The Athletic released its latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7348495/2026/06/15/nhl-mock-draft-2026-staff-gavin-mckenna/]. Several of their writers predicted the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. When it came to the Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick, Arpon Basu predicted that the Habs would select forward Nikita Klepov this year. Klepov would be a very fascinating prospect for the Canadiens to add to their system. The 17-year-old winger just had a dominant season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, posting 37 goals, 60 assists, and 97 points in 67 games. His 97 points were the most in the entire OHL this season, so it is clear that the young winger has a ton of offensive potential. Klepov would have the potential to be an outstanding fit on a Canadiens club that is full of skilled players. He has the potential to emerge as an impactful NHL forward later down the road, so he could be worth taking a gamble on if he is available when the Habs are on the clock. However, given how strong of a season Klepov just had, it would also not be surprising in the slightest if he is already selected when it is time for the Canadiens to pick. It will be interesting to see what happens on that front, but if Klepov is available, the Canadiens should strongly consider picking him.
