Brooks Rogowski – McKeen's Hockey

2026 NHL DRAFT: DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT – Brooks Rogowski, C/W, Oshawa Generals

Brock Otten — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:42:06 +0000

Brooks Rogowski of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Brooks Rogowski

2026 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: C/W, Shoots: R

H/W: 6-foot-6, 231 pounds

Date of Birth: 2008-06-28

In 2024, the Oshawa Generals shocked the OHL scouting community when they selected behemoth power center Brooks Rogowski in the second round of the OHL Draft…out of a Michigan high school. That’s not exactly a common occurrence. Rogowski did play in a higher end AAA program growing up, Little Caesars, but because of high end baseball commitments, he switched to playing primarily high school hockey in his U15 year. Obviously, the Generals’ scouting staff deserve a ton of credit for unearthing this gem. In fact, Rogowski was always operating under the assumption that he would end up playing NCAA baseball as it runs in the family, never truly focusing on hockey development until he joined the OHL. Breanna McNeill, a content creator for the OHL, wrote a terrific piece on this that you can check out here.

Rogowski turned heads in his rookie year with the Generals, helping them reach the OHL Championship. He proved to be way ahead of the expected development curve. Rogowski then earned a spot on the U.S.’ Hlinka/Gretzky Cup team this summer, helping them capture gold in a more defensively oriented, checking role. This season in Oshawa, he’s been tasked with way more offensive responsibility on a rebuilding Generals’ team. There have been ebbs and flows…and injuries (like a broken finger suffered in a fight), but Rogowski is closing the year out well from a production standpoint and that should have him on the radar of the U.S. as they look to make additions to their U18 team from outside of the NTDP.

Obviously, the allure here is that Rogowski is a power center prospect who could be a versatile pro through the middle of an NHL lineup. While he is physically developed, he’s underdeveloped from a skill and experience perspective; can that gap close and if it does, what is Rogowski’s ultimate upside? Additionally, is he a center long term? If you view him as a winger (where he has spent the majority of the second half of this year with Oshawa), he has less value because he’s not ever going to be a high-end NHL skater. However, he is a highly intelligent two-way player who supports play well, has shown significant progress as a goal scorer, and who shows good vision with the puck. As he fills out his frame, the physical upside is limitless. He would be an absolute load to handle for even NHL defenders. Teams could utilize him as a net front presence on the powerplay, but he has also shown very well killing penalties through his junior career.

One of the main concerns that I’ve seen and heard come up consistently in the scouting community is that Rogowski lacks consistent physical intensity and engagement. Not exactly what you like to see from a 6-foot-6 forward who could dominate physically. It brings back memories of a guy like Logan Brown. That said, I’m not quite as concerned about this as others and I do feel that he’s become better in this regard as the season has progressed. I’ll break that down later in this report. The other concern would be that Rogowski lacks the skill to be a top six contributor; this is a more legitimate concern through my scouting lens. Rogowski is raw; he’s still putting everything together and we don’t really know how that’s going to work out. The range of outcomes here runs the full gamut. Career minor league player due to pace, physicality, and skill limitations. Bottom six role player. Or, if things hit right, an all situations, versatile Swiss Army knife who can slide up and down your lineup. Think Nick Bjugstad. But, as alluded to, an NHL team is going to have to be patient with Rogowski. He’s going to likely play another year in the OHL with Oshawa. Then he’ll head to Michigan State, perhaps for another two years. He’s a long-term project, but one who could pay off nicely.

Skating

Rogowski’s skating is best described as “good enough” for the game he plays. He can build linear speed with his long strides. He will utilize linear crossovers to help him protect the puck while he builds speed through the neutral zone. His quickness and top speed would both be considered average, but it takes a lot of lower body strength to move 230+lbs. As he improves his conditioning, given that his stride length and mechanics aren’t terrible, we should see marked improvement in his speed and power as he matures physically and continues to work to improve his skating profile.

The biggest issue would be in Rogowski’s balance and ability to play off his edges. He’s very much a straight-line attacker. He can lose his edges too easily and be knocked off balance. When he tries to cut back or make a lateral push, he often loses speed or even falls. He pivots well enough and can build speed out of turns, but when tasked with changing direction quickly, he struggles. He also can struggle to regain his stride when knocked off balance by contact. He can power through defenders at times, when attacking in straight lines, but when pivoting or playing off his edges, he gets knocked off stride too easily, such as in the cycle or when looking to work East/West with the puck. Another issue is that Rogowski’s skating really hasn’t improved much over the course of the season. Watching him at the Hlinka/Gretzky, I felt like there was a chance that it could really become a solid trait for him with the right in-season work; he was showing progress from the previous year and beating defenders with his power. However, then…and now, his stride and effectiveness are limited by balance and agility issues. There’s no question that will be a focus of his this offseason.

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Rogowski builds speed quickly through linear crossovers, catching the Swedish defense flatfooted at the Hlinka/Gretzky.

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Rogowski carves up the neutral zone again utilizing linear crossovers.

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Rogowski shows off his linear speed by getting to the puck and then he makes a great pass to a teammate for the goal.

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Rogowski loses an edge when contacted trying to cut around the defender.

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Rogowski loses an edge trying to make a quick cut back to the outside.

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Rogowski breaks through the defense but loses balance just as he’s about to get his shot off.

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We see the lack of power here as a two on one is negated due to Rogowski’s inability to maintain speed/build to a solid top speed.

GRADE: 50

Shot

This is an area of Rogowski’s game that has improved significantly over the course of the year. I found that he was having trouble finishing off plays early on in the year. He was heeling or toeing shots and wasn’t connecting on enough of the chances he was earning in tight. However, he’s really gained confidence in his shooting ability, and he’s been converting on more of his chances in the home plate area.

Rogowski doesn’t have an elite shot. He doesn’t possess a heavy one-timer. He’s not a huge threat to score from a distance or from the flank. However, he does possess scoring upside based on some translatable goal scoring skills. Rogowski’s favourite weapon is a quick snap shot which he elevates quickly and generates good velocity with. He often catches goalies flat footed with it because of its quick release. It’s rare to see Rogowski use anything with a longer load time, like the slapper or even a dragged wrister. In tight, he has good hands for redirections and putbacks, showing an ability to finish on both his backhand and forehand. This is likely how he will score the majority of his goals as a pro.

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Rogowski breaks through the defense, fights through stick checks, and roofs one with his quick snapshot.

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Great interception by Rogowski and an even better finish upstairs. You get the better angle at the very end of the clip.

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Rogowski picking corners again.

GRADE: 52.5

Skills

If you’re looking for a highly creative pivot who can consistently beat defenders one on one with skill, Rogowski is probably not your guy. That’s just not his game. He can struggle to maintain possession through the middle of the ice when he tries to be creative. If he’s beating defenders one on one, it’s in a straight line by powering through them. Rogowski, perhaps more alarmingly, can also struggle to maintain possession in the cycle, losing possession as he tries to pivot. He can fumble pucks in his feet or be too easily separated from the puck along the wall for someone his size. This is the area that will truly need work as this is where he will need to live at the NHL level. But he flashes instances where he dominates down low and does prolong possession, so the development of consistency is possible as he works on his small area stick skill and strength.

Where Rogowski does show great puck protection skill is in open ice. He is great with stick lifts to help him create space. He has a really strong stick and shields the puck well, fighting off contact to help open up passing or shooting lanes. Likely due to his time as a high-end baseball player, his hand eye coordination is excellent. He is such an effective net front presence, not just because of his timing and size, but also because he redirects pucks well and has quick hands to deposit second chance opportunities. Rogowski also shows great talent as a passer. He can thread pucks through small seams, and he has been particularly effective in the New Year as a playmaker.

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A sample of Rogowski’s work as a net front presence. He shows skill corralling the rebound, keeping the play alive with defenders all over him, which ultimately leads to an Oshawa goal.

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More good work near the blue paint as he finishes off a second chance opportunity.

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And more good work near the crease as he shows off his hand/eye skill by deflecting a shot through his legs.

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Did I mention that Rogowski was a baseball player?

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Rogowski chips and chases and secures the puck first, but he loses control as he tries to fight through stick checks and pivots.

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Rogowski loses control in the cycle.

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Rogowski protects the puck well on a broken play, fighting off the stick checks of two Saginaw defenders before finding a teammate in the slot for the goal.

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An ugly play as David Bedkowski catches Rogowski with his head down entering the neutral zone. I thought about not including this clip, but I do believe it shows that Rogowski’s puck skill and control is not a confident part of his game as he has to keep his head down to maintain possession as he tries to escape back pressure.

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Rogowski loses control as he tries to make a move in the neutral zone.

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Really nice sequence by Rogowski here. First, he helps to secure the puck in the defensive end and starts the breakout. Then he gets a pass back and shows off some nice skill, beating the defender one on one, narrowly missing the goal.

GRADE: 52.5

Smarts

This is the bread and butter of Rogowski’s game. While much of Rogowski’s game can be considered raw, his decision making at both ends is quite advanced for a player who really hasn’t focused entirely on hockey for that long.

He shows incredible promise as a defensive forward at higher levels, both because of his size and because of his play reading/anticipation. He has played both center and wing this year and he’s excelled defensively in both instances, supporting defenders in the slot, down low, and along the wall when the situation calls for it. His reach is just so disruptive. If he can add a little more physicality, he could be an elite shutdown forward at higher levels. He can also lose focus from time to time and get caught puck watching, losing sight of his check. That needs to be tightened up.

Rogowski also shines as a playmaker because of his excellent vision. He rarely forces plays. Yes, offensive zone turnovers have been an issue at times, but they result from skill limitations, not poor decision making. What makes Rogowski unique is that while he finds success as a brute who can play the net front, he also makes his linemates better by finding them in the slot out of the cycle or off the forecheck.

Rogowski also has great off-puck habits in the offensive zone. He supports the cycle well. He gets to the net. He just seems to have a pretty clear understanding of his strengths and where he can best help his team offensively. He also seems to understand that he needs to leverage his size. He routinely chips and chases and is willing to put in the effort to earn his touches. Lastly, and perhaps an underrated component of his game, Rogowski is terrific at kick starting the breakout. Like a defender, he makes a great exit pass and is able to create scoring chances for his team in transition with his quick thinking, heads up passing ability.

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A subtle, but excellent play by Rogowski working with Owen Griffin in transition. He delays long enough to draw in pressure, then slides the puck back to Griffin, who now has that open lane.

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Excellent shift from Rogowski that sees him keep the play alive with some strong protection work, then he finds a soft spot in zone coverage and deposits the goal.

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Excellent defensive play by Rogowski here leads to an Oshawa goal.

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Another good defensive play as he supports the net front and disrupts a passing lane, then he out skates and out muscles a Sting player to create an odd man rush.

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More good defensive work from Rogowski. Look at the assertiveness and communication as he tells a teammate to challenge the puck carrier while he defends the slot and breaks up the play.

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One of those instances where Rogowski lost focus and his check snuck behind him to score. Is this an IQ issue or an intensity issue or both?

GRADE: 57.5

Physicality/Compete

This is the most highly debated component of Rogowski’s game. You would absolutely love to see him be more consistently involved physically given his size advantage. He’s not a heavy hitter, per say. He could stand to be even more dominant along the wall. However, over the course of the season, he’s become harder on pucks and in puck pursuit. This increased compete level has made him a more consistently noticeable player and has helped him improve the consistency of his offensive production…even on a retooling Oshawa team.

If you were to grade his physicality and compete level based solely on what we see now, he’d be barely average at the pro level. However, you just have to project that he’s going to gain confidence in his ability to dominate physically as he matures. He doesn’t need to be Tom Wilson. It doesn’t seem like he has the mindset to be that kind of physically intense player. However, he will power through defenders. He will finish checks to help secure the puck or force turnovers. Consistency is often the last thing to find bigger forwards because it takes outstanding conditioning to be a power forward type, who can impact the game in so many different ways. As such, I do believe that he can be an above average physical player in three or four years, when he is likely ready for a full time NHL role.

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When people criticize Rogowski’s lack of physical engagement, this is an example of what they are talking about. Just too soft defending the slot, poking at the puck instead of physically overwhelming him like he is capable of. As a result, Crombie gets his pass off and the result is a goal against.

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Another poor defensive play, this time on the powerplay. He tracks back well but does not physically engage enough to tie up Kuhta’s stick; the weak stick check/lift just doesn’t get it done.

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Here’s Rogowski at his best, applying pressure on the forecheck and helping to force a turnover with his physicality.

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Again, more of this is needed. Eliminates his man physically in the defensive end and Oshawa secures the puck.

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A solid defensive play on the recovery. Rogowski gets beat and caught puck watching, but he stays with it, breaks up the play, then protects the puck through contact to help start the breakout.

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At this level, Rogowski can simply power through defenders with his size.

GRADE: 55

OFP: 53.625

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

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: PRE-WJC TOP 32 DRAFT RANKINGS

Brock Otten — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:38:40 +0000

KANATA, ONTARIO - JANUARY 2: Canada's Gavin McKenna #9 shoots the puck during warm-up prior to Quarterfinal Round action against Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 2, 2025 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andr Ringuette/IIHF)

It is time for the first ranking of the season for McKeen’s Hockey; this is our preliminary Top 32 with a few honorable mentions.

Gavin McKenna occupies the top spot after a strong start with Penn State. He’s the top scoring freshman in the NCAA, with his creativity and skill translating rather seamlessly to the college level thus far. That said, we’d be lying if we didn’t have concerns over the lack of development in his overall game, in combination with his smaller frame. Does that leave the door open for someone later this season to emerge as a first overall candidate?

The way we see it, the next grouping has a tier of four players, all who could be equally as effective as pros in comparison to McKenna. Keaton Verhoeff has had an equally strong start in the NCAA, producing offensively for North Dakota and playing big minutes on the back end. Ivar Stenberg has been producing at a clip historically similar to other Swedish stars in the SHL. Ethan Belchetz is a potential unicorn with a size and skill package that all NHL teams crave. Lastly Tynan Lawrence is an intelligent and mature two-way center who projects as an NHL captain who can play in any situation. All four are drastically different players, but who have separated themselves from the pack in a second tier close behind McKenna.

Six intriguing defenders are part of the next grouping, all positioning themselves to be in contention to be the second-best defender behind Verhoeff. Xavier Villeneuve, Chase Reid, Daxon Rudolph, and Ryan Lin are all offensive standouts with varying levels of defensive ability. While Albert Smits and Carson Carels are more two-way defenders who project as minute eaters. Smits, in particular, is quickly becoming a staff favourite at McKeen’s. The Latvian defender’s rapid progression into a Liiga (Finland) standout has him rocketing up draft boards.

Another interesting name worth discussing is Oscar Hemming, who has yet to play this season due to a contract dispute with his Finnish club. His transfer to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL was blocked. His signing with the BCHL was voided thanks to IIHF suspension threats. He is now apparently looking at other options like the NCAA as he awaits closure involving his court case in Finland over the dispute. Hemming was outstanding as a power winger at the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky, so it’s a real shame that his development has been halted. Hopefully he can get back on the ice soon. As of now, we felt his upside was too significant to leave off this list despite the unique circumstances.

You can expect our next list after the World Junior Championships, where we will expand our ranking to a Top 64.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	20-Dec-07	14	4	11	15	4
2	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	19-Jun-08	12	4	4	8	4
3	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	30-Sep-07	19	4	11	15	0
4	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	30-Mar-08	21	16	11	27	20
5	Tynan Lawrence	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/185	3-Aug-08	2	1	1	2	4
6	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	29-Sep-07	21	5	20	25	25
7	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	30-Dec-07	24	9	18	27	20
8	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	2-Dec-07	21	6	5	11	10
9	Mathis Preston	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/175	21-Jul-08	19	8	9	17	16
10	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Mar-08	20	6	10	16	16
11	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	18-Apr-08	21	3	21	24	14
12	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	12-Mar-08	17	2	4	6	4
13	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	5-Feb-08	10	4	3	7	10
14	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	23-Jun-08	21	5	16	21	18
15	Ryan Roobroeck	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/215	25-Sep-07	20	11	10	21	10
16	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	13-Nov-07	21	11	10	21	4
17	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	3-Sep-08	22	2	3	5	10
18	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	27-Jun-08	22	14	18	32	12
19	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (Swe J20)	6-4/200	11-Jun-08	13	3	6	9	12
20	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	24-Apr-08	20	2	13	15	18
21	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	28-Jun-08	19	5	10	15	6
22	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	2-Jun-08	21	8	17	25	16
23	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	8-Oct-07	20	0	2	2	8
24	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	11-Apr-08	23	16	24	40	10
25	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	10-Aug-08	18	0	2	2	4
26	Egor Shilov	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Apr-08	21	11	20	31	12
27	Oscar Hemming	LW	Sherwood Park (AJHL)	6-4/195	13-Aug-08	-	-	-	-	-
28	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	3-Aug-08	10	6	5	11	21
29	Beckham Edwards	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/180	6-Jan-08	21	9	10	19	8
30	Jack Hextall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-0/190	23-Mar-08	19	6	9	15	8
31	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-1/180	4-May-08	14	7	16	23	36
32	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	2-Nov-07	19	3	10	13	2
HM	Adam Valentini	LW	Michigan (NCAA)	5-11/185	11-Apr-08	14	4	9	13	14
HM	Luke Schairer	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/195	30-Jan-08	20	0	5	5	39
HM	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	13-Feb-08	20	5	11	16	16
HM	Olivers Murnieks	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/190	31-Jul-08	18	2	9	11	10
HM	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-1/185	16-Jun-08	14	11	11	22	12
HM	Vilho Vanhatalo	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	18-Jan-08	19	9	6	15	6
HM	Yaroslav Fedoseyev	D	Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)	6-1/180	5-Nov-07	6	1	0	1	2

2026 NHL Draft: McKeen’s Early Season Favourites – ONTARIO PART TWO – Jean-Christoph Lemieux, Caleb Malhotra, Brooks Rogowski, Jaxon Cover, Ethan Belchetz, Vladimír Dravecký Jr.

Marek Novotny, Felix Sicard, Kaeden Ireland, Liam Staples — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:15:04 +0000

Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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 ONTARIO PART TWO

Liam Staples - Ontario Regional Scout

Jean-Christoph Lemieux

Center - Windsor Spitfires

5-foot-11, 176 pounds

The Spitfires were flying high to start the season, going nearly a month before suffering their first loss in regulation, posting an impressive 11-0-1 record during that stretch. Their hot start can be credited to several key contributors - fourth year players Carson Woodall and Cole Davis helped steer the ship while the team awaited for NHL prospects to return back from NHL training camps. 2024 first-overall pick Ethan Belchetz is making headlines this season; he is off to a terrific start and is climbing up a lot of scouting boards. Be sure to check out the piece written by our very own, Felix Sicard, on Ethan Belchetz. Another early-season standout for the Spitfires has been Jean-Christoph (JC) Lemieux, the team’s second-round selection (22nd overall) in the 2024 OHL Draft and their second pick following Ethan Belchetz.

A product of the Quinte Red Devils U16 program in Belleville, Ontario, Lemieux excelled on a line with fellow NHL Draft–eligible forward Maddox Dagenais, under the guidance of current Spitfires assistant coach Kris Newbury, who served as Quinte’s head coach for part of that season. Fast forward to the present, and Lemieux has carried some of that knowledge into the OHL, getting off to a strong start with four goals and seven points through his first six games of the season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-JC-Lemieux-Compete.mp4

Lemieux’s competitive drive is like a dog on a bone — he’s tenacious in puck battles and refuses to give up on plays, embodying a relentless work ethic every shift.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-JC-Lemieux-O-Zone-Pressure.mp4

Lemieux’s production has cooled off since his hot start through the first six games of the season, but he continues to generate quality scoring chances through his skill with his hands and feet working in sync with the puck. The style of game he plays suggests he is still far from a finished NHL product, but the foundation is there — his offensive numbers should bump up with time. He does the right things: staying hard on pucks, creating chaos below the goal line, and driving play toward the front of the net. Building consistency is the next step.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-JC-Lemieux-Offence.mp4

The style of offence Lemieux can contribute - attack the puck instead of waiting for the play to develop in front of him. Attacking the puck carrier down low adds pressure and increases the risk of potential mistakes for your opponent.

Kaeden Ireland - Ontario Regional Scout

Caleb Malhotra

Center - Brantford Bulldogs

6-foot-0, 170 pounds

Caleb Malhotra has bolstered Brantford’s forward depth for a push towards earning a bid to the Memorial Cup, and he has impressed. Caleb, the son of Manny Maholtra, decided to leave the BCHL and join the Bulldogs this past summer, before playing next year with the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA.

After scoring around half a point per game with Chilliwack last year, Malhotra upped his production to 1.38 points per game through the first 13 games, centering the largely successful Dennis-Malhotra-O’Donnell line. Malhotra has found success in many aspects of his game early on in the season, including his compete level, two-way consistency, and playmaking. Caleb seems destined to be a middle-6 center in the NHL, seemingly everywhere at times, causing chaos on defense. With the puck, Caleb regularly finds creative plays from within his arsenal to open lanes and drive to the center of the ice. But perhaps the most impressive part of Caleb’s play in the OHL has been his unwillingness to lose. He never backs down and will fight toe-to-toe with anyone to win every encounter. Even after losing the puck, Malhotra ensures he gives his all to make the opponent’s life miserable; he simply refuses to lose any interaction on the ice cleanly.

After watching Caleb, it’s evident there’s an absence of a true weakness in his game. His hockey smarts, while still developing, are stronger than most other OHL centers in his class and have allowed him to create chances using his stickhandling, footspeed, and passing. The area in need of improvement is his strength, and while he doesn’t have the strongest legs yet, Caleb’s core strength and athleticism make him tricky to knock off the puck. Given Caleb has a summer 2028 birthday and isn’t fully physically mature, there’s lots of runway left in his development. Expect to see Malhotra climb boards as the year progresses.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-caleb_malhotra_Clip2.mp4

Here’s some great defensive work to fluster the puck carrier by blocking his lanes by Malhotra, then a very nice pass on the counterattack to set his teammate up for a chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-caleb_malhotra_Clip1.mp4

Malhotra finishes a goal with an acrobatic dive, batting the puck home. He’s often willing to sacrifice his body to make plays.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-caleb_malhotra_Clip3.mp4

While Malhotra will need to add some weight before these hits do much, he loves leaving his feet for a big hit.

Brooks Rogowski

Center - Oshawa Generals

6-foot-6, 227 pounds

Brooks Rogowski has contributed 13 points through 15 games of his sophomore OHL campaign and has taken a large step forward in all aspects of his game. Last year, Brooks was mostly limited to 4th-line minutes but has taken on a much larger role with the Gens in 25-26, averaging around 20 minutes per night. Rogowski’s hulking frame and two-way value make him a candidate to go top 32 in a weak 2026 center class and maybe higher should he continue refining his on-puck play.

Rogowski has been at his best this season when keeping things simple on offense and relying on his positional understanding to get him into the right places at the right times. Much of his offensive production has come from filling his lane on the rush and making simple, quick lateral passes to open teammates, or from his positioning in front of the net.

Being 6-foot-6, skating will never be a strength for Rogowski, but for his size, he moves very well and has shown flashes of being impossible to separate from the puck. Another disadvantage for Rogowski has been the consistency of his compete on the ice. Not to say he is poorly conditioned, but being as big a frame as he is, it’s hard to keep up with more nimble players as they dart around. What has impressed me in this aspect of play is his ability to use his extended reach to threaten lanes. Brooks’ stick defense succeeds in trimming down the amount of room opponents have to operate and restricts the center of the ice.

Through the coming months, I project Rogowski to look more and more comfortable in his size and continue improving his netfront play as well as his passing in tight, both of which have made tremendous progress from last year. I have a strong hunch that Rogowski will be a pick in the 20s of the 2026 draft, in line with picks like Jack Nesbitt and Mason West last year.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-brooks_rogowski_-_1st_period_11_22_-_11_35.mp4

Rogowski thrives in open ice, using his length to beat defenders. Here, he finished off his opportunity with a well-placed shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-brooks_rogowski_-_1st_period_10_50_-_11_3.mp4

Perfect timing on this rush opportunity for the Generals. Rogowski is in his element when making these short, well-timed passes.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-brooks_rogowski_-_3rd_period_8_13_-_8_26.mp4

A great two-touch effort from Rogowski in front of the net to finish off a chance. With his large frame, this quick thinking will translate well to the NHL, even with less space.

Jaxon Cover

Left Wing - London Knights

6-foot-2, 174 pounds

While the 2025 champs have entered a rebuild this year, Cover has been a significant reason why London remains as competitive as they are. Jaxon regularly gets top-six minutes after appearing in just three OHL contests last year. Through 10 contests this year, he’s tallied 8 points and is regularly creating high danger scoring chances for himself and his teammates.

Cover’s stickhandling has been incredibly impressive so far, accomplishing a variety of advanced dekes to get through defenders. His hand speed is lightning quick, allowing him to execute plays faster than many NHLers, a trait that sometimes makes it look like he’s too far ahead of the play compared to his teammates. Like Malhotra, Cover needs to add weight to become a more substantial physical presence, but he is already very athletic and agile, which helps him slip past OHL defenders and utilize body fakes effectively. The final trait that allows Cover to find success with the puck is his hockey smarts. While Cover is sometimes over creative, leading to turnovers, he finds lanes that many prospects do not see, let alone dare to attempt.

Also impressive has been Cover’s off-puck offensive play. He keeps himself moving on the power play, darting in between defenders, looking to find windows to receive the puck before making a pass as swiftly as he received it. Cover is nearly always engaged in play on offense and rarely finds himself standing still, always looking to make an impact. On defense, he closes the gap between himself and the point man quickly and is not afraid to hit the ice for blocks.

Players as talented and smart as Cover are too good to pass up on in the 25-45 range of the draft, and depending on how his season progresses, I could see a team taking a swing on Jaxon in the first round. He possesses some similarities to last year’s Ryker Lee, although Cover’s off-puck game is far superior. Don’t be surprised if his production heavily increases through the holiday break, as his current scoring levels are understated compared to how many chances he creates.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-jaxon_cover_-_2nd_period_12_45_-_12_58.mp4

Cover hasn’t had much success with his pure wrist shot but can get pucks off quickly in tight.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-jaxon_cover_-_1st_period_12_23_-_12_35.mp4

Elusive stickwork by Cover here. Even after he bobbles the puck, Jaxon still makes beating defenders look effortless and smooth.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-jaxon_cover_-_2nd_period_28_40_-_28_53.mp4

Great work here to sell crashing the net and then quickly execute a pass. Everything Cover does with the puck, he does so with intention and swiftness.

Felix Sicard - North American Video Scout

Ethan Belchetz

Wing - Windsor Spitfires

6-foot-5, 228 pounds

Few prospects in North America have taken as big of a leap so far as Ethan Belchetz, and no, that’s not a play on his gigantic 6-foot- 5” frame. The former first overall pick in the OHL draft, Belchetz was productive as a rookie, but consistency was a common reproach to his game. Even at the Hlinka, he’d flash high-end offense, then float about for shifts on end. That has all changed so far this season.

Belchetz is constantly involved in the play, and that all starts with his skating. He moved around fine last season, but with the caveat of “for a big man”. No such caveats are needed now. He’s added explosiveness to his stride, as well as some additional agility. There are sequences now where he uses both his inside and outside edges to open up time and space for himself. Mohawks strides and quick changes of direction now show up with regularity, leaving one to wonder just how much more he can improve.

With the puck, he can dazzle with high-end passing sequences to spring scoring chances for his teammates. However, he’s added the less exciting, but pro-like stuff, such as give-and-go’s and quick chip plays. The hands, though not elite, are more than good enough to handle through tricky small-area situations, as well as in open ice. His shot has some power to it, especially as a one timer, but it’s still an area of opportunity for him.

Of course, there’s the toughness and physicality that everyone loves to see in a bigger player. While that is certainly a calling card in his game that will be the headline, there’s much more to his game than the “power forward” label would suggest. If this continues, he should absolutely be in the discussion to be the first name off the board after Gavin McKenna.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-belchetz_-_fs_-_1st_period_8_50_-_8_571.mp4

Here, Belchetz completes a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone, initiating a give-and-go where he drives to the net. He then receives the puck on his backhand and quickly gathers it to get a scoring chance on net. This ability to use his teammates to create chances for himself is very transferable to the pro game.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-belchetz_-_fs_-_2nd_period_20_30_-_20_361.mp4

Here, Belchetz gathers the puck at the point, keeps his head up to survey his options, and finds his teammate on the backdoor thanks to a perfect tape to tape pass. The extra stickhandles right before the pass bought him just enough time and space to get it off.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-belchetz_-_fs_-_1st_period_12_9_-_12_201.mp4

Here, Belchetz wins a puck battle along the boards, then immediately takes the puck into the slot, where he fires home a short side goal. You get to see both his competitive streak in a tight area, as well as some nimble small-area stickhandling to get by a defender. Even more impressive when considering he is a 6-foot- 5” player.

Marek Novotny - Central Europe Regional Scout

Vladimír Dravecký Jr.
Defense – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
6-foot-0, 187 pounds

Few European defensemen have taken as fascinating a path into their draft year as Vladimír Dravecký Jr. The 17-year-old blueliner has already played in four different leagues over the last four seasons, most recently making the jump to the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, where he’ll skate alongside fellow Czech talents Adam Benák and Adam Jiříček.

Born in the U.S. but raised in Czechia since age six, Dravecký’s international allegiance briefly became a hot topic in summer 2024 when he switched from the Slovak to the Czech national team. The decision sparked debate across both countries, but it quickly paid off as Dravecký helped Czechia capture silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, showcasing the same poise and dynamic skill that have made him a legitimate candidate for early rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft.

A mobile, modern defenseman, Dravecký stands out for his skating and offensive instincts. He’s a fluid mover who generates speed through quick edge work and efficient transitions. He’s confident carrying pucks through the neutral zone, often leading controlled exits and joining the rush as a fourth forward. At Rögle BK U20 last season, he regularly dictated play from the back end and let me say that his ability to read pressure and create space under forecheck is well above his age group.

In addition to his skating, Dravecký shows a rare sense of deception for a young defenseman. He opens passing lanes that most players his age wouldn't even notice by using shoulder fakes and subtle weight shifts to manipulate forecheckers. He can change gears mid-stride, pull opponents in, and slip passes through narrow seams with his precise and strategic puckhandling. Under pressure, he doesn't hesitate to cross the blue line in the offensive zone, creating shooting lanes with his quick hands and lateral agility. You get a blueliner who can actually drive offense rather than just support it when you combine that with a heavy, accurate shot that regularly finds sticks for tips.

Videos:

Clip 1 – Blue Line Control and Quick Pass

Holds the puck at the blue line and executes an immediate, precise pass into the crease area, directly leading to a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dravecky-Blue-Line-Control-Quick-Pass.mp4

Clip 2 - Power Play Setup & Quick Wrist Shot

Calm at the top of the umbrella, looking for a shooting lane, he releases a quick wrist shot that creates chaos in front of the net and ultimately results in a goal for his team.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dravecky-Power-Play-Setup-Quick-Wrist-Shot.mp4

Clip 3 – Defensive Gap / One-on-One

Good stick positioning and mobility helped him to close the gap quickly without overcommitting.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dravecky-gap-control.mp4

2025 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW – The McKeen’s team impressions of key players in the tournament

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:24:29 +0000

The 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup recently concluded with the United States capturing their second gold medal in tournament history, and first since 2003. Sweden took home the silver, while Canada captured the bronze.

This tournament serves as the first major event on the scouting calendar for the 2026 NHL Draft, so we asked some of our scouts to fill out a survey based on what they saw. Here are the results.

QUESTION 1 - Which 2026 eligible player from your region impressed you the most and why?

There’s no question that Ethan Belchetz was one of Canada’s best players. He used his size effectively to play through the middle of the ice and came up with some big plays when he was needed most. But I’m actually going to go with American winger Nikita Klepov who is coming to play in Saginaw this year. He was terrific for the U.S. in a key offensive role. He showed terrific skill from the wing and was assertive in trying to get to the middle of the ice. I was impressed with both his pace and his skill. He could be in for a big year in Saginaw as he looked like one of the most skilled forwards at the event. - Brock Otten

Even though I really liked the game of Samu Alalauri and he was the best defenseman for Finland, the player that really impressed me was Oliver Suvanto. He played a north-south two-way type of game and he was reliable in all three zones. On top of that, I found that he was really moving well for his size and he has a pretty good top speed. Also, I really liked how he used his body to create space for his teammates or himself in the offensive zone, and he was effective on the forecheck to apply pressure and create turnovers. He was also not afraid to attack the middle of the ice and drive the net to retrieve rebounds. As an early comparison/projection, it made me think of an Anton Lundell type of player. - Jeremy Rivet

Marcus Nordmark. He just went nuclear. Showed that he’s a goalscorer’s goalscorer. The quality of his shot is ridiculous, hard and accurate. He gets open with ease, he goes to the net, redirect pucks, it’s all there. Very similar feelings about Elton Hermansson. That guy is a whizz with the puck. Borderline elite on-puck talent. Both struggled on the other side of the puck, however. - Felix Robbins

Blake Zielinski, I was pleasantly surprised with the level of offense he was able to carry over consistently game by game. I saw a very opportunistic forward, taking advantage of many chances given to him. Ben Kevan looked similarly going into his season last year, but I have some confidence after this tournament, that Zielinski won't see a drop off in points like his teammate. - Linc Zdancewicz

Only two players represented the QMJHL, and I thought that Cameron Chartrand was the best between them. He did not look out of place, played with a good pace and took on a big defensive responsibility for Team Canada. - Jérémy Tremblay

Filip Novák proved to be a key piece of the Czech offense throughout the tournament. He combined strong puck skills with smart decision-making, showing he can both finish plays and drive them. His long, powerful stride gave him speed with the puck, while his poise allowed him to slow the game down and control the pace. Dangerous as a shooter from anywhere on the ice and effective without the puck, he showed the tools of a dynamic two-way forward. - Marek Novotny

Defenseman Daniel Kettler - Team GER: The combination of size and attention to detail, even if not always successful, tells me he'll be one to pay close attention to this winter. Forward Fabrice Bouvard - Team SUI: Looked solid and competitive from the beginning before kicking things into overdrive with 1-3-4 in the final two games. - Chapin Landvogt

Axel Elofsson had a great tournament and showed noticeable progress on both offense and defense compared to last season. Last year, he lacked physicality and often struggled in battles along the boards due to his size and weight. In this tournament, I saw improvement in those areas, even if it’s still a challenge for him. - Viktor Åhlund

Mathis Preston. He was consistently Canada's most dangerous offensive player. His ability to turn on a dime, manipulate defenders with his stickhandling, and vision with the puck had him looking like a high first-round level talent. - Felix Sicard

For me, I have to say Mathis Preston here. I already liked him a lot coming into the tournament, and my expectations were high, yet he still managed to exceed them. He's such an incisive goal scorer with the way he can slice through defenders before firing. He always pushed the pace higher and higher for Canada offensively, and he got rewarded for doing so by scoring some big goals. I know he has a lot of history and chemistry with the Ruck twins, but I thought Preston could have been even more effective than he was if he had consistent linemates who matched his skill and pace a little better. - Derek Neumeier

Adam Goljer (Slovakia) - He was the best player on Team Slovakia and the undisputed leader. Goljer is a right-handed two-way defenseman with a decent size at 6-foot-2. He did show the potential - he was confident with the puck, maybe over-confided at times, had great vision, played all the tough minutes and showed some bite to his game as well. Definitely an interesting prospect for the 2026 draft. - Matej Deraj

QUESTION 2 - Which 2026 eligible player from outside of your region impressed you the most and why?

I mean the easy answer would probably be Marcus Nordmark given how consistently dominant he was for Sweden. But he had been a player that I had been familiar with previously and had impressed me then too. The guy who really popped off for me was Finland’s Oliver Suvanto. He was one of the top pivots at the event. He was strong physically. He showed great engagement in all three zones. He was a load to handle with the puck and at the net front. This is a big kid who also happens to be one of the youngest eligible this year. I’ll have my eyes on him the rest of the way. - Brock Otten

For me it was Mathis Preston that impressed me the most outside of Finland. It was the first time that I saw him play and I really liked how dynamic he was offensively but also engaged without the puck. His vision and playmaking ability for me looked clearly above average. Same thing for his speed, agility and explosivity. He scored big goals for Canada as well or made important plays that led to a goal. - Jeremy Rivet

It’s gotta be Jack Hextall. What a gamer he is. By far USA’s most important player of the tournament. The pace and skill and DAWG is off the charts. Should receive first round consideration based on this performance alone, honestly. - Felix Robbins

Elton Hermansson. I have been a fan of his for a long time and I felt that he was far and away Sweden's most impressive player. I know Nordmark and Elofsson had more points and had high flying offense. However, I believed that Hermansson provided that level of offense AND played an important two way game that a lot of other Swedish forwards did not have in this tournament. - Linc Zdancewicz

I didn't know Jack Hextall before the tournament, but I was surprised by his combination of mobility and skills. He is a player to watch for the 2026 NHL draft. - Jérémy Tremblay

I will say Blake Zielinski (USA). He's got a seriously good hockey brain and can see the ice super well, always making smart plays to create scoring chances. His puck-handling is great, letting him keep control and make plays even when he's under pressure. Zielinski can dish it out and bury the puck himself as he's not afraid to finish a play. He was great at finding those open spots on the ice, which leads to scoring chances for him and his teammates. - Marek Novotny

Forward Nikita Klepov - Team USA: At this summer hockey event, I always like to see players with the gumption and wherewithal to push things and put their probably rusty skills on display. Klepov had just the type of panache I love to see in August, even if not everything worked out as planned (or advised?). But he clearly kept opponents on their feet and was among the more entertaining players to watch while contributing to a gold medal. - Chapin Landvogt

Jack Hextall was arguably the best player of the tournament, and in the two games I watched he had the biggest overall impact. He drove the offense with a high level of playmaking and was a constant threat whenever he was on the ice. - Viktor Åhlund

Oliver Suvanto for Finland impressed me the most. His blend of size, skill, and mobility had him looking like a potential first round pick. - Felix Sicard

I loved getting to know Ethan Belchetz a little better at this year's Hlinka. Him leading Canada in scoring is a nice feather in his cap, but it was the ways and times that he chipped in that kept catching my eye. He's built like a polar bear but also has incredibly soft hands, which is an unbelievable combination for any 17-year-old to have. I think there's a lot to like about his smarts and approach to the game as well, which leads me to believe that he'll make enough improvements to his skating and pace (which aren't even bad right now, really) that he will really explode as a prospect in the next few seasons. - Derek Neumeier

Marcus Nordmark (Sweden) - He was the key offensive player from Team Sweden, led the team in scoring. He’s a highly skilled winger with great skating, plays with pace and creates a lot of offense. He’s a smart player and definitely a first round prospect. - Matej Deraj

QUESTION 3 - Which prospect has left you with the most questions about their game following the Hlinka/Gretzky and why?

I’ll give two answers in Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin from Canada’s blueline. This was supposed to be the team’s strength heading into the tournament and the group never seemed to gel. Is that on coaches, players, or both? Ryan Lin was the standout of the camp in Oakville that I attended, and I loved his game at the most recent U18’s as an underager too. My expectations for him at the event were sky high, but I thought that he struggled defensively and wasn’t as assertive with the puck as he could have been. Verhoeff, on the other hand, is someone that I still have a tough time getting a read on. The tools are fantastic. But, I find the application of those tools wildly inconsistent. I would have said that prior to the Hlinka/Gretzky and now I’m even more on the fence. It’ll be very interesting to see how he plays at North Dakota. - Brock Otten

Considering that he is really high rated for the draft, I will go with Keaton Verhoeff. It was my first view of him and I liked his play during the preliminary round. He looked like the best defenseman for Canada during the first three games as he was effective on the breakouts, made the right play most of the time, was poised with the puck and dynamic offensively. Adding to that, his mobility for his size is also really good. However, during the semifinal and the bronze medal game, he wasn’t the most reassuring defenseman for Canada. Twice against the USA he made bad reads in front of his net and was slow to take the opponent's stick or box him out which twice led to a USA goal. He also struggled more on the breakouts especially when put under pressure. His decisions with the puck were not very good either in the final game where he either tried to do too much when the situation required better puck management or he got rid of the puck softly when there was not big pressure on him. So, we will see how he progresses throughout the season and if it was simply a matter of him trying to do too much to try to impress or because his hockey IQ is a bit lower than expected. - Jeremy Rivet

Keaton Verhoeff, maybe. I didn’t really see a player who should be challenging McKenna for 1st overall based on this tourney. Very questionable moments with regards to his hockey sense. Gonna reserve judgement until I see him in the NCAA. - Felix Robbins

I would say Brooks Rogowski, partially because I had high expectations of him due to his size and some of his offensive instincts, he has a much higher hill to climb this season than I first thought. - Linc Zdancewicz

Ethan Belchetz wasn't bad, but I feel he could have done more. His physical tools and skillset are interesting, but also difficult to use at a higher level of hockey. Can he put every piece together this season and finish at the top of the OHL? - Jérémy Tremblay

From two angles I will say Czechia's powerplay and a player I will go with here is David Huk. Czechia's power play was just bad... slow, messy, and no real scoring threat. It killed their momentum a lot. Huk's job was simple: win faceoffs and muscle in around the net. But he didn't use his size well. He lost too many puck battles, looked clumsy and slow, and wasn't intense enough near the goal. He just didn't do enough on the power play and he was supposed to be a key guy there doing the dirty work. - Marek Novotny

Defenseman Keaton Verhoeff - Team CAN: With his profile, this tourney doesn't have to be anything other than a blip on the radar but after three points in an outstanding game against a tough Finnish side to kick things off, we just didn't see him impacting the scoresheet the rest of the way. And he had plenty of opportunities to do so. In light of his status as a possible top three pick in an outstanding draft class, I felt we should have seen more authority and assertiveness from him at this tournament. - Chapin Landvogt

Nils Bartholdsson, He is a player I watched many times last season with Rögle, so my expectations for him were high. He put up some points in this tournament, but I expected a bigger overall impact from him. While he had some strong offensive moments, he lacked consistency throughout the game and had too many giveaways in both the offensive and neutral zones. With that being said, he doesn’t leave me with a lot of questions but I know there is more to ask from him. - Viktor Åhlund

Keaton Verhoeff. It still seems very likely he will be the second name on most boards for the next few months, but his disappointing performance against the USA, notably in his decision-making with the puck, left me wondering about his puck-moving and offensive upside. Plenty of time for him to work it all out, though. - Felix Sicard

Alessandro Di Iorio was obviously one of the bigger names for Canada coming into the event, with his high OHL draft status, successful 16-year-old season, and then winning U18 gold as an underage player. But I didn't really know what to make of him before, and I still don't really know right now. The shot is obviously a weapon. He's not bad with the puck on his stick, either. But in this tournament I thought he was behind the play more often than he drove it, which is always a bit concerning for a supposedly top prospect who doesn't have elite skating or physical play. He's someone that I think I will have to watch a lot this season to properly understand, but not necessarily in a good way. - Derek Neumeier

Keaton Verhoeff (Canada) - He entered the tournament as the favorite for the #2 overall pick, but I must admit I did expect more. He’s still an awesome prospect with great tools, but it wasn’t the best start to his draft season in my opinion. - Matej Deraj

QUESTION 4 - Which 2027 draft eligible player impressed you the most and why?

There were quite a few strong performances from 2027 eligible players, especially later birthdays. But the one that really stood out for me was Noah Davidson from the U.S. Played last year with Shattuck St. Mary’s and is going to Medicine Hat of the WHL this year. His power game was extremely impressive. He moves well for a bigger forward at his age and defenses at this tournament had a really tough time preventing him from getting to the net. Big wingers with pace and skill don’t grow on trees. - Brock Otten

Dima Zhilkin really impressed me as a 2027 draft eligible. He looked better than most of the 2026 eligible. He was creating a lot offensively and was getting big minutes on the powerplay as well. His compete level was constant throughout the tournament, and he made big plays and scored big goals. He was also very good off the puck, and I liked his tenacity in puck battles and on the forecheck. His offensive abilities are already above average too. - Jeremy Rivet

Levi Harper. That kid was a constant threat to score in the offensive zone. Competitive as hell. Really monstrous tournament from him and I look forward to seeing what he does in the OHL. - Felix Robbins

Noah Davidson beyond a shadow of a doubt. Everything that I expected Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll to be, Davidson was and he took advantage of every opportunity given to him. He was relentless, stable on defense, and most of all smart. Big fan of his and can't wait for his draft year. - Linc Zdancewicz

The easy answer is Landon Dupont because he is just awesome, but Dima Zhilkin also deserves some spotlight. He was very useful for Team Canada as a 16-year-old, he played with speed and created a lot of scoring chances. A player to watch for the 2027 NHL draft! - Jérémy Tremblay

Lukas Kachlir 100 %. The youngest player at the Hlinka Gretzky, finished with four points in four games and left a strong impression. He consistently stood out with his hockey sense, mobility, and confidence on the puck. His power-play presence, quick release, and ability to create plays in transition made him a constant threat. Despite his smaller frame, he looked like one of Czechia’s most dynamic and exciting prospects. - Marek Novotny

I'll start by saying that it certainly wasn't the highly touted Max Penkin (GER) or Jonah Neuenschwander (SUI) - both of whom needed them to be contributing already this summer. And normally, I'd be very happy to tip on forward Dima Zhilkin, who was already a go-to player for Canada. But I was really impressed by what we saw from defenseman Levi Harper, who was not only the top 2027 draft eligible in my mind's eye, but one of the tournament's top overall players and a key contributor to a gold medal. - Chapin Landvogt

Levi Harper had a great performance in my view, lethal on the power play and had an overall offensive impact, solid in his own end. - Viktor Åhlund

Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll. His combination of skill, as well as relentless puck pursuit made him an impactful player for the USA. Add in his foot speed, and you have a very intriguing prospect for 2027. - Felix Sicard

Unsurprisingly, I have to say Landon Dupont here. The stats might not suggest it, but I thought he had an excellent tournament for Canada the longer it went on. He did everything offensively but show up on the score sheet. He looked like he was going to be dangerous with every single puck touch, regardless of the zone it happened in. He was confident with the puck, and he always knew the weight of the moment in all of his shifts, increasing his focus and intensity accordingly. It speaks volumes that he played so many minutes in the big games when the Canadian coaches shortened their bench. After how this tournament went for Canada I think he's going to be extra motivated at the next big event he plays at, and opponents will need to watch out. - Derek Neumeier

Oliver Ozogány (Slovakia) - He impressed with four goals in four games, but it’s not only about the production. He did show some promising offensive skills, he has a great shot, moves well and finds great spots to appear in. He also has the size (6-foot-2) and competes well. Another promising player for Slovakia. - Matej Deraj

2025 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP PREVIEW -GROUP B – United States, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany – Slovakian hosts hope for an improved tournament, while Sweden returns with another strong squad

Linc Zdancewicz, Simon Johansson, Matej Deraj, and Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 16:44:03 +0000

GROUP B

United States

By Linc Zdancewicz

The United States Hockey Program has been dominant at the international stage in recent history. However, this prominence has not carried over to the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. The Red, White, and Blue haven’t won the tournament since 2003 and only have a bronze medal to their names in the last seven tournaments. Generally, this is due to the U.S. not bringing the best of their top prospects, often not selecting USNTDP players. Opting for lesser-proven prospects to fill out their roster to stand out. Luckily, this season they have an intriguing crop of prospects who will add firepower to their roster that can hopefully see a top three finish this year.

Looking at the rest of the field, the USA will have their work cut out for them. Staring down the barrel of a tough Swedish team in their own Group B and other teams like Czechia, Finland, and the absolutely loaded Canada squad in their way, America could find it difficult to medal. I predict this squad will at least be on the cusp of a bronze this year. Canada and Sweden are giants like most years, but I believe they can remain competitive with Finland and Czechia for that elusive third place finish.

Key Players:

Brooks Rogowski - C - Oshawa Generals (2026)

Bringing by far the most size in this group is Brooks Rogowoski, standing at 6-foot-6. Rogowski started looking like a problem for opposing OHL squads at the end of last year. His size is emphasized by a great skating ability, and solid compete level. Along with those traits, his anticipation was displayed quite well in his back checks and his positioning in the offensive zone for Oshawa this past season. He still needs to fine-tune his stick handling to better take advantage of some of his creativity with the puck, but, overall, Rogowski will most likely prove to be an effective power forward for the Americans in this tournament, who can produce points as well. He is currently committed to Michigan State for 2027-28.

Jack Hextall - C - Youngstown Phantoms (2026)

Moving to yet another Michigan State Commit, Jack Hextall showed off his patented skill and playmaking ability regularly this past season for Youngstown. Though I wouldn’t call his skating outstanding, his edgework allows him to change direction quickly and add serious pressure to opposing defenses. His marvelous stickhandling and playmaking strengths should help him out in the Hlinka Gretzky and in the USHL this upcoming season. Combine all of his strengths with his power play usage, and he can be a very effective performer in this tournament.

Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll - F - Medicine Hat Tigers (2027)

Electricity is personified by Utah-native and assistant captain, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll. His high energy is evident in every viewing. Though his draft year isn’t until 2027, Gordon-Carroll’s skills and overall game are at an advanced level for a 16-year-old. His creativity with the puck and his skating were crucial aspects in keeping plays alive for Medicine Hat this past season. Gordon-Carroll is going to be a must-watch player in the offensive zone. Defensively, he has all the energy to be an X-factor, stepping up on neutral zone opponents and tilting the ice in his favor. His mix of smart, responsible hockey and confidence with the puck could prove that America’s youngest player is also their most impactful.

Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu - D - Edmonton Oil Kings (2026)

The size of your blueline is becoming more and more important, so it should be no surprise that the son of a former NFL offensive lineman is a physical monster on the back end. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 220 pounds, Ta’amu is a hard defenseman to get past on rushes. Showcasing his strengths from his past year in Edmonton in the WHL, he is adept along the wall and especially on retrievals, he will make opposing teams have to work to maintain an offensive zone chance. Even though he is still a very raw prospect, Ta’amu will have every chance to emerge as a solid, reliable defensive defenseman this tournament.

Nikita Klepov - Forward - Saginaw Spirit (2026)

Florida-born Russian American, Nikita Klepov, is an opportunistic forward who should not be left alone in space. While playing in a reduced role for Sioux City last season, he buried 12 goals and should get more ice time with a Saginaw Spirit team that has lost much talent. Klepov should be a great mix of playmaking and goal scoring that should make the U.S.’s forward depth even more potent. Though his skating speed and small frame are not doing him any favors, Klepov makes plays regardless. Overall, Klepov is a sneaky offensive talent, and he’ll score a back-breaking goal when his opponents least expect it.

Blake Zielinski - Forward - Des Moines Buccaneers (2026)

After starting with the New Jersey Avalanche, Blake Zielinski became one of the most valuable players for the Des Moines Buccaneers last season. His combination of relentless compete, solid stick talent, and rocket of a shot makes him a serious offensive weapon for the Americans in this tournament. Some drawbacks that will hurt him are his skating speed and the occasional habit of panicking when pressured. Overall, Zielinski is an intriguing offensive threat to add to any line and will work very hard to keep the offensive momentum on his team’s side.

Will McLaughlin - Defense - Portland Winterhawks (2026)

Another dual citizen on this team is Will McLaughlin, who hails from Canmore, Alberta. McLaughlin showed a ton of skill and two-way prowess in the AJHL with Drumheller last season and should surprise many this upcoming season for the Portland Winterhawks. The Hlinka Gretzky will be the first time that many see how potent a distributor he is from the blueline. Add in his solid skating ability and tendency to join the rush, and you’ll have many more leave this tournament as a fan of his. Though I remain optimistic, the Hlinka-Gretzky will be a proving ground of sorts for McLaughlin, so keep your expectations tempered.

Sweden

By Simon Johansson

Last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup for team Sweden looked great, with players like Sascha Boumedienne, Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Milton Gästrin, and Eric Nilson all going pretty high in the 2025 Draft. This year’s no different. While the top end talent like Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck will not be attending, there’s still plenty of talent to be excited about. The backend is still a bit weak just like last year, though guys like Axel Elofsson and Malte Gustafsson have the upside to be able to crack into the first round. But you also have forwards like Elton Hermansson and Marcus Nordmark that bring exciting offensive tools, who should be able to get plenty of ice time in the top six. You even have Bosse Meijer participating who is a high-end prospect for the 2027 draft that, despite his young age, should still be able to make a stamp on this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Key Players:

Axel Elofsson Photo: Andreas Sandström / BILDBYRÅN

Axel Elofsson - Defense - Örebro HK U20 (2026)

Most likely the defenseman with the highest offensive upside for a Swedish born player this draft, Axel Elofsson has a ton of similarities to Axel Sandin-Pelikka. Almost being point per game, Elofsson brings plus tools in skating and offense creation. He uses his crossovers well to evade forecheckers and thanks to his edgework he’s also able to open up lanes by dancing on the blueline. Size is going to be his biggest concern but already growing an inch from last year there is hope that he could add that size and remove the doubts from NHL teams.

Malte Gustafsson - Defense - HV71 U20 (2026)

Malte Gustafsson has plenty of tangible toolsets that would make NHL teams foam at the mouth. His 6-foot-4 frame, skating ability, hockey IQ, and offensive skill are hugely impactful traits in today’s modern NHL. He compares to Sascha Boumedienne when it comes to the tools, but Gustafsson is also very raw, so it is hard to say what kind of ceiling he has. As a June birthday as well, he will most likely stay with his U20 team in HV71 and continue honing his craft.

Nils Bartholdsson - Forward - Rögle BK U20 (2026)

The small energy forward Nils Bartholdsson will be looking to make an impact at the Hlinka to raise his stock. Almost clipping a point per game with his Rögle U20 and possessing a high motor type of game, he should be a very intriguing prospect. Despite his smaller size, he’s still strong on his skates and utilizes his low center of gravity well. However, the NHL is leaning towards a taller preference and even though Bartholdsson has first round talent, he’ll really have to sell his game to NHL scouts if he wants to get there.

Elton Hermansson - Wing - MoDo Hockey U20 (2026)

Coming into this year’s draft, Elton Hermansson has one of the best shots of any Swedish prospect. Maybe not the same caliber as Anton Frondell but Hermansson’s wristshot is a definite threat. Scoring 17 goals and 19 assists, he can also be a dual threat on the ice. He’ll drive play and will find his teammates in scoring areas thanks to his great vision, recognizing their open space and making accurate passes. Hermansson will be switching clubs this season from Örebro to MoDo, back to where he grew up and will get into a more comfortable environment.

Oscar Holmertz - Center - Linköping HC U20 (2026)

One of the better defensive prospects in this tournament for team Sweden, despite being a forward, is Oscar Holmertz. Besides producing at a good pace with his Linköping U20, he possesses a mature, good two-way game at a very young age. How translatable his offense is going to be is a question, but there’s no doubt about what you will get from him in his own end. He’s responsible at center, plays a supporting role to his defensemen and is positionally sound. If Oscar continues his offensive production, he could end up as one of the better two-way prospects for the 2026 Draft.

Bosse Meijer - Center - Frölunda HC U20 (2027)

A personal favourite of mine in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is Bosse Meijer, the next Gabriel Landeskog. Tenacious forechecker, defensively sound, and a good overall offensive game, Meijer is one of the few players that was invited to the team but not eligible for this year’s draft. He’s a center at heart but since the size might be an issue at only 5-foot-10 he might need to make the switch to wing. Though physicality is not an issue for him as despite him being younger and smaller than most of his opponents he rarely gets knocked off the puck and is not afraid to lay the body.

Marcus Nordmark - Wing - Djurgårdens IF U20 (2026)

Marcus Nordmark is a big winger that has the potential to be a future dual threat, power forward at the NHL level. He has solid vision to find open passing lanes, pushes the play towards the middle of the ice, and fancies wrist shots from those spots. His skating is below average, but thanks to his good hockey IQ, it may not be an issue in the future. In all likelihood Nordmark will be spending his time with the junior club and will try to be one of the leading scorers for his team.

Slovakia

By Matej Deraj

The tournament returns to Slovakia after two years, and the home team is aiming for a stronger result. The last time it was held in Trenčín, things didn’t go well for Martin Dendis’s squad. Slovakia lost all its games, even the final placement match against Germany, and finished in last place. This time, they’re hoping for a more successful run.

Last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup was an improvement. Slovakia almost pulled off an upset against Sweden in the opening game, falling 4-3 in overtime. They followed up with a 3–2 OT win over Switzerland and put up a respectable fight against Canada, despite a 5-1 loss. In the placement game, Slovakia defeated Germany 5–2 and finished in fifth place.

A similar result seems like a reasonable goal for this year’s Slovak team. They’ll benefit from home-ice advantage and the support from the stands, which should give them a moral boost. The first group stage match against the United States will determine their tournament. If Slovakia manages to win, they’ll have a solid chance to reach the semifinals. The last time Slovakia advanced to the final four was in 2021, when the juggernaut of a team led by Juraj Slafkovský, Šimon Nemec and Dalibor Dvorský took silver.

This year’s squad appears stronger than the 2023 team, which relied on underagers. On the other hand, the 2008 age group mostly lacks the experience from international U18 tournaments and many players will meet this level of pace for the first time, which will be a true challenge for Team Slovakia.

Goaltender Samuel Hrenák is expected to be a reliable No. 1 option. He’s a legit prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft and part of Slovakia’s promising new wave of goalies. Defenseman Adam Goljer (2026) brings poise and experience, while forward Timothy Kazda (2027) adds offensive skill. Both played at last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The forward group looks solid, including talented prospects like Matej Stankoven, Lucian Bernát, Michal Plančár, and underager Oliver Ozogány. However, the defensive group looks less mobile and more on the heavier side, which could lead to problems against better-skating opponents. Still, on paper, this Slovak squad has the potential to contend for a semifinal spot.

Key Players:

Timothy Kazda – LW/RW - Chicago Steel (2027)

Kazda has already played at last year's tournament and even scored a goal, which is an unusual feat for a 15-year-old. This year, he´ll be one of the most experienced players and an offensive leader. Kazda is a dynamic offensive forward with great hands, decent size at 6-foot-1 and also some bite to his game. He's a great scorer and fights for every puck. Overall, a very likeable prospect with some translatable traits – an interesting name for the 2027 draft. He´s already made his USHL debut and should spend the next season there.

Adam Goljer - RHD - HK Dukla Trencin (2026)

Goljer is probably the best 2008-born Slovak prospect who's eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. He´s a calm two-way defenseman who has a lot of traits NHL teams love – he´s already 6-foot-3 and almost 200 pounds, right-handed, and a decent skater with some physicality to his game. He doesn´t stand out with his offensive skills or demolishing hits, but can grow into a reliable shutdown D. He should spend the next season with Trenčín in Slovak top tier league.

Samuel Hrenák – G - Team Slovakia U18/Fargo Force (2026)

Hrenák is the expected Goalie No. 1 for Team Slovakia, he´s already played some games with the U18 National Team and even made his U18 World Juniors debut at the last tournament. He has decent size (6-foot-3), he´s talented, quick and mobile. Still needs to work on his technique but he´s definitely very promising. Should be the backbone of the Slovak team if they want to achieve a successful result. He should follow the same path as Detroit´s third rounder Michal Prádel (2025) – to start the season with the U18 National Team in Slovak second division and then move to the USHL.

Matej Stankoven – C - Brampton Steelheads (2026)

Stankoven, a distant relative of Carolina Hurricanes´ forward Logan Stankoven, should be one of the key offensive creators for Team Slovakia. He's a quick forward with a decent hockey sense who plays a responsible two-way game. He was drafted by the Brampton Steelheads in the CHL Import Draft and is expected to start the season in the OHL. If he can translate his game to the North American ice, he could be on NHL teams´ radars as an intriguing pick for the 2026 draft.

Michal Plančár – LW/RW - SaiPa U20 (2026)

Plančár has already played some games in the Slovak top tier league and managed to score a goal at the age of fifteen, making him one of the youngest players in the league´s history to do so. He´s a typical power forward with a solid frame (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) who loves to finish his checks and destroy the opponents. He's mean and strong but also has legitimate skill and could be a decent draft prospect. He needs to score on a regular basis in the Finnish U20 league to have a shot in the draft but could gain a lot of attention due to his style of play.

Germany

By Chapin Landvogt

Team Germany enters the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup coming off its best U18 Worlds performance of this century. A quarterfinals thriller against Team Slovakia saw the Germans bow out in the quarterfinals by a one-goal margin and the opportunity to push the game to overtime was certainly there. A few of those young men are scheduled to be at the HG Cup but the new wave of players joining them hasn’t enjoyed the same hype as the previous group, which itself saw just three players selected in this past summer’s draft, namely Maxim Schäfer, David Lewandowski, and Carlos Händel, in that order.

New head coach Andreas Becherer will be guiding this team for the first time and with little preparation before the event, the truth is that Germany will likely have major problems achieving anything resembling on-ice success at the eight-team event. Instead, a few players here or there will be making their way into the notebooks of scouts (or not) while Becherer starts an arduous journey to his first time at the helm of the squad for the U18 Worlds next spring. In this first step, we hope to get a feel for what goaltending we’re looking at this winter and if any defensemen not named Rolsing or Pizka can make a positive impression. Up front, we’re expecting little from this group now, but are curious to see if underagers Max Penkin and Jonas Schwarz are already the best of the bunch.

All in all, you’ll not see us surprised if Team Germany manages to score just five or fewer goals at the tournament. It will be an invaluable experience for this group, one way or the other, but leaving any team behind them in the standings will be a big accomplishment in and of itself

Key Players:

Tobias Krestan - RW - HV71 U20 (2026)

A good-sized winger, Krestan has been with the HV71 youth program for ywo years running and checked in with over a PPG pace at the U18 level last season. The son of a Czech forward who enjoyed many years in a scoring role in predominantly Germany’s second league (and who now coaches the RB Juniors U15 squad), Krestan has been showing similar offensive tendencies, even if overall strength is lacking and skating will need to improve. He’s got an uncoordinated look to him, but there’s a nose for the net and some tricky mitts here.

Max Penkin - C - Adler Mannheim (2027)

Already one of the more impressive players for Germany in a limited role at the 2018 Worlds, he is the biggest name on Germany’s prospect front in the near future. No reason to think he won’t already be a go-to player in a top six capacity as he uses this tournament to get ready for Mannheim’s DEL camp. Strong skater and something of a shorthanded specialist.

Aurelius Pizka - LHD - Jokerit U18/U20 (2026)

Aside from Rolsing, Pizka is clearly the most talented defenseman in this year’s group and has been developing with the Täby program for the past two seasons. After this tournament, he should be heading to Finland for his next stop, with play in their Finnish U20 league looking likely. Lacks size but has gumption and smarts.

Darian Rolsing - RHD - Wenatchee Wild (2026)

Before he heads off to join Wenatchee for the upcoming WHL season, Rolsing will take his experience from the U18 Worlds, where the RHD gained more and more ice time, and add it to Germany’s efforts as the 6-foot-6 player who’ll surely have his hands full helping to keep pucks out of the net. This is the start of a big year for the top German prospect for next summer’s draft.

Brooks Rogowski – McKeen's Hockey

2026 NHL DRAFT: DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT – Brooks Rogowski, C/W, Oshawa Generals

Skating

Shot

Skills

Smarts

Physicality/Compete

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

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

2026 NHL DRAFT: PRE-WJC TOP 32 DRAFT RANKINGS

2026 NHL Draft: McKeen’s Early Season Favourites – ONTARIO PART TWO – Jean-Christoph Lemieux, Caleb Malhotra, Brooks Rogowski, Jaxon Cover, Ethan Belchetz, Vladimír Dravecký Jr.

Liam Staples - Ontario Regional Scout

Jean-Christoph Lemieux

Center - Windsor Spitfires

5-foot-11, 176 pounds

Kaeden Ireland - Ontario Regional Scout

Caleb Malhotra

Center - Brantford Bulldogs

6-foot-0, 170 pounds

Brooks Rogowski

Center - Oshawa Generals

6-foot-6, 227 pounds

Jaxon Cover

Left Wing - London Knights

6-foot-2, 174 pounds

Felix Sicard - North American Video Scout

Ethan Belchetz

Wing - Windsor Spitfires

6-foot-5, 228 pounds

Marek Novotny - Central Europe Regional Scout

Vladimír Dravecký Jr. Defense – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) 6-foot-0, 187 pounds

2025 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW – The McKeen’s team impressions of key players in the tournament

QUESTION 1 - Which 2026 eligible player from your region impressed you the most and why?

QUESTION 2 - Which 2026 eligible player from outside of your region impressed you the most and why?

QUESTION 3 - Which prospect has left you with the most questions about their game following the Hlinka/Gretzky and why?

QUESTION 4 - Which 2027 draft eligible player impressed you the most and why?

2025 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP PREVIEW -GROUP B – United States, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany – Slovakian hosts hope for an improved tournament, while Sweden returns with another strong squad

GROUP B

United States

Key Players:

Brooks Rogowski - C - Oshawa Generals (2026)

Jack Hextall - C - Youngstown Phantoms (2026)

Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll - F - Medicine Hat Tigers (2027)

Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu - D - Edmonton Oil Kings (2026)

Nikita Klepov - Forward - Saginaw Spirit (2026)

Blake Zielinski - Forward - Des Moines Buccaneers (2026)

Will McLaughlin - Defense - Portland Winterhawks (2026)

Sweden

Key Players:

Axel Elofsson - Defense - Örebro HK U20 (2026)

Malte Gustafsson - Defense - HV71 U20 (2026)

Nils Bartholdsson - Forward - Rögle BK U20 (2026)

Elton Hermansson - Wing - MoDo Hockey U20 (2026)

Oscar Holmertz - Center - Linköping HC U20 (2026)

Bosse Meijer - Center - Frölunda HC U20 (2027)

Marcus Nordmark - Wing - Djurgårdens IF U20 (2026)

Slovakia

Key Players:

Timothy Kazda – LW/RW - Chicago Steel (2027)

Adam Goljer - RHD - HK Dukla Trencin (2026)

Samuel Hrenák – G - Team Slovakia U18/Fargo Force (2026)

Matej Stankoven – C - Brampton Steelheads (2026)

Michal Plančár – LW/RW - SaiPa U20 (2026)

Germany

Key Players:

Tobias Krestan - RW - HV71 U20 (2026)

Max Penkin - C - Adler Mannheim (2027)

Aurelius Pizka - LHD - Jokerit U18/U20 (2026)

Darian Rolsing - RHD - Wenatchee Wild (2026)

Vladimír Dravecký Jr.
Defense – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
6-foot-0, 187 pounds