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McKenna Goes No. 1 as Draft Yields Deep International Pool and 32 Goalies

Development camps starting Monday will begin to show which 2026 draftees can fast-track to NHL rosters.

Overview

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs used the first overall pick over the weekend to select winger Gavin McKenna, a move fans and analysts called a high-value pick for the club.
  • The San Jose Sharks took Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 and later used pick 201 to select 7-foot-1 Alexander Karmanov, who is the first Moldovan drafted and the tallest player ever picked.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins added six prospects, including first-rounder Liam Ruck and his twin brother Markus, a haul that drew a C+ grade from The Athletic’s Corey Pronman who projected one to two NHL players from the group.
  • League-wide numbers show 224 players were chosen with 32 goalies selected—the most in more than two decades—and 97 draftees born outside North America, underscoring the class’s international depth.
  • Teams now move into immediate offseason work with qualifying-offer deadlines and development camps opening June 29, where early evaluations and published draft grades will shape signings, roster plans, and next steps for prospects.