Tynan Lawrence – McKeen's Hockey

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

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

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

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

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

Canada

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

Players to Watch

Keaton Verhoeff (2026)

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

Ryan Lin (2026)

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

Tynan Lawrence (2026)

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

Mathis Preston (2026)

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

Dima Zhilkin (2027)

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

Alexis Joseph (2027)

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

Adam Valentini (2026)

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

Maddox Dagenais (2026)

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

Ryder Cali (2026)

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

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

Slovakia

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

Adam Goljer (2026)

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

Lucian Bernat (2026)

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

Jakub Floris (2026)

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

Oliver Ozogany (2027)

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

Timothy Kazda (2027)

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

Samuel Hrenak (2026)

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

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

Finland

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

Players to Watch

Oliver Suvanto (2026)

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

Juho Piiparinen (2026)

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

Samu Alalauri (2026)

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

Vilho Vanhatalo (2026)

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

Noel Pakarinen (2026)

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

Paavo Fugleberg (2028)

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

Luca Santala (2027)

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

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

Latvia

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

Players to Watch

Olivers Murnieks (2026)

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

Patriks Plumins (2026)

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

Martins Klaucans (2026)

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

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

Norway

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

Players to Watch

Niklas Aaram-Olsen (2026)

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

Philip Tollefsen (2028)

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

William Backlund (2028)

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

Benjamin Ask Haglund (2027)

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

Casper Kjølmoen (2026)

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

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

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

Caleb Malhotra

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caleb Malhotra

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

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

2026 NHL DRAFT: DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT – Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University

Felix Sicard — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:54:14 +0000

Tynan Lawrence

2026 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: C, Shoots: L

H/W: 6-foot-0, 185 pounds

Date of Birth: 2008-08-03

Tynan Lawrence is a coach’s dream. He’s a mobile, responsible, two-way center that can play in any situation – exactly the kind of player that teams covet early in the draft. Yet, in the middle of the most important season of his young career, Lawrence made a bold decision that could affect just how high he gets picked.

Lawrence turned heads last year as a 16-year-old in the USHL. He piled up 54 points in 57 games during the regular season, before leading his team to a championship with 18 points in 14 playoff games. The sky seemed to be the limit for a player who only turned 17 last August.

Except, certain limits started to set in. Lawrence had a solid Hlinka Gretzky showing, and the hype train stayed in motion. However, a pre-season injury kept him out of the lineup for weeks to start his draft year. Lawrence looked like himself when he came back – a transition machine that simply out paces the opposition – but a new reality began setting in. Was Lawrence being adequately challenged in a diminished USHL thanks to the ripple effects of NCAA eligibility expansion?

Enter Boston University. The Terriers announced just 13 games into Lawrence’s USHL season that he would be joining them. In an instant, Lawrence went from a dominant force in the USHL, to an extremely young freshman facing competition that is more mature in age and in physicality.

The decision yielded mixed results. Lawrence’s gifts remain obvious: an intelligent, supportive center that B.U. trusted immediately. The 17-year-old was outmatched despite the significant increase in competition, and that alone is noteworthy. Other draft eligibles making the leap to college also needed time to adapt this season.

Time is now of the essence, though. While others shined with more experience, Lawrence’s stock has dipped as his production did. Whether this was all an adaptation period, or a sign of things to come remains to be seen. Lawrence will likely have one final chance to prove his worth and hype at the upcoming U18’s; he should be a go-to player for Canada at the event. Through it all, there remains a very intriguing prospect worthy of further analysis.

Skating

Lawrence currently grades as an average skater, but with time, he could become above average.

The freshman pivot is a unique skater. He mainly uses forward cross-overs – where one skate “crosses over” the other – to get around the ice. Consequently, he expends less energy, allowing him to stay fresh late into shifts. He easily accesses both his inside and outside edges, which gives him a seemingly effortless glide. These mechanics allow Lawrence to be in near-constant motion, an important trait as a center.

Yet, the basics of Lawrence’s skating are not as advanced. He rarely gets into his forward stride, and when he does, it lacks depth and power. In tight areas, he has not shown the quick stop-and-start ability needed to evade contact. His NCAA footage already reveals that this lack of power makes it harder to separate against bigger and faster competition, where the margins are much smaller. Pro hockey will present the same issues.

The strengths in Lawrence’s skating ability are uncommon, while the weaknesses can, and are likely to improve. Time spent working on his strength and power should remedy the current lack of explosiveness. With the proper development program, this should be an area of strength for him down the line.

Lawrence is number 11 with the white stick in all clips.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKATING-1-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_0_26_-_0_34.mp4

As the trailer on the power play, Lawrence is able to exploit flat footed penalty killers thanks to this speed.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKATING-2-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_13_0_-_13_12.mp4

Lawrence is able to quickly build up speed with crossovers, but this fades as he gets into his forward stride.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKATING-3-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_28_35_-_28_461.mp4

Another example of how Lawrence’s forward crossovers allow him to attack in unconventional patterns.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKATING-4-lawrence_-_fs_-_3rd_period_2_43_-_2_571.mp4

Lawrence builds up speed here, but doesn’t have the agility to punch turn, instead settling for a glide.

Grade: 55

SHOT

Lawrence’s shot currently grades as average, and unlike his skating, has less obvious upside.

The now BU center found clever ways to get his shot off in the USHL. He would feint before receiving the puck, freezing his defender and allowing him to step into an open shooting lane. Off the rush, he favors hesitation sequences to unload, cutting to the middle before popping the puck into open space. These shot patterns should translate to the NHL and allow Lawrence to get shots through, though likely not at the same rate as in the USHL.

Lawrence’s shot selection can be problematic. He loves to challenge goalies short side from the left side of the ice, trying to pick the smallest corner. The issue here is that Lawrence does not have the pinpoint accuracy needed to justify these low value shots, which often end up as “reverse breakouts” for the other team.

The shot also isn’t the most fluid. Lawrence doesn’t get much twitch on his release and rarely looks to change the angle of his shot from a standstill position. His hands often appear locked into his hip, preventing him from really getting proper flexion on his shaft.

Shooting coaches are so widespread nowadays that Lawrence should improve a bit in this category, but the overall mechanical deficiencies and poor shot selection likely prevent him from being more than an average shooter in the NHL.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SHOT-1-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_36_57_-_37_4.mp4

Lawrence does well to sell a shot fake before stepping into more dangerous ice, but lacks the quick twitch on his shot to get it through sticks.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SHOT-2-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_18_58_-_19_4.mp4

Smart shot by Lawrence here as he recognizes traffic in front, and unloads a powerful shot that hits the outside of the frame. However, there’s not much deception in his release point.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SHOT-3-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_39_6_-_39_121.mp4

Lawrence forces a shot through traffic, doing little to sell the shot before changing the angle. This was in the USHL when time and space was much more available than in the NCAA.

Grade: 52.5

SKILLS

Lawrence’s skills are mostly average, though his skating allows him to make use of them at a higher rate than most other prospects.

The issues with Lawrence’s skills mirror those in his shot mechanics. His hands seem “locked” together, as he rarely has both hands out in front of his body, which allows for greater dexterity and range for puckhandling. Instead, his top hand is closer to his hip, which limits what he can do with the puck.

He rarely breaks down defenders one-on-one, with the majority of his one-on-one success in the USHL being driven by his skating. To his credit, he can take clever angles off the rush, selling an attack in one direction before cutting back the other way.

That being said, Lawrence does have a nice array of “quiet” skills. He is adept at receiving passes in movement, seemingly able to kick the puck up to his stick from any angle. Further, he can make quick handling plays in traffic, getting pucks over to teammates. The pace at which he plays allows him to get pucks into the slot at a higher rate than most. Even if those passes don’t always succeed, he’ll make defensive structures sweat with his relentless attack.

Lawrence is unlikely to dazzle with his skill in the NHL, but his softer skills are going to be appreciated by his future teammates and coaches and will allow him to be an important connective piece on any line.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-1-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_11_42_-_11_48.mp4

Lawrence attempts a simple loose puck deke in a crowd of defensemen, immediately turning it over. This worked for him in the USHL, not so much in the NCAA.

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Lawrence does well here to sell the outside lane before cutting back inside on a flat-footed defender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-3-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_5_17_-_5_271.mp4

Lawrence shows poise and quick touch ability here as he weaves into middle ice before making a play to a teammate. This was a defining trait of his in the USHL, and the extent to which he brings it back into his game will go a long way in boosting his projection.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-4-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_19_1_-_19_81.mp4

Once again, Lawrence shows an ability to handle in tight before feeding a teammate for a finish.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-5-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_24_19_-_24_281.mp4

Lawrence shows off a Crosby-esque skate-to-stick pass reception before attempting a touch into middle ice. His pass receptions are above average and bolster his transition game.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-6-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_21_8_-_21_171.mp4

Lawrence sidesteps a defender with one hand on the stick thanks to his speed. A play that is unlikely to translate in the NHL.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-7-tynan_lawrence_-_3rd_period_11_55_-_12_7.mp4

Lawrence does well here to seal off the wall, intercepting a pass. He then picks up the loose puck on his backhand and finds a teammate in the slot for an all-important go-ahead goal in the third period.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-8-tynan_lawrence_-_3rd_period_11_55_-_12_7.mp4

Lawrence makes a simple, but important quick-handle play in the neutral zone here, which allows him to spring a teammate on his backhand for a clear attacking lane, eventually leading to a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SKILLS-9-tynan_lawrence_-_1st_period_24_36_-_24_48.mp4

Lawrence wins a puck battle along the wall, then makes a deft stickhandling maneuver to exit the zone. Maybe a risky play, but this is another one of those "connective" plays that teammates love.

Grade: 55

SMARTS

Lawrence projects as an average thinker of the game from an offensive standpoint, but as an above average one defensively. He excels in the small details, but the higher level, creative playmaking is where he’s currently struggling.

With the puck, there are two sides to the coin. Lawrence excels at making the smaller, connective plays. He can make the quick touch pass to get out of the defensive zone, or a deft backhander while slicing through the neutral zone. These are the kind of plays that help drive transition success in the NHL. Late in games, when teams need a zone entry to get set, there’s a ton of value in having a player who can easily cross the offensive blueline. Once again, this solidifies his projection as a potential play-driving center in the NHL.

Yet, when it comes time for the bigger ideas, such as manipulating space to create a passing lane, or finding teammates in dangerous areas, Lawrence falls short. He often ignores open teammates in the slot or will face a play into the middle off the rush without anyone there. The BU power play is a steady stream of Lawrence making simple passes, trying low percentage shots, and generally not creating dangerous offense.

Off-puck positioning is usually a problem area for players this young. Not for Lawrence. Even as a 17-year-old in the older NCAA, he’s almost always in the right spot without the puck, filling lanes, not overcommitting, and protecting the middle.

Where he really shines, though, is in his ability to apply back pressure and pick-pocket opponents. Listen to any NHL coach talk for any period of time, and the term “back pressure” will likely come up. It’s an integral part of modern defending, and Lawrence’s ability to do so should augment his future NHL team’s defensive game. Couple that with his transition ability, and it’s a very tantalizing skill set.

Lawrence is undoubtedly a smart player, but don’t expect the kind of next-level play-making sequences you’d usually see from a center ranked this high in the draft. That doesn’t mean he can’t be an overwhelmingly positive factor for his team thanks to his smarts, though.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-1-lawrence_-_fs_-_3rd_period_34_48_-_34_57.mp4

Lawrence does well to gain some separation out wide, but forces a backhand pass into the middle despite two Providence defenders in the lane. The idea is fine, but there’s a lack of recognition of the risk involved.

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Lawrence negates a PK exit, and then smartly floats a puck cross-ice to a teammate, who immediately regains the zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-3-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_14_30_-_14_37.mp4

Lawrence opts for a low-percentage short side attempt when he has an open teammate in the slot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-4-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_10_43_-_10_52.mp4

Lawrence makes a clever hook pass here on entry and then fans out as a shooting option. The entry was nice, but he’s not threatening once he gives the puck up.

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Lawrence settles for a bad angle shot while having an open teammate in the slot. Unclear if he saw him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-6-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_33_46_-_33_58.mp4

Lawrence does well to gain the zone but then negates the advantage by throwing the puck on net without support.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-7-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_10_43_-_10_53.mp4

Another low percentage play.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-8-lawrence_-_fs_-_3rd_period_29_32_-_29_40.mp4

Forces a play instead of moving the puck to an open teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-9-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_0_9_-_0_20.mp4

Nice initial entry, but wastes it with a low percentage backhand.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-10-tynan_lawrence_-_1st_period_1_26_-_1_38.mp4

Lawrence hustles back despite being fatigued and applies just enough pressure to slow down his opponent. This allows his teammate to get a stick on the puck, and he eventually turns the play.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SMARTS-11-tynan_lawrence_-_3rd_period_18_42_-_18_54.mp4

Lawrence uses his crossover speed to get back into the neutral zone, lift the stick of his opponent, recover possession, and immediately turn the play back the other way.

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Another sequence where Lawrence uses his closing speed to break up an opposing rush and turn the play the other way.

Grade: 57.5

PHYSICALITY/COMPETE

Lawrence projects as average from a physicality standpoint, but his competitiveness grades out as a touch above average.

He does not have the size or physical tools to really dominate the game from a sheer physicality standpoint. Nor does he often seek to initiate contact, which is an area that must improve as he climbs up the ranks.

However, Lawrence’s competitiveness cannot be questioned. What he lacks in physicality, he makes up for by being consistently engaged, using his skating ability to find himself in the middle of the action. He’s not quite a dog on a bone like a Carter Bear type, but he certainly does not shy away from getting into the thick of things.

As Lawrence matures physically, this area should be a net positive for him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PHYSICAL-1-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_34_51_-_35_5.mp4

Lawrence chips a puck in, pursues with speed, ties up the defenseman, and eventually strips the puck to make a play to the middle.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PHYSICAL-2-lawrence_-_fs_-_2nd_period_0_46_-_0_561.mp4

Great F1 tracking, closes the distance and recovers possession.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PHYSICAL-3-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_25_4_-_25_11.mp4

Smart stick to break up a play, makes a play to the middle.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PHYSICAL-4-lawrence_-_fs_-_1st_period_6_27_-_6_361.mp4

Cuts off an opposing sequence, feeds the breakout.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PHYSICAL-5-tynan_lawrence_-_1st_period_16_1_-_16_13.mp4

Lawrence gets into a shooting lane, recovers possession, and eventually feeds a breakout. This sequence shows both his compete and his smarts to make a play to the middle.

Grade: 55

OFP: 55.25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2026 NHL DRAFT: PRE-WJC TOP 32 DRAFT RANKINGS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP PREVIEW -GROUP A – Canada, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland – Canadians chase fourth consecutive title gold medal

Brock Otten, Jeremy Rivet, Marek Novotny and Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 15:08:10 +0000

GROUP A

Canada

By Brock Otten

Team Canada is hunting down its fourth straight Hlinka/Gretzky Cup gold medal, an event that they have largely dominated since its inception. Their odds of achieving the four-peat are fairly high too, given the strength of this year’s roster.

The defensive unit may just be the strongest group Canada has ever assembled for this event; scoring on Team Canada this year is going to be a huge challenge. Three of the team’s main defenders were key cogs for Canada in their U18 victory last May: Keaton Verhoeff, Ryan Lin, and Carson Carels. Daxon Rudolph was also there but played sparingly. After finding international success as underage players, this unit now tackles their own age group, which of course should be easier for them. Additionally, now that group also adds potential star Landon Dupont. It might not be fair.

Up front, the team will be incredibly balanced. They’ll have size, skill, and speed. Only Alessandro Di Iorio was a key member of that aforementioned U18 gold, so he’ll be leaned on heavily for his leadership. Outside that, expect Tynan Lawrence, Ethan Belchetz, and Mathis Preston to be the team’s key offensive figures and leaders.

Playing in Group A this year with Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland, Canada should be able to find success in the preliminary round. The team’s biggest threat to the four-peat is likely Sweden this year and they’ll be in Group B.

Key Players:

Keaton Verhoeff - Defense - University of North Dakota (2026)

Verhoeff made headlines this offseason by leaving the Victoria Royals of the WHL to play his draft year with UND of the NCAA. The big defender is the complete package; size, mobility, and two-way ability. Right now he’s the heavy favourite to go second behind Gavin McKenna in 2026 and with good reason. He should be one of the best defenders at this event and will captain this Canadian team.

Ryan Lin - Defense - Vancouver Giants (2026)

An unsung hero for Canada at the most recent U18’s, Lin was also a member of the CHL’s all-rookie team last year. He’s a high IQ puck mover who makes up for a lack of “physical tools” by being a strong critical thinker.

Carson Carels - Defense - Prince George Cougars (2026)

The third prominent member of that U18 defensive unit, Carels is a strong skating, two-way defender who, like Lin, is known for making heady plays with the puck. Interesting to note that of Canada’s top defenders at this event, Carels is the lone left-handed shot. He’s going to be playing a ton.

Landon Dupont - Defense - Everett Silvertips (2027)

The reigning CHL Rookie of the Year and top candidate for first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft, Dupont will have a ton of eyes on him at this event as an underager. But the offensive wizard should be up to the challenge after a strong performance at last year’s U17’s, where he captured silver with Canada Red.

Tynan Lawrence - Center - Muskegon Lumberjacks (2026)

There was some thought (or perhaps wishful thinking on the part of Chicoutimi) that Lawrence would leave the USHL this year for the QMJHL, but the Boston University commit has stayed loyal to Muskegon. He helped the Lumberjacks capture a Clark Cup title last year and was the playoff MVP. He should be the top center on this team, with his strong two-way play on full display.

Ethan Belchetz - Wing - Windsor Spitfires (2026)

The massive winger is going to be a load for opposing defenses to handle at this tournament given his skill and power game. He had a great U17’s last year for Canada White, helping them capture the gold. Expect him to be a force on the powerplay working down low.

Mathis Preston - Wing - Spokane Chiefs (2026)

A dynamic goal scorer, Preston led the U17’s in goal scoring last year, helping Canada White capture gold. To go with his excellent release and scoring instincts, Preston is also a dynamic skater and skilled handler, which allows him to consistently attack downhill.

Alessandro Di Iorio - Center/Wing - Sarnia Sting (2026)

The lone forward from the gold medal winning U18 team, Di Iorio projects as this Canadian team’s swiss army knife. He can play center or the wing. He can play in any situation and could be one of the team’s relied upon penalty killers. The coaching staff is likely to lean heavily on his experience and leadership capabilities, which is part of the reason why he’ll be wearing a letter at the event.

Finland

By Jeremy Rivet

After a disappointing showing in 2024, where they finished seventh following a winless round-robin, Finland will be looking to reset and re-establish their identity at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Historically, the Finns have struggled at the Hlinka compared to other international tournaments, with just five total medals in tournament history. That said, they’ve shown flashes of competitiveness in recent years, including a bronze medal in 2022 — their first podium finish in a decade.

The 2025 roster doesn’t feature any projected first-round NHL picks at the moment, but it does include several of the country’s top U18 performers from last season, along with two defensemen who already represented Finland at the U18 World Championships: Juho Piiparinen and Samu Alalauri. This year’s squad leans heavily on structure, competitiveness, and size up front, with several physically mature forwards who can play heavy, north-south hockey.

Finland’s strength lies in its depth. There may not be any generational talents here, but nearly every player has produced at a high level in junior and brings projectable traits. The forward group is headlined by one of Europe’s most dangerous U18 scorers in Oscar Hemming, while the blue line features a mix of puck movers and big-minute defenders.

Expectations should remain modest — this is a balanced but not flashy roster — but if they can tighten up defensively, as Finland teams usually do, and get strong goaltending, the Finns could be a tough out in group play. They’re in a tough group against the likes of Canada and Czechia, but this roster has the tools to surprise.

Key Players:

Oscar Hemming – LW, Kiekko-Espoo, U18 SM-Sarja (2026)

The offensive catalyst for this Finnish group, Hemming dominated the U18 SM-Sarja last season with Kiekko-Espoo, scoring 35 goals and 63 points in just 31 games. He is probably the most likely Finnish player to rise up the draft boards throughout the year. At 6-foot-4, he blends pro-ready size with a goal scorer’s touch and natural instincts around the net. While his skating remains a work in progress, he finds space with smart routes and capitalizes with a quick, deceptive release. He’ll need to prove he can generate against stiffer competition and tighter checking in the U20 this season but expect him to be the go-to option on the power play and in key offensive moments at the Hlinka Gretzky.

Juho Piiparinen – RD, Tappara, U20 SM-Sarja (2026)

Piiparinen brings experience and poise to Finland’s back end. He played top four minutes at the U18 World Championship this past spring and spent most of last season logging steady minutes in the U20 league. A mobile, 6-foot-3 right-shot defender, he’s not flashy but plays a composed game and defends well with his stick and positioning. He’ll likely be leaned on in all situations, particularly on the penalty kill and late-game scenarios. Don’t expect big point totals, but he’s a stabilizer who should log 20+ minutes a night. This season, he is expected to see minutes in the Liiga with Tappara at some point.

Samu Alalauri – RD, Pelicans, U20 SM-Sarja (2026)

Another returning player from the U18 Worlds, Alalauri has the tools to be a quiet standout. At 6-foot-2, he’s a mobile right-shot defender who handles pressure well and moves pucks efficiently. He’s unlikely to rack up points, but he consistently makes the right play and rarely panics under pressure. With Piiparinen, he’ll form one half of Finland’s top shutdown pair and could play 5-on-5, PK, and second PP minutes. A steady, understated presence who should help keep games close. Like Piiparinen, he should see action in the Liiga this season with Pelicans.

Oliver Suvanto – C, Tappara, U18 SM-Sarja (2026)

A skilled and creative center who had 42 points in 42 U18 games last year, Suvanto brings much-needed playmaking to Finland’s lineup. At 6-foot-3, he has the frame to protect pucks and operate down low, but it’s his vision and ability to read plays that make him effective. He’ll likely slot into a top six role and be featured on the power play. If Finland’s offense is going to click beyond Hemming’s finishing, Suvanto’s distribution and puck touches will be a big part of it. After a point per game season last year, Suvanto is ready to see action in the U20 with Tappara this season.

Luka Arkko – LW, Pelicans, U18 SM-Sarja (2026)

A 6-foot-3 power forward with a raw but intriguing toolkit, Arkko brings size, reach, and flashes of skill to Finland’s forward group. He produced 35 points in 38 games at the U18 level last season and added a few more in a late-season stint with Pelicans U20. While his skating still needs refinement, he’s strong on the puck, works along the boards, and can finish in tight. He was the top goal scorer for Finland U17 last season, and his shot is really his biggest strength. This year, he should be able to establish himself at the U20 level with the Pelicans. If he finds chemistry and plays with pace, he could be a valuable piece for Finland.

William Gammals – G, Tappara, U18 SM-Sarja (2026)

Goaltending is always pivotal in short tournaments, and Gammals will have the first crack at the starter’s role. He posted a solid .910 save percentage and 2.69 GAA in 33 games last season and he was the most successful of the goaltenders that played for Finland U17 last season in terms of wins with 5 including 2 shutouts. He’s quick laterally, tracks well through traffic, and battles hard on second chances. While not overly big (6’0”), he plays with structure and confidence. If Finland wants to upset one of the big teams in Group A, Gammals will likely have to steal a game.

Wilmer Kallio – LW, TPS, U20 SM-Sarja (2026)

Kallio quietly put up excellent numbers last year with 35 points in 24 U18 games and added 11 more in 19 games at the U20 level. A slick puck handler with good edgework, he can carry the puck through layers and create offense off the rush. He’ll likely be put in the top 6 and help drive a scoring line. Kallio still needs to add strength, but he’s crafty enough to make a difference against top competition. This season, Kallio will try to build on his success from last year. Of note, Kallio is the son of former Atlanta Thrasher Tomi Kallio.

Czechia

By Marek Novotny

Czechia’s U18 squad is gearing up for a shot at a third straight medal at the prestigious Hlinka Gretzky Cup — and this year, the challenge comes with a home-ice twist. New head coach Jan Tomajko has named his 23-man roster for the tournament, which will be staged for the first time in Brno and neighbouring Trenčín from August 11–16. The group blends proven international experience with promising faces.

The roster includes a mix of eight defenders and thirteen forwards, supported by two goalies—František Poletín (Pelicans Lahti, Finland) and Martin Psohlavec (Karlovy Vary). Among the defenders are standouts Lukáš Kachlíř (Liberec), who already represented at U18 Worlds as a 15-year-old, and Jiří Kamas from Plzeň.

A major blow is the absence of Šimon Katolický, regarded as a top 2026 NHL prospect. An appendix surgery has ruled him out entirely, significantly impacting Czech offensive depth.

The tournament format will see Czechia face Switzerland, Finland, and Canada in consecutive evenings at Brno’s Winning Group Arena, with the goal of advancing to the semifinals and continuing the medal streak achieved under former coach David Čermák. Now, under Tomajko’s guidance and backed by a passionate home crowd, the young Czech squad will aim to turn promise into podium once again.

Key Players:

František Poletín - Goaltender - Pelicans U20 (2026)

The starting goalie for Czechia, Poletín impressed during U18 Worlds with a standout quarterfinal save performance against Canada. Now playing with Pelicans Lahti in Finland, he brings international experience, is poised in pressure situations, and has some solid puck-handling ability. Reliably consistent, experience at U18 Worlds gives him an edge despite his youth.

Lukáš Kachlíř - Defense - Bili Tygri Liberec U20 (2027)

Kachlíř already played at the 2025 U18 Worlds when he was just 15, and he seems super mature for his age when he's on defense. Playing for Liberec, he really helps Czechia move the puck up the ice as a very mobile skater and is great at keeping the right distance from attackers. He does need to get stronger to handle those tough forwards, but he's got a cool head and good defensive instincts that you don't usually see in someone so young.

Jiří Kamas - Defense - Penticton Vees (2026)

Jiří Kamas, a defenseman from Plzeň, who has decided to play overseas in the WHL for the Penticton Vees in the upcoming season, can really move. He's good at getting the puck out of his zone and plays well at both ends of the ice. His skating and how well he keeps attackers in front of him make Czechia's defense better. Even though he didn't play at the U18 Worlds, he's shown he's ready through his play with his club team. He just needs to get stronger and make better decisions in the zone when the pressure's on.

Šimon Bělohorský - Wing - Guelph Storm (2027)

Šimon is a goal-scoring winger, who will be shooting pucks for the Guelph Storm of the OHL in the 2025/26 season. He's got a quick release and knows how to finish plays. Even for his age, he's got great puck control and makes smart moves in the offensive zone. He makes good decisions when the pressure's on, has a good sense of where to be, and is good at creating chances when rushing the net or up close.

Filip Novák - Forward - HC Sparta Praha U20 (2026)

So, this kid starts out in Chomutov—barely a teenager, still rocking ninth grade—already mixing it up with the older kids. Not long after, boom, he’s off to Prague. At thirteen, he’s skating in the U17 Extraliga. Thirteen! He's a great talent who can lead the Czech attack. He's a smart forward with nice puck skills who can make plays and score goals. He has a dynamic two-way game – not only is he a shooter, he is also a play driver.

Michal Hartl - Forward - HC Kometa Brno U20 (2027)

Forward Michal Hartl, born in 2009, is one of the best players in his age group, proving to be a scoring machine and a consistent producer at several levels. One of the youngest players at the Hlinka/Gretzky, Hartl has the ability to execute plays through the neutral zone and put himself on rushes to create opportunities. He can produce, finish, and find open space all at high speed. Combination of those tools makes him a 2027 NHL Draft high-upside prospect.

Switzerland

By Chapin Landvogt

This is Tournament 1 after the disastrous result that was the 2025 U18 Worlds in Texas. It took a relegation round shootout, but Switzerland has been relegated at the hands of Norway and enters the Hlinka Gretzky Cup already preparing for next spring’s D1A U18 Worlds, where there can be no other goal than to gain promotion. Playing against Czechia, Canada, and Finland at the HGC means that Switzerland will, once again, be the heavy underdog. At least there’s no relegation here and even if the team should finish last, there’ll be a final placement game against the last-placed team in the other group to better test their metal.

For head coach Patrick Schöb, this tournament will be of great value in determining where several of his most important players are at for the all-important tournament next spring. Camp included 3 goalies, 10 defensemen, and 14 forwards, but another 15 players are listed as possible call-ups. None of goalies or defensemen were at the U18 Worlds this past spring while the team’s top 3 forwards heading into this tourney were. Peterborough Petes draft pick Yanis Lutz will also look to be one of the go-to players up front.

As has been the case in recent years, only Germany and Slovakia look like squads that the Swiss could leave behind them next week and chances are very good that they’ll meet one of those two in the placement game for 7th overall. But again, this tournament is going to be all about taking a first step towards gaining promotion next spring. For spectators, there will be a few very interesting players to keep tabs on.

Key Players:

Raphael Achermann - Wing - Rimouski Oceanic (2026)

A lefty shot winger headed to Rimouski of the QMJHL for the upcoming season, Achermann is one of the few players on this team who spent the entire 24-25 season in Switzerland’s U21 league entirely as a 16-year-old, putting up 25 points in 43 regular season games. Sneaky on the attack and used to putting up with rough stuff.

Fabrice Bouvard - Center - GCK Lions U20 (2026)

Bringing good size to the table for a forward of his age and ilk, Bouvard stepped all over U17 competition before becoming his U20 team’s sixth best scorer with 23 points in 42 games. A regular contributor for the nation’s U17 and U16 teams in international friendlies, the thought is that he has an outside shot at NL action this winter. A top 6 role at the HGC should be a given.

Jonah Neuenschwander - LW - EHC Biel-Bienne (2027)

Definitely the most interesting player to watch this summer, the 6-foot-3, 182-pound underager (just 16) is a top prospect for the 2027 draft and already brings WJC, U18 Worlds (4 assists in 5 games) and NL (3 assists in 15 games) experience to the table. This will be the first event of his DY-1 season and there’s a ton to be excited about for a player many feel will one day join the likes of Kevin Fiala and Nico Hischier as an offensively impactful Swiss NHL forward. Barring injury, he may represent his country at more international tournaments this season than perhaps any other single player out there.

Vito Thoma - RHD - EHC Kloten U20 (2026)

A smaller mobile defenseman with some jump in his game, Thoma had some impressive play as a puckmover in Switzerland’s U21 league this past season (13 points in 25 games) while his 26 points in 22 games in the nation’s U17 league gave him the top PPG average among defensemen in the league. He did all this as a 16-year-old, who just turned 17 on July 29th.

Clemens Troxler - C/W - Linköping HC U20 (2026)

Troxler is a 2025 U18 Worlds returnee who is set to join the Linköping program in Sweden for the upcoming season. The skilled multipositional forward has shone as a playmaker in Switzerland the past two seasons and was already seventh in scoring on his U21 league team as a 16/17-year-old. Good size and some impressive decision making with the puck makes him intriguing.