The 2026 NHL Draft scouting season will officially get underway with the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gets underway Monday from Brno, Czechia, and Trencin, Slovakia, from Aug. 11-16, and will play host to some of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. Keaton Verhoeff highlights a star-studded Canada roster, and Jack Hextall looks to lead the USA to a medal.

There’s plenty of talent to keep your eyes on, to say the least.

Here’s a look at Verhoeff, Hextall, and other 2026 draft eligibles:

Tynan Lawrence | C | Canada

Tynan Lawrence potted 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 56 games with Muskegon in the United States Hockey League. He contributed big time for Canada White at the 2024 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, with six points (three goals, three assists) in five games while winning gold.

“Lawrence is a responsible two-way forward whose strong skating and high work ethic make him effective in all situations. His speed and ferocity allow him to be an effective player at both ends of the ice. Offensively he is at his best when operating out of the cycle, where he can use his mobility and awareness to get to open space and create high-danger chances. — FCHockey regional scout Austin Broad

Mathis Preston | RW | Canada

Mathis Preston had 45 points (23 goals, 22 assists) in 54 games during his first full season with Spokane in the Western Hockey League. He impressed with Canada White at the 2024 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, scoring seven points (six goals, one assist) in five games.

“He’s extremely entertaining to watch with how he can use his skating to break down defenses. He can fly through the neutral zone and quickly stop on a dime once he enters the zone to open space, but he can also carry that speed out wide and look to find a teammate in a scoring position. On top of that, he’s a lethal finisher, which makes him a dual threat and gives him the ability to be a dangerous player wherever he is on the ice.” — FCHockey regional scout Kareem Elshafey

Keaton Verhoeff | D | Canada

Keaton Verhoeff made his presence known in his first full season with Victoria in the WHL. He scored 45 points (21 goals, 23 assists) from the backend while also bringing an aggressive physical attitude. The two-way beast is looking to a third gold medal after capturing one with the U-17 Canada White and U-18 Canada teams before he joins North Dakota in the NCAA this fall.

“I expect Verhoeff to follow in Matthew Schaefer’s footsteps as Canada’s clear cut No. 1 defenseman at the Hlinka. Canada is bringing a very talented blue line, which would make it even more impressive if he’s able to show out to the extent that Verhoeff is capable of. I think Verhoeff should be considered the top defensive prospect going into the 2026 draft year.” — Elshafey

Oscar Hemming | RW | Finland

Oscar Hemming dominated while playing in U18 competition with Kiekko-Espoo in Finland’s top junior league with 63 points (35 goals, 28 assists) in 31 games. He added another 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 18 games in regular season play with the U20 team. The 6-foot-4, 190 pound forward added another nine points (three goals, six assists) in 13 playoff games, playing against players up to four years older than him.

“Hemming is a big, skilled, power forward type of player who plays between the checks, works hard, wins battles and contributes offensively in both scoring and setting up the plays. He is not as mobile as you’d hope, but he is very efficient positionally and is always in the right spots to support play and be a threat.” — FCHockey chief scout Samuel Tirpak

Juho Piiparinen | D | Finland

Juho Piiparinen showed flashes of offense as a youngster in Finland but settled in as a responsible two-way defender with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 40 games at the U20 level. An August birthday allows a lot of room for the already 6-foot-3, 203-pounder to grow.

“Piiparinen is a defensively-reliable defender that plays a hard, pressuring game in his own end, closes up the defensive gap extremely well and uses his size and reach to gain advantage over attacking forwards. He is a good skater and a pretty good passer, overall. Very efficient two-way, modern defender that is relied upon in all situations.” — Tirpak

Adam Goljer | D | Slovakia

Adam Goljer played for seven different teams, including different national team duties and 27 total professional hockey games in Slovakia before his draft-eligible season. The two-way defender has flashed some offense amongst his peers with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 12 games of U18 competition but hasn’t unlocked the scoring from his youth quite yet.

“Goljer is a smart, big, two-way, right-handed defenseman with the potential to become a steady, consistent, and reliable presence on the blue line. What stands out most about him is his hockey intelligence — he is exceptional positionally, rarely makes mistakes, and excels both with and without the puck. He’s a player who can impact a game defensively or offensively.” — Tirpak

Malte Gustafsson | D | Sweden

Malte Gustafsson is a physical defender and makes the most out of his frame. While his game still needs work, he’s a punishing defender to watch at this tournament because of his ability to use stick checks or body contact and wear opponents down over the course of a game.

“Gustafsson is a tall, lanky defender that moves well. He plays a strong possession game, very good in all parts of the ice with very good offensive instincts. He lacks in entry defense and can get overpowered by stronger forwards, however, because he has yet to fill out that impressive frame of his.” — Tirpak

Yanis Lutz | C | Switzerland

Yanis Lutz was a productive forward for his club team at two levels and his country in international play. The shifty puckhandler had more than a point per game in u-18 play and potted 22 points (14 goals, eight assists) in 34 U-20 games. He’ll join Peterborough in the Ontario Hockey League for 2025-26.

“Lutz is a smart, skilled, playmaking forward that plays a speedy game full of speed bursts in transition, beating defenders in one-on-one situations and then either passing in a creative ways or shooting it himself. I look at him as one of the players that potentially gets on people’s radars because of his offensive game.” — Tirpak

Jack Hextall | C | Team USA

Jack Hextall had a modest 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) in 53 games in his first USHL season with Youngstown. The cerebral playmaker flashes high-end potential as an intelligent player who could be a point-producer both in this tournament and at higher levels.

“Hextall is a high-IQ player who flashes high-end offensive ability. He has patience and creativity in his game, allowing him to wait for open space to develop, and his aggressive mindset allows him to attack that open space. He is a well-rounded offensive player and is still working to develop that elite defining trait, but his game and aggressive attitude allow him to be an effective player.” — Broad

Blake Zielinski | RW | – Team USA

Blake Zielinski flashed some offense in his first USHL season with Des Moines. The Providence College commit had 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 41 games, flashing his quick, soft hands and ability to generate off seemingly dead plays.

“He’s not the most skilled player on the ice, but is really smart and is a relentless attacker. He always making second and third efforts when needed.” — FCHockey regional scout Jacob Roth