THW Writers Put Their Spin On Round 1 Of The 2026 Draft

The Hockey Writers are taking their shot at the first round, and mock drafts always tell you as much about the evaluators as they do about the prospects. Once the board gets this close to the real thing, every pick becomes a referendum on risk tolerance, upside, and who is willing to trust their gut. These exercises are never perfect, but they are a good way to see where the arguments are hardening before the actual draft room chaos begins.