The Stanley Cup was awarded to the Carolina Hurricanes, and the 2026 NHL draft opens with the first round on June 26 and rounds two through seven on June 27. Each club enters the draft at a different point in its competitive cycle, and with a finite number of selections teams must prioritize the areas of their prospect pools that need the most attention, according to the draft preview.
Boston Bruins (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th via DET, 4th via TB, 7th): The Bruins face a glaring need for right-handed defensemen and reportedly would have taken Keaton Verhoeff if Toronto’s pick had transferred. With one pick in each of the first three rounds and three fourth-round selections, Boston can target right-shot blue-liners such as Tommy Bleyl, Juho Piiparinen, Giorgos Pantelas or Luke Shairer to bolster the organization.
Buffalo Sabres (1st via EDM, 4th, 5th, 6th): The Sabres strengthened their prospect pool over recent years and enter the draft relatively well-rounded, but the left side of their defense looks thin. Buffalo also needs a bigger left winger capable of top-six minutes. With only one selection inside the first three rounds, the club should take the best player available; targets listed for the first round include Adam Novotny, Nikita Klepov, Xavier Villeneuve and Nikita Shcherbakov, while later selections can be used to add depth on the left side.
Detroit Red Wings (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, two 7ths including one via CGY): After trading their first-round pick to St. Louis and missing the playoffs, Detroit faces important roster and pipeline decisions. Any return from a potential Dylan Larkin trade could reshape the system, but the organization currently lacks high-caliber left-handed defensemen across the NHL roster and prospect ranks, making left-side defensemen a top summer priority.
Florida Panthers (1st, 2nd, 2nd via WSH, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th): The Panthers seek players who can step into the NHL immediately rather than long-term futures, following a season hampered by injuries. There is reportedly a 50-50 chance Florida trades its first-round pick; if Alberts Smits falls to the Panthers, he is viewed as the most NHL-ready defender in the class and could contribute on an entry-level contract while Florida remains in contention.
Montreal Canadiens (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th via WPG, 6th, two 7ths including one via CAR): Montreal’s frequent drafting during its rebuild has produced a relatively loaded prospect pool at most positions. Still, the organization could use more depth on the left wing, as the pipeline lacks several prospects projected to play in the NHL at that spot.
