Edmonton Oilers
Top Priority: Prospect depth
First pick: No. 52
The situation: The Oilers won't pick until the middle of the second round after trading their No. 1 choice to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Jake Walman. They have four selections in all, after they had five picks at the 2025 NHL Draft, starting in the third round. Maximizing the few selections they have will be key, so whoever the best player available is when their turn comes likely will be the choice, regardless of position.
Possible fits: Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, Orebro Jr. (SWE-JR); Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (RUS-JR); Jayden Kurtz, D, Rogers (HIGH-MN)
Los Angeles Kings
Top Priority: Center
First pick: No. 17
The situation: The Kings have nine picks for the second straight draft, which is important for a franchise that made nine picks combined between the 2023 and 2024 NHL Drafts. Center depth could be the focus for their top selection. Forward Quinton Byfield could take the No. 1 spot now with Anze Kopitar retiring, but there's not much depth behind him at the position at the NHL level or in the prospect pipeline. Finding more depth at defensemen also could be an option. Three of the Kings' top five at the position in ice time this season, Drew Doughty (36, first), Joel Edmundson (32, fourth) and Brian Dumoulin (34, fifth), are well north of 30 years old. They selected defenseman Henry Brzustewicz in the first round (No. 31) of the 2025 NHL Draft, but could look for more from a pool where defensemen are a strength.
Possible fits: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL); Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SWE); Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA)
San Jose Sharks
Top Priority: Defensemen
First-round picks: No. 2, No. 9, No. 27
The situation: The situation: One of the biggest reasons the Sharks nearly reached the Stanley Cup Playoff for the first time since 2019 was the play of their core of young forwards, led by Macklin Celebrini (20), Will Smith (21) and Michael Misa (19). They also have more talent coming up front, including Igor Chernyshov (20), Quentin Musty (20) and Filip Bystedt (22), four of the top nine scorers for San Jose of the American Hockey League. They don't have the same organizational depth on defense, but have a huge opportunity to solve that issue with three picks in the first round of a draft packed with high-end defensive talent, including two in the top 10. They addressed some of that in the short term by acquiring defenseman Michael Kesselring and the No. 27 pick from the Buffalo Sabres for the No. 20 selection, which the Sharks had acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jake Walman. Now they can further bolster that position by selecting a defenseman with either the No. 2 or the No. 9 pick, which they acquired from the Ottawa Senators as part of the trade for William Eklund on June 23.
Possible fits: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL); Alberts Smits, D, Munchen (GER); Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SWE)
Seattle Kraken
Top Priority: Defensemen
First pick: No. 7
The situation: The Kraken have selected a forward with their first pick at the NHL draft each of their first five seasons. However, one of their biggest needs as they try to return to the postseason for the first time since 2023 is a franchise defenseman. In a draft stocked with potential foundational players at the position, taking one at No. 7 seems the ideal path. There also will be the option of selecting one of a few high-end forward prospects in this spot, but they upgraded in the present by acquiring forward Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers for the No. 25 pick on June 21. The Kraken have eight picks total.
Possible fits: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL); Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL); Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCHC)
