Dallas Stars conclude Day Two of 2026 NHL Draft

FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill and Director of Amateur Scouting Joe McDonnell concluded the 2026 NHL Draft by selecting five players on Saturday. Below is a review of all five selections from the two-day draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

Jakub Vaněček -- Defenseman (second round, 59th overall)

Vaněček, 18, spent the 2025-26 campaign with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. The six-foot-one, 191-pound defenseman posted 35 points (14-21—35) in 59 regular-season games with four power-play goals and two game-winning goals. His 35 points during the season topped all Tri-City defensemen while ranking sixth overall on the team. Vaněček also tied for second in power-play goals (4) and fifth in goals (14). A native of Humpolec, Czechia, Vaněček represented his country at the 2026 U18 World Junior Championship where he earned a bronze medal after registering five points (3-2—5) in seven games played, which tied for fifth on the team. His three goals led all defensemen at the tournament. Additionally, Vaněček also was a part of the 2026 U20 World Junior Championship silver medal team. 

Elite Prospects

Ryan Brown -- Left Wing (fifth round, 155th overall)

Brown, 18, started the 2025-26 season with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL, serving as the team's alternate captain, appearing in 34 regular-season games (6-17—23) before being traded to the London Knights (OHL). The native of Newmarket, Ontario played in 33 regular-season games (16-24—40) for the Knights with a plus/minus rating of plus-seven. The five-foot-11, 172-pound forward recorded five points (3-2—5) and one game-winning goal in five playoff games.

Elite Prospects

Anton Emil Wilde Larsen -- Goaltender (sixth round, 187th overall)

Wilde Larsen, 18, appeared in 13 regular-season games with the Frederikshavn White Hawks (Denmark) during the 2025-26 campaign, posting a 4.80 goals-against average and .850 save percentage. A native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, the six-foot-four, 203-pound netminder also represented Denmark at the 2026 U18 and U20 World Junior Championship.

Elite Prospects

Jasper Kuhta -- Center (seventh round, 197th overall)

Kuhta, 19, registered 63 points (32-31—63) in 62 regular-season games with the Ottawa 67's (OHL) during the 2025-26 season, carrying a plus/minus rating of plus-25. His 32 goals led the team, while his 63 points tied for second. The six-foot-two, 199-pound center also appeared in nine playoff games, recording seven points (2-5—7) and one game-winning goal. A native of Helsinki, Finland, Kuhta represented Team Finland at the U20 World Junior Championship, totaling eight points (2-6—8) in seven games played.

Elite Prospects

Mikhail Cherepanov -- Defenseman (seventh round, 219th overall)

Cherepanov, 18, posted 31 points (5-26—31) in 56 regular-season games with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL) during the 2025-26 campaign. The six-foot-two, 188-pound defenseman ranked third on the team in scoring (31) while topping all defensemen. Cherepanov is a native of Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Elite Prospects