A deep dive into Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid.
The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft with 10 picks. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will profile a different prospect who the Canucks could take with each of their picks. Today's prospect is Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid, who Vancouver could select third overall.
Reid is one of the top defensive prospects available in this year's draft. Listed at 6'2", 195 lbs, the 18-year-old right-shot defenceman was ranked second on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for North American skaters. Reid recently finished his second OHL season with the Greyhounds, where he recorded 48 points in 45 games.
What makes Reid a can't-miss prospect is his dynamic skating and puck-handling ability. He loves to have the puck on his stick and can transition play out of his own zone, either by passing or by carrying out of his own zone. Reid is also not afraid to jump up into the rush, which can create odd-man rushes for his team.
Reid thrives when he is in the offensive zone. He is constantly moving around and looking for either open teammates or lanes to get pucks on net. While he is better known for his playmaking, Reid's shot is also dangerous, as he found the back of the net 18 times this season.
This year, Reid was one of three undrafted players to make the USA's World Juniors team. Despite being the youngest defenceman, he played over 19 minutes every night while recording four points in five games. Reid's ability to stand out on a stacked American team not only shows how skilled he is, but also that he plays a mature game and was trusted by the coaching staff.
While most of the focus surrounding Reid is his work in the offensive zone, he is also solid in his own end. In fact, he not only was voted the "Best Offensive Defenceman" from the Western Conference in the OHL's coaches poll this year, but was ranked second in the West for "Best Defensive Defenceman." Gaining that level of praise from coaches around the OHL is an impressive feat, as it means Reid was dynamic at both ends of the ice on a nightly basis.
Ultimately, Reid is one of the few defencemen from this draft class that projects as a top-pair defender at the NHL level. He has already committed to Michigan State University, which should help his overall development, as he will be playing against older and stronger competition. Based on the way he has developed over the last year, Reid could easily become the best defenceman to emerge from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds (Photo Credit: @OHLHockey on "X")Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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