Attached are the midterm rankings prepared by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. True to the strength of their development system, Sweden boasts six of the top 10 international skaters. This includes top-ranked European skater Ivar Stenberg, who some in the scouting community maintain has surpassed Gavin McKenna as the top prospect in the draft. Although Central Scouting lists McKenna as the top prospect among North American skaters, these rankings do not address such a comparison.
Already a projected first round pick, Latvian d-man Alberts Smits no doubt cemented his draft status with his performance at the World Junior Championship. Projected as a potential top 10 pick prior to the world juniors, the 18-year-old managed to put up a point per game (1G 4A in 5 games), while averaging almost 24 minutes of ice time per night in Minnesota. He occupies an Olympic roster spot for Team Latvia.
With respect to the North American rankings, much of the above Smits anlaysis also can be applied to American d-man Chase Reid. A Tier II Junior A player just a season ago, Reid put up 4 points (2G 2A) in 5 games for Team USA at the World Junior Championship, while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. In the 2025-26 regular season, Reid has amassed 38 points (15G 23A) in 34 games for Sault Ste. Marie in the OHL, and averages over 28 minutes of ice time per night for the Greyhounds.