This is my first in-season look at the 2026 NHL Draft, with my most recent viewings being the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. I’m listing only 18 players to start, as I’m still gaining familiarity with the age group and wanted to limit my board to start with the clear top talents who have stood out so far.

In a very early assessment that could easily change in a few months, the draft class looks about average in terms of pure talent. The lack of center talent is a little alarming, especially since only one of the three centers listed in this top 18 confidently projects as a pro center.

Tier 11. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (Big Ten)

McKenna was one of the very best players in the CHL last season and committed to Penn State this summer. He’s an electric forward with truly elite skill, and his offensive sense makes him one of the most creative players I’ve seen in recent years. That McKenna is also a high-end skater who can make his difficult plays at quick tempo gives a lot of confidence about how his game could fare in the NHL. If teams were going to pick him apart, it would be that he’s an average-sized winger who doesn’t have a super high motor, but his talent and scoring are so good that it’s nitpicking. I wouldn’t call him a Macklin Celebrini/Connor Bedard-level prospect, but he’s a standard No. 1 overall type of prospect who has the potential to be an elite scoring winger in the NHL.

Tier 22. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCHC)

Verhoeff was an impactful player for Victoria as a 16-year-old defenseman and one of the best defensemen at the U18 Worlds last spring for Canada, although his Hlinka was not as impressive. He’s a tremendous athlete who moves very well for being 6-foot-4. He competes hard and has shown the ability to outmuscle older junior players. Verhoeff is a skilled offensive player who can create plenty of offense. He isn’t a high-end playmaker, but he makes tough plays on the move and can run a power play with a big shot from the point. He has the potential to be a major-minute defenseman in the NHL.

3. Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara (OHL)

Roobroeck is a very talented forward who had a big second season in the OHL. It’s rare to see players who are 6-4, can skate and have legit high-end offensive skills. The difficult puck plays he can make in small areas and on the move for a guy his size will be highly enticing to NHL teams. He’s a gifted playmaker and scorer who projects to score in major numbers at the next level. His compete level is average, which is my only critique of him, although it’s not a significant issue. While he’s played center before, his motor could force him to be a winger in the NHL.

4. Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

Villeneuve was one of the best defensemen in the QMJHL last season. He’s a dynamic offensive player and an elite skater with the clear edge work and foot speed of a top NHL defender. He’s also a super creative and intelligent puck-mover who makes a lot of plays. He can beat opponents one-on-one off the rush and make creative plays with pace. He’s also an excellent, patient passer who can create a lot off the blue line. Scouts’ main concerns with Villeneuve will be without the puck. He’s a small defenseman who doesn’t play very hard at times, and there will be significant concerns about how he will make stops at the NHL level, even if he has elite offensive potential. His game will be questioned all draft season due to his major deficiencies, but he’s the closest thing I’ve seen to a Cale Makar/Quinn Hughes type since those two were drafted.

5. Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon (USHL)

Lawrence was tremendous last season. He played major minutes in the USHL on a good team and was the MVP of their postseason. He was also a top player for Canada’s U18 team this summer. He’s a high-end skater who competes hard and brings a high level of pace to each of his shifts. Lawrence is also a great stickhandler and passer who generates a ton of scoring chances. He projects to be a play-driving center in the NHL who coaches can rely on at both ends. His only real issue is that he’s not that big, and while talented, I would not call him an offensive dynamo.

6. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (SHL)

Stenberg, the younger brother of St. Louis Blues first-round pick Otto Stenberg, was exceptional at the junior level in Sweden this season. He eventually got bumped up to the SHL, where he took a regular shift for Frölunda. He was also a top player for Sweden’s U18 team, posting big numbers at several international events. Stenberg is super skilled and smart. He makes a ton of difficult plays with the puck, and often does so with pace. He’s a high-end playmaker and shooter who can project to run a power-play flank in the NHL. He’s undersized, but he skates well and plays hard, so I think his size won’t be a major hindrance.

7. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

Belchetz is an absolute monster of a young prospect. As a 16-year-old in the OHL, he already measured at 6-5, 230 pounds. He has typically overpowered players much older than him. He plays hard as well, which only adds to his physical dominance. There is a worry with a guy who is that big, that young, over how he’s going to project when he gets to play against men. Belchetz has legit talent to go with his frame, too. He’s a strong skater with a fluid, big-man stride. He’s also very skilled and creative with the puck. I wouldn’t call him cerebral, but he creates plenty of chances.

Tier 38. Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane (WHL)

Preston’s talent level jumps out at you. He’s a tremendous skater and puck-handler whose rushes and one-on-one play are quite special. When he’s barreling down the wing, especially with how well Preston shoots the puck, it’s quite easy to envision him scoring a lot in the NHL. He can create directly with his speed and shot, while also having the skill and vision to run a power-play flank and make very difficult plays consistently. The downside for Preston is that he’s a below-average-sized winger who drifts to the outside and can frustrate coaches at times with his habits.

9. Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)

Carels played big minutes for Prince George last season and for Canada’s U18 team. He’s a well-rounded defenseman who skates well and competes hard, showing the ability to make a lot of stops. Carels is a strong puck-mover who makes a lot of good decisions with the puck and possesses solid puck skills. For a 6-1 defenseman, if he’s dynamic enough will be a minor question, but he just seems to make so many positive plays.

10. Alberts Smits, LHD, Jukurit (Liiga)

Smits played well in Finland last season, earning time in Liiga for Jukurit and was a top player for Latvia’s U18 team. Smits is a mobile 6-3 defenseman who competes well and makes a reliable first pass. He’s not overly flashy, but there’s enough pure offense in his game, led by a great point shot, to accompany great shutdown traits. He’s the type of player coaches will feed minutes to.

11. Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough (OHL)

Novotný played up all season at the top pro level in Czechia and made the World Juniors team as an underager. He’s a great skater who works hard and has a mature game for his age. The energy he brings to shifts will easily endear him to NHL coaches. Novotný has a high skill level, too, and can beat defenders one-on-one often with his speed and skill. He likely won’t be the top skill option on a line, but he will score plenty and projects as a top-six two-way winger.

12. Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (Sweden Jr.)

Hermansson scored at a significant level as a 16-year-old in Sweden’s top junior league and just had a great Hlinka tournament for Sweden. The type of plays he can make with the puck stands out consistently, and especially the pace at which he can make those plays. He’s a very creative offensive player who is dangerous inside the offensive zone and on the power play. The main concern with Hermansson is his effort level and playing too much on the outside.

13. Viggo Björck, C, Djurgården (SHL)

Björck dominated the Swedish junior circuit as one of the very best 16-year-olds at that level in recent memory. Björck is small at 5-9, but every other aspect of his game is excellent. He’s a quick skater who competes at a high level and can push the pace. He’s extremely skilled and intelligent, seeing plays others don’t and controlling the puck when he’s on the ice. He plays through contact very well and attacks the net despite his size. He has a lot of similarities to a player like Marco Rossi.

14. William Håkansson, LHD, Luleå (SHL)

Håkansson’s game developed significantly in the second half of last season, and he ended up playing some SHL games for the eventual league champions. He’s very toolsy as a big, rangy defenseman with enough skill to handle his own with the puck at higher levels. He’s more of a steady two-way player than a guy who will light up scoresheets, but he can make difficult plays.

15. Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (Sweden Jr.)

Gustafsson checks a lot of boxes NHL teams will look for in a defenseman. He’s 6-4 and skates quite well for his size. He isn’t overly physical, but he works hard and breaks up a lot of plays due to his length, compete and mobility. He’s more of a stopper than an offensive type, but Gustafsson can make a reliable first pass, and at the junior level he’s shown some offensive creativity. I don’t foresee him as an NHL power-play type, but he could provide secondary puck-moving.

16. Tomas Chrenko, C, Nitra (Slovakia)

Chrenko played against men last season in Slovakia and was one of the U18 team’s best players at the World Championships. He has standout skill with the puck, displaying high-end creativity, vision and ability to create off the perimeter. He’s a good-to-very-good skater with strong speed and edge work. Chrenko isn’t that big and can be pushed to the outside by stronger defenders, which will be his main issue as he advances levels, but he works hard enough to potentially overcome that. He’s also shown he can play center, although it’s debatable if that’s what he projects as in the NHL.

17. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Steiner was excellent in his first QMJHL season, scoring over a point per game. He’s an excellent skater with the quick twitch to get by a lot of NHL defensemen. Steiner has a very high skill level and when he’s coming down the wing with his speed, he can be a handful to defend. He shoots it well and can set up plays. He’s small but he wins battles and plays quite physically, which will help sell evaluators that his game will translate to the NHL.

18. Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (Finland Jr.)

Katolicky played last season in Finland’s U18 league, not their top junior league, and did very well there. He did impress at the international level too for Czechia against better players, inspiring confidence that his talent is real. Katolicky is a huge winger who is a great skater for his size. He’s a strong puck handler who creates offense at fast tempos. He sees the ice well and has a big point shot that projects to beat pro goalies from range.

Honorable mentions (listed alphabetically)

Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, Örebro
Arseni Ilyin, RW, Spartak
Ryan Lin, RHD, Vancouver
Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. NTDP
Marcus Nordmark, C, Djurgården
Gleb Pugachyov, LW, Torpedo
Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie
Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert
Tobias Tomik, LW, Vancouver

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos of Ethan Belchetz, Gavin McKenna, Xavier Villeneuve: Minas Panagiotakis, Michael Miller / Getty Images)