Overview
- Toronto secured the top pick and San Jose climbed to No. 2 following Tuesday’s NHL Draft lottery, locking in the race at the top ahead of the June 26–27 draft in Buffalo.
- Scouts still favor Penn State winger Gavin McKenna at No. 1, pointing to elite vision and passing after a 129‑point WHL season and a 31‑point surge in 17 NCAA games after the World Juniors.
- Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg remains the primary alternative after 33 points in 43 SHL games and a World Juniors gold, with evaluators highlighting his puck protection, wall play and readiness against pros.
- Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he is “always open to listening” on offers for the No. 2 pick, as San Jose weighs Stenberg or a top defense prospect to complement a forward‑heavy young core.
- Toronto must decide whether to use the pick on a potential franchise winger or trade it for immediate help, a choice that could shape roster plans around stars like Auston Matthews and stir an active trade market.