NHL Draft Class

The 2026 NHL Draft is finally upon us, and to preview the big weekend in Buffalo, co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale are joined by Jason Bukala, Sportsnet draft analyst and founder of The Pro Hockey Group. Who would Bukala, a former amateur scout with the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, take with the No. 1 pick? Is he completely set on Gavin McKenna? Or does he favor Ivar Stenberg? And how would he rank the top five defensemen available? Bukala shares some interesting viewpoints on those topics and several others.

It's time to look at the best prospects from the U.S. high schools, the NCAA and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team as Pat Cullen from NHL Central Scouting joins co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale. Pat discusses Wyatt Cullen's growth, Keaton Verhoeff's development at North Dakota and much more, including his thoughts on the top high school player in this year's draft class, Jayden Kurtz. Mike and Adam also play a game of Fact or Fiction.

The Ontario Hockey League is in the spotlight today with Nick Smith from NHL Central Scouting joining co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale. Is Chase Reid the best defenseman in this year's draft class? Nick touches on that, as well as shares his thoughts on Brantford center Caleb Malhotra, Saginaw forward Nikita Klepov, Windsor forward Ethan Belchetz and more. Mike and Adam also discuss some highlights from the NHL Scouting Combine, and review their most recent mock drafts.

NHL Draft Class is live at the NHL Scouting Combine, and in the second of two special episodes, co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale sat down with Medicine Hat forwards Liam and Markus Ruck. The identical twins discuss stepping into a starring role this season following the departure of Gavin McKenna, what makes them similar and what makes them different, what it could be like to play on opposing teams and much more. Kimelman and Morreale also discuss the possibility of the same NHL team finding a way to select both brothers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and one of the people responsible for making that selection, Maple Leafs amateur scouting director Mark Leach, joined NHL Draft Class live at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Leach discussed how big an impact it is having the No. 1 pick, how close the Maple Leafs will be to making a decision following their interviews at the combine, how his relationship with new Toronto general manager John Chayka is growing and more.