Future NHL Stars
Major NHL Teams Unveil 2026 Development Camp Rosters Featuring Top Prospects and Young Talent
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Key Points
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The Florida Panthers' development camp roster includes players selected in all six of the club’s NHL Drafts, plus additional invitees.
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The Nashville Predators' camp features a Future Stars Game scheduled for July 3, with a roster of 31 skaters and six goaltenders.
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Anaheim's roster for the Ducks' 2026 development camp includes three 2026 first-round picks (Nikita Klepov 15th, Marcus Nordmark 28th, and Roger McQueen, 2025 No. 10) and six second-round picks, with the majority of June 30–July 1 devoted to off-ice workouts.
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The Utah Mammoth's 2026 development camp features five of six 2026 draft picks, including Ethan Belchetz (17th overall), along with veterans Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin.
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The Dallas Stars' development camp will be held at the Comerica Center in Frisco (2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco, TX 75034).
Five NHL teams launched their 2026 development camps this week, flooding the post-draft calendar with nearly 160 prospects in four cities. The camps, most running June 29 through July 2, are open to the public at no charge — a league-wide shift that turns prospect evaluation into a fan event. NHL.com reported that the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, and Dallas Stars all released full rosters and schedules following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Roster sizes range from 24 players (Florida) to 37 (Nashville), reflecting sharply different philosophies on how to build a pipeline. High-end draft picks headlining camps include No. 10 overall Wyatt Cullen in Nashville and No. 17 overall Ethan Belchetz in Utah, while Anaheim brings three first-round picks to Irvine, California.
Panthers Keep It Small, Predators Go Big
Florida's 24-man roster — 11 forwards, eight defensemen, five goaltenders — is the leanest camp of the five. According to NHL.com, the Panthers are practicing at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale through July 2. GM Bill Zito assembled a group that spans all six of the club's NHL Draft classes, plus additional invitees. Analysts describe Florida's approach as "surgical" — refining a short list of players they believe have a real shot at the NHL within two years.
Nashville went the opposite direction with 37 total players — 31 skaters and six goaltenders. The Hockey News noted that the Predators have five first-round picks from the last two drafts on their roster, the most of any camp this week. Centerpiece is Wyatt Cullen, taken No. 10 overall. GM Barry Trotz said Cullen "represents the speed and high-motor identity we are cultivating in Nashville." The Predators' camp closes with a Future Stars Game on July 3 at Ford Ice Center Bellevue.
Anaheim's Three First-Rounders Signal Rebuild Nearing End
The Ducks' 29-player camp in Irvine runs June 29 through July 1. Their roster includes three first-round picks: Nikita Klepov (15th overall, 2026), Marcus Nordmark (28th overall, 2026), and Roger McQueen (10th overall, 2025). Six second-round picks also attend, making this one of the most draft-pick-heavy rosters in the league this summer. GM Pat Verbeek called the group a sign that Anaheim's long rebuild is approaching its finish line.
Anaheim's camp structure splits public and private sessions deliberately. June 30 is almost entirely devoted to off-ice workouts and closed seminars. The Ducks want prospects focused on "professional habits" without the distraction of cameras and fans. It is a middle-ground approach — some public access, but the core development work stays behind closed doors.
Utah Mammoth Debuts New Brand With 35-Man Roster
The Utah Mammoth's 2026 camp is the first held under the franchise's permanent "Mammoth" name, following the team's move from Arizona. They invited 35 players — 16 forwards, 14 defensemen, and five goaltenders — running June 29 through July 2. Five of the team's six 2026 draft picks are attending, including 6-foot-5 left wing Ethan Belchetz, taken 17th overall. Veterans Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin, both 2024 first-rounders, are also on hand to provide leadership to the new class.
The heavy defenseman count — 14, compared to Dallas's nine and Florida's eight — shows Utah is prioritizing blue-line depth. Analysts say the large roster also reflects a franchise still building its identity in Salt Lake City. Every player who impresses this week strengthens the case for a main training camp invite in September.
Dallas Stars Open Frisco Rink to Fans for Free
The Stars bring 35 players to Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas (2601 Avenue of the Stars), June 29 through July 2. Their roster skews heavily toward forwards — 22 of the 35 players — alongside nine defensemen and four goaltenders. Every practice session is open to the public at no charge. The Stars have maintained this free-access model for several years, using development camp as a direct pipeline to season ticket conversations with fans.
Across all five camps, the public-access trend is the clearest signal of a league-wide strategy shift. Development camps were once closed fitness sessions. Now they double as marketing events. Nashville's Future Stars Game on July 3 is expected to draw a sellout crowd largely on the strength of Cullen's name alone. For these prospects, performing well is not just about earning a roster spot — it is about becoming a face of the franchise before they ever play a regular-season game.
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