College hockey sees record numbers of NHL draft picks in 2026
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 12:32 AM
Last updated Oct 3, 2026
College SportsAs college hockey begins the 2026 season, it features an unprecedented 30 NHL first-round picks. This surge follows the lifting of a ban on Tier-I Canadian junior players more than a year ago, dramatically reshaping the talent pool. Last season, 258 NHL Draft picks competed in college hockey, marking a record that has now increased to 326. Programs of varying profiles, such as Michigan State and Colorado College, report historic numbers of NHL picks on their rosters. Additionally, nearly half of this season's freshman class comes from the Canadian Hockey League, indicating a trend of NCAA teams increasingly recruiting from this talent-rich pool.
- •Last season had 258 NHL Draft picks; this season has 326.
- •Forty-six NCAA programs have at least one NHL draft pick on rosters.
- •46.8% of incoming freshmen come from the CHL in 2026.
- •NCAA teams are recruiting younger players from the CHL.
- •American players comprise lowest percentage of Division-I rosters since 1974.
- 12:32 AMYahoo Sports — Year 2 of CHL players brings college hockey it's largest talent boom ever
"Oct. 2—GRAND FORKS — Last year, 18 NHL first-round picks played college hockey, the most ever. This year, there are 30. That's more than the entirety of the 1990s. College hockey has been reshaped significantly since it lifted the ban on Tier-I Canadian junior hockey players a little more than a year ago. NHL prospects have flowed into college hockey like never before. Two years ago, 233 NHL ...
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Oct 3, 2026, 1:22 AM‘I didn’t realize he was this soft’: Dave Portnoy blames Ryan Day’s ‘temper tantrums’ for being removed from ‘Big Noon Kickoff’
College Sports•Oct 3, 2026, 1:18 AMThree takeaways from MSU basketball's win over Incarnate Word
College Sports•Oct 3, 2026, 1:09 AMMichigan right tackle Andrew Sprague ruled out for Big Ten road game against Minnesota
College Sports•Oct 3, 2026, 1:07 AMWisconsin running back doubtful for Homecoming game vs. Michigan State
NCAAM•Oct 3, 2026, 1:00 AMGonzaga Women’s 2026-27 Schedule Is Complete
College Sports•Oct 3, 2026, 12:58 AMKentucky vs South Carolina Injury Report: DJ Miller and Tavion Wallace ruled out