The Scouting Season for the 2026 NHL Draft Begins
With the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup now finished, the unofficial start to the scouting season for the 2026 NHL draft begins. Junior teams are about to start their training camps, while NCAA players settle into their campuses. The hockey season is just around the corner. Like last year, some players will dominate the conversation at the top of the class. Rule changes are causing talented players from Canadian junior leagues to join the NCAA. It will be interesting to closely follow their development and the impact that the competition from older players will have. NHL teams made it clear at the 2025 draft that big defensemen and gritty, skilled forwards are highly valued. This season, there will be a plethora of right-handed defensemen in the top 10 discussion, as well as some skilled forwards that several teams will be keeping a close eye on. These are the players you need to know, especially if your team isn’t a Stanley Cup playoff contender this season.Note: This list is in alphabetical order, except for the favorite to be the first selection of 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 anticipation surrounding his decision to play in the NCAA reached “SportsCenter”, demonstrating the star 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 have you jumping 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 goal threat thanks to his puck distribution skills. He is expected to be one of the best NCAA players in transition, leaving defenders in trouble and participating in every key situation. The NCAA will give McKenna the opportunity to strengthen his physique and learn to play against bigger and stronger opponents as he prepares to compete in the NHL next October. You could say he’s one to watch, but the reality is that he’s the player to follow in this class and will appear in all highlight reels.Ethan Belchetz
LW, Windsor Spitfires (OH) This burly Spitfires winger, with his 6-foot-5 frame, is 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 with Canada. He is learning to use his body along the wall to protect the puck, knock players off balance, and make his way into dangerous areas of the ice. Given his physique and willingness to participate physically, 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 target him with a top-10 pick, much like 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 meets the requirements. He is a very skillful center who possesses a great ability to create plays. 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 chance he’ll hear his name in the top five in June.Tynan Lawrence
C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) After a season in the USHL where he was the Clark Cup MVP at 16 years old, Lawrence will be a fascinating player to watch in his final junior season. He is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 season. Having success 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 middle of the ice. He should be one of the primary playmakers in transition this season with his ability to make plays at full speed on the counterattack. Lawrence will be a key player 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 the potential to be 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 spectacular tricks like some players on this list, 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. Cut plays at the root with the correct 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 started on the ice with a quality initial pass. He plays in all situations, including the penalty kill and the power play, and should be the engine of the Giants this season. His offensive numbers aren’t impressive, 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 a 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 toolbox, 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 shine at the U18 World Championship next year if he isn’t in the WHL playoffs. Wherever he plays, he will grab your attention with his highlight-reel ability.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 fluid mobility, high-level offensive instincts, quality transition play, and enough raw talent to mold him into a legitimate first-pairing defenseman. He will undoubtedly be one of the best defensemen in the OHL this season and will be relied upon to play important matchups in key situations, producing offense.It’s rare for a defenseman to produce a point per game in a Division I season, but Reid did it, and that put him on the radar of many NHL teams. If his defensive game continues to improve 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 (OH) Roobroeck will be one of the most interesting prospects to watch this season, as many scouts are wondering where he will play. He has a birthday 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, a reliable game 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 positions himself 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 record 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 attack well with space control. He has thrived when elevated to bigger matchups, and it will be interesting to see how he takes on that role throughout the WHL season in his draft year. Teams will watch 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 transition ace with the ability to play at both ends, Stenberg has turned heads no matter the level he plays at. It looked like the best player at the youth world showcase as a minor after tearing up 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 by directing a power play, facilitating offense in transition with speed along with elite playmaking and above-average instincts make him an attractive player. At this stage, he projects as a first-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 defenseman, 6-4, who plays a lot of minutes and has 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 defend. 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.
