Following the shocking results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday, theScore's Kyle Cushman, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman reveal their mock draft for the top half of the first round.
You can watch Top Shelf's comprehensive breakdown of the top 10 picks here.
You can also read our explanations for each of the first 16 picks below.
McKenna is a gifted playmaker who manipulates defenders and creates chances out of nothing. He's produced at a dominant rate everywhere he's played, including Penn State after some early struggles.
However, the lean winger isn't a perfect player either, as he has notable defensive issues and doesn't play with a high motor. Toronto will likely have a real debate about what they'll do at the top of the draft. Ivar Stenberg is more competitive and a better two-way player, while Chase Reid is an exciting option among the defensemen.
If a team can embrace who McKenna is and understand what he lacks, he could reward that franchise in a big way. He has the skills to become a Patrick Kane or Artemi Panarin-level scorer.
McKenna's potential fit alongside Auston Matthews is also incredibly enticing. Still, McKenna will have growing pains, and he'll take time to transition in the NHL - potentially similar to Jack Hughes' progression.
Don't overthink it, and take the guy with the game-changing ability you only find at the top of the draft.
The Sharks jumped up seven spots by winning the second draft lottery. They're thrilled to pick in the top two for the third straight year, but they face a difficult decision.
Led by 19-year-old superstar center Macklin Celebrini, San Jose's young core is heavy on forwards. Though Stenberg is the best player available with McKenna off the board, defenseman Chase Reid would be the top option to address a glaring need.
GM Mike Grier will ultimately bet on talent and select Stenberg. The Swedish winger is the complete package. He's a strong skater with playmaking and finishing abilities, wins a ton of puck battles, and can play in all situations. Stenberg put up 33 points in 43 SHL games for Frolunda.
This pick essentially boiled down to Reid and Brantford Bulldogs center Caleb Malhotra, who has ties to a Canucks organization where his father, Manny, once played and is now the head coach of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks.
We opted to go with Reid, a 6-foot-2, right-shot defenseman who's widely considered the best player still on the board. Some draft pundits even have the Soo product as the top prospect. Reid has the potential to become an elite offensive defenseman thanks to his vision, puck skills, shot, and above-average skating. He's not very physical, but his feet and reach should allow him to hold his own defensively at the next level.
While many Canucks fans are understandably down after dropping two spots in the lottery, the idea of building a blue line around Reid and Zeev Buium should have them feeling optimistic about the future.
Considered the top center in the draft, Malhotra's stock soared in his first and only OHL season. On a team that featured three forwards already drafted in the first round, Malhotra led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 goals and 26 points in 15 games this playoffs.
Malhotra's a responsible two-way pivot who has shown more offense than anticipated this campaign. The Boston University commit would be a fantastic complement to the Blackhawks' young core of forwards.
The Rangers will have options, with defensemen Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, and Daxon Rudolph all fair picks here.
Carels, a left-shot blue-liner out of Prince George, is the smart choice. The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is an all-around player who skates exceptionally well, can really rip the puck, and brings an element of physicality. Although Carels doesn't project to be a major producer in the NHL, the 17-year-old collected 73 points in 58 games this season. He has a higher offensive upside than Verheoff, who's probably his stiffest competition at this point in the draft.
Once considered the consensus best defenseman in the draft and a lock to go in the top three, Verhoeff's stock has taken a hit over concerns about his skating and decision-making. However, Verhoeff moves well for a 6-foot-4 defenseman, and his aggressiveness and booming point shot have warranted comparisons to Aaron Ekblad. The idea of one day having Zayne Parekh lead an offensive pairing while Verhoeff anchors a more shutdown unit should be very tantalizing for the Flames. Right-shot defensemen don't grow on trees. Having two of them with complementary skill sets is an ideal way to build out a blue line.
The Kraken have never taken a defenseman in the first round, and they'll finally do so here with several exciting blue-liners on the board.
Rudolph potted 28 goals and 78 points this season, and his stock only continues to rise amid an impressive run in the WHL playoffs as Prince Albert's top rearguard. He's right-handed, has the size profile at almost 6-foot-3, and projects as a power-play quarterback at the NHL level.
Arguably the best prospect ever out of Latvia, Smits would be the fifth defenseman taken in the first eight picks. He's a good bet to play 15-plus years in an NHL team's top four. The toolsy, highly competitive defender has proven himself against men during his draft year, spending time in the top pro leagues in both Finland and Germany and playing major minutes at the 2026 Olympics. Next up: the upcoming world championship. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Smits can break the puck out of his own zone with ease and has a heavy shot from the point. Think of him as some version of the Capitals' Jakob Chychrun.
Lawrence dominated the USHL with 10 goals and seven assists in 13 games before transferring to Boston University midseason. The transition to steeper competition proved challenging, as he notched just a pair of points in his first 13 games with the Terriers. He finished strong, though, recording five points in his final five games.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is a superb skater who boasts a strong two-way game. Lawrence may not develop into a No. 1 center, but a No. 2 or 3 center in the mold of Ryan McLeod is very possible.
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Belchetz tallied 59 points in 57 games this OHL campaign. He's a dominant power forward whose size will remain an asset as he reaches the next level. Belchetz has the skill to become a top-six winger with a unique tool kit.
The Blues own two top-15 picks. They'll take a swing at No. 11 by selecting a 5-foot-9, 177-pound center who scouts believe has serious top-six potential.
Bjorck put up 15 points in 42 SHL games for Djurgardens this year and played a starring role on Sweden's gold medal-winning squad at the 2026 world juniors. The high-motor playmaker has no discernible weaknesses.
Bjorck has consistently proven during his draft year that he can win puck battles against larger opponents, helping soften concerns over his small stature.
Novotny struggled to carve out a sizeable role in Czechia's top pro league in 2024-25, which was understandable given that he was 17. However, he put his talents on full display in the OHL this past season, tallying 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games. Boasting a pro-ready build at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Novotny pairs his excellent skating with a lethal shot.
Cullen rose rapidly at the end of the season. He finished the campaign with an impressive showing at the Under-18s, and NHL Central Scouting recently updated his height from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-1.
The son of longtime NHLer Matt Cullen, he was the only NTDP player to score at over a point-per-game mark this year and is one of the youngest prospects in the draft. There's a lot of runway for him to blossom into a top-six piece.
Columbus is picking 14th in back-to-back drafts after selecting defenseman Jackson Smith in 2025. GM Don Waddell will opt for a forward this time.
Nordmark skates well, has silky hands, and possesses a lethal shot. Based on skill alone, the Stockholm native projects to be a top-six left winger. But Nordmark has been criticized throughout the 2025-26 season for inconsistent play, a poor attitude, and undisciplined moments on the ice. This is a high-risk, high-reward selection for a Blue Jackets team on the rise.
After nabbing the top forward available at No. 11, the Blues - using the pick acquired from the Red Wings in the Justin Faulk trade - grab arguably the best defenseman left on the board. Lin isn't physically imposing at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but he plays bigger than his size and is considered one of the smartest players in the draft.
Klepov led the OHL in scoring with 97 points in 67 games. He's a power-play threat with his skill and shiftiness. The Michigan State commit could slip down the board as an average-sized winger who isn't a burner, but the Capitals have been comfortable taking swings on similarly flawed prospects in recent years.
