NHL Draft

Photo - Daily Faceoff

Here are some notes from the NHL Entry Draft that was held this past weekend in Buffalo, NY...

• No surprise, Yukon-native and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna was drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won the draft lottery last month. 
• Team personnel weren't even at the draft which I haven't seen before, so that led to a number of celebrities announcing the picks in the opening round on Friday night. 
• Multiple sons of former NHL players were selected, the most I think I've ever seen and to guys I watched as a teenager which is crazy. This included Caleb Malhotra who was chosen No. 3 by the Vancouver Canucks, a club that is coached by his father Manny Malhotra.
• Halifax Mooseheads import forward Oleg Kulebiakin went in the second round, higher than he was ranked, to the Tampa Bay Lightning at 52nd overall. 
• After being passed over last year, forward Shawn Carrier was selected 195th overall by the Colorado Avalanche. The two other ranked players, Eddy Doyle and Daniel Walters were not drafted. 
• In total, 20 QMJHL players were drafted over the seven rounds in 2026