Scout’s Analysis: 10 prospects to observe intently for 2026 NHL Draft

By the top of this week, rookies will report and take part in pre-season tournaments, and by late subsequent week NHL coaching camps will open across the league. This units in movement the official scouting calendar for each professional and newbie staffs from every NHL franchise. Pro scouts might be taking notes on rookies on the tournaments whereas newbie staffs are already busy gathering information on a brand new crop of prospects eligible for the draft subsequent June.

After a short hiatus, I’m again on the “tour” making ready for in-depth evaluation on prospects from a wide range of backgrounds. I’m not snug ranking draft-eligible gamers from high to backside this early within the season, nevertheless it’s plain that some prospects have established extra momentum than others. Most of that momentum relies upon the way in which they completed final season or carried out on the latest Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.

The 2026 NHL Draft class might be regarded upon as a “case study” for years to come back because of the reality a few of the high gamers have left junior hockey to affix the NCAA in a very powerful improvement 12 months of their profession so far. It’s going to be fascinating monitoring how some extremely ranked prospects modify to taking part in fewer video games and competing in opposition to older opponents within the NCAA.

Evaluating this class will take time to evolve, however the 2026 group of prospects has extra ability on the high of the draft than 2025. The mixture of dimension, ability, and competitiveness excites me and has an opportunity to offer a major variety of impactful NHL gamers to each lottery and non-lottery groups subsequent June.

Here’s a have a look at 10 draft-eligible prospects I might be monitoring very intently to start out the season:

Gavin McKenna, 6-feet, 165 kilos, left-shot winger, Penn State (NCAA)

An argument may be made that McKenna had nothing left to show on the main junior stage and his transfer from the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) to Penn State may be seen as a pure development for his general improvement.

McKenna is the top-ranked prospect heading into the season for a cause. He’s coming off a 12 months during which he produced 41G-88A in 56 regular-season video games, adopted by 9G-29A in 16 playoff video games. McKenna is a dynamic prospect who was additionally named the WHL and CHL participant of the 12 months for the 2024-25 season.

I’m assured projecting McKenna as a top-line scoring ahead on the NHL stage sometime, however way more evaluation goes into scouting prospects, together with high ranked ones of their draft 12 months. I’m curious to see how he does combating by way of extra bodily mature gamers within the NCAA and if he finds a task on one of many Nittany Lions’ penalty-killing items whereas absolutely anticipating the majority of his ice time will come at even energy and the ability play.

Keaton Verhoeff, 6-foot-3, 208 kilos, right-shot defenceman, North Dakota (NCAA)

Verhoeff can be making the bounce to the NCAA after a strong first full season on the WHL stage taking part in for Victoria. He’s a minute muncher who’s deployed in all conditions. Verhoeff makes use of his size as a bonus to open up taking pictures and passing lanes within the offensive zone in addition to killing performs within the defensive zone, and has confirmed he can beat goalies from lengthy vary when quarterbacking the ability play and ripping pucks on internet. He produced 21G-24A for the Royals and was a tidy plus-23.

Defencemen Verhoeff’s dimension, who play with presence on and off the puck in all three zones, present immense worth as soon as they arrive within the NHL. Verhoeff might be a prospect who quick tracks into the league after just one 12 months on the school stage, however he, too, might be challenged by older opponents on the NCAA stage.

Viggo Bjorck, 5-foot-10, 172 kilos, right-shot winger, Djurgardens (Sweden J20)

There are two methods to have a look at how Bjorck approaches the sport. Is he a calculating scoring menace who picks his spots and pounces shortly to provide offence? Or is he a dynamic participant who merely possesses elevated hockey sense and ability in comparison with his opponents?

Teams might be monitoring if he has sufficient sport to graduate to the SHL stage (Sweden’s high professional league) this season and play to his identification. He produced 27G-47A in solely 42 video games on the J20 stage final season, however he’s not listed as a member of Djurgardens’ males’s roster to start out the 12 months regardless of his record-setting season in J20.

For me, Bjorck must take the play to the center of the ice extra usually, however he has time on his facet and a ability stage that may’t be coached. He’s some of the elite offensive gamers on this draft class.

Mathis Preston, 5-foot-11, 177 kilos, right-shot centre, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Preston’s mixture of ability, velocity and tenacity stands out to me. He produced 4G-3A in 5 video games on the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August after contributing 23G-22A final season in Spokane.

One of the issues scouts monitor with prospects is their stage of play when video games get exhausting, for instance within the playoffs. Preston produced 9G-7A in 20 playoff video games final spring for the Chiefs. He may be deployed in all conditions and he’s a relentless competitor.

Here’s an instance of his dedication defensively, resulting in an offensive alternative off the frenzy:

Ivar Stenberg, 5-foot-11, 179 kilos, left-shot winger, Frolunda (Sweden SHL)

Stenberg is a prospect who might problem to go as excessive as second general by the point the draft rolls round subsequent June. He’s a goal-scoring ahead who produced 26G-27A in solely 27 video games on the J20 stage final season earlier than being promoted to Frolunda’s males’s group within the SHL. He’s at all times been a part of Sweden’s management group on the worldwide stage and contributed 8G-5A on the U18 worlds final spring in Texas.

I respect the deception in Stenberg’s sport. He takes inventory of what’s in entrance of him off the frenzy and adjustments speeds accordingly when making performs. He’s additionally not shy about battling alongside the wall and in visitors to increase performs. He’s exhausting to defend offensively, has a really fast launch and playmaking thought course of, and is healthier than common monitoring again defensively.

Xavier Villeneuve, 5-foot-10, 158 kilos, left-shot defenceman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Teams will monitor Villeneuve’s means to defend and his general method when having to have interaction greater opponents, however he’s uber-competitive and by no means provides up on a play. His most elite ingredient is his means to hit the offensive rush shortly, with and with out the puck on his stick, and quarterback the ability play. The bulk of his ice time comes at even energy and with the person benefit. Villeneuve produced 12G-50A for the Armada final season. He impressed me an excellent take care of his constant influence, in relation to his ingredient, on the U18 worlds in Texas final spring the place he contributed 4G-4A for Team Canada.

Adam Novotny, 6-foot-1, 204 kilos, left-shot winger, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Novotny is an intriguing prospect who’s very dependable together with his method and element on and off the puck. When his group doesn’t have full management within the offensive zone, he makes certain he’s above the play to help defensively. He’s a menace off the frenzy when his group regroups and assaults by way of the impartial zone, and he provides opponents all they will deal with out in entrance of their internet and alongside the boards. He ought to thrive within the OHL. I anticipate Novotny to hold over the momentum from his time with Czechia’s U20 group this summer season. He contributed 5G-4A in eight video games earlier than arriving in Peterborough.

Ryan Roobroeck, 6-foot-3, 210 kilos, left-shot centre, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)

The NHL values huge, robust, goal-scoring forwards and Roobroeck matches the outline. He produced 41G-46A in 64 regular-season video games final 12 months in Niagara and was very spectacular for Team Canada on the U18 worlds the place he pitched in 4G-5A in seven video games.

As a lot as Roobroeck’s dimension is engaging, I’m not snug describing him as an influence ahead. He containers out opponents effectively and extends performs together with his size, however he isn’t overpowering. He has time to additional outline his sport, however his puck contact, and apparent outcomes, stand out amongst his peer group on this draft class.

Tynan Lawrence, 6-feet, 185 kilos, left-shot centre, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Lawrence is one other identify to maintain a detailed eye on. He led the Lumberjacks in regular-season scoring final 12 months (25G-29A) and took his sport to a different stage when he was named the playoff MVP after main Muskegon to a league championship and contributing 8G-10A.

Lawrence is a little bit of an anomaly on this checklist. He has determined to return to Muskegon as a substitute of transferring to main junior or the NCAA this fall. I respect his loyalty. It speaks to his character. His ability offensively is his most engaging ingredient, however he’s additionally reliable and aggressive defensively.

Chase Reid, 6-foot-2, 185 kilos, right-shot defenceman, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

I’m at all times intrigued by prospects who take a bit longer to develop in comparison with a few of their friends and Reid matches that mould. The Greyhounds’ scouting workers needs to be happy with what they’ve present in Reid. He wasn’t drafted till the seventh spherical (125^th general) on the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Reid began final season skating for Bismarck within the NAHL earlier than arriving within the Soo earlier than Christmas.

Reid established himself as a two-way defenceman final 12 months. He’s assured with the puck on his stick, aggressive extending performs within the offensive zone, and agile transferring east-to-west to open up taking pictures lanes. He ended his rookie marketing campaign with 7G-33A in 39 video games. I get the sensation Reid would possibly simply be scraping the floor of his general means.