Draft Order Could Get Shaken By Teams Looking To Move Up

The 2026 NHL Draft picture is already starting to tilt, and the teams with assets are quietly eyeing ways to jump the line. That is where draft-night chess gets fun, because every front office thinks it has a smarter read than the one sitting across the table. The clubs near the top have leverage, and the teams climbing the board know how expensive that privilege can be. Once the trade calls start, the real draft begins long before the podium does.