Scott Wheeler Grades All NHL Teams After 2026 Draft
Analyst Scott Wheeler released a two-round mock draft for the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft, outlining projected picks from the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 through the New York Rangers at No. 64, according to The New York Times. Around the same time, analyst Corey Pronman projected Penn State winger Gavin McKenna as the likely first-overall pick, also reported by The New York Times. When the draft took place, Toronto selected 18-year-old Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick, while the San Jose Sharks took Ivar Stenberg at No.
2 and Vancouver chose Caleb Malhotra at No. 3, NHL. com reported. After the first round, Wheeler identified the San Jose Sharks as the biggest beneficiaries, labeling several clubs as over- or under-performers, The New York Times noted. He then assigned letter grades to all 32 NHL clubs based on the perceived talent added through their 2026 draft picks, highlighting top performers and overall depth, as detailed in a later New York Times article.
