Story perspectives

Wild Grab Goalies, Predators Hold 10, Blues Target Center

6/22/2026

Summary

Wild Pick Goalie

Wild will pick goalie at No. 89 after trading for Quinn Hughes and Gustav Nyquist.
Nashville Predators hold No. 10, target forwards, and hired GM Chris MacFarland on June 2.
Columbus Blue Jackets project Boston College center Oscar Hemming at No. 14 as a physical forward.
St. Louis Blues will use picks No. 11, No. 15, No. 29 to select a center, considering Tynan Lawrence and Ethan Belchetz.

Summary

McKenna Watch Party

The Älät Nëhëjël community hall in Dawson City, Yukon will host a watch party for the 2026 NHL Draft as Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is expected to be selected.
Organizers led by Alysha Van Bibber created a temporary tattoo for attendees to celebrate McKenna’s Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in heritage.
McKenna, ranked No. 1 among North American skaters, joins at least 15 projected players of color—including two Indigenous athletes—in the draft, highlighting growing multicultural visibility.

Summary

Senators Acquire Picks

Ottawa Senators receive the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in 2026, a 2027 second-rounder and a 2029 first-rounder from Florida.
Ottawa GM Steve Staios said the trade creates cap space and adds early-round draft assets for rebuilding.
Panthers GM Bill Zito called Tkachuk a dynamic competitor and proven leader who will improve the locker-room.
Tkachuk leaves on a $57.5 million, seven-year contract signed Oct. 14 2021 and posted 59 points (22-37) in 60 games.

History

Historical Context

In July 1995 the NHL’s 33rd entry draft in Edmonton introduced a lottery that let the Los Angeles Kings move up four spots to third while the last-place Ottawa Senators kept the first pick, choosing defenseman Bryan Berard. The lottery rule and shift to televised drafts reshaped scouting, a pattern seen in the 2026 draft at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, where teams again focus on early selections.

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Wild Pick Goalie

Wild will pick goalie at No. 89 after trading for Quinn Hughes and Gustav Nyquist.
Nashville Predators hold No. 10, target forwards, and hired GM Chris MacFarland on June 2.
Columbus Blue Jackets project Boston College center Oscar Hemming at No. 14 as a physical forward.
St. Louis Blues will use picks No. 11, No. 15, No. 29 to select a center, considering Tynan Lawrence and Ethan Belchetz.

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