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NHL Draft Concludes as Canucks Take Caleb Malhotra and Flames Load Up on Depth

Teams are shifting from selections to player development and roster planning as prospect camps open and offseason roster moves loom.

Overview

  • The 2026 NHL Entry Draft wrapped over the weekend with teams finishing selections on June 28 and immediately turning to development and roster work.
  • The Vancouver Canucks used the No. 3 overall pick on center Caleb Malhotra and added multiple day-two prospects including Brooks Rogowski, Niklas Aaram-Olsen and goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko.
  • Caleb Malhotra, son of new Canucks coach Manny Malhotra, is expected to play at Boston University next season as he enters the Canucks’ rebuild plan.
  • The Calgary Flames made nine picks led by defenseman Carson Carels at No. 6 and goaltender Tobias Trejbal at 42, a class graded an A by Daily Faceoff’s post-draft report card.
  • Clubs are moving to short-term steps now: development camps begin (Boston’s runs June 29–July 2 with most 2026 picks attending) and teams will soon address salary-cap driven trades and free-agent decisions that affect when prospects can reach the NHL.