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Sharks Go Second, Michigan State Sets Draft Record

6/30/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 NHL Draft concluded in Buffalo, New York, on June 26, 2026.
The San Jose Sharks selected Ivar Stenberg second overall and added Keaton Verhoff, earning the “winners” label.
Michigan State set a record with nine draftees, including five first-round picks, and was called a winner by ESPN.
The draft featured 12 players of Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Hispanic and Samoan heritage, four of whom were selected in the first round.

History

Historical Context

Since the NHL introduced its first amateur draft in 1971, the event has become an annual mechanism for clubs to acquire new talent. Subsequent drafts—such as those in 1983 and 2016—showed expanding scouting reach, paving the way for today’s globally diverse selections and heightened influence of college programs on NHL rosters.

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Story summary

The 2026 NHL Draft concluded in Buffalo, New York, on June 26, 2026.
The San Jose Sharks selected Ivar Stenberg second overall and added Keaton Verhoff, earning the “winners” label.
Michigan State set a record with nine draftees, including five first-round picks, and was called a winner by ESPN.
The draft featured 12 players of Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Hispanic and Samoan heritage, four of whom were selected in the first round.

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