2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Gavin McKenna leads extremely early top 32
It’s the Gavin McKenna show now, baby.
The 2025 NHL Draft has come and gone, and the 2026 NHL Draft is in full swing. This summer, we’ll see various international tournaments, highlighted by the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. European teams will get back into the swing of things later in August, and then the rest of the hockey world will get going again in September.
It’s still way too early to make any definitive statements about the 2026 draft class. Anyone saying it’s MUCH deeper than 2025 is being a bit too premature. But the very top of the class looks dangerous, starting with WHL superstar McKenna. Most expect him to be in the NCAA for 2025-26, where he’ll be able to exploit opportunities against older, tougher competition. You’ll also notice a high influx of Swedish prospects – don’t be surprised if multiple get selected in the top five.
Here’s a very early look at the 2026 NHL Draft class. This is based on conversations with scouts and my own personal viewings of these players over the past few months, mostly between international competitions and other league action:
1. Gavin McKenna, LW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)
In terms of pure, raw talent, McKenna is the best prospect since Connor Bedard in 2023. There simply isn’t a single technical flaw in his game. He’s an incredible skater, an outstanding passer, a tremendous shooter, and as good a skater as you’ll find. Nobody is more competitive, smart, or skilled than the Canadian winger. He’s near the top in almost every important category, and it’s going to be exciting to see what he can do this coming season after obliterating the WHL with 129 points in just 56 games.
2. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Univ. of North Dakota, NCAA)
Verhoeff hasn’t had as much of a runway to the pro game as some of the others on this list. It wasn’t that long ago that he was solely a goaltender. But he clearly had the athleticism to become a dominant defenseman, and has a realistic shot at going No. 2. He had a 21-goal, 45-point rookie season with the Victoria Royals and was one of the top defenders at both the U-17 World Challenge and the U-18 World Championship. Now set to go to North Dakota next year, the 6-foot-4 blueliner is more than ready to take on college competition.
3. Ivar Stenberg, RW (Frolunda, SHL)
It originally looked like Viggo Bjorck would be the first Swedish player taken in 2026, and he still could be. But many scouts prefer Stenberg’s game, especially after watching him have such a leading role with the U-18 national team this year. He just seems to think the game at a much higher level than most kids his age and has the pure skill to consistently beat defenders. Get ready to watch him play a full year in the SHL with Frolunda – after dominating the U-20 level, he’s ready.
4. Ryan Roobroeck, C (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)
As a late 2007-born forward, Roobroeck will have an extra year of development on most players in this class. He had an incredible 41 goals and 87 points this past year before putting up another nine at the U-18s. The 6-foot-4 forward has an incredible shot, but he also knows how to play specific roles, too. He loves spending a lot of time around the net, and his two-way game has come a long way the past few years.
5. Viggo Björck, C (Sweden), C (Djurgarden, Sweden U-20)
Björck might be the second most skilled forward in this class behind McKenna. After obliterating the U-18 Swedish league last year, he led the U-20 league by a solid margin this year. In fact, he owns the single-season scoring record in the U-20 nationell – doing so as a 16-year-old in a league typically dominated by 19-year-olds. The big knock against Björck is his 5-foot-9 frame, but he’s got loads of skill to burn.
6. Mathis Preston, RW (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
Preston is so good with the puck on his stick and he plays with high-end speed – something many teams struggle to contain. He had a solid 45-point regular season, but he really came into his own near the end of the year. With 16 points in 20 playoff games, Preston was a huge part of Spokane’s postseason effort. Look for him to have an even bigger role with Andrew Cristall graduating to the pro ranks.
7. Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)
It was hard to miss the 2024 OHL Cup MVP during his first year of junior hockey. He loves to use his 6-foot-5, 227-pound frame to the full extent every single night. Belchetz is a big power forward who loves getting in the face of opponents and has a fantastic shot to boot. He had 17 goals and 38 points as a rookie, showing some serious potential as a shooter. Look for him to have a bigger role for the Spitfires this coming season.
8. Ryan Lin, RHD (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
Lin might be small at 5-foot-11, but he’s part of the new breed of young, skilled, puck-moving defensemen. Lin had 53 points as a rookie in Vancouver and, like Verhoeff, he also played at the U-18s. Although Lin played a much less impactful role, you still saw the brilliance with the puck. His decision-making is near the top in this draft class already, and he has the skating to burn guys.
9. Tynan Lawrence, C (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
Lawrence finished at just under a point per game with Muskegon this year, giving him one of the most productive seasons by a U-17 player in USHL history. The Boston University commit blended skill and a bit of nastiness in Muskegon, where he played a huge role from the get-go. He’s a dynamic scoring threat who can absolutely dominate puck possession, and his two-way game is excellent without sacrificing offensive zone attacks.
10. Daxon Rudolph, RHD (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Rudolph is a 6-foot-1, 194-pound defender who can make your life miserable. He’s a great skater, can beat you 1-on-1 and thinks the game at a high level. Rudloph struggled when he initially became a full-time WHLer, but started to really come alive in the second half of the year. The more confident he gets, the more dominant he can be. Don’t be surprised if he’s the second blueliner off the board.
11. Xavier Villeneuve, LHD (Blainville-Boisbirand Armada, QMJHL)
Standing at 5-foot-10, Villeneuve will have his work cut out for him this year. And, frankly, the odds aren’t in his favor after the 2025 NHL Draft saw no defenders taken below six-foot. But from a pure skill perspective, Villeneuve has everything going for him. He had 62 points in 61 games this year, marking the fourth-best output by a U-18 QMJHL defenseman since 2000 (and the highest Draft-1 player to do so). Villeneuve then capped it off by registering eight points in seven games at the U-18 World Championship, helping Canada win gold after not getting much ice time in the latter half. He has skill to burn – but will that be enough?
12. Braidy Wassilyn, LW (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)
Wassilyn was one of the GTHL’s biggest stars in 2023-24, so expectations were high heading into his OHL rookie season. He just missed out on the 40-point mark, showing his chops as a reliable playmaker. He’s one of the most talented prospects in this draft class, but will the consistency or intensity come through? It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for the Boston University commit.
13. Adam Novotny, LW (Mountfield, Czechia)
Novotný had quite the season. He made it to the World Juniors, won silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and was one of the few bright spots at the season-ending U-18 World Championship. Mix in a full year playing against men and there’s a lot to like. He’s a two-way forward who has a ton of muscle and can handle the physical game with the best of them. Sure, he didn’t produce much with Mountfield – and joining the OHL’s Peterborough Petes next year would probably be best for his development – but he already has some of the most pro experience in this class.
14. Tomas Chrenko, C (HK Nitra, Slovakia)
Chrenko had an absolutely bonkers showing at the U-18s. The Slovaks didn’t have nearly enough scoring help when he wasn’t on the ice, and he definitely deserved some more all-star team love. He’s a high-shot generator who decimated the Slovak U-20 league, and then looked good against men in both of the top Slovak men’s league levels.
15. Chase Reid, RHD (Soo Greyhounds, WHL)
Reid struggled for ice time in the NAHL to start the season. But once he moved up to the OHL, Reid found himself playing close to half a game some nights. At 6-foot-2, the mobile defender has a big frame, and he plays with a ton of power. I love his skating, and I really believe he can rise up the ranks for a team chasing an all-around offensive defender.
16. Elton Hermansson, RW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)
Hermansson makes things happen with the puck. He was one of the best Europeans at the U-17s, scoring five goals in four games. He continued on the heat the rest of the year, putting up some of the best numbers in international competition. Hermansson didn’t come close to touching Bjorck in the Swedish U-20 league, but he was among the most productive U-17 players. Swedish scouts like him – let’s see if that momentum continues.
17. Marcus Nordmark, LW (Djurgardens, Sweden U-20)
Nordmark was productive just about everywhere he played this year. That was especially true at the U-17 national team level, where his 30 points made him the most productive 2025 draft prospect around. He put up great numbers in the Swedish U-20 league, showing what he can do as an equally talented shooter and playmaker.
18. Tobias Tomik, LW (Trencin, Slovakia)
Tomik is a skilled forward who loves to drive the pace of play. I loved him at the past two U-18 World Championships because it felt like he was making magic in the offensive zone often. He’s a powerful skater who works hard and plays with a bit of an edge. It’s set to be a good year for Slovakian-born players, and Tomik is one of the best.
19. Mikey Berchild, LW (USNTDP)
Berchild is small, but so dangerous. The University of Denver commit missed some time early with an injury, but he still managed to be productive with both the U-17 and U-18 teams. Berchild has the skill to go top 10 – but will be 5-foot-9 hurt him here? It didn’t at the U-18 World Championship, that’s for sure. If he can spend the season bulking up, he might be able to outplay the size concerns.
20. Carson Carels, LHD (Prince George Cougars, WHL)
Carels had a good first season in the WHL, and capped the year off by winning the U-18 World Championship with Canada. The 6-foot-1 defender is an excellent skater who uses it to break out and create his own opportunities. Carels doesn’t play with much flash, and prefers to keep things simple with the puck. But most of his breakouts are smart, and he does a good job of limiting his mistakes. Next up, adding a bit more pure skill.
21. Lars Steiner, C (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL)
Steiner is coming off an exciting year that saw him put up 60 points in the QMJHL, and also represent Switzerland at the World Juniors. The 5-foot-10 forward is a skilled playmaker, and he’s got an excellent wrist shot, too. Steiner is a good playreader, too – he’s so smart and doesn’t make many mistakes when it comes to dishing the puck. The Swiss only had two players selected in 2025, but could see Steiner go quite early.
22. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)
I was extremely impressed with NAO during the U-18s as he seemed to be one of the most involved players on his team. He put up incredible numbers in his first U-16 season in Sweden and showed he was no slouch against U-18 competition, either. He played a full year in the U-20 Swedish league last year and was great, and he had a huge season with Norway’s junior national team, as well. Look for Aaram-Olsen to be a big part of Norway’s promising next wave of young hockey talents.
23. Pierce Mbuyi, LW (Owen Sound Attack, OHL)
Mbuyi is an undersized forward who excels on the attack. He led all OHL rookies with 29 goals and 52 points en route to taking home the rookie of the year award. He always seems to be in a scoring situation, and he reads plays at a high pace. He’ll need to grow for more scouts to fall in love with his game, but the Penn State commit has so much going for him right now.
24. Alessandro Di Iorio, RW (Sarnia Sting, OHL)
Di Iorio had an excellent showing at the season-ending U-18s, even though he didn’t play a ton. He showed he could play any situation needed from him, including the second power-play unit. He loves to shoot the puck, but he’s a great passer, too. Consistency will be the next thing he needs to work on moving forward, but I think the Sting have a good one here.
25. Viktor Fyodorov, C (Nizhny Novgorod, MHL)
Fyodorov is the premier Russian in the class so far. He had a great year playing internationally with Russia’s U-17 team and has drawn a ton of attention for his skilled play. He’s a good playmaker, but he puts a ton of muscle into his shot, too. Fyodorov isn’t big, but he’s got the speed and the hands to be a burner. A bit of physical growth wouldn’t hurt.
26. Olivers Mūrnieks, C (Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)
Only one Latvian player has ever gone in the first round – Zemgus Girgensons back in 2012. We didn’t get a single Latvian drafted in Los Angeles, either. But Mūrnieks might be one of the most hyped Latvian prospects ever – and potentially even a first-rounder. The 2008-born forward is skilled, dynamic and already is leading Latvia’s U-20 team. Mūrnieks drives through the middle so well and uses his solid, strong frame to get himself into scoring positions with little difficulty. Keep a close eye on him.
27. William Håkansson, LHD (Lulea, SHL)
Håkansson won’t get love for his puck work. But he’s a mobile blueliner who can hold the fort defensively, and his massive 6-foot-4 frame is a nice tool, as well. He played three games in the SHL, and while he only averaged around 10 minutes, he looked promising. Håkansson will have a chance to play a full season next year, and it’ll be interesting to see just how physically advanced he looks compared to his peers.
28. Oscar Holmertz, C (Linkoping, Sweden U-20)
Homertz’s game is all about blending speed and hockey sense. He had a great year in the Swedish U-20 league, showing a bit more competency in his shot than we had seen before. He’s also a stout playmaker who can make moves at a high pace. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move up a bit, especially as he continues to showcase his play on the international stage.
29. JP Hurlbert, LW (USNTDP)
Hurlbert was one of the USNTDP’s most talented forwards this year. He didn’t produce as much as many expected, but it felt like he got better as the year wore on. He’s an outstanding puck handler with a great wrist shot, a good eye for the net and he’s committed at both ends of the ice. Few American players possess as much skill as he does, either.
30. Šimon Katolický, LW (Tappara, Finland U-20)
The numbers look good, he’s 6-foot-4, and he’s confident as heck – there’s a lot to like about Katolický. He has 11 points in seven games with the Czech U-17 team this year and is fifth in Finnish U-18 league scoring. Generating offense is clearly not an issue for the goal-scoring winger, and I think his power-forward style will translate well to the smaller ice.
31. Colin Fitzgerald, C (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
Fitzgerald became an early favorite of mine at Canada’s U-17 camp and it continued as the season wore on. The 6-foot-2 power forward had a more muted season offensively, but he was still a game-changer for the Petes more often than not. The team missed out on the playoffs, but Fitzgerald plays a game suited for big moments – he hits, he battles and he can definitely shoot. Given how many teams craved heavy hitters this year, look for Fitzerald to be a popular figure.
32. Vladimir Dravecky, RHD (Rogle, Sweden U-20)
Dravecký has been a world traveler for a while now, having been born in the United States and playing for both Slovakia and Czechia internationally. This past year, he played in the Swedish U-20 league and showed some potential with the puck. He skates well, moves the puck under pressure without issue and has tremendous hockey sense. If he can bulk up a bit, he’d open up new career opportunities.
Other notables: Maddox Dagenais, C (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL); Casey Mutryn, C (USNTDP); Luke Schairer, RHD (USNTDP); Adam Valentini, C. ; Joe Iginla, C ;Malte Gustafsson; Adam Nemec, LW (Nitra, Slovakia); Beckham Edwards, C (Sarnia Sting, OHL)
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