2026 NHL Draft: Lemieux, Croskery, And Boettiger Among Best Players To Go Undrafted

WHL Roundtable

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Adam Kierszenblat

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Harrison Boettiger, G, Kelowna (WHL)

This was one of the more surprising omissions on draft day as the netminder that was in the crease for the CHL-USA Prospect Challenge went undrafted.

Harrison Boettiger has a decent technical base, and he isn’t an unathletic netminder by any means. His play this year was a bit up and down, but when he was on his game, he was often stealing games for Kelowna. He must never have been the top goalie on anyone’s list, because I know he was at least somewhat well-regarded by NHL clubs.

Carter Casey, G, Medicine Hat (WHL)

One of the best skating goalies, Carter Casey, was a goalie that many in the public sector had high expectations for at the draft. The athletic netminder was really fun to watch at times because of his never-say-die attitude and willingness to throw his body around when needed.

He certainly needed some refinement in his technical play, but there is no doubt his physical tools and gifts as a skater could have easily justified making him a draft pick. He’s a prime candidate to be taken next year.

The 2026 NHL draft came and went, and a total of 224 players were selected. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t players who were not selected and likely should have been. They’ll have the opportunity to re-enter the draft next year, but first, we highlight the best players to go undrafted in 2026.

thehockeynews.com2026 NHL Draft: Lemieux, Croskery, And Boettiger Among Best Players To Go UndraftedThe 2026 NHL draft came and went, and a total of 224 players were selected. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t players who were not selected and likely should have been. They’ll have the opportunity to re-enter the draft next year, but first, we highlight the best players to go undrafted in 2026.

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