Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Gavin McKenna places on a sweater beside NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and singer Justin Bieber after being decided on with the primary pick out within the first spherical of the 2026 NHL Draft by way of the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Middle. Necessary Credit score: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Photographs A brand new season is solely across the nook.
A brand new crop of long run stars.
With the shorter pre-season, there are fewer probabilities for children to state their case for NHL employment, however there are nonetheless a number of up-and-comers to stay shut tabs on between now the puck drop at the 2026-27 marketing campaign.
Listed below are a half-dozen we’re maximum curious to observe:
Gavin McKenna, Toronto Maple Leafs
This yr’s top draft pick now not best has elite abilities, however the alternative to make his mark with as little force as imaginable in a media-heavy marketplace. McKenna won’t have the load to be giant canine on a Toronto squad that boasts a number of gifted forwards, particularly Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
The pre-season will likely be a possibility to look the place to fit the left winger. In all probability, he’s going to finally end up with Tavares and Nylander, nevertheless it stands to reason why seeing how he fares with Matthews and most probably Jack Roslovic.
Ivar Stenberg, San Jose Sharks
Stenberg, the second one pick out this yr, is the newest uber-talented skater to sign up for a Sharks membership anticipated to vault into playoff rivalry.
The ahead able to enjoying each wings made a whale of a debut in his first rookie-class sport by way of scoring a couple of targets 25 seconds aside in a rout of the Los Angeles Kings hopefuls on Saturday.
It’s going to be attention-grabbing to look within the coming video games how he’s used on a membership that has a number of younger forwards, particularly facilities Macklin Celebrini and Michael Misa, and already confirmed wingers in Will Smith and Collin Graf, plus second-year NHLer Igor Chernyshov.
Cole Hutson, Washington Capitals
The more youthful brother of 2024-25 Calder Trophy winner, Lane, is because of make his mark. Cole, additionally a defenseman, confirmed smartly in a 14-game stint remaining season after his sophomore yr at Boston College, netting 3 targets and 7 assists for a Washington membership that neglected the playoffs by way of 4 issues.
Washington took daring strikes within the low season to shore up, however it’s obtrusive Hutson is a key to the future. With John Carlson’s departure, Hutson will likely be given his probability to offer much-needed offense from the blueline.
Porter Martone, Philadelphia Flyers
Martone make a large splash when he joined the Flyers after his lone season at Michigan State and picked up 15 issues (six targets, 9 assists) in 19 blended regular-season and playoff contests.
The ability ahead will likely be given each and every probability to be a top-line proper winger. Key will likely be how he fares over an extended season towards the league’s giant our bodies, however the pre-season is a golden probability to set himself up for a large marketing campaign.
Roman Kantserov/Anton Frondell, Chicago Blackhawks
Frondell and Kantserov are pegged to after all give Connor Bedard much-needed younger offensive make stronger for the floundering Blackhawks.
Frondell, the 3rd pick out of the 2025 draft, netted 9 issues (3 targets, six assists) in a dozen video games for Chicago remaining season. Kantserov (forty fourth general in 2023) notched 36 targets and 64 issues for Magnitogorsk of the KHL remaining season.
Bedard would possibly pass over the primary month, which supplies the pair of forwards a chance to seek out their footing in a larger position for a membership that has neglected the playoffs seven consecutive seasons.
