NHL mock draft: Chaos ensues as trades continue to pile on

The NHL mock draft describes a week of intense trade activity, including multiple moves involving top selections, as teams continue reshaping their rosters ahead of draft night. The Florida Panthers started by dealing the ninth overall pick plus two other first-round picks to the Ottawa Senators, who then used the ninth pick to acquire William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks. The Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks also stayed active, with Buffalo receiving the fourth overall pick in exchange for a package centered on Bowen Byram. Elsewhere, the St. Louis Blues acquired a fourth first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft by trading Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals, with more deals expected before the event ends. The mock draft then lists projected selections 1 through 7, including Gavin McKenna to Toronto and Keaton Verhoeff to San Jose.