Four current or future Hockey East players selected in first round of NHL Draft

Sport admin June 27, 2026 0 Comments

Four current or future Hockey East players selected in first round of NHL Draft

With the first round in the books, Massachusetts is still awaiting its first selection in this year’s NHL draft. But four different players who are in line to play in Hockey East were taken in the first round.

Below is a look at some of the top talent set to play at local schools next year:

Caleb Malhotra – Drafted 3rd by the Canucks

Committed to Boston University

The 18-year-old son of Canucks coach Manny Malhotra, a veteran of 16 NHL seasons, (and nephew of Steve Nash), Caleb collected 84 points in 67 contests for Brantford in the Ontario Hockey League last year.

At 6-feet-2-inches, 182 pounds, Malhotra has the size and hockey sense to make an impact at both ends of the ice for both the Canucks and Terriers. He is the highest-drafted player who will represent the Terriers since Macklin Celebrini was drafted first overall by the Sharks out of BU in 2024.

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Tynan Lawrence – Drafted 11th by the Blues

Currently plays for Boston University

Lawrence, 17, joined the Terriers in January and notched seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 games after he left the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Six of those points (one goal, five assists) came in his final eight games of the season as he grew more accustomed to college hockey.

Lawrence’s best asset is his elite speed, though he has great vision and physicality at 6-1. He is slated to return to Commonwealth Avenue next season, and will team up with Malhotra to try and help BU finish better than last year, when it ended the year in sixth place in the conference.

Oscar Hemming – Drafted 14th by the Blue Jackets

Currently plays for Boston College

Hemming, who is from Vaasa, Finland, joined the Eagles on Dec. 28 and contributed one goal and seven assists in 18 games. The powerful 6-4 forward led Finland in scoring at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with four goals and two assists in five games.

He is anticipated to play at The Heights again for Greg Brown next season. His brother, Emil, was a 2024 first-round pick by the Stars.

Maksim Sokolovskii – Drafted 27th by the Flyers

Committed to the University of Maine for 2027-28 season

Sokolovskii, a native of Kazakhstan who had eight points in 44 games for the London Knights in the OHL last year, is a towering figure. At 6-7, 240 pounds, the left-shot defenseman is known for his physicality, finishing last season with 23 shots and 49 penalty minutes.

The Flyers traded back to select Sokolovskii, but a player of his size and skating ability will be an important piece on the blue line. He is committed to Maine for the 2027-28 season, meaning he’ll have one more season in London before arriving in the Hockey East.