Sharks emerge as top winners in 2026 NHL Draft first round
Analyst Scott Wheeler rates the San Jose Sharks as the biggest beneficiaries of the first round, while labeling several teams as over- or under-performers based on their selections.
Analyst Scott Wheeler evaluated all 32 clubs’ first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, ranking teams as winners, overtime winners, overtime losers or losers based on how their selections compare to expected draft ranges. He highlighted the San Jose Sharks as the most successful first-round participants, noting their acquisition of forward Ivar Stenberg at No. 2, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9 and defenseman Ryan Lin at No. 21. Wheeler said the Sharks’ existing core – including Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa and Will Smith – combined with the new additions should give them a strong power play and two top-six forward pairs, while the defensive prospects add depth.
"Stenberg is one of the most accomplished teenage forwards to come out of Sweden in decades and should be a front-line winger who can either drive his own line away from Celebrini or slot in as a formidable running mate," Wheeler wrote. "Verhoeff’s size, handedness, shot, strong overall tools and development runway should make him a stud defenseman in the league," he added. He also praised Seattle’s selection of defenseman Chase Reid at No. 7 as a needed addition to a forward-heavy draft, and rated Toronto’s first-overall pick Gavin McKenna as a dynamic forward who can immediately contribute to the Maple Leafs’ top six and power-play units. Other teams identified as winners include the Winnipeg Jets (Viggo Björck), Nashville Predators (Wyatt Cullen and Tommy Bleyl) and the Utah Mammoth (Ethan Belchetz). Overtime winners cited were the Calgary Flames (Carson Carels, Jack Hextall), Vancouver Canucks (Caleb Malhotra, Adam Novotný), Anaheim Ducks (Nikita Klepov, Marcus Nordmark), Los Angeles Kings (Elton Hermansson) and New York Rangers (Alberts Šmits). Overtime losers included the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens. Teams classified as losers were the Philadelphia Flyers (Maksim Sokolovskii), Ottawa Senators (Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, Jaxon Cover) and Vegas Golden Knights (Juho Piiparinen), with Wheeler noting the higher risk associated with those selections. Overall, Wheeler’s analysis emphasizes that draft position alone does not guarantee success, and he expects the Sharks’ young core to become a benchmark for other clubs.