Nikita Klepov – McKeen's Hockey

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

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

Caleb Malhotra

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caleb Malhotra

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

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

2026 NHL DRAFT: DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT – Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Kaeden Ireland — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:32:35 +0000

Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Nikita Klepov

2026 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: F, Shoots: L

H/W: 6-foot-0 / 181 pounds

Date of Birth: June 27th, 2008

Nikita Klepov’s Saginaw Spirit have had a rough year, winning just 26 of their 68 regular-season games and drawing the powerhouse Kitchener Rangers in the first round. However, that hasn’t stopped the Florida native from lining his trophy case with a wealth of accomplishments, including three Rookie of the Month honours, the Saginaw Spirit Rookie Points Record, and the Eddie Powers and Jim Mahon memorial trophies as top scorer and top scorer at right wing, respectively. He also put on a show at the OHL Top Prospects game, earning MVP honours for his goal and two assists.

Klepov is an extremely intelligent forward who, while not the most physically impressive, remains a competitor who picks off passes at a high rate, playing excellent positional defense with his stick and body. However, the highlight of Klepov’s game lies in his ability to create offense. He has great hands in small spaces to help him escape even the most bleak coffin corner traps, a shot with juice, and creative passing abilities with the skill to guide pucks around defenders.

His main weaknesses stem from his physical traits; Klepov is relatively undersized at 6'0 and is easily knocked off the puck. Klepov almost never delivers hard hits, opting to tie up opponents, although to his credit doesn’t back down from a physical battle even though he often ends up on his rear. Nikita lacks the leg strength to explode into his next gear, failing to create separation on the rush. While this assessment is harsh, a major point of context that can’t be missed is his commitment to Michigan State University next year. MSU has one of, if not the most, renowned fitness programs in North America. I don’t see him developing a killer instinct to finish his hits hard, but improving his stability and ability to reflect pressure could do wonders for his game.

Perhaps Klepov’s most impressive effort of the season came in game three against the Kitchener Rangers these playoffs. He played hard during his entire 30 minutes of ice time and showed improvements in playing with intensity while gassed. He relentlessly pursued loose pucks, won possession back for his team, and generated chances with his silky mitts. Through this report, I primarily used video from his first three playoff games and his Top Prospect Game performance to highlight his most important games.

Klepov projects to be selected somewhere in the top 25 of this year’s draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was somewhere near the 13-16 range. His strong production, intelligent two-way game, and solid compete, plus his commitment to a college hockey powerhouse, will appeal to many NHL GMs.

I believe it’s most likely that Klepov becomes a middle-six scorer at the next level who can kill penalties and play top power play depending on the talent of his team. His smarts and skill give him some upside, while the nature of his defensive game and solid compete will earn him coaches’ trust as he progresses up to the NHL.

Skating

Klepov’s skating is by no means high-end, but it’s also good enough to facilitate his style of play. He struggles to create separation on the rush and doesn’t have an elite second gear to his speed. I don’t see Nikita as a particularly athletic skater, but he compensates by using his hands and timing to beat defenders. A positive element of his skating is his edgework as he implements sharp cutbacks to create space and often stops on a dime to fire cross ice passes. On the forecheck, Klepov keeps his feet moving constantly, hunting down the puck.

His straight-line speed is decent and can help him win battles on the backcheck, provided he has a few steps buffer, but there’s no pop to his skating that allows him to break free after executing a deke when defenders are already in stride. Where he can create separation with his feet is in the offensive zone. After making a body fake, Klepov uses his quick acceleration to get downhill and attack shooting lanes. He’s very aware of his skating strengths and weaknesses and works his game around his skill set.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating1.mp4

Here, Klepov gets his feet going and builds up to speed quickly in space.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating2.mp4

Klepov’s edges allow him to execute his creative ideas and open up passing lanes. He loves working laterally.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating3.mp4

In this clip, Nikita recognizes his teammate is calling for the puck and uses a tight spin move to evade the initial defender. The pass, however, was ill-advised and pre-planned without checking to see if a defender was poaching in the slot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating4.mp4

Klepov uses his feet to complete a zone entry in this clip by turning up the pace and then establishing a give-and-go with fellow 2026 draft prospect Egor Barabanov.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating5.mp4

This isn’t a play you see too frequently from Klepov, but his acceleration to get in clean to the net is nice.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating6.mp4

While this is a race Klepov is disadvantaged in, players with high-end skating likely turn this into at least a more competitive race, if not a breakaway.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkating7.mp4

Good idea here to open a passing lane down to the side of the net with his edges; unfortunately, there’s nobody there.

Grade: 52.5

Shot

Nikita’s shot has earned him victory in the 2026 draft-eligible scoring race, and it’s easy to see why. His quick-release wrister is dangerous to OHL goaltenders, and his one-timer is pretty powerful, generating a good amount of rebounds. He did struggle to get the one-timer on net in the late stages of the year, particularly through Saginaw’s first few playoff games, but as a whole, it’s an asset to his game.

He finds dangerous lanes and exploits weak spots on the powerpay to rifle off a high volume of shots. He is comfortable timing strikes to the slot to receive one-timer opportunities as well as teeing up from the wall.

In tight, Klepov gets his wrister off quickly and can use his quick hands to open up opportunities for himself. He targets lower sections of the net more often than many other prospects I’ve seen this year and tries to beat goalies with cross-crease movement.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot1.mp4

Klepov sends this one-timer far too high but sets up well and gets juice on it.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot2.mp4

Klepov takes advantage of a screen by bouncing in and out of 3 different shooting opportunities before missing the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot3.mp4

Here, he unloads his one-timer off a power play setup.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot4.mp4

Almost identical to the previous clip, Klepov sets up well and buries the one-timer through the Kitchener netminder.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot5.mp4

He gathers this puck and fires with haste, getting good elevation and leaving the goalie no chance to make a play on this grade A chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovShot6.mp4

Gorgeous rip across the grain to pick his spot upstairs, a good example of his use of lateral movement.

Grade: 55

Skills

Klepov’s hands are likely his strongest trait. They sustain the rest of his offensive game, opening windows for him to strike. His pass delivery and execution are perhaps the best among OHL draft-eligible forwards. The touch he can put on the puck facilitates a much quicker offense by putting pucks cleanly on the sticks of teammates in motion.

Klepov loves to play the lateral game, utilizing the cutback very frequently. He excels at getting defenders to commit to a space before cutting back across and driving past them. Even in how he approaches forechecks, Klepov uses an element of lateral deception when defenders try to play the body on him. While he does like to slow the game down, he can also think and act fast to speed it up. This versatility makes me more comfortable in my projection of the Russian American.

In small spaces, Klepov is able to sneak away with pucks using crafty dekes. He always has an escape option pre-loaded and a subsequent pass ready to go. However, when defenders use their bodies to apply pressure or lean on him, his ability to maintain control diminishes as he struggles to win battles that require physical strength.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills1.mp4

Strong finish on the breakaway. Nikita makes it look easy with a backhand finish.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills2.mp4

Klepov can’t hold off defenders with physicality, so he uses slippery skill moves like this to create distance. His stutter-step has left many OHL defenders in the dust over this past season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills3.mp4

Simple play here. Klepov uses his hands to get around the forechecker and continues the play with a give-and-go. He’s very fluid when executing a deke, often making his next move as soon as he completes it.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills4.mp4

Here, Klepov shows off an Isaiah Thomas-esque half-spin deke to get open. Great finish with a well-placed wrister.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills5.mp4

After an intelligent stick lift to gain possession, Klepov dazzles with some quick hands before firing a pass that ends up being a hair off. He excels in getting pucks off the wall and into dangerous positions.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSkills6.mp4

Saving the best for last with this one: Klepov turns sharply to hold the line and uses his hands to find a lane. At one point, he draws in three different Rangers players before getting the pass off at the last second. His high-end hands allow him to execute deceptive and creative plays. Most notably, if there’s one area of play that’s improved over the year, it’s his dynamism.

Grade: 57.5

Smarts

Klepov’s internal map of the ice is a key factor in why he’s able to generate so many chances. By keeping his feet active and setting up his shot, he finds success both on the power play and even strength. In a more conservative sense, he also positions himself as a reliable outlet when his teammates are under pressure. He frequently puts himself in optimal positions not only to receive passes, but also to set up another play after the reception. A drawback in his on-puck smarts is his tendency to force plays after beating the first defender, he often makes a nice move to open a passing option, only to miss the secondary defender

In his own end, Klepov’s intelligence is a tremendous asset. He reads the puck carrier's intentions almost flawlessly and uses his active stick to predict the point of release for passes and shots. Although he’s not the rangiest guy, it’s noticeably difficult to get a pass off when he’s in coverage. Additionally, Nikita intelligently rotates around the defensive zone to take away the biggest threats and break up passes while keeping an eye on the puck.

The most notable example of Nikita’s high-level intelligence is his ability to step up and pick off passes in transition. Opposing defenseman beware, Klepov jumps routes like an NFL DB, regularly turning plays back up ice for odd man rushes.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSmarts1.mp4

Klepov has to recognize that this lane isn’t there, even if he tries to shift the initial defender off his spot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSmarts2.mp4

Klepov again succeeds at drawing in defenders before kicking out the pass to Barabanov for a breakaway at the last second.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSmarts3.mp4

I would like to see a bit more patience in this scenario; blindly throwing the pass back into traffic is not his best play here.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSmarts4.mp4

Nikita’s recognition of how to complete cross-crease passes through one defender is elite. He regularly can beat defenders under the stick or by drawing a poke check first.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovSmarts5.mp4

Klepov makes this play very frequently. He waits for the defender to load up for a pass and springs to get the takeaway. He creates a good number of chances going the other way after interceptions.

Grade: 55

Physicality/Compete

Klepov is an above-average competitor and is among the top OHL forwards in terms of takeaways per game. He pesters opponents by setting a wide base and keeps his stick active to break up escape passes. He frequently pins opponents along the boards but rarely opts for violent hits. Klepov plays well both above and below the hashes, challenging the point with his quick feet. He supports his teammates well in the slot, working hard to mirror opponents' strides, sticking to them like glue. He doesn’t have the ‘kill instinct’, skating, or physicality to force turnovers to the degree he does now at the next level, but he should be an above-average contributor on defense.

With the puck, his lack of high-end athleticism doesn’t allow him to create separation, and what concerns me further are his troubles maintaining pressure while being leaned on and contacted. He can play at a slower pace of play, and his ability to get quick passes off mitigates this weakness partially.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovPhys1.mp4

Good effort here to win inside position and get back in time to stop a breakaway.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovPhys2.mp4

Klepov gets on opponents quickly, and here finishes a check, a rare occurrence.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovPhys3.mp4

He closes off space with speed, setting up a takeaway which he then turns into an offensive zone possession.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovPhys4.mp4

Here, Klepov takes a little shot up high and then returns the favor with a reverse hit.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/KlepovPhys5.mp4

Strong solo effort to make things happen in the offensive zone, he follows up on his misses to earn possession for his team.

Grade: 50

OFP: 54.125

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 ONE – Maksim Sokolovskii, Thomas Vandenberg, Cole Emerton, Beckham Edwards, Nikita Klepov, Pierce Mbuyi, Chase Reid

Brock Otten, Kyle Watson, Jamison Derksen, Liam Staples — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:31:36 +0000

Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds. 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 ONE

Brock Otten - Director of Scouting

Maksim Sokolovskii

Defense - London Knights

6-foot-8, 235 pounds

This is a player that NHL scouts are definitely keeping tabs on early on this season. The London Knights plucked him out of AAA hockey in the U.S. (Atlantic Coast Academy out of Massachusetts) in the Import Draft and they appear to have found a real diamond in the rough.

Sokolovskii is massive, however, what’s most impressive is that he’s a solid skater for someone his size who hasn’t played at an extremely high level previously. He has a pretty fluid and balanced stride and he chews up ground extremely efficiently because of his length. He’s leading the rush out of the defensive end. He’s closing gaps quickly and recovering well. Last season, Simon Wang drew a ton of interest early on in the year because of his raw athleticism at his size and Sokolovskii has similar qualities.

A few other components of his game have really impressed me too. The first would be his composure with the puck in the defensive end for a defender who’s making a pretty big jump to the OHL this season. He’s been patient under pressure, reversing play when needed, using his feet when needed, and executing his exits. It hasn’t been perfect. There have been mistakes. But, the important thing is that he has shown that he can execute with the puck in his own end and with more experience at this level, the decision making should become more consistent. The second would be his tremendous physical impact. Obviously Sokolovskii has a massive physical advantage, but he’s using it effectively. His hits are punishing and he’s been a pretty intimidating defensive presence thus far.

What’s the upside here? Ultimately, that’s the question that will need answering as we see him play more throughout the year and monitor his progress. Ice time and responsibility will be a big barrier here given London’s depth. The first few games of the year he was seeing big minutes, but as the Knights have gotten defenders back from pro camps, he’s actually found himself rotating between the third pairing and the press box. This is just a numbers game and not reflective of his play, at least from what I’ve seen. Dale Hunter is notorious for bringing younger players along slowly, so I’d suspect that his ice time will slowly increase as the season moves along if he continues to perform well when inserted in the lineup.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-maksim_sokolovsky_-_2nd_period_24_27_-_24_45.mp4

Great pass by Sokolovskii to spring fellow 2026 potential draft selection Jaxon Cover for the goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-maksim_sokolovsky_-_2nd_period_2_48_-_3_3.mp4

A glimpse of Sokolovskii’s movement capabilities and the impact he can have on the transition game.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-maksim_sokolovsky_-_2nd_period_25_43_-_25_55.mp4

This is a really strong play with the puck in the defensive end. He drives through the two Attack forecheckers, but reverses when his exit is closed off. He then holds on long enough to let the passing lane open up and the Knights get out of their end, nearly earning a breakaway.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-maksim_sokolovsky_-_1st_period_7_10_-_7_22.mp4

Sokolovskii successfully defends a net drive and then completely eliminates the Flint attacker. He’s been making his presence felt physically pretty consistently. As he gains further confidence and experience, the sky is the limit in this regard given his size advantage.

Thomas Vandenberg

Center - Ottawa 67’s

6-foot-0, 180 pounds

Vandenberg has been a perfect example of how the new NCAA eligibility rules have helped the OHL usher in new talent that they would have otherwise not seen. He played last year with Cedar Rapids of the USHL and has a commitment to Providence College. Will he play only this year in the OHL before moving to the Friars? That remains to be seen. But he’s been a real workhorse for the 67’s early on, who started hot, but have cooled in recent weeks.

Vandenberg is the kind of pivot that you could describe as being that aforementioned workhorse. He’s been equally effective on both sides of the puck. He plays in all situations. He’s winning key faceoffs. He’s been operating as the team’s number one center. He brings a physical element and plays that power game despite not being a hulking forward. While it’s still pretty early to put a cap on his upside, it’s easy to see him developing into the kind of NHL player who could play through the middle of your lineup for a decade.

Outside of his well-rounded and detail oriented game, Vandenberg’s quickness is impressive. He generates power quickly in his stride and it allows him to build speed quickly. This makes him very dangerous in transition and highly effective in puck pursuit. While his top speed is best described as slightly above average (sustaining speed will be a training focal point), his quick strike ability has been noticeable.

Another thing worth mentioning is that Vandenberg has an early September birth date, making him one of the youngest players available this year. He has some runway to grow and improve physically, which is going to be very enticing to NHL scouts come next June.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-thomas_vandenberg_-_1st_period_9_43_-_10_0.mp4

A fine example of Vandenberg’s quick strike ability. He fights through a check, gets to the middle, and rifles a puck to the back of the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-thomas_vandenberg_-_2nd_period_3_13_-_3_25.mp4

If you’ve got the volume on, ignore the commentator. That’s Vandenberg who explodes into the offensive zone and sets up the 67’s goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-thomas_vandenberg_-_1st_period_9_24_-_9_41.mp4

A couple of examples of Vandenberg’s physical nature; a big reverse hit and an example of him finishing his check in puck pursuit. Obviously, the 67’s get scored on in the initial clip, but only because Vandenberg gets high sticked on his way to defending the net front.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-thomas_vandenberg.mp4

A couple of strong defensive plays by Vandenberg. He’s been an asset in the defensive zone for the 67’s.

Cole Emerton

Defense - Barrie Colts

5-foot-11, 170 pounds

A former standout defender for the Vaughan Kings of the GTHL, Emerton was a key cog in their OHL Cup run a few years ago (along with the likes of Alessandro Di Iorio and Caleb Malhotra). Last year, Emerton played in the OJHL with Toronto, where his 10 goals led all U17 defenders in goal scoring. This season, the expectation was that Emerton would crack the Barrie lineup, but how much ice time he received was up in the air. It’s no longer up in the air, as with his strong play he has forced Barrie’s hand to play him…and play him a ton. He’s been seeing well over 20 minutes per game in all situations and has been a real bright spot for a Barrie team fighting consistency issues thus far.

While he’s on the smaller end of the average sized defender scale, Emerton has been very effective at both ends. A lot of that has to do with his mobility and skating ability. His four-way movement is smooth, and his transitions are effortless. He builds power off his edges, and he can escape pressure at the OHL level with his ability to quickly change direction. He’s been a factor offensively with his ability to kickstart the breakout, either with his feet or a pass. He’s been efficient defensively because of how he keeps the attack in front of him and maintains gaps. Similar to other average sized defenders like Olen Zellweger and Luca Cagnoni, there could be room for improvement regarding his explosiveness thanks to some shorter, choppier strides pushing forwards, but there’s no denying the fluidity of his four-way movement and transitional skating.

As is the case with a defender now considered on the “smaller side of things,” the key for Emerton will be proving that he has considerable offensive upside for the NHL level. He’s been playing alongside Kashawn Aitcheson on the Colts’ top powerplay unit. However, it will be interesting to see if he can continue to gain confidence in his ability to be a rush attacker who can consistently create in transition. His shot has been a weapon at lower levels, but can he gain confidence in it at the OHL level and work to get himself scoring opportunities and open looks?

Additionally, NHL scouts are going to be looking for him to continue to improve defensively as the season progresses. Can he up the physical intensity level and become harder on pucks and more difficult to play against through the smaller, high traffic areas of the ice?

Lots of questions, mostly due to his build and the direction of the NHL, but there’s no question that Emerton has been one of the OHL’s most impressive rookie blueliners thus far. He was left off of NHL Central Scouting’s early season watch list, which was surprising to me. I would have expected him to come in as at least a “W.” Maybe he’s a draft long shot, but if the purpose of this piece is to highlight impressive starts, Emerton is noteworthy.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-cole_emerton_-_2nd_period_4_28_-_4_45.mp4

We see Emerton jump up in the rush and create a terrific scoring chance in transition. Then, the puck finds its way back to him and he gets a quick point shot through that helps initiate a scramble near the crease.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-cole_emerton_-_2nd_period_16_19_-_16_31.mp4

Another strong read by Emerton to jump up in the play and find space to create a scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-cole_emerton_-_1st_period_0_12_-_0_24.mp4

A terrific example of what Emerton has brought to the table defensively. He recovers to bail out his d-partner by closing quickly on the attacking Steelheads player, takes a great angle, forces a weak shot, and then even gets to the puck first and rims it to help initiate the breakout.

Kyle Watson

Beckham Edwards

Centre - Sarnia Sting

6-foot-1, 181 pounds

A sturdy, shoot-first centreman, Edwards stepped into the OHL last year and made an immediate impact as a rookie. On a rebuilding Sarnia team, the Komoka, ON native scored 25 goals and 45 points in 62 games, trailing only Pierce Mbuyi among U17 skaters. He’s picked up right where he left off as a sophomore, leading the Sting in scoring with five goals and 12 points through 10 games.

Edwards is a capable two-way pivot who’s solid on his stick and an effective checker. His long, powerful stride gives him an effortless glide and allows him to close gaps to pucks instantly. Though he has an average frame at 6-foot-1, 181 pounds, he competes hard and wins a surprising number of board battles against larger opponents. He’s constantly engaged — moving his feet, supporting the puck in transition, digging in corners, and jumping on loose pucks.

The calling card of Edwards’ game is his shot: he owns a hard, accurate snapshot that he can get off in a variety of situations. He’s especially dangerous attacking on the rush, but what impresses me most is his ability to catch and release pucks in an instant in traffic. As he adds weight to his build, that shot will only get heavier — there looks to be untapped power behind it.

The challenge for Edwards early this season has been generating consistent high danger looks. He hasn’t been able to get inside enough, whether through his own puckhandling or the use of his teammates. At times, he tries to do too much, forcing drop passes or saucers into traffic that lead to turnovers. That may be a reflection of Sarnia’s roster turnover and a struggling power play rather than a long-term issue.

Edwards’ first 10 games have been a tough evaluation. There is a solid foundation of physical tools here, combined with a good motor and attention to detail in all three zones. Edwards' checking game is advanced for his age, and there are no worries about lack of effort shift-to-shift or him taking shortcuts defensively. However, he needs to rein in his game both on and off the puck. At times, it can look like he’s playing too much on instinct rather than taking control of the play. I’d like to see him start dictating the pace, adding layers to his offensive game, and becoming the focal point of Sarnia’s power play.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/edwards-d-to-o.mp4

A couple of good demonstrations of Edwards’ attentiveness and effort in the defensive zone. In the first clip, he makes a good play to get leverage on 6-foot-3, 205 pounds A.J. Spellacy before turning defence into offence with a strong chance created for his winger off the rush.

In the second, he supports the Sting defenceman behind the net before tying up his man in front of the net to prevent a scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/edwards-hunting.mp4

A handful of clips that show the kind of easy points Edwards has been picking up. Support the forecheck, go to the net, and get rewarded. He does a good job of finding soft ice and losing coverage to get open for the pass/rebound.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Edwards-fake-shot-pass-1.mp4

An example of the high-end plays I’d like to see Edwards make more of. He moves from the right wing off the faceoff to the left point. With all four Soo penalty killers respecting his shot, he sets up an easy passing play and ensuing goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/edwards-speed.mp4

In the first clip, after losing the faceoff, Edwards disrupts play at the point twice before turning on the jets, only to be denied on the partial break by the goaltender. Good heads-up work by him in his own zone to make the interception, and you can see his breakaway speed in action — his first three steps and a quick change in direction get him beyond both defencemen.

The second shows what he can do with ample time and space to finish. No goalie is stopping that.

Jamison Derksen - North American Video Scout

Nikita Klepov

RW - Saginaw Spirit

6-foot-0, 180 pounds

Nikita Klepov is one of many American skaters to migrate from the USHL to the CHL this season. The Floridian is a Michigan State commit and has taken the OHL by storm with 18 points in 11 games, good for second in league scoring. The Saginaw Spirit were able to snag him in the CHL Import Draft due to his dual Russian American citizenship. Saginaw has leaned on him very heavily so far, he’s cleared 21:00 TOI in every game this season except one.

Klepov is among the most dangerous players in the draft with the puck on his stick. He draws defenders to himself before quick changes of direction to create openings for passes or dekes. His elite hands help him convert when he’s in tight, but his shot is just average. If he can establish himself as a shooting threat from a distance, the sky is the limit. He also has a very good understanding that good defence leads to more offensive opportunities and is very good defensively for a 17-year-old winger. He backchecks hard and identifies gaps in coverage, where he fills in as additional support defensively.

Videos

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Klepov-backcheck-goal.mp4

An excellent backcheck here where Klepov engages physically and forces a turnover, then showcases his lethal puckhandling in tight.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Klepov-support-and-chance.mp4

Klepov plays this like a centre, as he is the high forward and the first one on the backcheck. He covers the loose forward then dives at the right time when additional support arrives. After the turnover, Klepov hustles up the ice for a pass and delays his shot until his teammate crashes the net.

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

He hasn’t spent a ton of time on the PK so far this season, largely due to his heavy workload at even strength and on the PP, but Klepov may grow into a PK role as he continues to be heavily leaned on and contribute in both ends.

Liam Staples - Ontario Regional Scout

Pierce Mbuyi

Left Wing - Owen Sound Attack

5-foot-10, 158 pounds

A highly touted prospect entering the OHL from the prestigious Toronto Marlboros program in the GTHL, Mbuyi made a major impact during the 2024 OHL Cup. He helped lead the Marlboros to a quarterfinal appearance while finishing second in tournament scoring with 13 points in five games.

Selected seventh overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the first round of the 2024 OHL Draft, Mbuyi experienced a natural adjustment period during the first half of his rookie season. However, he steadily found his footing and delivered a terrific second half, emerging as one of the league’s most dynamic young players. His growth and production culminated in being named the 2024–25 OHL Rookie of the Year. In his second season with the Attack, Mbuyi has emerged as an offensive catalyst, showing improved consistency in his production early on.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Pierce-Mbuyi-Net-Drive.mp4

Very impressed by his hard net drives and battling for net front positioning. Pierce’s competitiveness and playmaking ability are evident in the first clip — after an awkward-looking encounter with the Swiss defender, he spins off the check, quickly regains control, and distributes the puck to create a quality scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Pierce-Mbuyi-Raw-Power.mp4

His raw power is not overwhelming by any means but Mbuyi does display a degree of raw strength - particularly impressive for a player listed under 6 feet and 160 pounds. His ability to use that strength to gain inside leverage on opponents has stood out this season, allowing him to extend plays, protect the puck, and maintain possession in contested areas.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Pierce-Mbuyi-One-time-release.mp4

Mbuyi possesses a hard, quick-release snapshot. He shows a strong understanding of shot manipulation — adjusting his shooting angle, dropping to one knee, and perfectly timing his stride into the release to maximize power and deception. As he continues to develop, his shot release should only become stronger.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-Pierce-Mbuyi-Support-Man.mp4

It will be important to monitor whether Mbuyi can continue to read and react effectively as the F2 support. The F1 and F2 roles are interchangeable between centers and wingers depending on the situation. As the F2, the player’s primary responsibility is to support the F1 — either by providing a passing option or offering additional puck support to sustain possession and maintain offensive pressure. When he anticipates plays and closes off passing lanes, his strength and coordination allow him to control the puck cleanly on interceptions with strong first touches.

In the second clip, Mbuyi recognizes a forward retrieving the puck down low on his weak side and anticipating a pass to the strong side defenceman. Aware of his assignment, Mbuyi effectively takes away that passing lane as well as any outlet up the boards, forcing a turnover that leads directly to a high danger scoring chance.

Chase Reid

Defense - Soo Greyhounds

6-foot-2, 187 pounds

One of the great joys of junior hockey is witnessing an unexpected breakout-when a player emerges that very few saw coming. The Greyhounds found a hidden gem in Chase Reid, the Chesterfield, Michigan, native started the 2024-2025 season playing with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), a tier II hockey league a step below the USHL. Reid was selected in the seventh round by the Greyhounds in 2023 and made the jump to the OHL last December. As the team looked to get younger, the departure of their No. 1 defenceman, Andrew Gibson (Nashville Predators prospect), to Oshawa opened the door for a larger role on the backend. Reid seized the opportunity and flourished, producing 7 goals and 33 assists for 40 points in 39 games. Combined with a tremendous second-half surge from Brady Martin, Reid’s emergence helped the Hounds sneak into the playoffs.

Reid’s poise and versatility have helped him develop into one of the league’s most reliable defencemen. He checks a lot of boxes for NHL clubs— a right-shot blueliner over 6 feet with intelligence and two-way impact. Standing 6-foot-2” and 185 pounds, his high endurance and confident decision-making have quickly earned the trust of head coach John Dean, who regularly leans on him for close to 30 minutes a night. When his time with the Hounds is complete, the Michigan native will be staying close to home as he is committed to Michigan State University.

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An overall great play by Reid here, first the interception of the puck then releasing a purposeful shot generating a rebound for his teammate to skate into off the rush.

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This sequence is another strong example of Reid’s on-ice awareness. Rather than settling for a low-danger point shot that the goalie could save cleanly, he uses a lateral fake at the blue line to open a shooting lane. He then releases a purposeful shot through traffic, generating a rebound in front of the net.

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Reid’s positioning and footwork on closeouts look so natural to him. He successfully closes out the Sudbury rookie at the blueline forcing a dump in, on the retrieval Reid is aware of the oncoming Wolves player and manages to win the race to the puck and poke the puck to his teammate to maintain possession.

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He is so smooth with his quick stick and he uses his body intelligently to separate opponents without risking penalties.

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His confidence with the puck is evident on retrievals and zone exits. His awareness and skating movements allow him to create clean exits and transition play up ice. In the second clip, he initiates a give-and-go breakout by supporting his partner and poking the puck loose. Instead of watching the play unfold, he immediately activates, joins the rush, and leads the transition the other way.

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.