Now that the 2025-26 season is nearing its conclusion, this is my version of the top 10 picks in the 2026 draft. I have prepared this mock draft after watching many draft prospects live and on video, coupled with a review of numerous scouting reports detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the players in this draft class.
Obviously, the needs of each team may affect a player’s draft position. However, the ability of the individual players was my sole consideration in preparing this ranking. Also, I favor a player’s work ethic when deciding between players possessing comparable skills. This is the primary reason I chose Ivar Stenberg over Gavin McKenna as my first overall choice. Stenberg is relentless on the forecheck and board battles, leading to numerous scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Also, I’d like to point out that I ranked the WHL’s Carson Carels as the first d-man off the board in this draft (#3), although Central Scouting ranks OHL d-man Chase Reid of Sault Ste. Marie one spot ahead of Carels. I rated Carels slightly higher because of the warrior-like mentality with which he plays, inflicting physical pain on unsuspecting opponents whenever possible. Sticking with the d-men for a moment, I also ranked Keaton Verhoeff (#7) & Alberts Smits (#8) ahead of Daxon Rudolph (#9) for their enhanced physical play.
My top 10 also includes a dark horse in forward Wyatt Cullen of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP). Not only was Cullen the only NTDP player to average more than a point per game this past season at the international level, he further elevated his game at the U18 World Junior Championship by nearly doubling that output (9 points [3G 6A] in 5 games, good for 3rd in tournament), and vaulting him into consideration to be taken in the top half of the first round.
Having said all that, these are my top 10 choices.
(1) Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL): Stenberg possesses an incredibly high hockey IQ, exceptional four-way mobility, and a dogged determination to win loose pucks. He has shown repeatedly his productivity against elite-level competition at the junior and senior international ranks, as well as in Sweden’s top professional league. He competed at the 2026 World Junior Championship (led gold-medal winning Team Sweden in scoring with 10 points [4G 6A]), the 2026 World Championship (2nd on Team Sweden in scoring with 8 points [4G 4A]), and in the SHL for Frolunda (highest point total by a draft-eligible 18-year-old since Daniel & Henrik Sedin in 1998-99).
(2) Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State University (NCAA): McKenna’s puck skills and edge-work are second to none. Choosing to challenge himself by competing against older and more physically mature players at the NCAA level speaks volumes of his character also. Like Stenberg, McKenna proved that he can produce at advanced levels of competition. This was shown by finishing second in team scoring for Canada (14 points on 4 goals & 10 assists) at the 2026 World Junior Championship, despite turning 18 years of age just 6 days prior to the start of the tournament. Also, he recorded 51 points (15G 36A) in 35 NCAA games this season, often competing against players 5 and 6 years older than himself.
(3) Carson Carels, LD, Prince George (WHL): Carels does many things exceptionally well. He is a superb skater, allowing him to join the rush and recover defensively quite easily. Also, he registered 73 points (20G 53A) during the regular season from the blue line, using forward-like puck skills and a bomb of a shot to do so. In the D zone, Carels is a punishing player, physically engaging anything in his path and blowing up anyone caught puck-watching.
(4) Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL): Simply put, Malhotra is the best pivot in this draft. His size (6’2″), elite skating ability and puck skills (resulting in 84 regular-season points [29G 55A] & 26 playoff points [13G 13A]), and commitment to the defensive side of the puck (+33 player rating) put him on top of the heap. It doesn’t hurt that his mentor is also his father & long-time NHL pivot Manny Malhotra, who was known as an excellent face-off man who played extremely hard on both sides of the puck.
(5) Chase Reid, RD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Reid is the most offensively gifted d-man in this draft, and per Central Scouting is the 2nd-ranked North American skater in this summer’s selection process behind McKenna. Reid functions as a one-man breakout, using elite edge work to easily cut through his opponents. Once in the neutral zone, he uses constant motion and great vision to include both himself and his teammates in numerous scoring opportunities.
(6) Viggo Bjorck, C/RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL): Much like countryman Stenberg, Bjorck is a relentless forechecker, working tirelessly to get and keep possession of the puck. Once he obtains possession, his puck skills and deadly accurate shot take over to generate numerous chances, most notably on the power-play. At the recent World Championship, where he and Stenberg were the only draft-eligible players on Sweden’s roster, Bjorck was the first-line pivot between Stenberg and NHL star Lucas Raymond (DET). The trio averaged roughly 19 minutes of ice-time per night, and combined for 23 points in 8 games (they were first (Raymond), second (Stenberg), and fifth (Bjorck) in team scoring).
(7) Keaton Verhoeff, RD, North Dakota University (NCAA): There isn’t a d-man in this draft who can completely kill a play like Verhoeff. Afterward, he quickly gets the puck up-ice to create scoring chances the other way. The only knock on him is the lack of high-end speed to separate himself from his opponents, or to catch attackers when trailing the play. However, given the fact that he already stands 6’4″ and weighs in at 216 pounds as a 17-year-old, there is much confidence in the scouting community that such closing speed will happen as he continues his development.
(8) Alberts Smits, LD, Jukurit (SM Liiga): Smits is an elite skater with a bomb of a shot who has played and thrived against grown men all season both professionally and internationally. Smits loves to use his wheels to join the rush, and is constantly searching for ways to create scoring chances. Many of these scoring opportunities originate from the D-zone, where he is very good at separating opponents from the puck to thwart attackers, then getting the play headed the other way.
(9) Daxon Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert (WHL): Rudolph’s two-way ability is unquestionable, as shown by the fact that he finished tied for the WHL Playoffs scoring lead with 27 points (9G 18A) as a d-man. Although he possesses good defending skills in terms of positioning, the knock on him is his hesitation to engage physically at the point of attack. The fact that he will be facing older and heavier players next year at the University of Denver should help his development in that area.
(10) Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USHL): Cullen’s growth as a player this season has been exponential, culminating in a U18 WJC All-Star selection as the unquestioned leading play-driver for Team USA in that tournament. His growth as a player – where he went from a projected 4th/5th rounder in the pre-season to a unanimous first-round choice now – is only exceeded by his actual physical growth. Cullen was a slight 5’4″ perimeter player last season, and now stands 6’1″ and does some of his best work in tight areas.
