The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft went as expected for the first three picks before things went off the rails. A sure-fire top four pick fell, trades came in at rapid speed, and all kinds of chaos ensued. A lot of surprising picks took place in what’s expected to be a deep class.
Some of those surprises were good, while others left a lot to be desired. We graded them all below.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
This comes as no surprise. Gavin McKenna was the favorite to go No. 1 overall all year, and nothing throughout his year at Penn State changed that. The only question was which team would win the lottery, and sure enough, the Toronto Maple Leafs were the team to luck out, selecting him No. 1 overall. McKenna now gets to play alongside Auston Matthews in a dynamic duo that has the potential to dominate the league for the better part of the next decade. The pick was obvious, and having Justin Bieber announce it only makes it better.
Grade: A+
2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)
The San Jose Sharks seemingly were deciding between taking the best player available after McKenna (Ivar Stenberg) and a defenseman, whom their team could really use. Trading William Eklund for the No. 9 overall pick seemingly ended any debate, and sure enough, the Sharks went with Stenberg. This is the right pick. Stenberg is a dynamic play-driver who can make an impact as soon as this season on a line with Macklin Celebrini and dominate for the foreseeable future. Selecting Stenberg still allowed San Jose to land a high-end defense prospect at No. 9.
Grade: A+
3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
Despite late momentum suggesting otherwise, the Vancouver Canucks selected Caleb Malhotra, pairing him with his father and new Canucks head coach, Manny Malhotra. This is the right pick, as the Canucks need center help, and Malhotra, a well-rounded stud of a prospect, is the best at the position in this draft. Malhotra figures to contribute in all facets, whether it’s five-on-five, on the power play, or on the penalty kill, and again, he fills a clear organizational need.
Grade: A
4. Buffalo Sabres (via CHI): Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
This is the first stunner of the draft, as the Buffalo Sabres selected Daxon Rudolph at No. 4 overall. Rudolph was expected to go in the top 10, but No. 4? The first defenseman off the board? Wow. Rudolph has a ton of upside, coming off a monster year in the WHL. He’s a big, physical defenseman who can skate well, and the fact that he’s right-handed certainly helps. The one major knock, though, is that he isn’t Chase Reid.
Grade: B-
5. New York Rangers: Alberts Smits, D, Munchen (GER)
The New York Rangers were always going to take a defenseman; the question was which one. At first, it looked like the Rangers were handed a gift with Chase Reid falling out of the top four, but they passed on him as well, electing to select Alberts Smits instead. While Smits is not the kind of offensive talent Reid is, he does have a heavy shot and profiles as a defensive defenseman, which could make him a good long-term fit alongside Adam Fox. Reid is the bigger upside play, but Smits should be a strong contributor on New York’s blue line, and perhaps as soon as next season.
