Jets select Viggo Bjorck 8th overall in NHL Draft, Leafs pick McKenna 1st
Posted June 26, 2026 6:03 pm.
Last Updated June 26, 2026 10:06 pm.
The first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is underway, and the Winnipeg Jets are looking to add some depth and talent by selecting Viggo Bjorck with the eighth overall selection.
The Jets finished the 2025-26 season in 26th overall with a record of 35-35-12, but fell one spot in the draft lottery to eighth.
It's a GR8️⃣ day to welcome Viggo Björck to our Winnipeg Jets family! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/LhaDfj2EAE
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 27, 2026
Bjorck played 42 games for Djurgarden in the SHL, where he scored six goals and had nine assists.
The centre also played for Sweden in the 2025-26 World Juniors and in the Men’s World Championship, where he got a signed stick from Sidney Crosby.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who won the draft lottery, selected Gavin McKenna first overall.
1st round picks
| Pick number | Team selecting | Player selected | Position | Team selected from (league selected from). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (Big 10) |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks | Ivar Stenberg | LW | Frolunda (Sweden) |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks | Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford (OHL) |
| 4 | Buffalo Sabers (from CHI) | Daxton Rudolph | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
| 5 | New York Rangers | Alberts Smits | D | Munchen (Germany) |
| 6 | Calgary Flames | Carson Carels | D | Prince George (WHL) |
| 7 | Seattle Kraken | Chase Ried | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets | Viggo Bjorck | C | Djurgarden (Sweden) |
| 9 | San Jose Sharks (from FLA via OTT) | Keaton Verhoeff | D | North Dakota (NCHC) |
| 10 | Nashville Predators | Wyatt Cullen | LW | USA U-18 (NTDP – NSHL) |
| 11 | St. Louis Blues | Tynan Lawrence | C | Boston University (H-EAST) |
| 12 | New Jersey Devils | Alexander Command | C | Orebro Jr. (Sweden – Jr.) |
| 13 | New York Islanders | Malte Gustafsson | D | HV71 (Sweden) |
| 14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Oscar Hemming | LW | Boston College (H-EAST) |
| 15 | Anaheim Ducks (from DET via STL) | Nikita Klepov | RW | Saginaw (OHL) |
| 16 | St. Louis Blues (from WSH) | Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec (QMJHL) |
| 17 | Utah Mammoth (from LAK) | Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor (OHL) |
| 18 | Washington Capitals from (ANA) | Oliver Suvanto | C | Tappara (Finland) |
| 19 | Los Angeles Kings (from UTA) | Elton Hermansson | RW | Modo (Sweden-2) |
| 20 | Buffalo Sabres (from EDM via SJS) – | Ilia Morozov | C | Miami (NCHC) |
| 21 | San Jose Sharks (from PHI) | Ryan Lin | D | Vancouver (WHL) |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
| 23 | Detroit Red Wings (From BOS via UTA) | Jeffrey (JP) Hurlbert | LW | Kamloops (WHL) |
| 24 | Vancouver Canucks (from MIN) | Adam Novotny | LW | Peterborough (OHL) |
| 25 | Ottawa Senators (from TBL via SEA via FLA) | Jonas Lagerberg hoen | RW | Leksand Jr. (Sweden – Jr.) |
| 26 | Montreal Canadiens (from DAL via CAR via NYR via VGK) | Gleb Pugachyov | RW | Nizhku Novgorod Jr. (Russia – Jr.) |
| 27 | Philadelphia Flyers (from CAR via SJS) | Maksim Sokolovkii | D | London (OHL) |
| 28 | Vegas Golden Knights (from MTL) | Marcus Nordmark | LW | Djurgarden (Sweden) |
| 29 | Anaheim Ducks (from COL via NYI via STL) | Juho Piiparinen | D | Tappara (Finland) |
| 30 | Calgary (From VGK) | Jack Hextall | C | Youngstown (USHL) |
| 31 | Nashville Predators (From CAR) | Thomas Bleyl | D | Moncton (QMJHL) |
| 32 | Ottawa Senators | Jaxon Cover | RW | London (OHL) |
