Ohio State men’s hockey incoming class grows as four prospects hear their names called in 2026 NHL Draft

Even after being selected, four players expected to join Ohio State in the fall were among the most notable picks from the program on Saturday’s 2026 NHL Draft.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Ohio State men’s hockey had a rare run of drafted NHL prospects become official on Saturday, with four incoming players selected in the 2026 NHL Draft. The unusual part of the day for Columbus-based hockey fans is that NHL teams still picked the players, but Ohio State expects to keep them on campus for the upcoming college season.

According to the report from Yahoo Sports, all four of the program’s newly drafted players are expected to play for Ohio State in the fall even after hearing their names called in the draft. That matters because it indicates that the Buckeyes are not just losing talent to the pro ranks immediately, they are also adding NHL-drafted players to what is typically a development-heavy roster.

One of the named examples in the draft coverage is Evan Jardine. The accompanying photo caption notes that Jardine was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 121st pick during day two of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 27, 2026 in Buffalo, New York.

The inclusion of Jardine also underscores the local connection that the draft can create for college programs. While the draft is about professional rights, it also highlights the level of NHL interest that can follow a player through a college pathway, especially when the player’s draft comes while he is still positioned to compete at the NCAA level.

From Ohio State’s perspective, having multiple incoming prospects drafted without an immediate roster scramble can help stabilize the offseason build. College coaches still have to integrate players with different skating and development timelines, but drafted status generally carries an expectation of NHL-caliber traits, such as pace, responsibility, and systems fit.

The 2026 NHL Draft selection total also gives Ohio State another data point in what has become an increasingly visible recruiting and development pipeline. With drafted players showing up across multiple cohorts, programs can attract similarly minded prospects who want to be developed in the NCAA while keeping an NHL pathway open.

What to watch next is whether each player’s transition to Ohio State matches the report’s expectation that they will suit up for the Buckeyes this fall, and how quickly drafted skill sets translate into production and roles once the college season begins. The draft itself is a milestone, but the immediate test for Ohio State is performance on the NCAA ice.

Why It Matters

For Ohio State, multiple NHL-drafted incoming players arriving together can strengthen depth and elevate practice intensity without an immediate player loss.
Drafted status can raise expectations for development timelines, but the reported plan keeps the focus on college contributions first.
The selections also reinforce Ohio State’s recruiting pitch: NHL interest alongside continued NCAA development.
For NHL teams, the draft rights extend professional investment while allowing the organization to watch prospects develop in a structured college environment.

Sources

Key Facts

Ohio State men’s hockey had four incoming players selected in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Yahoo Sports reported that all four drafted players are expected to play for Ohio State in the fall.
Evan Jardine was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 121st pick during day two of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 27, 2026.
The draft selections were part of the NHL Draft weekend held in Buffalo, New York.
The report frames the selections as prospects drafted while still expected to join Ohio State for the upcoming season.