With the 2026 draft complete, theScore's Kyle Cushman hands out his initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.
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Carolina Hurricanes
Grade: C
Carolina traded down multiple times at the draft in typical GM Eric Tulsky fashion, but the organization still came away with William Hakansson, who some had as a first-round defenseman. He featured for Sweden at the world juniors and boasts an imposing 6-foot-5 frame. Sorensson is a unique pick out of the Swedish fourth-tier pro league. He had a great Under-18s that helped his draft stock. Berchild is a very Hurricanes pick as a small, skilled forward. He's headed to the University of Denver. Fetterolf is a smaller goalie but won the CHL Goaltender of the Year.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Grade: C+
Hemming had a strange year. He didn't play a game until December as his Finnish team blocked a move to Canadian junior hockey. The 6-foot-4 winger is a violent checker but had only one goal last season. The Blue Jackets need Hemming to bounce back offensively in a big way when he has a normal year next campaign. It's great to see Woo, a 5-foot-9 defenseman, drafted. He was fantastic in the WHL and is a fun creator. He previously went unselected.
New Jersey Devils
Grade: B
Command is a highly competitive center who finished the season with a strong showing at the Under-18s with Sweden. The Devils likely hope he can become a Joel Eriksson Ek-type player. Vanhanen is the top reentry prospect taken. He had a standout campaign in the WHL with over an assist per game. Shcherbakov's stock rose when he measured in at 6-foot-5, while Gashilov led the Russian junior league with 53 assists in 51 games.
New York Islanders
Grade: B-
After a strong end to the campaign at the Under-18s with Sweden, Gustafsson at No. 13 is great value. He's a mobile 6-foot-5 blue-liner with an exciting defensive profile. With a lot of lefties on the back end, the Islanders could feature Gustafsson on the right side.
New York Rangers
Grade: B
Smits is an aggressive defenseman in all three zones, so it only made sense that the Rangers were aggressive in snagging him at No. 5. While it's a big risk to pass on an offensive talent like Chase Reid, Smits is a very fun talent and could play in the NHL next season. He also made history as the highest-drafted Latvian player ever.
MacBeath had a quality campaign in the WHL and represents strong value at the end of the second round. Chrenko put up 31 points in the Slovakian pro league and had eight points in five games at the world juniors. He could be a steal.
Philadelphia Flyers
Grade: C
Sokolovskii is as obvious a Flyer as you can get. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 240 pounds, he's arguably the meanest player in the draft. Though he's been compared to Nikita Zadorov, it's important to note that Zadorov posted three times the draft-year production in the OHL that Sokolovskii managed. Still, drafting Sokolovskii in the late first round is fine value. Psohlavec was great in the Czech junior league and as Czechia's starter at the Under-18s. Laatikainen is the youngest player taken. He was one day from being eligible for next year's draft.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Grade: B-
Pittsburgh drafting the Ruck twins is a great story. The pair are exciting offensive talents and will continue to play on a line together at every level. Liam is the goal-scorer, while Markus is the playmaker. However, both are average-sized and lack elite skating. Galvas was named the best defenseman at the world juniors with Czechia, produced in his nation's pro league, and even made Czechia's world championship team. He's also a flashy, undersized defenseman who's already 20. Mbuyi has been a standout OHL scorer but is also undersized. A typical Kyle Dubas draft class that has boom or bust potential throughout.
Washington Capitals
Grade: C-
Despite being one of the youngest players in the draft, Suvanto has played in a pro league and stands out as a 6-foot-3 center. But he also ended the season by recording just five assists in 14 playoff games at the Finnish junior level. He showed some flashes at the world juniors, but he needs to display more offense to avoid plateauing as a fine depth defensive center.
