2026 NHL draft preview: The top players in our annual consensus rankings

The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 26 in Buffalo at KeyBank Center, with the Columbus Blue Jackets holding the 14th overall pick. Analysts consider this year's draft class to lack the high-end talent of previous years, with varied opinions on top prospects. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has indicated he may be open to trading the pick, as Columbus looks to make an immediate roster upgrade after narrowly missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.