The 2026 NHL Draft run is in its infancy, but that’s not stopping Parker Snell of grabbing some early attention.

Finding a goaltender in the 2026 draft will be a priority for most NHL teams, and Snell could fit the bill.

Still, it’s still way too early to pick a top candidate in the 2026 class to fill that moniker, but keep an eye on Snell — who tends goal for Edmonton in the Western Hockey League. The puck-stopper could be ready to take major junior by storm after a banner year in U18 hockey in Alberta in his pre-draft season in 2024-25.

Who is Parker Snell?

Snell is a native of St. Albert, Alberta. The 17-year-old, with an April 2008 birthday, has the prototypical size for a goalkeeper at 6-foot-2 and 176 pounds. The Alberta prep school product has a chance to solidify himself as a top goalie in the 2026 class with a strong season in the WHL in 2025-26.

Parker Snell’s Path So Far

Snell burst onto the prep school scene in the 2021-22 season with 11 wins and five losses — and three shutouts — in 18 games at the U15 level with Northern Alberta Extreme. He excelled in a pair of playoff games, allowing only two goals on 54 shots. The following season, Snell played in 16 U15 games and was undefeated in 15 games with four shutouts. He also played in four U17 games, earning four wins and a pair of shutouts.

In the 2023-24 season, Snell’s stellar play continued as he compiled a 13-1-0 season for the U17 Extreme. He was once again sensational in the postseason with three goals on 69 shots against in a pair of games. His play caught the eyes of Edmonton, and the team used its second-round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft on the goalkeeper.

Snell returned to prep school, joining the Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton’s U18 Prep team for the 2024-25 season. He posted a 9-10-1 record but had a stellar save percentage of .922 and netted the league’s goalie of the year honor. Snell was also the first goaltender in league history to collect the most valuable player award, too.

Snell also became the youngest goalie in Oil Kings history to record a shutout, beating Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastien Cossa. With a 29-save blanking of Prince George (WHL) in November 2024, he joined Cossa as the only goalies with a shutout in their Edmonton debut. Snell played in one more WHL contest, coming in relief for Ethan Simcoe in early March. Edmonton trailed Kelowna 3-2 in the first period when Snell went in. He made 25 saves on 25 shots as the team in front of him rallied for a 6-3 comeback win.

Strengths of Parker Snell’s Game

Snell is a smart goalie who uses his knowledge of the game to his advantage.

“The biggest strength in Snell’s game is his IQ,” FCHockey chief goaltending scout David Phillips said. “He reads plays very well, which allows him to be set for the shot before it comes and let his tracking and save process do the work.”

He also has the size to play the position.

Areas of Improvement for Parker Snell

While he excels at reading plays, he could use some work on using his eyes to continue to better his game. Phillips notes that Snell can still work on scanning the ice to better inform his positioning.

The other area for potential improvement is his recovery time.

“There were a couple of times in the games I watched that he was slow to recover to his feet,” Phillips said. “I think a goalie coach can work with him and minimize that issue.”

Parker Snell’s Outlook

With a strong WHL season, Snell has a chance to put himself front and center in the conversation as one of the class’s premier puckstoppers. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect keeper Evan Gardner followed a similar path through the Alberta prep school pathway to playing in the WHL in his draft year.

The Fort St. John, British Columbia, native posted a 21 win, five-loss regular season with four shutouts in his first WHL season with Saskatoon. He helped backstop them to the conference final, where the team was swept by Winnipeg. Columbus selected him with the 60th overall selection in the 2024 draft.

If Snell can pick up where he left off in his limited major junior action, he should position himself well to be taken within the first 64 picks of the 2026 draft.