Attached is a very recent mock ranking of the top 32 draft prospects, which was released by Sportsnet’s top analyst Sam Cosentino on November 19. Right-shot d-man Keaton Verhoeff, a freshman at the University of North Dakota, is the number 1 overall pick in Cosentino’s ranking. The Saskatchewan native has posted 8 points (4G 4A) in 12 games this season, and averages 18 to 23 minutes of ice time per night for the 6th ranked Fighting Hawks. The 6’4,” 208 pound Verhoeff is a lock for Team Canada’s world junior championship team, and most likely will be on the top pairing with Kashawn Aitcheson of the OHL’s Barrie Colts.
A player replacing Penn State University’s Gavin McKenna at the first overall pick is a rarity thus far. In part, this is owing to McKenna’s rather pedestrian start to his first NCAA season, at least by his standards. He still is averaging a point-per-game through the first 14 games of the Nittany Lions’ season, but has only four goals and is not as of yet the dominant force many expected him to be at the collegiate level. Conversely, Verhoeff has been exceptional in the NCAA, playing in all situations and using his excellent size and intense defending style to thwart opponents’ scoring chances.
Having said all that, this recent ranking is anything but disastrous for McKenna. Cosentino still has him going #2 overall, one spot ahead of Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg. Stenberg has been and remains Europe’s top prospect, and has been nipping at McKenna’s heels all season. Stenberg has been excellent in Sweden’s top pro league, and has shown no signs of slowing down (16 points on 4 goals and 12 assists through 20 games, including 9 points in his last 10 games).
Also, Cosentino ranks 6’5″ winger Ethan Belchetz of Windsor in the OHL at number 4 overall. This is not surprising, as Belchetz has been a stalwart in the top 5 of most rankings all season. However, in a recent post I mentioned that Belchetz has been in numerous conversations as the possible first overall choice. In my view, Verhoeff’s current ranking paves the way for this possibility, and of many other interesting twists and turns as the season progresses.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sportsnets-2026-nhl-draft-rankings-november-edition