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Rachel Christian
With the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup wrapped, the informal beginning of the 2026 NHL draft scouting season has begun. Junior teams kicked the training camp in the next few weeks, NCAA players are settling in the campus, and the hockey season is correct around the corner.
As it happened last year, some players would dominate the conversation in the classroom. Due to the change in the rule, we are seeing that players jump from Canadian Major Junior Play to NCAA. It will be interesting to track how those players are developed – and have the effect of old competition on them.
The NHL teams made it clear in the 2025 draft that Big Defenseman and skilled forward bite are valued in a high premium. There is no shortage of right -handed defenseman that will be in the top -10 discussion this season, and some high skilled forward many teams will be closely tracking. These players deserve to familiarize themselves, especially if your team is not expected to be a contender for the Stanley Cup playoff this season.
Note: This list is in alphabetical order with the exception of the Od-on favorite for the top pick in 2026 drafts in the first place.
Gavin mckena
LW, Pen State Nitney Lions (NCAA)
This is a clear name in the list. The hubb surrounding his decision to play in NCAA led the “SportsCentor” – one will for the star quality of this possibility.
McCaina was one of the best players in the Canadian Hockey League last season, and he would be one of the best – if not Best – Players in NCAA this season. Jumping into the pen state, McCaina is a bringing-u-out-of-yor-seat aggressive dynamo. First, McKaina is usually the best player on ice.
He draws defensive coverage, pretends with full speed and transforms every skater to ice for scores due to his elite cucumber skills. It is expected that he is one of the best players of NCAA in infection, convert defenders into Pretzel and play in every important situation.
The NCAA will give McCena an opportunity to add to her lean frame and learn to play against large, strong opponents as she prepares to compete in NHL in next October. You can say that he is one to see, but the reality is that To see in this category, and it will be on all highlight reels.
Ethan Belchetz
LW, Windsor Spitfire (OHL)
It would be impossible to recall a giant winger playing for a spectfire, 6 -foot -5 frames of Belchetz. He has developed the ability to physically impose himself to impress the game, which was clear in the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for Canada. He is learning to use his body with a wall, which to protect the Pak, to remove the players from the balance and threaten his way to the dangerous areas of snow.
Given their physical package and the desire to engage physically, it is easy to understand why teams are excited about them. He is a powerful winger with up-average pak skills and shooting capacity. If he can add speed and cut into his sports style, it would not be surprising to see teams targeting with top -10 picks -the way they did Brady Martin And Porter Marton in 2025 category.
Wiggo -detail
C/W, Djurgårdens (J20)
This is usually a good signal when you break the scoring record and go out of your age group (Hlinka) to play in the world junior summer showcase.
The BJORCK bill fits. He is a highly skilled center, which has the ability to play quality playmaking. His creative playstail alete shows the hockey sense, and he has the ability to control the game with a package of good acceleration, a quick release, and a package of up-average cuxling skills. He is strong on the cuisine, defensive sound and an estimated NHL center.
If he grows one -two inches, then there is a real chance that he will hear his name in the top five in June.
Tion Lawrence
C, Smile Lumberjack (USHL)
A Clarke Cup as 16 -year -old in Ushl, coming in the MVP season, Lawrence will be an attractive watch in its final junior season. He is committed to Boston University for 2026–27.
Ushl is not an easy task of success as a youth center, and Lawrence was more than that. He has excellent instincts on both sides of the cuis, allowing him to flourish on penalty kilt and power play. I hope that he will be in the top units of both for Muskhegon this season.
Aggressively, he has a smooth catch and release and can allow the pax to fly after going between the ice. He should be one of the top creators in infection this season, with the ability to play at the speed of the crowd. Lawrence will be a major play driver for Lambarajack and will be assigned to win your minutes aggressively while playing sound defensive hockey. Her functioning rates and instincts such as scouts, and a way of having a top -10 pick if she dominates something in such a way that she can do something.
Ryan Lin
D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
He will not bring you out of his seat, the way there will be some players in this list, but the draft does not have a more round defenseman. Lynn is a type of player who often goes unnoticed because he does not make mistakes.
He plays quickly with appropriate angles, a nice stick and excellent reed. His hockey sense and decision making have their two best qualities, allowing him to play simple and starts with his team the first pass near the first pass. He plays in every situation, including penalty kilt and power play, and should have veterans engines this season.
Their aggressive number does not jump from the page, but with some growth of their skating, they have the ability to be an aristocracy, two-way defender that determines the game on both sides of the Pak. Lynn is going to play 30 minutes per game for Vancouver this season and has every opportunity to flourish aggressive and defensively. If he grows a few inches-then it is 5–11-it will only help in his draft stock.
Mathis proston
C/W, Spochen Chiefs (WHL)
One of the most exciting players to see in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup is a clever playmaker with a smooth skating and elite hockey sense.
His aggressive tendency constantly keeps him in the right place at the right time, attracting the defenders towards him before doing a drama that makes a high danger opportunity for a team partner. He is developed, makes good decisions with puck and uses his quick hands to easily execute.
He is going to be the biggest aggressive manufacturer this season as a draft player. If he continues to develop his aggressive toolbox, he will be a top -10 pick due to his roof as a high -end winger in NHL. Looking at my late July birthday, I would expect him to act in the U18 World Championship next year if he is not in the Playoffs. Wherever he is playing, he will hold your eye with his highlight-reel skills.
Chase reed
D, Sault Stei. Mary Greyhounds (OHL)
The development of Reed has been attractive to see the curve, and it will have every opportunity to lead the blue line of Greyhounds this season.
The right-hand defenseman is a good mix of smooth mobility, high-end aggressive instincts, quality transition and a valid top-compound defender to a good mixture of raw talent. He will undoubtedly be one of the best defensemen in OHL this season and will be trusted to play a huge matchup in major situations producing crime.
It is rare that a defenseman Division I produces a point per game in the season, but by Reid, and it put it on a lot of NHL radar. If his defensive game continues to improve and he becomes aristocratic on both sides of the cook in infection, he will be a warm object in the upcoming draft.
Ryan Rubarok
C/W, Niagra Ice Dogs (OHL)
Roobroek will be one of the most complicated possibilities with several scouts to see this season Where? he will play. His late September birthday is, so he will be in his third OHL season after Niagra’s leadership in his DI year.
The real question is whether Rubroke will play at the center or on the wing as he did in his first two sessions. At 6-4 with good skating, the reliable special team plays and an NHL-quality shot, their value will increase considerably if they can prove their abilities as a play-driving center. If he develops a dual danger in the middle of the snow and develops his play to join more physically, it is every reason to believe that he will be a top -10 pick.
There is a lot of capacity for Roobroek, and it will be interesting to track where he is deployed and how it affects his ability to run action.
Daxon rudolf
D, Prince Albert Reders (WHL)
Rudolf’s development flew half of the previous season, and should be the leader of the Prince Albert Blue Line this season.
With more opportunities, Rudolf is likely to defeat the defenders and insert aggressive numbers with their ability to find peers of open team for high danger scoring opportunities. He is a well -goal player with good skating that allows him to protect the crowd well with gap control. When he is elevated for a high-foot matchup, and it will be interesting to see that he owns that role for the entire WHL season throughout his draft year.
Teams would be closely watching to see if they can continue to control the game on both sides of the puck and produce aggressively as a right -handed bluener.
Ever Stanburg
LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)
With the ability to play an ace and both wings in infection, Stanberg has changed his head regardless of the level he plays.
He looked like the best player in the World Junior Showcase after torching the J20 league in his 17 -year season. He was two weeks before the drafts were draft in 2025 and is on the inner track to take lottery in the upcoming draft.
Playing in Shl in your draft year is not a joke, and Stanberg has skating, creativity and skills to flourish with frölunda. Their ability to improve his peers by running power plays, provides the facility of crime in infection with elite sports and speed with up-average instinct, which makes them an attractive player. At this stage, he projects to be a top-row NHL winger, and he will only improve his value if he continues to develop his game from Pak.
Keaton Verhof
D, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (NCAA)
A 6-4, a minute of eating, right-handed defenseman with leadership qualities? You know that NHL scouting attracts the attention of the world.
There are some who believe that Verhof will challenge McKenna for the top position in the upcoming draft. On skills alone, this is a difficult case. But looking at the size of Verhof, the ability to influence the game and the fact that he is a right -hand defenseman, it would not be surprising if some teams felt so.
He is a Go-Two player in every situation and this decline should be a prominent member of the North Dakota Blue Line. He makes a good first pass to get out of the zone, his shot is NHL-caliber, and he has a feeling of hockey to facilitate crime in the zone.
Defense, he is ahead of others in this draft class, and it will only improve against difficult competition in NCAA. If he can improve his skating to match at speeds, the infection can protect and quickly proceed to the crime, he will be drafted in the top three.
