Final 2026 NHL draft big board: McKenna, Stenberg ...
Key takeaways
- There is a major difference between a draft ranking and a draft list.
- For example, Alberts Smits is going to go much higher than this ranking has him.
- With that, this is the ranking for this year's class.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Illustration by ESPNRachel Kryshak Jun 24, 2026, 07:30 AM ETClose Rachel Kryshak is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She's worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions NHL draft week is here. Management and scouting staffs have assembled in their respective cities -- hopefully for the last time if the centralized draft returns -- and final list tinkering is well underway. Teams have all the information they can gather and will make decisions on which players go where on their final list.
There is a major difference between a draft ranking and a draft list. Teams make lists; public scouts and media make rankings. Rankings usually reflect who the ranker believes will be the best player or have the best career based on a variety of factors. There are no consequences for being wrong, comparatively speaking.
Teams must account for what the organization values, how the interview with the player went, fitness testing results and injury concerns, organizational needs at various positions, and whatever input senior executives and owners might have.