Jesse Marshall's 2026 NHL Entry Draft Ranking

Ranking the top 40 players available for 2026.

For the 19th year, I am putting together a list of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. This list is based on my research throughout the year, and you can access my repository of mixtapes for this draft on my YouTube Channel. Note that you will not find goaltenders in this ranking, as I generally omit them from my analysis given the nuance of the position. Feel free to ask questions or leave your comments below. Happy Draft season, and thank you for supporting the Substack.

1. Gavin McKenna - LW - Penn State (NCAA) - Shoots L - 5’11’’ - 170 lbs.

I do not plan to punish Gavin McKenna for heading into a significantly more challenging environment this season and experiencing natural growing pains and a period of adjustment. Would it have been fun to watch McKenna put up 120+ points in the CHL and torment his fellow classmates? Absolutely. Would we have learned as much about him? Zero chance. McKenna’s game showed tangible, easily identifiable growth this year as he adjusted to bigger, stronger players in an entirely new playing environment. Not identifying McKenna’s warts in a higher league would have simply created a set of completely unrealistic expectations for his first year in the league. I believe what he has to work on is clear, and the Maple Leafs feel comfortable enough with what they’ve seen to not overthink this completely. McKenna has a game driven by his fluid skating and powerful processing ability. McKenna has a knack for working his way out of very complicated situations under duress. This usually involves some sleight of hand in his body motions; McKenna is deft at opening his hips to confuse a defenseman, dipping a shoulder to fake a drive, and executing high-level dangles to work his way out of trouble. In his adjustment to the NCAA, I think McKenna became shot-adverse, and his tempo fell to a crawl as a default mechanism. Over time, these things changed, and you started to see him carry the puck with more confidence and speed, and he exhibited a willingness to be more aggressive in his shot selection, which manifested in the goal column. The passing was the star of the show this season. At his slower tempo at even strength, he was able to draw in defenders and then execute accurate, crisp, and creative passes that went tape-to-tape to a teammate. I mentioned his processor earlier, and playmaking is perhaps the most tangible evidence of it. His ability to distribute and find lanes on the power-play will continue to be a critical part of his game. McKenna’s edge work, cutting ability, mohawk stride, and ability to jump and dance over sticks and legs will be the primary drivers of his future NHL success. McKenna experienced growing pains with the physical demands of the NCAA game, and I would expect similar adjustments at the next level. There was a willingness to embrace it more after the Christmas season. By the end of his first NCAA year, McKenna made tangible leaps in goal-scoring rates, defensive work, and net-front presence. The hype might have sizzled down a bit, but this is a special player who got a fast track on learning some hard lessons this season that will only bolster his NHL future.

2026 NCAA Statistics: 35GP - 15G - 36A - 36PIM - -7

2. Ivar Stenberg - LW/RW - Frölunda (SHL) - Shoots L - 6’0’’ - 181 lbs.

Ivar Stenberg is about as complete a forward as I have watched in some time. He is well-rounded, has an unbelievable work ethic, is as strong as an ox, and can beat opponents in a wide variety of fashions. What impresses me most about Stenberg is his decision-making prowess and multifaceted approach to creating time and space. Stenberg’s strength is in his power plant. His core is solid, and he routinely uses his backside and hips to generate separation from opponents. He is not a burner in the traditional sense. I think his strength is in his timing. He excels at knowing when to hit the jets and take someone wide; he isn’t beating them because of his top speed, but the timing with which he executes that speed. The moment Stenberg sees a defenseman start to turn, or step up in their gap, his shoulder drops, and he hits the perfect amount of burst. He is great at catching opponents in their worst moments and then executing high-quality skill chaining or the aforementioned timing in his tempo adjustments to get to open space. In loose-puck battles, he uses that core energy, combined with his undeniable will to win a lot of pucks, to turn them into quality scoring chances. Stenberg has a violent, snapping-like release that is as accurate as it is powerful. Additionally, he’s an above-average playmaker, equal parts deceptive and creative in his distribution. He is a patient passer and is discerning in where he’s sending pucks. He plays extremely well out of his corner in the offensive zone and routinely uses that area as well as the space behind the net to get defenders focused on him or out of alignment altogether before creating a scoring chance. He’s exceptional at bodying opponents around defensively, is inherently present and tied up in his assignments, and is a true puck-supporter on the breakout, giving himself the perfect spacing and position for good wall support and puck recovery as his team enters the offensive zone. Stenberg put up numbers everywhere he played this year, but most notably did so against adults in the SHL. I do not think his adjustment to North America will be extensive.

2026 SHL Statistics: 43GP - 11G - 22A - 33PTS - 6PIM - +10

3. Chase Reid - D - Soo (OHL) - Shoots R - 6’2’’ - 194 lbs.

Chase Reid gets my vote for best defenseman in this class. The combination of physical skills, hockey sense, discernible growth, and puck skill is just too much for anyone else to leap over in this defensive group. The size should jump off the page at you. Reid is a long, rangy defenseman with an extensive reach that aids in both offense and defense. You don’t typically associate the terms large and fleet-footed as adjectives for the same player, but it’s more than adequate here. Reid is not fast or a burner. I don’t think you’ll find a lot of clips of him turning on the jets and speeding down the ice at a high rate of speed. Reid, like everything else in his game, is best described as methodical. He is a master of patient, heads-up hockey in every phase of the game, especially on the breakout. Reid carves through people in a power glide, adjusting his tempo at the point of engagement and using tools like a wrist-deke or opening his hips to navigate through opponents. Reid plays intentional, mistake-free hockey. You very rarely see him make a “hope” play with the puck, facilitate a bad pinch, or over-hold the puck into bad situations. In one-on-one scenarios, defending zone entries, Reid is exhausting to play against, given his mobility and size. Breakouts routinely avoid his size on the ice. One retrieval, his size and reach make him an effective on recoveries, and he can solve complex situations on the breakout. Reid’s journey is a significant one: he was cut from his NAHL team and came to Soo, where he earned top-pairing minutes and eventually became the league's top defenseman. He has not plateaued despite all this growth. Because of his size and decision-making, I think his route to the NHL is a short one.

2026 OHL Statistics: 45GP - 18G - 30A - 48PTS - 30PIM - +27

4. Carson Carels - D - Prince George (WHL) - Shoots L - 6’2’’ - 198 lbs.

Carson Carels is by far the most physical defenseman in this draft class. But in addition to that, he’s also extremely competent with the puck, a powerful, explosive skater, and capable of shutting down things defensively and blanketing star forwards on the opposing team. Carels is the definition of aggressive. He patrols the neutral zone looking for opportunities to be physical, but he’s also adept at breaking up plays with his stick and keeping opposing forwards in front of him. His skating is powerful, dynamic, and full of neat tricks. He has an amazing reverse pivot; his cutting ability and edge work are constantly on display; and he has great straight-line speed despite a stride that is a little too hunched at times. It’s almost like his momentum carries his upper body too far forward. His base is wide, and when he bears down, he is a difficult customer to handle. I do think there is some slight refinement needed for Carels in certain situations. For instance, he definitely chases hits from time to time. When the momentum of a game picks up, Carels can occasionally get lost in the sauce, which I view as a completely coachable trait. To quote former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: “I’d rather say ‘whoa’ than ‘sic em’.” Carels is mobile offensively, often mixing things up and sneaking low into the backdoor or slot area. He has a booming, powerful slap shot that is accurate despite its velocity. He is an effective playmaker in the offensive zone, as well. Carels is a jack-of-all-trades defenseman, the type of player who can shift momentum from his actions across all three zones of the ice. His attitude, willingness to put it all on the line, skating, and desire to win are a complete package. He is one of the most fun players to watch in this class.

2026 WHL Statistics: 58GP - 20G - 53A - 73PTS - 66PIM - +23

5. Caleb Malhotra - C - Brantford (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’2’’ - 185lbs.

I’ve watched a lot of prospects in my time, and if you asked me to create a list of the top five playmakers I’ve ever seen at the CHL level, I would include Caleb Malhotra, no hyperbole. Malhotra has an uncanny ability to distribute the puck. It is a combination of his timing, skill, and hockey sense. Malhotra is a heads-up player who sees things develop one step ahead of his opponents and, sometimes, his teammates. He can execute a tape-to-tape pass in one motion while retrieving. He has a beautiful, snapping-like motion behind his saucer pass and can routinely lift the puck around obstacles to the tape of a teammate. He can hook-pass directly through a defender and put the perfect amount of touch to fool them. He makes area passes to locations only his teammates can win, anticipating their future location rather than forcing a bad pass elsewhere. His hockey sense is such that, on zone entries, he can slow the tempo down to a crawl or turn on the burner and beat you with pace. He has a distinctly strong set of dangles, can chain skills together dynamically, and is great at solving complicated situations in traffic. He is absolutely lethal in odd-man situations and seems to thrive most when he can utilize some out-of-the-box creativity. I do think he’s adequate defensively and often creates offense from his defense, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call him a clear-cut, two-way center. I don’t think his marking in the defensive slot is quite there yet. He has some ground to make up, both in raw size and in shooting. I do not think there is enough consistency around his shooting. There are times when he can pick a spot under duress, and instances when he lays an egg with time and space. I would like to see more velocity on his shots on a regular basis. He played on the penalty-kill and the power-play this year, and his processing speed makes him a good option for both. Son of current Canucks coach Manny Malhotra, you can clearly get the sense he was paying close attention to his father growing up. I think Malhotra’s future is bright, but there may be a period of physical growth and refinement to his decision-making processes in the defensive zone.

2026 OHL Statistics: 67GP - 29G - 55A - 84PTS - 51PIM - +33

6. Viggo Björck - RW - Djurgården (SHL) - Shoots R - 5’9’’ - 181 lbs.

Last year in J20 Nationell, Viggo Björck scored 74 points (27+47) in 42 games. This year, he tested his mettle against adults in the SHL and answered all the questions anyone could have about his ability to do it against bigger, stronger players. Björck didn’t set the world on fire from a points perspective in his first taste of SHL hockey, but he proved his speed, hands, and forechecking can be effective despite his size. In fact, I am writing this with almost no concern over his size at all. You can take most of the tropes about small forwards and throw them in the garbage here. Björck’s biggest strengths are his ability to discover and exploit open space, combined with his fleet-footed skating and tenacity on the forecheck. I love Björck’s variety as a shooter; he is the master of situational awareness. Sometimes that manifests as a patient shot that is both accurate and powerful, picking an open area and sniping a goaltender. In other situations, it’s making a touch on the puck to redirect it, it’s getting an uncanny deflection, or finding an absurd ability to get vertical lift on the puck in a tight space. Björck consistently picks the right tool for each job. He’s also an adept playmaker as his passing is on display in tiny, one-touch plays that support the breakout. He is a great transitional conduit on offense; he can make subtle touches that keep the offense moving. They are the type of plays that are the connective tissue of a breakout. He is dogged in front of the net and on the boards. He is strong despite his size and wins a lot of loose pucks in battle areas. He is the type of forward who can haunt a defenseman over the course of the evening, winning a war of attrition on the forecheck that eventually leads to a big mistake by an opponent. Björck’s first few steps are explosive, and the driver behind his success on the forecheck. At the end of the SHL season, Björck returned to J20, where he scored 20 points in 9 playoff games and truly looked like a man against boys, bolstering my belief that the return on investment here is likely to be shorter than some of his peers.

2026 SHL Statistics: 42GP - 6G - 9A - 15PTS - 12PIM - +5

7. Alberts Šmits - D - Jukurit (Liiga) - Shoots L - 6’3’’ - 209 lbs.

Alberts Šmits played defense all over the world this year and scored points wherever he was located. From the varying levels of Liiga to a stint on loan in the DEL to his international performances, the one thing we learned about Šmits is that he’s going to use his big wheels whenever possible to impact hockey games. Šmits loves to control the tempo of a hockey game, and his feet are always moving as a result. He is a beautiful skater, light for his size but also exhibiting a powerful core and explosion out of his stride. I love how far his legs extend when he’s churning, and he also exhibits some great cutting ability. Šmits is a puck carrier first and a puck hunter second. He is constantly taking the game by the scruff of its neck and impacting it via possession. He is an effective distributor in the offensive zone and difficult to mark, given his penchant for roaming into open space to create scoring chances. The story of the Latvian native is often split defensively for me. On the one hand, I think he exhibits mostly solid gap control and, because of his size, generally handles opposing forwards well in transition. However, there are times when I find myself frustrated with his problem-solving and decision-making while under duress on retrievals. There are times when he seems rushed and doesn’t ensure that his next play is the right one. That being said, he excels at recovery thanks to his skating, raw desire, and work ethic. Overall, there’s a lot that screams “pro-ready” about his game, especially when it comes to his creativity and ability to run a breakout. His shot is unremarkable. I think it’s more about his ability to get open and shake defenders than anything else. He does have an accurate, booming slapshot. I’d like to see him use it more liberally. He’s an effective presence on the power-play due to his mobility and ability to recognize scoring lanes as they present themselves. Overall, Šmits ability to create offensively and generate offensive opportunities with his legs is the big sell here. I think some of the growing pains in the defensive zone around retrievals and decision-making will continue to iron themselves out.

2026 Liiga Statistics: 38GP - 6G - 7A - 13PTS - 20PIM - -3

8. Keaton Verhoeff - D - North Dakota (NCAA) - Shoots R - 6’4’’ - 216 lbs.

Keaton Verhoeff made the jump to the NCAA this year and played monster minutes for North Dakota’s program against top competition in every phase of the game. He often strikes me as a multi-tool defenseman that can play a number of roles, given what the game is asking for at the time. His size is his biggest strength in his game, and he’s extremely mobile in addition to it. This makes him the ultimate two-way threat. He can carry the puck with poise and defend it well thanks to his size and reach. He can also put up shutdown performances defensively due to his wingspan and gap control. He has one of the more powerful shots of any defenseman in this draft class and can find space off the blue line to use it. He can cradle and release powerful wrist shots that he does a great job of tucking away, and his one-timer is beautiful in how he’s able to power through it, take a bunch of ice, and really trebuchet the puck at the net. I do think that his drive to create is sometimes too much, and he over-carries the puck or bypasses distribution opportunities to force a play. I also question the consistency away from the puck in the defensive zone. I think his defensive strength is in handling forwards one-on-one. When it comes to marking off the puck, he has a tendency to wander or miss the occasional assignment. The step up to the NCAA this year cooled a lot of the top-five talk around his game, but I don’t think there are a ton of glaring, un-coachable warts here, and he did well in stepping up to a higher level of competition. The skating is strong in a straight line and continues to improve in pivoting and quick crossovers. Overall, Verheoff is a player who is eminently deployable and suited for any situation.

2026 NCAA Statistics: 36GP - 6G - 14A - 20PTS - 29PIM - +7

9. Malte Gustafsson - D - HV71 (SHL) - Shoots L - 6’4’’ - 203 lbs.

I view Gustafsson as one of the lower-risk players in this draft class. He’s got the size you love out of a defenseman, and he can skate well enough to support the play in any phase of the game. He is steady as they come, usually sound in his decision-making, and is a wet blanket defensively. The problem is, when you watch him, you end up yearning for more offense, especially because the skill is there and manifests itself on occasion. Gustafsson is not the type of defenseman who handles the puck like a grenade. He is capable of executing the occasional shake or dangle to lose a defenseman, he can and does carry the puck comfortably, and he can execute long-distance, tape-to-tape passes. The problem is that these things often take a back seat to his defensive play, which is an area where he excels. Gustafsson is smothering opposing forwards. He’s seemingly as comfortable skating backward as he is forward and does a great job leaning on his strong core and leg muscles in that area. He has an active, sweeping stick and will sneak up on stagnant pass recipients and dispossess them at the point they make contact with the puck. He can handle being taken wide with speed. He’s good at marking players defensively and proactively reads threats to shut them down a step before they matriculate. I’ve seen criticism that Gustafsson can get sloppy at times, but I believe that has a pace caveat. Gustafsson is methodical and intentional in his game, and it seems he prefers a slow-to-moderate pace. I think his mistakes and goof-ups mostly surface when the pace ratchets up. Overall, you could make the case for this to be a top-3 defensive controller within the entire class. Because the puck skill is there and he’s comfortable carrying the mail, the ceiling here could vastly increase if he decides to tap into that and expand his game more on the offensive side of the puck. Even without that development, there’s not much to dislike here, and his defensive work screams the keystone of a second defensive pairing.

2026 SHL Statistics: 27GP - 0G - 2A - 2PTS - 4PIM - -8

10. Ethan Belchetz - LW - Windsor (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’5’’ - 229 lbs.

A lot of people seem to have cooled on Ethan Belchetz after an injury ended his year right in the middle of a dry spell. He had cooled off some, got hurt, and it was out of sight, out of mind. I’m ranking Belchetz inside my top ten because I cannot ignore his combination of size, hands, and modern-day approach to being a power forward. Belchetz is a decent skater for his size. I do wonder about his lumbering first few steps, but he’s good in a straight line and is very difficult to move once he gains a head of steam and keeps a wide base. He reads seams well for someone his size and is great at positioning himself in advantageous situations for a pass. It is often bizarre to see a winger of this size sneak behind the defense for a breakaway, but Belchetz pulls it off. In retrievals, he’s a bear as you’d expect. He is tenacious on the puck, willing to use his body, and lit a lot of people up this season and last. His shot is already NHL-quality, and several factors combine to make it lethal. First, raw power. Belchetz gets everything behind his shot with surprisingly very little hand or wrist motion. There is almost no tell to the goalie that an absolute howitzer is coming their way. Belchetz does not always pull the puck behind his body or open his shoulders for a shot. He keeps the puck close to his feet, his hands do not exhibit a ton of separation, and he loads his stick in as small a motion as he can. This is not a sweeping shot; Belchetz loads up with his bottom hand and uses his strength to push through, adding velocity. This motion still aggressively loads his stick flex as if he were taking ice with him. Defensively, I have no concerns; he uses his size effectively in that space. I think the challenge here is to clean up the skating a bit and find more consistency in getting to open space without relying on his size. Belchetz is also not a great distributor of the puck, as evidenced by his assist totals. I think most of his connective plays occur between the blue lines rather than in the offensive zone. That will have to change. Overall, this is an NHL-ready shot and frame for a player with a significant mean streak.

2026 OHL Statistics: 57GP - 34G - 25A - 59PTS - 45PIM - +19

11. Daxon Rudolph - D - Prince Albert (WHL) - Shoots R - 6’2’’ - 205 lbs.

Daxon Rudolph is one of the better offensive defensemen in this ranking. His ability to read the play, identify open lanes, and make smart decisions with the puck is the foundation of his success. Rudolph is more than willing to carry the mail through the neutral zone, and is constantly moving in the offensive zone, sneaking into open areas and working to keep the puck alive and elongate possessions. He’s a great distributor who tosses a lot of beautiful no-look passes and threads a lot of needles in the offensive zone. His skating is great in a straight line, but I do think he’s on his edges and off balance too much in his pivot and short-distance scrum situations. His ability to get pucks through traffic is above-average and a testament to his heads-up style of patrolling the offensive zone. He is not a selfish shooter and will often lob pucks at the pads to set his teammates up on rebounds. I think Rudolph’s big struggle is in handling size and speed in transition. He is not an inherently physical player and struggles in wall battles as a result. When he gets beaten with size and speed, his recovery can often be panicked and more detrimental than helpful. Sometimes this can lead to bad penalties. His speed and hockey sense make him good on retrievals, but I think his man-marking in the slot is sometimes off, and he doesn’t seem to pre-read threats well in his own zone. Rudolph will greatly benefit from heading to Denver next season, where I expect significant gains on defense. He’s an exceptional force in offensive contributions and can run a power-play effectively, given his vision and distribution ability. His ability to make the right read and pinch keeps many shifts going and creates scoring chances.

2026 WHL Statistics: 68GP - 28G - 50A - 78PTS - 75PIM - +32

12. Tynan Lawrence - C - Boston University (NCAA) - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 185lbs.

Ty Lawrence is another player I think is getting unjustly punished for making the jump to a more difficult league in the NCAA. Lawrence spent last year and parts of this year with the Muskegon USHL team and was absolutely doing numbers there. He scored 54 points (25 + 29) as a 16-year-old and followed that up with 17 points (10 + 7) in 13 games before heading to Boston in the middle of the year. There, as one would expect, he experienced normal growing pains. The players were larger, time and space were at a higher premium, and some of the things he did in the USHL did not translate to the NCAA level. I don’t view that as a detriment to his future as much as a cold reality of switching leagues. Lawrence is a smooth-skating center who has great speed and a bit of a gallop through the neutral zone. He enjoys carrying the puck and is good at it. He is a heads-up skater who effectively uses his hips and shoulders to deke his way through layers of talent. I am not sure he is the most creative hands-based dangler, though he uses his body and subtle hand motions to navigate trouble. Skating is the basis of it all because it puts him in a position to use his shot. Lawrence’s best attribute in the shooting department is his lightning-fast release. He can send a puck off his blade with little in the way of hand and wrist motion and scored a lot of goals that way. He’s patient in his approach and loves to walk off the wall and into the slot area for shot attempts. I think there are opportunities for him to use that wall space to distribute a bit more. Defensively, Lawrence isn’t just present; he’s impactful. He sees the ice extremely well and is constantly scanning for threats. He can dispossess and create a breakout, and if he can incorporate that more into his offense as he grows, it will be a game-changer, and a lot of his rushes come from proactive defensive plays. I think the defensive zone is where most of his physicality occurs, and if he can incorporate that more into his offense as he grows, it will be a game-changer for him. Overall, the ceiling has room to move higher, but the basement is on the 3rd floor. This is a very low-risk player given his IQ, work ethic, and commitment to detail.

2026 NCAA Statistics: 18GP - 2G - 5A - 7PTS - 2PIM - -1

13. Ryan Lin - D - Vancouver (WHL) - Shoots R - 5’11’’ - 176 lbs.

Some of the most fun I had this season watching game tape came courtesy of Ryan Lin. And a large part of his ranking here is that I do not believe he’ll remain at his current size forever. The biggest knock on Lin that most people have is his size, but I want to start by saying he does not play small at all. When his body catches up with his habits, the NCAA will be in big trouble (Lin is heading to Denver next season). Lin is a multifaceted offensive creator who is also good at cap control and willing to be physical despite his size. He is a fluid skater; he can turn and use his edges with the best of them. His first few steps are explosive, enabling him to gain separation from opponents. In one-on-one situations, he can dangle his way through just about anything. He toe drags, mohawk strides, and goes between his legs to outright embarrass people on a regular basis. He turned a lot of people inside out this year when they were silly enough to come at him with their stick. Lin has a solid shot and gets the puck on net with regularity. He has an innate sense for when to hit the gas and when he breaks out, making smart, seamless transitions up ice. His one-timer is a thing of beauty, featuring a ton of hip rotation that generates raw power without sacrificing placement. He is not a one-dimensional, offensive presence. His defensive work is sound, he’s got a great, aggressive gap, and he routinely dispossesses opponents and creates offense from it. The problem for him last year was his physical limitation. He would make the right play and throw a body check, only for someone to bounce off of him and keep skating. Defensively, he does not panic and does not take many penalties at all. As I mentioned, I think he’s still got a lot of growing to do, and getting into an NCAA program will be great for adding strength. Lin’s deceptive nature, ability to create offense, and full 200-foot impact make him a difficult player to ignore.

2026 WHL Statistics: 53GP - 14G - 43A - 57PTS - 35PIM - -19

14. Wyatt Cullen - LW - USNTDP - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 181 lbs.

Wyatt Cullen is the oldest son of former Penguin Matt Cullen. If you were to rank players in this class by hands, skill, dangles, and creativity, Cullen would be in the top three, no hyperbole. He can not only execute high-level, jaw-dropping moves, but he can also chain them together one after the other and slice through defenders like a hot knife through butter. His shot is lethal, and he loves to use it, whether forehand or backhand. He’s a quick-footed skater, albeit a bit too upright at times. He can work his edges effectively and loves to put on the emergency brake to shake a defender. He dekes with his whole body, dipping his shoulders or opening his stride just for a moment in order to fool a defender. He can work pucks through opponents’ legs and loves to keep it on his stick for long periods, sometimes to a fault. I think having tunnel vision is a major part of what frustrates me about Cullen’s game. The other is a total lack of physicality and almost outright refusal to participate in that aspect of the game. He shot up like a weed this year and gained a ton of height and mass, but he still hasn't pieced together how to incorporate it into his game. I’ve also seen him allow frustration to get the best of him. There have been times when I have seen him skate away from a loose puck in the crease, bemoaning that he hadn't scored. Cullen is a tough evaluation for me. The raw skill, hands, shot, and creativity are all very hard to ignore. He has an innate ability to skate his way into time and space. But there are many elements of his game that will simply have to adjust as he moves to the NCAA level next year. The ceiling is very high on this player, but I view the risk as pretty moderate given his habits.

2026 USNTDP Statistics: 40GP - 16G - 29A - 45PTS - 43PIM - +7

15. Oscar Hemming - LW - Boston College (NCAA) - Shoots L - 6’4’’ - 198 lbs.

Oscar Hemming had two bad things happen to him this season. First, he could not escape from under his U20 contract in Finland. By the time he landed at Boston College, half of the year was over. The second bad thing was his shooting percentage regressed into the commode. Hemming was, quite literally, the poster boy of unlucky this season. If you just focus on his hockeydb.com page, you probably aren’t impressed. If you watched him play, you probably walked away with a much different impression than the stat line. Hemming’s size stands out here, but it’s the combination of how well he moves that really ties the room together. Hemming is equal parts fast and powerful in his stride. When he gets a head of steam, he is difficult to stop. He can execute tempo changes; his first few steps are adequate for hunting pucks and battling in tight spaces. The usual adages about some wider turns and slow hips, but nothing I don’t think he will grow out of. Hemming is good at hitting seams and recognizing open space when it presents itself. The frustrating part about his goal total is that his shot is very strong and accurate. He does a great job of getting it off quickly, he loves to tuck the puck behind him, and he can generate a lot of momentum. His shot has a natural-looking rise. Hemming is also good defensively and deployable in situations where you want to protect a lead. His trust level with the coaching staff at BU clearly rose as the year went on. I think his transition to the NCAA was relatively seamless, given his size and desire for contact. His best work in distributing comes via making short, connective plays down low and cross-ice passes to high-danger areas. The tape on this season is short, but I’m putting him here because of the size, mobility, and ability to forecheck in the neutral zone. I don’t expect his shooting percentage to be anywhere near as bad next season, and his goals should start coming regularly.

2026 NCAA Statistics: 19GP - 1G - 7A - 8PTS - 18PIM - Even

16. Alexander Command - C - Örebro (U20 Nationell) - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 187 lbs.

I feel like Alexander Command’s game consistently improved throughout the course of his draft year, and there’s even more room for additional wins in the years to come. Command is a full, 200-foot center who is driven by an intense work ethic, a commitment to the finer details of the game, a touch of physicality, and an evolving set of offensive skills. I love what Command does in tight, highly contested areas. It isn’t just about using his shoulder to create space. Command is great at executing give-and-go plays that spring him into open space, or alternatively, settling in a soft area of the ice and floating to remain unmarked. He makes sound decisions with the puck aimed at pushing play forward. On zone exits, he will peel off and regroup if he doesn’t like what he sees. He is very effective between the blue lines, staking out space and dispossessing opponents. You can usually find him wherever a scrum pops up, vocalizing his thoughts and subtly getting under the skin of an opponent. I think Command is one of the best faceoff-takers in this class, if not the best. He gets extremely low in the circle, and his posture disrupts his opposing center. He has raw speed on draws, but he also engages a lot physically, making opponents really work for it in the circle. His shot is my favorite skill offensively; it’s got a quick release, is no-nonsense, and is driven by his positional awareness. I think there’s an opportunity for him to find more velocity in the years to come. The broader perception of Command seemed to shift thanks to his international performances, where he really stepped up his game and was a play-driving leader for his Sweden team, even if he wasn’t the star of the show. He’s a great driver of play not only because of his forechecking, but because of his distribution. Command may not have the raw offensive upside of some of his peers, but his attention to detail, willingness to do the dirty work on a shift, and his defensive presence make him a high-floor player with very little risk.

2026 J20 Nationell Statistics: 30GP - 17G - 27A - 44PTS - 61PIM - +10

17. Nikita Klepov - LW - Saginaw (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’0’’ - 181 lbs.

I am not sure I watched a player more this year than Nikita Klepov, and I really had a hard time pulling myself away from his video. This is a powerful, electrifying forward with a deep set of offensive skills, perhaps one of the most powerful skaters in this class, and produces a number of absurd, highlight-reel moments that often combine his size and feet. Klepov is a bit of a wild stallion. He can sometimes operate at a highly individual level, outside the confines of whatever system is in place at any given moment. He is a freelancer; he takes the puck on long journeys through the offensive zone, dragging defenders along unproductive adventures that eventually end with Kelpov either shooting or distributing his way onto the scoresheet. Possession is the driver of his offense. This happens sometimes to a detriment. Klepov is prone to ignoring open teammates or holding onto the puck a bit too long for my liking. I view this as an eminently coachable issue. Klepov’s shot is a massive bomb. He loads up on his stick, whipping the puck at the net with his whole body behind it. The shooting mechanism happens so fast that it catches goaltenders by surprise. He also has a beautiful one-timer, again striking a lot of ice to get his stick to do the work for him. He is a violent, volume shooter who can also win battles in the critical areas of the ice. Klepov will skate through anything; it is difficult to pin him on the boards and even harder to make a sound, logical decision while he is breathing down your neck for a retrieval. His skating reminds me of Evgeni Malkin; they both have that upright gallop through the neutral zone. Klepov can get up to speed in a hurry and loves to lead with his shoulder dipped, generating power and momentum with small kicks of his back leg. I do think he’s mostly present defensively, albeit a bit overzealous at times. He will also rarely fly the zone early in search of an offensive opportunity. The high offensive ceiling is the selling point here. There are some warts, yes, but I believe any team with a competent development team will be all over there. The risk is medium, and the reward could be sky-high. I think Klepov’s challenge will be to remain an effective player when the well dries up, which it occasionally will.

2026 OHL Statistics: 67GP - 37G - 60A - 97PTS - 43PIM - +9

18. Adam Novotný - LW - Peterborough (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 205 lbs.

Adam Novotny is as steady as they come, a jack of all trades and master of none. He is deployable in almost every situation and has some manner of impact across all three zones. To me, Novotný’s game is based on his hockey sense, sound decision-making, and multifaceted toolset. Again, I am not sure if there’s any one element that stands out among the others here, and I often have a hard time projecting what Novotný will be at the NHL level. When you watch his tape, his impact is discernible. He’s patient in the neutral zone, and pre-reads plays very well, often stepping in to dispossess opponents or throwing a little bit of body their way. I think he is great connective tissue for the breakout, jumping on to support teammates in possession and giving them an easy outlet for when they run into trouble. He hunts open space in the offensive zone. His shot has a quick release, but the true strength is in its placement. Novotný is patient and will out-wait a goaltender. He picks his spots and targets them cleanly. He is an effective distributor, using his points to create low-to-high movement in the offensive zone to attack the net and screen. I don’t know that he’s good enough in his current form to be the focal point of a power-play, but his vision and distribution certainly make him an asset to one. He skates through contact extremely well and keeps his feet moving to churn through physical situations. He’s sound defensively and rarely makes mistakes on the breakout. If there is a criticism of Novotný, it’s that he needs to grow a defining feature. The skill is there, and he can control the tempo well with his feet. When a path to the net presents itself, he exhibits a surprising amount of burst for someone his size.

2026 OHL Statistics: 58GP - 34GP - 31A - 65PTS - 22PIM - -2

19. Maddox Dagenais - C - Québec (QMJHL) - Shoots L - 6’4’’ - 196 lbs.

I completely changed my outlook on Maddox Dagenais this season. At the start of the year, Dagenais had accumulated all this newfound mass, and I’m not sure he immediately knew what to do with it. At times, he looked frustratingly disinterested, aloof in the defensive zone, and even frustrated me with little things like line changes. Just before the holiday season, it’s like a light bulb went off in his head. He found some confidence and, with each passing week, seemed to learn more about how to bully his opposition. By the end of the year, he was a menace, fully embracing that size and making it a fundamental part of his offensive toolkit. I see Dagenais as equal parts power-forward, equal parts pure sniper. Dagenais is a technical shooter. He’s got a whipping-like motion to his wrist shot, a very fast release, and is accurate in his placement. His slap shot is essentially a cannon; he can get a good upper extension on his body, and he takes a beautiful, windmill-like follow-through. He absolutely overpowered some goaltenders this year by sheer force of will. He has dangles as well; he is surgical with his hands and executes whole-body fakes to get defenders out of position so he can make a run at the net. He is a good but not great skater. I think his ability to change tempo on a dime and execute some deceiving edge work is great for his size, but his straight-line speed needs a step or two more. He doesn’t get caught from behind, but he doesn’t create enough separation, either. His best asset in the circle is his size, and I’m not sure he’s a center in future levels of the game. His defensive work got significantly better after he learned to use his size. He’s a good puck distributor, but it’s something I think he can do more of, especially in the neutral zone. His overall game still has moments of inconsistency, but his growth really kicked into high gear this season. Dagenais is continuing to learn to play with his size and adding a bit more speed in the skating department will go a long way to take his ceiling even higher. The risk might be greater here, but I believe the reward to be as well.

2026 QMJHL Statistics: 62GP - 30G - 32A - 62PTS - 31PIM - Even

20. Elton Hermansson - RW - MoDo (HockeyAllsvenskan) - Shoots R - 6’0’’ - 183 lbs.

Hermansson was a player I struggled to get a good beat on this year. There were moments where I was sure he’d be a possession monster at future levels, and other times I felt completely confused by his decision-making processes and overall level of engagement. From a raw hands perspective, Hermansson is great at carrying the puck and can chain together skills to beat his opponents. His shot is his best asset to me; he can get it off quickly and from an awkward position. It’s more about making contact and sometimes redirecting its energy. Hermansson can also score from distance; he’s great at tucking the puck behind himself briefly before releasing, hiding the location from the goalie, and getting a lot of momentum from the back of his blade. Hermansson loves to take defenders for a walk; he’ll reverse pivot or take a quick loop to drag them out of position before he distributes the puck to a high-danger area or takes a shot himself. Utilizing his physical frame on offense is something I’d like to see more of, and I am surprised we don’t given how well he can skate through contact or brush a defender off with one arm. Like some other players in this range, I struggle with projecting what archetype Hermansson will be at future levels. There’s also the question of his consistency and engagement. I think his defensive game has come a long way, but still has more distance to go. He can often look aloof, be late to mark, or fly the zone early. He did really well this season in Allsvenskan against older players and showcased a real focus on the slot area, whether that was through his shooting or his distribution. Many instances of Hermansson shaking a defender with a good deke are followed by him setting up a teammate in the slot. I thought his consistency and work ethic were better internationally than they were domestically this season.

2026 HockeyAllSvenskan Statistics: 38GP - 11G - 10A - 21PTS - 22PIM - +9

21. J.P. Hurlbert - LW - Kamloops (WHL) - Shoots R - 6’0’’ - 183 lbs.

I may be more bullish than a lot of people on J.P. Hurlbert, but I am a big fan of the total package here, and I think he’s already exhibited a lot of growth in his game. He’s heading to Michigan next year, which will be even better and more challenging for his development. Hurlbert is an electric offensive presence whose main goal is to use his legs to get the puck, get to a scoring area, and then unleash his powerful, accurate wrist shot. He can be a dogged forechecker and backchecker when he’s engaged in the activity. I do think he can be guilty of flying the zone and creating offense too early, but so much of what Kamloops accomplished this year came off of his stick, so I think most of that is born out of a pressure to create. Hurlbert is a quick, powerful skater with an upright, jumpy stride at times. He has great straight-line speed, and he’s effective at using start-and-stop techniques to shake defenders. He loves to take defensemen on long journeys through the offensive zone, where he exploits them being out of position. He is a good distributor, but needs to keep his head on a swivel for quick passing opportunities more often. Hurlbert is the kind of player you deploy when you need momentum. He increases the tempo and fervor of a game every time he steps on the ice. He has a visible amount of moxie and confidence. When it comes to his shot, he’s great at being deceptive and tucking his release. He also has an immensely powerful one-timer that has a fast release. It’s good enough to be the focal point of a power play. Hurlbert had a lot of signature, heroic moments this year in getting Kamloops back to the playoffs. He excels in second and third opportunities and is relentless in his attack. There are some elements that will have to be cleaned up for the next level, but he’s going to the right program for it. I think he’s going to continue to add mass and expand the physical component of his offense, which is already present. There were times this year when defenders had to jersey-grab Hurlbert and pull him down to the ice to stop him from beating them. That kind of effort and determination is not always coachable, but the rest certainly is.

2026 WHL Statistics: 68GP - 42G - 55A - 97PTS - 45PIM - +13

22. Tommy Bleyl - D - Moncton (QMJHL) - Shoots R - 6’0’’ - 170 lbs.

The only concern I have with Tommy Bleyl’s game is that he stays at 170 pounds for the rest of his development and doesn't add any muscle or weight. That doesn’t seem like a very likely outcome to me, so you can imagine my level of concern isn’t very high. I am not sure that, in the present state, a coach could find a situation where Bleyl isn’t a perfect fit. He is a two-way threat, patrolling large swaths of ice with his quick burst out of the gate, crossovers, and mohawk strides, as well as a knack for strong puck distribution. Bleyl is great in individual defensive situations and has a strong, textbook gap. He attacks opposing forwards at the point they receive the pass, albeit sometimes too aggressively. What I like most about Bleyl’s game is his work in transition, particularly when he retrieves pucks. Bleyl can solve very complicated situations under duress. Situations that would cause other defensemen to crumble are the spaces where Bleyl thrives. He can handle multiple forecheckers breathing down his neck and still work the puck out of the zone. He is an excellent distance passer, tossing long, accurate passes up the ice to a teammate. I do think Bleyl needs continued refinement in clearing the areas in front of the net and tying up threats in loose-puck situations around the crease. He is active in the offensive zone and is developing into a strong power-play quarterback. He is a solid placement shooter who prefers location over power. He can kill penalties effectively because of how much distance he can cover in his first few steps. He is most comfortable with the puck on his stick and is capable of shaking opponents in the neutral zone to create odd-man breaks on offense. He led the QMJHL in assists this season, a testament to his ability to see the ice and distribute the puck. Overall, I view Bleyl as one of the definitions of a modern, two-way defenseman. I think this is a low-risk pick with a reward that increases in value over time.

2026 QMJHL Statistics: 63GP - 13G - 68A - 81PTS - 33PIM - +58

23. Liam Ruck - RW - Medicine Hat (WHL) - Shoots R - 5’11’’ - 176 lbs.

The Ruck twins ran amok in the WHL last year, putting up tons of points and showcasing their Sedin-like mental link. I am with the consensus that says Liam is the better of the two by a non-slim Margin. Liam is a finisher and has one of the best releases in this draft class, full stop. The speed with which he can get rid of the puck is almost non-human. His one-timer is violent; he rips across his body at a high rate of speed and catches the puck flush with a ton of stick bend. The truly dangerous part is that he can get this shot off from all types of compromised positions. His wrist shot is just as lethal, he also has a quick release, and he always seems to get a piece of his stick on any loose puck that he can, fighting for second and third opportunities and making beautiful one-touch passes off of rebounds he collects. Ruck needs a play-driver on the same line as him, however, to make his style work. You do not see him do much of the heavy lifting in terms of zone entries, and while he has some dangles, they’re usually more isolated than a brute force approach. Ruck is not a dynamic skater but has good straight-line speed. He is very north-to-south in his approach. His process is skate hard, chase down an opponent, win a loose puck, then get open to let one rip. His ability to find open space and get to loose pucks despite some unrefined parts of his game is a testament to his hockey sense. Ruck clearly understands his best assets and doubles down on them. It might rob him of some dimension, but a shooter this good is not something that grows on trees, and it’s a strong enough attribute that I would bet on it in the latter part of night one of the draft.

2026 WHL Statistics: 68GP - 45G - 59A - 104PTS - 36PIM - +47

24. Marcus Nordmark - LW - Djurgården (J20 Nationell) - Shoots L - 6’2’’ - 187 lbs.

Marcus Nordmark is a big, powerful winger who uses his size and smarts to get to loose pucks, fight through traffic, and get his strong, accurate shot on net. Nordmark dominated J20 Nationell this season and was also very strong on the international stage. He got called up to play 8 total SHL games and finished with one assist on limited ice time. He struggled to adjust to the pace and style in the SHL and proved he needs to add a more up-tempo element to his game. Nordmark was able to slow the game down and dangle and plow his way through trouble at the J20 level, but he has to find new ways to create offense at higher levels. I would almost describe this as a bad habit born out of being better than everyone at his level this season. Nordmark is solid defensively, and while he sometimes flies the zone early to create offense, he turned many plays at his defensive blue line into transition opportunities. I mentioned his shot, and it is dangerous because of the placement over power. Nordmark is a patient shooter who often tries to get the goalie to make the first move, either by hanging on to the puck or giving him a body flinch that fools him into dropping to the ice. He is also an effective distributor, and once he creates space, he does a good job evaluating his best option, a half-step ahead of his peers. Playing through contact is one of his biggest strengths, and he’s effective along the wall at protecting the puck and kicking it out into a scoring area with a quick pass. If he can pick up his pace a bit and use his size more proactively at higher levels, the scoring chances will continue to come. That will be his main challenge, along with shift-to-shift consistency.

2026 J20 Nationell Statistics: 25GP - 14G - 24A - 38PTS - 48PIM - +24

25. Xavier Villeneuve - D - Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) - Shoots L - 5’11’’ - 167 lbs.

Xavier Villeneuve is an extremely mobile, puck-moving defenseman who can play a critical role on the breakout thanks to his dangle ability and skating. He is fleet-footed, light on his boots, and exhibits many neat tricks with his hips to change his stride and lose a defender. He also has great skill at chaining and can make long, accurate passes to teammates up ice. In the offensive zone, he is mobile, pinching in deep and hunting areas in the slot to both shoot and distribute from. If you’re wondering whether size affects his game, I think it does in several ways. To start, Villeneuve’s gap is offset to the side of the opposing forward by about as much as two feet, at times. He then sweeps across the forward and attempts to dispossess them with his stick. This works at the QMJHL level; I am not as certain that it will work at Boston University next season. He also is not physical in any aspect and will bail on physical engagements to try to use his stick instead. At the more physical level in the NCAA next season, I expect he’ll be coached to engage with opposing forwards in a more direct fashion. Villenueve is a great puck carrier and very dangerous in possession, but I often find myself frustrated by his positioning away from the puck during breakouts. He takes a lot of routes in play support that seem outside the confines of what he’s asked to do in the system. I think some of his off-puck support work is more detrimental than it is innovative or helpful to his teammates' play. He is a solid shooter; nothing truly remarkable about it, aside from his consistent ability to get pucks on net. His passing is a huge boost to the power-play, and he’s great at attacking down the wall, getting to the corner, and then distributing to a high-danger area. Overall, there’s a lot of potential reward here, but I think the risk is also just above moderate, as well. I love the player archetype that Villeneuve is, and I acknowledge how much skill he has, but some of his decision-making and defensive work concern me here.

2026 QMJHL Statistics: 37GP - 6G - 32A - 38PTS - 35PIM - +7

26. Oliver Suvanto - C - Tappara (Liiga) - Shoots L - 6’3’’ - 209 lbs.

Oliver Suvanto is the definition of a power forward. He is a big, powerful skater with a decent set of boots on top of it. Suvanto is neither slow nor lumbering, and even has a bit of agility. He can move well and is an absolute bear in icy battle areas and in contact situations. He can use his body to fool defenders at times, dipping his shoulder or executing a simple tempo change to find space, but more often than not, he’s going to come right at a defender and try to bowl them over. Suvanto does a lot of thankless work on the ice and is dedicated to his defensive play. He is smart in his own zone, tracks opponents well, and uses his size to dispossess opponents. The limitation with Suvanto is in the offensive toolbox and hockey sense in scoring areas. He is a bit delayed in his decision-making and actions, giving opponents and goaltenders the opportunity to cancel out some of his advantages. His shot is unremarkable, and its power is probably its greatest feature. He does a decent amount of carrying through the neutral zone but seems to prefer to defer once he crosses the offensive blue line. He plays mostly mistake-free hockey, but outside of winning battles or extending possessions with his body, he isn’t adding a ton to the flow of the game on the attack. That being said, his attention to detail, ability to win faceoffs, and active play on defense make him a low-risk, medium-reward player. At this point, I am not sure there’s a huge chance he’s going to blossom into a dynamic forward offensively, but he’s also coming off a year where he played against adults in a highly competitive league and only earned ice time as the year went on.

2026 Liiga Statistics: 48GP - 2G - 9A - 11PTS - 16PIM - +5

27. Ilya Morozov - C - Miami (NCAA) - Shoots L - 6’3’’ - 201 lbs.

Ilya Morozov is a bullish center who is physical, strong in all he does, and has a great wrist shot that he loves to load up on. Morozov isn’t the type of player who is a driver in and of himself, he does not do a lot of carrying through the neutral zone and is rare and selective in his dangles. He is not the type of player to generate many chances off the rush or sneak behind the defense for breakups or to ice. His straight-line speed is fine, and he isn’t a wide turner with stiff ankles. He’s at his best when he’s working off the puck to find open space to use his shot. He’s able to fight through contact and is really difficult to stop once he gets going. His long reach enables him to bear down on the puck and fend off opponents with one hand on the stick. He has a strong, accurate one-timer that he likes to use off the half-wall. He is one of the most physical forwards in this class and loves engaging with opponents in all three zones. He does a lot of strong defensive work, dominating the battle areas and using his aforementioned reach to steal pucks. He’s a dominant presence in the defensive zone and makes life in that area difficult for opponents. I rank him a little lower than most because I think the upside here is more limited than with some of his peers. Morozov has pro-level habits, a sneaky-good IQ in his own zone, and can be a triggerman on offense, but needs puck carriers and play drivers on a line with him to help him find opportunities to use his offensive skill.

2026 NCAA Statistics: 36GP - 8G - 12A - 20PTS - 27PIM - +2

28. Mathis Preston - RW - Vancouver (WHL) - Shoots R - 5’11 - 176 lbs.

Mathis Preston is a small, shifty, and fast winger who darts in and out of open space, looking for opportunities to get his high-quality, near NHL-ready shot off. By nature, he is a lane driver and positions himself exceptionally well in the right openings on the breakout to create high-quality offensive opportunities. His burst is real, and he can hit gaps hard to turn defensemen around and force them into chase mode. He dealt with an injury mid-season after being traded from Spokane to Vancouver, and I think it slowed some of the core aspects of his game and hurt his overall stock. Preston's release is like a slingshot. He can shoot it off of either foot, on the rush, off-balance, or through traffic. He generates exceptional torque behind his shot and keeps the puck on the back of his blade most of the time. He can tuck and shoot, or simply overpower the goaltender with raw speed. He's got great placement and can fool all five opponents and the goalie into thinking he will shoot, then distribute based on what looks like an obvious shooting posture. What drives all of this for me is his processing speed in finding lanes. His first few steps have an almost hopping-like motion, but his feet move quickly to generate a significant short-term burst. From there, he can hit the seams between opposing players and get through their defensive posture before they even realize what's happening. Due to his size, he struggles in tight spaces and in front of the net. Additionally, his defensive habits and off-puck work in his own zone will need refinement. He's an exceptional give-and-go talent who distinctly understands how to position himself for maximum damage, given his own skill set. If you pair him with a set-up man and someone who can do some puck retrieval work, I expect that will be the best environment for him, given some of his shortcomings. Overall, I would consider him a space creator who can navigate difficult challenges to find open space and then use his technical shooting skills to do damage. There are real limitations here, but his bread and butter is good enough to be worth the bet.

2026 WHL Statistics: 46GP - 18G - 26A - 44PTS - 34PIM - -9

29. William Håkansson - D - Luleå (J20 Nationell) - Shoots L - 6’4’’ - 216 lbs.

Håkansson is a big, rangy skater with a long stick and long reach, and is a total disruptor to the opposition’s breakout. He is almost solely focused on the defensive side of the puck. He produces few zone exits, and while he can make a good first pass, its utility is often limited. The real prize here is Håkansson’s skating combined with his size. He patrols the neutral zone, maintains an aggressive gap without being right on top of someone, and forces many opponents wide. He also forces a lot of dump-ins due to the range he has with his stick. He is not incompetent with the puck, but he also doesn't go out of his way to make plays that contribute to the offense. He's physical in front of the net and cleans up loose pucks well with strong reaction time, but I'd like to see that extend beyond the front of his net and into some other battle areas of the ice. From a skating perspective, Håkansson is very solid on his feet, given his height and weight. He has decent straight-line speed and is extremely comfortable pivoting. His hips are loose, and he turns well for his size. I am not sure that he will ever blossom into someone who prefers to move the puck and be active offensively, but his work in his own zone is already clean, he is a bear to get around in one-on-one situations, and he's big enough to be unbothered by pressure in retrieval situations. He’s a player I’d consider to be low risk, but for a team in need of a partner for an offensive-minded defenseman, this is pretty much a gold mine. His skating is not a concern to me regarding his ability to play against adults, and he proved it this year in the SHL.

2026 SHL Statistics: 22GP - 0G - 2A - 8PIM - +1

30. Yegor Shilov - C - Victoriaville (QMJHL) - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 176 lbs.

Yegor Shilov produced some of the most enjoyable offensive moments of the year for me. From the perspective of his hands, game control, and puck-carrying ability, there is a lot to like about this player. Shilov is a solid skater, though unremarkable in any one area. His top-end speed is adequate, his edgework is solid, and he controls the tempo of the game with his skating. Fundamentally, he is a play-maker. That is his calling card. He likes to carry the puck up ice, cross the zone, use a move on a defender, and then distribute. He masterfully buys his teammates additional time to get open or arrive. Shilov's downside is that he lacks a physical presence and often gets bullied when opponents try to engage him. This lack of physical presence is apparent in all three zones, and he sometimes plays tentatively to avoid physical engagement. His shot is underrated, and I think he should use it more. He can pick out small targets at long range and is patient when shooting. He really works his wrists to generate torque behind the shot, giving it a natural rise. Shilov surprised a lot of goaltenders last year with the way the puck explodes off his stick and takes a sharp, upward angle. I think there is room for him to be more selfish here. His playmaking is deceptive. He's great at no-look passes and is accurate with his backhand. Shilov has a great sense of where everyone is on the ice at any given time and strong peripheral vision. He gets great lift on the puck off his backhand, and his saucer pass is truly a work of art. His game sense and IQ are on display in these moments, as his passing timing is usually impeccable. Defensively, Shilov is present and gives good effort, but, as with his offense, he can suffer from his size and lack of physical engagement. He’s got a quick draw in the circle and is the type of center who wins on speed and good puck contact. He knows how to position his stick to eat up space on draws and make life more difficult for the opposing center, but he can struggle when draws turn physical. It's difficult to drop him further in the ranking, given his overall skill set and ability to create offense despite his size and strength.

2026 QMJHL Statistics: 63GP - 32G - 50A - 82PTS - 29 - -11

31. Jack Hextall - C - Youngstown (USHL) - Shoots R - 6’1’’ - 185 lbs.

Jack Hextall is a big, physical center with a dedicated two-way game. His physicality is noticeable from the drop of the puck, and he spares almost no one in any of the three zones. Hextall has good straight-line speed and can control the tempo by stopping on a dime to shake a defender. He is very good in front of the net, provides a difficult screen, and has excellent reaction time on loose pucks around the cage. His best work in puck distribution comes from behind the net, and working off the half wall to set up his teammates. Hextall is not a puck carrier and does not do much in the play of play, driving and working off the rush. He plays through contact well will take defenders on wide drives in the offensive zone, but I think he lacks some of the toolkit to deke or shake defenders with a stick move. He is a bit one-dimensional offensively. I do not think any aspect of his shot is remarkable; he is most threatening when he’s crashing low, getting to the net, and fighting for loose pucks. He does get a lot of velocity around his one-timer but I question its accuracy. He’s fully engaged defensively, deployable in high-pressure defensive situations, and is eager to use his physicality in his own zone. I do think there’s an element of finishing unnecessary checks here; these are situations that are far away from the play, and the hits can be cosmetic by that juncture. Hextall is effective in his forechecking and backchecking and seems to have a dedicated work ethic to the finer, thankless jobs of the game. I question the offensive upside here beyond what you’d get out of a bottom-six role. The risk is also low given his skating and physicality. At worst, Hextall will be a bottom six center that can provide a physical, defensive presence.

2026 USHL Statistics: 59GP - 20G - 38A - 58PTS - 28PIM - +8

32. Juho Piiparinen - D - Tappara (Liiga) - Shoots R - 6’3’’ - 203 lbs.

Juho Piiparinen is a strong, smart defensive defenseman, but one with a bit of a modern-day touch. Piiparinen’s strengths are his gap control, calm under pressure, and his ability to be a wet blanket on opposing forwards. He reads the defensive zone extremely well, peeling off of neutral assignments to find the greater threat, and actively dominating the battle areas around the net. On top of that, as a bonus, Piiparinen can skate the puck out of danger and execute a good first pass for the breakout. He’s not likely to execute a full end-to-end rush himself; his game is more about putting the fire out and getting the puck to a teammate in an immediate position to help. He can also make accurate, long-range passes to the tape of a teammate. He isn’t very active in the offensive zone, but he has a shot that he can get on net with regularity, and it has a decent bit of velocity behind it. He’s a low shooter who creates a lot of rebounds off the pads. Overall, I truly think Piiparinen is one of the best defensive minds in this draft class. His skating limits him from doing more, but it held up well and even improved against adult competition in Liiga this year. He’s very good at what he does, but his impact can be limited. I view this pick as a pretty safe option, especially given how well Piiparinen can support the early portions of a breakout. His defensive game is strong, and he isn’t shy about being physical, but he isn’t one to chase hits or do anything that detracts from his defensive presence.

2026 Liiga Statistics: 29GP - 0G - 3A - 3PTS - 8PIM - +6

33. Simon Ignatavicius - RW - Genève-Servette (NL) - Shoots R - 6’3’’ - 201lbs.

Simon Ignatavicius is a wrecking ball of a forechecker who uses his size, skating, physicality, and reach to disrupt the opponent’s breakout, chase down pucks, and create offense out of it. He played a straight-line game, heading north in a hurry to bear down on opponents or be disruptive on retrieval. He uses his body effectively. He does not chase hits, but he uses physicality to dispossess an opponent and then turns to make a play. I think he is a better playmaker than a shooter. He does a great job immediately spinning a turnover into a high-danger pass to a teammate. From a scoring perspective, most of his damage gets dealt in tight. He’s a great reaction player and can get to the space where pucks will be. He has a good enough shot; the release can be a bit telegraphed at times. I think his processing speed is great when he’s looking to make a set-up play and needs to quicken some for his shooting opportunities. He’s good defensively and is a forward to lives off of his work rate on some nights. His skating has improved, especially in short, tight distances, but I question how much better it will get. This is a player who is, once again, lower on the risk side because of his consistent work ethic. He played against adults in the National League in Switzerland this year and proved that, despite his age, he’s fully capable of using his body to move opponents. The offensive upside might not be super rich, but the strong habits and work rate make this a project that could be worthwhile for your bottom six.

2026 NL Statistics: 52GP - 7G - 6A - 13PTS - 43A - +7

34. Jaxon Cover - LW - London (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’1’’ - 185 lbs.

Jaxon Cover, a native of the Cayman Islands, only started playing hockey a handful of years ago and has a background in roller hockey before transitioning to ice hockey. He is a relentless attacker who covers a lot of ice and plays a really in-your-face style of hockey. He has a bow-legged, hopping-style stride that is very unconventional, but unsurprising given how raw almost every aspect of his game is. For someone who only entered the game as recently as Cover did, he has better hands than some of his peers. He isn’t afraid to try the most absurd moves he can come up with, and they often work. Again, the word I come back to is unconventional. His predictive positioning earns him a lot of his goals; Cover gets to the space where the puck is going to be, positioning himself in an advantageous spot to get a loose puck or a rebound. I don’t think his shot is lethal enough by itself yet; he’s more of a relentless presence in the offensive zone, and that earns him most of his goals. This is a project pick, but the video tells a rich story. If a team is willing to invest in someone with a slightly longer road to their return on investment, the wait could certainly be worth it. Cover is physical, loves to forecheck on his front foot, and uses an active stick to disrupt opponents. I do feel like he gets lost defensively, at times, a testament to his learning curve still being present.

2026 OHL Statistics: 67 - 20G - 32A - 52PTS - 48PIM - +9

35. Marcus Ruck - C - Medicine Hat (WHL) - Shoots L - 6’0’’ - 168 lbs.

Where Liam Ruck is the shooter, Marcus Ruck is the passer. He is the set-up man of the Ruck twins and has a fast, accurate pass that he can lift over sticks and navigate through traffic. His mental link with his brother, as I mentioned earlier, was simply out of this world, calling into question how effective these brothers can be when apart. Ruck plays a straight north-south style of hockey, but isn’t as good a skater as his brother in either his agility or his speed. I think he could be a better offensive generator and force more turnovers if he tightened up his first few steps. They are a bit too long and hunched over to generate the right amount of power. Ruck has great peripheral vision and can really hide his next move in his posture and head position. I think he ultimately shifts to the wing, where he has already played a bit this season. His work in the faceoff circle leaves a lot to be desired from me, and I don’t think he has the play recognition defensively to stay down the middle. He’s not all pass, all the time, either. He has a shot that has a quick, deceptive release. I think he stalks open space for the shot well, but struggles to garner separation to use it on the fly. He also has to do some bulking up, as he gets knocked around too easily. Overall, I struggle with ranking the Rucks individually, as together they are a much better package than apart.

2026 WHL Statistics: 68GP - 21G - 87A - 108PTS - 28PIM - +45

36. Casey Mutryn - RW - USTNDP - Shoots R - 6’3’’ - 203 lbs.

Casey Mutryn is a physical, defensively-conscious forward who, from my perspective, showed signs this year of growing a bit offensively. The backbone of his game is forechecking, backchecking, and generally playing a huge role in the more physical aspects of the game. He pre-reads plays well, especially defensively, and bodies up on opponents to slow them down or force turnovers. This year, I felt like we saw more from him with the puck on his stick. He started to show confidence in executing body dekes and lowering a shoulder to drive inside to the net. He is a short skater. Everything about his stride is very staccato. For all the muscle he showcases elsewhere, I feel like his skating needs deeper churn. He’s good enough in a straight line once he gets going, but this hampers him in shorter distances. He played some center this year, but I expect him to settle in on the wing. His shot is unremarkable, and its best attribute is that he can get the puck off his stick under duress and hit the net. Mutryn is the kind of player opponents struggle to outwork. He may lack the offensive upside of some of his peers, but his defensive habits, forechecking impact, and overall work ethic give him a pretty high basement. He will be heading to Boston College next year, and I think his style of play is well-suited to the NCAA.

2026 USNTDP Statistics: 62GP - 18G - 28A - 46PTS - 89PIM - -10

37. Ben Macbeath - D - Calgary (WHL) - Shoot L - 6’2’’ - 187lbs.

Ben Macbeath is a swift-skating, two-way defenseman who has some lean over to the offensive side. Macbeath is very comfortable with carrying the puck, has a heads-up approach to navigating the neutral zone, and is an effective distributor across all three zones. His skating is the foundation of his game. He has great posture, knee-to-toe is exactly where you want it, and he explodes his legs out of his stance to gain a lot of speed. His short-distance skating is also very good, and he gets a lot of burst out of his first few steps. He’s a patient puck-handler and has a variety of singular moves to beat an opponent. I love his work in pinching to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. His shot is unremarkable, I think its best attribute is that it is no-nonsense, and straight on net. He does a great job of identifying lanes to sneak into the play and doesn’t make many bad decisions with regard to his offensive pressure. Moreover, I think Macbeath is straight-up underrated defensively. He’s great at keeping a strong, accurate gap, and rarely steps up in a way that makes him vulnerable to getting side-stepped. Physicality is a challenge. I think there’s a lot of potential for Macbeath to increase his physical engagement, especially in the defensive zone. He can get turned around from time to time and seemingly lost in where he’s supposed to be, but that has gotten less glaring over time. His one-on-one, rush defense is where he is best equipped to shut down opponents. Overall, there’s a lot to like here defensively, and Macbeath does a lot to keep the play moving forward and keep the team on the offensive side of the ice. He is one of the more beautiful skaters in this class, but could use a little bit more consistency on the defensive side of the ice.

2026 WHL Statistics: 67GP - 7PTS - 44PTS - 51PIM - +16

38. Maksim Sokolovskii - D - London (OHL) - Shoots L - 6’8’’ - 238 lbs.

Don’t blink or wipe your eyes; you read the size correctly. Sokolovskii is one of the biggest players in the draft and plays a smothering, punishing game. He is the type of defenseman who quickly makes enemies with his opponents on a personal level. He can execute bone-crushing checks in open ice or along the boards. As you’d expect, he is a menace in front of his own net and dominates that area on a nightly basis. I feel like Sokolovskii is best when given an assignment, because his play recognition and threat detection in the defensive zone still need significant improvement. For his size, he’s a good skater. He has a great push off his back foot when skating in reverse, which enables him to generate a lot of momentum and speed. His reach is nightmare-fuel for opposing forwards. He does make some mistakes when handling the puck, but has a good first pass and can support play on breakouts and in the offensive zone. I would say the risk and reward to this player are both pretty moderate. On one hand, you have his size, skating, and good gap control between the blue lines. On the other hand, you see struggle in the defensive zone and limited utility outside that space. This is a project pick, but even in a bottom-pairing scenario, Sokolovskii has enough tools to make it work. He will be heading to the University of Maine in the fall.

2026 OHL Statistics: 44GP- 2G - 6A - 8PTS - 49PIM - +10

39. Nikita Shcherbakov - D - Neftekamsk (VHL) - Shoots L - 6’5’’ - 187 lbs.

Nikita Shcherbakov made the jump to the VHL and KHL this year and was challenged by the higher level of play, but I think he made the most of it and showcased significant growth. His playmaking grew by leaps and bounds this year, as he got a lot more comfortable joining the rush and threading passes from the top of the point out to the walls for his teammates. He also was very nifty with his long-distance passing from the top of the point to the far corner of the ice. For a player of his size, he moves very well and has good top-end speed when he gets going. His defensive work is sound but prone to mistakes in marking players off-puck and in recognizing oncoming threats before they materialize. He has a good gap and does use his size, although it’s fairly inconsistent and something I’d like to see him lean on more often. He is not afraid to handle the puck and can execute his own breakouts, but when he tries to dangle, he seems to manipulate the puck too far from his body and often loses the handle while trying to dangle so far away from himself. Overall, I think there is a lot to build off of here. There is some risk, but the reward could be a solid, middle-pairing defenseman that can fulfill multiple roles if he hits on his development.

2026 VHL Statistics: 36GP - 4G - 6A - 10PTS - 24PIM - -3

40. Gleb Pugachyov - RW - Nizhny Novgorod (MHL) - Shoots L - 6’3’’ - 198 lbs.

Gleb Pugachyov is a human battering ram. He runs full steam ahead, flying around the ice looking for someone to make contact with. He is a physical presence on the forecheck, in front of the net, and along the walls. He skates in an awkward, bowlegged style, often hunched over too far, but it aids his goal of making physical contact with opponents as quickly as possible. Pugachyov is not illiterate with the puck, but he is sometimes out of control, and his decision-making processes can be baffling at times. There is a loose cannon element to his game. He is capable of dipping his shoulder and driving to the net, and can occasionally exhibit dekes or mohawk strides to shake an opponent off. He plays the game at top speed all the time and is routinely the hardest worker on the ice. His shot is unremarkable, and I’d argue undisciplined. I have seen Pugachyov miss the net by six net lengths on an ill-advised shot, only for it to rim out and create a breakout for the opponents. His offensive game can be baffling and will require refinement, patience, and self-control. I view Pugachyov as someone almost guaranteed to play in the NHL given his tempo, work ethic, and physicality. That being said, I have serious questions about his processing, hockey sense, and offensive upside. If you are in the market for a terror in your bottom six that can generate turnovers and change the momentum of a game with his checking, this is a great pickup. He could have top six potential if he refines some of his decision making and starts to distribute the puck more.

2026 MHL Statistics: 33GP - 10G - 14A - 24PTS - 36PIM - +2