The 2026 NHL Draft begins tomorrow. If you’re not a huge prospect junkie and are just learning about all the major names this week, this is your primer for what will happen Friday night in Buffalo.Is Gavin McKenna a lock at No. 1?For the most part, yes. Gavin McKenna entered the season as the projected top pick. While he had a brief adjustment period adapting to the pace and physicality of the NCAA, he ultimately had a great season, producing at an elite rate. McKenna possesses a dynamic offensive toolkit with elite puck skills and high-end hockey sense that makes him a nightmare for defenders to handle off the rush and in the offensive zone. The Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 pick, and while McKenna’s profile as a smaller winger who can stay on the perimeter at times will leave some doubts as to whether he’s for sure the guy, the sense in the league is that Toronto is leaning toward building around the potential top-of-the-lineup scoring winger.Chase Reid or Ivar Stenberg at No. 2?This is where the draft probably begins, and it presents a classic debate for the San Jose Sharks: positional premium versus a vastly more skilled winger. Chase Reid is a 6-foot-2, right-handed defenseman who has very good offensive tools and skating, and projects as a top-pairing anchor. On the other hand, Ivar Stenberg might be the most complete forward in the draft. The Frölunda forward is highly cerebral, has elite puck skills, and already proved he can thrive playing massive minutes against men at the World Championship and the SHL. It’s a coin flip between a potential major-minutes No. 1/2 defenseman and a do-it-all top-line forward who gets to the interior.Does Vancouver take Caleb Malhotra if Stenberg is available?The Canucks sit at No. 3 and desperately need a young, high-end center to serve as a foundational piece for their rebuild, especially with Elias Pettersson’s future somewhat uncertain. Caleb Malhotra fits that bill perfectly. He’s a 6-foot-2, two-way pivot from the OHL who drives play, skates well and was outstanding in the second half and playoffs. However, if San Jose opts for Reid, Stenberg will be sitting right there. Passing on a premium, game-breaking winger to pick arguably a less purely skilled player, but a bigger and harder-to-find piece down the middle (Malhotra is a projected high-end 2C/low-end 1C) will be a massive debate in the Canucks’ front office.Is Viggo Bjorck the best center in the NHL Draft?Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler and moreWho takes Viggo Björck?At 5-foot-9, the Djurgården center has been a dominant player versus junior and men the last two years. He has elite playmaking vision, great hands and a hyper-competitive motor. He isn’t afraid of the dirty areas and battles incredibly hard for his size. He’s a good but not high-end skater, though, and at his size, that athletic profile will scare teams with a super high pick. Who will roll the dice on Björck, who has arguably outplayed Stenberg when they’ve been on the same team twice this season?