Blueshirt Banter 2026 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 11-22

Happy NHL Entry Draft week to all who celebrate!

The results of the first round are of special interest to New York Rangers fans this year as the team holds a pair of picks: one at the beginning of the round, and one closer to the end. To get ready for the main event, Chris and Roberto are back for their third annual full mock draft of the first round as they look to predict how each team's picks will unfold.

If you missed picks 1-10, you can check those out here. Now, here's the middle of this year's mock draft.

11. St. Louis Blues

Chris:  Malte Gustafsson - Defense, HV-71, Swe

The Blues are in a very good place in this draft, hence why I suggested the Rangers should be interested in trading down if that was indeed an option. With two picks in the top 15, the Blues should be on the hunt for whichever top defenseman is still available, as well as one of the better forwards. In a defense heavy draft, I’m going with Gustafsson for their first pick. This is a defenseman I’ve been high on all season long and has quickly and quietly risen in the projections. I can see him being a long term top four solution in St. Louis and will have fellow countryman Philip Broberg to mentor him there.

Roberto: Daxon Rudolph - Defense, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL

I agree with Chris here that the Blues will be looking to add to their defensive core, but the way our drafts have played out is a bit different, and with Rudolph still on the board, that’s a player the Blues can’t pass up. A swift-skating big defenseman with an offensive touch checks off a ton of boxes for any NHL team.

12. New Jersey Devils  

Chris: Ethan Belchetz - Left Wing, Windsor Spitfires, OHL

The Devils have a slight advantage with their pick in this draft considering they already have plenty of defensemen. They’re going to be targeting one of the top forwards in this class, and Ethan Belchetz makes a ton of sense for them. They have an insane one-two punch of Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, and they could use a winger who has the potential to be a top six forward down the road. Belchetz is a player I'm fond of, just not particularly for the Rangers given their needs. He's exactly what you want from a power forward, as he can score goals and drive through people along the way. I can really see him becoming a Rick Nash-type, assuming he finds his footing in the NHL down the road.

Roberto: Nikita Klepov, Forward, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

This is the type of pick I wish the Rangers had the courage to make. There hasn't been enough hype around last year's OHL leading scorer. Klepov has tremendous upside, and with time to develop and get stronger at Michigan State, he could take the NHL by storm in two to three years.

13. New York Islanders  

Chris: Oscar Hemming - Forward, Boston College, NCAA

I was very torn on this pick, but ultimately decided on Hemming. Outside of Matthew Schaefer and now Kaishawn Aicheson, the Islanders have an older blue line. They could consider Ryan Lin here, but a forwrad seems more likely. I was between Wyatt Cullen and Oscar Hemming, but in the end Hemming seems like the better fit. He's closer to being NHL-ready, has size, and brings a good mix of European and NCAA experience. I can see him fitting on a line with Emil Heineman and any given center nicely.

Roberto: Mathis Preston - Forward, Vancouver Giants, WHL

I considered a few different players for the Islanders. I don't think they'll opt for a defenseman unless one drops drastically on draft day, so I asked myself which forward I'd most despise going to Long Island. At this point in the draft, that's easy: Mathis Preston. An incredibly skilled, fast forward who had an up-and-down year because of injury, he impressed at the NHL Draft Combine, and down the road I fear he's going to make fools of us all for not being picked in the top five.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

Chris:  Ryan Lin - Defense, Vancouver Giants, WHL

The Blue Jackets could definitely use some help on the right side and it does feel like Ryan Lin being available at 14th could be a reality. That would be a great get for the Blue Jackets as Lin is a bit of an underrated option in terms of right-shot defensemen in this class. He’s going to only improve his game at Denver in the coming seasons, giving him all the potential in the world to be a top four defenseman for them long term.

Roberto: Malte Gustafsson - Defense, HV-71, Swe

I can see the Blue Jackets going in two directions here: an offensive-minded smaller defenseman or the best bigger defensive prospect available. I think they'll lean towards the latter and take Gustafsson, especially because of his size, physicality, and skating ability for a bigger player.

15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit)

Chris: Wyatt Cullen - Forward, U.S. National Development Program, USHL

Next to Chase Reid, Wyatt Cullen might be the prospect who has risen the most throughout the season. His massive growth spurt helped, but his performance with the USNTDP was also a big factor in this. He could go earlier, but 15th feels like a solid place for him and the Blues would be a great fit.

Roberto: Oscar Hemming - Forward, Boston College, NCAA

After a debacle that led him to missing the first half of his draft year, he ended up as one of the youngest players in the NCAA playing for the Eagles. With the size, the compete, and the ability, Hemming likely has an NHL career ahead of him and the Blues are betting on his ceiling.

16. Washington Capitals 

Chris: Nikita Klepov, Forward, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

While defensemen are of higher positional need in Washington, Nikita Klepov at 16th overall is too good of a pick to pass up here. He's coming off a 97 point season in the OHL, and he's a left-shot right winger who can also play center. He's an offensive weapon that can make plays, score goals, and has top-six potential. Any team in need of a goal scorer should have Klepov high on their priority list.

Roberto: Ryan Lin - Defense, Vancouver Giants, WHL

Ryan Lin being under six feet had him fall way too far down most draft lists. Better than a point-per-game player, he's now going to the University of Denver where he'll continue developing into an all-around defensive stud. Despite his size, Lin impressed in the NHL Draft combine, unexpectedly out performing many of his larger peers in the strength oriented events. Like a couple others in this draft, Lin has the ability to make his doubters look foolish a decade from now.

17. Los Angeles Kings

Chris: Oliver Suvanto - Center, Tappara Tampere, SM-Liiga

Anze Kopitar retiring leaves a massive hole for the Kings down the middle, and they’re going to be targeting a center with their first round pick. Alexander Command is probably the better overall choice, but something about Suvanto just screams L.A. King to me. He’s a defensively responsible, two-way center. He’s not going to be the next Kopitar, but I can very much see the Kings being interested in him as he has some Philip Danault to his game.

Roberto: Alexander Command - Center, Orebro HK, Swe

Gotta hand if to Chris again, as he called it first. I think Los Angeles will be looking to plug the hole Kopitar left, but I think Command will be the name they call. He's a great two-way center who has impressed more and more as his draft year went on. He has the speed and strength to project as an effective middle of the lineup center and I think any team would be happy to bring him into their organization.

18. Washington Capitals (via Anaheim)

Chris: Xavier Villeneuve, Defense, Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

As mentioned, the Capitals have such a shallow prospect pool in terms of defense. There are concerns with how Villeneuve’s game is going to translate to the professional level, but the Capitals should be more than willing to take a swing here. They did it with Cole Hutson and it seems to be working out just fine. Not to mention, Villeneuve’s game should take big steps at Boston University next season.

Roberto: Wyatt Cullen - Forward, U.S. National Development Program, USHL

Cullen grew half a foot in the last year and a half, and because of this he's still figuring it out. When he was just an undersized forward, his skill and puck control was intimidatingly put together. He just needs some time to acclimate to his bigger frame, but he'll have a great support system to take the next step of his development at the University of Minnesota and when he puts it together the Capitals will be elated.

19. Utah Mammoth

Chris: Adam Novotny - Forward, Peterborough Petes, OHL

A versatile, two-way forward who plays the game with pace and a well-rounded skill level, Novotny is another player I've been a fan of throughout the season. One of the top prospects from Czechia, Novotny put up 65 points in Peterborough this season, but had a bit of a disappointing playoff showing. He's still a ways away from cracking an NHL roster, but Utah can use some forward help and I can see him being a great fit in their middle six down the road.

Roberto: Liam Ruck - Right Wing, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL

Utah's prospect cupboard is among the best in the league, so they can afford to take a gamble on a player like Liam Ruck. One of the top scorers in the WHL this past season, he has the offensive instinct and determination to be a difference maker. Scoring over 100 points in the WHL isn't a fluke, and the more physical of the Ruck twins will continue his development at the University of North Dakota, with the chance to build on his already impressive draft resume.

20. Buffalo Sabres (via Edmonton and San Jose)

Chris: Tommy Bleyl - Defense, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

Ironically, I had the Sharks taking Bleyl here because they were in need of right handed defenseman. Of course they have since traded this pick to Buffalo in order to trade down and acquire Michael Kesselring, a right-handed defenseman. I'm sticking with Tommy Bleyl here because 1) the Sabres also need right-handed defenseman, and 2) he's just an extremely talented player. He had 81 points in Moncton this season, and he's an offensive-defenseman wo generates a ton in various scenarios. The defensive size of his game needs some work but he holds a ton of upside.

Roberto: J.P. Hurlbert, RW, Kamloops Blazers, WHL

The Sabres do need right-handed defensemen, but dynamic playmakers don't grow on trees, and the appeal of adding a player like Hurlbert—one of the most skilled forwards in the draft—is too much to pass up. He jumped to the WHL last year and skyrocketed up the draft rankings, scoring just under 100 points. He'll be a Wolverine next season and will surely add muscle to his frame and grow into an even more effective player under their tutelage.

21. Philadelphia Flyers

Chris: Maddox Dagenais - Center, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL

The Flyers got lots of criticism for paying Christian Dvorak as much money as they did last year. If anything, that goes to show just how badly they need centers, and Maddox Dagenais matches up with the Flyers perfectly. He's 6-5, pushing 200 pounds, and he plays an aggressive, physical, "Broad Street Bullies" type of game. There's work to be done to ensure he becomes an NHL-capable player down the road, but this feels like the right pick for Philadelphia.

Roberto: Oliver Suvanto - Center, Tappara Tampere, SM-Liiga

Suvanto is a big center who plays a defensively responsible game. There have been concerns on how high his offensive ceiling is, but he has impressed internationally on occasion. While I think there are less safe picks the Flyers could opt for here, they have their top offensive players of the future and could use a player to reliably slot into the bottom six of their lineup and hold down the fort. Suvanto can do that and then some.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins

Chris: Ilia Morozov - Forward, Miami University, NCAA: One of the youngest players in the NCAA this past season, Morozov is another prospect who just feels like an ideal fit for a teams picking in the range of picks he's projected to go. He's a good two-way forward with size that competes hard. He has a little bit of Evgeni Malkin to his game, obviously not on as elite of a skill level, but Malkin would certainly be a great guy for a player like Morozov to look up to even if only for one or two preseasons.

Roberto: Adam Novotny - Forward, Peterborough Petes, OHL

Pittsburgh should waste no time snapping up Novotny, who is one of the best skaters in the draft. The kid has a nose for the net. His production from the past season may not reflect it, but he loves to shoot the puck. OHL coaches ranked him as the third-best shooter in the OHL. With his speed and puck skill, it's not really a matter of wondering whether Novotny will be an NHLer, but more along the lines of how effective an NHLer he will be.