The Scouting Season for the 2026 NHL Draft Begins
With the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup now finished, the scouting season for the 2026 NHL draft unofficially begins. Junior teams are about to start their training camps, NCAA players are settling into their campuses, and the hockey season is just around the corner. As happened last year, certain players will dominate the conversations at the top of the class. Rule changes are causing players from the Canadian junior league to move to the NCAA. It will be interesting to closely follow their development and the impact that the more experienced competition will have on them. NHL teams made it clear at the 2025 draft that big defensemen and skilled, gritty forwards are highly valued. This season, there will be a plethora of right-handed defensemen in the top 10 discussion, as well as some very talented forwards that many teams will be keeping a close eye on. These are the players worth knowing, especially if your team isn’t shaping up to be a Stanley Cup contender this season.Note: This list is in alphabetical order, except for the favorite to be the first selection in the 2026 draft, which heads the list.
Gavin McKenna
LW, Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA) This is the most obvious name on the list. The buzz surrounding his decision to play in the NCAA reached “SportsCenter”, demonstrating the stellar quality of this prospect. McKenna was one of the best players in the Canadian Hockey League last season, and will be one of the best, if not the best, players in the NCAA this season. Upon joining Penn State, McKenna is an offensive force that will make you jump out of your seat. Primarily a playmaker, McKenna is often the best player on the ice. Attracts defensive attention, makes plays at full speed, and turns every skater on the ice into a scoring threat thanks to his elite puck distribution skills. He is expected to be among the top NCAA players in transition, leaving defenders in trouble and playing in every key situation. The NCAA will give McKenna the opportunity to strengthen his slender frame and learn to play against bigger and stronger opponents as he prepares to compete in the NHL next October. You could say he’s a player to watch, but the reality is that he’s the player to follow in this class, and he’ll appear in all highlight reels.Ethan Belchetz
LW, Windsor Spitfires (OH) A huge winger playing for the Spitfires, Belchetz’s 6-foot-5-inch physique will be impossible to miss. He has developed the ability to impose himself physically to impact the game, which was evident at the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for Canada. He is learning to use his body along the wall to protect the puck, unbalance players, and make his way into dangerous areas of the ice. Given his physique and willingness to get physically involved, it’s easy to understand why teams are excited about him. He’s a powerful winger with above-average puck skills and shooting ability. If he can add speed and aggression to his game, it won’t be surprising to see teams select him in the top 10, in the same way they did with Brady Martin and Porter Martone in the 2025 class.Viggo Björck
C/W, Djurgårdens (J20) It’s generally a good sign when you break scoring records and get pulled from your age group (Hlinka) to play in the World Junior Summer Showcase. Björck fits this profile. He is a very skillful center who possesses a great playmaking ability. His creative playing style shows elite hockey intelligence, and he has the ability to control the game with good acceleration, a quick shot, and above-average puck-handling skills. He is strong with the puck, defensively solid, and a projectable center for the NHL. If he grows a couple of inches, there’s a real possibility he’ll hear his name in the top five in June.Tynan Lawrence
C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) After a season in the USHL in which he was Clark Cup MVP at 16, Lawrence will be a fascinating player to watch in his final junior season. He is committed to Boston University for 2026-27. Succeeding as a young center in the USHL is no easy task, and Lawrence was up to the challenge. He has excellent instincts on both sides of the puck, allowing him to thrive on the penalty kill and the power play. I expect him to be on the top units of both for Muskegon this season. Offensively, he has soft hands and a smooth release and can let the pucks fly once he gets to the center of the ice. He should be a top creator in transition this season with his ability to make plays at speed on the counterattack. Lawrence will be a key driver of the play for the Lumberjacks and will be tasked with earning his minutes offensively while playing solid defensive hockey. Scouts like his work rate and instincts, and there is a path to being a top-10 pick if he masters the way some believe he can.
Ryan Lin
D, Vancouver Giants (WHL) It won’t make you jump out of your seat with dazzling tricks like some players on this list will, but there may not be a more complete defender in the draft. Lin is the type of player who often goes unnoticed because he doesn’t make mistakes. Close plays early with proper angles, a good stick, and excellent reads. His hockey IQ and decision-making are two of his best qualities, allowing him to make the simple play and get his team moving up the ice with a quality breakout pass. He plays in all situations, including the penalty kill and power play, and should be a workhorse for the Giants this season. His offensive numbers don’t jump out, but with some development in his skating, he has the potential to be an elite two-way defenseman who dictates the game on both sides of the puck. Lin will play 30 minutes per game for Vancouver this season and will have every opportunity to thrive offensively and defensively. If he grows a few inches (he’s 5-11), it will only help his draft value.Mathis Preston
C/W, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) One of the most exciting players to watch at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Preston is a crafty playmaker with smooth skating and elite hockey IQ. His offensive instincts constantly put him in the right place at the right time, drawing defenders towards him before making a play that creates a high-danger opportunity for a teammate. He is elusive, makes good decisions with the puck, and uses his quick hands to execute with ease. He will be one of the biggest offensive producers this season as a draft-eligible player. If he continues to develop his offensive arsenal, he will be a top-10 pick due to his potential as a high-level winger in the NHL. Given his late July birthday, I would expect him to be the star at the U18 world championship next year if he is not in the WHL playoffs. Wherever he plays, he will grab your attention with his outstanding skill.Chase Reid
D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Reid’s development curve has been fascinating to observe, and he will have every opportunity to lead the Greyhounds’ blue line this season. The right-handed defenseman is a good combination of smooth mobility, high-level offensive instincts, quality transition play, and enough raw talent to be molded into a legitimate top-line defenseman. He will undoubtedly be one of the best defensemen in the OHL this season and will be relied upon to play difficult games in key situations, producing offense. It’s rare for a defenseman to produce a point per game in Division I season, but Reid did it, and that put him on many NHL radars. If his defensive game keeps improving and he becomes elite on both sides of the puck in transition, he will be a highly sought-after product in the next draft.Ryan Roobroeck
C/W, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL) Roobroeck will be one of the most interesting prospects to watch this season, as many scouts are wondering where he will play. He turns a year older at the end of September, so he will be in his third season in the OHL after leading Niagara in scoring in his Division I year. The real question is whether Roobroeck will play as a center or as a winger, as he did in his first two seasons. At 6-4 tall, good skating, reliable play on special teams, and a quality shot for the NHL, his value will increase significantly if he can demonstrate his abilities as a play-driving center. If he develops his playmaking in the center of the ice to become a more dual threat and more physically engaged, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be a top-10 pick. There is a lot of potential for Roobroeck, and it will be interesting to see where he is positioned and how that impacts his ability to drive action.
Daxon Rudolph
D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Rudolph’s development took off in the second half of last season, and he should be the leader of Prince Albert’s blue line this season. With more opportunities, Rudolph is likely to post offensive numbers with his ability to beat defenders and find open teammates for high-danger scoring chances. He is a complete player with good skating that allows him to defend the puck well with space control. He has thrived when promoted to bigger games, and it will be interesting to see how he embraces that role throughout the WHL season in his draft year. Teams will be watching closely to see if he can continue to control the game on both sides of the puck and produce offensively as a right-handed defenseman.Ivar Stenberg
LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL) A transitioning ace with the ability to play on both flanks, Stenberg has turned heads regardless of the level he plays at. It seemed like the best player at the youth world showcase as a minor after sweeping the J20 league in his 17-year-old season. He was two weeks away from being draft-eligible in 2025 and is on track to be a lottery pick in the next draft. Playing in the SHL in your draft year is no joke, and Stenberg has the skating, creativity, and skill to thrive with Frölunda. His ability to elevate his teammates when executing a power play, facilitate offense in transition with speed along with elite playmaking and above-average instincts make him an attractive player. At this stage, he projects to be a top-line NHL winger, and his value will only improve if he continues to develop his off-puck game.Keaton Verhoeff
D, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (NCAA)A right-handed, 6-4 defenseman, who eats minutes, with leadership qualities? You know that has caught the attention of the NHL scouting world.
There are those who believe Verhoeff will challenge McKenna for the top spot in the next draft. Based on skill alone, it’s a difficult case to argue. But given Verhoeff’s size, his ability to impact the game, and the fact that he’s a right-handed defenseman, it wouldn’t be surprising if some teams felt that way. He is a go-to player in all situations and should be a key member of North Dakota’s blue line this fall. He makes a good first pass to get out of the zone, his shot is NHL caliber, and he has the hockey IQ to facilitate offense in the zone. Defensively, he is more advanced than others in this draft class, and that will only improve against tougher competition in the NCAA. If he can improve his skating to match the pace, defend in transition, and quickly transition to offense, he will be selected in the top three.
