By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The 2026 National Hockey League Draft is nine days away in Buffalo, New York. The Boston Bruins will need to hit on their first-round draft pick this year, as the team owns the 23rd overall selection in the draft. Finding late first-round magic doesn’t always happen for an NHL team, but the Bruins will have to do it. Entering this year’s draft, the Bruins have gone a long time without selecting a defenseman in the first round.
Urho Vaakanainen was the last defenseman the Bruins selected in the first round, which happened at the 2017 NHL Draft. The forward depth is solid at this year’s draft, but general manager Don Sweeney could go defense in the first round. Some defensemen could fall to the Bruins at 23rd overall, and are worthy of consideration for drafting.
Ryan Lin
Lin’s chances of falling to 23rd overall may be unlikely, as he was projected to be drafted 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Bleacher Report article written on June 3 by Hannah Stuart. However, if Lin does fall to the Bruins, they may have to consider jumping on him immediately.
Over the past two seasons, Lin has stood out for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, recording 100 points in 113 games. Lin also played for Team Canada’s White U17 and U18 teams over the past two seasons. At 18, Lin is committed to playing for the University of Denver Pioneers next season. At 5’11”, 183 lbs, Lin has a good right-hand shot, skates well, and makes good passes.
Xavier Villeneuve
Entering this draft, Villeneuve has shown he’s capable of being a first-round talent at 18 years old. In 152 games combined over the past three seasons with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, Villeneuve recorded 143 points. Villeneuve also played for Team Canada’s Red U17 and U18 teams. Villeneuve was projected in Stuart’s article to be drafted 25th overall by the Seattle Kraken (via the Tampa Bay Lightning) in the first round.
This season, Villeneuve recorded 38 points in 37 games, averaging a point per game. Villeneuve recorded 14 points in 17 games during the 2026 QMJHL Playoffs for the Armada. In the 2024-25 season, Villeneuve recorded 50 assists. Despite being 5’11”, 163 lbs, Villeneuve enters this draft as one of the better offensive defensemen in the draft, and he can be useful on the blue line for the Bruins offensively with his left-hand shot, playmaking, passing, and skating. Villeneuve is committed to playing with the Boston University Terriers next season.
Nikita Shcherbakov
Playing in three leagues in one season can be a challenge for any hockey player to adapt to, but it’s something that Shcherbakov did this season at 18 years old. Shcherbakov played in the KHL, VHL, and MHL this season. Shcherbakov was projected by Stuart to be drafted 31st overall in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes. After recording no points in seven KHL games, Shcherbakov recorded ten points in 35 games with the VHL’s Toros Neftekamsk, and also recorded ten assists in 15 games with the MHL’s Tolpar Ufa this season.
Despite not being known for his offense, Shcherbakov can make up for it with his defense. At 6’5″, 187 lbs, Shcherbakov’s size makes him more of a shutdown defenseman, as he can cover zones on the ice, play physical, and clear pucks out. Shcherbakov could likely be a late first-round draft pick. If the Bruins like him but want to gain draft capital from another team, they could trade back and then draft Shcherbakov.
Tommy Bleyl
Bleyl is the only of the three previously named defensemen who isn’t projected to be drafted in the first round in Stuart’s article. However, in a recent Yahoo Sports article written by Russell Macias, he mentioned that Kamloops Blazers forward J.P. Hurlbert could be a steal for the Bruins to draft. Still, Macias named Bleyl as one of two defensemen, along with Lin, who the Bruins could draft if they choose to draft a defenseman in the first round.
Bleyl broke out with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats this season, recording 81 points (68 assists) in 63 games. Bleyl’s regular-season success carried over into the 2026 QMJHL Playoffs by recording 28 points (22 assists) in 21 games. Bleyl is committed to playing college hockey with the Michigan State University Spartans for the 2027-28 season. At 6’0″, 170 lbs, Bleyl’s potential was noticed this past season in Moncton at 18 years old.
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