2026 NHL Draft marks historic weekend For Michigan State

In the 2021 NHL Draft, the University of Michigan set an NCAA record with five players selected, including an astonishing four of the first five picks. Those players had either just completed seasons in Ann Arbor or were headed there.

This weekend, Michigan State matched that record with five committed players selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, underscoring the dramatic impact of the 2024 rule change allowing players from the Canadian Major Junior leagues to compete in NCAA hockey. The Spartans were at the center of the draft conversation all weekend. With a record 19 NCAA-affiliated players selected overall, no program was mentioned more frequently during ESPN and TSN's broadcasts than Michigan State.

The celebration for Michigan State began a little later than many expected Friday night, as incoming freshman defenseman Chase Reid slipped to the seventh overall pick, where he was selected by the Seattle Kraken despite being projected as high as No. 3 in many mock drafts.

Reid became one of the stars of the television coverage thanks to a remarkable rise over the past 18 months. After being cut by a USHL team in the fall of 2024, he joined the OHL's Soo Greyhounds and rapidly climbed NHL Draft boards. That move was only possible because of the NCAA's 2024 rule change, which allows players from the Canadian Major Junior leagues to retain NCAA eligibility while remaining committed to college programs.

Reid arrives in East Lansing as one of the most decorated incoming freshmen in the country. The dynamic offensive defenseman is constantly involved in the attack, jumps into the rush with confidence, and possesses a heavy, accurate shot from the blue line. His trophy case already includes a 2025-26 OHL First All-Star Team selection, among several other honors earned during his breakout season.

He is expected to compete immediately for the quarterback role on Michigan State's top power-play unit, likely battling returning defenseman Owen West for that spot. Given his draft status, Reid certainly has the talent to become a one-and-done player. At the same time, defensemen often require a little more development before making the jump to professional hockey, so a two-year stay in East Lansing would hardly be surprising.

The second Spartan commit off the board came as something of a surprise, as incoming freshman forward Nikita Klepov was selected 15th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. While Klepov was widely regarded as a first-round talent, many projections had him going later in the round.

Like Chase Reid, Klepov benefited from the NCAA's 2024 eligibility rule change. A native of Russia, he came to the United States in 2023 before making the jump to the OHL this past season despite already being committed to Michigan State. That decision paid immediate dividends. The 6-foot forward led the OHL in scoring among rookies, producing 38 goals and 64 assists for 102 points in 71 combined regular-season and playoff games with the Saginaw Spirit.

Klepov will now join fellow Anaheim Ducks prospect Eric Nilson, who was drafted by the organization in 2025, giving Michigan State an intriguing international duo from Russia and Sweden.

Scouting reports consistently praise Klepov's relentless motor and ability to impact all three zones. While some evaluators believe his skating still has room to improve, there are few questions about his offensive instincts and production. Michigan State's official X account referred to Klepov as an "incoming freshman" during the draft, confirming what had long been expected – he will arrive in East Lansing for the 2026-27 season.

Two picks later, another future Spartan came off the board as the Utah Mammoth traded up to No. 17 to select incoming freshman forward Ethan Belchetz.

A physically imposing power forward, Belchetz committed to Michigan State in early May after his Windsor Spitfires were eliminated from the OHL playoffs. He missed the latter part of that postseason run after suffering a broken collarbone, the latest in a string of injuries that have interrupted each of the past two seasons.

Belchetz's combination of size and skill has long intrigued NHL scouts. At 6-foot-5 and 229 pounds, he is an outstanding playmaker with the ability to overwhelm defenders physically. Like fellow incoming freshman Nikita Klepov, however, some scouting services questioned his skating, a factor that likely contributed to him slipping out of the top half of the first round.

His development path bears some similarities to Michigan State sophomore Cayden Lindstrom, the 2024 first-round pick whose freshman season in East Lansing was shaped by injury recovery. Belchetz certainly has the talent to become a one-and-done player if he enjoys the kind of breakout season Porter Martone had, but a two-year stay with the Spartans appears to be the more likely scenario.

Assuming he is healthy, Belchetz projects to step immediately into Michigan State's top-six forward group and gives the Spartans another high-end offensive weapon for the 2026-27 season.

Michigan State's total climbed to four late in the first round when incoming freshman forward Jack Hextall was selected 30th overall by the Calgary Flames.

Unlike several of the Spartans' other first-round commits, Hextall followed the more traditional NCAA development path. The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native spent the past two seasons with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, establishing himself as one of the league's top centers.

Where Hextall lines up next season will be one of the more intriguing storylines entering the year. With returning centers and fellow 2025 first-round pick Mason West also arriving in East Lansing, Michigan State will have impressive depth down the middle. Hextall could spend time on the wing as a freshman, but over the course of his collegiate career, center appears to be his natural long-term position.

Hextall is the type of reliable, 200-foot player every coach covets. He combines strong defensive awareness with offensive creativity, finishing just shy of a point per game this season in Youngstown. His versatility and mature all-around game should allow him to contribute immediately, regardless of where he slots into Adam Nightingale's lineup.

The Spartans reached five first-round commits one pick later when the Nashville Predators traded back into the opening round to select defenseman Tommy Bleyl with the 31st overall pick.

Like Chase Reid, Bleyl was one of the biggest risers in this year's draft class. After joining the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, he erupted for 19 goals and 90 assists for 109 points in 84 regular-season and playoff games, establishing himself as one of the premier offensive defensemen in junior hockey.

His remarkable season earned him both the QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year awards. He narrowly missed adding CHL Rookie of the Year honors, finishing behind future Spartan teammate Nikita Klepov.

Bleyl is an elite skater whose ability to lead the rush stands out immediately. He regularly carried the puck the length of the ice, creating scoring chances and often finishing the play himself or setting up teammates. His mobility and offensive instincts make him one of the most exciting defensive prospects in college hockey.

Unlike the previous four first-round Spartan commits, Bleyl is expected to return to Moncton for the 2026-27 season. Michigan State's official social media accounts also did not post an incoming freshman graphic following his selection, further indicating that his arrival in East Lansing is likely targeted for the fall of 2027.

That timeline could ultimately benefit both Bleyl and the Spartans. Another year in junior hockey should allow him to continue adding strength to his frame while refining the defensive side of his game. Given that defensemen typically require more time to develop, particularly those coming from the QMJHL, there is little reason to believe he will bypass college hockey altogether before turning professional.

The attention surrounding Michigan State's recruiting class didn't end Friday night. As noted by the Lansing State Journal's Nathaniel Bott, Spartan commit Brooks Rogowski wasted little time hearing his name called Saturday morning, becoming the first pick of the second round when the Vancouver Canucks selected him 33rd overall.

Rogowski is another example of the size Adam Nightingale and his staff have prioritized up front. At 6-foot-7 and 236 pounds, he brings a rare physical presence, yet his path to the NHL has been remarkably quick. Just two seasons ago, Rogowski was playing MHSAA hockey at Detroit Catholic Central. Since then, he has spent the past two seasons with the OHL's Oshawa Generals, continuing his development despite battling an injury during the 2025-26 campaign.

According to Bott, Rogowski is expected to return to Oshawa for one more season before arriving in East Lansing for the 2027-28 campaign. His combination of size, reach, and developing offensive game gives Michigan State another intriguing long-term piece in what has become one of the nation's premier recruiting classes.

The rest of Saturday became a waiting game as Michigan State watched to see whether any additional commits would hear their names called. The first six selections were widely expected, but beyond that there was no guarantee any other future Spartans would be drafted.

The next Spartan off the board came in the fourth round when the Florida Panthers selected defenseman Jonas Kemps with the 98th overall pick. Originally from Southern California, Kemps has taken an unconventional development path and will skate for his third junior team next season after joining the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. After a difficult 2024-25 season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Kemps rebounded with a strong campaign for the USHL's Chicago Steel. At 6-foot-6 and 196 pounds, he possesses the kind of size NHL teams covet. He will join fellow Michigan State commit Matthew Gard, a 2025 second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, in Seattle next season before targeting an arrival in East Lansing in the fall of 2027.

Michigan State's eighth draft pick came in the fifth round when the St. Louis Blues selected legacy commit Nicholas Bogas with the 139th overall pick. Bogas' father, Chris, played at Michigan State and was himself a sixth-round NHL Draft selection. Nicholas committed to the Spartans while starring for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies before earning a call-up to the U.S. National Team Development Program this past season. His momentum was interrupted by a foot injury that sidelined him for the second half of the year before he returned for the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

Following that injury, the expectation was that Bogas would delay his arrival in East Lansing until 2027. More recently, there has been speculation that he could join the Spartans this fall. However, TSN's draft broadcast indicated he is likely to play junior hockey next season, with the OHL's Sarnia Sting holding his rights. His timeline remains one of the more intriguing roster questions to monitor as players begin arriving on campus and Michigan State releases its official roster later this summer.

The Spartans' final draft selection came in the seventh round when the Winnipeg Jets chose Adrian, Michigan, native defenseman Cullen McCrate with the 216th overall pick. McCrate spent last season with the USHL's Fargo Force, where he emerged as one of the team's most improved players over the second half of the season and continued that momentum with an impressive playoff performance. At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, he brings another combination of size and mobility to Michigan State's future blue line.

Like Bogas, McCrate could theoretically arrive in East Lansing this fall, although another season of junior hockey appears to be the more likely outcome. He could return to Fargo or elect to join the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, which holds his major junior rights. Either way, his development will be another storyline worth following over the coming months.

Big Picture, What Does It Mean?

This story began by looking back at the 2021 NHL Draft, when Michigan tied the NCAA record with five first-round selections. That remarkable collection of talent, however, never translated into either a Big Ten regular-season championship or an NCAA national championship.

Michigan State now finds itself in a similar position from a talent perspective, but with a program that has already proven it can win. The Spartans have captured three consecutive Big Ten regular-season championships and the past two Big Ten Tournament titles. The next step is obvious – bringing a national championship back to East Lansing.

With nine commits selected in this year's draft, at least four of those players are expected to suit up for the Spartans this season, with several others arriving in future years. Michigan State will enter the season among the nation's top contenders, alongside traditional powers such as North Dakota, Michigan, and Denver, while defending national champion Western Michigan, Quinnipiac, and the perennial Hockey East contenders will also be in the mix.

Regardless of what happens on the ice, this weekend was a tremendous victory for Adam Nightingale and his staff. Throughout ESPN's and TSN's coverage, Michigan State was mentioned repeatedly as destination after destination for elite NHL prospects. That kind of exposure reinforces what recruits already know – if you want to develop into an NHL player while competing for championships, East Lansing is one of the premier places to do it.

Draft picks alone do not guarantee trophies. College hockey has proven that repeatedly. What they do provide is evidence that Michigan State is recruiting and developing elite talent at a level not seen in East Lansing in decades.

The future has rarely looked brighter. Munn Ice Arena will once again be filled with NHL scouts, expectations will be as high as they have been in years, and the countdown to another memorable season has officially begun. Now, all that's left is the release of the official 2026-27 roster.