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OHL Leads 2026 NHL Draft with 47 Players Selected

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:29:49 +0000

Buffalo, N.Y. – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is proud to announce that 47 OHL players were selected across the seven rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft, held at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The total sits one shy of the League's modern-era record of 48, set in 2012 and 2016, and led all leagues at this year's draft.

The 47 OHL players represent 20.9 per cent of all selections in the 2026 NHL Draft — the League's highest share since 2016. The group includes a draft-leading seven players chosen in the opening round, part of a Canadian Hockey League (CHL) total of 16 first-round selections.

The OHL's 47 selections were part of a CHL total of 106 players chosen — the most the CHL has produced at a single NHL Draft in 16 years, and the first time it has reached triple digits since 2013. The Western Hockey League (WHL) produced 39 selections, while the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) developed 20.

Caleb Malhotra led the way for the OHL, going 3rd overall to the Vancouver Canucks to become the highest-drafted player in Brantford Bulldogs club history. He was joined in the first round by Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid (7th overall, Seattle Kraken) and Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov (15th overall, Anaheim Ducks), among the seven OHL players chosen on Friday night.

The Ottawa 67's led all OHL clubs by developing five selections, the most the franchise has produced in a single draft since 1999. The Guelph Storm, London Knights, Saginaw Spirit and Soo Greyhounds followed by developing four selections apiece.

The Knights extended their active streak of players selected at the NHL Draft to a CHL-leading 58 years while the 67's (24 years), Greyhounds (20 years) and Spirit (19 years) extended double-digit streaks of their own.

By position, the 47 OHL players consisted of 28 forwards, 15 defencemen and four goaltenders. The four netminders mark the most OHL goaltenders chosen by NHL clubs since 2016.

In terms of birth year, 28 of the 47 players selected were born in 2008, while 10 were late-2007-born players in their first year of draft eligibility. A further three were 2007-born players in their second year of eligibility (Mondoux, Shurygin, Minchak), and six were born in 2006 (Wilmott, Barabanov, von Richter, Anderson, Kostov, Kuhta).

A total of 27 of the NHL's 32 clubs added at least one OHL player. The Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings each led the way with three OHL selections.

Of note, North Bay Battalion defenceman Alexander Karmanov was selected in the seventh round, 201st overall, by the San Jose Sharks. Standing 7-foot-1, Karmanov becomes the tallest player ever chosen in the history of the NHL Draft.

An additional five players committed to the OHL for the 2026-27 season heard their names called, including goaltender Brady Knowling (Saginaw Spirit), chosen in the fourth round by the San Jose Sharks; forward Simon Katolicky (Sarnia Sting), taken in the fifth round by the Calgary Flames; forward Lucian Bernat (Owen Sound Attack), drafted in the sixth round by the Vancouver Canucks; forward Charlie Puglisi (Kitchener Rangers), selected in the seventh round by the Nashville Predators and defenceman Jean-Samuel Daigneault (Brantford Bulldogs) chosen in the seventh round by the Montreal Canadiens.

Following the 2026 NHL Draft, the OHL has developed a total of 2,685 NHL Draft picks since 1969, representing approximately 20.5 per cent of all players chosen.

OHL Players Selected in the 2026 NHL Draft:

Click on player to watch post-draft media interview

First Round (7 OHL Players): 3. Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) – Vancouver Canucks 7. Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds) – Seattle Kraken 15. Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) – Anaheim Ducks 17. Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires) – Utah Mammoth 24. Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes) – Vancouver Canucks 27. Maksim Sokolovskii (London Knights) – Philadelphia Flyers 32. Jaxon Cover (London Knights) – Ottawa Senators

Second Round (4 OHL Players): 33. Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) – Vancouver Canucks 35. Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) – Chicago Blackhawks 48. Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) – Florida Panthers 60. Alexander Bilecki (Kitchener Rangers) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Third Round (4 OHL Players): 72. Adam Nemec (Sudbury Wolves) – Ottawa Senators 86. Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack) – Pittsburgh Penguins 92. Ben Wilmott (Barrie Colts) – Vegas Golden Knights 94. Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) – Columbus Blue Jackets

Fourth Round (6 OHL Players): 100. Egor Barabanov (Saginaw Spirit) – Calgary Flames 102. Spencer Bowes (Ottawa 67's) – New York Rangers 103. Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67's) – Los Angeles Kings 108. Adam Levac (Peterborough Petes) – Detroit Red Wings 111. Parker von Richter (Barrie Colts) – Pittsburgh Penguins 125. Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67's) – Carolina Hurricanes

Fifth Round (9 OHL Players): 131. Finn Kearns (Sudbury Wolves) – Seattle Kraken 133. Andrew Robinson (Windsor Spitfires) – Edmonton Oilers 141. Vladimir Dravecky (Brantford Bulldogs) – New York Islanders 143. Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting) – Detroit Red Wings 146. Eric Frossard (Guelph Storm) – Anaheim Ducks 150. Carter Stevens (Guelph Storm) – St. Louis Blues 151. Harris Pangretitsch (Soo Greyhounds) – Ottawa Senators 155. Ryan Brown (London Knights) – Dallas Stars 157. Jacob Vandeven (London Knights) – Boston Bruins

Sixth Round (10 OHL Players): 162. Andre Mondoux (Kingston Frontenacs) – New York Rangers 163. Darian Anderson (Flint Firebirds) – New York Rangers 165. Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm) – Carolina Hurricanes 169. Brody Pepoy (Saginaw Spirit) – Toronto Maple Leafs 177. Alex Kostov (Flint Firebirds) – Los Angeles Kings 180. Caden Harvey (Windsor Spitfires) – Edmonton Oilers 181. Cole Zurawski (Owen Sound Attack) – Florida Panthers 186. Stepan Shurygin (Saginaw Spirit) – Tampa Bay Lightning 190. Wesley Royston (Owen Sound Attack) – Montreal Canadiens 191. Matthew Minchak (Kingston Frontenacs) – Vegas Golden Knights

Seventh Round (7 OHL Players): 197. Jasper Kuhta (Ottawa 67's) – Dallas Stars 198. Rylan Singh (Guelph Storm) – Seattle Kraken 201. Alexander Karmanov (North Bay Battalion) – San Jose Sharks 203. Colin Fitzgerald (Soo Greyhounds) – St. Louis Blues 214. Ondrej Ruml (Ottawa 67's) – Colorado Avalanche 222. Quinn McKenzie (Soo Greyhounds) – New Jersey Devils 223. Lucas Ambrosio (Erie Otters) – Los Angeles Kings

For more information on the 2026 NHL Draft, including full results, visit nhl.com.

Live Blog: OHL at the 2026 NHL Draft

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:00:55 +0000

Follow along as we track OHL talent selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York! With the first round now complete, tune in for Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday, as Rounds 2–7 begin at 11:00 a.m (EST), on Sportsnet (Canada) and NHL Network (USA).

ROUND 1 3rd Overall – Vancouver Canucks select Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs is the first OHL player to come off the board, being chosen 3rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks. The 6-foot-2 centreman from Toronto, ON., was a finalist for the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year after establishing himself as one of the league’s top young forwards. Following a 10-point start through his first 11 games, Malhotra caught fire, setting a new Bulldogs rookie record with 84 points (29-55–84) in 67 regular-season contests. The selection also carries a special family connection, as Caleb’s father, OHL alumnus Manny Malhotra, was recently named head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

MALHOTRA MEDIA AVAILABILITY

7th Overall – Seattle Kraken select Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds is the second OHL player to come off the board, being chosen 7th overall by the Seattle Kraken. The 6-foot-2 defenceman from Chesterfield, MI., produced a career-best 48 points (18-30–48) and a plus-28 rating in 45 regular-season games for Soo. Reid also represented the United States on home soil at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named to the OHL First All-Star team following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

REID MEDIA AVAILABILITY

15th Overall – Anaheim Ducks select Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit Trading up to acquire the 15th overall pick, the Anaheim Ducks have selected forward Nikita Klepov from the Saginaw Spirit. The 6-foot winger is coming off a remarkable rookie season in which he captured both the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year and the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the league's leading scorer after recording 97 points (37-60–97) in 67 regular-season games.

KLEPOV MEDIA AVAILABILITY

17th Overall – Utah Mammoth select Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires Selected 17th overall by the Utah Mammoth, Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires adds a unique combination of size and scoring ability to the organization's prospect pool. The 6-foot-5 power forward recorded 59 points (34-25–59) in 57 regular-season games before his season was cut short by a broken left clavicle suffered in early March.

BELCHETZ MEDIA AVAILABILITY

24th Overall – Vancouver Canucks select Adam Novotný of the Peterborough Petes With the 24th overall pick, the Vancouver Canucks have selected forward Adam Novotný of the Peterborough Petes. The Czech native is a physical, shoot-first forward who isn't afraid to fire the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone. He enjoyed an outstanding rookie season in the OHL, recording 65 points (34-31–65) and 278 shots on goal – the second-highest total in the league – in 58 regular-season games. Novotný also represented Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three assists while leading the tournament in shots on goal. 27th Overall – Philadelphia Flyers select Maksim Sokolovskii of the London Knights Using the 27th overall pick, the Philadelphia Flyers have selected defenceman Maksim Sokolovskii of the London Knights. Standing 6-foot-8, Sokolovskii is the biggest draft-eligible player and brings an imposing, hard-hitting presence to the blue line. In his rookie OHL season, he recorded eight points (2-6–8) and 49 penalty minutes in 44 regular-season games. 32nd Overall – Ottawa Senators select Jaxon Cover of the London Knights With the final selection of the First Round, the Ottawa Senators have selected forward Jaxon Cover of the London Knights. After transitioning from roller hockey in the Cayman Islands just five years ago, Cover has quickly emerged as one of the OHL's top young forwards, showcasing exceptional stick-handling skills and offensive creativity. In his rookie season with London, he led all Knights rookies in scoring with 52 points (20-32–52) in 67 regular-season games. ROUND 2 33rd Overall – Vancouver Canucks select Brooks Rogowski of the Oshawa Generals The Canucks begin Day 2 with their third OHL selection as 6-foot-7 Oshawa Generals winger Brooks Rogowski joins Caleb Malhotra and Adam Novotny in Vancouver. The Brighton, Michigan product comes off a 42-point (15-27--42) sophomore season in Oshawa, overcoming an injury that limited him to 46 games. Rogowski entered the OHL as a hidden gem in the second round of the 2024 Priority Selection, being drafted out of Detroit Catholic Central High School. He won a Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal with the United States last summer. 35th Overall – Chicago Blackhawks select Ryan Roobroeck of the Guelph Storm The Blackhawks draft a bona-fide goal-scorer, trading up to select Ryan Roobroeck who was recently dealt by the Niagara IceDogs to the Guelph Storm. A late-born 2007 left-wing, Roobroeck was the second overall pick of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection and has scored 99 goals over three seasons in Niagara. The Blackhawks have a penchant for high-scoring OHL talent, previously selecting OHL goal-scoring leaders Nick Lardis (2023) and Marek Vanacker (2024) out of Brantford. 48th Overall – Florida Panthers select Ryder Cali of the North Bay Battalion With the 48th overall pick, the Florida Panthers have selected forward Ryder Cali of the North Bay Battalion. A hard-nosed, physical winger, Cali recorded 36 points (16-20–36) in 47 regular-season games during his first full OHL season with the Battalion. 60th Overall – Toronto Maple Leafs select Alexander Bilecki of the Kitchener Rangers With the 60th overall pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected defenceman Alexander Bilecki of the Kitchener Rangers. A top-four blueliner on the Memorial Cup-winning Rangers, the hometown product is known for his strong puck-moving ability and confidence carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He doubled his offensive production last season, recording 29 points (9-20–29) in 66 regular-season games before adding three assists during Kitchener's Memorial Cup championship run. ROUND 3 72nd Overall – Ottawa Senators select Adam Nemec of the Sudbury Wolves The Ottawa Senators grabbed Sudbury Wolves winger Adam Nemec in the early stages of the third round. Nemec joined the Wolves following a tour of duty with Slovakia at the 2026 World Juniors where he produced five points (1-4--5) in as many games. The younger brother of newly acquired Calgary Flames blueliner Simon Nemec, Adam produced 35 points (14-21--35) over 31 games with the Wolves in the second half of the season. 86th Overall – Pittsburgh Penguins select Pierce Mbuyi of the Owen Sound Attack The Pittsburgh Penguins added former OHL Rookie of the Year Pierce Mbuyi towards the back end of the third round. The shifty left-winger comes-off a 32-goal season with the Attack, wearing the 'C' in his sophomore OHL season. The Mississauga native led the OHL with 19 power play goals in 2025-26. 92nd Overall – Vegas Golden Knights select Ben Wilmott of the Barrie Colts The Vegas Golden Knights clearly kept a close eye on the OHL in the second half of the season, selection Ben Wilmott in the third round. The 2006-born native of Long Valley, New Jersey was a standout following a mid-season trade from the London Knights to the Barrie Colts, coming up big in Barrie's playoff push that saw the club win an Eastern Conference title. Wilmott produced 22 points (11-11--22) over 20 playoff contests with Barrie. 94th Overall – Columbus Blue Jackets select Alessandro Di Iorio of the Sarnia Sting Former second overall OHL Priority Selection choice Alessandro Di Iorio joins the Columbus Blue Jackets at the back-end of the third round. The 6-foot-1 centreman wears the 'C' in Sarnia, and produced 31 points (12-19--31) over an injury-shortened 45 games with the Sting in 2025-26. The Vaughan product has represented Canada internationally several times, most recently at the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. ROUND 4 100th Overall – Calgary Flames select Egor Barabanov of the Saginaw Spirit Egor Barabanov proved to be one of the OHL's premier playmakers, joining forces with Nikita Klepov and Dima Zhilkin in Saginaw to finish with 91 points (28-63--91) over 68 games. The 2006-born centreman is chosen by Calgary after being passed over in the NHL Draft in each of the past two years. 102nd Overall – New York Rangers select Spencer Bowes of the Ottawa 67’s Trading up to acquire the 102nd overall pick, the New York Rangers have selected forward Spencer Bowes of the Ottawa 67’s. In his rookie OHL season with the Barber Poles, the 6-foot winger recorded 42 points (23-19–42) and a plus-30 rating in 67 regular-season games. 103rd Overall – L.A. Kings select Thomas Vandenberg of the Ottawa 67’s With the 103rd overall pick, the L.A. Kings have selected forward Thomas Vandenberg of the Ottawa 67's, one of the youngest players in the 2026 NHL Draft class. The Nepean, Ont., native enjoyed a strong rookie OHL season, recording 50 points (25-25–50) in 59 regular-season games. He also represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship. He is also the second consecutive 67’s player to be taken off the board. 108th Overall – Detroit Red Wings select Adam Levac of the Peterborough Petes With the 108th overall pick, the Detroit Red Wings have selected forward Adam Levac of the Peterborough Petes. The Embrun, Ont., native enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, more than tripling his offensive production with 44 points (16-28–44) in 60 regular-season games. 111th Overall – Pittsburgh Penguins select Parker Von Richter of the Barrie Colts With their second OHL selection of the day, the Pittsburgh Penguins have selected defenceman Parker Von Richter of the Barrie Colts. Acquired by Barrie at the trade deadline, the 2006-born blueliner recorded a career-high 49 points (12-37–49) across 67 regular-season games in his fourth OHL season. 125th Overall – Carolina Hurricanes select Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67’s With the 125th overall pick, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes have selected goaltender Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67’s. The first OHL netminder selected in the draft, Fetterolf earned both CHL and OHL Goaltender of the Year honours after a standout rookie campaign, posting a league-leading 2.07 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and six shutouts. 127th Overall – San Jose Sharks select Brady Knowling, committed to the Saginaw Spirit for 2026-27 Saginaw Spirit recruit Brady Knowling was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the second-last pick of the fourth round. Entering the NHL Draft as the top-ranked North American netminder by NHL Central Scouting, the 6-foot-5 Knowling spent the past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The dual-citizen is originally from Toronto and was drafted by Saginaw in the third round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. ROUND 5 131st Overall – Seattle Kraken select Finn Kearns of the Sudbury Wolves The Seattle Kraken added some muscle to the back end with the addition of 6-foot-3 Sudbury Wolves defenceman Finn Kearns. The Aurora native split 2025-26 between the Wolves and St. Andrew's College, appearing in 15 OHL contests. In his 53 games at SAC, Kearns recorded 17 goals, 23 assists and 40 points along with 163 penalty minutes. 132nd Overall – Calgary Flames select Simon Katolicky, committed to the Sarnia Sting for 2026-27 The Calgary Flames nabbed 6-foot-5 Sarnia Sting commit Simon Katolicky early in the fifth round. Katolicky, who hails from Czechia, spent 2026-27 in Finland's top junior circuit where he produced 17 points (6-11--17) over 29 games with Tappara. He was selected by the Sting with the 11th overall pick of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. 133rd Overall – Edmonton Oilers select Andrew Robinson of the Windsor Spitfires The Edmonton Oilers selected Windsor Spitfires blueliner Andrew Robinson, an Oakville native who produced 24 points (9-15--24) over 63 games in his first OHL season. Robinson was an important piece of Windsor's blue line down the stretch, recording eight points (2-6--8) over 13 games as the Spits reached the Western Conference Final. 141st Overall – New York Islanders select Vladimir Dravecky of the Guelph Storm The New York Islanders picked-up newly acquired Guelph Storm blueliner Vladimir Dravecky, who recently donned crimson following a trade with the Brantford Bulldogs. The late 2007-born Dravecky produced 28 points (9-19--28) over 58 games with Brantford in his rookie OHL season. His father, Vladimir Sr., continues to compete in Czechia's top professional circuit. 143rd Overall – Detroit Red Wings select Beckham Edwards of the Sarnia Sting The Detroit Red Wings scooped Sarnia Sting centreman Beckham Edwards midway through the fifth round. Edwards posted a second-straight 45-point (19-26--45) season in Sarnia. He represented Canada at last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, producing four points (2-2--4) in five games. 146th Overall – Anaheim Ducks select Eric Frossard of the Guelph Storm The Anaheim Ducks picked 6-foot-4 Guelph Storm blueliner Eric Frossard in the fifth round. The London native put up 14 points (5-9--14) over 51 games in his sophomore OHL season. Frossard was Guelph's third round pick in 2024 and saw assignments in key defensive situations in 2025-26. 150th Overall – St. Louis Blues select Carter Stevens of the Guelph Storm The St. Louis Blues selected Guelph Storm right-winger Carter Stevens in the fifth round after the Almonte, Ont. product produced 20 goals as a sophomore in 2025-26. The 6-foot-1, 184Ib. Stevens produced 36 points (20-16--36) for the Storm and will return to compete for a Memorial Cup in 2026-27. 151st Overall – Ottawa Senators select Harris Pangretitsch of the Soo Greyhounds The Ottawa Senators added size to the back end with the selection of Harris Pangretitsch at 151st overall. The 6-foot-4, 219Ib. right-shot put up 14 points (2-12--14) and a plus-20 rating over 67 games with the Greyhounds in 2025-26. He played the 2024-25 season at Choate Rosemary Hall after being chosen by the Hounds in the fourth round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Marlboros. 155th Overall – Dallas Stars select Ryan Brown of the London Knights The Dallas Stars selected a late bloomer in late 2007-born London Knights forward Ryan Brown. The former first round OHL Priority Selection choice found his rhythm with London, putting up 40 points (16-24--40) over 33 games following a mid-season trade. 157th Overall – Boston Bruins select Jacob Vandeven of the London Knights The Boston Bruins picked-up 6-foot-5, 183Ib. defenceman Jacob Vandeven towards the end of the fifth round. Vandeven joined the Knights via trade with the Owen Sound Attack, but spent the majority of 2025-26 with the Komoka Kings of the GOHL, producing 32 points (13-19--32) over 47 games. He saw eight regular season games in green and gold before finding the back of the net in one of his four playoff matchups. ROUND 6 162nd Overall – New York Rangers select Andre Mondoux of the Kingston Frontenacs The New York Rangers select 6-foot-3, 201Ib. Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Andre Mondoux with the second pick of the sixth round. A former 14th round OHL Priority Selection choice from North Bay, Mondoux persevered to become an important part of the Frontenacs blue line, producing 18 points (6-12--18) over 66 games in 2025-26. 163rd Overall – New York Rangers select Darian Anderson of the Flint Firebirds With their second of back-to-back picks, the New York Rangers selected Flint Firebirds winger Darian Anderson. Yet another 2006-born player who took a big step in 2025-26, Anderson produced 45 points (20-25--45) over 60 games in his first OHL season after coming over from the USHL's Lincoln Stars. 165th Overall - Carolina Hurricanes select Zachary Jovanovski of the Guelph Storm The Carolina Hurricanes made Zachary Jovanovski their second OHL goaltender selected of the day, taking him early in the sixth round. The Tecumseh native saw 52 games with the Guelph Storm in 2025-26, going 25-20-4 with a 3.39 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. The 6-foot-3 netminder is poised to defend the crease for the Memorial Cup hosts in 2026-27. 165th Overall – Toronto Maple Leafs select Brody Pepoy of the Saginaw Spirit With the 165th overall pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected forward Brody Pepoy of the Saginaw Spirit. The 6-foot-1 forward is a hard-working winger who recorded 29 points (16-13–29) in 67 regular-season games in his rookie season with the Spirit.

177th Overall – L.A. Kings select Alex Kostov of the Flint Firebirds

With the 177th overall pick, the L.A. Kings have selected forward Alex Kostov of the Flint Firebirds. The 6-foot-4 winger took significant strides in his third draft-eligible season, becoming the first player in Firebirds history to record hat tricks on back-to-back nights, including a four-goal performance. He finished the season with a career-high 55 points (24-31–55) in 47 regular-season games.

Seven OHL Players Selected in First Round of 2026 NHL Draft

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:07:10 +0000

BUFFALO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) led the way with seven players selected directly out of the League in the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

The OHL's seven first-round selections were part of a Canadian Hockey League total of 16 players developed, making up 50 percent of the opening round.

Caleb Malhotra led the way for the OHL, going 3rd overall to the Vancouver Canucks to become the highest-drafted player in Brantford Bulldogs club history. Malhotra gives Brantford three consecutive years with a first-round selection, following Marek Vanacker (Chicago, 2024) and Jake O'Brien (Seattle, 2025).

Chase Reid was the first American player chosen in the 2026 NHL Draft, selected 7th overall by the Seattle Kraken and marking the first defenceman taken in the first round in Kraken history. The Soo Greyhounds blueliner was named an OHL First Team All-Star in 2025-26, and becomes the first Hounds player ever drafted by Seattle.

The Anaheim Ducks traded up to select Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit with the 15th overall pick. Klepov follows Zayne Parekh (Calgary, 2024) and Michael Misa (San Jose, 2025) in giving the Spirit three consecutive years with a first-round NHL Draft selection.

Windsor's Ethan Belchetz (17th overall, Utah), Peterborough's Adam Novotny (24th overall, Vancouver) and London Knights teammates Maksim Sokolovskii (27th overall, Philadelphia) and Jaxon Cover (32nd overall, Ottawa) rounded out the opening round for the OHL.

The selection of Belchetz gives the Windsor Spitfires three consecutive years of first round NHL Draft picks after Liam Greentree (Los Angeles, 2024) and Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia, 2025) preceded him. Sokolovskii and Cover extended the Knights' CHL record streak of developing at least one NHL Draft selection to 58 years. The Knights have now produced seven first round picks over the last four years. Ontario Hockey League teams have developed a total of 432 first round NHL Draft selections dating back to 1969.

The 2026 NHL Draft continues Saturday with Rounds 2 through 7 at KeyBank Center, starting at 11:00am on Sportsnet, ESPN and NHL Network (USA).

2026 NHL Draft First Round Live Blog

OHL Players Selected in First Round of 2026 NHL Draft Click player name to watch NHL Draft media availability 3. Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) - Vancouver Canucks 7. Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds) - Seattle Kraken 15. Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) - Anaheim Ducks 17. Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires) - Utah Mammoth 24. Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes) - Vancouver Canucks 27. Maksim Sokolovskii (London Knights) - Philadelphia Flyers 32. Jaxon Cover (London Knights) - Ottawa Senators

2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Where OHL Prospects Stand Across Hockey’s Top Lists

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:24:16 +0000

As the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft gets underway later tonight, hockey's leading scouting outlets have released their final 2026 NHL Draft rankings, providing one last look at how this year's top prospects stack up ahead of Draft Weekend. This comparison features rankings from TSN, Craig Button, FloHockey's Chris Peters and NHL Central Scouting, highlighting where the Ontario Hockey League's top NHL Draft prospects stand. The OHL is once again well represented across all four rankings, reflecting its continued status as one of hockey's premier development leagues. In 2025, the OHL produced 18.3% of all NHL Draft selections – its highest share since 2017 – and has seen 18 players selected in the first round over the past two drafts, the league's highest two-year total since 2013 and 2014. Since the NHL Draft began in 1969, the OHL has developed 1,377 NHL Draft picks, accounting for 20.5% of all selections. It's important to note that NHL Central Scouting differs from the other three outlets by ranking North American and International skaters and goaltenders separately, rather than producing an overall draft ranking. As a result, Central Scouting's placements are not directly comparable to the overall rankings from TSN, Craig Button and Chris Peters, but they remain one of the NHL's primary evaluation tools leading into the NHL Draft. Below is a comparison of OHL players' rankings across the four final rankings. 2026 Draft Rankings * Click on the applicable names to see the players' draft profiles * HM = Honourable Mention Skaters

Player	Pos.	OHL Team	TSN Consensus	Craig Button	Chris Peters	NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds	3	5	3	2
Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford Bulldogs	6	6	4	6
Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor Spitfires	12	12	12	9
Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough Petes	17	26	19	14
Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw Spirit	20	20	28	8
Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa Generals	32	61	29	21
Maksim Sokolovskii	D	London Knights	HM (Honourable Mention)	60	59	40
Jaxon Cover	RW	London Knights	–	30	–	29
Pierce Mbuyi	LW	Owen Sound Attack	–	38	–	56
Thomas Vandenberg	C	Ottawa 67’s	–	46	51	35
Egor Barabanov	C	Saginaw Spirit	–	51	71	43
Alessandro Di Iorio	C	Sarnia Sting	–	59	31	41
Ryan Roobroeck	LW	Guelph Storm/Niagara IceDogs	–	62	40	28
Ryder Cali	C	North Bay Battalion	–	–	38	25
Alexander Bilecki	D	Kitchener Rangers	–	–	44	49
Adam Nemec	LW	Sudbury Wolves	–	–	48	27
Vladimir Dravecky	D	Guelph Storm/Brantford Bulldogs	–	–	60	47
Alex Kostov	RW	Flint Firebirds	–	–	69	73
Cole Zurawski	RW	Owen Sound Attack	–	–	–	59
Eric Frossard	D	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	68
Beckham Edwards	C	Sarnia Sting	–	–	–	69
Ben Wilmott	C	Barrie Colts	–	–	–	71
Spencer Bowes	LW	Ottawa 67’s	–	–	–	75
Wesley Royston	RW	Owen Sound Attack	–	–	–	80
Colin Fitzgerald	C	Soo Greyhounds	–	–	–	82
Parker Vaughan	RW	North Bay Battalion	–	–	–	83
Carter Stevens	RW	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	85
Lucas Ambrosio	D	Erie Otters	–	–	–	91
Jasper Kuhta	C	Ottawa 67’s	–	–	–	95
Adam Levac	C	Peterborough Petes	–	–	–	97
Jean-Cristoph Lemieux	LW	Sudbury Wolves	–	–	–	103
Braidy Wassilyn	LW	London Knights	–	–	–	105
Callum Croskery	D	Soo Greyhounds	–	–	–	110
Aiden O’Donnell	LW	Oshawa Generals	–	–	–	118
Layne Gallacher	C	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	119
Brody Pepoy	RW	Saginaw Spirit	–	–	–	124
Brady Murnane	D	Oshawa Generals	–	–	–	141
Andre Mondoux	D	Kingston Frontenacs	–	–	–	142
Cohen Bidgood	RW	London Knights	–	–	–	143
Nathan Amidovski	LW	Brampton Steelheads	–	–	–	148
Joe Salandra	RW	Barrie Colts	–	–	–	152
Ondrej Ruml	D	Ottawa 67’s	–	–	–	157
Harris Pangretitsch	D	Soo Greyhounds	–	–	–	159
Julian Brown	D	Owen Sound Attack	–	–	–	169
Dryden Allen	D	Flint Firebirds	–	–	–	171
Leo Laschon	D	Oshawa Generals	–	–	–	175
Illia Shybinskyi	LW	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	181
Leon Kolarik	LW	Peterborough Petes	–	–	–	182
Ryan Brown	LW	London Knights	–	–	–	184
Darian Anderson	RW	Flint Firebirds	–	–	–	186
Caden Harvey	C	Windsor Spitfires	–	–	–	188
Jacob Vandeven	D	London Knights	–	–	–	190
Rowan Henderson	LW	Sudbury Wolves	–	–	–	194
Weston Cameron	LW	Kitchener Rangers	–	–	–	196
Rylan Singh	LW	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	201
Colin Feeley	D	Oshawa Generals	–	–	–	202
Andrew Robinson	D	Windsor Spitfires	–	–	–	205
Justin Handsor	D	Barrie Colts	–	–	–	207
Grady Spicer	D	Windsor Spitfires	–	–	–	212
Alexander Karmanov	D	North Bay Battalion	–	–	–	214
Alex McLean	C	Kingston Frontenacs	–	–	–	217
Julius Saari	D	Erie Otters	–	–	–	218
Cody Wood	D	London Knights	–	–	–	219
Elliot Arnett	D	Owen Sound Attack	–	–	–	220
Aiden Young	LW	Peterborough Petes	–	–	–	223

Goaltenders

Player	OHL Team	TSN Consensus	Craig Button	Chris Peters	NHL Central Scouting
Ryder Fetterolf	Ottawa 67’s	–	–	75	11
Zachary Jovanovski	Guelph Storm	–	–	–	12
Stepan Shurygin	Saginaw Spirit	–	–	–	13
Matthew Minchak	Kingston Frontenacs	–	–	–	15
Vladislav Yermolenko	Niagara IceDogs	–	–	–	17
Arvin Jaswal	Barrie Colts	–	–	–	18
Matthew Humphries	Oshawa Generals	–	–	–	23
Gavin Betts	Kingston Frontenacs	–	–	–	24
Ben Hrebik	Barrie Colts	–	–	–	31
Maksim Corovic	Brantford Bulldogs	–	–	–	32
Jason Schaubel	Kitchener Rangers	–	–	–	36

Related Articles Learn more about some of the OHL prospects featured in the rankings:

Chase Reid: Seventh-Round Steal Turned One of the OHL’s Top Rookies
Brooks Rogowski: Unlikely Path from Michigan High School Hockey to the OHL
Adam Novotny and Chase Reid: Aim to Shine on World Stage Ahead of 2026 NHL Draft
Ryder Fetterolf: 67’s Rewrite Expectations with Rookie Goaltending and Depth Scoring
Caleb Malhotra and Alessandro Di Iorio: Reunite at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Jaxon Cover: From the Cayman Islands to OHL Ice
Beckham Edwards and Alessandro Di Iorio: The Sophomore Duo Changing the Game in Sarnia
Alexander Bilecki: Rangers’ Alexander Bilecki Making The Most of Extended Draft-Year Opportunity

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Follow along with complete coverage on X, Instagram and Facebook when broadcast coverage begins on Friday, June 26th at 7:00pm on Sportsnet in Canada and on ESPN in the United States. Day 2 proceedings feature Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 27th, starting at 11:00 am on Sportsnet, ESPN and NHL Network (USA).

OHL Fan Guide to the 2026 NHL Draft

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:33:39 +0000

Follow along with complete coverage on X, Instagram and Facebook when broadcast coverage begins on Friday, June 26th at 7:00pm on Sportsnet in Canada and on ESPN in the United States. Day 2 proceedings feature Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 27th starting at 11:00am on Sportsnet, ESPN and NHL Network (USA). Here’s a breakdown of all 20 OHL clubs featuring draft history, milestone years, top picks, and players to watch from NHL Central Scouting’s final draft rankings. Barrie Colts: All-time selections developed: 53 (since 1996) First round selections developed: 17 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 6 (1999) Top Selection: Aaron Ekblad (1st, 2014) 2026 Rankings: Ben Wilmott (71), Joe Salandra (152), Justin Handsor (207), Arvin Jaswal (18 G), Ben Hrebik (31 G) Brampton Steelheads: All-time selections developed: 27 (since 2013) First round selections developed: 5 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 6 (2024) Top Selection: Porter Martone (6th, 2025) 2026 Rankings: Nathan Amidovski (148), Brantford Bulldogs: All-time selections developed: 19 (since 2016) First round selections developed: 2 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 4 (2017, 2023) Top Selection: Jake O'Brien (8th, 2025) 2026 Rankings: Caleb Malhotra (6), Maksim Corovic (32 G) Erie Otters: All-time selections developed: 47 (since 1997) First round selections developed: 12 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 5 (2007) Top Selection: Connor McDavid (1st, 2015), Matthew Schaefer (1st, 2025) 2026 Rankings: Lucas Ambrosio (91), Julius Saari (218) Flint Firebirds: All-time selections developed: 20 (since 2016) First round selections developed: 2 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 4 (2023) Top Selection: Ty Dellandrea (13th, 2018) 2026 Rankings: Alex Kostov (73), Dryden Allen (171), Darian Anderson (186) Guelph Storm: All-time selections developed: 84 (since 1992) First round selections developed: 13 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 7 (1994) Top Selection: Drew Doughty (2nd, 2008) 2026 Rankings: Ryan Roobroeck (28), Vladimir Dravecky (47), Eric Frossard (68), Carter Stevens (85), Illia Shybinskyi (181), Rylan Singh (201), Zachary Jovanovski (12 G) Kingston Frontenacs: All-time selections developed: 127 (since 1974) First round selections developed: 24 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 5 (1993) Top Selection: Erik Gudbranson (3rd, 2009), Chris Gratton (3rd, 1993) 2026 Rankings: Andre Mondoux (142), Alex McLean (217), Matthew Minchak (15 G), Gavin Betts (24 G) Kitchener Rangers: All-time selections developed: 174 (since 1969) First round selections developed: 32 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 5 (1998) Top Selection: Gabriel Landeskog (2nd, 2011), Brian Bellows (2nd, 1982) 2026 Rankings: Alexander Bilecki (49), Weston Cameron (196), Jason Schaubel (36 G) London Knights: All-time selections developed: 202 (since 1969) First round selections developed: 38 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 8 (1998) Top Selection: John Tavares (1st, 2009), Patrick Kane (1st, 2007), Rick Nash (1st, 2002), Rob Ramage (1st, 1979), Rick Green (1st, 1976) 2026 Rankings: Jaxon Cover (29), Maksim Sokolovskii (40), Braidy Wassilyn (105), Cohen Bidgood (143), Ryan Brown (184), Jacob Vandeven (190), Cody Wood (219) Niagara IceDogs: All-time selections developed: 22 (since 2008) First round selections developed: 6 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 4 (2014) Top Selection: Alex Pietrangelo (4th, 2008) 2026 Rankings: Vladislav Yermolenko (17 G) North Bay Battalion: All-time selections developed: 56 (since 1998) First round selections developed: 6 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 6 (1999) Top Selection: Matt Duchene (2nd, 2009) 2026 Rankings: Ryder Cali (25), Parker Vaughan (83), Alexander Karmanov (214) Oshawa Generals: All-time selections developed: 190 (since 1969) First round selections developed: 28 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 10 (1995) Top Selection: Eric Lindros (1st, 1991) 2026 Rankings: Brooks Rogowski (21), Aiden O'Donnell (118), Brady Murnane (141), Leo Laschon (175), Colin Feeley (202), Matthew Humphries (23 G) Ottawa 67’s: All-time selections developed: 169 (since 1969) First round selections developed: 32 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 6 (1999 & 1992) Top Selection: Bobby Smith (1st, 1978), Denis Potvin (1st, 1973) 2026 Rankings: Thomas Vandenberg (35), Jasper Kuhta (95), Ryder Fetterolf (11 G) Owen Sound Attack: All-time selections developed: 69 (since 1990) First round selections developed: 7 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 6 (2017) Top Selection: Bobby Ryan (2nd, 2005) 2026 Rankings: Pierce Mbuyi (56), Cole Zurawski (59), Wesley Royston (80), Julian Brown (169), Elliot Arnett (220) Peterborough Petes: All-time selections developed: 191 (since 1969) First round selections developed: 27 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 5 (2004, 2003, 1997, 1995) Top Selection: Jordan Staal (2nd, 2006), Eric Staal (2nd, 2003), Chris Pronger (2nd, 1993) 2026 Rankings: Adam Novotny (14), Leon Kolarik (182), Aiden Young (223) Saginaw Spirit: All-time selections developed: 47 (since 2003) First round selections developed: 5 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 4 (2011) Top Selection: Michael Misa (2nd, 2025) 2026 Rankings: Nikita Klepov (8), Egor Barabanov (43), Brody Pepoy (124), Stepan Shurygin (13 G) Sarnia Sting: All-time selections developed: 54 (since 1995) First round selections developed: 12 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 7 (1996) Top Selection: Nail Yakupov (1st, 2012), Steven Stamkos (1st, 2008) 2026 Rankings: Alessandro Di Iorio (41), Beckham Edwards (69), Soo Greyhounds: All-time selections developed: 159 (since 1973) First round selections developed: 19 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 7 (1992) Top Selection: Joe Thornton (1st, 1997) 2026 Rankings: Chase Reid (2), Colin Fitzgerald (82), Callum Croskery (110), Harris Pangretitsch (159) Sudbury Wolves: All-time selections developed: 138 (since 1973) First round selections developed: 21 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 10 (1993) Top Selection: Quinton Byfield (2nd, 2020) 2026 Rankings: Adam Nemec (27), Jean-Cristoph Lemieux (103), Rowan Henderson (194) Windsor Spitfires: All-time selections developed: 120 (since 1976) First round selections developed: 24 Most picks in single NHL Draft: 5 (2009 & 1997) Top Selection: Taylor Hall (1st, 2010), Ed Jovanovski (1st, 1994) 2026 Rankings: Ethan Belchetz (9), Caden Harvey (188), Andrew Robinson (205), Grady Spicer (212)

Generals sign forward Ryan Hedley

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:00:20 +0000

Oshawa, ON - The Oshawa Generals have signed 2023 draft pick Ryan Hedley to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Last season, Hedley played in the BCHL for the Powell River Kings, where he suited up in 52 games and collected 51 points, including 15 goals and 36 assists. The Generals drafted the native of Raleigh, North Carolina, in the 8th round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft with the 147th pick.

Wolves sign forward Colton Colby

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:19:13 +0000

SUDBURY, ON – The Sudbury Wolves have announced the signing of forward Colton Colby to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement following the club’s Orientation Camp this past weekend. A native of Shelby Township, MI, Colby was selected by Sudbury in the eleventh round (213th overall) of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He spent the 2025-26 season with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U AAA, recording 70 points (27-43–28) in 80 regular-season games. Colby becomes the latest member of Sudbury’s 2025 draft class to sign with the club, joining fellow prospects Norman Greene and Patrik Ula. General Manager Rob Papineau spoke about the trio's development and progression. “All three of these players had excellent camps last year and followed that up with strong seasons where they each led their teams to success,” said Papineau. “Colton was one of the top players with the Oakland Grizzlies, a dominant team in the Detroit U16 area.”

OHL Alumni Golf Classic presented by Carlsberg returns Aug. 18 in support of OHL Assists

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:00:26 +0000

TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Hockey League will host the 2026 OHL Alumni Golf Classic presented by Carlsberg on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026 at Hockley Valley Resort, bringing together the OHL community for a day on the course in support of OHL Assists. The annual charity event features representatives from all 20 OHL member teams alongside alumni spanning a broad swath of league history. Players, partners, fans and friends of the OHL are invited to enjoy a memorable day at one of Ontario's premier resort destinations, with all proceeds directed to OHL Assists. The day's schedule is as follows: Location: Hockley Valley Resort - 793522 3rd Line EHS, Mono, ON L9W 5X7

Registration — 10:30 a.m.
Lunch — 11 a.m.
Shotgun start — noon
Dinner — 6 p.m.

A range of participation and sponsorship opportunities are available:

Individual Golfer — $250
Hole Sponsorship — $500
Foursome Group — $1,000
Foursome plus Hole Sponsor — $1,250
Lunch Sponsor — $1,500
Dinner Sponsor — $3,000

Registration is open now at https://event.spordle.com/en/tickets/buy-tickets/2028/12582. The OHL Alumni Golf Classic presented by Carlsberg is a cornerstone of the League's ongoing commitment to giving back, with funds raised supporting OHL Assists and its work across communities throughout the League.

Wolves sign forward Norman Greene

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:59:01 +0000

SUDBURY, ON – The Sudbury Wolves have announced the signing of forward Norman Greene to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement following the club’s Orientation Camp this past weekend. A native of Clarence, N.Y., Greene was selected by Sudbury in the tenth round (193rd overall) of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the Woodbridge Wolfpack 16U AAA, recording 28 points (14-14–28) in 34 regular-season games. Greene becomes the latest member of Sudbury’s 2025 draft class to sign with the club, joining fellow prospects Patrik Ula and Colton Colby. General Manager Rob Papineau spoke about the trio's development and progression. “All three of these players had excellent camps last year and followed that up with strong seasons where they each led their teams to success,” said Papineau. “Norman had an outstanding year with the highly regarded Woodbridge U16 program, where he moved from Buffalo and became their captain.”

Wolves sign forward Patrik Ula

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:14:07 +0000

SUDBURY, ON – The Sudbury Wolves have announced the signing of forward Patrik Ula to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement following the club’s Orientation Camp this past weekend. A native of Chappaqua, N.Y., Ula was selected by Sudbury in the seventh round (131st overall) of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks of the NAHL and made his OHL debut in December, recording a goal and an assist in his first two games with the Wolves. The 5-foot-11 forward now joins his brother, Genc Ula, in the Wolves organization. Ula becomes the latest member of Sudbury’s 2025 draft class to sign with the club, joining fellow prospects Norman Greene and Colton Colby. General Manager Rob Papineau spoke about the trio's development and progression. “All three of these players had excellent camps last year and followed that up with strong seasons where they each led their teams to success,” said Papineau. “Patrik started in U16 and was promoted to junior in Danbury after a successful stint with us in December.”