Story Summary
A non-keeper, 12-team mock draft of 192 players was held on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. It used standard categories and a 16-player roster structure. Nathan MacKinnon went first overall, followed by Connor McDavid at No. 2 and Macklin Celebrini at No. 3. The field included two fantasy writers and fan participants, with simulated fan selections informed by average draft position. The board featured established stars, goaltenders and rookies across 16 rounds.
Key Facts
- The 12-team, 192-player mock draft was conducted on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
- Format: non-keeper; standard fantasy categories for skaters (goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, hits and blocked shots) and goalies (wins, goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts).
- Roster size: 16 players – two centres, two left wings, two right wings, four defencemen, two goalies and four bench spots.
- Two fantasy writers participated, while fan-controlled teams used average draft position for simulated selections.
- The mock-draft board differs from the accompanying top-250 rankings.
- Round 1 top three: 1. Nathan MacKinnon, COL (PJ); 2. Connor McDavid, EDM (T2); 3. Macklin Celebrini, SJS (T3).
- Other Round 1 selections include Nikita Kucherov (No. 4), Leon Draisaitl (No. 5) and Cale Makar (No. 6).
- Notable early defence picks: Cale Makar at No. 6 (Round 1) and Quinn Hughes at No. 13 (Round 2).
- Top goalies in the early rounds: Andrei Vasilevskiy at No. 12 (Round 1), Jake Oettinger at No. 19 (Round 2), Connor Hellebuyck at No. 23 (Round 2).
- Round 3 and 4 featured top names including Jack Eichel (No. 26), Mikko Rantanen (No. 27) and Igor Shesterkin (No. 37).
- Several rookies were drafted: Porter Martone (No. 74), Cole Hutson (No. 95), Gavin McKenna (No. 96), Anton Frondell (No. 135), Ivar Stenberg (No. 169) and Jacob Fowler (No. 182).
- The draft list marked Charlie McAvoy as suspended at No. 70, Connor Bedard as injured at No. 71, Seth Jarvis as injured at No. 118 and Filip Gustavsson as injured at No. 185.
IHM Discussion
The mock draft offers a clear snapshot of the priorities used on 8 September. Nathan MacKinnon going first overall is its clearest statement, with Connor McDavid immediately following at No. 2. Macklin Celebrini at No. 3 reflects confidence in his offensive projection. The opening round combined established point producers such as Nikita Kucherov, David Pastrnak and Kirill Kaprizov with Cale Makar at No. 6 and Andrei Vasilevskiy at No. 12.
Defencemen Quinn Hughes (13) and Evan Bouchard (18) were also selected early, while goaltenders Jake Oettinger (19), Connor Hellebuyck (23), Logan Thompson (25) and Ilya Sorokin (36) followed through the opening three rounds. Later rounds included upside bets on rookies such as Porter Martone and Cole Hutson alongside experienced players.
The board differs from the accompanying top-250 rankings, underlining how draft strategy and average-draft-position-driven selections can produce a different order from a rankings list.
Why It Matters
For fantasy managers preparing for 2026-27, the mock draft provides reference points on value and timing. MacKinnon at No. 1 and McDavid at No. 2 place both at the top of this standard-categories format. The early selection of Cale Makar at No. 6 and Andrei Vasilevskiy at No. 12 also shows one route for managers who want to address defence and goaltending early.
The blend of writer selections and average-draft-position-influenced fan selections models the range of approaches likely in a live draft. It offers useful guideposts for deciding when to pursue high-scoring defencemen, goaltenders and rookies.
Fan Pulse
The mock combined selections from two fantasy writers with fan-controlled teams whose simulated picks were informed by average draft position. That mix produced a board shaped by both individual preferences and public drafting trends. MacKinnon went first overall, Jason Robertson was selected at No. 10 and Gavin McKenna went at No. 96.
Mini Q&A
When and what was this mock draft?
A non-keeper, 12-team mock draft of 192 players was conducted on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, using standard fantasy categories and a 16-player roster format.
Who were the top three picks?
1. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) – PJ; 2. Connor McDavid (EDM) – T2; 3. Macklin Celebrini (SJS) – T3.
How were fan selections handled in the mock?
Fan-controlled teams made simulated selections informed by average draft position.
Which rookies were notably drafted?
Rookies listed include Porter Martone (No. 74), Cole Hutson (No. 95), Gavin McKenna (No. 96), Anton Frondell (No. 135), Ivar Stenberg (No. 169) and Jacob Fowler (No. 182).
Were any player statuses noted in the list?
Yes. Charlie McAvoy was listed as suspended at No. 70; Connor Bedard as injured at No. 71; Seth Jarvis as injured at No. 118; and Filip Gustavsson as injured at No. 185.
When did goalies come off the board early?
Andrei Vasilevskiy was selected at No. 12 (Round 1); Jake Oettinger at No. 19 and Connor Hellebuyck at No. 23 (Round 2); Logan Thompson at No. 25 (Round 3) and Ilya Sorokin at No. 36 (Round 3).
Coach Mark Comment
The format rewards managers who understand where their league’s categories create value. The early rounds show that a high-end forward, a productive defenceman or a leading goaltender can each be a valid foundation, depending on the draft board.
IHM Final View
This 12-team, 192-player mock draft is a useful snapshot of early fantasy thinking for 2026-27. It places Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid at the top of the board while showing the different timings managers may consider for defencemen, goaltenders and rookie upside.