Adam Valentini – McKeen's Hockey

2026 IIHF U18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP A – Canada, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia, Norway – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:28 +0000

The puck drops for the 2026 IIHF U18’s on Wednesday, May 22. Canada is searching for its third straight gold medal, a feat only the United States has pulled off at this event when they won four in a row from 2009 to 2012. In fact, the top four finishers at the U18’s have been identical the last years, with Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Slovakia occupying the top four spots in some order. Will this year be different? History says yes.

Let’s take a look at Group A and preview some of the players to watch.

Canada's Keaton Verhoeff #20 - Canada vs Norway Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 28, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Canada

As mentioned Canada is searching for unprecedented success at this event (for the nation) as they try to capture their third straight gold medal. As is always the case, the team will be missing some possible key contributors thanks to the ongoing CHL playoffs, but it is always best to focus on the players who are available, versus those who are not. Additionally, Canada always tends to make a few late additions to their roster after the commencement of the tournament, as solid players become available following elimination from the CHL playoffs. Defensively, the team will be (at least initially) led by Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin, two of the premier defenders eligible for the 2026 draft. As of writing this, Carson Carels and the Prince George Cougars are facing elimination in the WHL playoffs. Should he become available he’d become an immediate impact player for this defensive group. Up front Tynan Lawrence will get an opportunity to prove that he deserves to be considered the top center eligible for the 2026 Draft after a disappointing end to the year following a jump to the NCAA with Boston University. The real question lies in net where the team lacks a standout performer. Gavin Betts probably has the best chance to start because he was the Hlinka/Gretzky starter and he did have a strong end to his OHL season with Kingston.

Players to Watch

Keaton Verhoeff (2026)

Verhoeff’s NCAA year with North Dakota certainly had its ups and downs. The freshman played key minutes for North Dakota, helping them advance to the final four of the Frozen Four. However, consistency was an issue and he had some poor performances under the microscope of the Frozen Four late in the year. He now enters this event looking to dominate now that he’s back playing against his peers. He stood out positively as an underager last year and he’s going to get all the ice time that he can handle; scouts will be watching him closely.

Ryan Lin (2026)

A recent commit to the NCAA champion Denver Pioneers, Lin is a terrific offensive defender who, along with Verhoeff, gives Canada two potentially elite puck movers on the back-end. Lin also likely takes charge of the Canadian powerplay, which should be potent given the talent available. Scouts will be looking to see how Lin handles tough defensive assignments and that could be the difference between a lottery selection and a later first slot for him in June.

Tynan Lawrence (2026)

It was a strange year for Lawrence and it has led to a steady drop in the public rankings for him. His performance at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup to start the year was indifferent and then he got hurt at the start of the USHL season. Following a short return to Muskegon (USHL), Lawrence made the controversial decision to join Boston University half way through the year and his production took a big hit. Needless to say, he has a lot to prove at the U18’s, as he’ll be looking to prove to scouts that he does have the upside to be a front line center in the NHL.

Mathis Preston (2026)

It seems like this Canadian roster is filled with players with something to prove at this event and Preston is no different. He didn’t have the kind of season in the WHL many expected of him and this led to a trade from Spokane to Vancouver. An undersized winger, Preston is lightning quick and has offensive skill in spades, but he’ll need to prove that he can elevate his game when playing against the best. Scouts will be looking for him to be more dialed in physically, looking to assert himself more through the middle of the ice, rather than on the perimeter. He should be a first line winger and top powerplay option for Canada here.

Dima Zhilkin (2027)

Very quietly, Zhilkin may have been one of Canada’s top players at the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. After a great year in the OHL with Saginaw, expectations will be high for him at the U18’s as he looks to pace Canada offensively. Not NHL draft eligible until 2027, Zhilkin is a tenacious puck hound who never takes a shift off.

Alexis Joseph (2027)

An early favourite to be a top five selection at the 2027 NHL Draft, Alexis Joseph may be an underager at this event, but he could end up being one of Canada’s top offensive contributors. He dominated the U17’s this year en route to a gold medal and he’ll look to assert himself similarly at the U18’s. Casual hockey fans will likely know the name of Alexis Joseph by the end of this tournament.

Adam Valentini (2026)

No question, Valentini has to be one of this draft’s most polarizing players. He started off the year at the University of Michigan on a high note, but faded as the season went on. He’s intelligent. He’s a hard worker. However, there are significant questions about his NHL projection given his lack of standout athletic tools at his size. He’ll be counted on to be a key offensive contributor for Canada and it will be a great measuring stick for scouts to see him back playing against his own age group.

Maddox Dagenais (2026)

A later addition to this Canadian team after the Quebec Remparts were eliminated in round two, Dagenais is one of our largest risers on our recent rankings release. He moved up to 16th. The big forward has a heavy shot and impressive athletic upside. He’ll look to use this event to show that he can be a more consistent off puck player who can use his size effectively. He was really good in the second half of the QMJHL season and if he continues that strong play into the U18’s, he could secure a spot in the lottery.

Ryder Cali (2026)

Another late addition to Team Canada after the North Bay Battalion (OHL) were eliminated by the Brantford Bulldogs. Cali, like Dagenais, moved up significantly in our latest draft rankings and is now ranked as a first round selection by us (at 31). He’s a detail oriented forward who brings versatility, and his play driving ability improved drastically later in the OHL season. We’re big fans and he could have a true coming out party at the U18’s with the right role.

ALLEN, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Slovakia’s Adam Goljer #22 shoots the puck against Norway during Preliminary Round - Group A action at 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 26, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Slovakia

The Slovaks are hosting this event for the third time and they have yet to medal on home soil, however, they are entering this event with a ton of momentum. They have made the semi finals in three straight U18’s (along with Sweden, Canada, and the United States). Although a pessimist might point out the fact that they’ve lost three straight bronze medal games too. Slovakia will try to get over the hump this year as the hosts. They have a well balanced roster that already had experience playing at both the U18’s and the U20’s. Captain Adam Goljer leads a strong defense that could have several NHL draft picks and with Samuel Hrenka between the pipes, Slovakia shouldn’t have any issue keeping pucks out. A pair of 2027 eligible players from the USHL, Oliver Ozogany and Timothy Kazda will lead the offense.

Adam Goljer (2026)

Ranked 28th by us in our latest rankings, Goljer is an impressive two-way defensive prospect. He played all year against men in the Slovak men’s league and is playing at his second IIHF U18 tournament, part of why he was named captain for this event. Goljer has size, mobility, confidence at both ends, all from the right side. With a strong tournament, he could solidify his spot in the first round come June.

Lucian Bernat (2026)

The 6’4 winger was recently ranked inside the top 40 of European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He has been playing out of the Tappara program in Finland the last few years. Bernat will be a fixture in Slovakia’s top six at this event. He skates well for his size and can surprise with skill and finesse.

Jakub Floris (2026)

A favourite of the McKeen’s scouting team for the 2026 NHL Draft, we have Floris ranked 85th prior to the U18’s. The 6’3 defender oozes upside because he blends both size and athleticism from the right side. Like Bernat, Floris has also been playing out of Finland and this U18’s are going to be a big event for his stock.

Oliver Ozogany (2027)

This past summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup was a coming out party for Ozogany as he scored four goals at the event, pacing the Slovaks as an underager. The sharp shooting winger will be expected to do some heavy lifting at the U18’s too after spending his U17 year with Tri-City of the USHL. He’s a potential first round pick next year.

Timothy Kazda (2027)

Another 2027 eligible player to keep tabs on, Kazda is a late born 2008 who led the Chicago Steel (USHL) in goal scoring this year. He finished the USHL season on a real high note and will be coming into the tournament riding a confidence high. Wearing a letter at the event, Kazda will be heavily leaned on.

Samuel Hrenak (2026)

There’s no guarantee that Hrenak is the starter, despite being higher ranked for this draft than Denis Celko. However, he had a really strong end to his year in the USHL after crossing the pond in the second half. He possesses game stealing ability and his play could be key to pulling off an upset in the medal round.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 26: Finland's Oliver Suvanto #38 celebrates his first period goal against Denmark during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Finland

Considering their success at other international levels, it’s pretty crazy to realize that Finland has failed to make the semi finals the last three years at the U18’s. And they haven’t medalled since 2018…although they did win gold then. The pressure is starting to add up for the Finns at this level because they also haven’t medalled at the Hlinka/Gretzky cup the last three years. A scary proposition is that the team could be without its most important player, Oliver Suvanto, to start the tournament as he continues to play in Liiga playoffs with Tappara. Additionally, two of the team’s best players from the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup will not be at this event. Oscar Hemming was not added to the roster due to his dispute with the IIHF and Finnish hockey over his release to North America this year. And Luka Arkko is injured. Regardless of the adversity, this team has enough talent to make it back to the semi finals for the first time since 2022.

Players to Watch

Oliver Suvanto (2026)

A potential lottery selection this year, Suvanto’s availability for the tournament is up in the air as he finishes the season with Tappara in Liiga playoffs. Hopefully for Finland, he’s able to make the start of the tournament. The two-way power center was terrific at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, where he put his name on the scouting map. He’ll be looking to repeat that performance here.

Juho Piiparinen (2026)

The top defender for Finland should also be one of the top defenders at this tournament. He’s a potential top 20 selection in June because of his strong two-way acumen and defensive upside. He was already a key player for the Finns at this event last year, so he should have the confidence to be a difference maker.

Samu Alalauri (2026)

Even though he’s not quite as highly ranked, Alalauri is equally important to this Finnish team as a two-way minute eater on the back-end. At times this year, our scouting team has asked the question, what truly separates Piiparinen from Alalauri? This event should add another piece to the puzzle that helps scouts answer that question. Interestingly, Alalauri recently committed to UMass, which obviously develops defenders well as a program.

Vilho Vanhatalo (2026)

Vanhatalo is a player scouts are going to be watching extremely closely at this event. The big winger has a terrific shot and great upside as a scorer, but he’s been remarkably inconsistent this season. The good news is that he closed the year (in the Finnish U20 league) on a high, helping Tappara U20 make a deep run in the playoffs.

Noel Pakarinen (2026)

Pakarinen is a player that will be key for Finland when it comes to beating other top teams at the U18’s because he plays such a heavy game. A true power forward, Pakarinen has a chance to be a difference maker with his physicality and energy in puck pursuit. A strong performance at the U18’s could make him a top two round pick in June.

Paavo Fugleberg (2028)

A late born 2009 winger, Fugleberg has a fair amount of hype for the 2028 draft, where he is currently considered one of the top players in his age group. He’s been playing for Finland across various U18 events this year (like the Nations tournaments) and he’s been terrific. He has a chance to be a key offensive contributor despite his young age.

Luca Santala (2027)

Speaking of underage players ready to take on large roles, enter Santala. If Suvanto isn’t ready to start the tournament, Santala could actually start the U18’s as Finland’s top line center and most integral playmaker. Like Fugleberg, he’s been great at U18 events this year and is considered a potential lottery selection for next year’s draft.

Olivers Murnieks of Latvia celebrates after scoring 2-3 during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Germany and Latvia on December 30, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Latvia

Latvia has been a fixture at this event since 2019 and they’ve played in the quarterfinals for four straight years. However, they could be in very tough this year due to some injuries and unavailable players. The round robin game against Norway will likely decide who misses out on the quarterfinals. All that said, the Latvians have proved to be extremely pesky; even without their best lineup they could still surprise. One of the team’s top forwards, Roberts Naudins of Shattuck St. Mary’s (and a potential first rounder in 2027), is apparently missing the U18’s because of schooling and graduation. The team’s most important player, Olivers Murnieks, has been banged up most of the year and may not even be healthy enough to play at this event. Maybe there’s a chance that Rudolfs Berzkalns will be made available by Muskegon (USHL) at some point, but Muskegon would need to lose soon in the USHL playoffs for that to happen.

Players to Watch

Olivers Murnieks (2026)

It’s been a trying year for Murnieks in the QMJHL with Saint John. He entered the season garnering first round consideration, but he’s battled injuries all year that have limited his development. He’s not even guaranteed to be healthy enough to suit up for Latvia at this event, but given his importance to the team, it’s likely he tries. How effective he will be remains to be seen.

Patriks Plumins (2026)

The big netminder was a part of Latvia’s U18 team last year, but didn’t really see the ice. This year he returns as the likely starter. Ranked by NHL Central Scouting, Plumins played well in the Latvian pro league this year and the U18 team is going to need him (or someone else) to really shut the door in order for Latvia to make the quarterfinals.

Martins Klaucans (2026)

Like Murnieks, Klaucans made the jump to the QMJHL this year with Sherbrooke, but posted modest numbers. In reality, he’s best designed to play a high energy, checking role like he did for Latvia at the U20 WJC’s this year, but he’s going to be leaned on to provide more offense at the U18 event.

260106 Örebros Niklas Aaram Olsen under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Timrå och Örebro den 6 januari 2026 i Timrå.
Foto: Pär Olert / BILDBYRÅN / COP 108 / PO0180

Norway

The Norwegians have narrowly avoided relegation at the U18’s in three straight years, finishing last in their group and having to play in the relegation round in 2023, 2024, and 2025. While their perseverance is admirable, there is no doubt that Norway would prefer to play a quarterfinal matchup in 2026. As mentioned earlier in the Latvia write up, the April 26th game against Latvia is going to be crucial as the loser of that game, barring a collapse of one of the three higher ranked nations, would likely head to the relegation round. Norway will be led by potential 2026 first round selection Niklas Aaram-Olsen who will be playing in his third straight U18’s after leading Norway in scoring last year as an underager. He brings SHL experience and helped Norway re-qualify for the main group at the U20 level earlier this year. The team will need him to be at his best; Norway likely goes only as far as he can take them.

Players to Watch

Niklas Aaram-Olsen (2026)

Ranked at 41st in our recent rankings release for 2026, Aaram-Olsen will be the straw that stirs the drink for Norway. As mentioned, he will be playing at his third U18’s and led Norway in scoring last year. The smooth skating power winger loves to attack North/South and is a dangerous scorer from anywhere on the ice.

Philip Tollefsen (2028)

One of two 2010 born players on this Norwegian team, Tollefsen is the son of former NHL defender Ole-Kristian Tollefsen. Despite his age, he has been one of Norway’s top defenders at the U18 level internationally all year. He has the all around skill set and the pedigree to be a high selection in 2028.

William Backlund (2028)

The other 2010 born defender on the Norway roster, Backlund also is a key contributor for this U18 team despite his age. He doesn’t have the physical tools that Tollefsen is blessed with at this time, but he’s a dynamic offensive defender who likely quarterbacks the Norwegian powerplay. Like Tollefsen, he’s a big time name to watch for in the future.

Benjamin Ask Haglund (2027)

Another top underager at this event for Norway, Haglund is a 2009 born forward who has actually led the Norwegian U18 team in scoring internationally this year. He’s also been a point per game player in the Swedish U18 league as an underager. Look for him to provide secondary offense behind Aaram-Olsen.

Casper Kjølmoen (2026)

Besides Aaram-Olsen, Kjølmoen is probably Norway’s most important forward and will play key minutes in all situations. He’s a hard working, quick skating winger whose energy and physicality will be needed to topple some of the higher ranked giants. He’s had a good season in the Swedish U20 for Lulea and has experience from last year’s U18’s.

2026 NHL DRAFT: TOP 32 PRIOR TO THE 2026 IIHF U18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Brock Otten — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:03:12 +0000

Caleb Malhotra

It’s time for the McKeen’s Hockey scouting team to update their rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Many junior leagues around the globe are in the thick of the playoffs and we have the IIHF U18’s upcoming. This top 100 will serve as our final ranking before our Draft Guide release, which expands us to a top 300.

Gavin McKenna is holding firm on his first overall ranking on our board thanks to some adjustments and strong play post world juniors with Penn State. We’re hoping that he gets the nod to represent Canada at the IIHF World Championships, which would be a terrific measuring stick for him.

Pushing up our list are Brantford Bulldogs center Caleb Malhotra and Swedish defender Malte Gustafsson. Malhotra has shown terrific progression over the course of the OHL season and has been outstanding through the first two rounds of the OHL playoffs. Meanwhile Gustafsson has shown remarkable poise across various levels in Sweden and offers great athletic tools and two-way upside.

Other significant “risers” from our previous list include Quebec forward Maddox Dagenais, North Bay center Ryder Cali, Moncton defender Tommy Bleyl, Slovak defender Adam Goljer, and Russian netminder Dmitri Borichev. All have played significantly well in the second half of their respective seasons and have pushed up our boards due to the upside that they possess. Dagenais brings elite athletic tools and a heavy shot to the table and has shown considerable improvement in the second half from a consistency perspective. Cali is one of the draft’s youngest players and has found confidence in his on-puck play, causing us to re-evaluate his upside. Bleyl is one of the draft’s most dynamic offensive defenders and his strong play has given us no choice but to adjust our ranking of him accordingly. Goljer is an athletic two-way defender who has played well against men in the Slovak pro league this year, but he’s shown offensive upside when playing against his peers. Borichev is the draft’s netminding crown jewel with a great frame, elite athleticism, and improving technical abilities.

Fresh off the release of our annual three part look at the top “re-entry” candidates available, several have made the cut in our top 100. Edmonton defender Ethan MacKenzie, Prince Albert netminder Michal Orsulak, Czech defender Tomas Galvas, Victoria defender Timofei Runtso, Chicoutimi forward Liam Lefebvre, and Sioux Falls defender Matthew Grimes. You can find more info about each player in the aforementioned three-part series.

We’re very excited to see what the end of the season has in store and how that impacts our final ranking. As usual, you can expect our annual draft guide to be released in early June.

RK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	20-Dec-07	35	15	36	51	36
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	30-Sep-07	43	11	22	33	6
3	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	30-Dec-07	45	18	30	48	30
4	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	2-Jun-08	67	29	55	84	51
5	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	23-Jun-08	58	20	53	73	66
6	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	19-Jun-08	36	6	14	20	29
7	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	2-Dec-07	38	6	7	13	20
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	12-Mar-08	42	6	9	15	12
9	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	11-Jun-08	27	0	3	3	4
10	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Mar-08	68	28	50	78	75
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	13-Aug-08	19	1	7	8	18
12	Tynan Lawrence	C	Boston University (NCAA)	6-0/185	3-Aug-08	18	2	5	7	2
13	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	30-Mar-08	57	34	25	59	45
14	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	13-Nov-07	58	34	31	65	22
15	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	5-Feb-08	38	11	10	21	22
16	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	27-Mar-08	62	30	32	62	31
17	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	3-Sep-08	48	2	9	11	16
18	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	18-Apr-08	53	14	43	57	35
19	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	8-Sep-08	34	12	22	34	37
20	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	29-Sep-07	37	6	32	38	35
21	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	27-Jun-08	67	37	60	97	43
22	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	3-Aug-08	36	8	12	20	27
23	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-1/185	16-Jun-08	30	17	27	44	61
24	Mathis Preston	RW	Spo-Van (WHL)	5-11/175	21-Jul-08	46	18	26	44	34
25	Tommy Bleyl	D	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-0/160	1-Dec-07	63	13	68	81	33
26	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	11-Apr-08	68	42	55	97	45
27	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	10-Aug-08	29	0	3	3	8
28	Adam Goljer	D	HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)	6-3/195	7-Jun-08	43	4	7	11	40
29	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	13-Feb-08	67	20	32	52	48
30	Gleb Pugachyov	C	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	6-3/200	25-Mar-08	33	10	14	24	36
31	Ryder Cali	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/210	6-Sep-08	47	16	20	36	24
32	Dmitri Borichev	G	Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-3/200	19-Jun-08	24	12	8	2.25	0.929

2026 NHL DRAFT: TOP 100 PRIOR TO THE 2026 IIHF U18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Brock Otten — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:58:39 +0000

Caleb Malhotra

We’re very excited to see what the end of the season has in store and how that impacts our final ranking. As usual, you can expect our annual draft guide to be released in early June.

RK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	20-Dec-07	35	15	36	51	36
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	30-Sep-07	43	11	22	33	6
3	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	30-Dec-07	45	18	30	48	30
4	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	2-Jun-08	67	29	55	84	51
5	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	23-Jun-08	58	20	53	73	66
6	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	19-Jun-08	36	6	14	20	29
7	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	2-Dec-07	38	6	7	13	20
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	12-Mar-08	42	6	9	15	12
9	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	11-Jun-08	27	0	3	3	4
10	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Mar-08	68	28	50	78	75
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	13-Aug-08	19	1	7	8	18
12	Tynan Lawrence	C	Boston University (NCAA)	6-0/185	3-Aug-08	18	2	5	7	2
13	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	30-Mar-08	57	34	25	59	45
14	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	13-Nov-07	58	34	31	65	22
15	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	5-Feb-08	38	11	10	21	22
16	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	27-Mar-08	62	30	32	62	31
17	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	3-Sep-08	48	2	9	11	16
18	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	18-Apr-08	53	14	43	57	35
19	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	8-Sep-08	34	12	22	34	37
20	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	29-Sep-07	37	6	32	38	35
21	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	27-Jun-08	67	37	60	97	43
22	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	3-Aug-08	36	8	12	20	27
23	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-1/185	16-Jun-08	30	17	27	44	61
24	Mathis Preston	RW	Spo-Van (WHL)	5-11/175	21-Jul-08	46	18	26	44	34
25	Tommy Bleyl	D	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-0/160	1-Dec-07	63	13	68	81	33
26	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	11-Apr-08	68	42	55	97	45
27	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	10-Aug-08	29	0	3	3	8
28	Adam Goljer	D	HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)	6-3/195	7-Jun-08	43	4	7	11	40
29	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	13-Feb-08	67	20	32	52	48
30	Gleb Pugachyov	C	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	6-3/200	25-Mar-08	33	10	14	24	36
31	Ryder Cali	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/210	6-Sep-08	47	16	20	36	24
32	Dmitri Borichev	G	Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-3/200	19-Jun-08	24	12	8	2.25	0.929
33	Jack Hextall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-0/190	23-Mar-08	59	20	38	58	28
34	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	8-Oct-07	22	0	2	2	8
35	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-1/180	4-May-08	25	14	24	38	48
36	Tobias Trejbal	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/190	9-Nov-07	42	30	9	2.12	0.916
37	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	28-Jun-08	46	15	27	42	17
38	Ben MacBeath	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Mar-08	67	7	44	51	16
39	Alexander Bilecki	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/180	9-May-08	66	9	20	29	43
40	Egor Shilov	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Apr-08	63	32	50	82	29
41	Niklas Aaram Olsen	RW	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-0/185	19-Apr-08	29	20	20	40	22
42	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	2-Nov-07	44	9	22	31	10
43	Samu Alalauri	D	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-2/200	31-May-08	40	6	19	25	4
44	Jakub Vanecek	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Feb-08	59	14	21	35	20
45	Thomas Vandenberg	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/180	8-Sep-08	59	25	25	50	20
46	Liam Ruck	RW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-0/175	21-Feb-08	68	45	59	104	36
47	Alessandro Di Iorio	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-08	45	12	19	31	16
48	Adam Andersson	C	Leksands (Swe J20)	6-3/200	2-Jul-08	30	3	14	17	24
49	Ryan Roobroeck	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/215	25-Sep-07	49	30	28	58	26
50	Pierce Mbuyi	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-10/160	17-Apr-08	68	32	43	75	85
51	Ethan MacKenzie	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	2-Sep-06	59	22	36	58	42
52	Filip Ruzicka	G	Brandon (WHL)	6-7/230	24-Mar-08	42	26	14	3.19	0.906
53	Maksim Sokolovskii	D	London (OHL)	6-8/235	12-Jul-08	44	2	6	8	49
54	Markus Ruck	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/170	21-Feb-08	68	21	87	108	28
55	Simas Ignatavicius	C	Geneva-Servette (Sui-NL)	6-3/195	22-Oct-07	52	7	6	13	43
56	Beckham Edwards	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/180	6-Jan-08	64	19	26	45	14
57	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	24-Apr-08	68	6	31	37	50
58	Charlie Morrison	D	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	12-Oct-07	41	4	9	13	58
59	Adam Nemec	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/175	18-Oct-07	31	14	21	35	15
60	Tobias Tvrznik	G	Wenatchee (WHL)	6-4/180	29-Jul-07	39	16	18	3.1	0.913
61	Casey Mutryn	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/200	5-Jul-08	55	14	23	37	87
62	Michal Orsulak	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-4/225	26-Aug-07	36	28	4	2.22	0.907
63	Axel Elofsson	D	Orebro (Swe J20)	5-10/165	3-Jun-08	32	9	32	41	20
64	Nikita Scherbakov	D	Toros Neftekamsk (VHL)	6-5/190	23-Oct-07	35	4	6	10	24
65	Jonas Lagerberg Hoen	RW	Leksands (Swe J20)	6-2/175	24-Oct-07	9	9	7	16	33
66	Landon Nycz	D	Massachusetts (NCAA)	6-2/200	4-Oct-07	35	1	2	3	2
67	Adam Valentini	LW	Michigan (NCAA)	5-11/185	11-Apr-08	40	11	16	27	46
68	Viktor Fyodorov	C	Torpedo-Gorky NN (VHL)	5-10/175	21-Feb-08	32	2	6	8	8
69	Mans Gudmundsson	D	Farjestads (Swe J20)	6-2/170	9-Jun-08	35	1	24	25	10
70	Casper Juustovaara Karlsson	LW	Lulea (SHL)	5-9/170	25-Oct-07	31	4	2	6	6
71	Tomas Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	5-10/155	11-Feb-06	32	8	16	24	10
72	Jonah Sivertson	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/195	27-Aug-08	66	24	29	53	41
73	Landon Amrhein	LW	Calgary (WHL)	6-4/190	6-Apr-08	64	10	21	31	12
74	Timofei Runtso	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-2/185	6-Jul-07	68	11	33	44	28
75	Liam Lefebvre	C	Rim-Chi (QMJHL)	6-3/205	15-May-07	59	32	27	59	86
76	Vladimir Dravecky	D	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/185	19-Dec-07	58	9	19	28	24
77	Beckett Hamilton	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/175	28-Mar-08	67	24	38	62	14
78	Wiggo Sorensson	C	Boro/Vetlanda HC (Swe Division 2)	5-11/180	15-Apr-08	29	20	18	38	14
79	Jakub Frolo	C	Ilves (Fin-U20)	6-1/195	5-Dec-07	37	10	30	40	103
80	Landon Hafele	C	Green Bay (USHL)	6-0/185	18-Sep-07	52	15	27	42	69
81	Brady Knowling	G	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/200	9-Mar-08	28	12	10	3.73	0.88
82	Zach Olsen	RW	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-1/200	16-Mar-08	57	18	16	34	79
83	Matthew Grimes	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-1/185	19-May-07	60	9	26	35	54
84	Chase Harrington	LW	Spokane (WHL)	6-0/195	30-Oct-07	61	28	29	57	105
85	Jakub Floris	D	Lukko (Fin-U20)	6-3/190	19-Feb-08	38	10	8	18	10
86	Noel Pakarinen	LW	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)	6-2/200	9-Jul-08	31	13	17	30	30
87	Malcom Gastrin	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	6-0/155	19-Aug-08	24	9	16	25	8
88	Nils Bartholdsson	RW	Rogle (Swe J20)	5-10/175	25-Apr-08	32	23	19	42	20
89	Elisei Ryabkin	D	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-1/180	8-Jul-08	48	3	16	19	25
90	Spencer Bowes	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Sep-07	67	23	19	42	28
91	Victor Plante	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/165	10-Mar-08	50	19	21	40	65
92	Vertti Svensk	D	SaiPa (Fin-U20)	6-0/165	9-Nov-07	33	3	28	31	80
93	Jean-Cristoph Lemieux	C	Wsr-Sby (OHL)	6-0/185	19-Jun-08	56	20	23	43	28
94	Vilho Vanhatalo	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	18-Jan-08	38	10	9	19	43
95	Brian McFadden	D	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	6-5/180	8-Jan-08	29	2	15	17
96	Lars Steiner	RW	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	5-10/175	12-Nov-07	44	30	25	55	44
97	Luke Schairer	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/195	30-Jan-08	55	1	16	17	67
98	KJ Sauer	C	Andover High (USHS-MN)	6-3/200	24-Oct-07	15	8	17	25	42
99	Filip Novak	LW	Sparta Praha (Czechia U20)	6-1/195	7-Mar-08	28	11	24	35	60
100	Rian Chudzinski	RW	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	30-Dec-07	54	21	17	38	71
HM	Joe Erickson	C	Blake School (USHS-MN)	6-4/200	21-Apr-08	28	32	32	64	4
HM	Alan Shaikhlislamov	RW	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-1/185	4-Sep-08	31	18	17	35	15
HM	Dmitri Kubantsev	RW	Vernon (BCHL)	6-1/195	28-May-08	47	15	38	53	52
HM	Yaroslav Fedoseyev	D	Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)	6-1/180	5-Nov-07	25	1	5	6	25
HM	Cole Zurawski	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-1/190	6-Feb-08	63	24	22	46	34
HM	Yegor Rybkin	G	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	6-7/205	3-Dec-07	11	5	2	2.56	0.915
HM	Zach Lansard	RW	Regina (WHL)	6-0/175	29-Jul-08	68	24	32	56	33
HM	Harrison Boettiger	G	Kelowna (WHL)	6-2/190	11-Dec-07	41	25	10	2.83	0.911
HM	Luka Arkko	LW	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-3/210	14-Jan-08	42	11	14	25	10
HM	Evan Jardine	LW	Youngstown (USHL)	6-0/180	23-Oct-07	53	27	34	61	70
HM	Cole Tuminaro	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-3/220	24-Jan-07	54	5	11	16	148
HM	Romain L'Italien	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/195	7-Apr-08	52	17	30	47	33
HM	Xavier Wendt	G	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/165	24-Jan-08	43	18	20	3.25	0.905
HM	Caelan Joudrey	C	Wenatchee (WHL)	6-4/180	17-Jan-08	67	19	10	29	56
HM	Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen	D	Michigan (NCAA)	6-0/180	18-Dec-06	40	4	14	18	20

2026 NHL DRAFT – MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 64 with Honourable Mentions – Closing gap between top prospects

Brock Otten — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:59:16 +0000

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 4: Sweden's Ivar Stenberg #15 looks on during a stoppage in play against Finland during Semifinal Round action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on January 4, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

With the World Juniors firmly in the rear-view mirror and many “junior” leagues past the halfway point of their seasons, it is time to update and expand the McKeen’s Hockey 2026 draft rankings. This time around we are bringing you a top 64, in addition to several honourable mentions.

While many in the industry seem to be wavering on the concept of Gavin McKenna being the top player available, he remains at the top of our list. We understand the apprehensiveness, but we also believe that McKenna still possesses the highest upside of any player available this year; plus, his performance in the NCAA has ticked up post WJC’s. However, we also believe that the gap is razor thin at this point between McKenna and several of the players we have ranked behind him. In particular, Ivar Stenberg received a fair amount of support from our team to be ranked ahead of McKenna.

While the race for first overall will be fascinating as June approaches, the debate over the top defenseman available will rage even more intensely. Verhoeff remains ranked first in this grouping, but there are arguments to be made that any of Reid, Smits, or Carels could be or should be the top defenseman selected. One thing is for certain; it is a good year to be drafting in the top five if your organization needs a quality young defender.

Caleb Malhotra, Oscar Hemming, Alexander Command, Wyatt Cullen, and Maddox Dagenais are among our highest climbers compared to the previous ranking. Malhotra suddenly finds himself competing for an OHL scoring title, showing tremendous improvement as an offensive play driver over the course of the last few months. The Oscar Hemming saga finally reached a conclusion after he joined Boston College at the end of December. While the offensive production has been only mediocre, his impact on the ice has been incredibly impressive as a freshman power forward; it’s cliche but he’s passing the eye test on a consistent basis. Command has been terrific for both Sweden internationally and in the J20 league, and he plays a competitive and fast paced game from the center position. Wyatt Cullen hasn’t played a lot this year, but when he has, he’s been outstanding for the NTDP. Lastly, Dagenais is finally putting everything together for the Quebec Remparts, as the former first overall pick in the QMJHL draft is becoming more confident in being able to utilize his physical gifts.

Our largest “fallers” were Xavier Villeneuve, Mathis Preston, Ryan Roobroeck, and Beckham Edwards. While we respect Villeneuve’s offensive upside as one of the draft’s most dynamic playmakers, we also wonder how much his game has truly grown in the last calendar year as one of this draft’s oldest first time eligible players. The offensive production just hasn’t been at an elite level the last few months. Can a trade to Vancouver (WHL) help Mathis Preston find more consistency and urgency in his game? Roobroeck’s offensive production has definitely improved over the last few months, but like Villeneuve, we wonder how much his game has truly improved this year as a third year junior player. Lastly, Beckham Edwards is a power skating forward with a goal scorer’s touch, but, the offensive consistency has been majorly lacking this year and it brings to light concerns over his projection and ceiling.

What about the goalies? Initially, our team wasn’t enamored with the talent level for the position this year, however, some performances over the last few months have helped to change our mind. We have three goaltenders ranked inside of our top 64, with Tobias Trejbal of Youngstown (USHL) sitting at the top of that list. Trejbal has been outstanding in the USHL this year and the UMass commit has the size and athleticism combination to make him a potential NHL starting netminder.

You can expect our next update towards the end of March as we expand to a top 100 ranking.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	12/20/2007	22	10	19	29	19
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	9/30/2007	29	7	21	28	6
3	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	6/19/2008	22	6	11	17	23
4	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	12/30/2007	39	18	27	45	30
5	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	12/2/2007	34	6	7	13	12
6	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	6/23/2008	37	12	28	40	42
7	Tynan Lawrence	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/185	8/3/2008	13	10	7	17	6
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	3/12/2008	29	4	4	8	10
9	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	6/2/2008	45	23	38	61	37
10	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	3/30/2008	43	29	16	45	35
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	8/13/2008	6	0	3	3	8
12	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	11/13/2007	37	22	21	43	8
13	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	4/18/2008	42	11	39	50	33
14	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	3/6/2008	45	21	33	54	42
15	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	9/3/2008	34	2	5	7	14
16	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	2/5/2008	29	9	7	16	14
17	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	8/3/2008	24	7	7	14	25
18	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	9/29/2007	35	6	30	36	35
19	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	6/11/2008	16	0	3	3	2
20	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	8/10/2008	28	0	3	3	8
21	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-1/185	6/16/2008	24	13	22	35	30
22	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	9/8/2008	17	3	11	14	2
23	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	4/11/2008	45	31	41	72	26
24	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	6/27/2008	45	28	32	60	27
25	Mathis Preston	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/175	7/21/2008	36	14	18	32	32
26	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	2/13/2008	45	14	20	34	40
27	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	10/8/2007	22	0	2	2	8
28	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	4/24/2008	45	2	18	20	30
29	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	6/28/2008	31	7	18	25	10
30	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	3/27/2008	43	20	17	37	23
31	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	11/2/2007	33	6	16	22	6
32	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe U20)	6-1/180	5/4/2008	21	10	20	30	42
33	Egor Shilov	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-1/180	4/30/2008	42	22	37	59	23
34	Ryan Roobroeck	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/215	9/25/2007	45	27	26	53	26
35	Jakub Vanecek	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/190	2/25/2008	36	10	15	25	16
36	Pierce Mbuyi	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-10/160	4/17/2008	45	23	27	50	65
37	Jack Hextall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-0/190	3/23/2008	38	12	25	37	22
38	Thomas Vandenberg	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/180	9/8/2008	37	17	17	34	14
39	Vladimir Dravecky	D	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/185	12/19/2007	37	7	16	23	20
40	Alessandro Di Iorio	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-0/190	3/17/2008	28	10	9	19	8
41	Vilho Vanhatalo	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	1/18/2008	29	10	8	18	14
42	Ryder Cali	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/210	9/6/2008	24	11	5	16	4
43	Tommy Bleyl	D	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-0/160	12/1/2007	42	7	44	51	22
44	Tobias Trejbal	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/190	11/9/2007	27	20	5	2.04	0.924
45	Charlie Morrison	D	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	10/12/2007	24	2	4	6	23
46	Oscar Holmertz	C	Linkopings (Swe U20)	6-0/190	3/21/2008	25	7	14	21	2
47	Nikita Scherbakov	D	Salavat Yulayev Ufa (KHL)	6-5/190	10/23/2007	7	0	0	0	4
48	Victor Plante	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/165	3/10/2008	34	16	13	29	55
49	Adam Goljer	D	HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)	6-3/195	6/7/2008	33	4	6	10	26
50	Luke Schairer	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/195	1/30/2008	36	0	9	9	55
51	Niklas Aaram-Olsen	RW	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-0/185	4/19/2008	22	17	15	32	12
52	Gleb Pugachyov	C	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	6-3/200	3/25/2008	27	8	13	21	20
53	Simas Ignatavicius	C	Geneva-Servette (Sui-NL)	6-3/195	10/22/2007	44	5	6	11	41
54	Lars Steiner	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	5-10/175	11/12/2007	24	12	12	24	26
55	Dmitri Borichev	G	Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-3/200	6/19/2008	17	8	6	1.79	0.942
56	Adam Andersson	C	Leksands (Swe U20)	6-3/200	7/2/2008	23	2	13	15	22
57	Alexander Bilecki	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/180	5/9/2008	44	7	15	22	24
58	Axel Elofsson	D	Orebro (Swe U20)	5-10/165	6/3/2008	26	7	24	31	18
59	Xavier Wendt	G	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/165	1/24/2008	28	17	9	2.42	0.929
60	Adam Valentini	LW	Michigan (NCAA)	5-11/185	4/11/2008	24	6	13	19	40
61	Beckham Edwards	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/180	1/6/2008	45	14	17	31	14
62	Samu Alalauri	D	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-2/200	5/31/2008	32	6	17	23	4
63	Ben MacBeath	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-2/185	3/4/2008	43	6	27	33	12
64	Liam Ruck	RW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-0/175	2/21/2008	46	27	37	64	26
HM	Simon Katolicky	LW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	7/24/2008	24	5	9	14	16
HM	Timofei Runtso	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-2/185	7/6/2007	45	7	26	33	22
HM	Layne Gallacher	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-1/180	2/16/2008	21	5	7	12	2
HM	Landon Amrhein	LW	Calgary (WHL)	6-4/190	4/6/2008	39	7	16	23	6
HM	Filip Ruzicka	G	Brandon (WHL)	6-7/230	3/24/2008	27	19	7	2.97	0.908
HM	Wiggo Sorensson	C	Boro/Vetlanda (Swe Div 2)	5-11/180	4/15/2008	24	13	16	29	2
HM	Viktor Fyodorov	C	Torpedo-Gorky NN (VHL)	5-10/175	2/21/2008	27	2	5	7	6
HM	Landon Nycz	D	Massachusetts (NCAA)	6-2/200	10/4/2007	24	1	1	2	0
HM	Brady Knowling	G	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/200	3/9/2008	17	6	8	3.60	0.880
HM	Casey Mutryn	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/200	7/5/2008	36	7	18	25	32
HM	Tobias Tvrznik	G	Wenatchee (WHL)	6-4/180	7/29/2007	31	13	15	2.89	0.919
HM	Jonas Lagerberg Hoen	RW	Leksands (Swe U20)	6-2/175	10/24/2007	9	9	7	16	33
HM	Olivers Murnieks	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/190	7/31/2008	29	6	12	18	14
HM	Colin Fitzgerald	C	Pbo-Soo (OHL)	6-2/210	4/1/2008	44	13	12	25	48
HM	Adam Nemec	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/175	10/18/2007	8	4	6	10	0
HM	Chase Harrington	LW	Spokane (WHL)	6-0/195	10/30/2007	44	17	23	40	73

2026 NHL DRAFT – MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32 – Closing gap between top prospects

Brock Otten — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:56:46 +0000

You can expect our next update towards the end of March as we expand to a top 100 ranking.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	12/20/2007	22	10	19	29	19
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	9/30/2007	29	7	21	28	6
3	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	6/19/2008	22	6	11	17	23
4	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	12/30/2007	39	18	27	45	30
5	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	12/2/2007	34	6	7	13	12
6	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	6/23/2008	37	12	28	40	42
7	Tynan Lawrence	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/185	8/3/2008	13	10	7	17	6
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	3/12/2008	29	4	4	8	10
9	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	6/2/2008	45	23	38	61	37
10	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	3/30/2008	43	29	16	45	35
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	8/13/2008	6	0	3	3	8
12	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	11/13/2007	37	22	21	43	8
13	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	4/18/2008	42	11	39	50	33
14	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	3/6/2008	45	21	33	54	42
15	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	9/3/2008	34	2	5	7	14
16	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	2/5/2008	29	9	7	16	14
17	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	8/3/2008	24	7	7	14	25
18	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	9/29/2007	35	6	30	36	35
19	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	6/11/2008	16	0	3	3	2
20	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	8/10/2008	28	0	3	3	8
21	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-1/185	6/16/2008	24	13	22	35	30
22	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	9/8/2008	17	3	11	14	2
23	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	4/11/2008	45	31	41	72	26
24	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	6/27/2008	45	28	32	60	27
25	Mathis Preston	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/175	7/21/2008	36	14	18	32	32
26	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	2/13/2008	45	14	20	34	40
27	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	10/8/2007	22	0	2	2	8
28	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	4/24/2008	45	2	18	20	30
29	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	6/28/2008	31	7	18	25	10
30	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	3/27/2008	43	20	17	37	23
31	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	11/2/2007	33	6	16	22	6
32	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe U20)	6-1/180	5/4/2008	21	10	20	30	42

2026 NHL Draft: McKeen’s Early Season Favourites – USA PART ONE – Ilia Morozov, Landon Nycz, David Bosco, Blake Zielinski, Luke Schairer, Adam Valentini

Brock Otten and Mark Dube — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:15:21 +0000

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2026 NHL Draft season is well under way, and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult, perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable, and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

This is USA PART ONE

Brock Otten - Director of Scouting

Ilia Morozov

Center - Miami University (Ohio)

6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Morozov shocked the scouting community when it was announced that he had accelerated his studies and would be attending Miami University a year early, playing out his draft year as a “true freshman.” Many expected that Morozov would return to Tri-City of the USHL this season after a solid, but inconsistent U17 year last season. As such, the decision to play NCAA hockey this year was met with skepticism and trepidation. Needless to say, Morozov has erased those concerns early on with strong play, operating as Miami’s top line center.

The first thing that’s worth mentioning is that Morozov has hit a huge growth spurt during the last calendar year. He was a very slight 6-foot-1 when he entered the USHL last year and he’s now listed at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds with Miami. With an August birth date, he also is one of the youngest available players this year, suggesting that he could still be growing.

This late growth spurt helps to explain one of the only weak parts of Morozov’s game, his quickness and pace. Even with strong early production (albeit against weaker competition), he’s had trouble creating separation in the open ice at the NCAA level and is often forced to slow pace to a crawl when he is attacking downhill. This skating deficiency wasn’t nearly as noticeable at the USHL level last year. Part of that is the level up. Part of that has to be the added weight and size.

Everything else is solid, which is why Miami is using Morozov in every situation imaginable. He’s showing great effort in all three zones and is making key plays at both ends. He’s bringing a high level of physicality to the forecheck and in puck pursuit. With the puck, he’s making both skilled and calculated plays and has shown great chemistry with former OHL’er Kocha Delic. His shot, in particular, has shown to be a serious weapon and he’s finding open space to utilize it, even without that desired quickness.

Obviously scouts will be looking to see sustained offensive production from Morozov, especially as Miami’s schedule becomes more difficult. With a mature, detail-oriented game, Morozov’s offensive upside is bound to be questioned. However, NHL scouts are going to like the late physical maturation and see a pivot (in a weak year for pivots) possibly scratching the surface of what he’s capable of. He’s got that classic high floor, high ceiling kind of profile.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-ilia_morozov_-_1st_period_15_25_-_15_37-1.mp4

Morozov shows off a high level of skill by corralling this pass to his skates quickly and firing a rocket past the RPI netminder.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-ilia_morozov_-_1st_period_15_25_-_15_37.mp4

Love this shift by Morozov and I think it really shows his competitive mentality. Finishes his checks. Makes a great defensive play near the net front to prevent a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-ilia_morozov_-_2nd_period_17_23_-_17_41.mp4

Quick strike by Morozov showing off his ability to create in transition. This hasn’t been commonplace yet, but he can make plays with the puck.

Landon Nycz

Defense - UMass

6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Nycz is a big defender with a solid athletic profile, the kind of player NHL teams are all over these days. He had a solid year split between Waterloo and Sioux City of the USHL last year and he’s been steady as a freshman for UMass to start this season. He’s not seeing much time on special teams, but he’s been efficient at even strength and could end up playing more as the NCAA season progresses.

The first thing you notice about Nycz is the mobility, especially given his size. He’s incredibly smooth. He can lead the rush or jump up in the play with powerful linear strides, which makes you wonder about his offensive upside as a play creator. But, he’s also quick to close gaps laterally and his transitional agility is excellent, allowing him to be consistently first to retrievals. He’s not really an overly physical player, but the modern day defensive stalwart doesn’t necessarily have to be. NHL teams are looking for athletic rearguards with size who can kill the transition game and kickstart the breakout. That’s Nycz.

Nycz also has a heavy point shot. His first NCAA goal was a bit of a fluke through a screen, but he’s getting big time scoring looks almost every game and he has the upside to be a powerplay triggerman as he gains confidence. He seems to have really sound instincts away from the puck as an offensive player; he has a clear understanding already of how to leverage his quickness.

The big “look for” this year will be to see if Nycz can improve his decision making and patience with the puck in the defensive end. Thus far with UMass, he’s had some trouble with defensive zone turnovers from poor exit passes or forced plays under pressure. He has to trust his feet more to help him create the space he needs to execute.

However, it’s shocking that Nycz is someone currently flying under the radar as a draft eligible prospect. He’s playing regularly at a strong program (with a history of churning out NHL defenders). He pairs terrific mobility with size. He shows flashes of excellent upside at both ends. That’s a slam dunk NHL pick in my eyes.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-landon_nycz_-_3rd_period_2_17_-_2_29.mp4

Nycz creeps in to get a high-quality chance in the slot. The goalkeeper makes a terrific save.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-landon_nycz_-_2nd_period_32_55_-_33_7.mp4

Nycz sneaks backdoor to get a great look, again stymied by the netminder. He stays with the play and keeps the puck in the offensive zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-landon_nycz_-_3rd_period_17_23_-_17_35.mp4

A glimpse of Nycz’s ability to kickstart the breakout with his feet. He’s having a few of these types of rushes a game and it’s only a matter of time before it starts leading to offensive production.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-landon_nycz_-_1st_period_12_25_-_12_37.mp4

This is how Nycz can be an impactful defensive player. Great footwork to recover and separate his man from the puck off the rush. Defensive partner (and Red Wings pick) Larry Keenan is not able to corral the puck to help kickstart the breakout. That’s not Nycz’s fault.

David Bosco

Wing - Cedar Rapids (USHL)

5-foot-11, 165 pounds

One of the biggest surprises of the USHL thus far has been Bosco, a first-year player out of the Belmont Hill School program (with alumni such as Teddy Stiga and Jimmy Vesey). Transitioning from Prep to the USHL can often be a big jump that requires patience, but Bosco has hit the ground running and has found himself near the top of the USHL scoring race all year so far. The Harvard commit is impressing with his well-rounded, high energy game and has to be firmly on the draft radar at this point.

Bosco is not a player you would call a play driver, per say. He’s more of a support piece, who complements other more skilled, dominant on puck players. He’s not a huge winger, and it may be cliche, but he plays much larger than his size. He is finding success getting to the net. He’s winning battles along the wall to gain or maintain possession. He’s opening up ice for his linemates. He’s been effective as a forechecker and he’s brought a very consistent physical element. Best of all, he’s proven that he can put the puck in the net and that he can make quick decisions as a playmaker.

Of course, there will be questions about whether Bosco can play this effectively at higher levels given that he’s not huge. That’s likely why he was not listed, shockingly, by NHL Central Scouting in their early season watch list. His stride is also not the most efficient for an average sized player, which may limit his draft ceiling. However, he can build speed in straight lines, even if his stride is a little ugly. Additionally, as a Harvard commit, he’s going to be a longer term project who will have several years to bulk up to ensure that he can find success at the pro level.

The other obvious question is whether Bosco can sustain this level of offensive production. That remains to be seen. However, there’s no question that he’s been one of the early season bright spots in the USHL as it pertains to the draft.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-david_bosco_-_1st_period_18_6_-_18_18.mp4

Bosco laying the body on the forecheck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-david_bosco_-_1st_period_18_6_-_18_18.mp4

Great individual effort from Bosco here to score.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-david_bosco_-_1st_period_2_54_-_3_6.mp4

Bosco pounces on a loose puck in the slot and makes no mistake.

Mark Dube - USA Regional Scout

Adam Valentini

Winger - University of Michigan NCAA

5-foot-11, 185 pounds

It’s been an interesting few months for Valentini. The former Chicago Steel alumni was initially supposed to make his way to the OHL and suit up for the Kitchener Rangers but opted to play his draft season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan Wolverines instead. This move could have backfired owing to the more difficult hockey route playing against larger, faster opponents at the collegiate level, but so far the youngster seems to have adapted rather quickly and looking like he made the right decision.

Through his first six games skating with U of M, Valentini has registered six points and is a +5. Decent numbers for one of the younger freshmen in this draft class.

What Valentini lacks in size, he makes up with great compete, pace, and a willingness to battle in those dirty areas along the wall or in the middle of the ice. He is tenacious on the puck and engages physically when the opportunity arises. Valentini still has room to develop in terms of strength and adding some weight to his slight frame, however, he still manages to win some important puck battles which will be demonstrated in the game clips below.

Valentini has a keen sense and awareness of where his teammates are on the ice as well as opposing players. His ability to read the ice and find open passing lanes has been on display early into his first NCAA season. Defensively he is responsible and usually has the right coverage in all three zones, but again the lack of strength at times allows for him to lose coverage by either getting pushed off the puck or not having the power to protect against larger players. This is something that definitely can be ameliorated with extra time in the gym.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-adam_valentini_-_2nd_period_28_24_-_28_37.mp4

In this clip we see some grit in Valentini’s game as he wins a battle along the wall, then proceeds to take the puck to the net and rip one past the goalie.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-adam_valentini_-_2nd_period_3_18_-_3_26.mp4

Here he shows some patience with the puck and waits for an opportune moment to sauce it over to a teammate, who eventually scores.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-adam_valentini_-_3rd_period_2_5_-_2_19.mp4

We again see some nice work along the wall from Valentini, with an eventual puck retrieval.

Luke Schairer

Defenseman - U18 USA NTDP

6-foot-2, 187 pounds

This will be Schairer’s second season dressing for the U.S. NTDP where he posted 24 points in 48 games playing with the U17 squad last season, so there’s reason to believe he has some offensive touch in his game. However, the numbers haven’t popped just yet with the U18 team this season thus far, only producing one point in his first 13 games. But it’s not the offensive part of his game that has shined so far, defensively Schairer has looked really good.

Schairer displays good speed for a larger defenseman and allows him to close gaps against the rush. He’s not afraid to attack opposing players coming into the neutral zone, which typically lead to turnovers. However, this can come with Schairer getting caught out of position at times. He does have a nice active stick and uses it well to retrieve pucks from opposing players though.

On the rush, Schairer is not afraid to jump in and leave the D-zone. He usually chooses the right time for those opportunities, but I would still not consider him an offensive threat from the backend and the numbers have not been there to suggest otherwise.

Because of his size and skating ability, there could be a case to be made that Schairer be a high pick in the upcoming draft, especially if he can get some better numbers to help classify him as an offensive threat.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-luke_schairer_-_1st_period_10_21_-_10_34.mp4

The above clip is a great example of how well Schairer skates, uses his stick to cause a turnover, then joins the rush given the opportunity.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-luke_schairer_-_1st_period_6_33_-_6_47.mp4

Here we see him running the NTDP’s powerplay and his ability to move the puck around with ease.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-luke_schairer_-_1st_period_4_32_-_4_47.mp4

Another example of Schairer using his reach to cause a turnover, then joining the rush.

Blake Zielinski

Centre - Des Moines USHL

6-foot-0, 188 pounds

After having a strong showing at the Hlinka-Gretzky Tournament this past summer where he was one of the Americans best players on that team. So obviously all eyes would be on Zielinski to see if he could reproduce that success when he returned back to the USHL for Des Moines. And so far he has not disappointed, putting up almost a point-a-game so far, with 11 in 12 games. This actually leads the team in scoring as of the writing of this article.

The one attribute that stands out with Zielinski is his shot. He possesses a quick and heavy shot, with nice release angle variations. There are concerns on whether he should use his teammates more and use some scans to increase playmaking opportunities. There seems to be a lot of blocked shots against him from the viewings I watched.

Other habits and details also need to be addressed in terms of pace and defensive engagements. A development curve needs to be improved upon and he needs to be more of a play driver, than a supporter for his offensive tools to shine. Some time spent at Providence College where he’s committed may be exactly what he needs to make that next step.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-blake_zielinski_-_3rd_period_19_2_-_19_16.mp4

Here we see the bread and butter of Zielinski’s game with that quick release with sublime accuracy which leads to an easy goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-blake_zielinski_-_1st_period_13_52_-_14_5.mp4

In this clip Zielinski uses his shot as a decoy to freeze both the defender and goalie and slide it over to his teammate for the easy tap in.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-blake_zielinski_-_1st_period_23_50_-_24_2.mp4

Zielinski shows some grit in this sequence, where he absorbs a hit behind the net and is able to poke the puck over to an open teammate.

MCKEEN’S 2025 NHL DRAFT GUIDE FEATURE: CHL TO NCAA – The Turning Point

Kyle Watson — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:06:11 +0000

While the legacy of the 2025 NHL Draft class remains to be seen, one thing is clear: the 2024–25 season marked a seismic shift in North American amateur hockey.

In November, the NCAA Division I Council approved a rule change allowing players from Canadian Hockey League (CHL) teams—previously barred under Bylaw 12.2.3.2.4—to retain NCAA eligibility, provided they are not compensated beyond actual and necessary expenses. The new rule takes effect August 1, 2025.

This legislative overhaul triggered immediate movement. On September 13, Braxton Whitehead of the WHL’s Regina Pats became the first CHL player to commit to an NCAA program under the new rules, joining Arizona State. The 21-year-old overager is now part of a growing trend.

Since then, dozens of undrafted or unsigned 20- and 21-year-old CHL players have followed suit.

The immediate impact

Scott Norton with L-R Sage Weinstein, Shea Van Olm, and Sam Oremba

Scott Norton, President of Norton Sports Management, is an NHLPA-certified agent with over three decades of experience. In January, he helped overage WHL forwards Shea Van Olm and Brandon Whynott in their recruitment to NCAA programs.

For players like Whitehead, Van Olm, and Whynott, the NCAA offers an established path to the NHL through free agency.

“Prior, they had USports in Canada, which in itself is pretty good hockey, but it's not the year-round development that the NCAA has,” Norton explained. “They don't have the finances that the NCAA puts into the programs and the off-ice development that the kids in the U.S. side get. That's really where the difference is, and that’s why, for years, the NHL teams have looked at free agents in U.S. colleges.”

Van Olm, who led the WHL with 49 goals in his final season, brings 261 junior games of experience to Penn State. According to Norton, the NCAA’s lighter schedule could allow players like Van Olm to emerge stronger, faster, and more NHL-ready.

“What teams are looking at with a player like Shea is, ‘we're gonna take this player that's made so many strides in the last couple years in the same hockey league, and we're gonna get an extra couple, two to four years to look at him maybe 15 to 20 pounds heavier, that much faster, and more mature,” he said.

The rule change has also sparked movement in the opposite direction. Several players departed the NCAA’s feeder leagues (i.e. OJHL, AJHL, and BCHL) in favour of the CHL. Top 2026 NHL Draft prospects Adam Valentini, Callum Croskery, Zach Nyman, and Caleb Malholtra—all projected first rounders that slipped in the 2024 OHL Draft due to NCAA ties—have signed with OHL clubs this offseason.

While Canadian stars like Toews, Power, Makar, and Fantilli have long excelled in the NCAA, the CHL is quickly becoming a launchpad for college-bound talent, potentially at the expense of Tier II leagues and the USHL.

In April, Henry Mews of the Sudbury Wolves became the first CHL player with junior eligibility remaining to jump to the NCAA, joining the University of Michigan. He’ll be joined by Erie Otters forward Malcolm Spence, currently ranked 33rd in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Perhaps the biggest name to switch so far is Jackson Smith, the No. 7-ranked prospect in this year’s draft. The 18-year-old leaves the WHL’s Tri-City Americans for Penn State.

All eyes now turn to 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna. The reigning CHL Player of the Year is widely expected to spend his draft year in the NCAA. It's not a matter of if, but when—and where.

The future landscape of junior hockey

It’s unclear what the long-term impact of the current changes will be. Across junior, college, and NHL circles, the prevailing sentiment is simple: we’ll have to wait and see.

“The ramifications, I don't think even the smartest person has any concept of yet at this point,” Norton explained. “There are so many implications that go beyond what we're thinking now, as well as the trickle down to how it affects the other junior leagues.

Not all 17- and 18-year-old players are going to find immediate success or consistent ice time in the NCAA. How many will hurt their draft stock by spending their draft year in college hockey, rather than the CHL, where they might receive more ice time and responsibility? How many will return to the CHL next season, realizing the grass isn’t always greener on the other side? The answers remain to be seen, but disappointment seems inevitable for some.

Another question: could we see a team up? That is, a formal or informal affiliation between an NCAA program and a CHL team, with the latter operating as a feeder. CHL boundary rules complicate this, but what if, say, the Saginaw Spirit began working closely with the University of Michigan to funnel OHL-bound recruits? Or the Brandon Wheat Kings with the University of North Dakota for WHL prospects?

For us at McKeen’s, the most pressing question is this: what becomes the optimal pipeline for player development? Or is there even such a thing anymore?

McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten.

“This has the potential to alter how we evaluate players,” says Brock Otten, McKeen’s Director of Scouting. “How much weight will be given to NCAA performance versus CHL production? If a draft-eligible player is scoring 0.5 points per game in a strong NCAA program, will he rank higher than someone putting up a point per game in the CHL? It’s hard to say. Scouting has always been about projection, not just production. But projection becomes harder when players aren’t put in positions to succeed and show off their skill sets"

USports—the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA—is expected to take an immediate hit in recruitment. Many top CHL free agents will now opt to extend their playing careers in the U.S. college system instead.

The USHL is also under pressure, losing both Canadian and European talent to the CHL, as well as some top American prospects.

But does this truly hurt the CHL? Opinions are split. Some argue it does. Others say it’s not a decline, but a transformation. The CHL has already adapted, allowing teams to dress three import players—an adjustment some clubs will exploit to bring in elite European talent.

We’re also seeing more younger American players choosing the CHL route. The quality of 17- and 18-year-old talent in the league has risen noticeably. If the current group of NCAA-bound trendsetters finds success, we could see more 19 and 20-year-olds making the switch in future years. Even so, the CHL will maintain a high level of talent—likely younger, but still highly competitive.

Player Development and the Power of Choice

What remains to be seen is how this shift will truly impact player development. What we do know is this: the choice now belongs to the player more than ever.

“I used to sit with a family when the player was 14 and say, ‘Do you want to go to college—develop as a pro and get a good education? Or go the CHL route and push all your chips in on becoming a hockey player?’” said NHL agent Scott Norton. “Academically, the new rule makes that decision a lot easier.”

Prospects no longer have to choose between the “pro-style” lifestyle of major junior and the NCAA’s structured, year-round development model. But that doesn’t mean everyone will follow the new CHL-to-NCAA pathway.

“I’ve talked to high-ranked and already-signed CHL players who said they wouldn’t have even considered the NCAA,” Norton added. “They like the lifestyle. They like playing a lot of games. They like not having to worry about school. Not every 17-, 18-, or 19-year-old wants to split his time between trying to become a pro and studying for a chemistry test.”