Day 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft went swimmingly for Michigan State hockey. The Spartans had an NCAA-best five players chosen in Friday’s first round, leading the pack by a wide margin.
Not only did the Spartans have five players selected in round one, but four of them are set to head to East Lansing this fall to play for Adam Nightingale and the Spartans. The fifth, Tommy Bleyl, is expected to join the program for the 2027-28 season.
Chase Reid went No. 7 overall to the Kraken, Nikita Klepov followed at No. 15 to the Ducks, Ethan Belchetz went right after at No. 17 to the Mammoth, Jack Hextall was selected No. 30 by the Flames, and then Bleyl went at No. 31 to the Predators. A couple teams even traded up to pick Spartans.
The first day really couldn’t have gone better for Michigan State.
It’s only fitting that Day 2 started off with a bang as yet another Spartan was selected, this time it was Brooks Rogowski, another 2027 commit, who went No. 33 overall to the Canucks.
So if you’re counting at home, that’s six Spartans going in the first 33 picks of the NHL draft. The tone was set on Day 1 and it continued into the final rounds of the draft.
Rogowski was projected as a first-rounder leading up to the draft so you can imagine how excited Vancouver was to snatch him up at No. 33. The 6-foot-7 center from Brighton, Mich., is going to join yet another loaded incoming class next year and although he’s not a first-rounder, he plays like one.
Brooks Rogowski will be a welcomed addition in East Lansing
Fortunately, Michigan State is so loaded with draft picks ahead of the 2026-27 season that there’s not a need for Rogowski this year. He will, however, be more than welcomed next season.
The Detroit Catholic Central alum scored 43 points in 25 games when he last played for the Shamrocks back in 2023-24 before joining the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. In two seasons there, he’s scored 26 goals with 39 assists and he’s touted as a fluid puck-handler who doesn’t let his massive size dictate how he moves.
Rogowski also joined the US National U18 Team this past year and had one goal and six assists in 10 appearances.
The 6-foot-7 Spartan commit will play one final season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2026-27 before joining Michigan State’s roster along with Bleyl in 2027-28.
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