The Journey from First Pick to First Card Begins at the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft
By Stephen Laroche
The 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is just a few short weeks away, and excitement is building among hockey fans as to where the sport’s best and brightest prospects will be selected.
For more than 35 years, Upper Deck has been the place where first picks become first cards. While all of the prospects listed below are likely to find themselves on a highly coveted Young Guns card in the near future, collectors everywhere can look forward to ripping open a pack and seeing the first overall pick’s iconic Upper Deck Rookie card.
Penn State Star Ready to Make an Impact
Ranked the highest among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Gavin McKenna is coming off an excellent first season at Penn State University. Hailing from Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, he developed into one of hockey’s most exciting prospects during his time with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers, earning CHL Player of the Year honors, before ultimately choosing to continue his development in the American collegiate system.
In 2025-26, the former CHL Player of the Year maintained a high level of offensive output and outscored all Big 10 skaters in the regular season on his way to earning Big 10 Freshman of the Year accolades. Additionally, McKenna returned to play for Team Canada in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, chipping in 14 points on the way to a bronze medal. A slick and speedy forward that can generate plenty of offense, he has the potential to be a star in the hobby, and his Young Guns card is sure to be in high demand once it arrives at Certified Diamond Dealers, retail stores, and Upper Deck’s e-Pack platform.
A Challenger for Number One
While many feel that McKenna is a lock to go first overall, there is an interesting challenger for that honor as well. Swedish sensation Ivar Stenberg set the Swedish Hockey League on fire with Frolunda HC in 2025-26 as he paced all rookies with 22 assists and 33 points. In fact, his totals were the third-highest all-time for a draft-eligible prospect in that league – only behind Hall of Famers Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
A big factor in Sweden’s run to a gold medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Stenberg generated 10 points and later received an invitation to play for his country at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, where he had a final opportunity to make his case for being the number one pick. Over eight tournament games, he delivered four goals and four assists to place third in scoring on a roster loaded with established NHL players. An elite offensive talent, the top-ranked international skater has also received additional praise for his defensive game.
Dynamic Defenders Expect to be Picked Early
For some teams, the need for a potential first-pairing defender is glaring, and there are two players who may hear their names called out soon after the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft begins.
Carson Carels of the Prince George Cougars is the third-ranked North American skater on the Central Scouting list and is coming off a solid season where he ranked fourth among all WHL defenders with 73 points. An agile two-way puck carrier with a booming left-handed shot, he has been praised for his strong work ethic – a product of being raised on a cattle farm. Many fans first saw him during the World Junior Championship, and he has committed to playing with the University of North Dakota in 2026-27.
Speaking of the Fighting Hawks, one of their brightest stars from this season is considered a top pick for the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Keaton Verhoeff placed fourth on Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters and earned a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team. Serving as Canada’s captain at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, this right-hand shooting defender has good offensive potential and logs plenty of minutes on the power play.
Plenty of Prospects Coming Out of Ontario
The Ontario Hockey League continues to produce draft-ready talent, and there are two players in particular that are bound to be early first round picks this year.
Caleb Malhotra fit in beautifully with the Brantford Bulldogs in 2025-26 and proved to be one of the league’s top rookies on the way to a regular season championship. The son of former NHL player Manny Malhotra, his draft stock rose dramatically during playoff action after posting 26 points in just 15 games. His passing skills and competitive nature have been noted by scouts along with his superior hockey sense. He is committed to Boston University next season.
As for Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires, he showed dramatic improvement as an OHL sophomore this season, doubling his goal production while also averaging more than a point per game. Blessed with great size and a willingness to mix in some physical play, he is relentless with or without the puck. Should he not immediately transition to the pro game, he has made a commitment to Michigan State for 2026-27.
As these rising stars look forward to hearing their names called to join the ranks of the NHL, Upper Deck is preparing to introduce them to the hobby community through iconic Young Guns cards. Once these exciting young players hit the ice for the first time as professionals, they’ll also join another elite group as they see their name on a rookie card from Upper Deck – becoming a part of hobby history.