DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Author: Stuart Miller Davis

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars: World Junior Edition Part Two

    The 2026 edition of the World Junior Championship has brought plenty of excitement in Minnesota, and the 2026 draft eligibles have been quite impressive at the tournament. Team Sweden advanced to the final in a thrilling shootout victory over Finland, with draft eligibles Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck playing big roles. Team Czechia continued its streak of dominance over Canada in elimination games at the tournament. With a stunning pair of late third-period goals, the Czechs will play against the Swedes to try to win the country’s first gold medal at the event since back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2001. Canada will look to capture its first medal in the tournament since 2023 in a bronze medal game with Finland. Here is the second group of three stars for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship.

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Team Canada (U20)

    Gavin McKenna hasn’t been a necessarily dominant force at his second world junior championship but has still demonstrated throughout the tournament why many still have him as the number one prospect in the 2026 class. The Whitehorse, Yukon native led all draft eligibles in the tournament in points before the gold and bronze medal games with ten (three goals, seven assists) in six games.

    The top-ranked skater on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings had his big breakout game of the tournament in a 9-1 rout of Denmark. McKenna opened the scoring with a perfect power play goal. After taking a pass from Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage in the right faceoff dot, McKenna fired a perfectly placed wrist shot into the top corner before the Danish keeper could move over. In the second period, with Canada ahead 4-1, the Penn State prodigy found himself alone in the right faceoff circle yet again. This time it was Nashville prospect Brady Martin feeding him a dish that he served straight to the back of the net in a goal that was eerily similar to his first. With the game already well out of hand with Canada leading 6-1 and outshooting the Danes 35-8, McKenna showed off his slick hands to add insult to injury. Hage found McKenna with a slick cross-ice breakaway-like pass, and after faking a wrist shot, the 2024 CHL Player of the Year tucked the puck in behind the Danish keeper.

    McKenna added an assist in games against Finland, Slovakia, and the semifinal loss to Czechia.

    Viggo Björck | C | Team Sweden (U20)

    With teammate Ivar Stenberg stealing a lot of the headlines about Swedish draft eligibles this season, it might have been easy for Viggo Björck to go under the radar a little bit. That has not been the case. Björck and Stenberg, who have often been paired together on Sweden’s second line, have been almost equally as dangerous in the tournament. The pair are tied for third in tournament scoring among draft eligibles with Jasper Kuhta at seven points in six games.

    The younger brother of Vancouver Canucks prospect and teammate at the tournament, Wilson, only missed the scoresheet against Slovakia in the team’s opening game. The 11th-ranked skater on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Prospect Rankings scored twice in an 8-1 rout of Germany in the team’s third game of the tournament but saved perhaps his most impressive showing for the semifinal against Finland.

    With the Swedes deadlocked in a 2-2 tie in the second period, Björck helped keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. He forced a turnover straight to Stenberg, who fed Detroit Red Wings prospect Eddie Genborg, and he banked a shot off Finland’s goalie and in for the 3-2 lead. In overtime, Björck was a breakaway machine. He had four one-on-one chances on Petteri Rimpinen but was unable to solve the goalie. Björck also led Swedish forwards in ice time in the semifinal and was the best faceoff man for his team with 10 wins.

    Thomas Chrenko | C | Slovakia (U20)

    Slovakian center Thomas Chrenko entered the tournament with far less expectation than many other 2026 draft eligibles, but he put on a show that is surely going to make scouts interested. The 33rd-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Prospects Ranking finished second to McKenna in tournament scoring among draft eligibles before the gold and bronze medal games with eight points (five goals, three assists) in five games.

    Chrenko was held off the scoresheet in the tournament opener against Sweden but roared back with a vengeance in game two. He registered nine shots on goal against Germany and scored three of the Slovak’s four goals in the win.

    His signature game of the tournament came in a big moment against the host, the United States. In the middle of the first period, with the Slovaks already ahead 1-0, Chrenko unloaded a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot through traffic to give the Slovaks a two-goal advantage. The Slovaks trailing 6-4 with time running out pulled the goalie, and on an almost identical shot to his first, Chrenko drew his squad within one. With a teammate parked right in front of the American crease, Chrenko fired a shot that found its way through to give the Slovaks a chance just as the PA announcer blurted out there were two minutes left in regulation.

    Chrenko potted two assists against Switzerland in the Slovaks’ final group stage game. He and the rest of Slovakia struggled mightily against Canada in the quarterfinal. He only registered one shot and finished as a -4.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars: World Junior Edition

    The World Junior Championships are well underway, with preliminary games running through to the all-important New Year’s Eve games. The quarterfinals will start in the new year on January 2. While tournament rosters often skew towards already drafted players for countries to bring the best talent, the 2026 edition features a good crop of draft eligibles competing in Minnesota.

    Ivar Stenberg | RW/LW | Team Sweden (U20)

    Ivar Stenberg’s exploits this season playing against men in Sweden’s top pro league already earned him a spot in a weekly wrap-up earlier this season, and against his peers he continues to dominate. The third-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings should solidify himself as a top player in this class with a strong tournament in Minnesota.

    He’s off to a good start in a pair of preliminary games with three points (one goal, two assists). In the tournament opener, Stenberg picked up a secondary assist on 2024 third overall pick Anton Frondell’s power play blast to open the scoring. With the game tied at two in the late stages of the third period, Stenberg took a feed from Eddie Genborg and took the puck to the net. He made no mistake with a slick backhand that he fed through the pads of the sliding Slovakian goaltender.

    In his second game of the tournament, Stenberg was all around the net. He recorded four shots on goal but wasn’t able to get one to go in. He did, however, add an assist on the Swede’s empty netter by Anaheim Ducks’ 2024 fifth-round pick Lucas Pettersson to close out Switzerland 4-2.

    Jasper Kuhta | C | Team Finland (U20)

    Jasper Kuhta was already catching scouts’ eyes with his production with the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL this season but could elevate his draft stock even more if he continues his strong play in Minnesota. The 19-year-old has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 32 games in his first season of North American hockey.

    He was all over the scoresheet in his team’s opening game of the tournament against Denmark. Just under two minutes into the game, Kuta fed the puck from behind the net to fellow undrafted 19-year-old Roope Vesterinen. He fired a shot and then popped in his own rebound for the 1-0 lead. Kuhta picked up primary assists on a goal by 2026 draft-eligible Oliver Suvanto and a second goal by Vesterinen as the Fins cruised to a 6-2 win.

    Kuhta notched his first career World Junior Championship goal in his second tournament game in an 8-0 rout of Latvia. Looking for Philadelphia Flyers prospect Max Westergärd in front, Kutha’s pass directed off the goal stick of keeper Mikus Vecvanags and into the net. Later in the game, Kutha added a secondary assist on another goal by Vesterinen in a thorough beatdown of Latvia.

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Team Canada (U20)

    Gavin McKenna has had expectations heaped onto him for a very long time, and with good reason. The reigning CHL player of the year has been pegged as the top prospect for 2026 for a while. McKenna’s NCAA numbers don’t scream “number one overall” as loudly as some would like. 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) is good production for a player who just turned 18 on December 20. After some of the eye-popping numbers from college prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Adam Fantilli in recent seasons, the hockey community was expecting a little more. Despite all that, his talent still has him as the number one overall prospect on the Draft Prospect Hockey NHL Draft Prospect Rankings.

    McKenna is off to a soaring start in Minnesota after finding the back of the net once for his only point in five games at the tournament last year in Ottawa. The Yukon native fed a perfect pass to Nashville Predators prospect Brady Martin, who put home Canada’s first goal of the tournament against Czechia. He added another primary assist in the third period as Canada broke a 3-3 tie. McKenna sent a saucer pass across to Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh. The 2024-25 CHL defenseman of the year skated around a little before firing a wrist shot up and over the Czechia keeper for his second goal of the contest.

    McKenna was instrumental in Canada’s second game of the tournament to help them escape a nail-biter in overtime against Latvia. After Canada was handed a five-minute power play, the Penn State Nittany Lion fed Calgary Flames prospect Cole Reshny in front. Reschny took a few steps before wiring a shot high blocker side for the 1-0 lead. On the man advantage in overtime, McKenna fed a on-time pass to Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, who made no mistake wiring home the overtime winner.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Another week of hockey is in the books, and a new group of young players are making a name for themselves this week. Niklas Aaram-Olsen helped his country dominate and earn a place at the next World Junior Championship. Ryan Roobroeck continues to find his game with a big week in the Ontario Hockey League. Finally, Sarnia Sting centerman Alessandro Di Iorio is picking up after an injury kept him sidelined for the first two months of the season.

    Check out what these players got up to in the last week of play.

    Niklas Aaram-Olsen | RW | Obero HK (SHL)

    Norwegian winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen helped his country earn promotion to the 2027 World Junior Championships and potentially boosted his draft stock in the process. The 19th-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings had 10 points (six goals, four assists) while guiding the Norwegians to five straight victories.

    The Norwegians thumped France 8-2 in the tournament opener, with Aaram-Olsen picking up a goal and an assist. In the second game, the team faced its stiffest competition with Ukraine taking them to overtime. In the extra frame, the speedy winger stole a puck and sped in on the Ukraine goal. During his dash down the wing, he dealt with some harassment from the Ukraine defender and was knocked down. The referee awarded him a penalty shot, and he made no mistake putting it into the back of the net. He waited patiently for the goalie to make a move and then slipped it coolly into the open cage.

    Aaram-Olsen posted back-to-back three-point (one goal, two assists) performances against Austria and Kazakhstan before adding an assist in a meaningless game against Slovenia in the final game.

    Ryan Roobroeck | C | Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

    Niagara IceDogs center Ryan Roobroeck is a hard-to-miss prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft simply because of his size and skill package. When the 6-foot-4, 216 pound force is on, it makes for some very exciting hockey.

    The 7th-ranked player on DraftProspects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings is continuing to show off his offensive prowess in 2026 after scoring 41 goals for the IceDogs in 2024-25. With seven points in three games over the past week, the London, ON native is trending in the right direction.

    Roobroeck’s big week got rolling against his hometown London Knights. He opened the scoring on the power play with a hard shot through traffic that found its way past the keeper. The second overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection kept things rolling for the IceDogs with his second goal of the period to give his team a 2-1 lead. After skating out of the corner with the puck, Roobroeck picked the corner with a perfectly placed wrist shot. He added a pair of assists later in the contest to pick up points on all four Niagara goals in a 4-3 win.

    Alessandro Di Iorio | C | Sarnia Sting (OHL)

    Sarnia Sting center Alessandro Di Iorio battled injuries for the first two months of his draft year. The Vaughn, ON native has returned to the lineup and is ready to vault himself into first-round consideration for the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 190 pound pivot has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 14 games since his return to the lineup.

    The 26th-ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings had a slow start to the week with no points in a shootout win over Guelph and a single assist in an overtime victory against Flint. He exploded for three points (two goals, one assist) against Guelph in a second meeting that the Sting took home 6-4.

    Seeing an opening to create an odd-man rush, Di Iorio sped into the offensive zone. He took a pass and quickly fired a wrist shot into the empty side of the goal to open the scoring. Defending a 5-4 lead in the last two minutes of the third, Di Iorio jumped on a loose puck that had squirted out of the Sarnia end. He slipped it calmly into the empty net to give his team an insurance marker.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    As the 2026 NHL Draft field continues to take shape, three CHL standouts are pushing their way into early first-round conversations. Prince Albert’s Daxon Rudolph is pairing a pro-ready frame with rapidly growing offensive impact, building on a strong rookie year and emerging as one of the WHL’s most reliable young defensemen. In Spokane, Mathis Preston continues to shine when stakes rise—his production may be modest, but his track record at major events keeps him firmly among the top forward prospects. And in Rouyn-Noranda, Lars Steiner is backing up last season’s breakout with efficient, near point-per-game play after returning from injury.

    Together, the trio showcases the range of high-end talent developing across the CHL—and why each remains a key name to monitor as the 2026 draft class starts to take shape.

    Daxon Rudolph | RD | Prince Albert Raiders

    Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph is the ninth-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 Prospect Rankings. The Lacombe, AB native caught scouts’ eyes in his WHL rookie campaign in 2024-25. He produced 41 points (seven goals, 34 assists) in 64 regular season games and followed it up with 12 points (a goal, 11 assists) in 12 games.

    The 6-foot-2, 203 pound rearguard already has a pro build, and his continued growth offensively in his second major junior season should keep him in the top half of the first half of the 2026 NHL Draft. Rudolph added six points (three goals, three assists) in four games this past week to bring his total up to 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 27 games this season.

    He was instrumental in helping Prince Albert claim a victory over Edmonton to finish the week. With the score tied at two with just over five minutes left to go in the second period, Rudolph saw an opportunity and jumped up quickly on a breakout. He took a pass in stride at center ice and sped in alone on goal, firing a wrist shot up and over the goalie’s blocker-side shoulder and breaking the tie. In overtime with his team on a 4-on-3 power play, he parked himself beside the net and redirected a pass into an almost empty net.

    Mathis Preston | C | Spokane Chiefs

    Spokane Chiefs center Mathis Preston played a big-time role for Team Canada White at the 2024 U-17 World Challenge. He scored a tournament-leading six goals, but none bigger than his game-winning one-timer against Canada Red in the final.

    Preston hasn’t had the kind of production in his draft year that jumps off the page: 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 27 games, but he has continued to impress on some of the biggest stages. He was Team CHL’s top scorer at the second-ever CHL vs. Team USA Prospects showcase, with a goal and two assists, and tied for the team lead in points as Canada won a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky tournament.

    Preston, the eighth-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 Prospect Rankings, helped his team to three wins in four games this past week, with four points. He averaged five shots per game, with a high of eight against the Swift Current Broncos . The 5-foot-11 middle man used his signature one-timer on the power play to give his team a 5-4 lead late in the third period.

    Lars Steiner | RW | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

    Rouyn-Noranda winger Lars Steiner is a name to watch from the Quebec Maritimes junior circuit for the 2026 NHL Draft. The Switzerland native was on the CHL’s All-Rookie team last season after posting 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games. Despite missing 12 games with an upper body injury earlier this season, he has come back and is producing at almost a point-per-game pace.

    Steiner fired four shots on goal while picking up a goal and an assist in his team’s first game of the week against Charlottetown. He was held off the scoresheet against Moncton in his second game of the week despite taking nine shots.

    The 20th ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 Prospect Rankings polished off the week with an insurance marker to help his team defeat Halifax 4-2. The 5-foot-10 winger found some open space in the defense and one-timed a pass into the net to help give his team the two-goal cushion midway through the third period.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    We are now into December, and the scouting calendar is ramping up with more opportunities to see the top prospects in action. This past week was dominated by centers that are trying to make their case as to why they will be part of the solution down the middle for an NHL club in the future.

    Muskegon Lumberjacks captain Tynan Lawrence is back in action and is out to prove his billing as the top center prospect available in 2026. Maddox Dagenais got to show off his game for the many fans and scouts that flocked to Alberta for the Team CHL vs. USA Prospects Challenge before going back and helping his club team capture two big victories. Finally, Swedish center Alexander Command is drawing eyeballs to his play as one of the top draft-eligible players in his league.

    Tynan Lawrence | C | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

    After impressing the hockey scouting community with 54 points in 56 games with Muskegon in his pre-draft year, Lawrence is starting to prove in 2026 why he deserves to have his name called on day one. The top-ranked center on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings missed the start of the season while he was rehabbing an injury but has played in six games since returning to the lineup. The 2027 Boston University commit has nine points (six goals, three assists) in those contests.

    Lawrence was all around the net this week in three USHL matches, firing a total of 22 shots. His signature performance came in the second half of a back-to-back with four points against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

    Eight minutes into the first period, Lawrence won an offensive zone draw that his linemate Victor Norringer sent on goal. The rebound came free and was pounced on by the Lumberjacks for Lawrence to pick up the secondary assist. With the game knotted at one goal each in the middle of the second period, Lawrence sped in on a two-on-one with 2025 Pittsburgh sixth-round pick Carter Sanderson and popped in the rebound to make it 2-1 for the Lumberjacks. The Shattuck St. Mary’s product potted two empty-net goals in the third to secure his first career USHL hat trick.

    Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

    Quebec Remparts centerman Maddox Dagenais has the kind of size and a skillset to make him a very fascinating player to watch in the lead-up to the 2026 NHL Draft. The first overall pick in the 2025 QMJHL is 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds and has already tied his goal total (12) from his rookie season through 25 games this season.

    Dagenais joined Team CHL this past week for the second annual CHL vs. USA Prospects Challenge and, despite starting on the fourth line, managed to contribute. Late in the second period with his team trailing by one, Dagenais fed a pass to a wide-open Alessandro Di Iorio, who buried a quick wrist shot to tie it up.

    Returning to the Remparts for a pair of games after the showcase event, Dagenais potted three goals and an assist with six shots in two decisive wins.

    Alexander Command | C | Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell)

    Swedish center Alexander Command is off to a hot start in U20 Nationell play this season with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 18 games. The two-way pivot’s play against his peers this season in international play has also been impressive, with seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games.

    Playing in three games this past week, the 6-foot-1, 183-pound pivot recorded four points. In his second game of the week, against Rögle BK U20, he tied the game at one just shortly after the opponent had scored. After his team got a clean break-in, Command jumped to some open ice in the slot. He avoided a weak stick check by a defender and then stepped into a one-timer that beat the goalie cleanly. He added a second assist later in the period, while on the power play, to help tie the game at two. Command fed his teammate beside the Rögle goal, who slipped a feed to a wide-open man on the other side. He ripped a quick one-timer to tie the game at two and give Command his second point of the contest.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Although the 2026 NHL Draft class is still developing, prospects are already making waves in the hockey community with their standout performances. This week continued to demonstrate why Ivar Stenberg, Viktor Fyodorov, and Caleb Malhotra are rapidly becoming must-watch names. Here’s a closer look at how these three prospects in the draft further developed their cases this week.

    Ivar Stenberg | RW/LW | HC Frölunda (SHL)

    Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg has all the tools and the kind of production against men in Sweden that points to him being a potential star in the NHL. The younger brother of St. Louis Blues’ 2023 first-round pick Otto had already proved he was adept at playing against older competition last season when he torched J20 Nationell with 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) in 27 games. Stenberg put himself firmly on the radar for NHL scouts as a top draft-eligible player for 2026 with a strong performance at the 2025 U-18 Men’s World Championships with 13 points (8 goals, five assists) in seven games to help Sweden claim a silver medal.

    The 6-foot, 181-pound playmaker is producing at a historic level in the SHL with 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists) in 21 games. If he can continue his pace, he will top Daniel Sedin for the best points per game by a draft-eligible player in the league’s history. Stenberg, the third-ranked skater on the DraftProspects.com 2026 NHL Draft Rankings, had a slow start to the week. He was held pointless in a 2-1 loss to Grenoble in Champions Hockey League play, then picked up a primary assist in a 3-0 win over Malmö in a return to SHL play. In his third game, Stenberg broke out for four points (one goal and three primary assists), playing just under 13 and a half minutes, in a 5-2 win over Leklands.

    Holding onto a 3-2 lead in the early stages of the third period, Stenberg nabbed the insurance marker for Frölunda just two and a half minutes into the frame. The slick Swede sped in from his spot on the wing to pick up a loose puck from his teammate beside the Leklands net. After his first attempt to jam the puck past the goalkeeper failed, the rebound came right back to him, and he ripped a quick wrist shot up and over.

    Viktor Fydororov | C | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

    Viktor Fyodorov is the highest-ranked Russian skater on the DraftProspects.com 2026 Draft Rankings. The two-way center has been shuffled between the KHL, VHL, and MHL this season but has managed to catch scouts’ eyes. Fyodorov has struggled to put up points in the VHL with just five points (two goals, three assists) in 17 games but has a point per game in five MHL contests and two points in three KHL games.

    Fyodorov is listed at 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, which would be on the smaller side for an NHL center. He has dominated the faceoff dot with a 55% winning percentage against his peers but has played wing when called up to the KHL. The Tomsk, Russia, native had a productive week against MHL competition with a goal and two assists while firing 10 shots in two games. He also played in his third KHL game with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

    With Torpedo trailing 3-2 midway through the third, Fyodorov joined the forecheck to harass the Spartak Moskva goalie as he left the net to play the puck. After a teammate blocked the goalie’s pass attempt, he slipped a pass to Fyodorov, who cleanly popped it into an empty net to bring his team back even and nab his first KHL goal.

    Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) 

    Caleb Malhotra’s OHL career started with a trade from Kingston to Brantford. Originally bound for Boston University in 2026, the NCAA rule changes allowed for him to play his draft-eligible season in the OHL. The son of longtime NHL player and current Abbotsford Canucks head coach, Manny, has taken on the second-line center role for a dominant Bulldogs outfit.

    The 6-foot, 170-pound pivot is third in the OHL among draft-eligible players with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 23 games. Playing in just two games this week, Malhotra picked up four points (two goals, two assists) in the second game after being held off the scoresheet by the Niagara IceDogs.

    With the Bulldogs already holding a firm 4-1 advantage over the Sarnia Sting, Malhotra helped add more insult to injury in the middle of the second period. After the Bulldogs’ aggressive forecheck recovered the puck in Sting territory, Malhotra settled into some open ice beside the net and tipped home a one-timer from Adam Jiricek. Malhorta added his second goal of the contest on the power play on a similar play where the Bulldogs’ passing around the zone left Malhotra wide open for a tap-in.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    As the 2026 NHL Draft picture continues to develop, a trio of emerging major-junior standouts are forcing scouts to take notice. Across the CHL, high-end skill, production, and poise are coming into focus—whether it’s the dynamic twin-driven surge in Medicine Hat, a Russian playmaker redefining “instant impact” in Victoriaville, or a towering OHL power forward bulldozing his way up draft boards. Liam Ruck, Yegor Shilov, and Ethan Belchetz aren’t just off to hot starts—they’re building cases to hear their names called early on draft night in June. Here’s a closer look at why all three are rapidly rising prospects to watch.

    Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers

    Liam Ruck and his identical twin brother, Markus, have both had hot starts to their respective draft-eligible seasons in Medicine Hat. The twins are both producing at a point-per-game level with 21 points each. Liam has found a little bit more of a scoring touch with seven goals and 14 assists, while Markus is dishing the puck with just three goals to go with 18 assists.

    In a pair of games over the weekend, Liam showed off his offensive prowess, collecting six points. Early in the first period against the Regina Pats, Ruck settled into some open ice near the faceoff dot on the left side before taking a pass and ripping a wicked wrist shot that hit the crossbar and went in. With the game tied at two in the second, Ruck broke the tie. After taking a feed on his backhand, the Osoyoos, BC native tried to feed the puck across the slot, but his pass was redirected back to him, and he popped it in. Ruck added a secondary assist on the overtime winner to pick up points on all four Tigers goals.

    The 45th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings added a goal and an assist to his weekend total in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

    Yegor Shilov | C | Victoriaville Tigres

    Russian center Yegor Shilov is leading the way for draft-eligible prospects in the QMJHL with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 21 games. After lighting it up in minor hockey in Russia, he had 76 points in 30 U17 games in 2023-24; the crafty playmaker moved across the ocean to play for the Long Island Gulls 16U program. The transition to North American ice didn’t seem to faze him, as he scored 48 points in 31 games with the Gulls and another 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.

    The Boston University commit for next season was picked third overall by Victoriaville in the 2025 CHL Import Draft and acclimatized to major junior hockey extremely well. After picking up an assist in Victorville’s Wednesday tilt with Baie-Comeau, Shilov exploded for a hat trick and a five-point outing against Shawinigan. In on a three-on-two, Shilov used the Shawinigan defender as a screen and fired a wrist shot over the goalie’s glove-side shoulder. He added another marker on a shorthanded breakaway, slipping a backhand through the goalie’s pads. He capped the hat trick with a breakaway goal on an empty net. The 49th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings was held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 win over Gatineau, but it wasn’t for lack of trying, as the pivot had six shots on goal.

    Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor Spitfires

    Ethan Belchetz has always had a nose for the net, and the monster power forward is currently leading the OHL draft-eligible group with 16 goals in 21 games. After potting 17 goals in his rookie season last year with the Spitfires, Belchetz is set to soar past that number in his sophomore campaign. The Oakville, ON, native, standing at 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds, has the kind of size NHL teams dream about and a toolkit of offensive skills to go with it.

    Belchetz opened the scoring for the Spitfires on Thursday night against the Soo Greyhounds. Finding some open ice in the slot, the gargantuan winger walked in uncovered and wired a wrist shot over the Greyhounds keeper’s blocker-side shoulder. Belchetz found the back of the net less than two minutes into the second period for the daily double. After gaining the zone, Belchetz dropped the puck off for Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt and settled into some open ice in the left-side faceoff circle. As he drifted towards the Soo cage, Nesbitt fed him the puck. Despite not being able to get a clean shot off, the puck rattled around and found its way in.

    The 5th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings had nine shot attempts with six on target during Saturday’s game against the Guelph Storm. He managed to find the back of the net off a play he created in his own zone. After blocking a point-to-point pass by the Storm, Belchetz took off and received a feed to give himself a breakaway. With all kinds of time and space, the 2024 first overall pick in the OHL Draft faked a shot to get the goalie to drop and then roofed a quick forehand wrist shot up and over.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    With the 2026 NHL Draft on the horizon, a new wave of talent is emerging across international play. Latvian winger Bruno Osmanis continues to impress in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, Marcus Nordmark is lighting up the scoresheet for Djurgårdens IF, and Mikey Berchild is proving his top billing with the USNTDP. Each has showcased skill, poise, and scoring touch against elite competition—and they’re quickly becoming names to watch for 2026.

    Bruno Osmanis | RW | IF Björklöven

    Latvian winger Bruno Osmanis first made headlines last year in the World Junior Championship with a pair of assists as the underdog upset Team Canada in a shootout 3-2. The 18-year-old is splitting his time between IF Björklöven’s pro team in Sweden’s second division and its U20 outfit. The intelligent playmaker has six points (two goals and four assists) in 13 games of play in Allsvenskan and seven points (two goals and five assists) in six games.

    Osmanis suited up for Latvia’s junior team for three contests last week and was the most productive prospective member of the 2026 draft class. He opened up the week with a trio of assists in a 6-2 win over Austria. He followed it up with a two-goal, one-assist performance, with six shots on goal in a 5-0 rout of Denmark. He polished it all off with a goal and an assist and four shots in a 5-4 shootout loss to Norway.

    Marcus Nordmark | RW | Djurgärdens IF

    After tearing up Sweden’s U18 circuit with 46 points (22 goals, 24) in 27 games last season, winger Marcus Nordmark is building a case as a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. After potting 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 17 U20 games in 2024-25, the Stockholm native has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) through 14 games this season.

    After an incredibly productive international junior season in 2024-25, with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 20 games, Nordmark has continued to dominate the scoresheet against his international peers in 2025-26. Nordmark registered a goal and an assist in wins over Czechia and Switzerland and scored in the third period to tie the game at five against the United States in the final game of the U18 Five Nations tournament.

    Mikey Berchild | C | USNTDP Juniors

    Crafty center Mikey Berchild is the top-ranked USNTDP player on the Draft Prospects Hockey board, and he’s proving why he deserves that billing. The 5-foot-10, 181 pound pivot has 10 points (six goals and four assists) through 16 games played this season.

    The Shattuck St. Mary’s product was incredibly productive for the US at the U18 Five Nations tournament that wrapped up on Sunday. Berchild picked up an assist in a 5-2 win over Switzerland to start the week. He fired five shots on goal and converted once on a one-timer into a nearly empty net after the Finnish goalie was scrambling to get back into position. Berchild added a goal and an assist in a 10-2 demolishing of Czechia. He added a pair of assists as the US erased a 4-1 second-period deficit and took a 5-4 lead in the third. The Americans couldn’t hold on as the Swedes scored a pair of goals late in the third to steal the game 6-5.

  • Weekly Draft Eligible Three Stars

    1 Slovakian Center and 2 OHL Wingers Shine

    Another week of hockey is in the books, and more young stars are making their cases to be top prospects in the 2026 NHL draft. Slovakian center Tomas Chrenko continued his dominance this season against competition that is much older than him. Pierce Mbuyi showed off his playmaking ability in three wins for his club, and Nikita Klepov maintained his lead atop the OHL scoring for draft eligibles.

    Tomas Chrenko | C | HK Nitra (Slovakia)

    After dominating in U20 Slovakia competition to the tune of 61 points (30 goals, 31 assists) in 28 games in his predraft year, Chrenko began to get some recognition as a potential late first-round pick entering the season. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound center has played in 17 games so far already this year with HK Nitra’s pro team after getting into 26 games with the club last year.

    With more weeks like this past one, Chrenko is sure to catch the eyes of NHL scouts. He opened the week with a two-goal outing in U20 play, helping his team secure a 6-4 victory. Called up to the big club for his second game of the week, the Slovak played just over 17 minutes and registered two assists in a 5-2 loss. He closed out the week with a goal and two assists in 15 minutes of ice time in a 5-0 win. After his team got the zone entry, Chrenko charged the net. The puck went back to the point, and defender Matej Baca fired it on goal. Chrenko quickly fired the rebound past the goalie to give his squad a 3-0 lead.

    Pierce Mbuyi | LW | Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

    Mbuyi, who won the OHL Rookie of the Year award in his first season with Owen Sound (52 points in 63 games) last season, has started the 2025-26 campaign with a scorching 24 points through 18 games. After registering 38 points in 33 games after January 1st last year, the highly skilled winger seems to have figured out how to rack up points in the OHL.

    Mbuyi picked up an assist in wins on Wednesday and Saturday for the Attack and then exploded with a goal and four assists in an 8-3 victory over the Erie Otters on Sunday. After Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Harry Nansi took a big hit to get the puck into the Otters’ zone, Mbuyi snatched it up and skated it in. He then fired a perfectly placed wrist shot past the Otters’ goalkeeper to break the 2-2 tie with 3:12 left to go in the 2nd period.

    Nikita Klepov | RW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    Nikita Klepov has started the 2025-26 campaign on a heater with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 17 games. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medalist with the United States in August, where he picked up six points in five games, is garnering plenty of attention for his accolades so far.

    The 6-foot, 181 pound winger put up six points (four goals, two assists) in three games this past week. His biggest game came in a 6-3 win over the Windsor Spitfires, where he registered a pair of goals and added a helper. Klepov got his first of the contest by being in the right place in the offensive zone to pick off a clearing attempt and then had a nearly wide-open wrist shot that beat Windsor goalie Joey Costanzo cleanly over the blocker. He added the daily double while 4-on-4 in the second period. Using the Spitfires defender as a screen, Kelpov fired a wrist shot that caught a peice of Costanzo’s shoulder and trickled across the goal line.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The 2025–26 hockey season continues to roll on, and several top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft are already turning heads with strong performances across their respective leagues. From the OHL to the WHL and the NCAA, young talents are showcasing the skill, poise, and consistency that scouts crave at this stage of their development. Niagara’s towering center Ryan Roobroeck is beginning to find his offensive rhythm, Vancouver’s smooth-skating blueliner Ryan Lin continues to prove his all-around value on the back end, and Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna—the early favorite to go first overall—has wasted little time making an impact at the collegiate level.

    Here’s a closer look at how each of these rising stars is shaping their early-season narrative.

    Ryan Roobroeck | C | Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)

    Niagara Ice Dogs center Ryan Roobroeck has made himself a name to watch for the 2026 NHL draft ever since he joined the Ice Dogs in 2023. Despite starting his draft year slowly offensively, the 6-foot-4, 216-pound player quickly gained momentum, scoring six points (three goals and three assists) in just three games.

    The London, ON native started the weekend showing off how dangerous he can be on the power play with a pair of goals while on the man advantage in a 6-3 win over the Brampton Steelheads. Despite being held to just one shot on goal against the Kingston Frontenacs, Roobroeck used his excellent mobility and puck skills to maneuver into the Kingston zone on a one-man break-in and leave the puck for a one-timer to pick up an assist.

    He concluded the weekend with a goal and an assist, helping Niagara defeat Brampton 5-1. With the Ice Dogs leading 3-1 with less than eight minutes to play in the game, Roobreock helped put the game closer to out-of-reach territory for the Steelheads as he tried a toe-drag shot and popped home his own rebound to make it 4-1.

    Ryan Lin | RD | Vancouver Giants (WHL)

    Ryan Lin had an impressive rookie season in the WHL for Vancouver in 2024-25, positioning himself well to be one of the top defensemen in the 2026 class. His impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign, with 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 15 games, should continue to establish him as an elite player in the class.

    Lin was excellent at delivering the puck to his teammates with six assists in three games. Lin isn’t a physically imposing presence at 5 feet 11 inches, 176 pounds, but isn’t afraid of the physical game, averaging 1.5 hits a game this season. He had four hits and an assist in a 5-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Sunday. The Giants’ leader in average ice time, with 24:44 a game, should continue to play a big role going forward this season.

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (NCAA)

    It was only a matter of time before Gavin McKenna found his way into this column. The longtime presumptive number one pick in the 2026 class started his college hockey career with a ton of eyeballs on him and, despite not reaching the heights of some other recent freshmen, performed well.

    Playing in a back-to-back weekend with Stonehill, McKenna helped the Nittany Lions pick up two wins with a goal and an assist in both contests. In the friday game, Penn State trailed 2-1 with just under 12 minutes to play when McKenna found some free ice and wired a one-timer to tie the game with his first goal at home. In the second game, McKenna showed off his power play prowess by playing some pitch and catch with his teammates before firing a perfect one-timer for his second goal of the weekend.