini’s protector.
28. Montreal Canadiens — Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Ruck led the WHL with 87 assists and excels as a playmaker. North Dakota will sharpen his two‑way game.
29. St. Louis Blues — Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Tappara (Finland)
Piiparinen models his game after Brock Faber and Aaron Ekblad. He plays a mature, structured style and handled pro minutes at 17.
30. Calgary Flames — Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
Hextall relies on a high hockey IQ, puck protection and power‑play vision. Michigan State offers a strong development path.
31. Carolina Hurricanes — Simas Ignatavicius, C/RW, Genève-Servette (Switzerland)
Ignatavicius is a reliable, heavy 200‑foot forward who fits Carolina’s identity. He already has pro experience.
32. Ottawa Senators — Mathis Preston, C/RW, Vancouver (WHL)
Preston is one of the fastest players in the class. His quick acceleration fuels transition play, and his shot is explosive.
