Baracchini\u2019s March Top 96 (THW)<\/a>: 33rd
Forbes\u2019 Top 64 February Rankings (THW)<\/a>: 33rd
Orth\u2019s Top 32 February Rankings (THW)<\/a>: 30th
Craig Button (TSN)<\/a>: 57th
Daily Faceoff<\/a>: 45th
McKeen\u2019s Hockey<\/a>: 26th
SMAHT Scouting<\/a>: 51st<\/p>\n
The story and path that Jaxon Cover has taken to becoming a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft have caught the eye of many. He did not start playing ice hockey until the age of 13, playing inline before making the jump to the ice, but when you watch him on the ice, he looks like a lifelong ice hockey player. While being a raw talent (which works both in his favor and against him in the draft), Cover has already shown plenty of skills that an NHL organization will love. <\/p>\n
Related: THW\u2019s 2026 NHL Draft Guide<\/a><\/p>\n A few skills have translated very well from his time as an inline player to his role as a full-time OHLer, including his stickhandling and puck-handling. When given the time and space, Cover has the hands to make a defender look silly and can make shifty plays with the puck on his stick to move either down the ice or create even more space in the offensive zone. Another aspect of his game that has translated well has been his \u201cnatural\u201d goal-scoring ability. He has the shot and accuracy to be a true threat with the puck on his stick from plenty of spots on the ice as a shooter. He plays the bumper spot on the power play for the London Knights and has shown the release and accuracy to be a strong power play player (five power-play goals).<\/p>\n Away from the puck, Cover has zero issue with going to the corners or the front of the net to make a play and battles really well. He sees the ice well and can position himself offensively to become an option. Defensively, he processes the play around him well and positions himself to be a responsible player in his own end. With a solid frame and the willingness to play physical, he has gotten better at realizing how to and when to use his physicality and will only get better as he continues to mature. He does not see a ton of ice time with the Knights, but when he is on the ice, he makes it count at both ends. <\/p>\n Overall, Cover\u2019s upside is very high, and he has all the tools to become an impact player in the NHL at some point. The one area where he needs a bit of work is his decision-making, where he tends to force a play or fail to see another option. This is yet another area of his game that will continue to improve as he gets more ice time and matures his all-around game.<\/p>\n Jaxon Cover- NHL Draft Projection<\/p>\n Cover could end up being this year\u2019s version of William Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguins)<\/a>, with an organization taking him toward the back end of the first round due to his potential and upside. He should realistically hear his name called at the end of the first, if not in the early part of the second round.<\/p>\n Quotables<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you watch me skate, I have a stride that almost looks like a roller hockey stride\u2026.The way I can handle things with my hands in small spaces is another area that has translated well for me from roller to ice. There\u2019s a lot of small space to work in road hockey and I feel my hockey IQ is better as a result.\u201d- Jaxon Cover on his playing style (Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u201cHe makes strong reads and has the ability to act as a connector in all three zones. He has the touch and precision of a quality passer, which shows on the power play where he can be effective in any spot and make sound decisions. His transition game will need to improve\u2014he has some traits of a good puck carrier but isn\u2019t relied upon as a consistent option. He has shown flashes of creating off the rush, however.\u201d- Nathan Hutchinson (SMAHT Scouting)<\/p>\n Strengths<\/p>\n Raw talent; he has plenty of upside and moldability<\/p>\n Great goal-scoring touch<\/p>\n Strong battler<\/p>\n Responsible player at both ends of the ice<\/p>\n Plays with strong creativity<\/p>\n Good vision and processes the game well<\/p>\n Under Construction- Improvements to Make<\/p>\n Being a raw talent can work against him; he still has plenty of room to grow and develop his overall game<\/p>\n Decision-making is questionable from time to time, and with more maturation, he will be able to see the game even better and improve in this area<\/p>\n While being a battler, he does need to utilize his frame more in the physicality department<\/p>\n NHL Potential<\/p>\n Playing for a junior organization like the London Knights, under head coach Dale Hunter, could end up working wonders for Cover. The Knights run their organization like an NHL one, and Hunter has been known to develop players at a high rate (Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, and Sam Dickinson as of late). If Cover can continue to develop and build off his already impressive skillset, he could turn into a middle-six player who can play on the power play at the NHL level when it is all said and done.<\/p>\n Risk- Reward Analysis<\/p>\n Risk: 2\/5 Reward: 5\/5<\/p>\n Fantasy Hockey Potential<\/p>\n Offense: 7\/10 Defense: 7\/10<\/p>\n Awards\/Achievements<\/p>\n 2025 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game<\/p>\n Interviews\/Links<\/p>\n Jaxon Cover Stats<\/p>\n iframe><\/p>\n Videos<\/p>\n The draft-eligible Knights are taking over \u2694\ufe0f<\/p>\n Jaxon Cover doubles the @LondonKnights<\/a> lead with an absolute snipe!#NHLDraft<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tF04Zs1b5C<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 25, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Jaxon Cover from the slot\ud83e\udd2b<\/p>\n The #NHLDraft<\/a> prospect nets his 15th goal of the year to give the @LondonKnights<\/a> an early lead! pic.twitter.com\/T8KBB1eP7B<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 1, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Jaxon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jaxon-Cover-Knights-1200x960.jpg\")
Jaxon Cover, London Knights (Luke Durda\/OHL Images)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773843911_711_Substack_Banner_2025_Draft-1-1200x122.jpg\")
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