With just over a week to go until the 2026 NHL Draft, “The Athletic Hockey Show: Prospect Series” came out with its annual mock draft episode on Wednesday, providing some insight into how the top of the draft could unfold and highlighting names to watch rising into the first round.Here’s how the mock draft broke down, with picks alternating between Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler, Max Bultman and Flo Hockey’s Chris Peters.1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)There was no surprise at No. 1, with Peters projecting Toronto to take the highly skilled winger. There are some questions as to how quickly McKenna will translate his talent into major results in the NHL, as was the case with Jack Hughes early in his career, but over time the bet is that the skill wins out, and the Leafs are a team with multiple difference-makers up front to help ease his transition.“He doesn’t have to be the savior of the franchise, and that’s probably the best-case scenario for Gavin McKenna,” Peters said. “I do think there are going to be growing pains. … I think you’re going to have to be patient, but incredible skill. The most dynamic player in this class.”2. San Jose Sharks: Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)Pronman felt this pick would come down to Reid and Ivar Stenberg. But ultimately, in that scenario, the need for a top defenseman won out with Reid, who has all the traits to be a top-pair defenseman and potentially run a top power play.“There’s a lot of work to do still here on this blue line,” Pronman said. “I think if it’s close, and I do think it’s close, I think they go with the D-man here. They get a little bigger, they get a pillar on the blue line, and I think they leave the draft very happy with him.”3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)The Canucks would likewise have a big decision to make on Stenberg, weighing him against Malhotra. But Bultman felt that, in addition to the reporting and comments from Vancouver’s management on Malhotra, building around the young center made the most sense for a team in the Canucks’ position.“Where Vancouver is in their rebuild, he makes a lot of sense for them,” Bultman said. “Ivar Stenberg is a fantastic player, but I think when you’re picking in the top three, and you’re this early on in the process, the value of a two-way center who’s on the trajectory (he’s on) … you can really see, if this keeps going in that direction, he’s a really valuable player.”4. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (SHL)The wait ends here for Stenberg, and it results in an excellent player-team fit with the Blackhawks, who have a clear need for a scoring winger of Stenberg’s caliber.“They need someone who can elevate Connor Bedard, rather than him having to elevate everybody else,” Wheeler said. “Stenberg is the player in this class, assuming that Gavin McKenna goes 1 obviously, Stenberg is that sort of winger. He’s that caliber of a player. I think he’s going to be a point-per-game player in the league, I think he’s a winning player at that sort of level, and he is exactly what they need.”5. New York Rangers: Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)With the three top forwards off the board — including Malhotra, who Peters noted could be of interest to the Rangers — the strong defense class comes into view. Peters opted for Carels, calling him the most complete defenseman and comparing him to Charlie McAvoy.“I think they would love a type of player like that,” Peters said.6. Calgary Flames: Viggo Björck, C, Djurgården (SHL)The first surprise pick of the mock came with the Flames, with Pronman reasoning that center was the most critical need for Calgary.“They can point right to Logan Stankoven, who just won a Stanley Cup, and say, ‘We think he can be that,’” Pronman said. “I think they are very happy to get a potential top-six center of the future here at the sixth overall pick.”“The post-combine buzz about Björck has been palpable, in terms of how things went, how teams feel about him,” Peters affirmed. “The consensus is growing, that in some cases he is the No. 1 center ahead of Malhotra for some people at this point, which was not really a common opinion a few months ago.”7. Seattle Kraken: Alberts Šmits, LHD, Munich (DEL)The Kraken have used every first-round pick in franchise history on a forward, leaving them still in need of a young pillar on the blue line. Fortunately for them, this is a great year — and draft slot — for a team in that situation, and they get a potential cornerstone in Smits whose pro experience in Europe gives him a chance to be in the NHL sooner rather than later.8. Winnipeg Jets: Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)The Jets likewise could use a cornerstone defense prospect, and while they also have a need at center, Malhotra and Björck being off the board means the gap between the remaining D and centers is meaningful enough. That results in Winnipeg landing Verhoeff, who at one point was being mentioned at the very top of the class.9. Florida Panthers: Wyatt Cullen, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)Because of the Panthers’ standing as a win-now contender, there’s a real chance this pick is moved before (or on) June 26 for a player who can help the Panthers resume their dominance next season. But if they make the pick, Peters liked the idea of Florida taking a swing on Cullen, one of the draft’s risers with an enticing offensive skill set.