Ninety-six prospects from twelve different nations shattered expectations this weekend, signaling a global talent shift as European leagues and overseas development programs dominated the podium in record-breaking fashion.
The 2026 NHL Draft saw a ton of players taking the next step in their hockey careers. However, for players outside of North America, it was one of the best turnouts in recent memory.
It seemed like every round nearly half of the players picked were from countries outside of North America. Which just points to how much other countries' hockey development has come.
Whether they eventually come to North America to play in the CHL or the NCAA, or they are coming from leagues in Sweden, Finland or Russia. It was truly awesome to see the various countries that players were selected from.
Here is a breakdown of international players per round:
| Round | Total # of Players Picked |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 3 | 16 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 12 |
| 7` | 13 |
| Total | 96 |
96 players is simply amazing. Hockey is growing around the globe, and hockey fans finally get to see it up close within the NHL.
Here's a list of countries that had players drafted this weekend:
- Sweden
- Finland
- Latvia
- Russia
- Czechia
- Lithuania
- Norway
- Slovakia
- Belarus
- Hungary
- Moldova
- Germany
12 countries, 96 players, in the NHL draft. Just absolutely incredible to see. It'll be exciting to see how all these players' careers turn out. Of the 96, there's a good chance at least 50-60% will suit up for at least one game in the NHL over this time.
