2026 DCHL Mock Draft

What I would do in each GM's shoes

1. Calgary Flames - Gavin McKenna

Analysis: At this point, all signs point to McKenna being selected 1st overall by Calgary, but it also just makes the most sense. This is a team that lucked into a 1st overall pick despite having players like Connor McDavid, Lucas Raymond, Clayton Keller, Tim Stutzle for most of the year, and more, and finished in the bottom 10 because of their goaltending. Stenberg is seen as the safer pick while McKenna is seen as the riskier, higher upside pick. With the lineup the Flames already have, they don’t need to worry about making the safe pick. They can and should take the chance on the highest possible upside to compliment McDavid and the rest of their lineup, and Calgary GM Vince Brzostowski has left no doubt that this is the direction he’ll be taking on July 11th. 

2. Nashville Predators - Ivar Stenberg

Analysis: This one is interesting, because the Predators have actually put the 2nd overall pick on the block to see if they would get any interesting offers, and it's garnered a lot of interest. I don’t predict that they’ll actually trade that pick, and I don’t think they should, but it’s something to keep in mind. I think the pick here is simple, Ivar Stenberg is a gamebreaking talent and no one else that’s left on the board after him is on his level. Nashville does lack a true 1D level prospect in their system and could target that, but I think that would be a mistake. Draft the guy who is easily the best player and either take a D with one of your many other picks, or trade for a high end D with all the forward prospects you've accumulated. 

3. Los Angeles Kings - Caleb Malhotra

Analysis: LA is in an interesting position in that they've got loads of centers, and outside of Power and Nemec they have no other high end defensemen in the system. There is a clear top forward left in this draft, that being Malhotra, while there's about 5 high end defensemen, that being Reid, Carels, Smits, Verhoeff, and Rudolph. Given that LA picks again 3 picks later, there is a chance that Malhotra would not be available at pick 6 if they were to take a D. However, if they take Malhotra at 3, there will still be at least 3 high end defensemen left for their next pick. Of course, if LA wants to guarantee their choice of all the top defensemen in the draft, there is a possibility they take them here as well, but if I were LA in this situation, I'm taking the number 1 center/forward remaining in the draft. 

4. St. Louis Blues - Chase Reid

Analysis: The Blues have amassed a nice collection of forward prospects but they are incredibly thin on defense, with only Tom Willander looking like a future staple of their blue line. Chase Reid would be an excellent choice for the Blues as it gives them the defenseman in this draft with the most upside as a power play QB that they haven't had in their system since trading Zayne Parekh. 

5. Pittsburgh Penguins - Carson Carels

Analysis: The Pens have some good assets but they still need a little bit of everything, in my opinion. I could see them targeting a forward like Viggo Bjorck, who would be similar to the Ben Kindel pick last year (who they've since traded), but if I were the GM of this team I would be prioritizing a defenseman here. I think Carels gives them a bit of everything. He can defend well, he has high end offensive abilities, he plays physically. There's a lot to like here. 

6. Los Angeles Kings - Alberts Smits

Analysis: Like I said with LA’s previous pick, choosing Malhotra at 3 lets them pick whatever defenseman they like here. Whether that be Smits, Verhoeff, or Rudolph remains to be seen, but for me personally, Smits is my number 1 ranked defenseman in the draft. I think he's the best of the group defensively, I think he has much more offensive upside than he's given credit for, and he's likely going to be the first defenseman in this class to play in the NHL. We've also seen him play against men in the Liiga, the DEL, and at the Olympics, and he's found success at each of those levels. 

7. St. Louis Blues - Viggo Bjorck

Analysis: There is a world here where the Blues go with another defenseman here such as Verhoeff or Rudolph, but I think they could equally use a center. I think Viggo Bjorck is the smartest player in this draft, he competes hard, and plays well above his size. We see NHL GMs prioritize size very often, and yet he still went in the top 10. That to me says that this is a special player and I think he has the potential to be a top line center, but if not I think his floor is a 2nd line center. 

8. Columbus Blue Jackets - Keaton Verhoeff

Analysis: Much like the Penguins, I think the Blue Jackets need a little bit of everything. I think Keaton Verhoeff is the perfect pick for this team. At one point, people were genuinely debating if Verhoeff could go #1. I don't even think he's had a bad season like many tend to think, I think he was a victim of the new NCAA/CHL agreement and people don't realize just how much harder the NCAA was this year. He's still got loads of upside, and even moreso when you consider the NHL team that drafted him. 

9. Toronto Maple Leafs - Tynan Lawrence

Analysis: Now, Lawrence had a rough season, but towards the end of the year, he started to look really good. Whether the comparison sounds insane is up to you to decide, but his coach at Boston University directly compared the way he plays the game to Macklin Celebrini (who he also coached), and I get it. He's very much a diet Celebrini, the offense isn’t anywhere close to Macklin’s level, but every other part of his game is very similar. The Leafs also wouldn't need Lawrence to be a number 1 center because they also have Fantilli. I think Lawrence is a perfect compliment to what they already have. 

10. Seattle Kraken - Wyatt Cullen

Analysis: If I'm Seattle’s GM, I would personally take whoever the highest upside player available is. In my opinion, that would be Wyatt Cullen. As far as skill and high end offense are concerned, there's no one better available. There's some risk involved given how late he surged up the rankings, but I see a lot of similarities to Beckett Sennecke, from the late rise up the rankings to the offensive abilities. I think whoever takes Cullen is getting one of the more underrated players in the draft. 

11. St. Louis Blues - Daxon Rudolph

Analysis: Given where he went in the NHL draft, and the thin defense I mentioned for St Louis’s 1st pick, I think this would be a very easy choice for me. Rudolph has a very high ceiling offensively and is also pretty defensively sound. He'll also be playing at Denver under coach David Carle, who has done wonders for offensive defensemen like Zeev Buium and Eric Pohlkamp. 

12. Nashville Predators - Ethan Belchetz

13. Nashville Predators - Malte Gustafsson

14. Nashville Predators - Nikita Klepov

Analysis: I will do a paragraph for all 3 of these together since they're going to the same team, it's easier that way. Although I think Nashville could use another center, there are a few wingers still on the board with much more upside than the available centers. Because of this, I think if I were in Nashville's position, I would take two wingers. Especially because next year's draft is loaded with centers. Belchetz was considered a top 10 pick for a large part of the year and I think getting him anywhere after 10 is a steal. Gustafsson is the best remaining defenseman available and has looked phenomenal in international tournaments for Sweden. Lastly, I believe Klepov is among the most skilled players in this draft and has the highest upside of the players remaining. 

15. St. Louis Blues - Maddox Dagenais

Analysis: There are a few centers available that I would consider if I were the Blues GM. There's Alexander Command, Oliver Suvanto, and Ilia Morozov. However, I think Dagenais is a perfect fit alongside players like Justin Carbonneau, Will Horcoff, Matthew Wood, etc. Dagenais is probably not a number 1 center, but very few centers in this draft are. The tools he brings to the game, to me, fit nicely with the identity that the Blues have had with their draft picks recently.

16. Winnipeg Jets - Oscar Hemming 

Analysis: The Jets aren't a team that have any dire needs to draft for, so I think Hemming would be a great choice here. The Jets have a lot of skilled forwards in their system and I think they could use a forward who players a heavier, power forward style like Hemming. He'd be a perfect compliment to players like Michael Misa and Roman Kantserov. 

17. Minnesota Wild - Alexander Command

Analysis: After trading Elias Pettersson and then trading Roope Hintz as well, I think the Wild would do well to draft a center and I think Command is the best one still available here. He plays with a lot of energy and compete, which is a trait that I think Minnesota values, and he would fit in well alongside players like Cuylle and Laferriere. Before the draft year he was seen as an early 2nd but he really won me over throughout the year and it's clear that NHL GMs see him in a similar light. 

18. Seattle Kraken - Adam Novotny

19. Seattle Kraken - Ryan Lin

Analysis: If I'm in charge of Seattle, I'd take Novotny who I think would really compliment Ben Kindel and the previously selected Wyatt Cullen well as a heavier presence. I'd then try to take the next best defenseman, who in my opinion is Ryan Lin. Lin is an incredibly intelligent player though he is under 6 feet, which does bring him down a peg given how important size is as a defenseman. That being said, we've seen what smaller defensemen can do in the NHL with Hutson and Hughes, and I see no reason why Lin couldn't one day do the same.

20. Vegas Golden Knights - Elton Hermansson

Analysis: I think if I were the Vegas GM, since there's not any role in particular they're lacking, I'd be prioritizing upside as they've frequently done themselves. Hermansson is the most skilled forward remaining on the board and would be a great forward to add to their roster. He'd be a great complimentary player to guys like Matt Boldy, Jack Eichel, Jackson Blake, or Trevor Connelly eventually. They do have quite a few wingers, so there is a possibility they target a center instead, but I think in their place, I would try to draft the highest upside player I can. 

21. Utah Mammoth - Oliver Suvanto

Analysis: The Mammoth like to draft players with size who are defensively reliable and compete hard. Oliver Suvanto is a perfect fit on this team, and can learn from the best playing with fellow Finnish center Aleksander Barkov. 

22. Minnesota Wild - Ilia Morozov

Analysis: There are plenty of ways the Wild could go with this pick. In their position, I'd personally draft another center. They've got plenty of young wingers and defensemen, but they're still a bit shallow at C, so drafting another center makes a lot of sense here. Morozov projects as more of a middle 6 center, but he is also one of the youngest players in the draft and was THE youngest player in the NCAA, and took on the first line center role for the University of Miami (Ohio) and frankly, he didn't look out of place either. 

23. Carolina Hurricanes - JP Hurlbert

Analysis: The Canes could use a scoring winger, and I think Hurlbert is a perfect fit having scored 42 goals and 97 points in his rookie season in the WHL, earning him the honours of WHL Rookie of the Year. He'll be playing in a great development system with the University of Michigan and at this point in the draft, you're not gonna find anyone with higher upside offensively. 

24. St. Louis Blues - Gleb Pugachyov

Analysis: At this point, I've drafted 2 centers and 2 defensemen to the Blues. I think Gleb fits perfectly for very similar reasons I listed for the Dagenais choice. He's incredibly physical, more than probably any player in this draft, and he'll compete harder than anyone on a nightly basis. 

25. Minnesota Wild - Tommy Bleyl

Analysis: I'm not sure if Minnesota is too keen on undersized defensemen, but if I were in their shoes, I'd take Tommy Bleyl here as undoubtedly the most skilled defenseman still remaining. Bleyl is committed to Michigan State, which is a terrific program for development, and had an amazing year in the QMJHL. I think he'd be a great fit under Lacombe and Harley as the 3rd defenseman who has a bit more of an offensive focus rather than the 2 way playstyle the aforementioned players have. 

26. St. Louis Blues - Liam Ruck

Analysis: The Blues have 26+28, which together would be fun to grab the Ruck twins. Whether you think they're first round talent or not, particularly in Markus’s case, they're an incredibly fun story to follow along with and I'd have a hard time not taking both of them with late 1sts if I had the chance to do so. 

27. Seattle Kraken - Brooks Rogowski

Analysis: I've taken a couple wingers and a defenseman for the Kraken, so now at this point I'd grab a center. Rogowski is not a huge reach here and is a very interesting player to me. I wasn't too high on him for most of the year but towards the end, I started to see what others saw in him. He's huge and he has very intriguing skills that I think I'd take a swing on late in the 1st, though he's not without some risks as well. 

28. St. Louis Blues - Markus Ruck

Analysis: It might be a reach taking Markus in the 1st round. However, it's not like the NHL where GMs might not take one brother without the other. Their ratings in the DCHL are based on their play in the NHL where they're already together, so if you want both of them, you'd really have to target them close together in the draft, but I just think their journey together will be very fun to watch. 

29. Buffalo Sabres - Simas Ignatavicius

Analysis: I'm never really sure what it is that Buffalo looks for in the draft, and looking at their roster, there isn't really any holes. I think Ignatavicius is a player Buffalo would like and fits with the style of play they've won multiple cups building around. I'm a big fan of him and the way he plays the game, and even though he fell all the way to 40 in the NHL draft, I'd take him in the first 10 times out of 10. 

30. Vancouver Canucks - Xavier Villeneuve

Analysis: I don't know if the Canucks covet smaller defensemen as much as some other teams might. However, what I know they lack on the back end is some skill. Seider has some skill but is more about his defensive play, and outside of him, you've got Anton Silayev and Shakir Mukhamadullin, who are good defensemen but don't have quite the offensive upside to be PP1 type players. Villeneuve gives the Vancouver D-core something they are lacking which is high offensive upside and skill. 

31. Columbus Blue Jackets - Marcus Nordmark

32. Columbus Blue Jackets - Juho Piiparinen

Analysis: For Columbus, I think Piiparinen would be a great player next to either of Verhoeff or ASP. He fell in a lot of draft rankings because he's not super flashy, but he's just a really solid player who is very reliable in his own end. As for Marcus Nordmark, he's sort of the opposite. He's incredibly flashy, very smart and very skilled. With the final pick of the first round, you're not going to find any players with more skill. However, he does have issues with effort and consistency that could hold him back. That being said, those are things that are easy to improve upon and I think the positives heavily outweigh the negatives in his game.