New Jersey Devils' 2026 Mock Draft
Mocking all six draft picks the New Jersey Devils have in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in accordance with the 32 draft profiles that have been put out in the last six weeks or so.
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All 2026 NHL Entry Draft Profiles:
12th Overall (First Round): Ethan Belchetz | Ryan Lin | Oscar Hemming | Wyatt Cullen | Viggo Björck | Xavier Villeneuve | Adam Novotný | Elton Hermansson | Tynan Lawrence | Nikita Klepov | Oliver Suvanto
35th Overall (Second Round): Mathis Preston | Marcus Nordmark (blurb) | Juho Piiparainen (blurb) | Gleb Pugachyov (blurb)
44th Overall (Second Round): Tommy Bleyl | Axel Elofsson | Victor Plante | Maksim Sokolovskii | Lars Steiner | Samu Alalauri
108th Overall (Fourth Round): Beckett Hamilton | Alan Shaikhlislamov | Nils Bartholdsson | Giorgos Pantelas
140th Overall (Fifth Round): Landon Hafele | Jonas Kemps | William Manchuso | Malcom Gästrin
172nd Overall (Sixth Round): Philippe Veilleux | Casper Juustovaara Karlsson
After 32 draft profiles, the time has finally come for my full 2026 mock draft for the New Jersey Devils. It’s been a long time coming, and with the draft going down tomorrow, there is quite literally no better time to get it done.
Without wasting any words, let’s jump right in:
12: Wyatt Cullen (F)
6’1, 172 pounds | Full Profile Here
With their first pick — 12th overall — I have the Devils going with forward Wyatt Cullen. The USNTDP product enjoyed a rapid growth spurt in 2025-26, growing to 6’1 and 172 pounds while improving on the dynamism that was always present in his game. He was outright the most impressive player in the entire World Junior Championship, proving that his generally lackluster performance with the USNTDP was more a product of the talent around him than his individual efforts.
For Cullen, the name of the game is creative playmaking and manipulation. Subtle head fakes, usage of the boards, magical hands, and no-look passes force defenders to stay on their toes and expect the unexpected, which allows him to perform the obvious plays — cross-ice passes, drives to the slot, etc. — at a higher completion rate. Accessing the inner slot for either a shot attempt or for a high-danger pass is where he shines the most, being arguably the biggest proponent of actually getting the puck to the highest-danger area of the ice of any player in the class.
Cullen’s shot is no slouch, either, with pinpoint accuracy that allows him to pick corners at tough angles. He exploits decoys off the rush well and can see a shot through multiple layers of defense. Defensively, he’s just fine, with an above-average motor and inherent need to have the puck on his stick, and he is surprisingly physical already, given that he grew somewhat recently. As he continues to fill out and grow even a little bit more, I would anticipate this becoming even more of a mainstay in his repertoire.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that Cullen is one of the youngest players in the draft, either, presumably with a bit more developmental runway than others in this spot of the draft. If he’s there, he has to be the pick.
If He’s Gone: Tynan Lawrence (C)
6’0, 185 Pounds | Full Profile Here
If Cullen is off the board come 12th overall, which is possible (though most mock drafts have him getting to the Devils), Tynan Lawrence is an excellent consolation prize.
The 6’0, 185-pound center is as close as you can get to a Dylan Larkin-type player in this draft, with aggressive downhill skating being the biggest driver of play in his arsenal. He has a violent, explosive stride that gives him separation speed in a couple of steps, and has an above-average shot and, in my viewings, above-average playmaking chops to boot.
Some have questioned his hockey sense after his rough production at the NCAA level, but I think there is far too much stock being taken in a player matriculating early and being dropped into heavy usage on a trainwreck Boston University team. There were flashes of high-level give-and-goes and playdriving out of Lawrence, and his defensive game was already one of the best on BU’s roster. I think he’s a top-10 caliber player, even if he doesn’t have the ceiling Cullen does, and if he’s available while Cullen isn’t, Lawrence should unequivocally be the pick.
If They’re Both Gone: Ryan Lin (RHD)
5’11, 176 Pounds | Full Profile Here
I certainly subscribe to the ideology that picking the best player available is always the correct decision, regardless of position, and defenseman Ryan Lin may end up being that guy. Should both Cullen and Lawrence be off the board, Lin will almost certainly still be available, and he would be a great snag.
The young righty is a toolsy, do-it-all defenseman who would be a consensus top-five pick if he had a couple more inches on him. He’s an incredibly fluid skater, which he uses both to drive play through the neutral zone and to neuter rush attempts against him. Lin is excellent at finding stretch pass opportunities, using chip-outs to get the puck to streaking forwards, and can manipulate the blue line with possession of the puck to draw in defenders before capitalizing on open space.
Defensively, Lin’s positioning is pristine, his stickwork is tidy and useful, and he’s an excellent retriever who works hard along the boards to get the puck back in battles. There’s really nothing not to like about his game, and the Devils would be inheriting a future top-four blueliner by drafting him.
35: Xavier Villeneuve (LHD)
5’11, 157 Pounds | Full Profile Here
I had listed Xavier Villeneuve as a potential fit for the 12th overall pick, with the caveat that I thought he might be available for their second-round pick by virtue of his size — he is a minuscule 5’11 and 157 pounds. Now, with the 35th overall selection in their draft stock, I think the chances of him being available for the Devils went up tremendously.
The diminutive defenseman arguably has the highest offensive ceiling of any rearguard in the entire draft, and it’s all by virtue of his combination of mobility, stickhandling, and passing chops. In many, many ways, Villeneuve mimics the game of Lane Hutson, manipulating the blueline to draw multiple defenders to his location before making them pay with savvy cross-ice passes or exploiting his edgework to lose the coverage himself and access the interior of the ice.
Defensively, there is most definitely some work to be done, but I’m a huge fan of Villeneuve’s work ethic and his willingness to improve in every facet of the game. His positioning can be suspect at times, as he can puck-chase with the intention of getting the puck back a bit too much, but it’s something that can very easily be improved upon.
Given his offensive ceiling and willingness to improve in areas he lacks, Villeneuve would be a great get for the Devils at 35. New Jersey needs that type of game-breaker in their pipeline.
If He’s Gone: Mathis Preston (F)
5’11, 172 Pounds | Full Profile Here
If Villeneuve is taken — which I don’t think he will be — Mathis Preston is another dynamic forward the Devils could add to the cupboard. He’s raw, needs to polish his defensive game more, and needs to add strength and physicality to his game. Still, the offensive upside is legitimately immense and, if he hits, he could be a legitimate top-six rush playdriver.
Preston is most effective off the rush, using his best-in-class speed to create separation and be a constant counter-attacking threat. His shot is high-end to boot, which he uses to both punish goaltenders and to use as a decoy in odd-man rushes, and he has the hands and explosiveness to access the interior of the ice with ease. His playmaking game is underrated, too, being able to find cross-ice options and draw defenders to himself while opening up space for pass options more often than some seem to think.
At 35, a high-upside swing is the way to go, and Preston certainly profiles as that.
If They’re Both Gone: Juho Piiparinen (RHD)
6’3, 203 Pounds | Blurb Here
If both Villeneuve and Preston are gone, the Devils can certainly go the safe route and draft Juho Piiparainen, who looks close to being ready to contribute to an NHL role right now. He’s toolsy and defensively sound and, to me, has some underrated puck-moving chops that show me he can be a two-way defenseman in a third-pair role within the next two years. He leverages his size quite well in battles and in sealing off opponents rushing against him, and he does so without sacrificing defensive positioning. His ceiling may be a bit limited, but he profiles like a solid #4 defenseman.
44: Samu Alalauri (RHD)
6’2, 220 Pounds | Full Profile Here
I’m a huge fan of what Piiparainen’s fellow countryman, Samu Alalauri, brings to the table as a do-it-all two-way defenseman who looks closer to competing for an NHL lineup than just about anyone at this spot in the draft (perhaps just under his counterpart).
Alalauri is exactly the type of player that NHL GMs should be salivating over. He’s tall enough but heavy, and that weight doesn’t impede his smooth-skating abilities whatsoever. In particular, his four-way mobility is a strength, making him one of the best neutral zone defenders in the entire draft and allowing him to be a surprising facilitator with the puck on his stick. He has a heavy one-timer and highly-regarded shot, though I think he is more opportunistic than mechanical in that sense.
From within the offensive zone, Alalauri is a strong playmaker with good vision and a penchant for making subtle moves that manipulate the defense in order for him to more easily access a short-distance pass option.
Alalauri and Piiparainen are somewhat similar players, and though I think Piiparainen has a more projectable floor, Alalauri has a slightly higher ceiling. At worst, I think Alalauri will be a good #5 defenseman, but I do think he has the capabilities to meaningfully produce in a top-four role.
If He’s Gone: Lars Steiner (RW)
5’10, 172 Pounds | Full Profile Here
I have a lot of time for Lars Steiner as a potential draftee for the New Jersey Devils, especially if Alalauri is off the board at this spot. Steiner is small, and his offensive ceiling is somewhat limited, but there are few, if any, harder-working individuals in the draft class, and I think that alone will make him a viable bottom-six energy forward at the NHL level. The Swiss-born winger’s defensive game is his bread and butter, feasting on counter-attack opportunities and being such a nuisance along the boards that players with six inches and 50 pounds on him struggle to win battles. Offensively, though he isn’t much of a driver, his shot is strong and he should be able to contribute double-digit goal totals in the show.
108: Alan Shaikhlislamov (RW)
6’1, 187 Pounds | Full Profile Here
Alan Shaikhlislamov rapidly rose up many a draft ranking this season, coming into 2025-26 as a relative unknown but playing so well in the MHL that he was forced into mid-round conversations.
The 17-year-old, like Cullen, is one of the youngest players in the draft and presumably has a lot of developmental advantage because of it. Already, though, he has two tools working in his favor: his motor and his shot. Shaikhlislamov is an incredibly hard-working individual on both sides of the puck, being an incessant pest on the forecheck and playing extremely physically in every area of the ice. He establishes body positioning early, doles out open-ice hits, and excels at performing power moves while driving to the net.
Shaikhlislamov’s off-puck IQ means that he is constantly putting himself in a prime area of the ice to use his shot, which is heavy, deceptive, and accurate. His one-timer is very explosive, which forces goalies and defenders alike to constantly respect the possibility that it is coming on both the power play and at 5v5.
Shaikhlislamov is neither an apt playdriver nor an apt playmaker, though, meaning that his NHL ceiling is likely a complementary bottom-six winger who engages heavily on the forecheck and can occasionally put a puck in the back of the net. That isn’t a bad thing whatsoever, though, and the Devils would certainly enjoy drafting him at 108.
If He’s Gone: Nils Bartholdsson (RW)
5’10, 179 Pounds | Full Profile Here
Shaikhlislamov’s meteoric rise may put him out of contention for the 108th overall selection, and if it does, Nils Bartholdsson should be the preferred pick.
The small-framed forward is a very hard worker, as you’d expect given his size, and possesses a very strong shot as well as hands that allow him to exploit defenders and goaltenders from every area of the ice. His skating is alright, with explosiveness being his best attribute there, and he uses it in conjunction with his other tools to constantly get to the inner slot. Defensively, he forces a ton of turnovers by virtue of his strength and pest-like nature. There’s a lot to like, and 108 seems like a perfectly reasonable spot for him.
140: Malcom Gästrin (F)
6’0, 174 Pounds | Full Profile Here
For a fifth-round possibility, I’m a huge fan of what Malcom Gästrin brings to the table. The brother of recently traded second-round pick Milton Gästrin, Malcom is a very creative visionary with an excellent feel for the offensive side of the game. He can playmake from every area of the ice, using his above-average hands, full-body fakes, and his brain to manipulate the defense into moving one way or another before passing it in the opposite direction. As a shooter, he’s just okay, but it doesn’t matter at his level because of how excellent a playmaker he is.
Defensively, there is a lot of work to be done. Gästrin can be disengaged at times and look uninterested until the puck is in his or his teammates’ hands, which certainly is less than ideal. He also needs to bulk up, lacking in strength and thus being easily knocked off the puck. That said, though, his offensive instincts are excellent, and it’s not often that teams can find a potential third-line playdriver (who is, admittedly, more likely never to make the NHL than make it) at this spot in the draft. He is a worthy pick at 140th overall.
172: Philippe Veilleux (LW)
5’9, 174 Pounds | Full Profile Here
Those who know me may remember my affinity for Philippe Veilleux in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, where he ultimately went undrafted, and I think similarly as highly of him this time around, too. The now-19-year-old dominated the QMJHL, scoring 96 total points in 64 games, and was dynamic in just about every one of them.
Without blazing speed or agility, Veilleux relies on his IQ and dual-threat capabilities as a passer and shooter to get the job done. His skating has improved year-over-year, but it’s still a bit limiting as to his projection at the next level, even despite legitimate dynamism as a space manipulator, passer, and shooter. Veilleux constantly attacks the middle of the ice despite his frame, doling out high-danger, cross-ice passes that others are incapable of performing and subsequently getting himself into open inner-slot ice for a shot attempt. He can just as easily thread a pass over sticks and through traffic as he can catch and release a high-danger pass attempt and pick a corner.
Veilleux is a bit averse to contact, scarcely engaging in board battles or establishing positioning, and he lacks an edge altogether. This very well may hold him back from competing at the next level, whether that is the NCAA or elsewhere, but the toolkit is too tantalizing to pass up, even as an undersized overager. At 172, there is no higher upside bet by my eyes.
In summary, assuming the names listed above are available at their respective slots, my ideal Devils’ 2026 draft looks like this:
12 — Wyatt Cullen (F)
35 — Xavier Villeneuve (LHD)
44 — Samu Alalauri (RHD)
108 — Alan Shaikhlislamov (RW)
140 — Malcom Gästrin (F)
172 — Philippe Veilleux (LW)
With that draft class, the Devils would be adding two legitimately dynamic pieces to their pipeline in Cullen and Villeneuve, a near-surefire future second-pair defenseman in Alalauri, and a few projectable swings for the forward corps in Shaikhlislamov, Gästrin, and Veilleux. Of course, the draft is never a truly predictable thing outside of the #1 pick (and even then, there are always some surprises), so there will be players who are taken earlier than expected and players who will drop. Who knows — perhaps the Devils’ draft picks will also change by the time the draft comes around tomorrow. All that said, assuming they keep the picks, this seems like a reasonable series of events for New Jersey, and one I certainly hope comes to fruition.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft first round will be going down tomorrow, June 26th, at 7:00 PM EST. The second round and beyond will begin Saturday at 11:00 AM EST. Let’s hope the Devils draft well.
Later round draft picks are all about swinging for that ceiling. Floors can be signed or plucked off waivers, but those real gems lurk late and wait for the right team to find them. Like the list -hope we land a few!
I’m curious to see if GM Sunny will continue the pattern of picking a goalie in the draft every year. Are there any goalie prospects you’ve heard of that could be a decent choice for one of the later round picks?