\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ivar-Stenberg-2-scaled-e1769810799350.jpg\")
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 4: Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg #15 looks on during a stoppage in play against Finland during Semifinal Round action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on January 4, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu\/IIHF)<\/p>\n
With the World Juniors firmly in the rear-view mirror and many \u201cjunior\u201d leagues past the halfway point of their seasons, it is time to update and expand the McKeen\u2019s Hockey 2026 draft rankings. This time around we are bringing you a top 64, in addition to several honourable mentions.<\/p>\n
While many in the industry seem to be wavering on the concept of Gavin McKenna being the top player available, he remains at the top of our list. We understand the apprehensiveness, but we also believe that McKenna still possesses the highest upside of any player available this year; plus, his performance in the NCAA has ticked up post WJC\u2019s. However, we also believe that the gap is razor thin at this point between McKenna and several of the players we have ranked behind him. In particular, Ivar Stenberg received a fair amount of support from our team to be ranked ahead of McKenna.<\/p>\n
While the race for first overall will be fascinating as June approaches, the debate over the top defenseman available will rage even more intensely. Verhoeff remains ranked first in this grouping, but there are arguments to be made that any of Reid, Smits, or Carels could be or should be the top defenseman selected. One thing is for certain; it is a good year to be drafting in the top five if your organization needs a quality young defender.<\/p>\n
Caleb Malhotra, Oscar Hemming, Alexander Command, Wyatt Cullen, and Maddox Dagenais are among our highest climbers compared to the previous ranking. Malhotra suddenly finds himself competing for an OHL scoring title, showing tremendous improvement as an offensive play driver over the course of the last few months. The Oscar Hemming saga finally reached a conclusion after he joined Boston College at the end of December. While the offensive production has been only mediocre, his impact on the ice has been incredibly impressive as a freshman power forward; it\u2019s cliche but he\u2019s passing the eye test on a consistent basis. Command has been terrific for both Sweden internationally and in the J20 league, and he plays a competitive and fast paced game from the center position. Wyatt Cullen hasn\u2019t played a lot this year, but when he has, he\u2019s been outstanding for the NTDP. Lastly, Dagenais is finally putting everything together for the Quebec Remparts, as the former first overall pick in the QMJHL draft is becoming more confident in being able to utilize his physical gifts.<\/p>\n
Our largest \u201cfallers\u201d were Xavier Villeneuve, Mathis Preston, Ryan Roobroeck, and Beckham Edwards. While we respect Villeneuve\u2019s offensive upside as one of the draft\u2019s most dynamic playmakers, we also wonder how much his game has truly grown in the last calendar year as one of this draft\u2019s oldest first time eligible players. The offensive production just hasn\u2019t been at an elite level the last few months. Can a trade to Vancouver (WHL) help Mathis Preston find more consistency and urgency in his game? Roobroeck\u2019s offensive production has definitely improved over the last few months, but like Villeneuve, we wonder how much his game has truly improved this year as a third year junior player. Lastly, Beckham Edwards is a power skating forward with a goal scorer\u2019s touch, but, the offensive consistency has been majorly lacking this year and it brings to light concerns over his projection and ceiling.<\/p>\n
What about the goalies? Initially, our team wasn\u2019t enamored with the talent level for the position this year, however, some performances over the last few months have helped to change our mind. We have three goaltenders ranked inside of our top 64, with Tobias Trejbal of Youngstown (USHL) sitting at the top of that list. Trejbal has been outstanding in the USHL this year and the UMass commit has the size and athleticism combination to make him a potential NHL starting netminder.<\/p>\n
You can expect our next update towards the end of March as we expand to a top 100 ranking.<\/p>\n
RANK
\nPLAYER
\nPOS
\nTEAM
\nHT\/WT
\nDOB
\nGP
\nG
\nA
\nPTS
\nPIM<\/p>\n
1
\nGavin McKenna
\nLW
\nPenn State (NCAA)
\n5-11\/170
\n12\/20\/2007
\n22
\n10
\n19
\n29
\n19<\/p>\n
2
\nIvar Stenberg
\nLW
\nFrolunda (SHL)
\n5-11\/185
\n9\/30\/2007
\n29
\n7
\n21
\n28
\n6<\/p>\n
3
\nKeaton Verhoeff
\nD
\nNorth Dakota (NCAA)
\n6-4\/210
\n6\/19\/2008
\n22
\n6
\n11
\n17
\n23<\/p>\n
4
\nChase Reid
\nD
\nSoo Greyhounds (OHL)
\n6-2\/185
\n12\/30\/2007
\n39
\n18
\n27
\n45
\n30<\/p>\n
5
\nAlberts Smits
\nD
\nJukurit (Fin-Liiga)
\n6-3\/205
\n12\/2\/2007
\n34
\n6
\n7
\n13
\n12<\/p>\n
6
\nCarson Carels
\nD
\nPrince George (WHL)
\n6-2\/195
\n6\/23\/2008
\n37
\n12
\n28
\n40
\n42<\/p>\n
7
\nTynan Lawrence
\nC
\nMuskegon (USHL)
\n6-0\/185
\n8\/3\/2008
\n13
\n10
\n7
\n17
\n6<\/p>\n
8
\nViggo Bjorck
\nC
\nDjurgardens (SHL)
\n5-9\/175
\n3\/12\/2008
\n29
\n4
\n4
\n8
\n10<\/p>\n
9
\nCaleb Malhotra
\nC
\nBrantford (OHL)
\n6-0\/170
\n6\/2\/2008
\n45
\n23
\n38
\n61
\n37<\/p>\n
10
\nEthan Belchetz
\nLW
\nWindsor (OHL)
\n6-5\/225
\n3\/30\/2008
\n43
\n29
\n16
\n45
\n35<\/p>\n
11
\nOscar Hemming
\nLW
\nBoston College (NCAA)
\n6-4\/195
\n8\/13\/2008
\n6
\n0
\n3
\n3
\n8<\/p>\n
12
\nAdam Novotny
\nLW
\nPeterborough (OHL)
\n6-1\/205
\n11\/13\/2007
\n37
\n22
\n21
\n43
\n8<\/p>\n
13
\nRyan Lin
\nD
\nVancouver (WHL)
\n5-11\/175
\n4\/18\/2008
\n42
\n11
\n39
\n50
\n33<\/p>\n
14
\nDaxon Rudolph
\nD
\nPrince Albert (WHL)
\n6-2\/205
\n3\/6\/2008
\n45
\n21
\n33
\n54
\n42<\/p>\n
15
\nOliver Suvanto
\nC
\nTappara (Fin-Liiga)
\n6-3\/210
\n9\/3\/2008
\n34
\n2
\n5
\n7
\n14<\/p>\n
16
\nElton Hermansson
\nRW
\nMoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)
\n6-1\/180
\n2\/5\/2008
\n29
\n9
\n7
\n16
\n14<\/p>\n
17
\nIlia Morozov
\nC
\nMiami (NCAA)
\n6-3\/195
\n8\/3\/2008
\n24
\n7
\n7
\n14
\n25<\/p>\n
18
\nXavier Villeneuve
\nD
\nBlainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
\n5-11\/160
\n9\/29\/2007
\n35
\n6
\n30
\n36
\n35<\/p>\n
19
\nMalte Gustafsson
\nD
\nHV 71 (SHL)
\n6-4\/200
\n6\/11\/2008
\n16
\n0
\n3
\n3
\n2<\/p>\n
20
\nJuho Piiparinen
\nD
\nTappara (Fin-Liiga)
\n6-2\/200
\n8\/10\/2008
\n28
\n0
\n3
\n3
\n8<\/p>\n
21
\nAlexander Command
\nC
\nOrebro (Swe U20)
\n6-1\/185
\n6\/16\/2008
\n24
\n13
\n22
\n35
\n30<\/p>\n
22
\nWyatt Cullen
\nLW
\nUSN U18 (USDP)
\n5-11\/175
\n9\/8\/2008
\n17
\n3
\n11
\n14
\n2<\/p>\n
23
\nJP Hurlbert
\nLW
\nKamloops (WHL)
\n6-0\/185
\n4\/11\/2008
\n45
\n31
\n41
\n72
\n26<\/p>\n
24
\nNikita Klepov
\nRW
\nSaginaw (OHL)
\n6-0\/180
\n6\/27\/2008
\n45
\n28
\n32
\n60
\n27<\/p>\n
25
\nMathis Preston
\nRW
\nSpokane (WHL)
\n5-11\/175
\n7\/21\/2008
\n36
\n14
\n18
\n32
\n32<\/p>\n
26
\nJaxon Cover
\nLW
\nLondon (OHL)
\n6-2\/175
\n2\/13\/2008
\n45
\n14
\n20
\n34
\n40<\/p>\n
27
\nWilliam Hakansson
\nD
\nLulea (SHL)
\n6-4\/205
\n10\/8\/2007
\n22
\n0
\n2
\n2
\n8<\/p>\n
28
\nGiorgos Pantelas
\nD
\nBrandon (WHL)
\n6-2\/215
\n4\/24\/2008
\n45
\n2
\n18
\n20
\n30<\/p>\n
29
\nBrooks Rogowski
\nC
\nOshawa (OHL)
\n6-6\/225
\n6\/28\/2008
\n31
\n7
\n18
\n25
\n10<\/p>\n
30
\nMaddox Dagenais
\nC
\nQuebec (QMJHL)
\n6-3\/195
\n3\/27\/2008
\n43
\n20
\n17
\n37
\n23<\/p>\n
31
\nTomas Chrenko
\nC
\nHK Nitra (Slovakia)
\n5-11\/170
\n11\/2\/2007
\n33
\n6
\n16
\n22
\n6<\/p>\n
32
\nMarcus Nordmark
\nLW
\nDjurgardens (Swe U20)
\n6-1\/180
\n5\/4\/2008
\n21
\n10
\n20
\n30
\n42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 4: Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg #15 looks on during a stoppage in play against…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":438462,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[7704,47320,658,626,627,15559,44170,469,53722,43174,28052,42182,6196,26979,28053,39813,21430,628,53717,30042,21431,43175,21432,53721,44172,27612,21433,53726,766,26984,40501,5,42913,629,22781,49246,42316,40856,42676,668,2529,35405,42914,756,53725,27192,42915,42432,27054,27611,26989,4,27992,53719,53720,41478,630,26990,53718,14748,673,476,53716,41476,41908,43176,42180,53724,51973,15860,41907,11185,10800,51667,632,49954,26941,21435,45338,44171,26017,478,53723],"class_list":["post-438461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-2026-nhl-draft","tag-adam-andersson","tag-adam-goljer","tag-adam-nemec","tag-adam-novotny","tag-adam-valentini","tag-alberts-smits","tag-alessandro-di-iorio","tag-alexander-bilecki","tag-alexander-command","tag-axel-elofsson","tag-beckham-edwards","tag-ben-macbeath","tag-brady-knowling","tag-brooks-rogowski","tag-caleb-malhotra","tag-carson-carels","tag-casey-mutryn","tag-charlie-morrison","tag-chase-harrington","tag-chase-reid","tag-colin-fitzgerald","tag-daxon-rudolph","tag-dmitri-borichev","tag-egor-shilov","tag-elton-hermansson","tag-ethan-belchetz","tag-filip-ruzicka","tag-gavin-mckenna","tag-giorgos-pantelas","tag-gleb-pugachyov","tag-hockey","tag-ilia-morozov","tag-ivar-stenberg","tag-jack-hextall","tag-jakub-vanecek","tag-jaxon-cover","tag-jonas-lagerberg-hoen","tag-jp-hurlbert","tag-juho-piiparinen","tag-keaton-verhoeff","tag-landon-amrhein","tag-landon-nycz","tag-lars-steiner","tag-layne-gallacher","tag-liam-ruck","tag-luke-schairer","tag-maddox-dagenais","tag-malte-gustafsson","tag-marcus-nordmark","tag-mathis-preston","tag-nhl","tag-nikita-klepov","tag-nikita-scherbakov","tag-niklas-aaram-olsen","tag-oliver-suvanto","tag-olivers-murnieks","tag-oscar-hemming","tag-oscar-holmertz","tag-pierce-mbuyi","tag-ryan-lin","tag-ryan-roobroeck","tag-ryder-cali","tag-samu-alalauri","tag-simas-ignatavicius","tag-simon-katolicky","tag-thomas-vandenberg","tag-timofei-runtso","tag-tobias-trejbal","tag-tobias-tvrznik","tag-tomas-chrenko","tag-tommy-bleyl","tag-tynan-lawrence","tag-victor-plante","tag-viggo-bjorck","tag-viktor-fyodorov","tag-vilho-vanhatalo","tag-vladimir-dravecky","tag-wiggo-sorensson","tag-william-hakansson","tag-wyatt-cullen","tag-xavier-villeneuve","tag-xavier-wendt"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438461\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}