Check out the latest from the opening day of the Draft, including the latest on Zach Werenski, Connor Hellebuyck, Drew Doughty, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
MCKENNA CHOSEN FIRST OVERALL IN 2026 NHL DRAFT
NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State University winger Gavin McKenna with the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday evening in Buffalo.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here, as it was widely anticipated that the Maple Leafs would take McKenna with this pick. The 18-year-old winger is projected to become an elite scoring forward and could be a future franchise player for the Leafs.
The San Jose Sharks chose forward Ivar Stenberg of SHL club Frolunda with the second-overall pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he received an “interesting offer” for that pick, but it evidently wasn’t a strong enough pitch to pry this pick away. Stenberg could go on to become a key piece of the rebuilding Sharks, who are building what could be one of the best teams in the league by 2030.
The Sharks had two other picks in this round, selecting defensemen Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9 and Ryan Lin at No. 21.
The Vancouver Canucks chose center Caleb Malhotra with the third overall pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malhotra is the son of Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, but that’s not the main reason why they chose him. He’s projected to become a first-line center because of his skills and hockey sense.
The Canucks had a second pick in this round, choosing winger Adam Novotny at No. 24.
The Sharks and Canucks weren’t the only teams with multiple picks in this round.
The St. Louis Blues chose centers Tynan Lawrence at No. 11 and Maddox Dagenais at No. 16.
The Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph at No. 4 and center Ilya Morozov at No. 20.
The Calgary Flames picked defenseman Carson Carels at No. 6 and center Jack Hextall at No. 30.
The Nashville Predators chose forward Wyatt Cullen (No. 10) and defenseman Tommy Bleyl (No. 31).
The Anaheim Ducks selected forwards Nikita Klepov (No. 15) and Marcus Nordmark (No. 28).
The Ottawa Senators picked forwards Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (No. 25) and Jaxon Cover (No. 32).
Follow the link above for the entire list of the first round and analysis of each selection.
DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis has Vancouver Giants winger Mathis Preston, Medicine Hat Tigers center Markus Ruck, and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defenseman Xavier Villeneuve among his top-30 prospects available heading into the second day of the NHL Draft.
The second day of the draft begins Saturday at 11 AM ET.
THE LATEST ON ZACH WERENSKI, CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, DREW DOUGHTY, AND JORDAN BINNINGTON
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Friday evening that the Columbus Blue Jackets have started fielding calls from other clubs interested in defenseman Zach Werenski. The 28-year-old Norris Trophy winner is not expected to extend his contract, which expires in 2028.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: During the draft, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko is not going to sign a contract extension.
These reports about Werenski and Marchenko are a double whammy for the Blue Jackets at a time when they were hoping to build on two promising seasons in which they narrowly missed the playoffs. I’ll have more about these two players in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said his club is listening to calls about goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, he wouldn’t confirm if the three-time Vezina Trophy winner has requested a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck has been a fixture in the rumor mill over the past two weeks. I’ll have more in today’s Rumor Mill.
MAYOR’S MANOR: Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland said his club will not be signing long-time defenseman Drew Doughty to a contract extension this summer. The 36-year-old Doughty has a year remaining on his contract.
Holland said Doughty loves it in Los Angeles and wants to remain with the Kings. They have agreed to wait and see how this season plays out. He also said he told the veteran blueliner not to bother submitting a no-trade list, adding that nothing was going to happen unless he and Doughty decide that it’s something that needs to happen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doughty has spent his entire 18-season NHL career with the Kings, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. He won the Norris Trophy in 2016.
Holland is leaving the door open for Doughty to remain with the Kings beyond next season. Based on his comments, he’s not shopping Doughty, nor has the blueliner requested a trade.
THE ATHLETIC’s Jeremy Rutherford believes Jordan Binnington will start next season with the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old goaltender has a year left on his contract and is unlikely to get an extension with the Blues.
Nevertheless, Binnington is motivated for a bounce-back performance, which will help the Blues next season. Rutherford also believes that he wouldn’t yield a return that would make it worth breaking up the Blues’ goalie tandem.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington’s been mentioned a lot this season as a trade candidate. The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers were among the clubs he’s been linked to in the rumor mill, but it sounds like any team that’s interested in him would have to overpay to get him.
OTHER NOTABLE HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild is the 2026 winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
DAILY FACEOFF: Carolina Hurricanes forwards Seth Jarvis and Eric Robinson underwent successful surgeries. Both will be sidelined for significant periods. Jarvis will require four to six months to recover from shoulder surgery, while Robinson will need six to eight weeks to recover from knee surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robinson should be ready for training camp in September, but Jarvis is going to miss at least the first month of the regular season.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.4 million starting in 2026-27. Clarke, 23, is completing his entry-level contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Clarke had a career-best performance this season, finishing with 32 points in 81 games to sit fourth among the Kings’ leading scorers. He was third in the league with 185 blocked shots.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed Brent Burns to a one-year, bonus-laden contract with a base salary of $850,000 and $3 million in bonuses. They also re-signed blueliner Brett Kulak to a five-year deal worth an AAV of $4.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Burns’ signing was a sensible one for a 41-year-old defenseman. Kulak’s, on the other hand, is a risky move for a 32-year-old depth blueliner. That deal probably won’t age well.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year contract worth an AVV of $5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a good move by the Senators. Spence, 25, is coming off a career-best 31-point performance and will provide them with invaluable depth and skill on the right side of their blueline. He’s coming into his own as a top-four defenseman.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders signed defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a two-year extension worth an AAV of $4.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeAngelo had 35 points last season with the Isles. He’ll remain on the second-pairing right-side role with Adam Pelech.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens Hall of Famer Yvan Cournoyer has been appointed to the Order of Canada. It is the country’s highest civilian honor.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Roadrunner!