Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra, Daxon Rudolph, Alberts Smits; NHL Draft First-Round Recap

Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra, Daxon Rudolph, Alberts Smits; NHL Draft First-Round Recap

Author: National Hockey League June 27, 2026 Duration: 37:16
The first round of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is in the books, and co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale cover all aspects. They spoke with Gavin McKenna moments after he was chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick, as well as the rest of the top five selections: Ivar Stenberg of the San Jose Sharks, Caleb Malhotra of the Vancouver Canucks, Daxon Rudolph of the Buffalo Sabres and Alberts Smits of the New York Rangers. Adam and Mike also discuss some other highlights of the draft, including Liam Ruck to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ilia Morozov calling his shot with the Sabres and much more.

Ever wonder about the journey from a promising teenager to a name called at the podium? NHL Draft Class, presented by the National Hockey League, pulls back the curtain on that exact process. This isn't just a rundown of rankings; it's a series of conversations that get into the grit and character of the next generation of hockey stars. You'll hear directly from the prospects themselves-their training routines, personal motivations, and the nerves of draft day. The audio goes beyond the stats with analysis from scouts and league insiders who break down what makes each player unique, from a defenseman's hockey IQ to a forward's release. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting a backstage pass to the most pivotal moment in a young athlete's career. It captures the anticipation, the strategy from team war rooms, and the raw emotion of dreams becoming reality. For anyone fascinated by the future of the sport and the human stories behind the jerseys, this series offers a compelling, insider's perspective on how a draft class is built.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

NHL Draft Class
Podcast Episodes
S6: Nick Smith, NHL Central Scouting; Top OHL prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:57
Nick Smith of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Ontario Hockey League, among them Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh, Oshawa forward…
S6: John Williams, NHL Central Scouting; WHL top prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:50
John Williams of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Western Hockey League, among them Medicine Hat forward Cayden Lindstrom, and w…
S6: Pat Cullen, NHL Central Scouting; Top USHL/NTDP prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:19
Pat Cullen of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the United States Hockey League and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, a…
S6: Mock Draft 1.0; NHL Draft Lottery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
With the San Jose Sharks winning the NHL Draft Lottery and the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, NHL Draft Class hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale go over their first mock draft, for the 16 teams in the…
S6: J-F Damphousse, NHL Central Scouting; Top QMJHL prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
J-F Damphousse of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, among them Chicoutimi right wing Maxim…
S6: Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting: Top goalie prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
Al Jensen, the goalie guru of NHL Central Scouting, joins the podcast to discuss the top goalies available, including Mikhail Yegorov of Omaha of the USHL and what pushed him up to No. 1 in Central Scouting's final ranki…