Towering frames and elite composure define a wave of massive international prospects poised to dominate the crease, headlined by a 6-foot-7 giant and technically sound Russian standouts.
The 2026 NHL Draft feels like it’s going to lean heavily toward goalies, especially once you start looking at the international group. There’s just a lot of size in this class. Almost everywhere you turn, you’re seeing big frames, 6-foot-4 and up, sometimes even pushing past that. NHL teams usually don’t ignore that for long, even if the rest of the game is still coming together.
This is a look at the top five international goalies who are showing up on the radar for 2026, based on Central Scouting lists.
Dmitri Borichev | Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)
Borichev sits near the top of the group after a solid year in Russia. Nothing that really jumps off the page in a flashy way, but it was steady. 24 games, 2.25 GAA, .929 save percentage.
Play Style: He’s not the biggest goalie in the group, listed around 6-foot-2, but the game looks pretty calm most nights. He doesn’t overplay situations much. Reads are decent, and his positioning is already pretty sound for his age. You kind of come away thinking he just doesn’t get rattled easily.
Yegor Rybkin | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
This is the giant in the group, and it’s hard not to start there.
Play Style: 6 foot 7, and yeah, you notice it immediately. He just covers the net. Movement is better than you’d expect at that size, though it still gets a little stiff at times. There are moments where it looks really intriguing, and then others where you’re reminded he’s still very raw. It’s a projection pick more than anything else.
Michal Orsulak | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Orsulak’s season in the WHL took a bit of time to settle, which isn’t unusual for imports.
Play Style: Big frame, around 6-foot-4. Pretty quiet style overall. Doesn’t chase the game too much. There were stretches where he looked more comfortable just reading plays instead of reacting late, which is usually what you want to see over a season like that.
Dmitri Ivchenko | Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
Ivchenko probably doesn’t get talked about as much as some of the others, but the numbers and stretches of play were strong enough to notice.
Play Style: 6-foot-3, more reactive than technical right now. The glove is quick. Sometimes he gambles a bit early, but it’s not reckless. More like he trusts his first read and commits. That can work, depending on how it develops.
Douglas Nilsson | Färjestad BK U20 (Nationell)
Nilsson has been around Sweden’s program quite a bit this year and handled it without much issue.
Play Style: Around 6-foot-4 and smooth laterally. Doesn’t get pulled out of shape too often. Pretty calm overall, even when pressure builds. Not a lot of highs and lows, just steady reps throughout the year.