Nineteen Big Ten Players Selected in 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft™
Draft class highlighted by seven first-round picks
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Nineteen players with connections to the Big Ten Conference were chosen in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft™, held June 26-27, at KeyBank Center.
This year's draft class, which included selections from all seven schools, features current Big Ten players and recruits committed for the upcoming season.
Michigan State had four picks, which all occurred during Friday’s first round while Notre Dame landed five selections over the course of the fifth and sixth rounds on Saturday. Ohio State (3), Penn State (3), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Wisconsin (1) also had players chosen.
Penn State’s Gavin McKenna was the No. 1 selection overall as one of seven players to go in the first round.
Listed below are this year's selections:
|
NAME |
SCHOOL |
ROUND |
PICK |
NHL TEAM |
2025-26 TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gavin McKenna, LW |
Penn State |
1 |
1 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
Penn State (NCAA) |
|
Chase Reid, D |
Michigan State |
1 |
7 |
Seattle Kraken |
Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
|
Wyatt Cullen, LW |
Minnesota |
1 |
10 |
Calgary Flames |
USNTDP (USHL) |
|
Nikita Klepov, RW |
Michigan State |
1 |
15 |
Anaheim Ducks |
Saginaw (OHL) |
|
Ethan Belchetz, LW |
Michigan State |
1 |
17 |
Utah Mammoth |
Windsor (OHL) |
|
J.P. Hurlbert, LW |
Michigan |
1 |
23 |
Detroit Red Wings |
Kamloops (WHL) |
|
Jack Hextall, C |
Michigan State |
1 |
30 |
Calgary Flames |
Youngstown (USHL) |
|
Egor Shilov, C |
Penn State |
2 |
43 |
Colorado Avalanche |
Victoriaville (QMJHL) |
|
Ben Wilmott, C |
Ohio State |
3 |
92 |
Vegas Golden Knights |
Barrie (OHL) |
|
Adam Valentini, C |
Michigan |
3 |
96 |
Utah Mammoth |
Michigan (NCAA) |
|
Zach Wooten, LW |
Wisconsin |
4 |
116 |
Winnipeg Jets |
Green Bay (USHL) |
|
Evan Jardine, LW |
Ohio State |
4 |
121 |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
Youngstown (USHL) |
|
Ryder Fetterolf, G |
Penn State |
4 |
125 |
Carolina Hurricanes |
Ottawa (OHL) |
|
Beckham Edwards, C |
Notre Dame |
5 |
143 |
Detroit Red Wings |
Sarnia (OHL) |
|
Eric Frossard, D |
Notre Dame |
5 |
146 |
Anaheim Ducks |
Guelph (OHL) |
|
André Mondoux, D |
Notre Dame |
6 |
162 |
New York Rangers |
Kingston (OHL) |
|
Cole Zurawski, RW |
Notre Dame |
6 |
181 |
Florida Panthers |
Owen Sound (OHL) |
|
Parker Trottier, LW |
Notre Dame |
6 |
189 |
Montreal Canadiens |
USNTDP (USHL) |
|
William Tomko, C |
Ohio State |
7 |
204 |
Seattle Kraken |
Sioux City (USHL) |