The New York Islanders and Utah Hockey Club shook up the draft order Monday night with a pair of unlikely lottery wins.
With the first 21 draft selections finalized after the lottery and Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, let's take a new look at how the picks could play out in June.
It's been an impressive rise for Schaefer, who's become the top-ranked prospect in the class with the sky-high potential he's showcased in just 26 games across the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, OHL, and world juniors. Schaefer is one of the youngest players in this year's draft (if he were born 11 days later, he wouldn't be eligible until 2026), skates exceptionally well, and is an absolute gamer. He's listed at 6-foot-2 and has the two-way talent to become the kind of top-pairing, No. 1 defenseman every team wants. His limited game action is because of an early-season bout with mononucleosis and a broken collarbone sustained at the world juniors in December, so it's not like he has any long-term injury concerns despite missing so much time.
Misa's 62 goals and 134 points make him the most productive draft-year OHLer since Patrick Kane in 2007. Misa enjoyed an outrageous campaign after moving back to center this season and looks to remain in the middle long term. He's a speedy, dual-threat scorer with projectable NHL skills. Though Schaefer has been ranked the near-unanimous top prospect in the class, Misa would be a worthy first overall pick with his production this year.
The Brampton Steelheads captain is a highly skilled power forward and put up 37 goals and 98 points in 57 OHL games this season. He's an imposing figure at 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, and he uses his size to win battles around the net. He's a sublime playmaker from the wing and has the one-on-one skill to beat defenders. He doesn't have the pace or skating of others in this range, but Martone has the size advantage, a key area of need for the Blackhawks up front.
Alexis Lafreniere is the most recent QMJHL player to go in the top 10, and he was drafted in 2020. Desnoyers, a consistent riser all campaign, is poised to end that drought. The 6-foot-2 center has been the best player on the best team in the QMJHL and has elevated his game in the playoffs. He totaled 35 goals and 84 points and was a plus-51 in 56 regular-season outings, and has nine goals and 24 points in 13 playoff games. He's an all-around pivot who checks a lot of boxes an NHL team would want in a future impact center.
Hagens was the projected No. 1 pick at the start of the draft cycle, but his stock has dipped slightly over the campaign. He recorded 11 goals and 37 points in as many contests as a freshman at Boston College and was a key piece down the middle for the Americans at the world juniors. But he didn't hit the offensive heights that recent NCAA freshmen who went on to be top-three picks have. Still, Hagens' cerebral game and track record as a play driver at the National Team Development Program make him a worthy high selection.
Martin is a ferocious hitter with the skill to become an impactful top-six forward. The coveted right-handed center has relentlessness and competitiveness that will endear him to big-league organizations. He plays much bigger than his 6-foot, 174-pound frame, and he's more than just a physical presence. He racked up 33 goals and 72 points in 57 OHL games this season and was Canada's best player at the Under-18s.
Frondell is a sturdy center with a lethal shot. He tallied 11 goals and 25 points in 29 contests in Sweden's second-tier pro league this campaign. His 0.86 points per game represent the second-highest scoring rate in the league for a player in his draft year, behind only Elias Pettersson. Two-way, goal-scoring centers are hard to come by.
Smith tallied 54 points in 68 WHL games this season and is the second defenseman off the board. He's a well-rounded prospect with clear top-four upside: He's 6-foot-3, can play physical, is a great skater who can defend the rush, and has showcased an ability to create in the offensive zone.
A 6-foot-6, right-handed defenseman who can skate and has puck skills is going to be high on many NHL draft boards. Mrtka likely won't quarterback a top power-play unit, but he has the skill and a commanding defensive presence to become a quality top-four option. A midseason move from the Czech league to the WHL paid dividends for his draft stock.
On pure potential, McQueen would be a challenger for the first overall pick. He's huge at 6-foot-5, plays a powerful game, and has the puck skills to be a dangerous offensive presence. Unfortunately, a back injury that kept him out for much of the season is a red flag, especially after last year's fourth overall pick, Cayden Lindstrom, missed the entire 2024-25 campaign because of back issues. If he stays healthy, McQueen could become the steal of the draft at the end of the top 10.
A consensus top-10 prospect, Eklund slips with teams putting a premium on centers. The Penguins benefit, adding a high-work-rate player who can put the puck in the back of the net. The right winger is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 161 pounds, but that didn't stop him from tying Elias Pettersson's league record of 19 goals by a draft-eligible player.
New York can either transfer this selection or their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins to fulfill the J.T. Miller and Marcus Pettersson trades.
Throwback defenseman. That's the simplest way to describe Aitcheson, and why so many general managers will hope to land him on draft day. The 6-foot-1 rearguard throws huge hits and will drop the gloves, but he also scored 26 goals and 59 points from the back end. He has the makings of a top-four blue-liner who impacts the game in every situation.
The right-handed center is a crafty playmaker with excellent vision and hands, which helped him lead the OHL with 50 power-play points. He's on the younger side of the class with a June 2007 birthdate, giving him a long developmental runway. He can be overly patient with the puck at times and will need to accelerate some decisions as the level of competition increases, but those are typical junior hockey kinks that can be ironed out.
Hensler lacks a standout skill, but has a well-rounded toolkit that makes him a worthwhile pick in the middle of the first round. He's a 6-foot-2, right-handed defenseman who skates well and can chip in offensively. Hensler entered the draft year as a top-10 projected pick, but a lackluster year at Wisconsin dropped his stock.
Reschny is one of the best pure playmakers in the draft, and he showcased another level of scoring late in the year. He racked up 26 goals and 92 points in the regular season before going off for nine goals and 25 points in just 11 playoff appearances. He's an undersized center but has the intelligence and creativity to overcome that.
Montreal acquired this selection from the Calgary Flames in the Sean Monahan trade.
Carbonneau possesses a lethal shot, quality puck skills, and he competes hard. It's a combination that makes him a fun prospect to watch in this draft class. He tore up the QMJHL with 46 goals and 89 points in 62 contests and looks to be a future top-nine contributor with second-line upside.
Fiddler is a 6-foot-4, right-handed defenseman who is on the younger side of the class as a July 2007 birthdate. He defends the blue line well and is adept at moving the puck up the ice out of the defensive zone. He's not a flashy rearguard, but he gets the job done and could develop into a complementary top-four option with a more offensive-leaning partner.
Calgary acquired this selection from the New Jersey Devils in the Jacob Markstrom trade.
Bear was trending toward being a top-12 pick before lacerating his Achilles in March, ending his season. The 6-foot winger has all the traits to become a fan favorite with his goal scoring and tenacity, and he tallied 40 goals, 82 points, and 77 penalty minutes in 56 outings this campaign.
Look for Boumedienne's stock to rise after a superb showing at the U18s. The 6-foot-2 defenseman played more than 26 minutes in the semifinals versus the United States and the gold-medal contest against Canada, and he totaled 14 points in the seven-game tournament.
Columbus acquired this selection from the Minnesota Wild in the David Jiricek trade.
The Blue Jackets need a blue-chip goaltending prospect. Ravensbergen stands 6-foot-5 and has a huge runway to develop into a legitimate starting netminder. He's gone 59-17-5 in his WHL career and posted a .901 save percentage in 51 appearances this season.
Ottawa will either forfeit this selection or their 2026 first-round pick because of the botched Evgenii Dadonov trade.
The left-handed Lakovic tallied 27 goals and 58 points in 47 games to lead the struggling Moose Jaw Warriors in scoring while often featuring on the right flank. He's listed at 6-foot-4 and has room to develop physically. Don't expect a mean power forward, though, as Lakovic had only four penalty minutes this season.
