Remember those early 2025 NHL Draft rankings from yesterday? Let’s up the stakes a bit.
The 2026 NHL Draft is still two years away, but we already have a good sense of some of the top prospects right now. Gavin McKenna’s name has been in the consciousness for a few years already, and Viggo Björck is as legit of a challenger as we’ve seen to take the top spot away in quite some time. And that’s just scratching the surface – a good majority of these players haven’t set foot in a junior hockey game just yet.
The Youth Olympic Games earlier this winter allowed for a rare, once-every-four-years showcase to look at some of the best prospects still a few years out. USA won gold, with a few of those key players popping up on this list.
So, it’s extremely early, and that’s why this isn’t a ranking. Instead, keep this as more of a watch list as we look at 20 players you need to know for the 2026 NHL Draft:
Gavin McKenna, C (Medicine Hat, WHL)
McKenna is simply something else. The skill, speed, shot, two-way play – he has it all. He’s the closest we have to a skill comparable to Connor Bedard. Bedard’s 100-point season in 2021-22 is the gold standard among 16-year-olds in the modern-day CHL, but McKenna had 97 points in just one fewer game with the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna had 18 points in 16 games as a 15-year-old the previous year, with his 1.13 PPG putting him third in WHL history among players with at least 15 games played. McKenna then was one of the best players at the U-18s, with his hat-trick in the gold medal game leading Canada to a shocking comeback win. Yeah, he’s a franchise-changing prospect.
Viggo Björck, C (Djurgardens, Sweden U-18)
The fight is on. Björck proved to be too good for U-16 competition, so he moved up to play kids three years older and still managed to lead the league in scoring. His 98 points are good for first all-time in J-18 Region action, and there’s definitely a strong argument that he should be playing against even better competition. He’s a dangler with incredible hands and a tremendous shot release, and he’s got all the makings of a future top-line forward in the NHL.
Ryan Roobroeck, C (Niagara, OHL)
Already one of the best pure goal-scorers in the draft, there’s a lot to like about Roobroeck. He was a dominant offensive threat growing up with the London Jr. Knights and already is off to a great start with 28 goals and 51 points with the IceDogs this year. I thought he also got much better as the World U-17 Hockey Challenge wore on despite starting off slowly. When he’s on his game, the 6-foot-2 forward means business.
Ivar Stenberg, C (Frolunda, Sweden U-20)
Ivar is the younger brother of St. Louis Blues prospect Otto Stenberg, who called Ivan “so smart and skilled” when I talked to him last year. And it’s true – he just seems to think the game at a much higher level than most kids his age and has the pure skill to consistely beat defenders. He was a standout with Sweden’s U-17 team and played very well with Frolunda in U-20 competition. Expect him to challenge for the J20 Nationell scoring race next season.
Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor, OHL)
Taken first overall in the 2024 OHL Draft, Belchetz is a force of nature out there. He’s 6-foot-4 and over 230 pounds and makes sure to use every bit of his frame. Belchetz has one of the most powerful shots in this class, allowing him to score 46 goals and 84 points with the Oakville Rangers this past year. Watching him in person was eye-opening because very few recent OHL Draft picks have been able to take over like he has. Belchetz is more than just a big body, but it’s up to him to keep proving that with Windsor.
Adam Valentini, C (Chicago, USHL)
Valentini was the highest-scoring Canadian AAA player with 52 goals and 134 points in 57 GTHL games on the famed Toronto Marlboros squad. He’s not a big forward, but strength hasn’t been an issue and he’s able to beat just about anyone on the rush at any time. I’m also impressed with how committed he is defensively already, something that you see high-end scorers develop later on. I could see him going really high in 2026.
Mikey Berchild, C (USNTDP)
Berchild played with the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s school this year, showing he could put up big numbers despite playing up against older competition. He’s equally good as a shooter and a setup guy and is expected to play a huge role with the USNTDP this year, just like he did at the Youth Olympic Games. I expect him to go quite high this year given how much he does with the puck on his stick.
William Håkansson, LHD (Lulea, Sweden U-20)
Håkansson turned heads with his physical play this year. He stands tall at 6-foot-4, and he just turned 16. He’s no stranger to playing on the edge, having been ejected from two U-18 league games already. Håkansson even bullies players two to three years older than him in the U-20 league. Håkansson previously played forward growing up, but There’s still a bit of honing he needs to do, but he’s done an excellent job adjusting to the blueline.
Adam Novotný, LW (Mountfield, Czechia)
Every time I watched Novotný this year, I was impressed with how effective he was internationally. He seemed to show up the most against older competition with the U-18 team, which might explain why he was so good against U-20 competition. With 59 points in 48 games in the top junior league, it marked the sixth-best output by a U-17 player ever, trailing some quality players like Eduard Sale, Petr Sykor, and Martin Erat.
Alexei Vlasov, LW (Yunost Yekaterinburg, Russia U-17)
Along with his teammate Yegor Shilov, Vlasov put up one of the most productive seasons in Russian U-17 league history with 37 goals and 76 points. Add in a team-leading 15 points with Russia’s U-16 team and you’re witnessing someone with the ability to take over games.
Yegor Shilov, C (Yunost Yekaterinburg, Russia U-17)
Shilov was dominant with Russia’s U-16 team this year, scoring seven goals and 14 points in six games. The Russians don’t always play top-quality competition given how few countries will play against them, but Shilov just seemed on it whenever the puck came to him. He scored more than a goal a game at the U-17 level and three points per game against his own age group. Not too shabby.
Joe Iginla, C (Edmonton, OHL)
Yes, another Iginla is on the way – and he’s really damn good. Like, maybe better than Tij. The energetic forward made an excellent first impression in the WHL, registering five points in five games in spot duty. His final stint with Edmonton seemed to help him finish off strong, as he returned to the RINK Hockey Academy to score nine points in his first two games back. Iginla has an excellent shot, but he might be an even better playmaker.
Alessandro Di Iorio, C (Sarnia, OHL)
Di Iorio loves having the puck on his stick as much as anyone, and might be one of the most pure skilled players taken in the OHL Draft in April. He was such a dominant force with the Vaughan Kings, winning most of his puck battles on a given night as he kept goalies on their toes. Di Iorio was incredible at the Youth Olympic Games, which helped solidify himself as a true future star.
Braidy Wassilyn, C (Niagara, OHL)
Wassilyn played at just under a two-point-per-game average as one of the top players in the GTHL this year. Drafted fourth overall by the Niagara IceDogs in April, Wassilyn is a skilled, speedy forward who has a rugged 6-foot-2, 194-pound frame and isn’t afraid to use it. Wassilyn’s Markham Majors didn’t qualify for a few of the bigger showcase tournaments this year, but the scouts still flocked to his games to see just how good he could be with the puck.
JP Hurlbert, C (USNTDP)
Hurlbert is one of the biggest draws for the U-17 USNTDP team this year, and for good reason. The Allen, Texas native had 40 goals and 76 points in 45 games with the Dallas Stars Elite U-16 squad last year and was a big reason why the Americans won gold at the Youth Olympic Games earlier this year. He’s an outstanding puck handler with a great wrist shot, a good eye for the net and he’s committed at both ends of the ice.
Simon Katolický, LW (Tappara, Finland U-20)
Katolický was so good at the U-16 national team level this year, scoring 16 goals and 26 points in 24 games – including four goals at the Youth Olympic Games. Now headed to Finland for the first time, it’ll be a big test for the 6-foot-3 forward (who looked bigger every time I watched him). Few forwards can take over a shift and command attention as Katolický did this year.
Niklas Aaram-Olsen, RW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)
I was extremely impressed with NAO during the U-18s as he seemed to be one of the most involved players on his team. He put up incredible numbers in his first U-16 season in Sweden and showed he was no slouch against U-18 competition, either. Aaram-Olsen is scheduled to spend time with Orebro’s U-18 and U-20 teams next year, where I think he’ll be able to do quite a bit of damage.
Maddox Dagenais, C (Quebec, QMJHL)
Playing in Ontario with the Quinte Red Devils this year, Dagenais played at well over two points per game, scoring 42 goals and 81 points in just 35 games. Anytime Quinte was playing a top dog, Dangenais was the best player on the ice. Now he’ll be tasked with bringing the Remparts back to glory, and it helps that he’s 6-foot-3.
Zachary Nyman, LHD (Penction, BCHL)
Few GTHLers impressed me more than Nyman over the past two years, who seemed to dominate the puck play from Vaughan’s point this year. He’s headed to Penticton for 2024-25 as he looks to make an impact in a highly competitive BCHL while leaning towards eventually going the college route. He’s only 5-foot-9, but he’s got plenty of time to bulk up.
Olivers Murneiks, C (HK Mogo, Latvia)
Could Olivers Murnieks become the next notable NHLer out of Latvia? The 2008-born forward is skilled, dynamic and already is leading Latvia’s U-20 team. He drives through the middle so well and uses his solid, strong frame to get himself into scoring positions with little difficulty. Keep a close eye on him.
Other notables: Joonas Rajala, LW (Tappara, Finland U-20), Tobias Tomik, RW (HK Dukla Trencin, Slovakia), Beckham Edwards, C (Youngstown, USHL), Mathis Preston, RW (Spokane, WHL), Landon Hafele, LW (USNTDP), Colin Fitzgerald, C