MSU Hockey Commit Reid Primed To Go Early in NHL Draft

Michigan State's head coach Adam Nightingale looks on during the third period in the game against Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Munn Arena in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

MSU Hockey Commit Reid Primed To Go Early in NHL Draft

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Jacob Cotsonika | Last updated May 7, 2026 12:30 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

There is a pretty good chance Michigan State hockey will be adding another elite NHL draft pick next season.

On Tuesday, the NHL's first-round draft order was set with the league's draft lottery. That had an impact on 2007-born defenseman Chase Reid, who has been committed to MSU since August 2024. Reid just had 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points in 45 games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL this past season.

NHL.com Mock Draft

Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com both released a mock draft for the first 16 selections of this year's NHL Draft. Both of them see Reid going in the top five.

Morreale has Reid going first between the two. He says Reid will go fourth overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Led by former first overall pick Connor Bedard, Chicago went 29-39-14 (72 points) to finish last in the Central Division in the Western Conference.

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

"He's intelligent, knows when to move with the puck or pass it, can quarterback a power play and has overcome much adversity to reach this point in his career," Morreale wrote about Reid.

Kimelman has Reid going one pick later to the New York Rangers. They just went 34-39-9 (77 points) to finish last in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. Also, Kimelman says that Reid is committed to joining the Spartans next season, which would be a slightly interesting development.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Reid's Potential Arrival

It hasn't necessarily been clear whether Reid would come to Michigan State for the 2026-27 season or the 2027-28 season. Elite Prospects has him slated for '27-28, as does College Hockey News. Reid's social media activity seems to indicate he might be coming next season, as does Kimelman's detail.

Firstly, Reid posted some photos on Instagram earlier this week, captioning them "Thank you SSM" and adding red and white hearts, a reference to his OHL team. That seems like a relatively textbook goodbye-type post.

View this post on Instagram

An even more significant indication is that Michigan State hockey's official account is now officially tagged on Reid's Instagram bio. It would be a bit unusual to do that if the plan was to go to the NHL or stay with Sault Ste. Marie for another season.

There was another clue in the past, in hindsight. MSU mentioned Reid in some press releases back in December when talking about the Team USA roster for the IIHF World Junior Championships. Reid scored two goals and had two assists (four points) in five games with the junior national team. Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale will be coaching the U.S. team next winter.