DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Author: Joseph Aleong

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ethan Belchetz (LW)

    Ethan Belchetz is a hulking winger for the Windsor Spitfires whose physicality and upside could make his potential in the NHL higher than his production in the OHL this season would indicate. His overwhelming size and strength make him a threat at the OHL level in the offensive zone, winning puck battles with ease and consistently getting to high-danger spots while fighting through checks. 

    Belchetz has great hands and vision with the puck, beating opponents one-on-one and taking advantage of his wingspan and frame to capitalize on chances in those dangerous areas. While his foot speed leaves something to be desired, he has decent top end speed once he gets going and is capable of making plays at a high pace and not looking out of place while playing with high skill linemates. He’s hard nosed and knows how to take advantage of his strength, proving himself as an elite net-front presence and not backing down from physical challenges. He’s battled inconsistency throughout this season, but he’s an athletic beast who could gain confidence and produce more as he grows into his frame and continues to develop his offensive acumen. He’s a fairly safe bet to become a heavy and effective NHL winger who should go in the top half of the first round.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Caleb Malhotra (C)

    Caleb Malhotra had a meteoric rise up draft boards this year, finishing as one of the top scorers and leading forwards on a loaded veteran Bulldogs squad. As an OHL rookie, Malhotra showed impressive two-way acumen and smarts, earning progressively more ice time throughout the season and finishing as a key cog on the top powerplay unit and as a top six centre who produced away from his elite teammates. 

    Malhotra’s ability to protect the puck under pressure and through physical play is high-end, allowing him to win puck battles along the boards and show patience looking for the optimal play. He’s very strong on the puck and has the quick hands to capitalize on his fast reads and high hockey IQ, making him a dual threat and a versatile offensive zone player. His awareness at both ends is strong and his physicality is high level, making him a safe bet to remain at centre as a professional. While he has decent feet and is a solid straight-line skater, Malhotra’s calling card is his ability to make quick decisions and play at a fast pace despite a lack of breakaway speed. He is the most well-rounded centre in the class and a strong candidate to go within the first ten picks of the 2026 Draft.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Nikita Klepov (LW) 

    Nikita Klepov had an electric rookie year at both the OHL and international levels, transitioning into a top six role with Saginaw seamlessly after playing a depth role in the USHL last season. His electric puck skills and aggressive mentality carried over from a strong Hlinka Gretzky tournament in the preseason, quickly developing chemistry with a veteran Spirit roster and producing consistently en route to leading the OHL in points. 

    An electric puck carrier and playmaker, Klepov has elite offensive instincts and an attacking, aggressive mindset that belies his average frame and strength. His ability to make defenders miss and create space for himself despite choppy strides and average foot speed is key to his offensive consistency. He also processes the game quickly, making smart, creative plays with the puck the showing the ability to fight through contact to get to high-danger areas of the offensive zone. While his frame and skating currently hold him back from making a big impact on the rush and in the defensive zone, he doesn’t shy away from physical play and his quick-strike offensive capabilities make him a threat at all times. His offensive potential at the NHL level is at a top six level, but his top-end speed and play off the puck could depress his draft stock a bit despite his high-end production. To me, he’s still firmly in the conversation as a prospect in the latter half of the first round.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Alessandro Di Iorio (C) 

    Alessandro Di Iorio’s sophomore season was interrupted by a serious preseason arm injury that caused him to miss two months and halted his momentum coming into the year. What followed was a slightly underwhelming draft season, failing to improve upon his strong rookie season and missing the playoffs with a young and rebuilding Sarnia team.

    Di Iorio is a strong two-way forward, using his sturdy frame to make an impact at both ends of the ice and make his presence felt in puck battles. He’s very smart and consistently makes good decisions with the puck, allowing him to play at a high pace and slot in anywhere up and down the lineup. He’s diligent and hardworking at both ends, forechecking with energy while also staying disciplined with his positioning in the defensive zone. His production may not have popped like some anticipated this season, but he played a key depth role for Canada at both the Hlinka Gretzky and U18 World Championship tournaments, highlighting his versatility and ability to endear himself to coaches. He likely didn’t prove enough offensively to lock himself in as a first-round prospect, but his two-way acumen and hockey smarts should still land him inside the top two rounds. 

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Chase Reid (RD)

    CHASE REID, SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS

    Chase Reid burst onto the scene following a midseason move to the OHL and carried that hype and momentum into an elite draft season leading the Soo Greyhounds blueline. An explosive skater and dynamic player with the puck, Reid was the engine that keyed the Greyhounds’ attack and produced impressive numbers for a team without much high-end depth around him. 

    Reid’s offensive instincts and aggressiveness off the puck lead to plays at both ends of the ice, throwing big hits and showing the ability to maneuver around defenders with his puck skills. A consistent presence in the rush, Reid uses his skating ability to generate tons of chances and shows some strong vision when moving around the offensive zone. His offensive abilities point to a future impact player on the powerplay, as he’s got great dexterity along the blue line and a hard, accurate shot with a quick release. While his attacking mindset leads to many highlight-reel plays, his decision making and focus in the defensive zone could use some improvements. However, his physical tools and the ability to drive play and create for himself he showed this season should land him near the top of the first round as a potential top-pairing defenseman in the NHL. 

  • OHL Prospect Stock Watch

    After a banner draft year for the OHL in 2025 that saw nine players drafted in the first
    round, including five inside the top 10, 2026 could be another strong year with several
    players flashing first-round potential at times throughout the last two seasons. Here’s
    how some of the OHL’s top prospects are faring to start the 2025-26 season.


    BECKHAM EDWARDS, SARNIA STING
    Beckham Edwards is a speedy, versatile centre who plays at a high pace with and
    without the puck. He was very effective for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in a depth
    role and has carried that strong play over into a great start with Sarnia in the OHL. He’s
    a very good skater who displays some good finishing ability and has a strong work ethic
    on his own side of the puck, showcasing two-way potential and some special teams
    upside at the NHL level.


    While he drives strong results for his team on the ice thanks to his high shooting and
    work rate, Edwards struggles with making plays under pressure to capitalize on good
    scoring chances at times and could develop into more of a complementary forward at
    the next level who needs a playmaker to maximize his skillset. Edwards must become
    more consistent with his decision making and patience with the puck to prove he has
    top six centre potential and cement himself as a prospect worthy of a top 20 pick.


    RYAN ROOBROECK, NIAGARA ICEDOGS
    Ryan Roobroeck is a physically imposing forward who’s playing a leading role on an
    IceDogs team that could challenge for an OHL title this season. He’s got nimble feet for
    a forward with such a large frame, escaping traffic and accelerating well thanks to his
    agility and stride power. He’s very slippery in the offensive end, finding pockets of space
    to release his shot and creating scoring chances consistently by driving to the middle
    lane and making strong puck decisions under pressure. His shot and playmaking ability
    are both strong suits, making him a dangerous player to give time and space and
    someone who can impose his will in high-traffic areas like the low slot thanks to his size
    and awareness.


    While one of the bigger forwards eligible for the 2026 Draft, Roobroeck doesn’t show a
    consistent mean streak or physical edge, instead utilizing his frame to protect the puck
    well and get to the net. His engagement away from the puck can also vary from shift to
    shift, making him more effective on the wing at this stage of his development. A slow
    start to the season has allowed others to challenge his status as the top prospect in the
    Ontario region, but Roobroeck’s high-end release and offensive skillset combined with his projectable frame should keep him in the conversation to be a top 10 draft pick in 2026.


    BROOKS ROGOWSKI, OSHAWA GENERALS
    Brooks Rogowski was a standout for USA at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, playing an
    impressive two-way game after being buried in a depth role for Oshawa last season.
    He’s carried over that strong play to the OHL early in the year, making a larger scoring
    impact for a rebuilding Generals team. He’s a great skater, with long, powerful strides
    and the ability to beat defenders on the rush with his top-end speed and long wingspan.
    His size and reach allow him to protect the puck very well, with room to add more
    strength and make him tougher to knock off the puck or play through physical contact.
    His vision is solid, making good reads on quick decisions and setting up scoring
    chances with nice passes through traffic to the middle lane.


    His finesse and puck control hinder his finishing and ability to cut through traffic to
    access the middle of the ice. Improvements in this area are critical to his long-term
    scoring upside, as his hulking size and vision would make him a deadly net-front option
    as pro, both on the PP and at even strength. As it stands, Rogowski’s unique combo of
    size, speed, athleticism, and dexterity make him a strong candidate for a top two round
    selection, with first-round upside if he can continue to make gains in his production and
    puck handling ability.