Overview
- The Utah Mammoth moved up in the first round on June 27, 2026 to take Belchetz at No. 17, a pick reported to have come from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for picks No. 19 and No. 83.
- Belchetz scored 34 goals and 25 assists for 59 points in 57 OHL games for the Windsor Spitfires in 2025–26 but missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs with a left clavicle/shoulder injury.
- Scouts praise his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame, strong hands and ability to create space and finish around the net, while some question whether he possesses clear high-end traits beyond his size.
- Belchetz remains committed to Michigan State and is expected to follow the NCAA development path to gain strength and refine his game before joining the Mammoth’s pro pipeline.
- Draft rankings had placed him among the top North American skaters and projected him around 11th overall, so his slide to 17th is widely seen as driven by medical uncertainty and will make his recovery and freshman season key indicators of his NHL timeline.