Saturday, June 27, 2026

UPDATED Villeneuve, Aaram-Olsen, four others selected on Draft Day 2

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Six Terrier recruits heard their names called on Day 2 of the NHL Entry Draft, led by second-round choices defenseman Xavier Villeneuve, taken at #34 by the Blackhawks and Nikolas Aaram-Olsen, taken by Vancouver with the 41st pick.

Along with first-round selections Caleb Malhotra and Tynan Lawrence, eight of the nine draft-eligible Terriers were selected. Those two as well as Villeneuve and Aaram-Olsen will skate for the 2026-27 squad, which will include 20 drafted players.

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A dynamic offensive-defenseman (See recruit profile in the sidebar) who plays in the Hutson Brothers' style, Villeneuve adds to the increasing Terrier presence on the Blackhawks. Jordan Greenway has joined Chicago returnees Alex Vlasic, Ryan Greene, Sacha Boisvert and, possibly Drew Commesso.

After drafting only 6'1" or taller D-men in recent years, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson explained drafting the undersized Villeneuve to The Athletic.

“I just think the dynamic offense, the skating,” Davidson said when asked how Villeneuve might be different. “He has a lot of traits that are required of a smaller defenseman to work moving forward and so that certainly played into it.”

“Honestly for me personally, he was just one of those guys, too, that really popped for me when I met him in person,” Davidson said. “I love the passion he spoke with when he talked about the game, how he talked about the game, even just knowing about the league.

“It’s a whole package, there’s a holistic aspect to that. But from a hockey standpoint, the offense and the skating is one that you need to see from a defenseman of his size to have a good feeling that they’ll be able to make it moving forward.” 

  

● TheHockeyWriters.com Blackhawks Draft Xavier Villeneuve 34th Overall 

● Second City Hockey Blackhawks select defenseman Xavier Villeneuve in second round

● Boston Hockey Blog Xavier Villeneuve selected by Chicago Blackhawks in Second Round

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BU's first-ever Norweigan recruit, Aaram-Olsen joins fellow freshman Malhotra as a Canucks' pick following a strong J20 Nationell season in Sweden with Ã–rebro (20-20-40). 

 

 

CanucksArmy.com reported  "He attacks off the rush, handles the puck at pace and works responsibly on the backcheck," while The Daily Faceoff wrote:

“Aaram-Olsen always shines internationally, typically playing a big role for Norway across all age groups. He’s a pure goal scorer, and he often can be found dominating his own age group. I love him on the power play, where it feels like he does a good job of cycling the puck and then firing quick one-timers."

The Athletic commented:

More than anything, though, Aaram-Olsen is a proper freak-level athlete.
At the NHL draft combine, Aaram-Olsen absolutely crushed the various jump-related athletic tests. These are typically the tests that NHL talent evaluators pay the most attention to, largely because they’re seen as correlated with explosive skating ability. In the standing long jump test, in particular, Aaram-Olsen recorded the best result in this draft class. 
“He’s a machine in the gym,” Vancouver Dir. of Amateur Scouting Todd Harvey noted. “I mean, he’s a guy that’s pretty low-maintenance, a direct player when he’s on the ice. He’s direct and he skates quick. That kind of explosive skating, and he’s got a really good shot so he can beat goalies.”

 

● TheHockeyWriters.com Canucks Draft Niklas Aaram-Olsen 41st Overall  

A pair 2027 recruits were selected in the third round of the draft.  

A 6'3", 200 lb., right-shot defenseman, Luke Schairer was the first NTDP blueliner selected. His Elite Prospects' draft profile:

An explosive skater with a separating top-end gear, Schairer has the mobility of an NHL shutdown defender. He also has the rush defence skills, combining the speed with angling, stick work, and precision. He’s a master of diffusing complex rushes.  

The North Carolina native, who will skate for Peterborough in the OHL next season, told The Hockey News:

"Just going to the OHL is going to be really good for my game," Schairer said. "There’s no rush. Obviously, I’m really raw. I feel like one more year in the OHL is going to be good for me, for my offensive game, for my defensive game, for playing a lot of minutes. Just going to help me develop a lot. Going to BU after that, so I’m excited.

"The environment there, they have had a lot of NHL players that (went) there that came through BU. Obviously (Jay) Pandolfo is a really respected head coach and I feel like he's going to help me be an NHL player as I get older.

Following a 52-point prep season at Dexter Southfield, Rian Chudzinski had a strong rookie season the QMJHL. The son of longtime NFL coach Rob Chudzinski, he'll return to Moncton for a second season before heading to Comm. Ave. 

Orange County Register:

His straight-line speed, tenacity and willingness to bang bodies all stand out. His offensive game gained steam over the course of his campaign last year, but his aggressiveness, hunger for the puck and activity level are what make him an attractive prospect. 

● NHL.com Ducks Select Winger Chudzinski in Third Round of NHL Draft

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2027 recruit Brady Knowling was grabbed in the fourth round by San Jose as part of one of the top 2026 draft classes. The 6'5" netminder for the NTDP U18s was a standout in the USA-CHL series with a 42-save effort to secure a win. He also suited up for Team USA in the World Juniors. Knowling, who was Central Scouting's top-ranked North American goalie, will be in the crease for OHL Saginaw next season.

● San Jose Hockey Now Sharks Pick Brady Knowling No. 127  

   

San Jose GM Mike Grier--a BU All-American and Jay Pandolfo teammate on the 1995 national champions--who selected Knowling as well as three first-round picks, continues to build a strong player pipeline for the San Jose to support his Macklin Celebrini-led team. The Sharks have earned kudos as one the top winner of the 2026 draft. 

The final BU recruit selected was left wing Shawn Carrier, taken in the seventh round by Colorado.  Last season, the 2027 recruit led the Halifax Mooseheads in goal-scoring with a 37-28-65 scoring line. His Elite Prospects draft profile:

Carrier makes his impact – literally – on the forecheck. After forcing opponents to the outside, he hammers them into the wall. He’s quick to close and has the persistence to rip pucks free on second and third efforts. 

● thednvr.com Carrier notes and hat trick video (scroll down) 

 

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First-round picks: Malhotra to Canucks, Lawrence to Blues

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BU's potential top two centers for 2026-27 were selected early the NHL Entry Draft as expected. Brantford's Caleb Malhotra was the third pick by Vancouver, the team he rooted for growing up, while rising sophomore Tynan Lawrence went to St. Louis at #11. They are the 28th and 29th Terriers chosen in the first round of the draft.

● GoTerriers.com Malhotra, Lawrence drafted in first round of 2026 NHL Draft

● College Hockey News NHL Draft: 19 Current, Incoming College Players Taken in 1st Round

   

Malhotra, who skyrocketed up the draft rankings, emerged as the top center available following an 84-point regular season--and 26 more in the playoffs--for the Bulldogs. When he eventually turns pro, he'll skate for his father, Manny Malhotra, the Canucks' new head coach and himself a first-round pick in 1998. 

● TSN Video DraftCentre Analysis: Canucks take Caleb Malhotra at No. 3

“Caleb Malhotra’s greatest asset, as good as his hockey sense and his speed and size is, is his character,” an anonymous NHL scout told The Athletic of Malhotra’s game in May. “He’s got elite character. I could see him captaining an NHL team someday, and you’re seeing it, his production in big games has gone to another level. He’s been dynamite in the playoffs.  

 NHL.com report

Malhotra (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) is one of junior hockey's most complete and trusted centers, having rapidly become a cornerstone piece playing key minutes in all situations. He has elite hockey sense and speed, and his ability to manage pace, arrive in space ahead of defenders and elevate linemates are qualities that separate him from others at his position. The 18-year-old is a committed two-way forward who was second among Ontario Hockey League rookies with 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games, and led Brantford during the playoffs with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 games. He'll play at Boston University next season. 

NHL.com analysis: The first step in the Canucks rebuilding effort is a future top-line center in Malhotra. He began the season on Brantford's top line while some of their older players were at NHL training camps. The thought was he would slide down the lineup when those players came back, but it never happened; Malhotra earned his spot in the top six and on the top power play, and then was a dominant presence in the OHL playoffs. That Caleb's father, Manny Malhotra, is the Canucks coach likely didn't enter into the Vancouver decision; big, smart, skilled centers are what teams build championships around, and that's the profile for Malhotra.

● NHL.com Caleb Malhotra 'literally dreamed about' getting drafted by Canucks 

● NHL.com Caleb Malhotra talks with Jameson Coyle 

● NHL.com Pre-draft day interview (video)

● FloHockey.tv Canucks select Malhotra No. 3

Malhotra becomes the seventh Terrier drafted in the top 5 of an NHL draft, joining Macklin Celebrini (#1,2024), Brady Tkachuk (#4, 2018), Jack Eichel (#2, 2015), Ryan Whitney (#5, 2002), Rick DiPietro (#1, 2000) and Scott Lachance (#4, 1991).    

Lawrence joined BU at mid-season last year after leading USHL Muskegon to the 2025 Clark Cup title as playoff MVP and putting up 17 points in 13 games for the Lumberjack last fall. 

“You just saw him get better and better. The production wasn’t there to start, but you still saw a lot of the things that make him a really good hockey player; just his relentless effort and motor, creating turnovers with a good stick, his pace,” Coach Jay Pandolfo told The Athletic. “And I thought in the last 3-4 games he played for us that he was arguably our best forward.” 

By the end of it, Pandolfo also had him killing penalties, and he averaged 17:28 per game. 

NHL.com report 

As one of the most complete and competitive forwards available in the draft, Lawrence (6-foot, 183 pounds) is a player whose game is defined as much by pace and intelligence as by production. The 17-year-old began the season with 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 13 games as captain of Muskegon of the United States Hockey League. He made the move to NCAA hockey Jan. 8, and had seven points (two goals, five assists) and 35 shots on goal in 18 games. His combination of skating, intelligence and competitive edge make him special, and his game already resembles what NHL teams look for in high-leverage moments.

NHL.com analysis: With the first of four first-round picks, the Blues fill a need at center with Lawrence. He got solid experience playing half a season of NCAA hockey, and he'll be even better when he plays an entire season at BU next season. He's a dynamic presence with a 200-foot game, who knows how to use his speed to back up defenders. The Blues could have a franchise-altering weekend in Buffalo, and Lawrence is a nice first step in that process.

● thehockeywriters.com Blues Draft Tynan Lawrence 11th Overall

The draft concludes Saturday with televised coverage on NHL Network. Look for incoming freshmen Xavier Villeneuve and Niklas Aaram Olsen to be early day two selections. 

 

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