NHL teams receive draft grades after 224 selections

The 2026 NHL draft ended after 224 selections across two days. Teams received letter grades based on how their picks addressed roster needs and the value obtained at each draft position.

Top grades One team earned an A++ for selections that included multiple high-value defensemen and a 7-foot prospect. The same organization added a goaltender with high-end upside in the fourth round. Another team received an A+ after selecting a top forward at No.

1 and adding several players projected as second-round talents in later rounds. The group also drafted goaltenders viewed as having NHL potential.

Other notable selections A team drafted a pair of twins in the same round.

Another organization traded for the rights to a defenseman while a third acquired a forward who led his previous club in goals. One club selected a player from the Cayman Islands with the final first-round pick. A forward selected earlier in the draft is expected to miss four to six months following shoulder surgery.