2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Chase Reid (RD)

Chase Reid:
Projection: Top 4 Defenceman
Strengths: Offensive instincts, Vision and playmaking, Release and
shot placement, Skating
Weaknesses: Defensive aspects of the game, Positioning/Decision making

Analysis:
Chase Reid is an offensively gifted defenceman. He is never afraid to
jump up on the play and use his strong skating to help generate an
odd-man rush. He also uses his speed to blow by defenders along the
boards and threaten to drive the net if given the opportunity. Once he
is given the puck in the offensive zone, he tends to use his skating
and mobility to create seams and gaps within the defenders so that he
can use his great vision and passing abilities to find the wide-open
player. If the defenders don’t offer up an opportunity for a pass, he
isn’t afraid to shoot the puck through screens with his lethal and
precise release.

Reid struggles when it comes to the defensive aspects of the game. He
often gets caught up ice when he decides to jump up on the rush at a
bad time, which typically ends up in a scoring opportunity against.
Within his own zone, he’s not afraid to use his body to get the puck
back. He isn’t always in the proper position to retrieve the puck once
he knocks his player off it, but at least he disrupts his opponent.
Additionally, I would be slightly worried about his work ethic, as
when I watch him, he isn’t always giving it one hundred percent.