2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championship Preview

The 2026 World Under-18 Hockey Championships are here, and hopefully you’re all strapped in for a fun, rough ride. This season’s instalment is pretty clearly characterized by a fairly level playing field, featuring a strong group of European contenders with some individual high-end contributors, a capable Canadian roster, and an underrated US national program with firepower and youth to spare. A few teams are likely to rely on some talented goaltending, and picking a clear winner, let alone the medal rounds is difficult going into the tournament.

The Under-18 World Championship is a great tool for evaluators to get one last look at certain players coming from unique circumstances are either stepping up into playing the best kids in the world on the international stage, or stepping down after seasons some might call a struggle to play junior competition and really stretch their skills to their maximum. Scouts everywhere will be firmly trained on both cases, and there are plenty of names who still have runway to make a significant impact at a key time in the season. A balanced, relatively deep class of draft eligibles headline the cast of chararcters, but a great selection of players eligible for 2027 and beyond look to make a name for themselves. Four players under 16 years of age are making their debuts, including 2029 NHL Draft-eligible Slovak Max Melicherik, a feat that just 50 players have accomplished since the turn of the century. It’s a strange year without the Swiss, but there is also evidence of strong growth of the game globally, with a strong generation of Norwegians, Slovaks, and Latvians on display, and the Czechs bringing a player who may be among the earliest names called in the 2027 NHL Draft.

I expect a tight, tough tournament where almost any team could find themselves winning medals through great individual performances, be it in net or with a great offensive performance from a key contributor punching well below their weight class. Get excited, it’ll be a good one, and the takes on the on the other end are likely to be scorching hot. Enjoy the ride.

Denmark - NHLeS Average Unavailable - Ranked 10th

Player to Watch: Emil Saaby Jakobsen - D - Karlskrona HK U18

It is really difficult to see how Denmark finds their way out of the relegation round this year, featuring a team filled with Danish junior, Danish second division, and lower-division U18 Swedish hockey. The 2025 Division 1A tournament was a two-horse race between this group and a surprising Ukranian team, and the Danes are bringing just four players from their championship team does not bode well, including many of their top scorers. That said, two key names appear as major pieces that could work some magic to keep Denmark in the top division for 2027. Anton Emil Wilde Larsen is back to likely start every game here after a capable tournament last year earning promotion. He is unfortunately known for being the goaltender who Gavin McKenna absolutely lit on fire at the World Juniors back in January, and his workload here will be no easier.

Another World Junior alumnus and my player to watch, Emil Saaby Jakobsen looks to be locked in as a major contributor and role player on both sides of the puck, with a mobile, skilled game with great finishing ability and puck controlling confidence. The group around those two will be in tough against the US, Czechs and Swedes, and their tournament is likely to come down to their result against the Germans, but even that one might be a tough one to pull off. Nothing is impossible, but this is a team I’m expecting to at least make for a competitive relegation round with whoever may join them.

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Latvia - 4.93 NHLeS Average - Ranked 9th

Player to Watch: Patriks Plumins - G - Zemgale

Latvia always brings an intriguing roster to this tournament, and unfortunately for all of us, Muskegon centre Rudolfs Berzkalns is unavailable due to the USHL playoffs where he’s been a huge presence up the middle all season long. While he’ll be missed by this team, there’s still an interesting group here that might be able to work themselves into a quarterfinal spot ahead of the Norwegians if things break right. I’m a big fan of what I’ve seen of goaltender Patriks Plumins, with strong international performances this season, and good results in the Latvian top division, albeint in light workloads. All three of Latvia’s goaltenders appear capable, which might be able to keep them afloat, but it might be tough. Big Olivers Murnieks can be a strong presence up the middle, absorbing pressure and making plays effectively, and Martins Klaucans is back after snagging a pair of goals last year at this tournament. As is tradition, the Latvians are bringing a gaggle of 16 year olds, led by Ricards Lisovskis, a defenseman who seemed like an intriguing puck mover in my limited viewing, albeit in the Finnish U18 league.

The issue for Latvia against a team like Norway will be countering the firepower that team has up front, and while we all know anything is possible, it may be a longshot for this group to get themselves into the playoffs. The goaltending will be the prime hinge point, and that’s where my attention will be focused as Plumins has been on my radar all year. Anything else is a bonus. Can they stay up against Denmark? I think it’s very possible, but it could be competitive.

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Germany - 6.84 NHLeS Average - Ranked 8th

Player to Watch - Tobias Krestan - F - HV71 J20

The Germans have been floating around this tournament depending on the year, some years getting into the playoffs, and others where they’re being relegated. To be honest, I have no idea what this season has in store, but I think they’ve got a leg up on the Danes thanks to their core group of key contributors with experience in high end leagues, including big heavy defenseman out of Wenatchee Darian Rolsing, big winger Tobias Krestan out of HV71’s junior program, and 16 year old DEL contributor Max Calce. There are 7 players on this team eligible for the 2027 tournament, and in my model, all but one are in the top half of expected contributors. The goaltending is a key area where their tournament may hinge with limited exposure to high end opposition, with German junior Niclas Wolter likely taking the majority of ice time, and two Red Bull Salzburg program goaltenders backing him up, albeit with great results in their leagues. Krestan has a nice combination of size, skill, and finishing release that could buoy his team in a similar fashion to previous leader David Lewandowski.

Beyond that, it’s all a big question mark. There have been some waves made about giant defenseman Tobias Krämer, and I would’ve been thrilled to see my Hlinka standout Moussa Hackert here, but getting eyes on Krämer will be very intriguing based on the limited viewing I’ve had of him at the German junior level.

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Norway - 7.21 Average NHLeS - Ranked 7th

Player to Watch - Niklas Aaram-Olsen - W - Örebro HK U20

Norway is in the middle of a strong era of talented players, with names like Mikkel Eriksen and Tinus Luc Koblar coming and going over the last few years, and this year, Niklas Aaram-Olsen, Casper Kjølmoen, and all three goaltenders may have bright futures ahead of them. Aaram-Olsen has been a mainstay on the Norwegian program, back for his third instalment of this tournament, and is fresh off a dominant World Junior performance, earning Norway a slot in the 2027 tournament in December. He’s slick, speedy, and creative, and almost assuredly a part of the men’s national team at the World Championship. A gifted offensive player who could easily take his team into the playoffs on his own, scouts will be rightfully focused on him, as he’s shifted all over my board this season from the middle of the first round through into my deep second round. Kjølmoen is all speed and pure energy, which should shine at this level in what is likely to be high usage. A number of other Swedish junior league players should help keep this group afloat, and the real keen-eyed should look for Philip Tollefsen, son of former NHL heavy-hitter Ole-Kristian. He’s a very skilled 15 year old offensive defenseman, potentially playing U20 hockey in Sweden as soon as next season, and has been impressive every time I’ve caught him this year.

The Norwegians are likely to be exciting, with young players hopefully showcasing a performance that may catch some by surprise. Their success might hinge on a few key names, but the supporting cast is not to be scoffed at either.

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Slovakia - 6.76 Average NHLeS - Ranked 6th

Player to Watch - Adam Goljer - RHD - HK Dukla Trencin

The Slovaks are always a great group to watch at this tournament. Their batch of 16 year olds look to be some major contributors this year, as Timothy Kazda and Oliver Ozogany had strong USHL campaigns, and Tomas Selic entering the tournament off a great season at the Czech junior level with Brno. The skill in the lineup is strong, but there’s also a good amount of size and energy up and down the lineup. Their U18 team gets plenty of reps against relatively tough competition in the 2nd Slovak professional league, and in turn, goaltender Samuel Hrenak is likely coming in battle-hardened, with a remarkable average workload of 50 shots a game this season. Sure, he allowed 5.5 goals per game, but you would be thankful for those results if you had grown men pelting you with hockey pucks that often. Adam Goljer has had my eye going back to last season, and I expect a very strong performance leading this group. He’s big, but has great skating range, strong defensive instincts, and moments of shot-led offense that should raise the floor of this team significantly. He’s another player who has fluctuated around my board this year, but has held strong as a late first round pick, and a good performance in what is likely to be very heavy usage will only reinforce that going into the NHL Draft. Samuel Karsay and Lucian Bernat have also been impressive pieces of this national program in my international viewings previously, with Karsay bringing great energy and net-driven offense, and Bernat carrying a physical, heavy offensive brand that should be able to power through quite a bit of the competition here and make a case for an NHL Draft, selection in June. While I don’t expect a medal from this group they’ve been on a remarkable streak of bronze medal game appearances since being promoted to the top division in 2022. Is that a repeatable achievement? With strong goaltending and outstanding performances from their youngsters, perhaps, but the real story could be the potential returnees making the case for a medal in the 2027 tournament if all goes well.

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Czechia - 9.6 NHLeS Average - Ranked 5th

Player to Watch - Petr Tomek - C - HC Energie Karlovy Vary

The Czechs look to be bringing a relatively strong team that could compete for a medal here. They’re built well from the net out, featuring two strong CHL goaltenders in Marek Sklenicka and Jan Larys. Sklenicka has stuck out to me on multiple occasions for is technical skill and raw size, facing heavy workloads with admirable results. The defenders in front of him are solid, with Tri-City’s physical and defensive Jakub Vanecek likely leading the way. He’s got a strong shot from the point and should be a power play weapon as well as a strong defensive presence. Vaclav Nedorost has been exceptionally productive on the Czech junior circuit as a dynamic, undersized presence, and Ondrej Ruml is fresh off a strong, skilled season with the Ottawa 67s. The scoring depth may be somewhat of an issue, but pockets of the team are names I’ve had an eye on all season. David Huk has caught my attention in the Swedish junior circuit with his skilled, dual-threat game that he can pull off at great pace for a player his size, and Jan Trefný was one of my strongest performers in my notes from the Hlinka Gretzky tournament back in August, even if his season with Moose Jaw was not particularly productive. Simon Katolicky is big, strong and shows some great flashes of skill when he isn’t smashing his opponents, and he likely will play a key role, likely making an impact in front of NHL scouts. Leading the way however is likely to be 2027-eligible sniper Petr Tomek. Tomek is speedy, highly skilled, plays at a breakneck pace of play, weaving and shaking off pressure and attacking the net with ease. He was my key standout from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and I expect that trend to continue here. Tomek would likely be in my first round for this year’s draft if he were eligible and I’d expect next year to be the same story. If the Czechs are going to make a serious impact here, they’ll need to score, and the only Czech top division player on the roster will likely need to be a major source of that offense. If all else fails, they might be able to squeak out a few key wins thanks to their defensive options and goaltending skill.

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Finland - 9.99 Average NHLeS - Ranked 4th

Player to Watch - Oliver Suvanto - C - Tappara Tampere

As is tradition, the Finnish crop this year is not to be underestimated. If anything, this may be one of the strongest teams they’ve brought in a very long time, and might be able to work their way into their first gold medal since 2018. At the very least, their first medal round appearance since 2022 should be more than doable. Finland is bringing a number of very strong 2026 NHL Draft prospects including two potential first round picks in Oliver Suvanto and Juho Piiparinen. Both of these players were at the World Juniors and did not look out of place, showing trademark Finnish stability, teamwork and physicality that projects to any level of hockey flawlessly. Suvanto especially could have a field day, with his skill and pass vision being underrated when you see how big and strong he is. He’s a player that NHL scouts are likely to be clamouring over each other to see more of, and I don’t think they’ll be disappointed considering his play in Liiga this year on a top program. Another Tappara teammate is also likely to make a heavy physical impact in Vilho Vanhatalo who is almost certainly going to be a key forechecker and penalty killer with a ruthless physical approach to the game. The Finns are also bringing their fair share of skill as well, as Atte Vuori, Max Laatikainen, and the Uronen twins are likely to do their part and help move the puck into good space and create key offense. Samu Alalauri is a player I’ll have a keen eye on as well. There have been moments where I’ve felt he isn’t far behind the crop of strong defensive players available in this class with his skating range, stick checking ability and bits of offensive jump that can catch opponents off guard.

The Finns have a potential advantage over many teams with the highly athletic Pyry Lammi in net to go along with the rest of their roster. Lammi has been impressive in many viewings in my time watching the Finnish junior league this year. His international performances have not been as successful, but there’s no time like the present to find your footing, and he certainly has the daring athleticism to make it work here. This group of Finns is a return to form on many fronts, with a balanced team filled with size, physicality, small area passing ability, and skill that should be able to pressure any other team in this tournament. A medal is within reach, moreso than recent years, and it would be a real treat to see this group get there.

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USA - 16.34 Average NHLeS - Ranked 3rd

Player to Watch - Wyatt Cullen - W - U.S. National U18 Team

The 2026 incarnation of the US National program is a strange one. I don’t believe this team will have any trouble scoring, and they have enough goaltending talent in Brady Knowling to do a good job keeping the puck out of the net, but the group of defensemen is a big question mark that could be exploited by the best in this tournament. The addition of Levi Harper from Saginaw is absolutely a massive boost, as he may be a skilled offensive defenseman that shows up at the top of my 2027 draft board in a year. His Hlinka Gretzky performance was second to none, playing a huge part in the team’s historic championship, and I’d expect him to be a premiere play driving defenseman that can quarterback their powerplay. Luke Schairer and Logan Lutner are explosive, confident defenders as well that may round things out capably, but relative to the best of the best in Slovakia, this might be the soft point for the Americans.

That said, the offensive firepower is impossible to ignore. Their crop of 2027-eligibles can be lethal, with Jamie Glance’s insane playmaking vision and practical skill level, Carter Meyer’s passing skill and off-puck ability, Sammy Nelson’s powerful skilled game ,and the dynamic and zippy Brayden Willis looking to make a name for themselves. The 17 year olds are no joke either, with personal favourites Victor Plante and Casey Mutryn leading the way with their physical, intense and skilled style of play that should be able to coast this team deep into the playoff rounds. Mikey Berchild, Lucas Zajic, and Dayne Beuker only bring more offensive punch, but the addition of the gargantuan Brooks Rogowski adds a whole new dimension of physical play and surprisingly slick playmaking ability. My eyes are on Wyatt Cullen, though. A player who has gotten staggeringly good relative to where he was 18 months ago, Cullen has skill for days with skating edges to evade pressure, work the puck around the offensive zone and create passing seams that put him right up with the best playmakers available in the NHL draft. Lightning quick hands and a lightning quick release give him all the tools to be a premier player here, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see NHL scouts blasting him up their lists before June. They’ll be a tough offensive team to contain, and it might not be pretty getting there, but this is a team that has the ability to win the whole thing.

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Sweden - 18.99 Average NHLeS - Ranked 1st

Player to Watch - Wiggo Sörensson - C - Boro/Vetlanda HC | Växjö Lakers HC U18

If there’s a team that could handle the Canadian depth and pure talent, it’s Sweden. From top to bottom, this team has so much going for it. The Viggo Bjorck saga is yet to be solved at time of writing, but a lack of Bjork will be greatly missed and might withold this team from being clear favourites, which makes the decision even stranger. Regardless, the Swedes are a strong, deep group filled with skill, energy and fun factor. Potential top NHL Draft picks are all over the team, with defenseman Malte Gustafsson likely eating a tremendous amount of minutes for thie group, but Alexander Command, Axel Elofsson, and Elton Hermansson all bring their fair share of firepower that may catapult them up NHL Draft boards. A few personal favourites of mine are here as well, and could surprise many who are unfamiliar. Adam Andersson is a big, strong and skilled centre that should physically dominate much of the competition, Max Isaksson, Nils Bartholdsson and Adam Nomme bring plenty of creativity and raw speed that also augments the team around it’s best names. While none of their skaters are eligible to return, their 2027 Draft-eligibles might be great additions. I’ve loved every game I’ve seen of Bosse Meijer with his excellent two-way impact, Vilgot Liden’s skill and skating combination should easily make him one to watch, and Olle Karlsson’s high octane offensive game earned him an impressive call-up to Vaxjo’s SHL team this year.

There’s a little bit of everything on this team from top to bottom, with size, stability and finesse on the defensive side of the ice, with flash, skill and intensity up front. The name I’m most fascinated to see is Wiggo Sorensson, hailing from Vetlanda, Sorensson played much of the season playing for his hometown club at the Swedish men’s 4th division where he was a premier offensive contributor. That level of play is far from competitive, but his appearances on the wing for Vaxjo’s U18 and U20 teams, as well as his appearances internationally for this team have provided great insight into what I believe could be a huge steal in this year’s NHL draft if things break right. He’s explosive, skilled and a slick passer with tons of offensive tools, oozing confidence and at times playing with names that might hear their name called early in the upcoming draft. I am already a huge fan, and I bet he’ll have a few more after this tournament. Sorensson certainly adds to the pile of names that push this team in the right direction, and if their netminders can hold the line, this is a team that will make any victory difficult to earn.

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Canada - 20.93 NHLeS Average - Ranked 2nd

Player to Watch - Tynan Lawrence - C - Boston Univ. Terriers

As always, it’s important to realize that Canada functionally cannot bring all of their best players to this tournament every year due to the CHL playoffs. It’s annoying, but it does give you a great look at some key names that you otherwise might not see at this level, and a preview of what’s to come with the youngsters they choose to bring. This year, of course eyes will be on names like Joseph, Eshkawkogan, and (at least for me) Zhilkin, but this is a strong Canadian roster regardless of who is unable to join them this year. Carson Carels is off the roster unfortunately, but Ryan Lin, Ben MacBeath, Keaton Verhoeff, and any one of their other defenders should hold up more than capably at both ends of the ice here. They should have no issue insulating their capable pair of goaltenders in Gavin Betts and Carter Esler. Betts was a standout at the Hlinka Gretzky, and if Canada can get saves when needed, they could easily find their way into a gold medal game. The storyline I’ll be keeping an eye on is the performance of the names jumping in from the NCAA. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with all three of the players on the roster at their respective schools this year. Adam Valentini has found a pesky, physical streak to go with his quick hands and lightning quick shot release. I’d like to see some more offensive zone punch to his game, but his off puck play has been excellent, and I would think he should have no issues finding his offensive touch here. Keaton Verhoeff was thrown onto one of the best NCAA programs in the country and played key minutes for North Dakota on their way to a Frozen Four appearance, and I think the lessons he’s learned will only help him look even more dominant than he did at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. He’s skilled, calm (almost to a fault) and has excellent dual-threat offensive zone presence that I can only imagine will shred much of the opposition here. Tynan Lawrence is an absolute dog, and every scout in the universe will be hyperanalyzing every shift to see if there really has been a negative step in his game since going to Boston University. I am personally very confident in my belief that Lawrence will shine here. He’s an aggressive, intense two-way centre who has been an elite transition driver in my data tracking, with a growing playmaking sense and significantly less waste on the puck in the offensive zone than I remember with Muskegon. He’s grown up quite a bit, and as a 17 year old centre on an underperforming NCAA program, I don’t know what more I could’ve asked for in my viewings, especially later in the season.

Of all the names mentioned, I don’t think any others could turn as many heads as Mathis Preston could. An infectious personality for interview fodder, Preston clearly loves to score, loves to be the star of the show, and has more raw talent than almost anyone in the tournament. Unbelievable levels of skill, pace, and creativity, Preston is a player with a ceiling as high as any, and if he has his mind set on success, he’ll get it. He’s competitive, an underrated defensive player when he’s engaged, and a ruthless offensive zone presence. Many have dropped him to the second round, but if he plays anything remotely close to his capabilities here, I think things might change in the other direction relatively quickly. His CHL/NTDP series and Hlinka Gretzky Cup performances were second to none, and I can only assume this will be more of the same.

This Canadian roster is very good from top to bottom and a medal should be in reach. Even down the lineup, JC Lemieux, Beckett Hamilton, Alexis Joseph, Ryder Cali and Lucas Ambrosio should have no problem eating minutes with pace, energy and physicality, and this group should be a great one to watch. They’re my favourites to take home the gold, but the road will not be easy getting there, and they’ll need great performances from their best to push back against the best of the rest.

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Will’s All-Star Team Predictions

Forwards - Elton Hermansson (SWE) - Tynan Lawrence (CAN) - Mathis Preston (CAN)

Defense - Levi Harper (USA) - Keaton Verhoeff (CAN)

Goaltender - Pyry Lammi (FIN)

The April 2026 NHL Draft Rankings

At long last, I’m back, somewhat delayed, sharing my “midseason” 2026 NHL Draft Ranking! I hope you’re all enjoying your respective transition seasons as summer approaches here in Canada and are enjoying the stretch leading into what looks to be a remarkably exciting NHL Draft in Buffalo in 2026. If you’re as excited as I am, check out the NHL Draft Simulator I built over the last month or so!

This year’s class is looking absolutely fascinating. I think we’re looking at a 2021-style relatively balanced top-end of the class, with lots of potentially valuable players, with a bit of a murky vision of the end result come the 2030s. There are projectable players in the middle of a lineup in a number of roles, there are riskier extreme upside targets, and a bit of everything in between. I’m not sold on guaranteeing any team a game-changing talent in this class, but the potential is certainly out there. Beyond that top group, in my opinion all bets are off, and the marketplace is still wildly all over the place, and I am no different. My thesis in the current era of the NHL Draft landscape is that the CHL has taken a very large step back in quality thanks to the exodus of very talented players to the NCAA. From ages 17 through 21, we’re seeing a huge list of talented young players taking their talents to the college hockey circuit for a greater challenge, more time out of games to focus on training and development, and in many cases, significantly more exposure to both fans and scouts alike than what is available up in Canada compared to the size of the market in the US. When you see a number of CHL players ranked lower on my list than many others, that’s the fundamental explanation. For many high scorers, I just see too much uncertainty projecting them in key areas that hold me back from the level of comfort I’m looking for in an elite level pick. Some buck the trend as you’ll see, and you don’t have to agree with me, but it’s simply an explanation for a pattern that will undeniably be noted by many upon the release of this list.

Nonetheless, it’s looking like an exciting year. I’m excited to watch players on my ranking as far down my board as the third round, and while many don’t have a clear pathway to the NHL, they all have something to put forward as a key talent that can be leaned on and developed to hopefully play some kind of role in the toughest league in the world. I still struggle to sift through who my top priorities would be past as high as the top 10-15 picks in this class, and I think the volatility come draft time could make for a wild weekend in Buffalo. Last season, that excitement ended somewhere around the early 2nd round on my list. Does this indicate a “deeper” draft class? I believe it does, but it’s still way too early to know anything for sure. Playing your cards right, plenty of NHL teams could find themselves with a small handful of roleplayers that round out a pretty solid roster, even if you’re a contender and aren’t expecting much from your draft capital.

Before we get into the list, it might be helpful to take the time to briefly outline my philosophy so you can get in my head a little bit and understand where I come from a little better when I see the game. If you take 10 different evaluators, you’ll probably get some differences in priorities and preferences, so knowing what you’re getting into should add to the experience. At my core, I focus on possession. Hockey is a game in two fundamental states. You have the puck, or you don’t. The ultimate goal should be to find players who are as good at gaining and maintaining possession in some way, getting the puck into a desirable location, and getting the dang thing into the net as much as possible. In my view, the priority should be in that order. You can’t have the third aspect without the second, and you can’t have the second without the first. As such, I see speed, tenacity, competitiveness, and quickness as key, both mentally and physically. I don’t care so much about how big you are, how good of a shooter you are, how hard you hit, I just care about what you do on the ice and if you’re moving the needle in the right direction. In my experience, the best young needle movers with regards to competitiveness, pace, and creativity are the ones of who are often hardest to find when they grow up big and strong to be NHL players one day. I value players who elevate who they play with more than anything. They’re dependable every shift, they're focused on the ultimate task of the game situation, and they think creatively to make baby steps happen that ultimately lead to scoring chances, and ideally some goals go in here and there.

I’ll also note that the positions listed (outside of the imaged lower tiers) are almost universally those from the games I’ve specifically watched and tracked of these players. A defenseman is listed by either handedness or the side of the ice they play on should it be the opposite to his natural shooting side (i.e., RSD is a left handed defender playing on the right side).

This is the free version of my full ranking writeup, containing full reports for my first four tiers, roughly the entirety of my first round. If you’d like full access, subscribe below and unlock the full rankings with reports on over 100 different players below!

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Tier 1 - By The Hairs of their Chinny-Chin-Chins

• #1 | Ivar Stenberg | RW | Frölunda HC | Dec. Rank (3)

  Stenberg has consistently been such an impressive all-around player this year and after seeing so much of him, I am still not exactly sure why he’s so impressive. His forechecking energy and turnover generation ability is awesome, tracking play with ease at the SHL level. His skill level may not match that of a Gavin McKenna, but the way which he uses it is so much more practical and effective in tougher scenarios. Knocking pucks down through feet and traffic, attacking players head on, protecting the puck down low, creating tight space for himself, it’s all there. the margins here between my first two tiers has gotten tighter and tighter over the last few weeks as I finish datasets on some other names, but Stenberg would probably be my choice first in what would be a strong top end of a solid draft class. He doesn’t waste his shots from the perimeter, he’s an excellent transition driver with diverse talents and a propensity for good stick checks, and if he can just improve his explosiveness to add another two-way dimension to his game as he has over the last 12 months, he could be a fantastic add to the top line of an NHL team in the mold of a Seth Jarvis-esque player with excellent value in many areas of the ice in many situations outside of raw point production.

• #2 | Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State Nittany Lions | Dec. Rank (5)

  Looking back, I absolutely do not regret having McKenna at 5 in December, but he has absolutely taken some great strides this season that alleviate a certain amount of concern about his game. The skill level is undeniable, and his ability to blend skill and playmaking on it’s own will make him a gazillionaire if things go right. He’ll score, fans will love him, and he has star upside. It’s as strong an individual trait as Connor Bedard’s shot in junior hockey was a few years back. That said, there are still significant concerns. I may be in the minority of not being a huge fan of the circumstances surrounding his arrest earlier this year, but beyond that, McKenna’s style of play is extremely improvisational (admittedly excellent at it though), which requires an outstandingly high level of talent against top tier NHL defending. McKenna relies often on having time and space to think, and using his skill to create gaps to defenders in a way that seems somewhat hard to see in the NHL without being one of the best in the world. The potential is there, but the data paints a very sketchy profile to project. Excellent offensive transition efficiency, but highly, highly reliant on pass receptions and chasing offense in the neutral zone. Tons of shots, but a majority coming from the perimeter. Some decent offensive zone turnover generation, but usually done off errant passes and sloppy board possession by the opposition. I don’t put a ton of weight into a lack of hits, but McKenna hasn’t thrown a single on in my sample. His defensive transition efficiency is among the worse in the draft, especially at the top, left behind on many attempts, relying on reach and soft stick checks, but also having pucks played through him positionally far too often. I’ve said for months that if I’m an NHL team, my gameplan is to vibe him out in an interview and go from there. If you get any inkling that there might be off-ice issues that become a distraction or detriment, then the downsides become far more troubling. If you come away thinking he understands his issues and that there may need to be some tweaks to get coaches to trust him more, then great! McKenna is a player who could take a good two-way top line that struggles to score and makes them into an elite unit. He’s clinging to this spot in a tier that is very close to the next one, but he’s going to be an absolutely fascinating player to watch develop and grow, and if things work out, he could be an enormous lightning rod for the sport as a whole. I have a bit more conviction in Stenberg, but it’s close.

Tier 2 - The Ones Right Behind Them

• #3 | Tynan Lawrence | C | Muskegon Lumberjacks | Dec. Rank (4)

  My god the things I’ve seen, read, and heard about this player while we all watch what the NHL is like and how the best play the game. We’re in a paradigm shift in the world of hockey and I’m sticking my neck out on a lot of these players trying to get ahead of where the paradigm is headed, and I think Lawrence is a prime example of that. Five players under the age of 18 are playing in the NCAA this season. Just 24 other players in the last 25 years have done the same. Younger players are playing tougher and more developed competition which I think is a great shift and we’ll likely only see more of it. For me, I see Lawrence’s journey from domination of the USHL to perceived NCAA struggles as a massive benefit. He’s getting ahead of his development curve, and even when you look at the data, his play with Boston University has by and large been outstanding. Lawrence is an elite transition driver with a speed and skill combination unlike arguably anyone in the class, huge offensive creation numbers on a team that struggled to finish chances he creates, a very strong defensive presence at both ends of the ice, improving shot selection skill, and all-in-all, just playing like arguably the most purely competitive team-driver in the entire class.

  Here’s a thought experiment in honesty: If Lawrence stayed in the USHL and scored at his pace, landing somewhere in the range of 40 goals and 80 points threatening for the league lead in production, would there be equal concern about his game? When he jumps up in quality of competition and doesn’t shoot the lights out immediately, why does the evaluation suddenly completely shift? If we’re playing that game, many other players in the class don’t have the same pathway or exposure, but have the luxury of playing at a level where they can threaten for their league lead in scoring without the challenge of NCAA experience at 17 years old. I’m very bullish on Lawrence and think he’s a great player to build a line and team around in some way. A natural centre with a style of play at the position that perfectly lines up with my philosophy of the position, Lawrence is a gamer, and in my opinion based on his last few games I’ve seen this year, he’s much closer to McKenna and Stenberg than he is to the tier behind these players.

• #4 | Viggo Björck | C/RW | Djurgården IF | Dec. Rank (7)

  You want to talk impressive seasons, I’m not sure any player has taken as great a leap as Viggo Björck. Habitually found on the first line playing centre for the Djurgårdens men’s team in the SHL is no small task, and by and large he’s been excellent in that role. A very capable transition driver, especially offensively, Viggo Björck has an exceptional view of the ice with great awareness and timing on his passes, stitching play together and generating almost 50% of his team’s shot attempts in some way, all while just 30% of his shot attempts come from outside scoring areas. While on paper Stenberg has a slight advantage in key areas, Björck has more evidence of physicality and net-driven grind off the puck, with awesome give-and-goes all over the ice, and vastly improving the pace and speed of his game in the last year. His key weakness is a combination of being a bit undersized without elite agility and speed in his skating, especially for a centre. I am personally less concerned as there is physical growth potential, and plenty of time to develop those areas. The thinking ability, pass vision, overall energy, and off-puck skill is very tantalizing, and it seems very possible that Björck goes significantly later than I would take him, which a smart NHL team may be able to capitalize on come draft day. A strong U18 might change that perception as it might for Lawrence, but as of today, I’m surprised at just how down many are on him.

• #5 | Alberts Smits | RSD | Jukurit Mikkelin/Red Bull Munich | Dec. Rank (8)

  One Olympic appearance and a loan to Germany since my last ranking has only solidified my view on Smits as a top choice for a defenseman in this class. He’s exactly what I’m looking for in a two-way player at the position for the modern game. Great skating range, a great frame, strong skill and puck protection ability that I’d love to nurture more, an off-puck awareness that looks for great scoring chances with limited perimeter shooting offense leading to cheap and unprojectable production. If he does make a pinch, he doesn’t disappear, often using his range to get back and cover his position, with strong defensive efficiency. He’s a bit of a rover though, with a transition profile looking more like a forward than a defenseman, but he’s such an interesting two-way presence with a level of impact almost everywhere. His pass vision across longer distances could use some work, being a bit calmer on the puck in his own end, but he’s more than capable of keeping the game simple and straightforward with a good team-first focus. He really brings a Brent Burns type vibe to the game, with a bit of that offensive zone confidence that might scare many coaches, but if you give him some rope and time to develop, you might end up with a premier 70/30 offensive split defenseman that is a rock solid addition to any team’s top four. I mean, the guy went to the Olympics for the Latvians, played a ton, and I saw him shutting down some of the world’s best players, especially in their game against the gold medal winning United States. He certainly didn’t seem overwhelmed in his role, and clearly looked like a guy that could and should hear his name called awfully early this year.

• #6 | Xavier Villeneuve | LHD | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Dec. Rank (2)

  Villeneuve moving down from 2 in December might sound like a big jump, but other guys have simply caught up and shown a bit more dependability in key areas than Villeneuve, but if we’re looking at players with the highest upside in the entire draft, Villeneuve is absolutely #1 among defenders, and at worst in the top 3 overall. He’s an unbelievably skilled and daring offensive defenseman, putting up offensive data in my dataset that goes well beyond any other defender I’ve tracked in the last few years. In fact, since re-scaling my offensive threat metric (slot passing + dangerous shots) to more accurately evaluate defensemen, Villeneuve blows everyone so far out of the water that I almost considered rescaling the information again. Scott Morrow is the closest comparable on paper and he was playing at the prep school level which, for all the stuff I’ve put out there on the QMJHL and the CHL, is a big step up from that circuit. 40% of his shot attempts are from scoring areas. He passes the puck almost twice a minute with strong completion metrics, he generates more slot passes than J.P. Hurlbert and Caleb Malhotra, generates more dangerous shot attempts than every player with a decent sample in my dataset outside of Stenberg, and McKenna, and rivals names like Preston, and Belchetz when it comes to individual scoring chances. The kid is a machine, and he gets there in a way that I think could work against NHL competition. Shifty like Lane Hutson, explosive out of his skill moves like Cole Hutson, and underrated defensive metrics make him a remarkable case study. He generates turnovers effectively at both ends, is no worse defensively in transition than the other defenders available in the CHL to a significant level, while registering more involvement defensively through the neutral zone than every other CHL defender likely to be in this range. He can be frustrating and easy to beat physically, which for some is problematic, but I’m a believer in tolerating some downside in order to accept immense strengths, and I think Villeneuve is going to be a player where the strengths wildly outweigh the issues, and his play since returning from injury, as well as his play at the CHL/NTDP series and last year’s World U18 tournament all solidify how special I think this player is. It’s a tight group at the top but he very quickly becomes one of the most exciting players available if the chips fall like my model estimates.

• #7 | Keaton Verhoeff | RHD | North Dakota Fighting Hawks | Dec. Rank (6)

  Another player where a small drop isn’t necessarily because of them not being impressive, but this year, so many names have clumped up at the top of my board that things have just come down to philosophical preference and vibes, to be perfectly honest. I really like Verhoeff, and if things break right, he could be a player I should’ve had a tier or even two higher. Nobody in the entire class is better at defending bluelines than Verhoeff, and he doesn’t do it strictly through his range and off-puck play knocking down loose pucks and errant passes. 32% of his defensive transitions are stick checks, and he’s successful 85% of the time. For a 17 year old in the NCAA, that is absolutely wild. He’s got a great shot that just didn’t come out much in my sample, but what did was his excellent offensive zone vision and playmaking. On a dynamic offensive team like North Dakota, his presence was a bit more limited than it probably could’ve been, but as a player with defensive acumen and offensive zone ability, there isn’t a ton more you could want. That said, Verhoeff isn’t without faults, and in my view, in some very key areas. His footwork and range are great in open ice through the neutral zone but his defensive zone explosiveness and strength have been a bit of a detriment, as has his overall reliability procedurally moving the puck around the defensive and neutral zone offensively. He gets a ton of puck touches but turns it over in those zones more than I would like, his physical metrics are worse than you might expect, and his skill and puck settling ability at low-pace is still something to be worked on after months of seeing him deal with that. There’s a lot going right with Verhoeff, and the upside is significant, and like Gustafsson, he may take a bit of time to really break out, but with the right amount of patience and the right areas of development, Verhoeff could be a great addition to any team’s defense corps.

• #8 | Malte Gustafsson | LHD | HV71 | Dec. Rank (12)

  Another youngster with some immense growth in his game since the beginning of the year, Malte Gustafsson has become one of the most curious players in this draft class. My shakiest viewings of him came outside the SHL oddly enough, with some skill issues controlling the puck and dealing with pressure, but once he got challenged in the best league in Europe, he really came alive. In terms of projectable defending, leading with stick checking and positioning, fading into physical pressure and separating bodies from the puck, Gustafsson might be the best at it in this class. Great rates of physicality, strong transition efficiency going both ways, very strong pass completion rates, and flashes of some offensive zone magic all make for a very intriguing player that might be one of those guys who all of a sudden at 23 or 24 has a breakout NHL season and becomes an obvious top-end defensive player. I don’t know how much offense there will be down the road, but the ability is there, and his SHL team generated less offense per minute on the ice than almost anyone else I’ve tracked, and I don’t think you can lay that at the feet of a 17 year old defender with very good defensive metrics on that team. I may end the year with him a biiiiiit lower on my final board, but I’ve become enamoured with Gustafsson’s development and what he’s capable of when playing against very strong competition. His U18 tournament should he make an appearance will be very interesting and I expect him to be one of the more developed two-way presences out there.

• #9 | Chase Reid | RHD | Soo Greyhounds | Dec. Rank (9)

  Reid comes in around the same slot, even after others have had him as high as 1st overall. I like Reid, to be clear, and I think there isn’t a better straight line puck rusher in this draft, outside of maybe Xavier Villeneuve. He has an explosive skating ability that can build speed through the neutral zone with good skill in combination, using his frame to protect the puck effectively, and using his feet to patrol the neutral zone with ease. He’s efficient off the puck, with good shutdown ability and solid blueline defending results, but he largely achieves these results without close-quarters physical contact, and that’s where I find Reid’s game falters somewhat. Faster, more skilled OHLers have found their way through his physical pressure more often than others in this range. His offensive output also relies on perimeter shooting more than I’d like, especially when there is some good playmaking ability if he takes a step up from the blueline. He’s an intriguing package that reminds me a bit of a Morgan Rielly type, and say what you will of his game at his age now, but Rielly had a very good, long run as a legitimate top four NHL rushing defenseman with blueline-based offensive ability and powerplay upside. I think Reid could be that as well, and I can’t imagine he ends the year any lower than he is here.

• #10 | Mathis Preston | W | Spokane Chiefs | Dec. Rank (1)

  Two things: Yes, I may have been a bit overzealous with putting Preston at 1 in a bigger first tier in December, but I still believe he might be the most undervalued player in the entire class. Seeing him ranked in the second round by many is borderline outrageous, as he went from one team that struggled to score and generate offense with him to a team that missed the playoffs and had the same problems. This is why I track the data I do. Preston played just 10 games with the Giants, but in that time he scored in 9, had 3 multi-point games, and had points on 44% of Vancouver’s goals in those games. It’s a smaller sample, but of all the players I’ve ranked, that is the highest value out of anyone playing on this continent. Yes, that includes Malhotra, Klepov, the Rucks, Hurlbert, and even Gavin McKenna. Preston has star upside, and every time I hear him speak and play hockey, I still see a potential regen of William Nylander there. The skill, speed, confidence, dual-threat offensive output, dominance of the neutral zone offensively, and underrated competitive nature are things to bet on to say the least.

  So, why is he down here instead of at 1 still, well, the top has become much more crowded, and it’s undeniable that Preston is a frustrating player. If he isn’t moving his feet, he isn’t contributing much of anything, made all the more frustrating by seeing just how intense and hard to play against as he can be at times. One of the bigger hits I’ve seen this year came at Preston’s hand when down something like 7-1 at the end of the game. Clearly frustrated, capturing that intensity when things aren’t out of hand is something a good coach should be able to scrape out of him. There’s just too much to like with Preston, and if he’s a lottery team’s 2nd round pick, that’s astounding value if things break right. Like McKenna, it comes down to your perception of his willingness to learn, adapt, be a professional and be the best version of himself he can be. If he does, he very easily might be right up there with the top names in this class when all is said and done.

Tier 3 - The Scoring Fancy Boys

• #11 | Adam Novotny | LW | Peterborough Petes | Dec. Rank (20)

  Novotny is one of the biggest rollercoaster rides of the year for me. For long stretches of games until recently, I was wondering what the heck happened to him after coming across the pond. It seems that a quick run to another successful World Junior tournament playing a significant role rebooted his “try hard” meter because the last few times I’ve seen him, he’s simply been outstanding. Dynamic, aggressive, making great forechecking reads, generating a ton of offense from scoring areas, chipping in through the neutral zone off the puck well, there’s plenty to love. His puck carrying results leave a lot to be desired, skating into pressure and trying to do too much himself with 50% of his attempts being carries with under a 50% success rate. Novotny, like others in this tier, is about his potential if he hits. Like others, the shot selection and defensive zone involvement needs improvement, as does his hockey sense through the neutral zone, but he’s one of a small handful of players who can seize a possession and dominate his competition, chaining play after play together generating excellent offensive results when all is said and done. I’ve got a few more games to watch and track of him, so there’s still room for him to shift around, and it may be somewhat significant, but the best moments are so, so good. I’m just constantly reminded of supremely individually talented wingers who need some development in the finer details like a Noel Gunler, and worry there’s a similar case in Novotny, but past traumas can’t prevent current excitement. If I get hurt again, so be it, and I can see how it might happen, but Novotny has taken a turn for the better in my experience, and the excitement in his game is worth betting on.

• #12 | Wyatt Cullen | RW | U.S. National U18 Team | Dec. Rank (40)

  Upside is the name of the game for Cullen, and boy is there a lot of it. I liked Cullen a ton last season with the U17 team and for one of the youngest players in this draft, he has grown into one of the most impressive players on the NTDP, especially as a passer. Cullen has excellent offensive transition metrics across the board and is one of the most effective carriers in the class. His defensive game certainly needs work, but he has that Mitch Marner-esque ability to see the ice beyond what’s right in front of him. Working off defenders using skill to create passing lanes, hanging onto the puck for an extra split second to hit a secondary option, faking out opponents and changing lanes remarkably quickly, his on-puck talent is undeniably. A wicked wrist shot release is part of the equation too, but his selection needs work like many in this range. I’ve seen him play college opponents and he doesn’t look out of place, and at his best he is one of the most impressive NTDP players with the puck on his stick to say the least. He needs time to grow and round out his game, but he brings so, so much to build on in areas that really matter in this sport as an offensive player. I’m excited for his potential and while I might have him a bit lower at the end of the year, I still believe that his projection could be very, very positive.

• #13 | Elton Hermansson | RW | MoDo Hockey | Dec. Rank (19)

  Hermansson is another player whose rise this year has only complicated the top end of the class for me. He’s gone from an undeniably skilled and impressive scoring winger to a very capable play driver with great vision and playmaking ability, even under pressure. His transition game is exceptional at the HockeyAllsvenskan level, and on paper he might be one of the best passers through the neutral zone that I’ve tracked to this point. He’s a tremendous player when you look at the fundamentals, and while his defensive game is a question almost all-around, it isn’t so behind his offensive game that everything becomes problematic. Half his team’s offense comes from him somehow, and if he can just attack the middle of the ice a bit more with and off the puck there’s room for even more to like. He and Preston suffer from shot selection issues here and there, and while Preston’s raw shooting ability makes it a bit more tolerable, Hermansson isn’t quite there, and for that among other reasons I lean slightly more in Preston’s favour. If what you’re interested in is pure pace, skill and procedural offense, Hermansson is a great bet that has matured his game significantly to my eye in the last few months.

• #14 | Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor Spitfires | Dec. Rank (13)

  Belchetz is very odd. I think he could be a great complimentary presence on any line for an NHL team. There’s a bit of everything: Skill, physicality, shooting ability, playmaking ability in tough spots, efficiency in transition, and very little that doesn’t appear “good”, but there’s still something about him that I’m not sure I can put my finger on. His offensive threat metric is average with a 50/50 split between playmaking and shooting, which trails others, but he’s still generating 42% of his team’s shot attempts. I think it comes down to his overall pace of play being lower than expected and never really developing much, along with a big of a case of stone hands in transition on the receiving end of passes, where he trails many others in terms of that offensive efficiency. That said, it’s entirely possible that Belchetz’s skill, frame and physical potential might be more than enough to make it work against the NHL regardless of his upside impact. I’ve yo-yoed on him a ton, but I lean towards the idea that he’ll figure out some kind of way to be an impact in the NHL. For example, I would think a good role for him is a physical defensive zone player who is a leading pass target on breakouts with good forechecking energy and puck protection against bigger opponents, with an ability to make simple but effective plays in scoring areas, with good shooting power on the side for the fun part. Is that the most impactful thing out there? Maybe not, but it’s valuable, and he could be quite good at it.

• #15 | Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs | Dec. Rank (27)

  I’ve really, really tried to see the “Best Centre in the Draft” in Malhotra and I just can’t do it, especially when looking at the other centres I’ve seen do their thing in tougher leagues on much worse teams. He continuously underperforms others in this range in very key areas: Defensive transitions, playmaking, and pass reliability. He’s adequate in the defensive zone, but he’s also back there a ton, at least significantly more than you’d think for a team as good as Brantford. He has had serious problems closing gaps off the puck and challenging puck carriers, let alone causing turnovers, but it isn’t all bad with Malhotra whatsoever. I see the appeal. He’s very comfortable facing pressure, absorbing opposition and making plays, he’s got some great hands able to throw pucks around the ice even when you think he can’t do it. As I write this, I think about how much I thought the exact same thing about Brantford’s elite player last year, Jake O’Brien, and the similar gaps in his game that there were. It’s a very good package of traits to build around, but the overall picture is very murky in my view. He’s really pushing the tier above, but I have seen too many off-puck gaps that hold him back from the tier above. If he goes very, very high, so be it, but I’m not there yet and I’ve almost got a full dataset on him to back up my thoughts. He doesn’t waste his shots when he does take them, and his offensive transition ability is undeniably strong, but the other areas cloud the projection a bit too much for him to round out the tier above.

Tier 4 - Bloop Singles and Home Runs Swings

• #16 | Casey Mutryn | W | U.S. National U18 Team | Dec. Rank (15)

  Mutryn comes in right around where he was in December, largely because he’s one of the easiest players to project in this range. He’s pure energy and beef, and I love it. I am sacrificing some of my principles a bit with Mutryn this high because many of his data points are just plain not good, or at least not exemplary. He needs to be more physically engaged and make better reads in the defensive zone, he needs to get more aggressive through the neutral zone defensively, and he needs to power his way to the net on his puck touches more, but my god if there’s a Stanley Cup Playoff “will your way to winning the game” style of player in this class, it’s Mutryn. He’s throwing his constantly, causing turnovers in the offensive zone all the time, generating slot passes on 21% of his total pass attempts, and his game is all about capturing the best parts and seeing them more often. He got pulverized in so many metrics, but you see what he does on the ice and how he does it, and you just can’t help but be drawn to what could be possible. He isn’t some troglodyte flying around recklessly killing everyone, as there is an amount of skill and puck protection that needs to be more evident. People are looking for the next Tom Wilson, and it took time for him to sort out his offensive game, but once it clicked, it really clicked, and Mutryn might be on a similar path if all goes well. Luckily for him, Boston College looks to be a great landing spot for a big, heavy presence with flashes of finesse as names like Hemming and Letourneau have been making great gains in the same system.

• #17 | Vertti Svensk | RSD/W | SaiPa | Dec. Rank (14)

  Yes you read that right, in my sample, Vertti Svensk has not only played defense on the wrong side of the ice, but he’s played Liiga games on both sides of the forward position. He is a bizarre player and I fundamentally cannot understand why others haven’t found him as impressive as I have. Sure, there are issues defending on the rush when pressured, but you could say the same about Chase Reid and he might go top 3. That’s not to devalue Reid, to be clear, but Svensk seems to be written off for that shortcoming. For defensemen in this draft, the fundamentals might be among the best in the class. He’s an unbelievably explosive skater with great skill, comfortable at all kinds of paces of play, and he uses his feet to defend remarkably well, at least better than you would expect when you see him at his worst. His team was stuck in the defensive end a ton, but he broke up half of the cycles his team has faced in my sample, which regardless of position is gross. He’s got a large amount of tracked hits and offensive zone turnovers generated, with almost half of his shots taken from scoring areas. At the junior level, he’s got points on 35% of SaiPa’s points, which for a defenseman is top class, and having seen him there a few times, it’s obvious how he’s able to do it.

  It has been wild watching him this year. Seeing him on the wing sent me off the deep end, and he clearly struggled at first, but every game at that position since, he’s looked more and more comfortable with a simply spectacular performance in Liiga at that position last time I saw him. Frankly, if this is the path he’s on long term, whatever, so be it, I don’t care. He’s gross, tons of fun to watch, and just based on fundamentals alone, he’s a player worth betting on and seeing where things go, especially if he’s drafted around where he’s projected to go, if he’s drafted at all.

• #18 | Oscar Hemming | LW | Boston College | Dec. Rank (WL)

  Hemming has finally played some games, and he has not disappointed at all. Ruthless defensive impact at the college level ain’t easy, and he brings a somewhat limited, but interesting overall package of talents to the game that could easily do nothing but trend upwards. It’s important to remember that Oscar didn’t turn 17 until the middle of August last year, leaving an enormous amount of developmental runway, especially for a big guy. Hemming is physical, anticipatory off the puck, a dependable if a bit simplistic offensive transition weapon, and his shot is a nice stamp on top of it all. The big ticket area I’d be developing is his touch on the puck and the skill level he brings. He could be a bit too clunky on receptions and carries through the neutral zone, losing control too often and leading to unnecessary turnovers. Even on passes, Hemming seemed to have issues making quick reads, moving the puck and hitting targets with clear, crisp pass attempts, but again, this guy is barely eligible for this year and he’s a college hockey player. The story is a bit of a wild card, but the potential that could be percolating will be an intriguing one to NHL teams. He will likely be a player I watch quite a bit down the stretch and at the U18s considering his shortened season, but I can pretty easily see a player that at worst is a late first rounder with big development potential.

• #19 | Ryan Lin | RHD | Vancouver Giants | Dec. Rank (25)

  Since returning from injury, Ryan Lin has absolutely blown me away far more than I expected. My first few viewings of him were not necessarily negative, but projecting him to the NHL was nearly impossible as he was. Smart, well-positioned, and tactically sound, Lin had plenty of good ingredients, but a lack of defensive zone cycle involvement, getting absolutely destroyed possessionwise, and far more limited 5v5 offense than you would think were big, big concerns, but the agility and skill level in transition seems to have taken a jump, and while I still have some doubts, this is the area of the draft where the guys that make you go “wow” here and there should be at the worst. A good passer with excellent playmaking ability for a defenseman, Lin still lags some key indicators I look for in a defenseman, but with improvements to his range and skating ability should only make those areas better and better. I’ll be watching him at the U18 keenly, and I would expect him to be a major player for the Canadian team should he make an appearance.

• #20 | Oliver Suvanto | C | Tappara Tampere | Dec. Rank (11)

  Suvanto constantly flashes an impressive floor, with great off-puck presence, physical play, decent scoring chance generation on his own, and some flashes of simple but effective centre that could round out a lineup well. He’s a bit of a return to form for the traditional big Finnish centre who may not have the flash of others, but has the pressure management, size, strength, and team-based approach that that nation specializes in. I don’t know how much offense you’re going to get out of him in the NHL, but the ingredients are there, especially when you consider how young he is. This range of the class is so, close, and I can easily see the case for him being a tier higher if you believe in his trajectory. He’s a well-rounded and projectable talent that could help skilled players score, complement other physical players, or simply bang in chaotic goals off of point shots or perimeter playmaking.

• #21 | William Håkansson | LHD/RSD | Luleå HF/Almtuna IS | Dec. Rank (10)

  Håkansson drops a bit from the top 10 as other names have really come along nicely in the time since December. His World Junior performance was rock solid as he usually is, showing poise, calmness, range and strong defensive abilities. His loan to Almtuna in HockeyAllsvenskan challenged him with more ice time and playing the right side of the ice, and he was clearly a bit uncomfortable in the role, struggling to settle the puck along the boards at times, panic passing to nobody out of the defensive zone, and getting turned around on the rush too often, but to me that just means you keep him on his strong side and call it a day, probably. He’s a player that brings more offensive potential to the game than you might think, with some good slot passing ideas that popped up once in a while off deceptive skill and fluid footwork on the blueline. He’s a dependable passer, an impactful defender, a confident puck carrier, and while he’s more advanced in age than others in this range, I think there’s a solid bottom four defenseman who might be able to do a solid job killing penalties and largely go unnoticed in a good way at the NHL level.

• #22 | Victor Plante | LW | U.S. National U18 Team | Dec. Rank (22)

  Plante has shifted around a bit here and there but he’s right where I left him in December. Similar to Mutryn, his profile is very straightforward, and similar to Mutryn, I love it. Dissimilar to Mutryn, Plante excels on my tracking sheet in many areas, and honestly my brain constantly keeps shifting to a Zach Benson type in Plante if he really hits. The energy, forechecking ability, raw determination and ability to play bigger than his size just makes so much sense to me, even if the raw skill isn’t close to where Benson was at this age. Plante is relentless with some of the best forechecking results I’ve tracked, driving 40% of his team’s offense on the ice, with 20% of his team’s offense coming directly from Plante in scoring areas. That is an outstanding metric to work with, and he’s doing it from in front of the net more than many others out there. His playmaking is slot driven with very strong rates, completing a solid amount of those attempts, leaving him with an offensive threat metric approaching 30, indicating a scoring chance or slot pass every 2 minutes or so at 5v5 for a forward. That may not sound like much, but over a 14 minute game, that’s 7 slot pass attempts or scoring chances, all done at 5v5. Plante’s brothers have set a fantastic example for him with their efforts and Victor will be joining them in Minnesota next season where I expect him to bump, grind, and annoy his way onto the scoresheet. What’s holding him back from a higher rank? He is a bit small for his style of play, the dynamic play in his game is questionable (I’ve seen many pure speed/energy guys struggle to translate into a good role over the years), and his play on the offensive side of the game is significantly more impactful and apparent than on the defensive side. That can be improved, and if Plante takes the same kinds of strides his brothers have taken, he may turn out to be the best of the bunch.

• #23 | Adam Goljer | RHD | HK Dukla Trencin | Dec. Rank (34)

  Goljer has floated around this range into the 2nd round all season for me and the last few times I’ve seen him, I’ve been on the optimistic side of the curve in the last few months having seen him post-World Junior. He was not too notable nor impactful at that event in my viewings, but his play in Slovakia desperately trying to keep his team in the top division gives me a level of reassurance that this is still a very strong defensive player with very intriguing upside. His size, youth, reach and skating range are all exciting talents to work with, and he has found many ways to stop opponents in their tracks without overcommitting physically and falling out of position. His pass vision is largely calm, well-thought out and accurate in most games, and it’s very difficult to ascertain his true offensive impact as his team, like other defenders this year, simply did not land scoring chances whatsoever. He was responsible for 30% of the shots his team has taken with him on the ice and much to my chagrin, he’s very limited on paper with regards to shot assists, but that also may have something to do with being surrounded by one of the worst teams in Slovakia’s top division. It is nearly miraculous that he managed to keep around a 50% shot differential considering how often he was found in the defensive zone doing whatever he could to break things up on his own. He is one of the busiest and most successful defenders in that area of the game in my dataset, and I believe it. Great awareness and sense off the puck puts him in good positions for well times knockdowns or stick checks, and he gets the puck moving up the ice effectively once the turnover is generated. I’d love to see him stretch out a bit and work on strengthening every stride to improve his puck carrying potential, but there is a good set of fundamentals that hopefully can work their way into an NHL lineup once he develops a bit more strength and gets some good experience at better levels of play.

• #24 | Carson Carels | LHD | Prince George Cougars | Dec. Rank (30)

  I’ve come around on Carels a bit this year, but not because I think he’s some kind of elite offensive dynamo like his production would indicate. He does have bonkers rates off playmaking attempts for a defenseman and generates a good amount of shot assists as well as peppering the net with plenty of shots of his own from the blueline, but I just don’t think that side of his game truly translates as an offensive NHL defenseman. He wouldn’t be the first productive CHL defenseman to regress into more of a solid defensive one, and I believe this very well could be the trajectory, which puts him significantly lower on my list than everyone else. The skill and explosive feet necessary for that kind of a defender just isn’t there to my eye, and a lot of his offensive attempts that aren’t point shots seem to be throwing pucks into the middle of the ice with a hope and a prayer, which is difficult to find repeatable long term. Think names like Bogosian or Ceci and you might see more of where I’m coming from. Say what you will about those players, but they’ve had long careers and keep getting jobs, yes, even Cody Ceci, for their defensive results. In Carels’ case, this has been the area that has really jumped out at me. I’m often very scared of how flat-footed and inactive Carels can be on defensive transitions, something that is often borne out in the data, but the way he monitors his lane to the net, closes gaps to opponents and erases players with physical energy is really strong, and definitely projectable. I can see why NHL teams are really interested in this player, but as I’ve said many times, my gamble this year is that the CHL has taken a big step back and will continue to do so, which may completely reshape how we evaluate players, and I’m betting that Carels might be a product of a low quality of competition, at least offensively. Defensively, I believe in him and he’s right here with the other defense-forward defenders I like from around the world, but he’s almost certainly gone before this point, and time will tell whether my gamble was a good one.

• #25 | Tommy Bleyl | RHD | Moncton Wildcats | Dec. Rank (WL)

  In the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of Cole Hutson, and going back to my memories of him at 17, the strengths and the issues that I noted at that time, watching Tommy Bleyl in 2026 strikes an odd amount of similar chords as Cole did. Relentless confidence, attacking opposing defenders head-on, swinging the puck around their pressure, creating chances for others as well as himself. Good knocking the puck downin the offensive zone with a killer wrist and slap shot combination, Bleyl is absolutely not shy about trying to embarrass his opposition in the offensive zone. On the other hand, similar to both Hutson brothers, his defensive game in my opinion lags the others in this class by quite a bit. He’s very slight and easy to knock off pucks in my experience, with little physical energy to speak of and a very passive, positional approach on the rush, getting caught flat-footed, out of position or beaten to chipped pucks by pure speed from quick opponents. I had him a tier lower, but the upside clearly put him ahead of that group, but I also don’t feel the same level of conviction or certainty about those ahead of him. I could see him drafted around this range and for all the doubts I have and still have, the excitement factor is still obvious, and that carries value at this point on the list. If Cole Hutson can use his feet off the puck to be a physical player now better than he did at 17, Bleyl can too, and if there is at all any truth to the two being somewhat similar in approach, we could be in for a treat watching him shred the NCAA for a little while. Beyond that, who knows…

• #26 | Adam Andersson | C | Leksands IF U20 | Dec. Rank (51)

  Andersson leads this tier, and this wasn’t the case before I started putting this together. Adam Andersson might be one of the most underrated players out there this year and it’s blowing my mind people aren’t seeing what he could be in a few years and valuing him as such, especially NHL Central Scouting. Let me know if this is attractive to you: A 6’3” centre born in July who has pace, skill, slippery playmaking, and is obviously driven to be a net-front scorer on and off the puck, who on paper dominated his opposition in my sample with a 75% shot attempt percentage at 5v5, almost 80% offensive transition efficiency with almost a perfect 33/33/33 split between passes, carries and receptions, who can make good off-puck reads at both ends of the ice to break up cycles and generate turnovers. Sounds pretty good to me, and honestly if his U18 showcases what I’ve seen in the last few viewings, he very well could land even higher on my list in June. The last few games I’ve seen of Andersson, his ability to generate offensive opportunity has grown by leaps, almost as if his coaches got in his ear reminding him that he is indeed, quite good at this sport, and can be a bit more confident and daring with his possessions. The puck protection, skill level, pace of play, it’s all awesome with him. Now the growth needs to come in transition defensively, and developing a bit more of a physical edge to his game, as he can be a bit too inactive, flat-footed and hesitant to use his natural tools to his advantage. He’s young, skilled, beeg, a centre, and has clearly taken good steps this year, but if people want to keep overlooking him because he was barely over a point per game in the Swedish junior circuit, so be it, but I’ll take him.

• #27 | Wiggo Sörensson | C | Boro/Vetlanda HC/Växjö Lakers HC | Dec. Rank (26)

  Every single time I’ve watched this player I am simply blown away. No, not when he’s playing carpenters and painters in Division 2 playing at home (where he led his team in scoring on their way to Division 1 promotion), but in all the ice time and data I’ve tracked when he’s gone anywhere else in Sweden and beyond to play hockey. Internationally, my tracked games are stellar, and he didn’t look out of place on a line with Elton Hermansson. His loan to Växjö has borne fruit, with 9 points in 5 games at the U18 level to this point, and a goal in his only U20 game, but having seen that game and a handful of U18 games, Sörensson could easily come out with even more on the scoreboard. Electrifying, dynamic, skilled, explosive and relentlessly confident, he will take time to learn how to play at a truly high level of play, but I’m a big, big believer in this guy. For a player coming from the doldrums of Swedish hockey to a premier club in the country and look like the best player on the ice for their junior team is no small feat, let alone his international appearances. Now, I must also note that there is chatter of issues that may limit his attractiveness to the NHL (nothing to be mad about, to be clear), but from the information gleaned in those conversations, other players have overcome the exact same situation and it’s gone largely unnoticed. At this point, he’s arguably the highest pure upside bet, and the most exciting player left that I haven’t written about yet to my eye. The hands, feet, dual-threat offense but ruthless shooting ability are all great, and I’d be more than thrilled to land him with a Team Scouching pick in the 3rd round and beyond.

• #28 | Ilia Morozov | C | Miami Univ. (Ohio) RedHawks | Dec. Rank (24)

  Another 17 year old coming out of the NCAA, Morozov is going to be interesting to watch develop over the next few years. He brings size, clear physical intensity, shutdown defensive potential, and a decently reliable transition threat that should do a decent job eating some minutes in the NHL if a team’s strategy has a role for a player like him. His offensive metrics by and large are a complete black hole, but part of that may be his surroundings. I personally am not sure I completely buy that explanation, but it’s possible. At the end of the day, the profile is simple but effective. Big, physical, decently range-y with simple and effective passing work that doesn’t really drive much in the offensive zone at 5v5, but still manages to show potential to be a bit player, and at this point in the draft, getting a decent and dependable NHLer that can stick in your lineup is a win.

• #29 | Simas Ignativicius | W | Genève-Servette HC | Dec. Rank (70)

  The big Lithuanian shoots up to the top of this tier, but the grasp isn’t particularly strong. Similar to Morozov, but on the wings, Simas Ignativicius is a fairly straightforward but effective complimentary player who has played both sides of the ice in a fast, skilled top Swiss division. As time goes on he has certainly not looked out of place, with very smart procedural playmaking around the ice through his passing, pulling the puck around defenders and forecheckers to find lanes and options. He has a decent amount of forechecking and physical results as well, with some nice off-puck instincts around the net to get to scoring areas and look for quick shots or tips in shooting lanes. Nothing is particularly standout with Ignativicius but I mean that in a good way. He’s a decently mobile, intelligent passer who, similar to a player like Hemming could use more skill development on pass receptions especially. Too many pucks bled through him for my liking, and considering how he thrives off his awareness and pass vision, he’ll get more reps to show that off if he can settle play a little bit better than he does. He’s big, pretty physical, smart on the puck, and a good coach should be able to extract more out of him as an off-puck scoring area threat that could slot in… somewhere doing… something…

• #30 | Juho Piiparinen | RHD | Tappara Tampere | Dec. Rank (16)

  Another very straightforward and simple profile, but a good one at that, Juho Piiparinen comes in quite a bit lower than in December, but once again, it’s more that things have compressed around him moreso than him not being particularly good. Piiparinen is rarely out of position, rarely making mistakes, is fluid on his feet, and drives very efficient defensive zone results, with flashes of offense that come out in ways that, while I’m not sure he’s going to be a big time NHL scorer, are impressive nonetheless. As a depth defenseman with good range, a great mind, and a diverse array of areas where he’s comfortable, Piiparinen might be another one of those defensemen in this class who you don’t notice a ton, but next thing you know he’s played 700 games and is a millionaire. If the expectation is a minutes eater who could kill penalties, with the youth and frame that provides interesting development potential, Piiparinen could easily be a target higher than this. If you buy the potential that the offense he shows in the junior league is projectable to the NHL, then he absolutely could be a guy that flies off the board pretty quickly. I am a bit more conservative in my projection, but it’s hard to see him falling any lower than this slot for me.

Tier 5 - The Smart, Energetic, Fun Bunch

Tier 6 - The Maybes and Big Maybes

Tier 7 - What’s Your Thing?

The Watchlist

The Watchlist is a collection of players I’ve enjoyed that I may not consider actually drafting, but show enough where they may be interesting re-entry candidates or late round swings.

Thanks for checking this out! If you have any questions, takes or thoughts, let me hear them on Scouching Live, Monday nights at 8pm EST, and Thursday afternoons at 2pm EST! Subscribe to Scouching on YouTube now!

Goalies

I’m no expert, but I think it’s a pretty strong year for goaltending around the world and these are the names I’ve liked in roughly an order in which I’d prefer them:

1. Dmitri Borichev

2. Yegor Rybkin

3. Tobias Trejbal

4. William Lacelle

5. Vladislav Yermolenko

6. Ryder Fetterolf

7. Xavier Wendt

8. Harrison Boettiger

9. Marek Sklenicka

10. Brady Knowling

11. Martin Neckar

12. Gleb Peshkov

13. Dmitri Ivchenko

14. Pyry Lammi

15. Matvei Karbainov

2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship Recap

Another year, another brilliant tournament in the books. The 2026 instalment of the IIHF World Junior Championship might be looked back on as a classic tournament featuring a bundle of NHL-level talent that could have long, storied careers that to many had there start here in Minnesota. Over 30 players are eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time in 2026, which is quite unusual, but more unusual is that many of those 30 were among the key players for their teams, if not some of the most important players in the tournament. Latvia nearly shocked the Canadians again, the Czechs did shock the Canadians again, a talented USA team hit the notorious Finnish Wall, and many other teams did nothing but battle their way to the result they earned. Names like McKenna, Björck, Stenberg, Verhoeff, Reid and others made names for themselves with those who don’t follow the draft as much as us junkies, and the level of excitement for the upcoming event in June is absolutely starting to percolate. For whatever it’s worth, a huge thumbs up to every athlete, coach, organizer and manager involved in this event. The coverage in my country (TSN in Canada) was second to none, nearly every game was entertaining, and this tournament continues to be a treat during the holiday season. To the Swedes who pulled off their first medal since I was in University, a huge congratulations with an all-time high quality team that shook off perceived demons and marched their way to the championship. The Czechs came so, so close to making history after another incredible win over Canada, with arguably the best roster they’ve brought in a very, very long time. The Canadians fully deserved their bronze medal result with a commanding performance against Finland after falling just short of knocking off their Czech enemies in the semifinal. Finland had a championship quality team if you ask me, and going home with no hardware in a tournament this competitive is absolutely not a failure.

To recap, we’ll take a look at each individual team with some thoughts I came away with, and hand out my personal awards at the end! Thanks so much for stopping by, and catch us on YouTube for Scouching Live Mondays at 8pm and Thursdays at 2pm! If you’re able, consider subscribing to the site to get some cool perks and data you won’t get anywhere else.

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Relegated - Denmark
MVP - Oliver Dejbjerg Larsen (F)

My #10 ranked team that was well behind anyone else this year unfortunately ended up relegated as expected. They made things interesting for a time in their relegation match against Germany before a 4-1 third period loss, but staying in the tournament was just not in the cards. Giving up 36 goals in 5 games while scoring a third of their goals in the relegation game is not a recipe for success. Anton Larsen stood tall in net, facing no fewer than 36 shots in a game, doing what he could to keep his team in contention, so we’ll have to see if his performance makes any waves with scouts going into his first year of NHL Draft eligibility. Other teams were just too physical, fast, skilled, and intense for the Danish to really push back over long terms, but there were stretches where they found ways to get through opponents and create offense, especially some big goals from my near-MVP of the team William Bundgaard. I’ve seen him play here and there over the last few years and his size, shooting ability and net-driven offense stood out, with slot passing under pressure and helping push the game in the right direction as best he could for his roster. Linemate Oliver Dejbjerg Larsen lands my MVP pick though, with a level of pace and skill that many teammates lacked that found him on the scoresheet more than anyone else. Impressively an even plus-minus on a team that was routinely blown out, Larsen drove play well and had strong inside playmaking that tried to generate some level of offense for his group. The Danes have a number of players eligible to return for next year’s Division 1A tournament, including Larsen and… Larsen… but the competition might be tough for them to return in 2028. It isn’t impossible, so we’ll have to wait and see, but the team that was likely to be sent back to Division 1A was sent back to Division 1A, and it wasn’t particularly close. The surprise berth last year is something to be proud of, and lining up against teams like Canada and Finland is no small feat.

Saved in Relegation - Germany
MVP - The Goaltenders

As expected in my preview post, this team was not necessarily gifted up front, scoring the fewest goals of anyone in the preliminary round before blowing out Denmark to stay in the top division, but their goaltending trio certainly helped them tread water including potential returnee Lukas Stuhrmann who faced a shot per minute in relief during an 8-1 drubbing against future champions Sweden. Just 11 players on the roster registered a point, but there were still some key contributors who led whatever pushback the Germans could muster. It was fun to see Dustin Willhöft back in the black and yellow, zipping and zooming around the ice, creating great chances with his high energy in a small form factor, and will likely be a key factor in the 2027 tournament after a 7 point performance in Minnesota. NHL Draft picks David Lewandowski, Carlos Händel, Maxim Schäfer all performed admirably too, Schäfer especially in my view. Big, strong, powerful skating with pro-style net-driven attitude certainly was a net benefit for his team and filled in a key gap and was part of a smart strategy to literally try to push back the opponents as best he could.

Picking a single person as MVP is too tricky so I went with the three goaltenders they brought. I’m surprised they rotated through all three, but they all showed exceptionally well, especially Lennart Neiße. Appearing in two games, facing the equivalent of just short of 50 shots a game, and still having a .900 save percentage is nothing short of miraculous and you wonder what sticking with him for the whole tournament might’ve led to, but right behind him was 2025 starter Linus Viellard with strong performances of his own, including landing the key win against Denmark in the relegation game. Germany wasn’t a particularly threatening quarterfinal team, but they were a class above the Danes, which is all they needed to stay up in the tournament. Four point performances from Willhöft and Lenny Boos catapulted them into next year’s tournament, but looking at their returnees and the future of German hockey at the junior level, we might be looking at a similar result in a year barring some heroic goaltending from Stuhrmann.

Quarterfinal Elimination - Latvia
MVP - Alberts Smits (D)

Once again one of the youngest teams in the tournament, the Latvians certainly had a tournament to remember on some level. A stunning late tying goal against the Canadians and holding them to a 2-1 win in overtime is something to hang your hat on. A victory over Denmark is all they needed to punch a ticket to the quarterfinals before being dispatched by the future Swedish champions in a 6-3 loss despite a strong third period effort. Goaltender Nils Roberts Maurins was strong at times but inconsistent, although all things considered, Latvia’s offense trailed everyone else in the group by at least half by the end of the preliminary round. It’s quite difficult to keep the goals against average under 2 when you’re facing nearly 40 shots a game in most competitive matches. Bruno Osmanis was certainly a key player with the trademark speed, skill and quick release from mid-range being a weapon for the Latvians as he continuously chipped away at teams one goal at a time here and there. 2026-eligible big centre Rudolfs Berzkalns picked the best possible time to land his only point of the tournament, tying Canada with under two minutes left in a 1-0 game, and other large names Kristers Ansons and Olivers Murnieks often found lumbering into traffic, attacking defenses and landing good scoring chances. The eyeballs were on none other than Alberts Smits, and in my books he did not disappoint at all with smart small-area passing work, strong rushes through the neutral zone, and trailing only Germany’s Carlos Handel in average ice time in the tournament. He was given a huge role and for a barely-18 year old defenseman on this team, he performed amicably. The skill, offensive zone attacking mentality, and calm presence were highly noticeable. As a group, the Latvians came together and fought to stick in games as a unit to mixed results. 2027 draft-eligible Roberts Naudins also flashed some strong moments of strength and power that caught attention here and there especially jumping from prep school hockey to this kind of a stage. Naudins, Murnieks, Berzkalns and Smits all are certain to return next year, and luckily those names were among their best. Will it be enough to win their first quarterfinal at this level? It may all come down to goaltending with untested Ivans Kufterins eligible to return but the intriguing Patriks Plumins poking around acting as Kufterins’ backup in the 2025 U18 World Championship.

Quarterfinal Elimination - Switzerland
MVP - Lars Steiner (RW)

I may need to learn to stop underestimating the Swiss in this tournament. They were surprisingly effective last year, but this year was a totally different level. There was a real thought in my mind that the Swiss might be able to knock the Czechs out of this tournament in the quarterfinals, and I might have taken things a little too far in that regard. While they were dispatched easily by the Czechs 6-2, the Swiss were a rag-tag, aggressive group of players who pressed opponents above their weigh class effectively. They were speedy, aggressive on the forecheck, and what they may have lacked in dangerous offense, they certainly played the shutdown role effectively. Victories over Slovakia and Germany aside, the Swiss nearly stunned the Americans in a 2-1 loss, and held an elite Swedish group to a 4-2 score. There were strong performances on the defensive end from the skilled Leon Muggli, dynamic and shifty Ludvig Johnson, and a surprisingly gritty performance from Daniil Ustinkov that helped keep the team hanging around more advanced competition. Christian Kirsch and Elijah Neuenschwander, both NHL Draft selections stood dependably tall in net, and through it all the Swiss may very well have simply just fallen slightly short of matching the truly best in the tournament.

Lars Steiner took home my MVP award as he played with some great physical energy, serious power off the wings and looked much, much more like the player I remember from before his injury earlier this season. It was a true return to form for him and he was rewarded as one of their leading scorers. He may very well be a major player in the 2027 tournament if his quickness takes another step and has a finisher to lob the puck to. Switzerland lacked a true goal scorer with just two players scoring two goals to lead the way, and the addition of one or two real finishes might unlock some serious headroom for thsi group next year. The eyeballs were often trained on 2027 eligible Jonah Neuenschwander who was back for his second World Junior Tournament. In fact, if Neuenschwander returns as many times as he could, he will set the record with five appearances at the tournament. Last season I felt Neuenschwander was a bit raw, physically outmatched and lacked a true separation skill at this tournament, that’s understandable considering he was just a very large 15 year old. This year, he’s added a whole new level to his game thanks to his experience at the National League level. He’s approaching 40 games of experience in one of the toughest leagues in the world, and you can clearly see the benefits. He looked faster, stronger, much more effective at protecting the puck, and while he only landed a single assist here, he still showcased a combination of size, skill, and pace that absolutely bodes well for his future as a prospect. He certainly made himself a curiousity at the very least, if not a very strong contender in next year’s class, and a staple of this team in next year’s tournament. It’ll be a big test in 2027 however, as all three goalies and all but 5 skaters are ineligible to return. There will be plenty of new faces, and Switzerland hasn’t been earth-shattering in the U18s, but there will be some bright names leading the way and hopefully can surprise once again.

Quarterfinal Elimination - United States
MVP - James Hagens (F)

In the Russia/Belarus-free era of this tournament, there is always going to be at least a single team that is capable of taking home gold that gets sent home in a quarterfinal. This season it was the repeat champions from the United States. It was a painful, bitter defeat at the hands of the Finns in overtime after a miraculous Ryker Lee goal to tie the game late in the third period. To come so close and fall so short is a disappointment, but I’m glad to see there doesn’t seem to be too much of an overreaction to this result. This American team came in a little weaker than years prior, especially outside of their very, very talented forward group with somewhat questionable goaltending on top of it all. In this tournament that’s a difficult hill to climb, and unfortunately for the States, it just wasn’t meant to be. That having been said, there were absolutely some stellar performances to keep in mind. Cole Hutson was once again tremendous in the three games he played, thankfully not missing a step after a dangerous looking puck to the head and ending up in the hospital. The rush speed, skill at that speed and ruthless offensive pace is a sight to behold, and my kicking myself for underrating him a bit too much continues through 2026. He really came alive during his draft year into his U18 and ever since he hasn’t looked back. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him in a Capitals uniform by the end of the year and he’ll certainly have some great mentors there who should be able to line up with his style of play perfectly. Jacob Chychrun comes to mind as a high offense, shot heavy presence on the blueline, and the league is better when there are more Cole Hutsons in it. Will Zellers found himself on the scoresheet more than twice the amount of anyone else on the team, which is par for the course for the smart, aggressive finisher who clearly benefitted from a talented group of skilled playmakers around him. I also really enjoyed watching Brodie Ziemer, who wearing the captain’s C did not look out of place as the smart, well-rounded possession hound with good pace in his game and more than enough physicality, skill, and deference to linemates to make things move in the right direction. The line of Teddy Stiga, L.J. Mooney and Ryker Lee might have been one of the most delightful in the entire tournament, with ridiculous amounts of energy, speed and skill that certainly had their share of big moments on both sides of the puck. The physical players also were standouts, as I felt A.J. Spellacy deserved a bit more puck luck thanks to his raw motor and strength, driving the net constantly and only landing a single goal for it. Shane Vansaghi had his fair share of destruction on the ice as well, as did William Horcoff and even LA Kings pick Brendan McMorrow. Almost the entire forward core was a ton of fun to watch, and from top to bottom there was something to take home.

The defensemen on this team were better than expected, and I was pleased to see how much trust Luke Osburn got, at times on the powerplay, and quarterbacking great rushes with his fluid footwork, skill level and a heck of a shot from the point. There was no production, but I remain a big fan of him. Draft Nerds will obviously be focused on Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds, who I felt had a very strong tournament that firmly put him in the conversation of some of the best defenders in the draft. While I believe he trails the poise, calm nature of other names like Hakansson and Piiparinen in this class, he brings a skill level and puck protection ability that makes him much more of a lethal offensive threat at the moment, and you absolutely saw that as Reid found plenty of success quarterbacking the American powerplay. There is a very intriguing player here, and this only feeds into how exciting this draft class is to watch.

The Americans may have had their tournaments cut short by the Finns, a story all too common over the years, but they absolutely showed a tremendous amount of talent that should bode well for the American National program for the years to come. Picking an MVP was basically impossible as this team largely won by committee, and Hutson was a close selection, but the constant aggressive and speedy threat of James Hagens really caught my attention. The budding physical game he started to develop last year came into focus more in this tournament, and he continues to show high end playmaking tools that elevate everyone he plays with. It was a tough call, but on a group like this, Hagens seemed to stick out just a hair more than others. As a team, the speed, skill, flash, and excitement that this group brings will always stand out, and from my perspective watching this year’s U18 club, there’s more of that on the way…

Quarterfinal Elimination - Slovakia
MVP - Tomas Chrenko (C)

For the 10th time in 11 years since winning a bronze medal in 2015, the Slovaks were once again eliminated in the quarterfinal. On the bright side, they brought the youngest team in the tournament, and some of their best performers were among the returnees. Up front, I felt Samuel Murin showed some really speed and physicality that teams like Slovakia desperately need, and Alex Misiak, Andreas Straka, and Tobias Tomik all brought clever passing ability and systemic playmaking talent. Matus Lisy showed his mobile, skilled abilities on the defensive side of things, and while Adam Goljer had a bit of a rocky tournament, he’s still quite young with plenty of development time left, and still showed defensive smarts that should grow in the coming years. Luka Radivojevic looked every bit as skilled, fluid and creative as I remember, but even more aggressive and high-pace than he was last year. He may be a bit small, but I think his play at this tournament warrants a close look at his play with Boston College. He was slippery, quick with his decisions, and finished over a point a game quarterbacking a surprisingly threatening Slovak powerplay. Adam Nemec, another 2026 eligible also performed well with his highly intelligent pass-first game, aware of surroundings and driving play effectively for the Slovaks. My MVP of the tournament, Tomas Chrenko fell just a goal short of tying for the scoring lead, thanks to a hat trick against Germany and landing two against the Americans a few days later. Chrenko certainly boosted his profile here, even aside from his shooting ability, with a skill level and creativity unlike many of his peers. The big question remains if he can project to NHL level pace of play, but for the time being, he looks to be a serious asset for the Slovak national team for next year. As is tradition, personal favourite Michal Svrcek had so many looks and opportunities but just couldn’t find the back of the net. The Slovaks had fewer really great scoring chances against Canada than you can count on two hands, but the one starting and finishing a few of those sequences was Svrcek, thanks to his tireless effort and skill level. I was screaming for him to shoot the puck more on the powerplay than he did, but I guess when you’ve got a shooter like Chrenko and an offensive defender like Radivojevic out there, you’re not the highest priority. I’m still a big fan and felt he showed well, but he’s had a rocky year and am hopeful for a big back half after this tournament.

It’s very likely that this Slovak team might be enough of a threat to medal next year, honestly. They’ve gotten to three straight bronze medal games at the U18s, and their 2007 and 2008 group seems primed to be a tremendous group for next year. Pradel and Henriquez are strong goaltenders who will return. Chovan, Svrcek, Straka, Misiak, Dubravik, Nemec, Chrenko, and Tomik are almost three full lines of competitive forwards. Goljer, Lisy and Kalman are more than capable defenders with Radivojevic who may have played his way back into NHL Draft discussion this year. Lucian Bernat, Matej Stankoven, and 2009-born Oliver Ozogany could also be very big additions to the group, and it would be foolish to underrate the 2027 group. This year’s team set the stage and provided valuable experience to valuable names, and I already can’t wait to see what they can do in Alberta next year.

4th Place - Finland
MVP - Petteri Rimpinen (G)

It may seem disappointing to go from a silver medal to a 4th place finish, but I believe this year’s Finnish group is something of a return to form, and sets the stage for at least one very, very strong group coming back for 2027, and hopefully beyond. Their gold medal hopes came down to the only shootout finish of the tournament, and after nine long, dramatic rounds, they came just about as close as you possibly could. The Finns were heavy, hard, but had some really impressive skill, especially on the defensive side of the game. Aron Kiviharju put an exclamation point on his junior career with an excellent performance, showcasing the creativity and skill that he’s always had, but at a breakneck speed with mobility that it seems has really improved since his draft year. Personal favourite Daniel Nieminen had a strong tournament, looking way more physical than I remember, and even if he ended up off the scoresheet, he still landed a player of the game performance against the mighty Swedes. Arttu Välilä played the hero, scoring the decisive overtime goal against the United States, and landing his other goal against the Canadians in their bronze medal loss. He was dynamic, fluid and confident, and definitely showed better than I expected going in. Emil Hemming reminded us all that he’s still playing like a first round pick, combining size, skill, shooting ability and strength well, and making an impact often even if he wasn’t leading the team in scoring. The Finns were the traditional heavy, physical and team-focused group that has led them to victory in years prior, with peripheral talents that carried quite a bit of exciting skill, like Jasper Kuhta, Leo Tuuva, Matias Vanhanen, and Joona Saarelainen.

Had that shootout just tipped the other way like it so desperately could have, I think there’s a great chance this group beats the Czechs at their own game in what would’ve been an epic gold medal matchup, but hockey is fickle, and shootouts can be unpredictable. It was a hard fought, well earned finish for the Finns, and while there was no hardware, this was an exciting and impressive group that had as good a chance as any to win the whole thing. Like Slovakia, some of Finland’s key performers are likely to return, even if just 7 names are eligible. Lasse Boelius flashed some of the skilled offensive ability he’s always had, and Max Westergård and Matias Vanhanen were major sources of skill and pace that Finland desperately needed to be successful. The really intriguing bit is going to be the return of Oliver Suvanto and Juho Piiparinen, who were both standouts in my opinion. Suvanto went so far as to be named one of the best performers on the team with his humongous size and great smarts up the middle of the ice. The next tournament likely brings names like Oscar Hemming, Vertti Svensk, Ossi Tukio, Samu Alalauri, Jere Somervuori and others who should all be exciting additions that keep Finland firmly in the discussion of gold medal contenders. There may not have been hardware for the Finns here, but a failure this tournament was not.

Bronze Medal - Canada
MVP - Michael Hage (F)

After two years without a medal, Canada finally found their way back to the podium, taking home the bronze. The Canadians were simply offensively dominant for long stretches of the tournament, scoring no fewer than four goals in all but one game. A bizarre, 2-1 overtime win over Latvia aside, the Canadians were an exceptional group of scorers as expected, backstopped by a pair of high end goaltenders who kept them in games at key moments time and time again. Unfortunately, this tournament always becomes a game of individual wins, and Canada fell flat in the match that mattered most, failing to dispatch their Czech rivals once again in a 6-4 semifinal loss. It was a shattering result for a team with gold medal aspirations, but this was not a team without weaknesses. The Czechs put on a forechecking masterclass, driving through the Canadian defense consistently, attacking defenders down low and Canada significantly struggled to get breakouts moving, leading to too many turnovers and 50/50 situations that turned against them over time. That said, if this team got the puck past the centre line with possession, you were toast. If you took a penalty, you were toast. They were 50% on the powerplay. They landed 12 powerplay goals, and shot 17% overall, and had the second best penalty kill in the tournament behind the Swiss’ ridiculous 94%. While the 3rd period of the semifinal against Czechia got out of hand and disappointing for both the team and fans alike, this was not a Canadian team marching to the penalty box time and time again like years past with just 21 shorthanded situations faced, putting them right in the middle of the tournament, and we saw the benefits of such an approach with just how ruthless this team was against their opponents. They easily handled the Finns in the bronze medal match, marching to a perfectly acceptable results considering the strength of this tournament in 2025.

Michael Hage was absolutely sublime, with ridiculous skill and transition pace that they desperately needed, and paired very well with likely top 2026 NHL Draft pick Gavin McKenna. For many, this was an opportunity to see him for the first time, and while I’ve been skeptical of his game this year and he isn’t my #1 at the moment, you definitely saw what makes him so special, and what can make him a bit frustrating. The creativity and pure skill level are easily 10/10. Making plays and offensive zone awareness, especially on the powerplay is truly second to none. He’s an incredible playmaker to say the least, and there’s plenty of value there, and I certainly am not jumping on the trope you’re seeing of McKenna being some kind of enormous bust or disappointment. To me, he was Gavin McKenna. You get what you get. At times, he’s special, elite, unique and absolutely automatic, and at others, you may be pulling your hair out. There are players like that in the NHL, and he remains a top tier talent in this year’s draft, but to see others slowly drift towards my conclusion that this class is more open-ended than we think is selfishly somewhat assuring. The Canadians got great performances out of almost every forward given the roles they were in. I can’t really sort through the list and be picky. From Iginla, to Beaudoin, to Martone, to Misa, to O’Reilly, to Reschny and beyond, by and large, it may have been one of the most talented offensive groups we’ve seen in years in all the different ways you can score in this game.

All that having been said, I think it’s high time for many to realize that this is just the new reality we are in. Since Canada went to 10 straight gold medal games in the 2000’s into the 2010’s, they’ve appeared in 6 in the last 15, failing to medal in 4 tournaments. Just like any other team, the Canadians are likely to have areas of strength, and areas where they are equal to or trail their competition on any given roster, and the Czechs have masterfully handled what seems to be repeated issues with the Canadians over the last three years. There has been a lot of talk about what Canada could do to “fix” things and return to hegemony, and I worry that the issue is far too structural, decentralized and nuanced to find a way to be dominant and surpass the world like they did in my youth. If I had to pick one area that is a consistent worry, it would be on the defensive end of the game. There was plenty of skill, plenty of finishing ability and plenty of creativity from many defensemen on this team this year, but one discipline I’ve noted the Czechs mastering is forcing Canadian defensemen into unfamiliar defensive zone situations under pressure. If you watch teams like the Czechs and Swedes, you notice how many times the defensemen are patient with the puck, making reads on retrievals and using partners effectively to maintain possession, and opening space off the puck and utilizing it effectively. There seems to be a major focus at getting the puck up the ice as much as possible, and under strong forechecks, you end up panicking and flipping the puck 40 feet in the air, hoping a Michael Hage snags it in stride and attacks the offensive zone. I could be wrong, but it really didn’t feel like there was as much of that with the best of the best in this tournament. The actual defensive zone coverages and rush defending were also areas of weakness that I’ve noted in my own work with CHL defenders over the years, and I still remain steadfast that there is a fundamental misunderstanding what makes a defenseman effective, and how to analyze them at this age. The ability to use footwork and lateral motion to guide play to the boards, stay calm but keep gaps tight, and defending with the feet and stick, not the arms and reach are major factors that drive good results, and it seemed that that was another key weakness for this group.

The Canadians weren’t “bad”, they didn’t “fail”, they aren’t “busts”, nothing like that could be further from the truth, but this tournament was simply exceptionally competitive, and Canada, like any other team, was not perfect and had gaps. When they weren’t in the driver’s seat, which wasn’t often, their opponents found ways to break them down and get through to the final. A bronze is a great result, and the future continues to look bright. Jack Ivankovic is likely back and will be a huge part of the team next year. Keaton Verhoeff, Cole Reschny, Braeden Cootes, Brady Martin, Caleb Desnoyers and perhaps even Gavin McKenna will return, and there’s plenty more on the way from the 2007, 2008 and even 2009 age group that could push this team back to gold medal contention. A fantastic team that was tremendous amounts of fun to watch, but like anyone else, they are not invincible, and someone has to lose a semifinal game.

Silver Medal - Czechia
MVP - Tomas Galvas (D)

Before the tournament I was very clear that this is a gold medal calibre team, and clearly I was onto something. The Czechs have a brand and they stick to it. Despite less than stellar goaltending, it almost didn’t matter, as the Czechs played an exceptional shut down game, led by a great group of defenders that stymied opponents time and time again. Adam Jiricek and Tomas Galvas were absolutely stellar, combining good defensive ability with skill, creativity, and raw energy that was exciting to watch. Radim Mrtka and Matyas Man showed strong defensive ability, standing tall and shutting down play, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Man get some consideration as an NHL draft pick. I’ve liked him going back to last year and while he may be a longshot, there’s a simplicity and effectiveness in his game that absolutely stood out. Up front, the Czechs were lethal at times, with excellent performances from Adam Benak, Vaclav Nestrasil, Tomas Poletin, Max Curran, Petr Sikora, and 12 point tournament MVP Vojtech Cihar. Cihar came up huge with two goals against the Canadians, but this was a deep group of very strong talents across the spectrum of this sport. Some were more physical, some were more skilled, some were pure speed, and some were a well-rounded combination that simply got the job done.

While Cihar got the MVP nod, I cannot help but be absolutely thrilled with Team Scouching favourite Tomas Galvas. Listed as the name I would’ve taken at 200th in the 2024 draft, Galvas once again showed why NHL teams should take a flyer on him. He led the tournament in scoring from a defenseman, but where Zayne Parekh was a shot-first, confident attacker, Galvas was a clever, sneaky and skilled presence who was wandering into scoring areas, making plays down low, while chipping in very well defensively. Cihar was great, and definitely great when it counted, but in my view the real success of this group stemmed from the best names on the backend, and Galvas led the way. Jiricek would also be an acceptable option here, but boy was Galvas ever cooking all over the ice in every game. He isn’t eligible to return next year, but I would not be surprised to see him on the men’s national team at some point in his future, if not in an NHL sweater. I’ve loved him for years and it’s nice to finally see him get some good looks. On a similar note, what a great performance from Adam Jiricek, just as many were forgetting about just how promising he was looking before a gruesome knee injury ended his excellent 2024 World Junior. He really seemed like a comfortable, smart, and dangerous two way threat that is a trend I hope continues into an NHL career with St. Louis in the near future.

The Czechs are clearly stamping themselves as a force to be reckoned with once again, and with 12 names eligible to return, including Cihar, Nestrasil, Benak, Mrtka, and draft eligible Adam Novotny, it’s entirely possible that they end up right back in a gold medal game. Two strong goaltenders in Marek Sklenicka and Frantisek Poletin are on the way to fill their key weakness, but you should absolutely look out for Dominick Byrtus, Ondrej Ruml, and 2009-born Lukas Kachlir to fill in the shoes of Jiricek and Galvas, and a potential top 2027 pick in Petr Tomek also waiting in the wings for next year’s tournament. The Czechs aren’t going anywhere, and I can already tell that they’re not to be underestimated in Alberta.

Gold Medal - Sweden
MVP - Ivar Stenberg (RW)

For the first time in over a decade, the Swedes have flipped off the hockey world and won themselves a World Junior gold medal. This year’s group was truly special in so many ways. Tournament-best consistent goaltending from Love Härenstam with some excellent modern possession-style defenders in front of him, with a balanced group of physical, skilled and competitive forwards ahead of them, the Swedes gained steam as the tournament wore on, with just two games finishing a goal ahead. Their debut against Slovakia, and their shocking semifinal shootout victory over Finland. Yes, they came a hair’s width away from ending with a bitter bronze medal game appearance, but… they didn’t, and they clamped down and controlled the gold medal game against an excellent Czechia roster, using their firepower to attack their weakpoint on their way to a championship.

So many names on this roster stood out. Alfons Freij was sublime, with excellent puck skill and a great mind for how to use it, creating offense constantly and absolutely reassuring me of my bullish ranking of him back in 2024. Sascha Boumedienne was highly creative and had some impressive offensive zone moments that were among the best in the tournament. Anton Frondell has a cannon of a shot and we saw it time and time again with a heavy, physical style of play that should be able to transition to the NHL seamlessly. Captain Jack Berglund was also a pleasant surprise for me, with a great combination of physical tools and skill, bulldozing his way to the net countless time and bringing a dimension that this team has been looking for to get over the hump. Victor Eklund was just as impressive and exciting as he was last year, and while he can’t be on the 2027 roster, he certainly made a name for himself as a premier forechecker that was behind a tremendous amount of Sweden’s success, complementing the more finishing-oriented names he shared the ice with.

The real story with Sweden lies in the 2026 draft eligibles though. What an incredible performance from all four honestly. Casper Juustovaara Karlsson, a surprise addition even to me, showed exactly why he was there with a physical forechecking game with some net-drives that led to some key goals for the Swedes, including the opening goal in the gold medal match shorthanded. William Hakansson was not only humongous, but mobile, stable and flashed that rush offense that makes him so intriguing offsetting some of the more finesse and skill-oriented defenders on this team. Viggo Bjorck and Ivar Stenberg though, oh my goodness what a pair of talents these two are. Bjorck was one of the few 2026 eligibles that blew out my expectations here. I thought his size and lack of high end quickness and agility would be limiting factors at this tournament but the smarts trumped everything. Slick passes, careful timing, deceptive skill, and an underrated off-puck game were all top-tier abilities from start to finish. He’s only gotten better and better since last year, and he has quickly risen up my board in the time since and I strongly believe he isn’t all that far off the top group in this class, especially with his developmental trajectory being a smaller member of his family and still a young-ish name for the draft. Ivar Stenberg on the other hand absolutely solidified himself at #1 on my board for the time being. He was there before the tournament, and he’s still there now. The two-way, dual-threat offensive game he brings is simply second to none. I’m not sure he’s truly a superstar level, top of the league quality play driver, but he seems to just always know what to do to keep play moving forward. He’s not as hyperskilled as McKenna, but I think he uses his skill level in much more realistic and practical ways through traffic and along the boards. He’s not the fastest player in the world, but he protects the puck so well and finds passing lanes so easily, that as a complimentary forward, there isn’t much more you could want out of a guy. There’s a real Seth Jarvis-type vibe out of him to me, and while that might not sound particularly appealing as a 1st overall pick, I think this draft is a large group of players at the top that have similar values to that level of NHLer. A top-tier offensive talent with enough defensive ability to flex that talent. He started slowly, but once the playoffs hit, he just kept snowballing as his confidence rose, culminating in a three point gold medal performance that cemented his status as a premier prospect for this upcoming draft. The best part? He can, and very well could come back next year. Not only can he come back, but Boumedienne, Harenstam, Frondell, Nilson, Genborg, Bjorck, and Juustovaara Karlsson, are all among the names that could be on this roster next year looking for a repeat. It’s an exciting time for Swedish hockey, and I already can’t wait for the next iteration of this tournament to see how things shake out for all these countries.

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Will’s All-Star Team

Ivar Stenberg (SWE) - Michael Hage (CAN) - Victor Eklund (SWE)
Adam Jiricek (CZE) - Tomas Galvas (CZE)
Love Harenstam (SWE)

MVP: Ivar Stenberg (SWE)
”Who Dat” Player of the Tournament: Vojtech Cihar (CZE)
Biggest Surprise Performance: Jack Berglund (SWE)

Scouching’s 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship Preview

We’re back for another year of the World Junior Hockey Championship, and this time we’re going to the State of Hockey, Minnesota, USA. A place I’ve always dreamt of going, the setting alone sets the stage for what could be one of the classic World Junior Championships. I’m always excited for this tournament, but this one is different. A significant number of 2026 NHL Draft prospects aside, these rosters are really, really close in terms of paper value in my books, especially from my #2 team to #5, and potentially even my #6 if things go right. I can’t recall the last time I had this much trouble ordering and ranking these teams, and it only got harder and harder the longer I worked on this. Every team brings some kind of advantage over another, and it could all simply come down to a bounce here or there, or a goaltending performance for the ages and things get completely flipped upside-down.

There are 30 players on rosters at time of writing that are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, and while quite a few are on lower-end teams and unlikely to be picked, the number that are on medal contenders is definitely higher than usual. So if your favourite NHL team is struggling, watch as much as you can because almost every team has something you can probably take home with you.

Before we get into the writeup, just a note that “AvgNHLeS” is a league, position and age-adjusted “score” of a player’s production but it isn’t a be-all-end-all and is useful for a baseline analysis. Enjoy the writeup, enjoy the tournament, and have a great holiday season!

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10th - Denmark - 4.01 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Mads Kongsbak Klyvø (LW)

As much as I love travelling to Copenhagen and bobbing around Denmark on DSB trains, I would be stunned to see Denmark stick in this tournament after this year. Last season’s Division 1A victory came as a serious surprise to me with a strong group of NHL-Draft quality Norwegians falling well short of expectations and delaying their appearance in the World Juniors until 2027. The Danes are bringing a number of depth Metal Ligaen players and a handful of Swedish junior league names of varying quality. Defenseman Emil Saaby Jakobsen might be a curious draft eligible name, entering this tournament with high production in the lower tiers of Swedish junior hockey, but having checked him out a bit, I’m not convinced he’s going to be able to carry this group on his back. He has an intriguing set of feet that he uses to cover ice laterally well, especially with some decent skill with the puck, and certainly a willingness to put the puck on net, but he hasn’t played at a level comparable to this in his life. The only notable name on this roster is big winger Mads Kongsbak Klyvø with a powerful, nasty game that may be able to push back against some of their opponents during this tournament. The Florida Panthers draft pick has yet to dress for a game, but has managed to bring some level of impact in the warmup games Denmark has played to this point. A recent 6-1 loss to Switzerland with fewer than 10 shots on goal along with three straight losses in November to Norway, Latvia and Austria by a combined score of 16-4 doesn’t particularly spark a tremendous amount of hope, but the beauty of this tournament is that you never really know what’s coming. It isn’t likely, as goaltending can take you deep in this tournament, and Denmark is bringing inexperienced names with limited exposure to high levels of hockey, and these netminders are likely to face a lot of hockey pucks every game. With Slovakia, Czechia, Sweden and even the Swiss as opposition, the Danes don’t have an “easy” game ahead of them, let alone a likely competitive one, and as much as I’ve tried when digging in on this team and reflecting on my notes on their returnees from years prior, it seems very unlikely that Denmark returns for the 2027 tournament barring a spectacular relegation game performance.

9th - Latvia- 8.33 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Alberts Smits (LHD)

The Latvians were an unbelievably young group in 2025, featuring 14 names with prior World Junior experience, and they contend for the same label once again in 2026. This Latvian group could be a big surprise, just as they were last season after nearly stunning the Swedes in an unexpectedly close quarterfinal matchup. This season however, the Latvians are bringing a number of players from last year who were key players on the roster. Bruno Osmanis and Olivers Murnieks were two of the three players that landed more than two points last season, and gargantuan 16 year old Roberts Naudins is coming in the middle of a very successful year with Shattuck St. Mary’s on the US prep hockey circuit. Roberts Janis Polis has always been an intriguing player in my viewings and Daniels Serkins is likely to play a bigger role after a strong powerplay heavy performance at last year’s U18 and leading the team scoring.

Based on my work so far this year for the NHL Draft, the real names to watch on this roster are returnee centre Rudolfs Berzkalns and potential top-10 defenseman Alberts Smits. There may be a handful of decent offensive names here, but in terms of driving results on both sides of the puck I don’t think the Latvians will rely on others much more than these two. I haven’t been too thrilled with Olivers Murnieks’ play in Saint John this year, but Berzkalns plays a similar but pivotal role in a much more effective way to my eye. His boardwork is high end, he’s huge, has a budding physical edge to his game, but the puck protection and pure speed in his game is hard to ignore. I wouldn’t be surprised to see NHL boards have him higher if Latvia plays him as much as I think they should. A great north/south player with some huge upside, Berzkalns is a player I wouldn’t be shy about playing against some good competition, and I imagine he’ll get plenty of chances to earn that role. Alberts Smits on the other hand might be one of the most hilariously entertaining performances from a defenseman that we’ve seen in this tournament in a few years. Smits is a smart short area passer, running good breakouts and steadily building his defensive game in Liiga, but his offensive zone game is absolutely wild. He’ll attack the net, drift into scoring areas if he sees space, and seems to pick his spots very effectively. He should be a lethal powerplay threat especially working off a shot-heavy defense partner in Darels Uljanskis. Smits has cracked the Latvian National team at points this season and not looked out of place, and his performances at the Finnish U20 level are laughably successful. Going back to junior competition should provide a huge amount of freedom and opportunity and he may very well cement himself as a top selection in this year’s draft class with others as he has with me this season.

The tipping point will be their game against Germany, who will likely be a tough test with a decent forward group of their own and almost certainly stronger goaltending. Montreal draft pick Mikus Vecvanags has had solid international performances and Ivans Kufterins is facing plenty of pucks with Kamloops in the WHL, but I still have more faith in any of the three German goaltenders in my experience. The Latvians, Germans and Swiss are very, very close in my books and as I wrote this, they’ve all swapped positions with one another. I think the Latvians could very well work their way into the quarterfinals and potentially shock their opponents, but the chances are slightly lower than the higher end defense and goaltending in Switzerland and certainly the goaltending in Germany. Smits, Uljanskis, Osmanis, Murnieks and Berzkalns might do enough to make it happen, but I think the real story might just turn out to be the Alberts Smits Party as he likely plays 45 minutes a game locked on the ice for every powerplay.

8th - Switzerland - 8.63 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Lars Steiner (RW)

Swiss hockey seems to be in a weird spot in 2025. There are some names that are certainly intriguing and have caught NHL eyeballs, but in terms of truly high end upside, depth and growth, there doesn’t seem to be a tremendous amount to chew on. The 2026 Swiss roster is bringing strong goaltenders in Christian Kirsch, Elijah Neuenschwander, both of whom split the net for this team last year, but they were busy with very little support from the Swiss offense. The story may be a bit similar this season, with little in the way of true offensive difference-makers, but if Jamiro Reber finds his pace and drives the net more than I’ve seen, he may make a difference. Loris Wey and Robin Nico Antenen are older names who have been on my radar for their energy and skill level, and Jonah Neuenschwander is a promising 2009-born player with size and puck protection ability that may be able to provide his team a boost. The intriguing group of defensemen may be able to insulate the Swiss goaltending well though, featuring three NHL Draft Picks and a few that fall just short of that benchmark. Ludvig Johnson is a 2024 Team Scouching pick who showed extremely well last year in my view, and earning himself a selection from Utah in 2025. I would expect him to be a major part of the Swiss powerplay, especially if Leon Muggli isn’t fully up to speed after playing just two games thus far this season. A really dynamic, skilled and confident offensive defenseman, Johnson is one I’m certainly watching. Daniil Ustinkov and Basile Sansonnens bring complimentary defensive ability, with Ustinkov bringing high upside skill and pass vision, but he can certainly come and go in frustrating ways. Nik Lehmann is a 2026 Draft Eligible coming out of a full time job in the National League. Not an easy feat for a defenseman and he could also bring some nice complimentary ability, and Niklas Blessing being an older name who can also bring even more offensive pop from the defensive side of the puck. Lars Steiner is the name I’m going to be watching closely. Some of his performances with Rouyn-Noranda this year have been a heck of a lot of fun, throwing his body around a ton, playing with skill through traffic and efficient offensive transition work. I’m not sure how much he’ll score at this tournament, but he’ll be a major player and likely a leader on the ice as a forechecker and puck transporter that will be relied upon to facilitate his team’s gameplan.

The Swiss are a curious group this year. While I don’t think they’re a serious medal contender, they have bits and pieces that could add up to an upset somewhere along the way. Strong goaltending, a relatively deep group of defensemen, and experienced, solid forward group might be able to sqeak something out. Insulate the goaltenders, use your defensemen to drive the puck to the net on the powerplay, and try to tread water at 5v5 would be the gameplan for me. It’s possible, but it may be a 5th straight quarterfinal loss for the Swiss in the cards.

7th - Germany - 6.14 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - David Lewandowski (LW)

The Germans barely scraped their way back to this year’s tournament after squeaking out a relegation game victory over the Kazakhs in Ottawa. I had a front row seat for that game and while I have a soft spot for the Kazakh universe, the Germans are bringing a roster that should have no problem remaining in this tournament for next year, and while a playoff spot may be a bit of a reach, a key victory over Latvia is not out of the question, and from there anything is possible. Germany is bringing a fair number of intriguing players, especially at the forward and goaltending position that may be able to make some waves. Edmonton Oilers pick David Lewandowski is back after a strong 2025 performance with a well balanced offensive game using size and smarts to his advantage and will likely be leaned upon here. His Saskatoon teammate Dustin Willhöft may be small, but he’s dynamic, shifty and highly skilled and could be a good complimentary contributor offensively. Elias Schneider, Gustavs Griva and Maxim Schäfer and three other solid offensive players that have had success in North American junior hockey this season with Schäfer especially bringing some good power forward potential with pro hockey experience. The Kose Twins and 2027 NHL Draft prospect Max Penkin are also coming from long stretches in the DEL this year with some measurable success as well. Likely headlining the team in key moments of these games will likely be Montreal draft pick Carlos Händel. A skilled, aggressive offensive defenseman, he brings some dynamic ability that should bring a boost to the German powerplay and a bit of pop to help their solid forward group.

The real star of the show could very well be in net. While Linus Vieillard is returning from a strong 2025 tournament, all three German goaltenders have shown strong capability and may be able to steal a game here and there. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen of Lukas Stuhrmann from last year’s U18 tournament as well as his performances since moving to the Finnish Arctic Circle to play for Rovaniemi’s RoKi this year. Used to high workloads and keeping his team in games, if needed, he’s a dependable name to call upon. Lennart Neiße is huge, returning from last season’s team, and is doing the same as Sturhmann in the 2nd division of German professional hockey with high workloads and strong results. The Germans may not be a medal threat, but with great goaltending performances, and potentially competitive offensive names, they are not to be underestimated. While I have them penciled in for the relegation game, the split between them, Switzerland and Latvia is not particularly large.

6th - Slovakia - 7.71 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Adam Nemec (LW)

At time of writing, the youngest team in the tournament could also be one of it’s surprises. Featuring four strong 2026 NHL Draft candidates in Tobias Tomik, Tomas Chrenko, Adam Nemec and Adam Goljer, the Slovaks are bringing a lot of solid talent that could really punch above their weight class. Michal Pradel has been a very successful goaltender for this team internationally, even in high workloads, and two strong goaltenders are backing him up should things not go according to plan. Their 2025 NHL Draft class candidates are also a strong group that I’ve enjoyed watching over the last two seasons. Jakub Dubravik is a speedy attacker on the wing, Andreas Straka brings strong pass awareness, Matus Lisy and Luka Radevojevic have intriguing skill at the defense position that could boots the team’s outlook. Jan Chovan and Tomas Pobezal are also solid pieces to bring that can compliment others.

While my eyeballs will be trained on what the 2026 eligibles can do in Minnesota, one of my favourites from the 2025 NHL Draft in Michal Svrcek is on the roster, and coming from the hardest level of hockey of anyone on the team. Yes, I can Google his production this year too and he’s been pointless at the men’s level, but having seen plenty of him, the talent is undeniable with high end skill, remarkable forechecking energy, an excellent shot and playmaking upside. Brynäs wasn’t using him after adding former NHL talents in the offseason, and Västerås has done nothing but struggle and haven’t used him on the powerplay outside of in one of his games with them so far. I could easily see him be a major player for this team that regains a level of confidence and success that just hasn’t been there this season. With good playmaking teammates, Svrcek could be a serious part of the roster that helps Slovakia go as deep as they can.

The Slovaks are another intriguing group that I think sits perfectly between the Denmark-opponent tier of teams profiled previously, and the potential medal contenders above them. They have the capability and the manpower to surprise the teams ahead of them, and should be able to easily handle the teams behind them. A surprising victory over the Czechs or Swedes could give them a strong matchup in the quarterfinals, and from there anything is possible. That said, this is a group that has lost in the quarterfinals in 10 of the last 12 World Junior tournaments, and while that outcome is likely once again, they have an upstart group of youngsters that might be able to surprise their opponents with some goaltending that has stolen games before. Their U18 team has gone to three straight bronze medal games since being promoted from Division 1A in 2022, and with a number of names coming from the most recent group, this is a team that could be worth betting on the upside if they wake up on the right side of the bed on the right day.

5th - USA - 16.85 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - James Hagens (C)

This might be a surprise to people but the more I looked at the rosters of other teams and compared them to the rosters of the Americans, at the very, very least, this is where the tournament becomes extremely competitive. The NTDP teams of the last couple seasons have been somewhat less impressive than previous classes, but they still have a tremendous amount of firepower that could easily score in bunches with home ice advantage in Minnesota. Don’t get me wrong, there is a good chance this team finds themselves in the gold medal game, but looking at the combination of questionable goaltending and a shallow defense group, that could be a very difficult combination of issues to overcome in a short tournament like this.

On the plus side, Max Plante is a Hobey Baker contender with a solid, smart and high pace offensive game, William Horcoff has been on a shooting bender with the size and frame to eat valuable minutes and raise hell off the puck. James Hagens had an elite level performance last season and hopefully will be paired with his old friend and 2025 Gold Medal overtime goal scorer Teddy Stiga logging plenty of tough minutes. Cole Riserman is an elite finisher, L.J. Mooney will be all over the ice every shift, Ryker Lee has absolutely electrifying skill, and down the lineup they have some serious beef in A.J. Spellacy and Shane Vansaghi. The forward group is as deep as you’ll find in this tournament with all kinds of different brands of player, so scoring goals shouldn’t be to big of an issue for them.

The issues really stem from everywhere else. There are good names here, with Cole Hutson coming off an MVP-level 2025 tournament likely leading the way, it isn’t like there’s nothing. Chase Reid may be a top NHL Draft Pick this year with a smart offensive game that should also help boost the team’s talented forward group on breakouts and in the offensive zone. Logan Hensler and Blake Fiddler are rock solid, inoffensive defensemen who have had perfectly solid seasons with their club teams and should log solid minutes as well. I’m personally a massive Luke Osburn fan, as he’s a player who simply seems to understand the game and see the ice exceptionally well, with skating tools to maximize the potential in that awareness. He’s having a strong freshman year with Wisconsin and I hope to see plenty of him in what will be his last crack at this tournament. The actual defensive suppression ability of this group is a bit of a questionmark. Adam Kleber and EJ Emery will likely be called upon for this part of the game, but balancing which offensive defender’s ice time to sacrifice in order to bring more defensive stability will be key. All-out offense in front of a tandem of Hank Kempf and Caleb Heil might not be the best strategy, even if Kempf is getting plenty of practice under heavy workloads on a weak Notre Dame program this season.

The US could repeat as gold medalists and I wouldn’t be surprised with the firepower on the roster. You can get away with scoring more than the opponent in this tournament, but there are some strong, balanced teams this year that could push the US to their limit. We’re in for an exciting tournament and many of the most exciting moments may well stem from games involving this team.

4th - Czechia - 17.00 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Adam Jiříček (RHD)

The biggest team on average in this tournament is also the oldest, and are the first in a tier that I could easily see challenge for a gold medal in Minnesota. The goaltending group isn’t quite up to par of the Finns or Canadians, but the roster in front of them is a deep, strong and diverse group of talents that could very easily outwork and outscore any opponent. Vaclav Nestrasil is a big name to watch coming from a remarkable freshman campaign with UMass with size, skill and finishing ability that could be a huge difference-maker for this group. Top 10 NHL Draft pick Radim Mrtka will likely play a ton of minutes and chip in on both sides of the puck, and Scouching favourites Tomas Galvas and Adam Jiříček likely to also be huge parts of the Czech blueline. Pretty much up and down the entire lineup, the Czechs have a strong roster capable of going as far as a gold medal game this season. The weak points are very limited, especially outside the net, and the depth is absolutely apparent. Their defense group might be among the most balanced in the tournament, with a third pair that could be relatively interchangeable with the top pair regardless of who’s on it. 2026-eligibles Jakub Vanecek Jakub Fibigr and Vladimír Dravecký are no slouches defensively, with Max Psenicka and Vashek Blanár being large wild cards that make for a heck of a group that could easily frustrate opponents ahead of them on this list.

The offensive group shouldn’t be slept on either, with names like Jiří Klíma, Petr Sikora, Adam Titlbach and Adam Novotny all bringing slick skill and good energy to the game that could keep up with “better” opposition. Adam Benák has been spectacular with Brantford and should easily be a huge scorer with the Czechs this year. There are just not many holes to poke here for this team top to bottom

The 4th spot for the Czechs is done extremely reluctantly. I don’t like it and have been flipping the teams from 2-5 around a ton in my preparatory work. This tournament can often come down to a goaltending performance and I just don’t have the same trust in their group as I do as names like Rimpinen, Liv, and any of the Canadian names. That said, if they find themselves in a quarterfinal against the Americans, I could see them upsetting them just as they have to the Canadians in years past. It’s going to be an exciting group for the Czechs and I hope they finish higher than this slot, as the team they’ve built has surprised in the past, and look even stronger this year.

3rd - Finland - 10.01 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Petteri Rimpinen (G)

In terms of NHL Draft talent, the last handful of years haven’t been particularly promising at the high end but 2026 is a different story. Last year’s silver medalists Finland are bringing simultaneously the most experienced World Junior team with 10 returning players, but some very intriguing youngsters for their first appearances at this tournament. Juho Piiparinen and Oliver Suvanto are two personal favourites of mine, and could be seriously impactful for this team considering their surroundings. Piiparinen has excellent defensive awareness and pass vision, and flashes of offense that could be a huge benefit for the Finns. Suvanto is a refrigerator on skates, impossible to get on top of, playing that traditional, typical Finnish style of play to it’s maximum, showing a ton of potential for future growth. Looking up and down the roster, there are still a remarkable amount of really solid hockey players. Max Westergård is a fun, skilled player who should thrive at this level, and Matias Vanhanen is in a similar boat after an exceptionally successful WHL career with Everett. Lasse Boelius is a very skilled offensive defenseman who is daring an confident, and Mitja Jokinen, Daniel Nieminen and Aron Kiviharju augment that defense group in a positive way and could make them more of a threat than other teams might be used to. The Finns have plenty of names that can also play that resilient, physical and team-first style of play that has brought them great success in the past. Emil Hemming, Heikki Ruohonen, Julius Miettinen, Jasper Kuhta, Atte Joki and the aforementioned Oliver Suvanto are large players capable of fighting off the best with their strength and skill.

The success of this team might hinge on individual performances from returnee goaltender Petteri Rimpinen. Rimpinen was simply exceptional last season, turning away 112 of 122 shots in the three playoff games Finland played, and will likely be leaned upon for another strong showing to bring Finland back to the medal rounds. The top group of team is very close, and very competitive, and Finland brings a goaltending advantage that two of the three teams ahead of them don’t carry, and it could easily be possible that they walk away with the gold medals when all is said and done. This country thrives when they need to steal a goal or two to grind out a win, and they have the personnel to do so this season, even if they aren’t my top rated team going in.

2nd - Sweden - 13.74 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Ivar Stenberg (W)

The Swedish group scores lower, but that’s largely due to a large contingent of SHL talent coming to this tournament, suppressing their numbers on paper. Don’t be mistaken, this is a strong Swedish group at pretty much every position. They’re bringing four 2025 draft-eligibles this season as Sweden is in the middle of a very strong cycle of high-end talent. William Håkansson is a dependable, strong and mobile defenseman with plenty of size and range. Viggo Björck is a potentially dominant pass-first forward that commands open ice and has ruthless offensive ability. Casper Juustovaara Karlsson is an excellent forechecker who can make life miserable for opponents while also showcasing some good skill and evasiveness on the puck. He’s a huge sleeper for me this year’s NHL Draft and I hope he gets to showcase what I’ve seen of him this year against the best in the tournament. Of course, leading the way for this group is Ivar Stenberg, a potential candidate for #1 overall, and as of this tournament, my personal #1 pick in the draft. Stenberg has a special quality about him where the game just seems to come so easily to him. He can do almost anything you need him to. His off-puck reads are exceptional. His forechecking ability is always visible. His skill under pressure through traffic is elite. He spots space offensively well, and his playmaking ability has just grown and grown in major SHL usage this year. As a complimentary two-way winger, Stenberg should be a huge impact player this year for the Swedes this year if grouped with the right set of linemates.

It isn’t all about the kids though. The depth of this team is also second to none with options down the middle including the physical Anton Frondell, the high skill/high pace Milton Gästrin (or Lucas Pettersson for that matter), the intense and brilliant Eric Nilson, the smart and energetic Linus Eriksson, or the the heavy, annoying Jack Berglund, there’s a mix here that should push deep into this tournament. Heck Viggo Björck could chip in up the middle for this team if given the opportunity. Defensively, it’s a deep, solid group featuring dependable two-way presences in Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Victor Johansson and Alfons Freij. Sascha Boumedienne could bring offensive flair along with Felix Öhrqvist as well, pressuring opponents and attacking the offensive zone with skill and creativity.

The goaltending trio might lag behind the rest of the team however. Herman Live has been their go-to this season so far internationally, but he hasn’t shown the level of dominance that other goaltenders have had at this tier. The Goos/Härenstam duo have been shaky at times as well, but in my view all that Sweden needs is competitive goaltending performances. This is a team loaded with various brands of talent from top to bottom, and while there isn’t much separating any of these top five teams, this could easily be the group that finds the Swedes in just their third gold medal game in the last twelve tournaments. It’ll be tough, but it’s very achievable. At the very least, draft geeks will get a look at some of the more underrated names in the class.

1st - Canada - 21.89 Avg. NHLeS

Player to Watch - Gavin McKenna (LW)

Another year, another Canadian team looking like the best group on paper. Sure, there are jokes about how this team has been knocked out in two straight quarterfinals by the Czechs, but it doesn’t change the fact that in terms of pure talent, Canada looks quite unmatched in the 2026 tournament. People constantly analyze the line combinations on this team, and my view is it is likely impossible to have a bad mix with this group. You could throw them in a Boggle bubble and create any combination and it could work. So many first round picks that absolutely deserve the label, a handful of players with NHL experience, a larger-than-normal cohort of college players, and a Dale Hunter-led coaching staff gives Canada a bit of a different baseline than previous years.

The goaltending trio is nothing short of elite, another welcome change for the Canadian program and any one of George, Ivankovic or Ravensbergen are dependable names to have lined up against anyone. The defense group playing in front of them might be the weak point of the roster, but they haven’t looked “poor” by any stretch in the warmup game footage I’ve seen. Aitcheson, Carels, Parekh, and Reid all bring dynamic offensive ability that other teams will need to keep an eye on and take advantage of if an opportunity arises. Ben Danford is a stable, strong defense-first presence that actually has good results in that area. This may be the only potential gap in the Canadian roster, but they’re still one of, if not the top group of defensemen in the tournament.

The real magic is up front. Everywhere you look is high-end talent in some area of the game. It feels like every player is a centre, and I couldn’t care less who actually plays in that slot. Michael Misa should be a leader offensively for this group with his tactical brilliance, Porter Martone should be a handful for opponents with his power and skill level and Michael Hage looks to be a potentially elite offensive producer in this tournament with how dynamic and reliable he is up the middle of the ice. Even the physical names show great results rather than being big for nothing. Carter Bear, Cole Beaudoin, Brady Martin, and even Sam O’Reilly all show a more than capable ability to punish opponents all over the ice. Every single forward on this team could get their own writeup in how they could be difference-makers to be honest.

All eyes will be firmly fixed on Gavin McKenna however. Returning from last year’s disappointing roster, McKenna will be looked to as a major point producer for this group. Many draft analysts are hoping McKenna’s performance here will re-solidify his standing as the #1 overall pick in this year’s draft, and while I’ve been critical of his standing in that discussion going back to last season, I could very easily see him generate the results that get him into that discussion. Personally, my issues with McKenna could very easily be masked in this tournament on a team of this quality, but it could set the stage for a major 2nd half boost with Penn State that hopefully brings a more dependable overall game rather than the offensive zone playmaking focus he has shown in my viewings. He’s absolutely elite in that area, and taking penalties against Canada are basically a no-no, I’ll just be looking for important details in his game that I just haven’t seen in the NCAA to this point.

As is always the case, the only thing getting in the way of the Canadian roster is going to be themselves. International referees will call penalties more tightly, and Canada often seems caught off-guard by this. They’re unbelievably talented, but overhandling, overconfidence, and a reliance on pure skill has burned them in the past. The Czechs barely squeaked out a win in the quarterfinal last year, but another offensively loaded Canadian team struggled to score consistently against high end teams, and while my concerns about that occurring again are low with this group, the beauty of the World Juniors is that you never know. Ever. This team is a gold medal favourite, they should at least compete for hardware of some kind, but it’s all going to come down to their mindset, readiness, and the details of the game.

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I can’t tell you how much I think this tournament could be an all-timer. We had some serious excitement last year, but this is year might be one for the ages. While Canada looks to be a favourite, there are many contenders for the throne. The US has plenty of offensive flair and firepower. The Finns have a trademark physical, grinding group that is always a threat. The Swedes are as deep as they’ve been in a while with diverse ability and plenty of bright young talent. The Czechs are also remarkably deep with players who have developed exceptionally well in the last 24 months. Heck, even the Slovaks have the exuberance of youth and at the least could set the stage for a much scarier 2027 roster once these guys age a year. Alberts Smits is going to be there, and he’s at least going to be highly entertaining and used a ton.

For draft geeks, many will be watching names like McKenna, Carels, Verhoeff, and Stenberg, but I urge everyone to really keep an eye out for all the other potential standouts. 30 players are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft including 13 on my top tier of teams and four potential top-50 names on the Slovak roster. We haven’t seen 30 draft eligibles since 2022 where a Czech team with 8 of those 30 went all the way to the bronze medal game. Before 2022? You have to go back to before I graduated high school in 2008 to find that many draft eligibles led by Steven Stamkos. It’s going to be a good one folks, so strap in, grab a hot beverage, and have some fun.

Happy Holidays, and we’ll see you in 2026!

Scouching’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings: The First… Draft

Good day to you and a very merry holiday season to all! We’re back for another season here at Scouching and we’ve been in full swing for months, hard at work compiling data, grinding video and talking with all you lovely people and it’s so good to be back on the grind. We’ve had hours of fun in the Scouching Subscriber Discord server talking, reviewing and analyzing players from all over the world and it’s become a real highlight of operating this business so thanks to all who participate! There’s no need to be shy, and we’re in there at least twice a week together.

The 2026 NHL Draft class is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing in my experience as an analyst. While I may hesitate to boil this all down to a “deep” class, whatever that may mean to you, I can pretty confidently say there are a lot of very interesting talents in a variety of complimentary roles that have very curious styles of play and upside. Seeing how this class turns out will be absolutely fascinating considering all the variables at play. There aren’t many truly high-end centres available, which teams will always clamour for, and if that trend holds, some very talented players might go later than we think. There is no shortage of excellent talent from Europe either, with a roaring comeback out of Finland after a weak season or two, a strong lineup of Swedes shuffled in among a fun U.S. National Team and a very strong crop of CHL players as that league. This draft class appears to be really, really special at the top in my books, featuring multiple players that would certainly threaten almost any player drafted in the last few years in various areas of the game. The promise of this group is impossible to ignore, but there are caveats with many. It’s fun, active class to watch with plenty to be curious about, and as the World Juniors approach, we’ll be lucky enough to see a number of these kids play against some serious international talent, reflecting just how much potential there is in this bundle of athletes.

Before we get into the list, it might be helpful to take the time to briefly outline my philosophy so you can get in my head a little bit and understand where I come from a little better when I see the game. If you take 10 different evaluators, you’ll probably get some differences in priorities and preferences, so knowing what you’re getting into should add to the experience. At my core, I focus on possession. Hockey is a game in two fundamental states. You have the puck, or you don’t. The ultimate goal should be to find players who are as good at gaining and maintaining possession in some way, getting the puck into a desirable location, and getting the dang thing into the net as much as possible. In my view, the priority should be in that order. You can’t have the third aspect without the second, and you can’t have the second without the first. As such, I see speed, tenacity, competitiveness, and quickness as key, both mentally and physically. I don’t care so much about how big you are, how good of a shooter you are, how hard you hit, I just care about what you do on the ice and if you’re moving the needle in the right direction. In my experience, the best young needle movers with regards to competitiveness, pace, and creativity are the ones of who are often hardest to find when they grow up big and strong to be NHL players one day. I value players who elevate who they play with more than anything. They’re dependable every shift, they're focused on the ultimate task of the game situation, and they think creatively to make baby steps happen that ultimately lead to scoring chances, and ideally some goals go in here and there.

I’ll also note that the positions listed (outside of the imaged lower tiers) are almost universally those from the games I’ve specifically watched and tracked of these players. A defenseman is listed by either handedness or the side of the ice they play on should it be the opposite to his natural shooting side (i.e., RSD is a left handed defender playing on the right side).

Tier 1 - The Stress Zone

• #1 | Mathis Preston | W | Spokane Chiefs

  I’ve taken quite a bit of flack for sticking my neck out on Preston this year, but I simply can’t throw the potential of a player like this aside. Preston is a truly special talent with the advantage of relative youth, and brings a style of play that should translate to the NHL effortlessly. His quickness, skill level, creative vision and finishing ability are truly elite, and while there are frustrations with consistency at times, when he’s on, he’s more on than anyone in the class. I am thoroughly convinced that the surroundings on Spokane this year are not a fit for a player like Preston. Plays go unfinished, breakouts go uncontrolled, and yet he still leads the team in scoring and in my view was the best forward in the CHL/NTDP series a few weeks back. Yes, he isn’t a centre, yes he’s not the biggest player in town, but he’s a player I’d want to draft and develop. The similarities between him and a young William Nylander are absolutely present, and many people had their doubts about Nylander in a similar fashion to Mathis Preston. This tier is a strong group of six truly special players that I could argue in any order, and while I’m not 100% sold on Preston being the first name I’d call, the upside is immense. It’s really, really close, but there’s a truly special combination of skill, speed and creativity that is hard to find. He has a competitive physical streak in him that I would love to see come out more, but at the end of the day, what’s there on almost every shift has impressed me immensely to this point, leaving Preston with a soft hold on my #1 slot as of today.

• #2 | Xavier Villeneuve | LHD | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

  Another player who was floating around a little lower on my list before the CHL/NTDP series, Xavier Villeneuve was the brightest star on either roster to my eyes. At the least, he had the brightest moments of anyone. Villeneuve is a delightful offensive defenseman who is endlessly compared to Lane Hutson, even by the man himself, but I see more in Villeneuve’s game that is projectable than Hutson at this age. Hutson was a pick for me in the 20s that year, and in retrospect he should’ve been higher. Defensemen like that are rare, and in today’s NHL, shifty, skilled and deceptive play is a great way to generate offense. Villeneuve brings a more explosive set of feet, an even more creative mind, and a scoring area-drive that Hutson simply didn’t have at that age. The big concern at the time was Hutson’s rush and in-zone defending which needs to be at least adequate in order to get the offensive opportunity he thrives in. Villeneuve seems to have a bit of a better understanding of modern neutral zone defending for an offensive player like him, tracking player laterally, chasing after puck carriers, scooting across the ice forcing dump-ins and stick checks on a number of occasions. His physical play is questionable, and he can be turned around in close quarters but that is almost unanimous to almost every defenseman in this class. Early in the year it seemed Villeneuve was trying to do way too much on his own and take on a huge amount of risk, but he seems to have found a better comfort zone and has evolved into an offensive wizard. Some may question his projection considering his competition, but that CHL/NTDP series certainly featured plenty of opportunity for Villeneuve, and just like at last year’s U18 World Championship, I thought he thrived. It’s a close range, but he’s got the most “star” upside of any defenseman in this draft in my view.

• #3 | Ivar Stenberg | RW | Frölunda HC

  It’s a testament to this group that I have Ivar Stenberg at #3 this year. You don’t have to twist my arm whatsoever to have him at #1, and I really considered it for a while before locking these in. Stenberg has been, to put it simply, frickin’ excellent in the SHL. That is not an easy thing to accomplish, but Stenberg has brought an elite combination of practical skill, energy, puck possession abilities and smarts that has filled the net in the toughest league outside the NHL. Stenberg may lack truly elite footspeed and physical intensity, but that’s about where the questions end. There is truly an elite complimentary winger here, and I mean that in the most positive way imaginable. He may not be a deadly transition threat on his carries, but he is devastatingly smart moving the puck and picking defenses apart, he has excellent vision on board cycles, he’s got a strong forechecking approach, and has been an absolute machine at generating scoring opportunities in the offensive zone through passing and net-front chaos. The thing I love the most about Stenberg though is his comfort through chaos. The NHL is a crazy, physical and fast league, and often times, the ones who can control a puck through that chaos are the ones who thrive. Pure skill gets beaten by practical skill, especially if the player isn’t an elite skater, and Stenberg might seem more capable and calm with sticks flying all around him than he is in open ice. He’s such a hard player to get a read on as an opponent, and such a difficult offensive presence to stop, and while he isn’t perfect, he’s elite at what he does well. If his top speed can increase, the sky is the limit. I love him, and I wish I could rank all of these guys #1.

• #4 | Tynan Lawrence | C | Muskegon Lumberjacks

  It’s usually a pretty good sign when I go into watching a player with tempered expectations from the previous year and being completely blown away the next year. That was me with Lawrence at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup back in August. Lawrence and Preston were simply fantastic at that event, and for long stretches this year, Lawrence has held my #1 spot. He’s a natural centre, and the type of centre I value the most. The kind you win with. He’s energetic, physical, clever, uses his linemates effectively, and is simply exceptional in almost every area of the ice. His shot selection is questionable in my opinion, but there aren’t many players this year where I’ve sat back and gone “this guy just might win his team the game on his own”, and Lawrence is certainly the leading member. Strong on both sides of the puck with refinements to make in the offensive zone, Lawrence has the benefit of youth and strong surroundings to make great things happen this year while he’s on the ice. While he might be a bit of a tough sell for me to put at 1 over someone like Stenberg or Villeneuve, if you love centres, you’ll love Lawrence, and NHL teams love their centres.

• #5 | Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State Nittany Lions

  McKenna slips in at 5, but there are absolutely areas of his game that would absolutely find him picked first in the draft. To put it simply, McKenna’s playmaking vision and execution are unparalleled. He’ll find seams in the offensive zone to exploit that might be as wide as two hockey pucks and he’ll find a way to thread that needle for an easy point on the board. His stride seems more fluid than last year with better acceleration and transition pace, and as I’ve said many times, the top of this class is extremely close. My whole thesis since August has been that there is a group at the top that can be discussed, rather than McKenna running away with it, and it seems others are starting to see what I’m seeing. McKenna is a heavily, heavily offensive leaning player, with a reliance on linemates to find him in the neutral zone, he’s a confident skilled player but lacks the explosiveness to power through defensive structures on the rush reliably relative to other elite players, and his shot selection is somewhat questionable. I do all of my work watching players at 5v5, and it absolutely doesn’t surprise me that McKenna is automatic on the powerplay, but that wasn’t unexpected. He’ll ideally spend way more time at 5v5, and I see key areas of the game where McKenna seems to be deficient. I need to be clear that I have no doubt that McKenna has a clear pathway to being a very valuable NHLer. Nobody has vision, skill and playmaking sense like McKenna does, at least not since Ivan Demidov, but my lens is always through “how can I beat this guy if it’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs”, and the names ahead have a shorter list of options than McKenna, which seems to be the tie-breaker in a class such as this. I expect a huge World Junior for McKenna, and eyeballs will be on him in the inevitable playoff performance(s) that will be a redemption story for him and the Canadians. In my book, I’m more interested in how his second half goes with Penn State, and if his 5v5 game evolves into something more projectable in more facets of the game. Still an elite talent and very well could be my #1 by season’s end, but right now, there are questions, and bigger questions than those of the players ahead of him. Others seem to be sniffing around the same read as I have, but I don’t think there is concern about what kind of a player McKenna could become.

• #6 | Keaton Verhoeff | RHD | North Dakota Fighting Hawks

  Keaton Verhoeff has been a very difficult read for me this season. Similar to McKenna, there are areas of the game where Verhoeff is elite. Getting the puck off the boards with control, cleanly finding space in the offensive zone, working through chaos and absolutely rifling a hockey puck are all serious, meaningful and projectable strengths with Verhoeff. I’ve seen him as high as #1 on lists this year, and I can clearly see why. He’s young, huge, quite mobile and shows flashes of skill that very few others have had in combination. I get a bit spooked by his dependability breaking the puck out comfortably and cleanly, and his defensive imposition and physical play is surprisingly underwhelming for a player like him. That said, Verhoeff has always been a development case for me. There’s a strong chance he continues to grow and develop this year and finds an excellent comfort zone in the NCAA by the end of the season. Should that occur, he could find himself as high as #1 on my own list. The package of tools is hard to find, his future is visible in his style of play, and while some key areas are development focuses, patience will reward you if Verhoff is your guy.

Tier 2 - The Rock Solid Zone

• #7 | Viggo Björck | RW | Djurgården IF

  Every time I watch this guy, I prepare myself to jump off the wagon, and he just seems to be getting better and better every SHL game I see of him. The data profile isn’t particularly amazing in aggregate, but he started the year clearly out of his element, and has become a really impressive part of his team’s two-way game. His skating has improved significantly since last season, and his hockey mind and skill level combine for a truly impressive possession player. He needs to get stronger, but he’s driving very, very good offensive zone results in a tough situation for a small winger. His smarts moving the puck are immense, and there’s a growing part of me that would be curious as to what he would look like skating up the middle of the ice as a transition-focused playmaking centre. Crafty, clever and exciting, Bjorck might fall way too far than he should this year, and if his quality of play continues to improve, he might become one of the best pickups out there.

• #8 | Alberts Smits | RSD | Jukurit Mikkelin

  Never in a million years did I think Alberts Smits would be in my top ten. Not too long ago he was a 17 year old defender I noted for the Latvian U18 team as one to watch closely thanks to the skating ability, size and passing ability he had in a pretty sizable workload. The first game tracked was a U20 game in Finland and it was simply a joke. Smits was absolutely shredding opposition with skill, confidence, attacking the net, and simply doing whatever he wanted. It was a non-option as a development environment, and it took about 4 hours in Liiga for Smits to become a top pair defenseman and often look the part. While Jukurit has struggled this season, I really struggle to see how Smits is a source of those struggles. He has a solid physical streak that I’d love to see more, and he makes strong defensive reads, getting plenty of practice doing so, and through it all his overall results remain excellent. Smits manages to achieve this with sublime awareness and pass accuracy, finding pathways out of chaos, confidence to carry the puck to safety and find linemates all over the ice, and staggering offensive zone confidence. To me there’s a lot of what people loved about Artyom Levshunov, but in a more intriguing tool package than I remember of Levshunov at the same age. Smits has had huge success generating production in Liiga as a defenseman and has become a major driver of Jukurit’s struggling offense and it’s easy to see why. He’s aggressive but covers his tracks well, uses linemates exceptionally well, and seems like an exciting bet on where the defense position may be headed.

• #9 | Chase Reid | RHD | Soo Greyhounds

  I’ve seen Reid higher on other boards and I can absolutely see why. There were times where Reid was in my top tier this year, but the more I see, the more questions I have. He’s an explosive skater, especially with the puck on his stick, creating and exploiting gaps in opponents, weaving through traffic effortlessly, fending off pressure in the offensive zone, and being a constant threat for the Greyhounds no matter who he’s playing. His close quarters defending and calmness under pressure in the defensive zone can be questionable, with some shaky moments under heavy forechecks, and lacking truly high end footwork to track rushes reliably but I know I’m being nitpicky on Reid here. The margins are so thin in this group, but Reid is looking like another exciting bet on confident, possession-focused offense from a defenseman.

• #10 | William Håkansson | LHD/RSD | Luleå HF

  Another player who I never would’ve thought would end up this high (I still think I have him too high while writing this), Håkansson has simply looked absolutely rock solid in the most interesting way every time I’ve seen him. Excellent pass vision, staying calm constantly, with remarkable success clogging passing lanes and breaking opposing cycles in his own end, Håkansson has so many traits that modern defensive defensemen require in the NHL these days. I think there’s also some real offensive potential here though. Håkansson can walk an offensive blueline, find pockets of space and become a solid shooting threat but has just not been rewarded on the scoresheet. I’m looking forward to seeing him at the World Juniors and considering how stable, reliable and impressive he’s been as a (largely) everyday SHLer, more eyeballs might see what I see. There’s a bit of Moritz Seider there maybe, with the size, footwork, defensive stability and offensive upside that makes him such an impressive NHL defenseman, but I’m not ready to lean into that read yet. Håkansson is mature beyond his years, and the main question will be how much more he can extract out of himself in the coming years to make more of an impact on both sides of the puck.

• #11 | Oliver Suvanto | C | Tappara Tampere

  Going into the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, I don’t think there was a soul alive that knew too much about Oliver Suvanto, let alone in the context of a potential top 10 NHL draft pick. He was in my notes constantly at that tournament with an impressive combination of size, skill and smarts that stuck out and reminded me of classic Finnish youngsters that we’ve seen in the past. The guy is barely eligible for this year’s draft , and is a school bus on ice. The guy looks like something out of a video game with how he resembles The Incredible Hulk out there. He’s hard to get on top of, and he’ll find a way out of trouble if you do get close. While he lacks footspeed, he reads oncoming pressure well and defers puck possession excellently, slipping passes through traffic, and showcasing excellent forechecking and playmaking potential. I’d love to see him a bit more inside driven with the puck and chasing scoring chances for himself a bit more, but as a defense-first, procedural defenseman that can elevate skilled wingers on his line, Suvanto brings huge upside if things go right. The three names ahead of him are all significantly older, and while Suvanto may not quite line up to at least two of them to my eye as he is, the jump in his development can’t be ignored. The guy was playing U18 hockey in Finland last year and wasn’t blowing the doors off, and now he’s an everyday Liiga guy with nothing but NHL projectability written all over him. In a draft somewhat light on centres, Suvanto may be one that gets locked in higher than where I have him, and I could honestly see the logic there with what he brings to the game. Strong, smart, and flashes of skill are good things to bet on and Suvanto has been a fantastic curiosity in this class at worst.

• #12 | Malte Gustafsson | LHD | HV71

  Speaking of curiousities, we have Malte Gustafsson. A Hlinka Gretzky standout, Gustafsson has bobbled around all levels of Swedish hockey for HV71, touching the SHL lineup at times and looking impressive if not a bit out of his element there. Gustafsson is a fascinating development case. Listed at 200lbs for a 6’4” defender, there may be some room to fill out more strength, but I’d really try to keep him relatively lean considering his potential. The mobility and footwork is impressive, and the skill level is absolutely awesome to watch at times. Opponents can get through him a bit too easily, which more strength should help with, but he’s got a ton of positive traits to play around with. Shifty skill, a good shot he can deploy from inside the blueline, and exceptionally efficient in transition to this point, Gustafsson seems to know how to move the puck and generate flashes of offense with the best in this class. He’s a bit of a ways away and this is around where the class gets really close, but at his best he’s been very impressive and the allure of what a player like him could look like in a few years is certainly enticing.

• #13 | Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor Spitfires

  I go back and forth on Ethan Belchetz pretty much every single week. Recently the Discord server walked through games of Björck and Belchetz back to back and there was simply no comparison. While there is very little doubt that Belchetz will get reps, improve and find an NHL job, I do find him to be quite a limited player. What he does well, he does very, very well, but he requires a supporting cast to get him into good spots where he thrives. Don’t get me wrong, for a guy this big, he has impressive skill, great finishing ability, and very strong playmaking vision through traffic in the offensive zone, but I always weigh all-situations impact players more, and I just haven’t seen that in Belchetz just yet. I could easily see him well into my Top 10 by June though, with such a rare combination of abilities that are enticing, but not fully put together yet. The data package so far is positive for him, and there’s plenty of upside, especially when it almost doesn’t matter how he skates considering how good of a possession player he is, but his somewhat limited but valuable role is a tough nut to crack as of today.

Tier 3 - The Intrigue Zone

• #14 | Vertti Svensk | RSD | SaiPa

  I have been called names when I bring this guy up as one of the best potential defensemen in the class but at this point in the draft, I would argue there are probably 20-30 players that shuffle into this range, and I don’t think any have higher upside than Svensk. In terms of mobility and speed, he is probably the highest-end defenseman in that discipline in this entire class. Svensk absolutely flies in all directions with skill to match, going from 2nd division Finnish U20 last season to SaiPa, to the World U18s, to 35% involvement in his U20 team’s offense, to Liiga, Svensk has forced his way up the ladder for years and I have always been thrilled watching him play. He can be aggressive and open up space defensively at bad times, and that admittedly is a tough discipline to balance when you’re such a great skater, but I absolutely adore what he brings to the table. So far this season, Svensk has shown excellent defensive zone cycle breakup data thanks to his quickness and how he’s able to transport the puck, with almost flawless carrying data, and a tremendous amount of potential as an offensive leaning two-way defender that could be lethal on a power play one day.

• #15 | Casey Mutryn | W | U.S. National U18 Team

  Casey Mutryn has been the captain of the US NTDP this year and it’s plainly easy to see why. I hate boiling players down to this, but Mutryn seems like a player you just win with. He’s got size, speed, a good amount of skill but a highly physical style of play that should project to higher levels seamlessly. At times I’ve had him ranked even higher, but I do wonder about the ceiling on his game. He’s certainly a strong up and down winger who covers ice well, plays hard and grinds the puck into scoring areas, especially through his passing work, but in terms of reliable puck control, slowing the game down and quarterbacking play, he seems a bit limited as of now. While projectable and not much going “wrong” in his game, that projection might lie in a great, valuable forechecker that keeps his game simple but remains effective in almost any game state.

• #16 | Juho Piiparinen | RHD | Tappara Tampere

  Another player where things very rarely seem to go wrong, Juho Piiparinen just seems so… solid. He’s young for the class, but already quite developed, so God help us if he keeps growing a bit. Piiparinen always seems to follow the flow of the game well, tracking opponents and rushes effectively, staying in good lanes and using his high-end mobility to pinch and poke at pucks at good times. Sometimes bounces don’t quite go his way, but it’s rarely explicitly falling on Piiparinen. A few inside-driven playmaking moments, especially at the junior level flash offensive upside, Piiparinen still largely seems much more at home as a strong defensive player continuing to find his comfort zone and brand in Liiga. I look forward to seeing him at the World Juniors, and I look forward to seeing what he’s capable of down the stretch of the season, as I think there’s room for him to finish higher or lower than here based on what I see in the coming months.

• #17 | Jack Hextall | C | Youngstown Phantoms

  If anyone is the Dubas & Clark type this season, it may be Jack Hextall. Perhaps Wyatt Cullen wins that award but we’ll have to wait and see. For now, I’m not sure there is a smarter transition-focused centre in the class than Jack Hextall. His vision, timing and awareness is sublime, driving excellent possession results with great shot selection and dual-threat offensive upside. While the production doesn’t blow you away, he’s still right up at the top of the USHL for draft-eligibles, and he screams “guy who will definitely get way better the better the fundamentals get”. Everything just comes together so well when Hextall is on the ice, and more strength, skill and/or speed will only unlock more possibilities for him. He’s got an exceptional forechecking mind, reading play so, so well, and even shutting play down in his own end decently well if he spots an opportunity. One of the best all-around data packages to this point, there’s a ways to go, but Hextall was a favourite of mine, and remains so going into 2026. I thought he was an enormous part of the best U.S. Hlinka roster we’ve seen in a while, and if you let him develop at Michigan State for a few years, I would not be surprised if you’re greatly, greatly rewarded doing so. If you really appreciate the little things in the game, Hextall is your guy.

• #18 | Casper Juustovara Karlsson | LW | Luleå HF

  I did not expect this either, and I keep finding reasons to call myself insane for having this guy here, but being named to the Swedish World Junior team only reinforces my insanity. Casper Juustovaara Karlsson, or CJK as he’s better known in my circles, was a surprise SHLer from the jump this year and so far has driven results I absolutely did not expect after seeing him a bit last season. The dynamic, creative skilled little guy has given way to a completely psychotic maniac who will chase after you for 2 straight minutes at a time, crush you, smash you, and just grind the game into a pulp. Across the board, his defensive metrics are excellent, and he faces a lot of time trying to close out those cycles in my sample so far. For him to be a net-positive possession player considering how often he’s in his own zone is particularly impressive. His ability to calmly move the puck through the neutral zone is definitely not a strength right now, but as a complimentary energy guy who earns every second of ice he gets, CJK just keeps on sticking out. For him to be such an effective defensive impact player in such a tough league is a heck of an achievement, and in the offensive zone, CJK weasels and sneaks his way into scoring areas well, landing more chances than you’d think, and if he can use his skill to open little seams into scoring areas a bit more, he could see his assist totals start to climb as well. He’s a big part of the team’s offense when he’s on the ice though, and as a complimentary presence who is absolutely noticeable off the puck more than anything, CJK looks like at worst a bet to make way later than this that forces his way up the ladder into the bottom of an NHL lineup if this keeps up. I keep looking for guys to put ahead of him and I just can’t do it. I will be very, very curious to see him out there chasing after some high end NHL draft picks in Minnesota at the World Juniors, and I hope the Swedish coaches feel the same.

• #19 | Elton Hermansson | RW | MoDo Hockey

  If the NHL Draft were an exercise in pure skill and fun factor, Hermansson would be a tier higher, no question. He has such amazing skill and creativity with excellent puck carrying energy with a dang good dual-threat offensive approach from mid-range that has been successful to this point against men. The issue is Hermansson seems very, very focused on on-puck play. To be clear, he’s very good at it with great pass vision and possession skill, but he can be quite frustrating in a lot of scenarios. His defensive numbers are almost non-existent at both ends of the ice, he’s not particularly effective shutting down opposing transitions, and his offensive game does lean more towards the perimeter than projectably inside-driven. There’s a high level of potential reward here with Hermansson though, with high pace energy and skill that I always am on the hunt for, but I have been left wanting with him when it comes to a full-game, 200-foot impact.

• #20 | Adam Novotny | LW | Peterborough Petes

  A very similar story to Hermansson, Adam Novotny has been a bit of a frustrating player. I was really hoping to see him in men’s pro hockey, but he’s certainly getting plenty of time to play in Peterborough, and plenty of freedom to play his brand. The thing that always sticks out with Novotny is his skating ability. He’s fluid, fast, and aggressive with decent forechecking data but excellent transition ability, receiving passes and carrying the puck very effectively. Novotny’s issues come with a few too many lapses with his awareness and hockey sense. Sloppy passes missing linemates and turning the puck over, brutal shot selection sticking to the outside too often, decent but not world-beating playmaking data, and seeming like a player that might be punching below his weight class, Novotny is a curious one I’m still sorting out. In terms of pure ability, he’s absolutely there. One of the fastest players blueline to blueline that I’ve tracked with really strong stick checking ability, if you’re looking for physical, intense engagement and a grind-y mindset, I haven’t seen that out of him as of yet and I get the feeling that others may feel the same come draft time. Some may love him, some may want more out of him, and I think both sides are correct. How it all shakes out over the next few years will be the ultimate factor.

• #21 | Adam Nemec | LW | HK Nitra

  Nemec has grown on me this year. A strong data profile with great forechecking results, mid-range dual-threat offense, and wicked pass completion even through pressure, Nemec is a pretty projectable pace-y, complimentary winger that could have a really interesting future ahead of him. Rarely wasting possessions, he stitches play up the ice very well against men, slipping passes through feet and drawing pressure well. He’s got speed and skill but it isn’t really game-breaking, and without a ton physicality in his game, he may be a bit of a longshot to snag a long term NHL gig, but I think he could get there in time. The skating ability is strong, jumping into open space very well and from here it doesn’t take long for him to become one of the most threatening offensive players in the class. I have my doubts, but he’s still a very intriguing talent to keep an eye on.

• #22 | Victor Plante | LW | U.S. National U18 Team

  You can absolutely tell that Victor is the kid brother of multiple previous NHL picks with the same last name. Max and Zam have both been admirable, smart and creative wingers and gone on to find NCAA success well. Victor seems like he’s taken a ton from his older brothers and just built on it, morphing himself into a ruthless, competitive winger with explosiveness, physicality and ruthless offensive ability. Massive inside-driven playmaking generation, strong scoring area shot tendencies, and a great ability to jump into space and run breakouts to good success rates in high involvement. There’s definitely room for improvement with his puck carrying in open ice and throwing his weight around a bit more, but he’s an immensely competitive and intelligent offensive player that reminds me of Easton Cowan. He’s compact but smart, small-ish but competitive, and really seems to bring a balanced offensive approach that may be hard to get a read on for an opponent. Another guy where I keep trying to find guys I like more, and at worse I just find more and more players I think bring just as much potential value as Plante might.

• #23 | Lars Steiner | RW | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

  It really felt like Steiner was just getting moving this season when an injury knocked him out for a bit of a stretch, because the last couple times I’ve seen him, he has been absolutely hilarious. The guy is an absolute monster in my sample, flying around the ice, cutting off offensive zone passes to generate turnovers, flying around crushing whoever he can find along the boards anywhere on the ice, all while showcasing great puck carrying skill and agility that has driven really, really great data in all areas except the offensive zone. The possession numbers are great, but the guy does not generate offense for others nearly as much as he does for himself… from everywhere… It is annoying. There’s potential though with the right guidance, you can see something really impressive there. Competitive, physical, and very efficient, Steiner has a few areas he really needs to tweak, but a lot of areas he has really leaned into that has made him quite a success. He’s going to be at the World Juniors and I can’t wait to see what he can do there.

• #24 | Ilia Morozov | C | Miami Univ. (Ohio) RedHawks

  Every time I sit down to watch Ilia Morozov, the more and more impressed I am. The youngest player in college hockey, Morozov has made himself known as a big, strong and smart centre that brings dependability and a defense-first presence that has at times looked like a real difference-maker in a tough situation. Miami is not particularly a powerhouse, but they play in a tough conference, and Morozov is playing an important role. He sneaks passes around and moves the puck with ease, and makes excellent reads off the puck to create turnovers and obliterate opponents along the boards. I feel like his offensive zone experience is more reserved and safe, with low involvement and success, but at the very worst it’s hard not to see a strong centre down the lineup of an NHL team here, with upside for more if things develop well in college for the next few years.

Tier 4 - The Risky Intrigue Zone

• #25 | Ryan Lin | RHD | Vancouver Giants

  I’ve had a really tough time with Ryan Lin. A contact of mine listened to my concerns and then mentioned his name in the same sentence as Adam Fox and I just can’t get it out of my head. Lin is an aggressive offensive defenseman with solid defensive positioning instincts but the overall results in his game have been really lacklustre in my sample. There’s plenty of activity but the end result has been that of a player chasing play in his own end and being pass-heavy almost to a fault when moving the puck. I need to see more of him to know where I will come down, and there are some moments I see why some consider him at the top, but in aggregate over long stretches I haven’t seen it yet. If you can build a system around his natural style of play where he may get caught up ice there might be something interesting here. In my view he doesn’t have the skating speed or mobility to project safely as of now, but he certainly has offensive zone tools that are especially threatening on the powerplay. As always it’ll come down to what you’re passing on to pick him, but he’s steadily tumbled down my board as I’ve watched more this year.

• #26 | Wiggo Sörensson | C | Boro/Vetlanda HC

  I watched this guy in the summer a bit and jokingly filed him as one to really watch whenever I could this year, and after getting cut from Sweden’s Hlinka team, Wiggo Sörensson went back to his 4th division men’s team, rocked a 35% involvement in their offense and showed up at the U18 Five Nations centring a line of himself, Elton Hermansson and a few others to complement. I felt that Sörensson looked just as comfortable and dangerous at times as Hermansson did, with arguably a more fluid, speedy skating stride that pushed play well. He certainly wasn’t familiar with this level of pace though, coughing up a few pucks with overhandling and careless passing, but the talent is undeniable there. I’ve been told that he’s looking for a loan, but he wants to keep playing men’s hockey at higher levels, which will take a gamble from a progressive team in my books, and a willingness to be patient, but it isn’t out of the question. It’s hilarious to me that this guy has played 9 games at the U20 level in Sweden… in the third division this season. He’s sitting at over four points a game and at time of writing, he scored every single goal his team scored in back to back games, losing one 6-5 and winning the other 3-2. He’s very clearly not particularly challenged here, and I simply haven’t seen the track record to actually draft him this high, but I really believe in the ceiling in his game. He’s dynamic, skilled, explosive, and had an exceptional U18 tournament in my books playing for the Swedish team playing with players likely to be drafted in the top 50 this year. Time will tell, but he’s a major curiousity of mine.

• #27 | Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs

  Malhotra is very quickly becoming the guy that is shooting up everyone’s boards and I can’t quite understand why, so I keep watching and tracking to see if I’m missing anything, and time and time again I haven’t really seen what may be one of the first centres taken in the draft. Granted, he’s moved up my board in the last month, but I don’t see his point production as particularly projectable. What I do see is a reasonable bet on a 3rd line centre who can play with strength, win faceoffs and have some bright moments with the puck making plays and pushing play up the ice. He’s had a few impressive reverse hits to protect the puck, and there is definitely a lot to like. On the other hand, I think his footspeed takes him out of play too quickly, his defensive results at high speeds aren’t great, and I strongly feel like his offense stems from the talented smaller wingers he can be paired with. Some games I’ve seen, Cooper Dennis and Adam Benak are flying around with Malhotra largely supportive, and in others it’s Malhotra eating minutes surrounded by less threatening scorers in Luca Testa and Nikolas Rossetto. You can definitely tell he is his father’s son, and there’s value to a player like Malhotra in a lineup which puts him in my first round, but I don’t see one of the best centres in the draft here, at least not yet.

• #28 | Pierce Mbuyi | LW/C | Owen Sound Attack

  A player who I think is a high risk, high reward option, Pierce Mbuyi has been admirable and impressive every time I’ve seen him. Extremely competitive and intense, with a ruthless shot to top everything off, Mbuyi’s game is driven by a ton of efficiency and forechecking pressure, finding ways to attack opponents and get in the way, and some of the best shot volumes in my dataset. I’d love to see him use his skill on the puck a bit more reliably to work with linemates and drive passes into scoring areas more, but he’s a very impressive complimentary forward who can forecheck, get to the net, grind out scoring chances and do plenty of dirty work for more open-ice focused linemates. He may not go this high, but I would be more than happy to add him to the stable especially if he’s the 2nd or 3rd name off the board for me.

• #29 | Logan Stuart | C | U.S. National U18 Team

  Stuart is my kind of centre, through at through. I adore this guy. Along with Nelson, Plante and Cullen, Stuart was the NTDP guy that was highest on my watchlist after last season, and I’ve been largely very impressed with his output to this point. He’s a very high risk player who needs to get stronger defensively and harder with his stick checks in order to play centre and project well, but he’s an absolutely remarkable skater who can fly up the ice and has generated excellent efficiency moving the puck up the ice. He throws himself around more than you’d think, and forechecks very well, cutting off passes and pressuring opponents in scary spots to create turnovers. There just aren’t enough puck touches in his game though. He’s efficient but absent from being a key transition player. He never shoots the puck but also hasn’t shot the puck from the perimeter, so that’s a plus. He’s funneling passes into the middle of the ice more often than most, but in transition there’s just very little activity in that regard. He’s a strange player, but the fundamentals are excellent as a speedy centre if your team is interested in those. Relatively young with a 6’2” former NHL defenseman for a dad, there’s room for Stuart to grow, and I’m hopeful that he heads to college and develops well, because he could be a sneaky pickup that could come a long way in the right direction.

• #30 | Carson Carels | LHD | Prince George Cougars

  Carels has been up and down on my board all season long. Another defenseman that can be problematic on the rush, Carels still has an area of the ice where he’s a specialist that demands attention in the first round. If you leave a loose puck in the neutral zone and Carels spots it, a couple crossovers and a pivot later and he’s exploding deep into the offensive zone to make a play down low on the rush. In pockets, Carels is really, really impressive. My whole issue is on the defensive side, and how much of Carels’ offense usually stems from point shots which are historically hard to project for defenders. He was strong in the CHL/NTDP series with some impressive passes and rushes, but I’ve always seen him as a little bit too noncommittal off the puck, relinquishing too much space and lacking real shutdown strength right now. I’m sure I’ll see much more of him before the draft, and I could see him up a bit higher, but my experience on him is somewhat mixed.

• #31 | Marcus Nordmark | RW/LW | Djurgården U20

  Nordmark is a weird one. I could easily see him as one of the smartest playmakers in the draft, worthy of being selected 20 spots ahead of here. Offensively speaking there’s very little in his dataset to this point that would point to anything other than an elite dual-threat offensive presence, but Nordmark, similar to Elton Hermansson, is a frustrating player that doesn’t bring the competitive drive that it seems NHL teams are particularly interested in. It may very well be that it doesn’t matter, as Nordmark’s skill and positioning ability drive a tremendous amount of success on their own, creating huge amounts of threatening scoring opportunities for everyone on the ice. He’s almost like this year’s Ben Kindel, but at the same time, I didn’t really question the competitiveness in Kindel’s game, even if he wasn’t particularly physical. With Nordmark, it’s almost like he’s out for a skate and having fun… he is just really, really good at it. Will it work? I’m not sure yet, but I don’t think I’ll end up with Nordmark much lower than this considering what’s possible with his profile.

• #32 | Niklas Aaram-Olsen | LW | Örebro HK U20

  I’ve seen Niklas Aaram-Olsen a lot, and I think he’s a high-risk bet with almost zero defense to fall back on, but being paired with a speedy transition centre like Alexander Command really showcases what might be possible with Aaram-Olsen. The skill he carries in full flight with great inside-driven scoring ability is impressive and rare in this class. He’s just coming off a fantastic 10 point performance finally quarterbacking the Norwegian U20 team into the 2027 World Juniors, and while that’s not the highest level of play, I would expect him to have not looked out of place at the big tournament had Norway won that tournament last year as many expected they would. Aaram-Olsen comes with very obvious pitfalls off the puck that are troubling, but as an offensive-leaning complement, he’s got a lot going in his favour with regards to his skill, creativity and finishing ability. Some of my “oh wow” moments have come watching him, and at some point you have to bet on those continuing.

• #33 | Maddox Dagenais | LW/RW | Québec Remparts

  Dagenais has grown on me constantly this season. Unlike others in this range, there’s a level of certainty watching him that he’ll work his way into the NHL somehow. A first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft, expectations are high for Dagenais, and while he may not be quite reaching the heights expected, he’s still a very intriguing name this year. Great speed up and down the ice and a real nasty streak off the puck, Dagenais has power forward written all over him. He attacks the puck and wrestles it into scoring areas but there are also moments of finesse working around opponents and creating space for himself. I don’t know if I see more than a bottom six NHLer, but I could still see one an NHL team wants on a very good playoff roster thanks to the intensity and possession flashes he has. The defensive results in transition are lacklustre, but with his skating ability there should be improvements with time and development. Improve the shot selection and bust into scoring areas more and I think we see major improvements in his point output, and if he keeps leaning into his size and smashing ability, there might be a very interesting guy here down an NHL lineup.

• #34 | Adam Goljer | RHD | HK Dukla Trencin

  A player who has been as high as the 20s on my list and may well end up there, Adam Goljer has been a pleasant surprise to say the least. He isn’t the flashiest, most daring offensive defenseman you’ll ever see, but he’s certainly an intriguing package of size, smarts, dependability and upside that is unlike many in the draft. Goljer is often monitoring lanes and putting himself in advantageous spots, and shows flashes of puck carrying potential at the men’s level that I would love to see explored further. There isn’t much in the way of offensive zone aggression, but he carries a solid point shot that can challenge goaltenders, but I wouldn’t say this is likely to be a strong point in the future. Goljer’s value comes from his reliability, stitching passes together with ease, excelling at the mythical “first pass” everyone loves to point out, with rock solid defensive habits and instincts. This is a very, very close range and while he lacks the true flash of some CHL defenders slightly ahead of him, I think his defensive game is a bit more well-rounded and projectable to higher levels, and with plenty of development room on a 6’3” 195lbs frame with a June birthday. If he grows another couple inches and puts on some good muscle, Goljer may have an interesting defensive pathway ahead of him.

• #35 | Mikey Berchild | LW | U.S. National U18 Team

  Another very risky bet, but a really, really fun one, Mikey Berchild is a compact and agile little roadrunner that can bob and weave all over the ice. There’s so little in his game that I could categorize as problematic, but there’s a huge chance it just isn’t enough to crack an NHL lineup. The pure skill is awesome, his passing and playmaking abilities are great, creating opportunities for everyone else at a high rate, and strong off-puck results in the offensive zone. It’s just… he’s so small, and not nearly quick or explosive enough to escape serious competition often enough to project easily. This is likely as high as I’ll have him, but he’s in this tier after seeing him pick apart a couple of NCAA teams, which alleviates some level of concern. Berchild is a bit of a top six or bust right now, and while I lean much more heavily towards the latter, the former is very enticing if it works out over time. He may be an excellent NCAA/AHL scorer that can’t stick in the NHL, but he’ll probably take a real good run at it.

• #36 | Ludvig Söderberg | LHD/RSD | Södertälje SK U20

  My sleeper of the year at this point, every time I’ve watched Söderberg I’ve come away more and more impressed. There are absolutely some scary moments defensively where Söderberg will pinch aggressively and not be strong enough on the physical or stick pressure, but he’s an exceptionally efficient defenseman in so many areas of the ice. His surroundings are less than ideal, and he drives a ton of offense himself by driving the puck into scoring areas, with 71% of my tracked shot attempts coming off his stick from scoring areas. The offensive transition game is exceptional, with sparkling carrying metrics and great passing results. He keeps the puck safe, he has excellent mobility and footspeed, and I desperately want to see him challenged in HockeyAllsvenskan down the stretch. As he is now, he’s driving very good overall results with some key areas that require refinement that aren’t exposed as often against juniors right now. He’s flying under the radar with a lesser-known program and not bointzing it up as much as others, but I think there’s something exciting in Ludvig Söderberg.

• #37 | Tomas Chrenko | C | HK Nitra

  Often found playing with Adam Nemec, Tomas Chrenko showcases a bit more of a questionable projection, lacking the pure speed and awareness of Nemec, but Chrenko does have some very good defensive involvement in transition, being physical more than you’d think, and forechecking well, leading to sparkling defensive transition results. The skating ability needs to improve to project, but there’s skill, a nice shot there, and efficient two way play with upside potential if things go right. I don’t think he projects as a centre, but there’s enough fundamentals that puts him in this tier relative to those behind him. It’s close in this range, and I’m looking forward to seeing Chrenko in the World Juniors to measure him against others in his age group. We’ll see if he sticks from here.

Tier 5 - A Lot of Solid 1st Round Threats

• Ryan Roobroeck is a bizarre one. I wasn’t the biggest fan this year, but even I’m surprised with how little I’ve seen out of him this year that I think projects well. He’s huge, but doesn’t push the game enough to give me a ton of confidence. His surroundings aren’t amazing in Niagara, but I haven’t found him to be the one having to swim against the current there.

• Gleb Pugachyov is definitely the most “NHL-like” power winger to come out of Russia in a while. There’s skill in his game, but overall results are just shy of being really impressive. So many almost-moments, but he’s interesting and could have a good developmental future.

• Wyatt Cullen is very smart. I could easily see him well into my first round if he gets his legs really going, because he’s got skill, smarts and finishing ability that has impressed me going back to last season, as well as being one of the youngest players in the draft.

• Morgan Anderberg has stuck around in the SHL for most of this season and it’s pretty easy to see why. Competitive, a really impressive skater with impressive two-way transition impact, Anderberg has found his way to scoring chances here and there at that level and I’ve been curious about him. I could easily take him later than this and others ahead of him, but he has been an interesting one.

• Nikita Klepov and JP Hurlbert are certainly flashing abilities well above this group, but I just don’t know if it projects to the NHL. Where Berchild has pace and agility on his side, Klepov and Hurlbert are very skill heavy, and I’m just not sold on high end NHL scorers there. Maybe in the future, but from what I’ve seen, it’s tough to see them as first rounders quite yet. Similar feelings regarding Egor Shilov as well. Insanely good skill, but I do not know about the NHL as he is.

• People will be surprised to see Daxon Rudolph in here, but he just really isn’t my kind of defenseman, at least as a top 20 pick. It’s undeniable at times when he’s slinging passes up the ice and whipping shots from the point, but he’s extremely passive and inactive, which I have a hard time seeing work in the NHL. I can’t think of an NHLer that defends the puck standing straight up and getting the puck away from themselves extremely quickly, and Rudolph is just a guy I have a hard time placing in an NHL lineup. He’s scoring a ton on the powerplay of a very talented offensive team, and I’m not sure he’s a first rounder to me at the time of writing.

• On the other hand, the more I see of Brek Liske the more I like. Mobile, and very smart, Liske tracks play well, and brings a calm efficiency to the game along some surgically precise slot passing that might fly under the radar.

• I’ve had Landon Amrhein as high as the first round this year, but I think I got too pulled in by what could be there in time rather than what’s there now. He’s a slippery, skilled passer with great length and a fluid skating stride, but I am waiting for him to really take over stretches of a game, and just haven’t seen it yet

• I can’t not love Ivan Fomin, I’m sorry. I’ve watched a few games of his this year and heard more about him as a person and I just can’t not cheer him on until the end of time. He looks even quicker and more explosive than last year, creating space with the puck way, way more effectively and is currently rocking a 54% involvement in Taifun’s offense. He leads the team in scoring by almost 20 goals and 20 points at time of writing. He’s epic, and if a team were willing to toss pick #224 at me for a succulent Chinese meal, I’d take Fomin just to see what happens in his career… What if it works… What if it works…

• Rudolfs Berzkalns has caught my attention constantly, but only insofar as being a fast, skilled gigantic Latvian centre. I’m going to see more soon, but I’ve been very impressed with the package of tools there and projecting a player like him to the NHL.

• Jaxon Cover might be the most curious case of all, being a player with very limited hockey experience at all, he’s shown to be a well-rounded winger with some quick feet but a physical edge and really clever playmaking under pressure. He’s coming alive more over time getting plenty of opportunity with London this year, and he may be one to work his way further up my board as the year continues.

Tier 6 - Overagers and Maybes…

• These guys are all not too far behind the previous group, but they all have a bit more uncertainty than the rest without being the pure curiousities on The Watchlist.

• Ryan Brown goes and goes. We like that. Beckham Edwards is definitely very smart and nearly got bumped up a tier, but it’s hard to see him as an NHLer right now. It’d be interesting to see it work, but I am unsure of his profile translating without more viewings and confidence.

• Noah Kosick is very young and has undergone a huge growth spurt, and if the skating/speed combination can take a jump, he could be a seriously good pickup. He’s going to get plenty of reps with a Swift Current team that is having a very rough go of it lately, and he’s scored plenty, but there’s doubt right now when it comes to projecting him.

• We see some more re-entries in here. Rocky Langvardt is captain of his U20 team in Leksand now with some… Rocky… SHL appearances thus far, but his skating looks more improved, and I still think there’s something interesting there. Galvas and Rheaume-Mullen are both dynamic offensive defenders who have continued to impress me this year.

• I love Alisher Sarkenov, I just haven’t seen enough to bump him up, and he’s an ‘07-born player which works against him in a sea of other skilled wingers, but he’s dynamic and quick, and is coming off a productive World Junior where Kazakhstan unfortunately fell just short of re-entering the 2027 tournament after a heartbreaking end to their 2026 journey.

• Brayden Thompson is a 5’8” defenseman in Youngstown who I just love to watch play, and may end up a Watchlist guy by the end of the year, but his mobility, skill and off-puck anticipation skill are hard to argue against. He overcomes his size deficiency well as he is, and I think he has some really interesting offensive upside if given the opportunity and patience to get there. I’ll watch more of him before the end of the year, and it’s almost a guarantee he goes undrafted, but I think he has a shot at being one that may buck the trend long term.

• Joe Iginla is also youngster who I’ve really appreciated. The competitiveness is there, the drive and intensity are good, and I think he moves the puck real well for a smaller guy that lacks a true high end gear. I struggled with him based on my sample but I could easily vault him quite a bit higher if his game evolves like I think it could before the end of the year.

The Watchlist

• The Scouching Discord Office Hours MVP Alexander Grunin tops the list. He’s awesome. Huge, explosive, mobile, Grunin is all over the ice, driving great results and creating offense for his team. The problem is that he’s playing on a team that is just not returning the favour often enough for him. I want to see more of him, but he’s been a pleasant surprise after being snagged as one to check out in my model.

• Vladimir Karabayev has zero points with Quebec, but I really like the upside with a guy like him. He’s got pace, size and skill, and I’m going to see him more in detail soon now that he’s playing a decent run of games.

• Chad Lygitsakos is another almost-certain no when it comes to NHL upside, but he’s so skilled and quick, almost like a Mikey Berchild out there. Not sure he’s a pick to me, but I’ve really enjoyed watching him at his best and the numbers back up an intriguing skilled winger.

• Sean Burick on the other hand is huge and range-y with intriguing skill for a big man, and might be worth parking and developing in college and minor league hockey. Probably not much more than a low-end minutes eater, but I haven’t heard much about him and have been curious about his potential.

• It was unfortunate to see J-C Lemieux not at the CHL/NTDP series, but I wonder of his future. I love the pass vision, raw energy and finishing ability, but he isn’t driving play enough for a level of confidence that puts him on the real list at this point.

• Mans Gudmundsson has stuck out a few times this season both in club and international play. Smart, capable defensively with some moments of impressive skill worth further investigation.

• Axel Brongel-Larsson is a big meaniepants and I’m sure someone will pick him up and turn him into an NHL level big meaniepants, or at least try.

• I’ve gotta shout out Moussa Hackert who was one of very few Germans at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup to catch my eyes with his explosive skating and strong attacking approach. He’s gone on to play for the Red Bull Juniors in the Alps Hockey League and while he’s certainly a ways away, he’s an intriguing one to watch as one of just two 2008-born draft eligibles playing in the Alps League, which has produced NHL picks in the past. He deserves a shout of encouragement, especially after facing a recent incident of racist abuse from fans after a recent game. Unlikely a pick in my eyes right now, I could easily see him be a major role player for the Germans at the U18s in the spring, and from there, who knows what’s possible.

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Goalies

I’m no expert, but I think it’s a pretty strong year for goaltending around the world and these are the names I’ve liked in roughly an order in which I’d prefer them:

1. Dmitri Borichev

2. Yegor Rybkin

3. Vladislav Yermolenko

4. Tobias Trejbal

5. Martin Neckar

6. William Lacelle

7. Marek Sklenicka

8. Harrison Boettiger

9. Brady Knowling

10. Dmitri Ivchenko

11. Ryder Fetterolf

12. Xavier Wendt

13. Pyry Lammi

14. Frantisek Poletin

15. Matvei Karbainov

16. Sergei Gorbunov

17. Nikolai Skryabin