Monday, June 22, 2026

UPDATED It's NHL Entry Draft Week!; Tkachuk brothers united; Big Walt gets the call from the Hall

NHL Draft Logo - Primary Logo - National Hockey League (NHL ... 

Hoping everyone had a great Father's Day. Can you name the eight Terrier dads whose children have skated for BU? Answers at the bottom. 

 

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft begins Friday evening in Buffalo and concludes on Saturday. As many as eight Terriers--one rising sophomore, three freshmen and four 2027 recruits--are likely to hear their names called. ESPN and ESPN+ will carry the opening round with NHL Network covering later rounds.

As noted in recent blogposts, the consensus of rankings and projections have Tynan Lawrence, Caleb Malhotra, Xavier Villeneuve and Niklas Aaram-Olsen expected to be selected in the first round or possibly early second.

  

            Photo credit Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 

A free in-depth story in The Athletic asks the question: Can 2026 NHL Draft prospect Xavier Villeneuve be the next Lane Hutson? Analysis is provided by XV's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada head coach and skills coach, as well as Terrier Head Coach Jay Pandolfo.

Both Pandolfo and Kim Brandvold, who runs BU’s defense, felt in particular that his competitiveness and passion for the game were similar to the Hutsons and both things that actually separate Villeneuve.

“With Lane, it took guys a little bit of time to get used to playing with him and have an understanding that you have to be ready all the time because he sees things that you don’t and maybe you don’t realize that you’re in a good spot for him. So, guys are going to have to adapt to Xavier, too, but a lot of times those players make people around them better, and I think Xavier has that ability,” Pandolfo said.

Villeneuve, an acknowledged fan of Lane Hutson, addresses the size issue (he's 5'10 3/4, 164) that likely will impact where he is drafted. The Hutsons were the driving force behind his decision to commit to Boston University for next season.

● Boston Hockey Blog Previewing the nine BU hockey prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft

● TSN.ca Final Draft Rankings  

● Elite Prospects.com Cam Robinson's Final Draft Rankings  

● The Hockey News Ryan Kennedy's Final Draft Rankings

● YouTube FloHockey's Final Draft Rankings and NHL Comparables 

● NHL.com 2026 Mock Draft (Mike Morreale and Adam Kimmelman) 

Looking ahead

2027 recruit Luke Schairer will skate for the OHL Peterborough Petes next season. The 6'3", 201, right-shot defenseman, recorded 22 points last season for the NTDP U18s.

● The Hockey Writers Luke Schairer draft profile  

►►College Hockey Inc. has posted its annual NHL Draft Guide. Among other stats, it shows BU tied with BC and Minnesota for the second most first-round picks with 27. Michigan leads with 35. The most NCAA-connected first round picks in a single draft is 11 in 2007 and 2016. In the latter year, BU had four picks: Clayton Keller, Charlie McAvoy, Dante Fabbro and Kieffer Bellows. Might we see four Terriers picked this Friday?

BU is the only school with two overall #1 picks: Rick DiPietro in 2001 and Macklin Celebrini in 2024. In addition BU is second in most drafted players (203), trailing only Minnesota (237). 

Looking back--Tkachuk edition

Brady Tkachuk Trade Grades: Panthers ... 

Ottawa's captain, Brady Tkachuk, has been traded to the Florida Panthers where he'll join brother Matthew Tkachuk. The Senators received a boatload of draft picks in return for one of their marquis players. He'll also join fellow Terriers Evan Rodrigues and A.J. Greer (who is coming off a career season), provided they resign with Florida.    

Tkachuk scored 31 points for the 2017-18 Terriers helping them win the 2018 Hockey East Championship.   

  

● NHL.com Brady Tkachuk joining brother following trade to Panthers by Senators

● ESPN.com Senators' deal unites Brady Tkachuk with brother on Panthers

►Hyundai will need to reshoot this commercial with Brady in a Panthers' jersey.  

In a long overdue recognition, Keith Tkachuk--Brady's and Matthew's father--has been named to the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2026 class. "Big Walt," whose pro career stretched from 1991 through 2010, rang up 1,065 points in 1,201 games and won a gold medal representing the United States at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.  

According to NHL.com, "his 538 goals were second most of all eligible players not already in the Hall of Fame behind Patrick Marleau."

In 1995-96, Tkachuk produced a career-best 98 points (50G,48A) for the Winnipeg Jets.

In his season as a Terrier (1990-91) Tkachuck scored 40 points skating on a powerhouse line with Tony Amonte and Shawn McEachern, en route to the Hockey East title and the national championship game.

Tkachuk's coach at BU, Jack Parker, was elected to the Hall of Fame in the 2025 class.

● NHL.com 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class includes Bergeron, Price, Rinne, Tkachuk

● ESPN.com Keith Tkachuk makes Hall of Fame after sons become teammates

●Elite Prospects Page

 

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