The 2026 NHL draft concluded with 224 prospects changing organizations, and ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identified several clear winners and notable storylines from the week, according to ESPN.
Toronto emerged as a primary winner, according to Kristen Shilton. General manager John Chayka completed a flurry of moves, including the trade for defenseman Darren Raddysh and an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. Toronto won the draft lottery on May 5 and used the top overall pick on Gavin McKenna. The club also moved Brandon Carlo to St. Louis for two third-round selections that were used on 18-year-old prospects, traded goaltender Joseph Woll to Philadelphia for the rights to Samuel Ersson (then moved Ersson to Ottawa for draft capital), and acquired defender Emil Andrae in the deal that sent Simon Benoit elsewhere. The team also added Jim Hiller as head coach, moves Shilton listed as evidence the Leafs were not standing pat.
Adam Nightingale and the Michigan State program were another clear winner, according to Ryan S. Clark. Clark detailed the program’s recent revival after prolonged struggles — including just one NCAA tournament appearance between 2009 and 2020 and multiple seasons with single-digit wins — and credited Nightingale, who was named head coach prior to 2022-23 and had served as MSU’s director of hockey operations, a video coach with the Detroit Red Wings and the head coach at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Under Nightingale, Michigan State recorded three consecutive 20-win seasons and returned to the NCAA tournament. The Spartans had five commits taken in the first round: Chase Reid (7th, Seattle), Nikita Klepov (15th, Anaheim), Ethan Belchetz (17th, Utah), Jack Hextall (30th, Calgary) and Tommy Bleyl (31st, Nashville).
Jarmo Kekalainen also earned praise, according to Wyshynski, after replacing Kevyn Adams in mid-December and overseeing a stretch in which Buffalo went 36-9-5 (.770 points percentage) to end the franchise’s 14-season playoff drought.
