Tobias Tvrznik – 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: SECOND CHANCES PART ONE – CANADA – Overage Draft Eligible Prospects

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:37:36 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. Additionally, CHL players may now be deemed more “intriguing” because of the altered NCAA eligibility rules. NHL teams can draft overage players and retain their rights after they go to College for a few years, expanding their signing and development window. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Former Calgary Flames, now Utah Mammoth standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck.

Last year, ten “re-entry” candidates went in the top four rounds; Charlie Cerrato, Francesco Dell’Elce, Bryce Pickford, Kristian Epperson, Julius Sumpf, Trenten Bennett, Benjamin Rautianinen, Yegor Borikov, Caeden Herrington, and Zack Sharp. Cerrato was taken inside the Top 50. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1): (Part 2): (Part 3): We wrote about nine of those ten. In total there were 37 taken, which is a bit lower than the recent trend of other drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). I would suspect that bounces back this year. Additionally, of those 37, we identified and wrote about 22 (well over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2026, we have some very interesting candidates. Edmonton Oil Kings defender Ethan MacKenzie was a solid contributor for Canada’s WJC team this past year. Brandon Wheat Kings forward Joby Baumuller has been among the WHL’s leading goal scorers all year. Prince Albert netminder Michal Orsulak has been among the best goaltenders in the CHL this year. Moncton winger Niko Tournas has been among the QMJHL’s leading goal scorers all year. Russian defenseman Alexander Sapozhinkov is a massive blueliner who has broken out in the MHL and earned a KHL look. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.

This is part one of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from Canadian leagues.

OHL

Egor Barabanov of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Egor Barabanov - Wing/Center - Saginaw Spirit

A common story among older draft-eligible players who go undrafted in their first year of eligibility is the need to find the right opportunity and given time to shape their game into the role they are best suited for. Often, simply being able to play consistent minutes in different situations allow players to both develop and attract attention from scouts. Egor Barabanov is a prime example of that this season. After spending his draft and draft-plus-one seasons in the USHL producing modest point totals, Barabanov quickly surpassed the combined production from those two years while playing with Saginaw in the OHL this season. Embracing the opportunity to play on the Spirit’s top line as a playmaker on a younger, highly skilled team, Barabanov has developed strong chemistry with his linemates, captain Dimian Zhilkin (2027 Draft Eligible) and current OHL points leader Nikita Klepov (2026 Draft eligible). Barabanov provides positional versatility, playing both the center position while also being effective when shifted up or down a lineup on the wing. Barabanov’s calling card is his playmaking ability with the puck. He has shown a strong ability to anticipate plays as they develop and capitalize on defensive mistakes. He times his passes well in space and generates scoring chances with purposeful passes. He is strong on his edges and uses his shiftiness to create space and open himself up to the play. Barabanov is also a high energy player who hunts down pucks and is aggressive in puck pursuit. However, Barabanov will need to improve his overall footspeed and pace, particularly his explosiveness in starts and stops. He will need to clean up his play in the defensive zone, particularly by improving his awareness of defensive assignments and identifying the correct coverage. Becoming more aggressive with box-outs and tie-ups. Being a centerman, developing a habit of consistently playing above the puck will be key to reducing scoring chances against. Barabonov possesses the offensive tools to project as a bottom-six winger, he still has areas of his game that require more work to fully fit that role. (Liam Staples)

Alex Kostov - Center/Wing - Flint Firebirds

Kostov has been enjoying a career year in his fourth OHL season. He has been a key contributor to the Firebirds’ success, setting a new career high in points and surpassing the 20-goal mark. He has been sidelined since the end of January recovering from an upper-body injury. Kostov attended the Nashville Predators prospect camp last fall, appearing in two games during the team’s NHL prospect tournament. Kostov plays a power-forward style, and at 6’4”, 208 pounds, he understands how to use his size effectively. He does not shy away from physical play — rather, he embraces it. He’s also an excellent athlete who has worked hard to become an above average skater for the OHL level. Flint has found success pairing him with natural goal scorers, as his ability to win puck battles and use his frame to protect possession allows him to distribute the puck effectively to his linemates. Kostov plays responsibly in his own end, forcing more than three turnovers per game in the defensive zone. He utilizes a hard, active stick to disrupt opponents on the rush and uses his length to strip the puck. A healthy return from Kostov in the playoffs would be a significant boost for the Firebirds, as he provides the size and grit needed for a deep run. At the pro level, Kostov projects as a bottom-six winger who brings energy through his physicality and high compete level. He excels in puck battles, plays responsibly at both ends of the ice, and focuses on doing the small details well — winning possession and getting the puck to his team’s primary scorers. (Liam Staples)

Carson Woodall - Defense - Windsor Spitfires

Originally selected in the 10th round of the 2022 OHL Draft by his hometown team, Windsor Spitfires, Woodall has shown continuous growth as a player since getting drafted into the OHL and has certainly earned his spot as a top re-entry candidate in the 2026 NHL Draft. Since becoming an OHL regular the Belle River, Ontario native has steadily elevated his play, seeing his point production increase each year. Now in his fourth season in the league, Woodall leads all OHL defencemen in assists and has firmly established himself as the Spitfires’ number-one defenceman. Woodall is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman who brings a reliable two-way game. He is capable of creating plays through his skating ability and vision on the ice. He is not hesitant to activate off the rush, he is smooth walking the blueline and showed flashes of scoring from distance. Woodall is committed to Boston College for the 2026–27 season. An important aspect of his continued development will be maintaining consistency in his overall game and finding ways to remain a dependable option in the lineup. As a smaller defenceman, listed at 5’11”, 179 pounds, who does not rely heavily on physicality, Woodall must consistently lean on his skating and puck-moving ability to make plays and impact the game. If his development to this point is any indication, it suggests his strong commitment to improving and refining his game could make him a valuable signing as a potential bottom-pair, puck-moving defenceman at the pro level. (Liam Staples)

Cooper Dennis - Wing - Brantford Bulldogs

2025-26 has been a massive coming-out party for Dennis. He’s blown his production with Dubuque last year out of the water, approaching 80 points in the OHL this year. He’s bounced around the lineup, adapting well and driving play with a variety of teammates. Dennis possesses an incredible shot, able to beat OHL goaltenders from distance with his hard wrister. His playmaking game isn’t quite as efficient as other playmakers in this article, as Dennis primarily relies on a burst of speed down the wing to swing pucks across the crease. He’s still a creative player, but after seeing his pass selection, I wouldn’t describe him as a calculated and intentional playmaker. Cooper’s edgework and shiftiness allow him to maneuver the offensive zone, and his straight-line speed makes him a threat off the rush, where he’s displayed high-end finishing skills. He very clearly knows what he wants to execute on the breakaway, finishing his dekes with conviction. However, the elephant in the room is his size. At 5’6 there will be many obstacles in his way regarding his success in puck battles, puck possession while being contacted, and defensive effectiveness. His skill and agility still make him worth a pick in the later rounds, projecting as a skilled middle-sixer, but it will be interesting to see if an NHL team gives him a shot. (Kaeden Ireland)

Tristan Delisle - Center - Owen Sound Attack

Delisle got off to a blazing hot start with the Attack; he was among the league’s leading scorers through the first couple months. Then, like the rest of the Attack, he went ice cold for a huge stretch. Now, he’s hitting the scoresheet again to close out the year. Delisle was draft eligible last year and was a useful role player for the Attack following the Colby Barlow deal. However, his game just didn’t have enough projectability. He’s a detail oriented two-way pivot, but he was average sized, average in terms of skill, and average in terms of skating ability. Thus, NHL teams shied away. This year, he’s shown much more offensively. He’s still average in terms of size, but he’s improved his quickness and he’s become way more confident with the puck. He’s been very dangerous in the home plate area, hunting second chance opportunities and showcasing a quick release. He’s still a strong two-way presence too and he’s been one of the OHL’s best faceoff men this year. So has the improved on puck play improved his projection in the eyes of NHL scouts? They may want to see improved consistency from him, but he’s tracking the same way a guy like Chris Tierney did in his OHL career. (Brock Otten)

Jasper Kuhta - Center - Ottawa 67’s

Jasper Kuhta has put together a very strong DY+1 with the Ottawa 67s, leading the team in goals and finishing 2nd in points for Finland’s World Junior Championship team. His best feature is his shot, blending consistently great power and strong accuracy on his one-timer and wrister.

Last year, Jasper played overseas, and while his assist numbers look flat in the transition to the OHL, he’s clearly taken leaps in his playmaking abilities. Kuhta was always a dangerous threat below the goal line, but he has implemented the same killer passing vision in all areas of the offensive zone. He delivers precise passes to the doorstep and is able to consistently execute no-look feeds to freeze defenders. Kuhta is hitting harder and showing more intensity in puck battles than he did in Finland, although in some games the bursts are fleeting. He’s using his physical tools more effectively, and with some improvements to his skating, he projects as a 3rd-line forward. Jasper is my top-ranked overager in the OHL this year, and I believe his offensive tools and newfound confidence with the puck will make him a welcome feature on a team’s power play. I could see some value in taking him in the top 100. (Kaeden Ireland)

Dryden Allen - Defense - Flint Firebirds

At one point in time, Allen was considered one of the top 2007 born defenders in Ontario, however after he elected to head south of the border to the USHL, some of that hype died down and Allen went unselected last year. Now in the OHL playing a key role for the Flint Firebirds, Allen may have put himself back on the draft radar. Let’s not discount that he was one of the youngest players eligible last year too. Lots of physical development left. Allen plays a heady and mature two-way game from the blueline. He’s a calming presence on the back-end who can kickstart the breakout and excel in a defensive role. He’s not a high skill player. As he moves up the ladder, don’t expect significant offensive production. However, he’s a no nonsense defensive player with good four way mobility. That bodes well for his ability to continue to play that role as he moves to Michigan State soon. Have to wonder if NHL teams are eyeing him in the later rounds this year in hopes that he could develop into a modern day shutdown type. (Brock Otten)

Ben Hrebik - Goaltender - Barrie Colts

There was definitely some prevailing thought that Hrebik would be taken last year after a strong rookie season in the OHL with Barrie. We ended up ranking him 170th for 2025. However, a very poor end to the year, including a bad postseason showing, really cast shadows of doubt over his projection. This year, he’s rebounded incredibly well and has been remarkably consistent for a Barrie team with OHL Championship aspirations. The key for Hrebik will be finishing the year on a high note, including the playoffs. He’s got that size and athleticism package. He’s lightning quick in the crease and he’s worked hard to refine his movements to make himself more consistent. If he has a strong playoffs for the Colts, I’d be shocked if he goes unselected again. There’s too much to like and too much to work with. (Brock Otten)

Matthew Minchak - Goaltender - Kingston Frontenacs

What a find Minchak has been for the Frontenacs; a free agent signing out of the U.S. AAA loop (with the Pittsburgh Penguins elite program). He’s largely been a rock for them and kept them in so many games that they didn’t deserve to be in. And while the Fronts still face an uphill playoff battle, they’re not a plus .500 team without him…even if he’s looking a bit tired to close out the OHL season. Minchak reminds me a lot of watching former Soo Greyhound Matt Murray in the crease. Long and lanky. Solid play tracker. But just needs to bulk up to add more power in his pushes and help him squeeze pucks and close holes. He can get trapped deep in his net occasionally. However, Minchak very much deserves to be an NHL pick this June. I’d love to see him back in the OHL for another year, delaying his commitment to Colgate. (Brock Otten)

Sebastian Gatto - Goaltender - London Knights

Gatto has come into London and completely stolen the show from top Canucks draft pick Alexei Medvedev. There’s absolutely no question as to which goaltender has been better this year and it’s why I’d expect Gatto to be the starter for the playoffs. We actually had Gatto on our draft list in 2024 when he had a terrific year for Leamington (187th overall), so his breakout doesn’t come as a shock to us; we knew he had it in him. He’s big. He’s athletic. He controls the play and is composed/consistent. A Dartmouth commit, if he doesn’t get a look from NHL teams this time around, expect him to be an NCAA standout at some point, eventually placing him on the NHL free agent signing radar. (Brock Otten)

Shaan Kingwell - Wing - Ottawa 67’s

Shaan Kingwell played just eleven OHL games in his draft year with the Ottawa 67s, putting up big numbers with the Navan Grads. After earning a full-time role with Ottawa for the 2025-26 season, Kingwell has been a core piece of the 67s’ middle-six dominance. He sits on pace for 35+ points in around 60 games, respectable results considering his role in the offense is pretty limited. Kingwell’s bread and butter is his off-puck play. He finds ways to get under opponents’ skin constantly, feeding crosschecks and slashes to players on the opposite team who aren’t involved in the play. Kingwell has an active stick and defends well, batting away passes consistently, as well as disrupting the flow of the opposing teams' offense with well-timed activations, picking off opponents, and turning the puck up ice. He isn’t the largest or strongest guy and can be knocked off the puck quite often, but he has the ability to hold onto the puck until the last second possible to find an escape option. Kingwell isn’t a creative playmaker, opting for high percentage reads and maintaining the cycle. Kingwell projects as a bottom-six forward at the next level and will need a good stint within a team’s system after turning pro. He heads off to Princeton University next year, where he will need to pack on some muscle and develop his skating further. (Kaeden Ireland)

Parker Von Richter - Defense - Barrie Colts

It’s been a really nice breakout year for Von Richter as he has emerged as one of the OHL’s elite two-way defenders. This has also helped him secure a scholarship from the University of New Hampshire. He’s worked hard the last two years to improve his mobility and his decision making with the puck. He can still be prone to some mistakes with the puck in the defensive zone, but he’s become a very reliable option inside the opposing blueline. He does a great job getting shots through traffic; he has a quick little half slapper that he loves to use. He shows poise walking the line and has been aggressive in jumping up in the play or leading the rush. Of course, he’s still a physical defender who likes to take away space and who possesses a high IQ in his own end. He was named as one of the top defensive defenders in the OHL Coaches Poll. Just as I was when he was originally draft eligible, I’m a bit skeptical of his NHL projection given the average size/physical tools, but he’s developed very well and could be on the radar of NHL teams because of that. (Brock Otten)

Andre Mondoux - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs

Power is the name of the game here. Mondoux is a big bodied defender (6’4, 200+lbs) who has been terrific for the Frontenacs this year in a defensive role as an OHL rookie. The Notre Dame commit is a tough competitor. He closes gaps quickly and hard. He’s also very aggressive physically below the goal line, almost always initiating contact to help him secure possession or separate a man from the puck. Sometimes he gets out of position defensively from chasing the big hit, but his recovery ability thanks to his length and good mobility is solid. NHL teams are going to love the impact he has at shutting down the transition game of the opposition with his length, solid feet, and physical approach. Offensively, he shows flashes of higher upside and I do wonder if that part of his game could grow further in the NCAA over a few years. Even if it doesn’t, he has some intriguing athletic qualities that could make him a solid depth piece. (Brock Otten)

Ben Wilmott - Center/Wing - Barrie Colts

Ben Willmott joined London after coming over from two years in the USHL and put up strong numbers before earning a trade to the powerhouse Barrie Colts. The witty forward brings an effective 200-foot game and offensive upside in a bottom-six role. His playmaking is the focal point of his offensive game. Ben is great at finding tight windows through defenders and executes his passes to the netfront at a high level. He finds success working down the wall and below the goalline. His shot has been equally as dangerous down the stretch of the OHL season, scoring goals with his snappy wrister and ability to get on rebounds quickly. With the puck, Wilmott loves to pass against the grain, whether it’s net front feeds from behind the net or in transition with a give-and-go.On the forecheck, Wilmott bounces from opponent to opponent, pressuring the breakout and forcing turnovers. This year, he looks a bit lighter on his feet and keeps active on the forecheck more so than last year. He’s a bit on the smaller end to be super effective in this role at the next level, but still engages physically and uses his strong feel for the game to cut off passing lanes. Wilmott should be on NHL teams’ radars for the upcoming draft somewhere outside the top 150. I’m fairly sure an NHL squad will take a shot on him as he heads off to continue his development at Ohio State. (Kaeden Ireland)

Stepan Shurygin - Goaltender - Saginaw Spirit

The best word to describe Shurygin is raw. He has such outstanding moments. The size and athleticism package is for real. He’s lightning quick and agile; he covers his posts well and is never out of the play. He truly can take over games with his ability to make big saves. But, consistency has been a major issue. Not just because he’s playing for a poor defensive team. But, because he’s technically a bit of a mess. He can give up his share of softies and he can spiral a bit once he starts bleeding a few goals. He needs to clean up his rebound control and refine his movement to ensure that he’s not out of position. However, he was one of the youngest players eligible last year when he was passed over. NHL teams may look at his athletic profile and see him as a bit of a blank canvas who can be transformed into an NHL goaltending asset. He’s a long term project, but he does have upside. (Brock Otten)

Jeremy Martin - Wing - Soo Greyhounds

Martin fit in exceptionally well in Sault Ste. Marie following a trade with Flint, developing chemistry with Marco Mignosa and Brady Martin (when he’s been on the ice). He’s a former highly touted prospect in Ontario who had a disappointing draft year with the Firebirds last season. However, he’s bounced back nicely this year and is starting to fulfill his upside as an aggressive power winger who can put the puck in the net. Martin is at his best attacking North/South, using his speed to beat defenders to the net and to apply pressure in puck pursuit. However, he’s also a skilled goal scorer who can find soft spots in coverage and beat goaltenders cleanly with a heavy wrister or snapshot. He’s found some success playing the bumper on the Soo powerplay because of this. NHL scouts are going to have their eye on him this OHL playoffs as he is the kind of guy who could have a lot of success in the postseason. (Brock Otten)

WHL

Lukas Sawychn. Photo courtesy of Edmonton Oil Kings.

Lukas Sawychn - Wing - Edmonton Oil Kings

In his second season in the WHL, Lukas Sawchyn has taken his offensive skill game to the next level. His puck handling and shifty skating make him a handful for defenders across the league. Sawchyn’s game is about creating openings in the offensive zone with the puck. He can do almost anything with the puck on his stick and will skate east/west in the zone, coming off of the wall with the puck into the slot for passes or shots. He will drive into the zone carrying the puck with good speed, and then slow down the play to allow himself and his linemates to get into position for scoring chances. Without the puck, he will drive to the slot, get into shooting lanes for one-timers, or look to be a passing option on the back door. Sawchyn will struggle at higher levels for a few reasons. His sub-six foot size will likely always be an issue and despite carrying good weight on his frame, he’s not very strong and gets knocked off the puck frequently. He also develops tunnel vision at times and tries to do it all by himself. His defensive details need a lot of work and his offensive skills aren’t at a high enough level for him to be sheltered on a pro team as a strictly offensive player. He’s a boom or bust prospect. (Adam Tate)

Jonas Woo - Defense - Medicine Hat Tigers

If you're looking for excitement, Jonas Woo is your guy. The obvious knock on Woo is his size, but the 5’10” 181lbs defenceman doesn't let that stop him. He is more than willing to throw big hits and engage physically despite almost always being the one giving up some size in the battle. This season has really been an offensive explosion for Woo. He currently sits at 29 goals and 87 points, which is almost double his previous WHL career high of 43 points. He is very deceptive with the puck and has the speed and skill to beat defenders one on one and he has the ability to beat goalies with his shot. He is committed to Arizona State for the 2026-27 season which I believe will help his development substantially. Instead of being forced into pro hockey, it gives him the opportunity to continue to grow his game in college. With the right development he could potentially play a bottom pair role one day in the NHL and some 2nd power play time, but the most likely scenario for him would be a player who spends time in the AHL with the ability to jump into the NHL when needed. (Mika Burns)

Matias Vanhanen - Wing - Everett Silvertips

Mattias Vanhanen has found a nice home on the Everett Silvertips roster, playing on their top forward line alongside Carter Bear and Julius Miettinen. Not only does he lead the WHL’s top team in points, but he sits second in the entire league in assists while averaging more than one per game. Based off those two stats, it goes without question that his playmaking and vision are the biggest strengths of his game. He’s a skilled, detailed play connector that can thread passes through layers of defensive coverage with acute timing and precision. He’s become one of the league’s best at moving pucks from the boards to the slot. However, Vanhanen will need to add other dimensions to his game to become a successful professional. While his playmaking is apparent, improving his shot would make more of a threat in the offensive zone and eradicate concerns about him playing a little too one-dimensional. He’s also an undersized player who doesn’t operate with the highest pace or compete level, and he’s not a very physical player. He could fit somewhere as a middle-six play connector at the professional level, but players of this archetype make for tougher projections. (Kyle Dalla Zanna)

Joby Baumuller - Wing - Brandon Wheat Kings

On pace to double his point total from last season, Baumuller is a player who has certainly turned a few heads in the WHL this season. For a sub 6ft player, he has a good level of physicality to his game allowing him to be very effective in a checking role while maintaining his ability to contribute in offence as well. His main offensive weapon is certainly his shot. He has a very heavy shot and a quick release that allows him to be a scoring threat from many different areas on the ice. He has been given a higher offensive role in Brandon this season after they lost Roger McQueen to the NCAA, and Baumuller has taken it in stride. Currently on pace to end the year with 40 goals, he has already doubled his 18 goal total from last season. What many like about Baumuller is that he has other tools that he can use to remain effective if his offence doesn’t translate to the next level. He is more than capable of playing a bottom six checking role and providing energy to his team. (Mika Burns)

Brock Souch - Wing - Prince George Cougars

Coming into the WHL this season from the BCHL, Souch hasn’t skipped a beat and has become an important player for the Prince George Cougars right away. With 71 points in 64 games, Souch has been a key offensive contributor for the Cougars and has been a reliable player in his own zone as well. He isn’t a physical player by any means but he doesn’t shy away from physical contact and has a willingness to engage when he needs to. If he can add some size and strength when he makes the transition to pro hockey, it will go a long way in him staying effective. His skating is something that stands out at this level. He is able to use his speed very effectively and beat defenders wide on the rush. He has good ability with the puck and creates chances for his teammates. (Mika Burns)

Luke Cozens - Wing - Medicine Hat Tigers

Anytime you see the last name of a current or former NHL player, you naturally take a second look. Luke is the brother of former 7th overall pick and current Ottawa Senator, Dylan Cozens. When it comes to players with NHL bloodlines, the reason it can be very beneficial is just by being around someone who has reached the highest level. It doesn’t always pan out, but being able to train with and get advice from someone in the NHL can certainly be an advantage. Being a double re-entry player, Cozens is probably unlikely to get drafted this year but scouts couldn't help but notice the start to the season he had with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He started out at an electric offensive pace which is something that he didn’t show in his first two seasons in the WHL and caught the eye of many. He was over a point per game pace with the Hurricanes but his offensive production has slowed since being traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers in January. If he wants to be effective at the next level, he will need to continue the development path that he has been on this season. (Mika Burns)

Ethan MacKenzie - Defense - Edmonton Oil Kings

MacKenzie’s draft season was mostly lost to injury, playing only 26 games, and he slipped off of scouts' radars. His draft +1 season didn’t go as well as hoped and he didn’t seem to progress as much as expected. This season, his draft +2 year, he’s put everything together and is one of the most impactful defencemen in the WHL. MacKenzie plays a two-way game, and joins the rush with regularity. His offence has improved greatly and he’s more patient with the puck in all three zones. He creates space for his teammates by carrying the puck, looking to exploit weakness in the opposing team’s positioning. Defensively he has always been a battler and his improved skating has led to better gap play defending the rush. He’s able to get to loose pucks faster and he uses his foot speed to skate pucks out of his zone. He can also stretch passes to his teammates. MacKenzie is a high energy player who lacks elite standout traits but is very good at all aspects of the game. He is a bit smaller for a defenceman but is a physical player nonetheless. The lack of size and standout traits might have his ceiling likely limited to a bottom pairing defenceman at the top level of the game. (Adam Tate)

Savin Virk - Wing - Tri-City Americans

Virk has been about as consistent as can be since joining the Tri-City Americans midway through the 2024-25 season. Even though the team as a whole has struggled offensively during that span he has found a way to show up on the score sheet most games, and he comfortably led his club in points this year. Virk is a clever, opportunistic winger. The puck finds him a lot in the offensive zone because he reads and anticipates the play at a high level, and because he has a knack for going unnoticed in coverage. And when he does get a good look in a dangerous spot he doesn't need much time to know what to do, with quick-strike ability as both a playmaker and a shooter. His shots don't scream off his stick, but he places them with deadly accuracy. The big question with him, though, revolves around how translatable his style and approach actually are to the professional levels. His skating and pace are lackluster, he doesn't drive a ton of play himself, and his defensive impact is negligible. NHL teams are probably keeping tabs on Virk, but they might view him more as a potential free agent signing after he's done college than someone worth spending a draft pick on. (Derek Neumeier)

Landon McFadden - Wing - Moose Jaw Warriors

Sometimes a bad situation can provide an ideal opportunity for an underdog prospect who is booking to make a name for himself. That’s been the case this season with McFadden, who was an afterthought for scouts in his first year of draft eligibility in 2025 but who has since taken a massive leap forward in his development as a member of the moribund Moose Jaw Warriors. He more than quadrupled his points output from the previous campaign, including eclipsing the 30-goal plateau, and as of this writing he’s also the leading scorer for his entire team. McFadden is slippery and elusive offensively. He’s more quick than he is outright fast, and that applies to his hands and his mind as well as his feet. He’s very decisive with his puck touches, and rarely makes the wrong read. These are all essential traits for him, because he is worryingly small and slight, making it easy for opposing defenders to neutralize him once they’ve taken away his space. At this point in time McFadden hasn’t committed to a college program, but he would be very wise to do so, to ensure that he can make the necessary gains with his physical development. (Derek Neumeier)

Josh Evaschesen - Wing/Center - Kamloops Blazers

In his final year of draft eligibility, Josh Evaschesen has made quite a name for himself in his first WHL season. The Kamloops Blazers forward has held a position in their top-six and brings a lot of versatility with his ability to play down the middle or on the wing while being a contributor on both special teams units. Evaschesen is one of four 30-goal scorers on the Blazers and is producing north of a point-per game this season, which is impressive considering he was scoring at less than half of that rate during his previous season in the BCHL. Evaschesen’s shot is one of his biggest strengths. He’s got a quick release off the catch and in-stride and can shoot through defenders off the rush. His two-way game is also sound for this level, and he supports breakouts well. He finishes checks, wins battles, and isn’t afraid to fight for positioning around the net front. At 6’2, he has the size that appeals to NHL teams. Adding another gear to his skating and improving his puck skills will be key to contributing more at higher levels, but there’s a potential bottom-six player here. Evaschesen will continue his hockey career with RPI next season. (Kyle Dalla Zanna)

Yaroslav Bryzgalov - Wing - Medicine Hat Tigers

Yaroslav Bryzgalov brings an intriguing combination of physical and playmaking details that could really entice NHL teams in his second year of eligibility. After playing in the USHL the previous season, the 6’4” Belarusian winger is currently slotted in a top-six role on the Medicine Hat Tigers, one of the WHL’s deepest teams. In addition to delivering heavy hits, Bryzgalov leverages his size and physical skills in all situations. He’s relentless in puck pursuits, using his range to win body positioning on puck battles and apply pressure on the forecheck. He’s also very effective at moving pucks off the wall, whether it’s by using his strength to power his way through contact and attack the middle. He’s also one of the more detailed playmakers in the draft, constantly finding lanes through defensive triangles or finding seams to connect passes from the boards to the slot. Skating will need to improve to be a bigger factor at higher levels. While he's good on his edges and uses them to evade pressure in tight areas, he lacks that second gear in his north-south skating, which hinders his speed when he’s on the attack. With his unique toolkit, Bryzgalov projects as a third-line player who is the first guy into the zone doing the dirty work down low to recover pucks, but his detail-oriented connective game could enable him to play higher up a professional lineup with more offensive players. He is committed to Merrimack College for next season. (Kyle Dalla Zanna)

Timofei Runtso - Defense - Victoria Royals

Timofei Runtso has put himself in good position to be one of the first re-entry picks drafted out of the WHL. After playing his draft year in the NAHL, he has emerged as the top defenceman on the Victoria Royals this season after their star blueliner Keaton Verhoeff departed for the NCAA. Ranked as an honourable mention in our latest Top-64 ranking, Runtso is an exciting defender who plays at his best inside the offensive zone. He can command play from the blueline but also has a knack for jumping down the walls or activating down the middle to create opportunities for himself and teammates. He blends skill and deception to shake pressure and has a great eye for finding cross-ice seams and passing lanes. His feet aren’t quite up to par with other prototypical blueliners that push the same high-octane offensive game, but he still moves around the zone well enough to make things happen. Defensively, Runtso remains a work in progress. While he has tightened up his play over the season, he tends to be quite static against the rush, as he concedes the middle too easily on zone entries and misses opportunities to step up and seal attackers down the walls. He can kill plays with well-timed stickwork, but will need to work on his agility, positioning, and physicality to be a more effective defender against tougher competition. Runtso could be a middle-pair defender who could quarterback a power play if everything breaks right for him and he’s able to reach his ceiling. He’s committed to play NCAA next season with Miami University. (Kyle Dalla Zanna)

Dmitri Yakutsenak - Wing/Center - Prince George Cougars

After playing his first season of draft eligibility in Russia’s junior hockey circuit, Dmitri Yakutsenak crossed over to North America and became a mainstay on the Prince George Cougars’ top-six. Currently situated on their top line alongside Brock Souch and Washington Capitals first-rounder Terik Parascak, Yakutsenak plays more of a supporting role. He gets pucks in deep and engages in the corners and along the end boards. He’s got decent playmaking ability and a strong release, and currently occupies the bumper spot on the Cougars PP. Yakutsenak can play both centre and wing, which gives a team flexibility to move him around in their lineup. However, it’s tough to envision what his projection will be, as he lacks any standout traits and characteristics to establish an identity. Even as 6’1 200-pound forward, Yakutsenak has a pretty lanky frame and could afford to add more aggression to play a checking role effectively at higher levels. He could pan out as a bottom-six forward at the professional level. (Kyle Dalla Zanna)

Connor Schmidt - Defense - Moose Jaw Warriors

It has been a difficult couple of seasons for Schmidt, after what looked like a promising start to his career. He was a 1st-round pick (14th overall) in the 2022 WHL draft, and as a 16-year-old he was part of Moose Jaw’s championship-winning team in 2024 (albeit as their seventh defenseman). The Warriors have struggled ever since then, however, and it’s fair to assume that the challenges of his environment had a negative impact on his draft stock and his development. On paper, there are undeniably some things to really like about his game, especially as a right-shot defender. He’s a smooth and agile skater who can explode into space and turn opponents. He’s dangerous with the puck one-on-one, and his goal-scoring ability is well above average for a blueliner of his age. His game has some bite in it at times. And while his actual numbers aren’t overly encouraging, it’s easy to believe that they would have been much better if he played on a roster where he was surrounded with more talent. The best-case scenario for Schmidt’s long-term development is pretty enticing, so a team could be handsomely rewarded if they grab him with a late-round pick and things break just right for him. (Derek Neumeier)

Andrew O’Neill - Center - Edmonton Oil Kings

Moving from the USNTDP program to the WHL this season, O’Neill joined the Oil Kings and immediately filled a team need for a right-handed centre with size. As the season progressed the team has used him as a key component in the bottom six of their lineup, as well as both penalty kill and second unit power play situations. O’Neill’s a bigger forward who skates well for his size. His acceleration is better than expected and he surprises opposition players with his ability to get to areas of the ice quickly. That short area speed helps to make him an effective penalty killer and he defends space well. He also uses that speed, along with an active stick, to create counter attacks on the penalty kill, stealing pucks from point men and sprinting down the ice on breakaways. In the offensive zone he’s an effective forechecker, getting to defencemen along the end boards quickly. Once there, he’s more than willing to finish defenders with hits. The weaker areas of O’Neill’s game are in his offensive play. He has a good wrist shot but it’s not always accurate. He lacks offensive creativity and is a north/south skater who doesn’t handle the puck all that well. His lack of offensive skill likely makes him a fourth line energy forward with penalty kill utility at the pro level. (Adam Tate)

Kayd Ruedig - Defense - Everett Silvertips

Someone who jumped onto my radar early on this season was Kayd Reudig. Starting the year in Portland before being traded 10 games in, he really started to catch my eye while he was playing for the Kamloops Blazers. He was the quarterback on a very effective powerplay and it was impossible not to notice some of the offensive ability that Ruedig has. His skating immediately jumped off the page to me as his main strength on the ice, he is a very smooth skater that is able to be shifty with the puck as well as retrieve pucks effectively under forechecking pressure. He also sees the game well and is able to find lanes and make plays that many defencemen at this level can’t. His defensive zone isn’t a liability, but it will need some improvement as the competition gets better at the next level. Gaining more strength will be key for Ruedig and allow him to win more of those battles in the defensive zone and start the offence going the other way. (Mika Burns)

Tobias Tvrznik - Goaltender - Wenatchee Wild

Tvrznik made a huge statement in his WHL debut (and North American debut) by turning away 60 of 63 shots that he faced, and in the six months since then he has more than proved that his opening-night performance for Wenatchee wasn't a mere fluke. The Czech import has seen a mountain of additional rubber since then (11 games of 40 shots or more, and an average of roughly 35 per game), yet he has managed to remain remarkably consistent and efficient, earning him a lot of praise and respect among scouts. In many ways Tvrznik already looks the part of an NHL goaltender: he has filled out most of his 6-foot-4 frame, he wears pretty large equipment, and like many of the world's top netminders, he utilizes a straightforward and square blocking technique that lets his size do most of the work and doesn't burn up a lot of energy. Like all teenage goalies there are still things that he needs to work on — namely, his lateral movement and ability to reset to face secondary chances — but he has a better and sturdier foundation in place compared to almost all of his peers. Tvrznik could get picked pretty high in the 2026 draft because he checks off a lot of important boxes that teams look for in a goalie. (Derek Neumeier)

Michal Orsulak - Goaltender - Prince Albert Raiders

Orsulak’s play for various Czechian national teams until this season has been spotty and may have contributed somewhat to his being passed over in last year’s NHL Draft. There can be a bit of an overreliance on judging goaltenders based on their play in these tournaments. What scouts saw was a goaltender who struggled with puck tracking and played smaller than his 6’2” frame, often going down into the butterfly too early and exposing more of the net than he should. Orsulak joined the WHL this season, and while he’s in a good situation with a good team, his play has also been a strong contributor to Prince Albert’s record. There has been clear improvement in his ability to read plays and track the puck. His play reading, patience, and anticipation, has him staying on his skates longer and he doesn’t go into the butterfly as quickly as he used to. His positioning has also improved with better play reading, which in turn has helped his rebound control. His skating has always been good and he moves well for a larger goaltender. At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Orsulak develop into an AHL starter with a good chance of being an NHL backup. (Adam Tate)

Kadon McCann - Center - Medicine Hat Tigers

McCann isn't the type of player whose counting stats will jump off the page at you, but that's okay, because that's not where the strength of his game lies. He’s a shutdown center first and foremost, specializing in killing penalties and handling important defensive matchups. Playing on the powerhouse Medicine Hat Tigers has usually kept him lower in their lineup, though that’s not a bad thing, because it’s helping train him for the kind of role that could be his calling card for playing in the NHL one day. McCann certainly has the right tools for the type of job that he does. He’s fairly big and fairly strong, with a willingness to get his hands dirty and stick up for teammates. He moves around the ice reasonably well. He’s reliable in the faceoff dot, taking lots of draws on the season and winning more than half of them. And don’t look now, but he’s even scored over 20 goals, primarily because he plays hard and battles to get to the net in the offensive zone. There really isn’t a lot else to say or write about McCann because he’s such a straightforward player, but that won’t stop NHL scouts from finding him appealing to some degree. (Derek Neumeier)

Keets Fawcett - Wing - Regina Pats

Fawcett put himself on the radar of scouts with an impressive debut as a WHL rookie with the Calgary Hitmen in 2023-24, but didn't quite do enough to actually get himself drafted. He then got off to a slow start the following year, and a mid-season trade to the rebuilding Regina Pats made the situation worse, not better. Things were starting to look dire for his NHL chances, but the arrival of two budding young superstars in Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue has revitalized the entire Pats roster, with Fawcett being the biggest individual benefactor. The newly-20-year-old winger is legitimately dangerous, and sometimes even electrifying, when the puck is on his stick. He oozes confidence and vision offensively. He's pacey and can make plays with the puck at full speed, but he's also very adept at abruptly stopping up and slowing things down to create different options for himself. While he is a little lacking in terms of size and strength, he makes up for it by playing with a lot of intensity and focus. Fawcett is committed to Bowling Green University for next season, where he will have a great opportunity to claim a scoring-line role and continue his offensive development. (Derek Neumeier)

Matyas Man - Defense - Prince Albert Raiders

A big change of scenery can sometimes do wonders for a prospect's draft stock, and Man is a great example of that. After going unselected in back-to-back seasons playing in his hometown of Ostrava, Czechia, he made the decision to travel roughly 7,400 kilometers to Prince Albert to join the WHL's Raiders, a choice that is already paying dividends for him. Not only did the switch help him play his way onto his nation's World Juniors roster, his current club is primed for a deep playoff run, with both situations putting him in the sightlines of more scouts than ever before. Man is something of a throwback defenseman. He's tall and menacing, with no qualms about using those natural gifts to his advantage. His approach is all about disrupting opposing players as much as possible in his defensive zone, whether that’s getting his stick on pucks using his long reach, or using his hulking frame to block shots or wrestle opponents away from scoring areas. Crucially, his skating and puck-moving abilities are adequate for a guy of his size and style — definitely not great, but not so bad that they’re a serious liability. Man wouldn’t ever be anything more than a bottom-pairing defender at the NHL level, but he has a realistic chance of reaching that point. (Derek Neumeier)

QMJHL

#86 Niko Tournas (blue). Photo by Josie Steeves/Moncton Wildcats

Niko Tournas - Wing - Moncton Wildcats

Tournas is an overage winger whose path to the draft has been unconventional but increasingly promising. After a quiet stint in the USHL, he found his footing with a strong season in the NAHL, earning renewed attention. A smart pickup by Moncton Wildcats, he rewarded that opportunity by finishing sixth in league goal scoring, validating the organization’s belief in his late-blooming potential. He offers an appealing blend of size, skating, and scoring touch. Tournas protects the puck well, finds soft spots in coverage, and consistently positions himself as a shooting option. His stride is powerful and deceptive, enabling quick speed generation, and his shot is notable for his velocity, accuracy, and release. He excels on the power play from the half wall and contributes across all three zones, using reach and physicality to disrupt plays. His offensive habits—quick puck movement, cycling, and net-front presence—furthers enhance his value. Areas for improvement include inconsistent pace and effort during shifts, and defensive positioning that needs some refining. While his ultimate outcome is uncertain, he projects as a potential middle-six winger with power-play usage. Tournas is likely to be drafted in the mid-rounds, and even if not, he has a toolkit that should earn him a signing or camp invite. (Joey Fortin Boulay)

Philippe Veilleux - Wing - Val-d'Or Foreurs

Philippe Veilleux has taken big steps in his development since last season. After being passed up in the draft by NHL teams, the skilled winger is not only leading his team by almost 30 points this season, but is also currently second in the entire league with 95 points. Only turning 19 in late March, we have seen Veilleux take his offensive skill set to a next level. He has been showing great poise with the puck and seems in full control of the game at the QMJHL level, timing passes perfectly as his opponents commit with their stick. His shot has also been finding the back of the net all season, with most of his goals coming from precise shots in the slot rather than deflections or rebounds. Veilleux has always been an agile skater, using edges to display his fluidity, but the overall pace of his game has always been limited. While it has gotten better this year, he will still need to improve in this area in order to potentially reach the NHL level one day. (Jeremi Plourde)

Nathan Lecompte - Center - Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Nathan Lecompte has been one of the many offensive forces playing for Chicoutimi, the league leaders in goals. The small forward has been producing at above a point-per-game pace, with 62 points in 59 games. He finds most of his goalscoring success right next to the net, as he has mastered the timing of corralling and releasing loose pucks right in the slot. He is also quite strong on the rush, as he consistently plays with one of the highest pace in the league. His highly energetic style of play allows him to adjust his passing angles rapidly enough to be a great playmaker for his teammates, notably Lefebvre, Guité and Massé, who are skilled finishers. Lecompte doesn’t necessarily have the best vision or play selection, but understands his role well. If he builds on the goalscoring aspect, he could find a role in the NHL as an energetic, down the line-up, intense small forward. (Jeremi Plourde)

Marek Daníček - Wing - Newfoundland Regiment

Danicek earned draft attention after arriving in Newfoundland as a first-round CHL Import selection, following a dominant U20 season in Czechia where he led the league in scoring. He made an immediate impact, producing consistently and securing a role on the Regiment’s top line. He finished second on the team with 74 points and led in goals with 33. A highly skilled forward, Danicek’s game is built on dynamic puck control and creativity. He excels on the power play, particularly from the half wall, where he manipulates defensive coverage, initiates cycles, and creates passing lanes with deceptive movements. He’s equally capable as a shooter or playmaker and he usually supports the rush as a trailing option. While he shows decent defensive awareness, his overall impact at five-on-five is limited by a heavy first-step, lack of pace and an unwillingness to engage physically. Danicek remains a raw prospect whose development will depend on improving skating and physicality. Although projecting him as an NHL player is difficult, his offensive skillset suggests pro potential, likely as a top scorer at the AHL or European level. He may attract late-round interest but is more likely a camp invite. (Joey Fortin Boulay)

Louis Antoine Deneault - Goaltender - Newfoundland Regiment

Now in his third year in the QMJHL, Denault has taken enormous strides in his development from when he came into the league to today. The colossal netminder is just as big now as he was back then, but he couldn't have been more raw and unpolished at the time. It was almost like his game needed to be completely built from the ground up. It's abundantly clear that he has put in the necessary work, though, and he now finds himself as the de facto starter on a Newfoundland team with big plans for the playoffs. The main appeal with Denault is immediately obvious the moment that you first see him on the ice. He's a giant in the crease with a height of 6-foot-8, which puts him in a tie for the tallest goalie in QMJHL history. When he faces shooters head-on pucks tend to get lost in his equipment, and he holds his crease very well against chances in tight. There are unsurprising limitations to his quickness, reaction time, flexibility and dexterity, but these are the areas that he's currently improving, and the good parts of his game mostly outweigh the bad. Denault is undeniably a long-term project, but he's a unique and worthwhile one for a team to take on. (Derek Neumeier)

Kuzma Voronin - Wing - Moncton Wildcats

The Moncton Wildcats have a knack for finding little-known players and help them play at their best to give them more visibility for the NHL draft. For Kuzma Voronin, coming to play for them in the QMJHL this season looks like a terrific bet. Despite currently playing on the third line, Voronin is producing at a rate of slightly more than one point per game. The reason why he is so effective is that Voronin is playing at a very high pace, outskating most of his opponents. He uses his astonishing speed to create space in the offensive zone, where he can generate some offense even at top speed. Yes, his game revolves around his speed, but he is also a tenacious and hard-working player. He is always playing at high intensity, his feet never stopping on the ice. However, even if Voronin is not really a small player, he still needs to improve his strength to win battles for the puck and have his feet more stable on the ice. Some question marks remain with his decision with the puck at high speed, but he has shown this season that he has an interesting bottom 6 potential in him. Will any team take a chance on him in the next draft? (Jer Tremblay)

Shawn Carrier - Wing - Halifax Mooseheads

Shawn Carrier has increased his production significantly from last season, going from 44 to 61 points, playing 59 games in both years. The goal scoring has especially increased, going from 18 to 36. He leads the Halifax Mooseheads in goals and is second in points. It is clear to see why Carrier is finding so much success in the QMJHL. Finally getting first line minutes, he thrives as the Mooseheads’ main puck carrier, beating opponents with a combination of speed and skill. Him finding success in the goal scoring department should not come to as a surprise, as he has always, throughout his career, been able to record as many goals as assists everywhere he played. The reason it took a bit longer in the QMJHL is that Carrier needed to find his rhythm and timing in order to score while going at a higher speed, with less time to pick the perfect shot. He plays with a lot of confidence, and needs to continue on this path in order to find success at the pro level. In the QMJHL, he rarely gets challenged physically on the rush; this will happen a lot more at the pro level. He will need to either get even better skill-wise, or learn how to withstand significant physical pressure. (Jeremi Plourde)

Marcus Kearsey - Defense - Charlottetown Islanders

After a promising and productive draft year with Charlottetown two years ago, Marcus Kearsey was on many draft lists. However, at the draft in 2024, no NHL team took the chance on the 5’11” defender. Then last year was a big step back in Kearsey’s production, finishing the year with only 28 points. It was not the year of Charlottetown, but this season is completely different for the team and mostly for Kearsey. He is on pace to double his previous production and he is currently the fourth most productive defenceman in the QMJHL. His offensive game is mainly coming from his high-level mobility and agility. He possesses a lot of skills and awareness on the ice and he knows where his teammates are and where they will be on the ice. He likes to shoot from the blue line to generate dangerous rebounds or simply to beat the goaltender with smart-placed shots. On defence, Kearsey is way more active with his stick. He reads the plays well and often gets in the way, before starting an attack on the offensive zone. The physical side is not a strength for him even with his size and will probably never be. Teams could be interested in Kearsey for his ability to control the play and make smart decisions with the puck. With further development in the AHL, Kearsey could become an interesting third pair defender. (Jer Tremblay)

Elias Schneider - Center - Shawinigan Cataractes

Here is another European player who chose to come and play in the QMJHL hoping to gain more visibility. Elias Scheider played in the DEL U20 in Germany last year in his draft year season, producing a solid 64 points in 31 games. The Shawinigan Cataractes knew that he could have a solid offensive impact on their team, but he brings even more to the game. He is a smart two-way centre that mostly plays a North-South game. He intercepts a lot of pucks with his active stick and his smart off-puck readings, generating a lot of counter-attacks. He is often involved in the transition, often carrying the puck in the offensive zone when he can use his skills and his playmaking ability to create a scoring chance. He is a very smart passer, always calm with the puck. Although he is lacking some top speed and explosiveness, he makes up for it with good decisions. The only side of his game that needs to improve a lot if he wants to play at a higher level is the physical one. He is often getting outplayed along the boards or pushed away easily from the puck. His level of intelligence could give him a chance to break through an NHL line-up and play some hard defensive minutes on the bottom six. (Jer Tremblay)

Danai Shaiikov - Goaltender - Gatineau Olympiques

Shaiikov has been one of the more intriguing goaltending stories heading into the upcoming NHL Draft. Arriving as a CHL import pick, he quickly seized the starting role in Gatineau and emerged as arguably the team’s most valuable player. On a roster with limited offensive support—where the leading scorer managed just 35 points—Shaiikov consistently kept his team competitive while posting some of the league’s stronger numbers. His game is built on high-end athleticism and quickness. He tracks pucks well, squares to shooters effectively, and displays strong crease mobility. Shaiikov also plays an aggressive style, often challenging shooters and attacking pucks. His competitiveness stands out, as he battles relentlessly through second and third opportunities, giving his team a chance to win on most nights. However, his aggressive approach can work against him. When plays break down, he can scramble, lose control and look completely out of place on rebounds. He’s also slightly undersized as a goalie, which could limit him at the professional level. As a DY+1 overager, Shaiikov’s projection remains uncertain. With improved control, he could develop into a reliable 1B or backup, making him a worthwhile late-round draft consideration. (Joey Fortin Boulay)

Florent Houle - Wing - Sherbrooke Phoenix

Florent Houle has steadily emerged as a legitimate draft prospect, boosting his production to near point-per-game level while ranking second on his team in goals, despite playing fewer games than the leader Thomas Rousseau. His skating has taken a notable step forward, becoming more explosive and adding a new layer to his game. A versatile two-way forward, he is trusted in all situations, even late in games to protect leads. He mostly relies on speed, pace, and effort—he’s a powerful, agile skater who excels in transition and can win races or beat defenders wide. He plays a scrappy, physical style, consistently engaging along the boards and around the net. He’s disruptive in the neutral zone and provides reliable support down low. Offensively, he can move pucks through tight seams and maintain possession under pressure. That said, his offensive game lacks creativity and dynamism, and I’m not sold that it’ll follow to the pros. Also, teams would probably wish he would be a little bigger and stronger for his playing style. Houle projects as a bottom-six checking forward, likely needing a few years in the ECHL/AHL. He could warrant a late-round pick, thanks to his playoff-style traits. (Joey Fortin Boulay)

Liam Lefebvre - Center - Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Liam Lefebvre went from completely unknown by most people last season to a well-established name this year. He has spent the first half of the year with Rimouski, scoring 29 points in 34 games, before being traded to Chicoutimi. His production jumped after this, with 28 points in 22 games, and has even been ranked 70th in the Central Scouting north American rankings. Standing at 6’3, Lefebvre is a lanky center who loves shooting. In any given situation, Lefebvre has his eyes on the net and is looking to be fed the puck for one-timers. His wrist shot release is also amongst the best in the QMJHL. He is particularly dangerous on the rush, using his reach and mobility to push back the defense, then cutting back and looking for a scoring chance or a passing option. Lefebvre also loves to rattle the opposing team with his physical net front game. He has the frame and the shot to turn some eyes in his direction, but will need to continue improving the rest of his game in order to make it to the NHL. (Jeremi Plourde)

Carl Otto-Magnussen - Defense - Saint John Sea Dogs

After playing all of his junior hockey in Sweden, Carl Otto-Magnussen decided to go play in North America in the QMJHL for the 2025-2026 season, before joining the NCAA next year. Starting the year with the Moncton Wildcats, he was traded mid-season to the Saint John Sea Dogs where he is currently playing. Otto-Magnussen might not be a flashy or the most interesting player to watch play the game, but what surely interests the scouts is his effectiveness and his physical potential. Standing at 6’7”, he is literally a giant player on the ice. He has a clear physical edge on everyone and that will not change even at a higher level. On the ice, Otto-Magnussen plays the role of a shut down defenceman, which fits his best attributes. He can be physical along the boards and his big, big range often helps him win puck battles without too much effort or movement. Of course, the biggest issue in his game is his skating and his ease of movement on the ice, but he looks like he is still not used to his own size. If that could change sooner than later and he can improve his stability, a lot of teams could take interest in drafting a big player that can push everyone and play hard. (Jer Tremblay)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2026 NHL Draft: McKeen’s Early Season Favourites – WESTERN CANADA PART ONE – Giorgos Pantelas, Tobias Tvrznik, Beckett Hamilton, JP Hurlbert, Carson Carels, Liam Ruck

Derek Neumeier, Jamison Derksen, Mika Burns — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 13:15:43 +0000

Carson Carels (Photo by James Doyle - Prince George Cougars)

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 WESTERN CANADA

Derek Neumeier - Associate Director of Scouting

Giorgos Pantelas

Defense - Brandon Wheat Kings

6-foot-2, 211 pounds

Pantelas is currently one of the best under-the-radar prospects in the entire 2026 NHL draft class, but with just how well he's been playing since the beginning of this season that won't be the case for very long. There are already discussions happening about the talent and depth of this year's defensive crop (including fellow WHL blueliners Ryan Lin, Daxon Rudolph and Carson Carels), and Pantelas is playing his way into the upper tiers of those who play that position.

The Brandon Wheat Kings defender checks off an impressive number of different boxes that are in high demand among NHL teams. He's a proficient and well-rounded skater, who moves smoothly in all directions thanks to his balance and agility. Not only does he have ample size and reach at his disposal for making defensive stops, he also fully commits when making physical contact, playing hard and even backing it up with some genuine snarl at times. And even though his game does lean more towards his play in his own zone he's certainly no slouch up the ice either, with acute offensive awareness and the ability to quickly connect crisp passes.

Pantelas didn't exactly come out of nowhere, considering he was a 1st-round selection in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft, he played 61 games last year with the Wheaties as a rookie, and the fact that he won two gold medals for Canada within the past calendar year. Still, it's hard to not feel like he hasn't fully gotten the attention that he deserves yet. Part of that is him playing in a small, remote market in Brandon, and another part is the aforementioned depth of defenders in this draft class, especially Canadian ones. Would there be more buzz about him so far if he were American or Swedish, where he would likely be looking like the best blueliner coming out of either nation?

The lack of fanfare certainly won't last long, though. NHL scouts flock to players like Pantelas, and wider attention usually follows quickly. More than that, however, his on-ice play will do the talking for him. His collection of high-end tools is incredibly appealing, and with the big role and big minutes that he's already playing he should continue to take huge strides in his development this season. If everything keeps coming together for him at its current pace then he'll be a highly sought-after prospect come next June, maybe even getting picked as early as the front half of the first round.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Pantelas-Amazing-assist.mp4

This is a flat-out beautiful assist from Pantelas. He activates from the blueline, gets the puck under his control, uses his edges and body to protect it, then feeds a perfect cross-seam pass through four Swift Current players to a waiting teammate at the backdoor. All in all, that’s a high-level offensive sequence from him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Pantelas-Heads-up-assist.mp4

Another fantastic assist from Pantelas here, but this one comes on the powerplay. When the puck hits his stick he has options for what to do with it. He elects for the higher-risk, higher-reward play and executes it with laser precision. Great job by him for his awareness, his decision-making, and for whipping such a crisp pass tape to tape.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Pantelas-Huge-open-ice-hit-scrum.mp4

Here we see what Pantelas can do at the other end of the rink, and it’s just as exciting. He knew that the Bronco forward was going to be in a bad position once the pass was received, so he stepped up to lower the boom in open ice. You also have to give him credit for standing up for himself once he gets challenged.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-Pantelas-Sticky-1v1-erasure-hit.mp4

This clip isn’t quite as entertaining as the one right above it, but it still showcases Pantelas doing some stout defensive work. He correctly notices that his teammate is about to get caught flat-footed so he uses his skating to close the gap, before getting a swat at the puck, sticking close to his check, and then erasing the Vancouver player along the boards to win possession back for his team, all without taking a penalty. These types of plays are routine for NHL defenders, so it’s very encouraging that Pantelas is already looking so proficient at carrying them out.

Beckett Hamilton

Right Wing - Red Deer Rebels

5-foot-11, 173 pounds

It’s probably going to be a long and frustrating 2025-26 season for the Red Deer Rebels, who fell flat on their face coming out of the gate and don’t have a lot of talent on their roster. However, that environment could still be incredibly beneficial for the development of someone like Hamilton, who really established himself last year as a 16-year-old rookie and is already one of their go-to forwards. He’s playing on their top powerplay unit, he’s killing penalties, he’s shooting in shootouts, and he’s even getting some looks playing center. When a young player is progressing like Hamilton currently is, coaches in this situation don’t have much choice but to give him more opportunities and a bigger role.

Hamilton’s game, overall, is primarily built around one key trait: quickness. And that applies to the quickness of his skating, the quickness of his hands, and the quickness of his brain. All three parts work very well in conjunction, which results in him routinely darting around the ice and frequently getting involved in the play, especially in the offensive zone. He’s an eager shooter, and he creates a lot of shooting looks for himself in different ways, whether that’s by carving through opposing defenses with the puck on his stick, attacking open spaces to receive passes, or being the first player to jump on loose pucks. For a forward on the smaller side of things he plays with a lot of confidence and bravado, and no one who's seen him would question his drive or compete level. While he’s not the most purely skilled prospect in any one given area, he still finds various ways to get involved and make a positive difference for his club.

What does Hamilton still need to work on in his game? More than anything else it’s his physical development, which is a good sign for him because he’s definitely going to make progress in this area. He’s pretty short and looks light as a feather at times, and these will probably always be disadvantages for him to some degree, but you can see where there’s still more room left to grow and physically mature. He’ll eventually add more muscle and strength, which in turn will make him even better at skating and protecting the puck than he already is.

Undersized players have seen their draft value decline in recent years as teams increasingly prioritize size and strength, but the best ones still get picked eventually, and more and more of them crack the NHL each year. Considering Hamilton’s current trajectory, and how the positives of his game work to minimize the negatives, he should draft a lot of attention from scouts in the coming months.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Hamilton-ping-pacey-play-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

This clip of Hamilton showcases multiple different things mentioned above. He’s tracking the play intently and hungry for the puck, which leads to hitting the post on a great scoring chance after cutting between two defenders, as well as him keeping possession for his team after being the earliest bird to pick up a loose puck that pops out of a board battle.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Hamilton-ping-pacey-play-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Similar highlight of him here, where he’s staying in motion and tracking the play, and once again pounces quickly on a loose puck. This time, however, he rips the shot right under the crossbar.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Hamilton-hustle-chance.mp4

Hamilton’s skill level doesn’t quite match up to the best of the best prospects from this draft class, but that doesn’t stop him from still being a dangerous player in transition. And just like the first two clips, he turns one great scoring chance here into a second great scoring chance because he’s playing at such a high pace and is smart enough to maximize the opportunity that presents itself. It’s the same story again and again: quick feet, quick hands, quick brain, all working together.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-Hamilton-Non-effective-hit.mp4

Give Hamilton credit where it’s due in this clip: he finishes his check on the forecheck, which is exactly what he was supposed to do. But you can see just how light he is and how ineffective that hit actually was. While he usually doesn’t shy away from making contact, his inability to win physical battles will probably always be a hindrance for him, in a variety of different ways.

Tobias Tvrznik

Goaltender - Wenatchee Wild

6-foot-4, 180 pounds

If Wenatchee entered the 2025 WHL Import Draft with the intended purpose of finding a workhorse starting goalie, then it's safe to say that they accomplished their mission. Tvrznik has been quite a revelation for the Wild, keeping the team competitive when they've been outshot and outplayed, which has been the vast majority of their games so far. As of this writing he's had to face more than 40 shots in all of his games, including getting peppered with a staggering 63 shots in his WHL debut, but he's still managed to hold the fort every time. You could even go so far as to say he's been their early-season MVP.

The Czech netminder fits the same kind of mould as a lot of modern NHL goalies. He's a giant who naturally covers most of the net simply by existing in the crease, and he utilizes that advantage by wearing bulky gear and playing a simple and straightforward blocking style. He stays impressively square in his stance and prefers to conserve his energy by letting pucks hit him. That being said, he's not a good goaltender just because he's big. His mental game is very solid, with keen play-tracking and the ability to stay calm under duress.

Like a lot of goalies his size, he does have some issues with his agility and quickness. He can get exposed in his lateral movements because he doesn't always set his feet fast enough, and there are times where he has to resort to attempting awkward desperation saves because of a lack of nimbleness or fluidity when resetting to make second and third saves. Overall, though, his good traits still outweigh the bad ones.

This is actually Tvrznik's second year of draft eligibility, after going unselected this past June following a full season that he spent in Czechia's top junior league. But goalies are the hardest position to scout, and their development is the hardest to predict. If you compare him to other 2007-born goalies who are currently playing across the CHL, including ones who actually were drafted, he measures up pretty well with what he has accomplished thus far. If he can keep this kind of momentum going over the next few months then there will surely be at least a few NHL teams that won't want to let him slip through their fingers twice.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Tvrznik-Tracking-and-staying-focused.mp4

This clip is a good summary of how Tvrznik performs between the pipes most of the time: blocky and disciplined in his technique, attentive to the play unfolding in front of him, poised and challenging as the opposing team gets repeated scoring looks. It’s not flashy or exciting work, but it’s incredibly important for goalies to be able to bend without breaking under pressure.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Tvrznik-Blocker-breakaway-save.mp4

Fantastic blocker save by him here, which he makes look easy. The shooter didn’t have much daylight to aim for. Tvrznik isn’t bad with his limbs, either, and isn’t afraid to try using them regularly, unlike a lot of huge goalies at his age.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Tvrznik-Huge-recovery-save.mp4

Here’s something a little more flashy. While that’s not an ideal rebound to give up, he immediately knew where it bounced out and reacted quickly and assertively to make a heroic stop.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-Tvrznik-Poor-lateral-push.mp4

On the flip side, here’s what it looks like when his bulkiness and lack of mobility can get him in trouble. His feet aren’t set and he’s not fast enough moving post to post.

Jamison Derksen - North American Video Scout

JP Hurlbert

LW - Kamloops Blazers

5-foot-11, 176 pounds

JP Hurlbert made the jump from the USHL to the WHL this season, thanks to the changes in NCAA player eligibility with the CHL. Even though the Blazers selected the Texan in the first round in 2023, Hurlbert had his eyes set on playing NCAA hockey, so he joined the US National Team Development Program instead. Hurlbert led the USNTDP in scoring last year and has set the WHL on fire since his arrival in Kamloops, leading the entire CHL with 24 points through 11 games.

Hurlbert's hands and IQ are what set him apart as an offensive weapon. He is excellent at pulling the puck out of piles and deking around opponents. He also has a very dangerous wrist shot that he isn’t afraid to use from long-range, which forces defenders and goalies to respect him as a shooter. With the puck on his stick, he is also able to draw attention before moving the puck to a teammate, often in a prime scoring opportunity. His dual threat ability as a shooter and a passer not only makes him dangerous at even strength but also allows him to play the flank on either side on the Kamloops powerplay, where he has six points so far.

While Hurlbert’s numbers look incredible, he is far from a perfect player at this stage. Though he is very mobile laterally, he has a long way to go when it comes to improving his speed. Right now on the rush he either attacks defenders directly to deke around them 1 on 1 or he cheats offensively and blows the zone early in hopes of receiving a stretch pass. He also is on the smaller side and that often results in shying away from contact, opting instead to lean on his sublime puck skills to reach in for pucks.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Hurlbert-assist-to-trailer.mp4

Here is a good snapshot of Hurlbert on the rush. He attacks the defender directly because he doesn’t have the speed to challenge the defender wide. He still ends up beating the defender and possessing the puck, where he draws several defenders in and spies the trailer instead of forcing a pass to the slot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Hurlbert-Dig-Hands.mp4

Hurlbert digs it out of the defenders feet and his puck skills are on full display here.

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

As the most dangerous shooter on the powerplay, Kamloops really tries to draw the PK unit away from Hurlbert before feeding him in space. He’ll beat any goalie from there.

Mika Burns - Western Canada Regional Scout

Carson Carels

Prince George Cougars - #4

Defence

6-foot-2, 194 pounds

Carels is a player that shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called at the 2026 NHL Draft. The Cougars defenceman is someone who is relied upon in all situations and is the first one over the boards for the Cougars defence. He may not be the flashiest player on the ice but he is someone who does everything to a high level.

Last season, as a rookie, he managed to contribute 35 points in 60 games on a very good Cougars team. While 35 points is a very solid rookie season, I believe we will see a substantial increase in points for Carels this season. He is quarterbacking the top powerplay unit for the Cougars and possesses a dual-threat offensive game from the back-end. He has a big shot from the point but he is also a very good passer that has the ability to find teammates in scoring areas. His skating is one of the stronger areas of his game, and one of the areas that he uses it to his advantage is skating down the wall and joining the play low in the offensive zone to get a shot from a better position or pass it off for a scoring opportunity.

While being an effective defenceman on offence, it does not take away from his defensive game in any way. He is always one of the first defencemen to be called upon on the penalty kill and defending a lead late in a game. He has a very active stick in the defensive zone that he uses to block lanes and shut down opportunities for the opposing team. His skating is once again one of the things that allows him to be so effective in many situations. He is able to close on players quickly and shut down plays before they are able to develop, oftentimes closing them out before entering the zone. He is not afraid to use his body either and can throw hard hits without taking himself out of the play when the opportunity presents itself.

As of now, he does not necessarily project as a top unit powerplay defenceman at the NHL level, but the other intangibles that he brings will allow him to carve out a role as a very effective all-around defenceman. At 6-foot-2” and 194 pounds, he has a very good frame for an NHL defenceman and I expect him to play 10-15 pounds heavier as he adds more muscle. As we see in the NHL today, everyone needs to be able to skate well and be able to make plays quickly and Carels is someone who is able to do both.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Carels-PK-interception.mp4

Carels does a great job of using his body to box his player out from the front of the net and force him to lose possession. He then immediately gets into position to intercept the point shot and clear the puck down the ice on the penalty kill allowing his team to get fresh players on the ice.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Carels-activation-from-point.mp4

This clip shows how Carels likes to activate from the point in the offensive zone where can use his skating ability to hold on to the puck until he can generate a shot or set up a teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Carels-big-hit.mp4

A great example of how Carels can use his skating to close the gap on players when entering the zone and use his physicality to eliminate the chance of them creating any offence. Before the hit, he does a great job of using his stick and his positioning to stop the player from making a move to the middle of the ice which allows him to commit to the hit.

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

In this clip Carels kicks the puck to his teammate out wide and immediately drives to the net to beat the defenceman to the loose puck and bang in the rebound. A great example of his skating ability to win the race as well as his offensive IQ to read the play and knowing that the puck is going to the net.

Liam Ruck

Medicine Hat Tigres - #12

Right Wing

6-foot-0, 176 pounds

The 2026 NHL Draft might be the one where we see the next great pair of twins get selected into the NHL with Liam and Markus Ruck of the Medicine Hat Tigres. Of the two brothers, Liam is the goalscoring winger who showed great flashes of his scoring ability in his first WHL season where he was able to net 25 goals as a 16-year-old to lead all WHL rookies. Liam is not only a goal scorer though, he has shown a very good ability to pass the puck as well as he has started the 2025-26 season with six of eight points being assists through the first nine games of the season.

He was on a very good, WHL champion, Medicine Hat Tigres team last season that possessed a lot of star players like Gavin McKenna. This season Liam, along with his brother Markus, will be relied upon much more heavily to provide offence and lead this Tigres team which will be something that he has to adjust to.

The most dynamic aspect to Liam’s offensive game is his goal scoring ability. He has a very quick and deceptive release that can surprise goalies and it also allows him to get shots off in tight areas where others may not be able to. He doesn’t only rely on his shot to score goals, he is a very intelligent player and finds himself in good areas around the net where he can use his quick hands to beat the goalie. Throughout the early part of the season, he has also shown that he can be a dual-threat in the offensive zone and does often look to set up his teammates as well. As the season progresses, this will only add to his ability to score goals as the opposition will have to respect the fact that he may make a pass, as well as get a shot off himself.

The one obvious aspect that people will hold against Liam is that he has a smaller frame and can occasionally be knocked off the puck. The way that he is able to counter against his lack of size is by using his intelligence and skating ability. He is often able to protect the puck from defenders by using his agility and also knowing when and where to move the puck into areas that are difficult to intercept.

VIDEOS

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-L.-Ruck-assist.mp4

A very tricky little pass off the wall to set up his teammate in a prime scoring area, resulting in a goal. Before picking up the puck, you can see Ruck scan to not only see where his teammate is but also where the defenders are to be able to find the passing lane.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-L.-Ruck-slot-shot.mp4

What I like about this clip is right off the faceoff, Ruck gets into a position where he can support two of his teammates and be an outlet for them. He then follows the play as it develops and gets himself into a quiet area in the slot for a scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-L.-Ruck-breakout-and-rush.mp4

This clip shows Ruck break the puck out on his own and create a rush down ice where he finds a teammate in the middle of the ice. When the puck is turned over, he doesn’t give up on the play, he anticipates and intercepts the pass to keep possession in the offensive zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-L.-Ruck-fake-shot-assist.mp4

As I mentioned earlier, Ruck being a passing threat as well as a shooting threat can be a real benefit to his game. In this clip he shows that he can make the defenders and goalie bite on the shot and then make a very difficult backdoor pass to his teammate for a tap-in.