The first round of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is the focus of the latest "NHL Draft Class" podcast.
Co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale were joined on the show by each of the top five picks, starting with left wing Gavin McKenna, who went No. 1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.
"Getting to hug my family after all these years of hard work and sacrifices that we've all put into this, for it to finally be here and experience that moment, is something I'll remember forever," McKenna said. "It's one of, if not the best day of my life."
McKenna also talked about the significance of his suit, which represented his First Nations heritage, and what his plans are for the rest of the offseason.
Ivar Stenberg, a forward who went No. 2 to the San Jose Sharks, feels he's ready to step into their lineup next season. He also discussed the possibility of playing on a line with center Macklin Celebrini, who finished fourth in the League this season with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists). Celebrini was the No. 1 pick at the 2024 NHL Draft.
"That would be sick," Stenberg said. "He's one of the best in the world."
Kimelman and Morreale also spoke with center Caleb Malhotra (Vancouver Canucks), and defensemen Daxon Rudolph (Buffalo Sabres) and Alberts Smits (New York Rangers) moments after they were taken with the Nos. 3, 4, and picks, respectively.
The co-hosts also talked about some other big moments from Friday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, some surprises and a few players to watch during rounds 2-7 on Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN).
The "NHL Draft Class" podcast is free, and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms, including iTunes and Spotify. It also is available here and the NHL app.
