The Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold one first round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, likely in the in the 18 to 22 range given current standings. No Gavin McKenna unfortunately, but in a reportedly deep draft, a few interesting options projected to be available later in the first round make sense as the team continues to build for a post-Crosby, Malkin, and Letang future.

With three all three first round picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft–Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, and Will Horcoff–all emerging as legitimate NHL prospects, a hit in the first round in 2026 really solidifies the Penguins prospect pool from a liability into an asset in only three years.

Combining draft rankings from nine different sources produces a list of 90 prospects with at least one first round projection then ranked according to averages across all rankings. View the full list here.

After combining the nine different sources, 19 players appear on all projections:

1. Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State, NCAA)
2. Keaton Verhoeff (D, North Dakota, NCAA)
3. Ivar Stenberg (F, Frölunda HC, SHL)
4. Tynan Lawrence (C, Boston University, NCAA)
5. Ethan Belchetz (LW, Windsor Spitfires, OHL)
6. Chase Reid (D, Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
7. Ryan Lin (D, Vancouver Giants, WHL)
8. Alberts Smits (D, Jukurit, Liiga)
9. Mathis Preston (F, Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
10. Xavier Villeneuve (D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)
11. Daxon Rudolph (D, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
12. Carson Carels (D, Prince George Cougars, WHL)
13. Viggo Björck (C, Djurgardens IF, SHL)
14. Adam Novotny (F, Peterborough Petes, OHL)
15. Elton Hermansson (F, MoDo Hockey, HockeyAllsvenskan)
16. Marcus Nordmark (Djurgardens IF U20, U20 Nationell)
17. Malte Gustafsson (D, HV71, SHL)
18. Juho Piiparinen (D, Tappara, Liiga)
19. Caleb Malhotra (C, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)

McKenna remains the consensus first overall pick with Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff closing the gap with strong seasons in the SHL and NCAA, respectively. Outside of the top three, Tynan Lawrence, Ethan Belchetz, and Chase Reid all average out as top 10 picks. From there, projections get a little murkier.

Pittsburgh Penguins Targets

Marcus Nordmark
RW, Djurgardens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)

Marcus Nordmark boasts 29 points in 20 games with the Djurgardens IF U20 team at only 17 years old. Additionally, Nordmark stood out as the leading scorer at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with seven goals and 12 points in only five games with Sweden. Nordmark likely needs time to develop but clearly brings legitimate offensive skills. Think Lucas Raymond as a ceiling. Expect a team to take a chance on Nordmark in the teens, likely out of reach for the Penguins.

Malte Gustafsson
D, HV71 (SHL)

Though likely needing a few seasons to develop, Malte Gustafsson looks the part of a modern two-way defenseman with good size–6’4″, 203 lbs.–and some ability to drive offense–three points in 14 SHL games and nine points in 14 games in the U20 Nationell. Dubas loaded up on right-handed defensive prospects in the past two drafts. With the left side lacking depth, Gustafsson fits a need. Think Marcus Pettersson, maybe even Hampus Lindholm as a ceiling and likely a legitimate options in the early 20s.

Juho Piiparinen
D, Tappara (Liiga)

Likely to climb rankings by the end of the season, Juho Piiparinen, a 6’3”, 203 lbs. Finnish blueliner, carries three assists in 28 Liiga games. The right-handed defenseman played in four games, recording one assist, for Finland in the World Junior Championship. Described as a capable puck-mover with a solid all-around skillset, think Esa Lindell and, though a good fit for the Penguins, likely out of reach.

Caleb Malhotra
C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

The son of longtime NHL veteran Manny Malhotra–also a former Maple Leafs assistant coach under Dubas–looks like the prototypical pick favored by the Penguins and currently leads the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL with 57 points, including 31 goals, in 42 games. Committed to Boston University next season, the high hockey IQ, 6’2”, 183 lbs. center likely goes in the top 15, maybe the top 10, with comparisons to Bo Horvat.

J.P. Hurlbert
F, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Expect the Penguins to keep a close eye on J.P. Hurlbert, a teammate of Harrison Brunicke with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Hurlbert ranks second in the WHL with 67 points, including 29 goals, in 42 games. Last season, Hurlbert led the United States National Team Development Program U18 team with 16 goals and 31 points in in 34 USHL games. Maybe a bit one-dimensional, the ability to score at evert level–including 112 goals in 75 games as a U14 AAA player–definitely jumps off the page. Committed to the University of Michigan next season, think Dylan Cozens if progression stays on track.

Nikita Klepov
F, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Nikita Klepov leads Saginaw Spirit in the OHL with 25 goals and 56 points in 42 games and recently names the Player of the Game at the OHL Top Prospects Game. Committed to Michigan State next season, Klepov recorded 31 points in 59 USHL games with the Sioux City Musketeers last season and projects as a top-six winger in the style of Nikolaj Ehlers as a ceiling.

Egor Shilov
C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

Like Hurlbert in Kamloops, expect the Penguins to be keeping tabs on Yegor Shilov, a teammate of Gabriel D’Aigle with the Victoriaville Tigres in the QMJHL. Shilov leads team with 56 points, including 21 goals, in 40 games and carries only a -1 plus/minus rating one of the lower-ranked teams in the league. Committed to Boston University next season, some detractors note a lack of effort or engagement at times despite arguably elite skills. Think Evgeny Kuznetsov–a highly skilled, flashy player with, at times, questionable consistency.

Oscar Hemming
F, Boston College (NCAA)

Oscar Hemming joined Boston College after missing the first half of the 2025-26 season due to eligibility and contract disputes in Finland. With three points–all assists–in six games, the 6’4″, 198 lbs. figures to be a nice addition to the lineup as the Eagles look to push for a spot in the Frozen Four Tournament. Last year, Hemming recorded 63 points in only 31 games in the U18 league in Finland as a 16-year-old.

Jack Hextall
C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Potentially the type of player Dubas–and other NHL general managers–reach for, Jack Hextall plays a strong two-way game and boasts 38 points in 39 USHL games for the Youngstown Phantoms–good progression on 34 points in 53 games last season. Committed to Michigan State next season, the 6’0″, 185 lbs. center finished second on the United States with seven points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament.

Outliers

Tomas Chrenko
C, HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)

Tomas Chrenko potentially played into a first round selection with five goals and eight points in five games with Slovakia at the 2026 World Junior Championship and showing the ability to play at a higher level with HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga, the top league in Slovakia. Chrenko currently ranks sixth on the team with 22 points in 33 games and leads all U20 players in the league. Maybe a bit of a stretch, but think Martin Necas as a ceiling with good offensive ability and transition play.

Ilia Morozov
F, Miami (NCAA)

A dark horse candidate to slide into the first round, Ilia Morozov, a big 6’3”, 203 lbs. center with 14 points in 24 games with Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA, plays with physicality and strong in all zones. One of only five 17 year olds in the NCAA, Morozov recorded 22 points in 59 games with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL last season. Think Anton Lundell as a player comparison. Probably a lower ceiling but a higher floor compared to Chrenko.