The Vegas Golden Knights have stepped back in the 2026 NHL Draft once again. They have sent the 28th-overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the 29th-overall pick and the 117th-overall pick. Anaheim used the bump to draft Swedish forward Marcus Nordmark. Vegas went on to select Finnish defenseman Juho Piiparinen withthe next pick.
Nordmark was a true force in Sweden’s U20 league this season. He seemed quicker, stronger, and more skilled than much of his competition – dominating puck possession and driving pucks to the net. That dominance only led to 14 goals and 28 points in 25 games, though – in part because of Nordmark’s inconsistent efforts. He was hot-and-cold for much of the year and only notched one assist in eight appearances with Djugardens’ SHL roster.
Still, Nordmark represents a high bit of upside with Anaheim’s late-first. The Ducks will look to hone Nordmark’s game into one that can routinely fire – and may land a top-six option on the other end of his development.
Meanwhile, Vegas will land one of the draft’s premier defensive defensemen in Piiparinen. The Finn spent much of his year at the pro level, where his fundamental defense and active stick shined in defending the rush and creating breakouts. Piiparinen was often content to push pucks up to his forwards and stay set-back on offense. That style should fit well on a Golden Knights lineup already supporting defensemen like Brayden McNabb and Kaedan Korczak. Piiparinen will need to add a bit more physicality to reach those heights, though. He will look to bring those pieces in through a couple more seasons in Finland.
