This is an update to a July 24 article setting forth the college hockey programs which will have 2026 NHL draft picks on its 2026-27 rosters. The primary changes include the removal of Anaheim forward prospect Nikita Klepov (signed with ANA, voiding his commitment to Michigan State University), and additional information concerning Providence College and the Universities of Wisconsin, Minnesota & Minnesota-Duluth.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY:
C Caleb Malhotra (3rd overall to VAN) (OHL Hamilton)
C Tynan Lawrence (11th overall to STL) (NCAA Boston University)
D Xavier Villeneuve (34th overall to CHI) (QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand)
LW/RW Niklas Aram-Olsen (41st overall to VAN) (SHL Orebro)
Comments: Fellow 2026 picks D Luke Schairer (75th overall to STL) and G Brady Knowling (127th overall to SJS) will play for BU in 2027-28. Each will compete in the OHL this season, Schairer for Peterborough and Knowling for Saginaw. Adding Malhotra to the lineup, to compliment returning sophomore Lawrence, brings considerable depth up the middle for BU.
BOSTON COLLEGE:
LW Oscar Hemming (14th overall to CBJ) (NCAA Boston College)
RW Casey Mutryn (38th overall to SEA) (USNTDP)
G Roberto Henriquez (170th overall to BOS) (USHL Green Bay)
Comments: Casey Mutryn will attend BC as a freshman this season with brother Teddy Mutryn (95th overall in 2025 to SJS), who played for the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats in 2025-26. New Jersey’s 2026 37th overall pick Matias Vanhanen is committed to attend BC in 2027-28, after playing with Everett of the WHL for one more season.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN:
RW/LW JP Hurlbert (23rd overall to DET) (WHL Kamloops)
F Adam Valentini (96th overall to UTA) (NCAA University of Michigan)
Comments: In addition to these players, the Wolverines feature a strong freshman class led by projected #1 overall pick in 2027, D Landon DuPont, and 2025 first-round picks D Cameron Reid (NSH) and Jack Nesbitt (PHI).
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY:
D Chase Reid (7th overall by the SEA) (OHL Sault Ste. Marie)
LW Ethan Belchetz (17th overall to UTA) (OHL Windsor)
C Jack Hextall (30th overall to CGY) (USHL Youngstown)
D Tommy Bleyl (31st overall to NSH) (QMJHL Moncton)
Comments: D Jonas Kemps (98th overall to FLA) is committed to the Spartans for 2027-28. He will play for WHL Seattle this season.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
D Carson Carels (6th overall to CGY) (WHL Prince George)
D Keaton Verhoeff (9th overall to SJS) (NCAA North Dakota)
D Ethan MacKenzie (69th overall to TOR) (WHL Edmonton)
RW Connor Davis (129th overall to VAN) (USHL Cedar Rapids)
Comments: Twin brothers Markus Ruck (39th overall to PIT) and Liam Ruck (22nd overall to PIT) are committed to UND for the 2027-28 season. They both will return to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers this year.
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER:
D Daxon Rudolph (4th overall to BUF) (WHL Prince Albert)
D Ryan Lin (21st overall to SJS) (WHL Vancouver)
D Ben MacBeath (64th overall to NYR) (WHL Calgary)
F Mikey Berchild: (105th overall to CAR) (USNTDP)
Comments: Denver used the draft as a back-end reload to defend its national championship. Seattle prospect Blake Fiddler (36th overall in 2025) also will join the Pioneers’ D-corps.
PENN STATE UNIVERSTY:
LW Jaxon Cover (32nd overall to OTT) (OHL London)
C Egor Shilov (43rd overall to COL) (USHL Green Bay)
G Ryder Fetterolf(125th overall to CAR) (OHL Ottawa)
Comments: Offense brought in to compensate for the loss of first overall pick Gavin McKenna (TOR). Also brought in goalie Fetterolf, 2025-26 OHL Goaltender of the Year, who will compete with undrafted sophomore netminder Josh Fleming for the starting role, giving the Nittany Lions a solid tandem.
MIAMI (OH) UNIVERSITY:
D Timofei Runtso (57th overall to MTL) (WHL Victoria)
C Ilia Morozov (C) (20th overall to BUF) (NCAA Miami)
Comments: Miami is looking to return to prominence in adding this youthful talent.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE:
C Ryder Cali (48th overall to FLA) (OHL North Bay)
F Blake Zielinski (80th overall to LAK) (USHL Des Moines)
C Thomas Vandenberg (103rd overall to LAK) (OHL Ottawa)
G Jack Parsons (220th overall to WPG) (NCAA Providence College)
Comments: OHL Windsor D Andrew Robinson (133rd overall to LAK) will join the Friars in 2027-28.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN:
F Zach Wooten (116th overall to WPG) (USHL Green Bay)
Comments: USHL Chicago d-man Jayden Kurtz (45th overall to ANA) will join the Badgers in 2027-28.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA:
F Matt Cullen (10th overall to NSH) (USNTDP)
Comments: Cullen’s younger brother, 2028 draft-eligible forward Joey Cullen, will join the Golden Gophers in 2027-28.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH:
F Victor Plante (47th overall to DET) (USNTDP)
G Carl Axelsson (115th overall by UTA) (USHL Muskegon)
Comments: Plante joins brothers Max (47th overall to DET in 2025) and Zam (150th overall to PIT in 2022) on the Bulldogs’ roster.