The ink is drying quickly on the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, with 12 of the 32 selections already under entry-level contract. Toronto’s Gavin McKenna and San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg, the first two names off the board, were among the earliest to sign, while most of the remaining unsigned picks are headed back to college, major junior or European clubs for another season of development.
McKenna, a left wing selected first overall by the Maple Leafs, agreed to his three-year deal July 3 and is expected to be in Toronto’s lineup. Stenberg, taken second by the Sharks, signed July 2 and is likewise expected to join San Jose. Vancouver center Caleb Malhotra, chosen third, has not signed and will play at Boston University, while Buffalo defenseman Daxon Rudolph, the fourth pick, is bound for the University of Denver.
The Rangers got fifth overall defenseman Alberts Smits signed July 15. His next stop could be New York, AHL affiliate Hartford, or Jukurit in Finland’s Liiga. Calgary’s Carson Carels, selected sixth, is headed to the University of North Dakota without a contract, and Seattle defenseman Chase Reid, picked seventh, will continue at Michigan State.
Winnipeg signed eighth overall pick Viggo Bjorck to a three-year entry-level contract July 13. The center could land with the Jets, the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, or return to Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League. San Jose defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, taken ninth, is set for North Dakota, while Nashville left wing Wyatt Cullen, selected 10th, will play at the University of Minnesota.
St. Louis center Tynan Lawrence, the 11th pick, is another Boston University recruit. New Jersey’s Alexander Command, taken 12th, remains unsigned and will play for Orebro in Sweden’s top league. The Islanders signed defenseman Malte Gustafsson, chosen 13th, on July 14; he will spend the season with HV71 in the SHL. Columbus left wing Oscar Hemming, picked 14th, is headed to Boston College and has not signed.
Signed picks remain spread across the hockey map
Anaheim reached a three-year agreement with 15th overall choice Nikita Klepov on July 25. The right wing could play for the Ducks or return to Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League. St. Louis’ second first-rounder, center Maddox Dagenais at No. 16, will suit up for Quebec in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Utah left wing Ethan Belchetz, selected 17th, is another Michigan State player for the coming season.
Washington signed center Oliver Suvanto, the 18th selection, on July 14, though he is playing for Tappara in Liiga. Los Angeles put No. 19 pick Elton Hermansson under contract July 15; the right wing is slated for MoDo in Sweden’s Allsvenskan. Buffalo center Ilia Morozov, taken 20th, will attend Miami University, and San Jose defenseman Ryan Lin, selected 21st, will join Rudolph at Denver.
Pittsburgh right wing Liam Ruck, the 22nd selection, is returning to Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Detroit left wing JP Hurlbert, picked 23rd, will play at the University of Michigan. Vancouver signed No. 24 choice Adam Novotny to a three-year entry-level deal Aug. 11, with the left wing expected to play for Peterborough in the OHL.
Ottawa right wing Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, selected 25th, remains unsigned and will play for Leksand in Allsvenskan. Montreal’s 26th pick, right wing Gleb Pugachyov, is with Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League. Philadelphia defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii, taken 27th, is heading to the London Knights.
The Ducks signed left wing Marcus Nordmark, the 28th selection, on July 15 and expect him to join London. Vegas also signed its first-round defenseman, Juho Piiparinen, on July 15; he too will play for London. That gives the Knights three first-rounders in their pipeline, with Sokolovskii joining the two signed prospects in Ontario.
The final three choices remain unsigned. Calgary center Jack Hextall, selected 30th, will play at Michigan State, where he will be joined by Nashville defenseman Thomas Bleyl, the 31st pick, and Utah’s Belchetz. Ottawa closed the round by taking right wing Jaxon Cover at No. 32, and he is also headed to London.
For the clubs that have held their picks out of the NHL lineup, the route is clear: more shifts, more special-teams work and more time before the next training camp. For McKenna and Stenberg, the opening is immediate, with the first-round spotlight now turning from draft weekend to the battle for roster spots.
