During the World Juniors, Verhoeff got ice time in five games and ended the tournament with four assists and a bronze medal. Not bad considering he was an underage defender at a U20 tournament. There were some very strong moments, and his engagement level was excellent every time he stepped onto the ice.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NHL Draft, including the dates, venue in Buffalo, and top prospects to watch.

The NHL Draft will return to Buffalo, N.Y., for the first time in a decade with the Buffalo Sabres set to host the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft from June 26th (Round 1: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet,

ESPN noted McKenna has long been seen as a "generational talent" and the presumed No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL draft. He helped lead Canada to a bronze medal at the world junior championships and can be a foundational offensive player for whichever team drafts him if he lives up to expectations.

The Vancouver Canucks season is firmly down the toilet, but they are about to set a club record for first-round picks held, sort of.