Folks, there were two more first-round picks out of Michigan State that followed up the trio of Chase Reid, Nikita Klepov, and Ethan Belchetz who went in the top 20 of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Incoming freshman Jack Hextall from Rolling Meadows, Ill., was selected No. 30 overall by the Calgary Flames on Friday night which he called his “last chance to go in the first round” after watching the first 29 picks. He was hopeful that it would be Calgary calling his name and, sure enough, the Flames did just that, making him the second Spartan to join the organization.
A year ago, Cullen Potter was selected No. 32 overall by the Flames but he was at Arizona State at that point in his college career. He played his first two seasons with the Sun Devils, breaking out for 26 points in 24 games in 2025-26 before transferring to Michigan State.
So, by default, Michigan State now has two first-round picks whose draft rights belong to the Flames.
Hextall, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound center, joins what is looking like a loaded roster in East Lansing and while he’s not a headliner on the 2026-27 team quite like his fellow Spartan Flame (Potter) or Belchetz, he’s one of the top newcomers on the roster and he joins a group of 10 (!!) Michigan State hockey players who became first-round picks.
The freshman center from Illinois was ranked anywhere from No. 19 to No. 64 in the pre-draft scouting reports from experts. No. 30 overall is a good spot for him.
National title or bust for 2026-27 Michigan State hockey?
Adding yet another first-round pick to the roster, Adam Nightingale has to feel the pressure mounting. Having as many NHL draft picks in East Lansing that he does makes Michigan State one of the favorites to win the national title in 2026-27.
But that’s what we thought this past season.
Michigan State had a loaded roster and while a Charlie Stramel injury hurt against Wisconsin, the Spartans were mere minutes away from their first Frozen Four in nearly 20 years. They blew a two-goal lead in the final minutes of the second-round game against the Badgers and missed out on a Frozen Four yet again.
However, with three top-20 picks and another two first-rounders (well, three if you count Porter) coming to East Lansing this offseason, Michigan State should only be thinking national title.
Anything less would be a massive disappointment.
If Jack Hextall is your fifth-best newcomer, I would say that calling 2026-27 a “national title or bust” season is fair even if that phrase is over-used and probably unfair. The Spartans are going to have too much talent to miss out on another Frozen Four.
Add us as a preferred source on Google