Editor in chief Ryan Kennedy shares the top 100 NHL draft prospects from The Hockey News' Draft Preview issue and a bonus 20. There's a different No. 1 than in his mid-season ranking.
The 2026 NHL draft is almost here, so it's time to drop some final rankings.
As I've done for the past few years, I've gone with 120 picks here, which includes our top 100 from Draft Preview (buy it now!), plus a bonus 20 of players who didn't quite make the cut for one reason or another. It's also about four rounds of selections, which should give you a sense of the top end of this class.
This is not a mock draft – consider it Best Player Available.
Having said that, the top five defensemen in this class are practically interchangeable – different NHL teams have their favorites, and I would not be shocked to see those blueliners go in any order.
When the first centers will go is also something to watch for in Buffalo, since what is typically the most coveted position in the draft isn't particularly strong or deep this time out. So, of course when we look back on this class in five years, the top player will be a pivot, right?
But that's life at the draft, when potential and feel is all we've got. So let's get to the fun part.
1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
An offensive dynamo whose best traits are the ones you can't teach. He was one of the best players in all of college hockey in the second half, and his plan to get stronger and challenge himself at Penn State worked out great.
2. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (Swe.)
Another incredible winger, Stenberg plays a more complete game than McKenna right now, but doesn't have the same dynamic upside. Nonetheless, he was awesome at the world juniors and doesn't need much more development.
3. Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
His offensive upside is tops among blueliners in this class, but Reid has also been lauded by scouts for his excellent defensive play. Throw in size and skating, and you've got a pretty enticing prospect who will continue to grow at Michigan State.
4. Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)
As a teen freshman, he put up great offensive numbers for North Dakota and learned a lot about playing in his own zone. Thanks to his size and skating, Verhoeff's upside is awesome – and he's just getting started. He was ranked first in my mid-season ranking.
5. Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)
Basically a flawless defenseman for his age. Carels can make an impact at both ends of the rink and will join Verhoeff at North Dakota next season. Heck, they might even play together, as they did for Canada at the world juniors.
6. Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
He put up a ton of points on one of the best teams in major junior, and when called upon to step up, he did just that. Malhotra is a competitor with an edge, and he'll get a chance to develop further at Boston University next season.
7. Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
Absolutely ripped it up offensively in the playoffs after an excellent regular season. Rudolph has a lot of high-end attributes, and truly the only smudge is that scouts don't know if he has the same killer instinct as some of his peers.
8. Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit (Fin.)
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Smits went straight to the NHL next year. He's already succeeded against men in Finland and played at the Olympics for Latvia. He might not have the ceiling of some of his peers, but he'll play for a long time.
9. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston U. (NCAA)
It was a weird year for Lawrence, who started off hurt, then dominated the USHL, then hit a wall when he jumped up to college. He's a great two-way center; scouts just didn't think he was ready for the NCAA.
10. Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College (NCAA)
Hemming also jumped to college late, but got more of a pass because a contract dispute in Finland held him out of the first half. That meant he looked tired at the end of the season, but scouts love his power forward potential.
Nos. 11 To 120
11. J.P. Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
12. Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.)
13. Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
14. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)
15. Brooks Rogowski, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
16. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)
17. Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Swe.2)
18. Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
19. Wyatt Cullen, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
20. Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA)
21. Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
22. Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Fin.)
23. Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL)
24. Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
25. Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (Swe.)
26. Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)
27. Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
28. Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown (USHL)
29. Ryan Roobroeck, RW, Niagara (OHL)
30. Niklas Aaram Olsen, LW, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)
31. Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
32. Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Fin.)
33. Jaxon Cover, RW, London (OHL)
34. Brady Knowling, G, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
35. Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
36. Samu Alalauri, D, Pelicans Jr. (Fin.)
37. Tomas Chrenko, C, Nitra (Svk.)
38. Ben MacBeath, D, Calgary (WHL)
39. Simas Ignatavicius, RW, Geneve (Sui.)
40. Alexander Command, C, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)
41. Ryder Cali, C, North Bay (OHL)
42. Mans Gudmundsson, D, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)
43. Jakub Vanecek, D, Tri-City (WHL)
44. Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
45. Chase Harrington, RW, Spokane (WHL)
46. Alexander Bilecki, D, Kitchener (OHL)
47. Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
48. Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia (OHL)
49. Charlie Morrison, D, Quebec (QMJHL)
50. Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Nizhny Novogorod Jr. (Rus.)
51. Egor Barabanov, C, Saginaw (OHL)
52. Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL)
53. Victor Plante, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
54. Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
55. Nikita Shcherbakov, D, Ufa Jr. (Rus.)
56. Adam Goljer, D, Trencin (Svk.)
57. Adam Valentini, C, Michigan (NCAA)
58. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
59. Samuel Eriksson, D, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)
60. Luke Schairer, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
61. Michal Orsulak, G, Prince Albert (WHL)
62. Ryan Brown, LW, London (OHL)
63. Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko 76 Jr. (Rus.)
64. Blake Zielinski, C, Des Moines (USHL)
65. Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia (OHL)
66. Adam Nemec, LW, Sudbury (OHL)
67. Colin Fitzgerald, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
68. Harrison Boettiger, G, Kelowna (WHL)
69. William Hakansson, D, Lulea (Swe.)
70. Tobias Trvznik, G, Wenatchee (WHL)
71. Tyus Sparks, C, Spokane (WHL)
72. Pierce Mbuyi, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
73. Alan Shaikhlislamov, LW, Ufa Jr. (Rus.)
74. Callum Croskery, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
75. Lavr Gashilov, C, Yekaterinburg Jr. (Rus.)
76. Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
77. Vladimir Dravecky, D, Brantford (OHL)
78. Jan Larys, G, Drummondville (QMJHL)
79. Zach Wooten, LW, Green Bay (USHL)
80. Viktor Fedorov, C, Torpedo (Rus.2)
81. Yegor Rybkin, G, Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (Rus.)
82. Rudolf Berzkalns, C, Muskegon (USHL)
83. Beckett Hamilton, C, Red Deer (WHL)
84. Thomas Vandenberg, C, Ottawa (OHL)
85. Brek Liske, D, Everett (WHL)
86. Brian McFadden, D, Thayer (Mass. prep)
87. Vilho Vanhatalo, RW, Tappara Jr. (Fin.)
88. Samuel Hrenak, G, Fargo (USHL)
89. Kayden Lemire, RW, Prince George (WHL)
90. Zach Lansard, RW, Regina (WHL)
91. Jayden Kurtz, D, Rogers (Minn. HS)
92. Simon Katolicky, RW, Tappara Jr. (Fin.)
93. Landon Nycz, D, UMass (NCAA)
94. Eddy Doyle, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
95. Jonas Kemps, C, Chicago (USHL)
96. Filip Ruzicka, G, Brandon (WHL)
97. Liam Lefevbre, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
98. Cooper Cleaves, D, Dartmouth (NCAA)
99. Myles Brosnan, D, Dexter (Mass. prep)
100. Michel Myloserdnyy, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)
101. Braidy Wassilyn, LW, London (OHL)
102. Evan Jardine, C, Youngstown (USHL)
103. Filip Novak, LW, Sparta Praha Jr. (Cze.)
104. Ethan MacKenzie, D, Edmonton (WHL)
105. David Vermirovsky, G, Pardubice Jr. (Cze.)
106. Landon Haefele, C, Green Bay (USHL)
107. Cole Zurawski, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
108. Mikey Berchild, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
109. Axel Elofsson, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)
110. Alexei Vlasov, RW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
111. Zac Olsen, RW, Saskatoon (WHL)
112. Cole Tuminaro, D, Chicago (USHL)
113. Noel Pakarinen, LW, Kiekko-Espoo Jr. (Fin.)
114. Martin Psohlavec, G, Karlovy Vary Jr. (Cze.)
115. Parker Trottier, RW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
116. Teddy Lechner, D, Holy Angels (Minn. HS)
117. Oleg Kulebiakin, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
118. Luka Arkko, LW, Pelicans Jr. (Fin.)
119. Oscar Holmertz, C, Linkoping Jr. (Swe.)
120. Jonah Sivertson, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. The Hockey News' 2026 Draft Preview edition features our countdown of the top 100 prospects for the NHL draft, with in-depth scouting reports for each player. Also, you'll find Team Reports for all 32 NHL organizations that examine short- and long-term needs and cap situations.
Plus, we have feature stories on Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, JP Hurlburt, the Ruck Twins and the Vancouver Canucks, and we look at top prospects for the 2026 PWHL.
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