A Family Legacy in the NHL
Hockey runs in the Plante bloodline. Father Derek Plante, an eighth‑round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1989, carved out a modest NHL career before the sport’s next generation took shape. His sons Zam and Max followed, each hearing their names called in the draft, and now the youngest brother, Victor, stands on the cusp of his own professional destiny.
The 2026 NHL Draft will be held in Buffalo, the very city where Derek once skated and captured a Stanley Cup. That backdrop adds a poetic resonance to the Plante narrative, linking past triumphs with future aspirations as the family watches the draft’s unfolding with a mix of pride and anticipation.
Victor Plante’s Draft Prospects
Victor Plante, currently honing his craft within the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, has generated buzz among draft analysts. Projections place him somewhere between the second and fourth rounds, though opinions vary widely — some rank him as high as the 22nd overall prospect while others dip him as low as 108th.
Beyond raw rankings, Victor’s skill set has been on display in international competition, where he has faced off against the nation’s top junior talent. His performance in the program has cemented his status as a player capable of influencing the next wave of American hockey talent.
Brothers Already Drafted
Max Plante most recently entered the NHL when the Detroit Red Wings selected him in the second round of the 2024 draft. Two years earlier, Zam Plante’s name was called in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both brothers have since carved out professional contracts, setting a precedent that Victor hopes to surpass.
Within the family, there is a shared belief that Victor may become the most accomplished of the siblings. He envisions a future where the three Plante brothers could even line up together at the University of Minnesota Duluth for the 2026‑27 season, a scenario that would blend their talents on the ice and reinforce the family’s storied legacy.
Buffalo’s Special Significance
Buffalo’s hockey heritage extends beyond the Plante family. The city’s arena will host the 2026 draft, a venue that once witnessed Derek Plante’s Stanley Cup victory. For the Plantes, the location is more than a geographic point; it is a symbolic bridge linking their past achievements with the next chapter of their story.