NHL Best Bets – 2026 NHL Entry Draft pt II

Malte Gustafsson is a GIGANTIC defenseman

The Sharks' plan for draft night practically announced itself the moment the Eklund deal closed. Every mock draft had the Sharks filling Eklund's vacancy with Ivar Stenberg at second overall. Without the consensus top forwards and top defensemen, these experts had the Sharks addressing the same remaining need at nine: defense. One of San Jose's own beat reporters put it plainly: "I think we are looking at Stenberg and Gustafsson this Friday." That's not speculation dressed up as analysis — that's the read from inside the building. And Gustafsson specifically is identified as a San Jose target on ESPN's pre-draft targets list, described as "a one-man play killer, Gustafsson cemented his status as a high-end defensive prospect by becoming a regular on HV71's SHL team, a rare feat for a draft-eligible defender — most likely NHL outcome: No. 2/3 defenseman." Yeah this is looking like an NHL best bet.

Here's where the fit goes from logical to almost ideal. Sam Dickinson — San Jose's 11th overall pick in 2024 — is a 6-foot-3 left-shot defenseman who projects as a franchise-anchor on the blue line. The Sharks have Sam Dickinson drafted at 11th overall in 2024, and a few other decent prospects, but that's about it on defense. He needs a partner. He needs depth behind him. And he needs the kind of defensive reinforcement that allows him to develop his offensive game without carrying the full weight of the blue line.

Gustafsson is built for exactly that role. His shutdown instincts, rush-defense excellence, and intelligent positional play make him the ideal second anchor on a left-heavy pairing — a player who takes care of business in his own end so the dynamic play-driver beside him can operate with more freedom. Two 6-foot-4 left-shot defenders with elite skating and complementary skill sets, growing together under the same development staff for the next decade, is a foundation San Jose hasn't had since the peak Brent Burns/Marc-Edouard Vlasic era. The dominos falling into place at a +130 makes this an NHL best bet.

Ethan Belchetz the chaotic winger that oozes skill

The Nashville Predators didn't get their nickname from playing a finesse brand of hockey. Smashville is built on physicality, compete, and the kind of forward who makes opposing coaches' nights miserable from the opening face-off to the final buzzer. New GM Chris MacFarland walked into draft night saying he wants to get better at wing and down the middle, and the franchise's own website just published a scouting profile on Ethan Belchetz as one of five wingers they could target with the tenth pick. At +360, the market is telling you this outcome is a longshot. The Predators' organizational DNA is telling you something different and why this is an NHL best bet.

Belchetz is a 6-foot-5, 227-pound left wing who spent the 2025-26 season with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, where he scored 34 goals and 25 assists over 57 games. He was selected first overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.Nashville's franchise identity has always been built on big, physical, compete-heavy forwards who impose their will on opponents. And the Predators have already selected Brady Martin to fit this profile. Adding another power forward in Belchetz solidifies this identity up front.

MacFarland's stated offseason priorities also align with what Belchetz provides. The new GM said the Predators are looking to improve down the middle and on the wing, and that getting incrementally better in areas a little at a time is the approach. A 6-foot-5 power forward who scores 34 goals in the OHL, plays on the power play, leads his team in physical play, and has Matthew Tkachuk comparisons attached to his name is not incremental improvement. It's a statement pick. and NHL best bet.