A.J. Francisco is one of 36 players with Minnesota ties to make the NHL Central Scouting Player to Watch list. LPH PHOTO BY BRYAN ZOLLMAN

As usual, Minnesota is well represented on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2026 draft with  three dozen players with Minnesota ties making the list. Three players received a “B” rating, which indicates they could go in the second or third rounds of the draft. Victor Plante and Mikey Berchild both are ranked the highest amongst Minnesotans on the list along with defenseman Kyle Heger. Plante is the youngest of the Plante brothers and is playing in the Team USA National Development Program. He is following in Sam and Max’s footsteps and is committed to UMD where both Sam and Max are currently playing. Berchild is a product of Shattuck-St. Mary’s who is also a member of the USNTDP’s U-18 squad. Heger is playing for Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League and is committed to Western Michigan.

 

Seven players received a C rating which indicates the potential to go in the 4th and 5th rounds. Those player include Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead/USNTDP)), A.J. Francisco (Hermantown/USNTDP), Jayden Kurtz (Rogers/Rogers HS), Bode Laylin (St. Michael/Tri-City), Teddy Lechner (Bloomington/Academy of Holy Angels), Carter Casey (Grand Rapids/Medicine Hat), and Parker Trottier (Edina/USNTDP).

Wyatt Cullen is pictured during the Bantam State Tournament in 2024. Cullen is one of six players to receive a “C” rating on the NHL Central Scouting Player to Watch list. LPH PHOTO BY JACKSON BOLINE

Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is expected to be the top player chosen next June in the draft.  Here is the full list: https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/wie2axdger9u2k2ycr4r.pdf

Minnesotans on NHL Central Scouting Preliminary List:GradePlayerPositionHometown2025-26 TeamCollege CommitBVictor PlanteFHermantownUSNTDPUMD (2026)BMike BerchildFExcelsiorUSNTDPDenver (2026)BKyle HegerDEaganMedicine Hat (WHL)Western MichiganCWyatt CullenFMoorheadUSNTDPMinnesota (2027)CAJ FranciscoDHermantownUSNTDPNotre Dame (2026)CJayden KurtzFRogersRogers HSNoneCBode LaylinDSt. MichaelTri City (USHL)St. Thomas (2027)CTeddy LechnerFBloomingtonAcademy of Holy Angels HSNoneCParker TrottierFEdinaUSNTDPNotre Dame (2027)CCarter CaseyGGrand RapidsMedicine Hat (WHL)Minnesota (2027)WPoul AndersenFSt. Louis ParkEdmondton (WHL)Maine (2026)WLuke CarrithersGMaple GroveUSNTDPNoneWHenry ChmielDWoodburyDes Moines (USHL)NoneWCash CruittGAndoverMadison (USHL)NoneWKeegan DavisFNABenilde-St. Margaret’s HSNoneWJimmy EganFMahtomediBrandon (WHL)Arizona State (2027)WJoe EricksonFMoundBlake HSNoneWKambryn HendricksonGChanhassenUCONN (NCAA)UCONNWLogan LutnerDMaple GroveUSNTDPNoneWPheonix CahillDCottage GrovePrince George (WHL)Colorado College (2027)WNate CelskiDWhite Bear LakeMuskegon (WHL)NoneWCameron MerrickDBoston, MAMinnetonka HSNoneWPeter MurrayFEdinaSt. Thomas Academy HSNoneWNicklas NelsonDMonticelloMonticello HSNoneWCaleb PittsleyFEdinaMadison (USHL)AugustanaWKade StengrimFBrainerdMedicine Hat (WHL)NoneWXavier WendtGPlymouthTri City (USHL)NoneWLuke PuchnerFNew GermanyShattuck-St. Mary’sUMD (2027)WJimmy RieberFWoodburyWaterloo (USHL)Miami (2027)WKeanan SmithGDuluthJanesville (NAHL)UMD (2027)WDylan DeanCMaple GroveEdmonton (WHL)Maine (2027)WAidan HesseGSt. PaulCalgary (WHL)NoneWJack KultgrenDChanhassenGreen Bay (USHL)NoneWEthan SturgisFMinnetonkaMinnetonka HSDartmouth (2027)WCarter CaseyGGrand RapidsMedicine Hat (WHL)Minnesota (2027)LVKent Sauer, Jr.FAndoverAndover HSNoneKey: B – 2nd/3rd round candidate; C – 4th/5th round candidate; W – 6th/7th round candidate; LV – Limited Viewing