DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

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  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Gavin Betts (G)

    Gavin Betts #43, G

    Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

    6’0”, 174 lbs, DOB 2008-04-03

    Gavin Betts delivered a composed, technically mature performance in Kingston’s 1-0 win over the Erie Otters, earning his first career shutout with a 27 save effort. He showed strong positional habits and played with controlled depth, rarely overcommitting above the crease. A noticeable strength was his rebound management as he absorbed pucks cleanly into his chest or directed them to low-danger areas instead of feeding second chance opportunities for the slot. Betts looked comfortable through traffic and did not lose visual on pucks during broken plays. He showed patience on rush attacks and did not bite early on shot fakes or dekes. His reads on penalty kills were encouraging as Erie pushed late with the special teams’ pressure, including a 5-on-3. This game highlighted strong emotional maturity as Betts had to stayed locked in for all 60 minutes in a low scoring game where one mistake decides the outcome. There was no visible frustration during extended defensive zone stretches and no panic after scrambles around the crease. 

    Betts still needs to continue adding strength and explosiveness to maximize recovery speed on east-west plays. There are also moments where he relies heavily on blocking structure rather than attacking shooters aggressively at the top of the crease. As the pace of play increases against elite offenses, improving puck-handling confidence and accelerating post-to-post recoveries could become important development points. 

    Betts projects as a technically sound, mentally steady goaltender with legitimate upside heading into his draft year. His game leans more toward controlled efficiency than acrobatic athleticism, which can translate better at higher levels. This shutout was significant not just statistically, but showed how he is calm under pressure, detail-oriented, and structurally reliable. 

    Goaltender Category Summarization: 

    Skating: 6

    Net Coverage: 6

    Quickness: 5

    Rebound Control: 7

    Play Reading/Anticipation: 7

    Technique: 7

    Poise: 8

    Puck Handling: 5 

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Simon Katolicky (LW)

    Simon Katolický is a player I’ve been pretty underwhelmed with in terms of progression this
    year; he feels a bit snake-bitten offensively, and that’s clearly impacted his confidence and
    ice time. He’s still very raw, but the foundation is there, great size at 6’4”, skates well for that
    frame, and shows a decent motor with flashes of understanding how to use his length
    effectively. That said, his stride lacks power for someone his size, he takes smaller, less
    explosive strides and almost skates like a smaller player, which limits his physical impact.
    His IQ is still a work in progress, especially with the puck, where he tends to default to safer,
    simpler plays and doesn’t always show the poise you’d want to see to hold onto possession
    and create. He competes, but not consistently, he’ll have shifts where he’s engaged and
    others where he fades a bit. Off the puck, though, he brings value with an active stick and
    physical presence, and offensively, he leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, you’re not
    relying on him to thread passes or consistently find seams. There’s a lot of raw ability here,
    and based on what he showed last year, I still have confidence he can bounce back, but at
    this point, he’s not a first-rounder for me, more in that mid-to-late second range. If things
    click, you’re looking at a powerful middle-six winger, but there’s definite boom-or-bust risk,
    and I wouldn’t touch him in the first round right now; I liked him a lot more last year, but
    there’s still something to work with.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Gleb Peshkov (G)

    Peshkov is one of the most entertaining prospects in this class, but also one of the toughest to
    evaluate due to his unique style. If one word defines him, it is electric. He is highly dynamic and
    flexible, making highlight-reel saves look routine. His compete level is elite, and he never gives
    up on plays. His physical tools allow him to contort his body in ways that very few goalies
    can. What was interesting in this game was his intentional positioning. Even within his
    aggressive style, he adjusted his body subtly to maintain angles on both the shooter and
    passing threats. That said, this style comes with flaws. His aggressiveness can push him out of
    position, requiring additional movement to recover. Rebound control is also inconsistent, with
    pucks often leaking through him. Overall, Peshkov is difficult to project, but the upside and
    uniqueness of his toolkit give him a legitimate case to be drafted.

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

    Ethan Belchetz #61, F 

    Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

    6’5”, 227 lbs, DOB 2008-03-30

    Belchetz’s goal in this game was a strong example of his identity as an effort-driven forward. The play stemmed from his eagerness to attack inside ice rather than staying to the perimeter. He drove to the net with purpose, establishing body position to get the deflection. He consistently supported pucks well in the offensive zone, staying involved in cycles and presenting himself as a passing option. Belchetz’s fight in this game showed his willingness to engage physically and stand up in emotionally charged moments. He showed no hesitation dropping the gloves, which speaks to both toughness and a team-first mentality. Importantly, he maintained balance and composure during the exchange rather than throwing himself out of control. Beyond the fight, his overall physical engagement was consistent. He finished checks, applied pressure on the forecheck, and made life difficult for opposing defenders. Belchetz’s skating was reflective of his size in the sense that his stride is functional rather than explosive, however, it’s supported by a high motor that allows him to stay involved shift after shift. His pace was most effective when combined with his physicality, where he closed spaces quickly on the forecheck and forced rushed decisions. This game highlighted Belchetz’s competitive identity clearly. Scoring a hard-area goal and then engaging in a fight in the same game points to a player who is emotionally invested and willing to influence the game in different ways. 

    Overall, Belchetz projects as a high-energy forward with a physical edge and scoring ability. His game is built around compete level, net-front presence, and a willingness to engage physically. Games like this, where he contributes both on the scoresheet and emotionally, reinforce his value as a momentum player. If he continues refining his skating explosiveness, he has the foundation to fill a reliable bottom-six role at the NHL level. 

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 7

    Hockey IQ: 7

    Character: 8

    Physicality: 7

    Defensive Play: 6

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Yuri Ivanov (G)

    Yuri Ivanov:

    There is a lot to like in Ivanov’s game, starting with his skating and overall quickness. His
    pushes are strong and crisp, allowing him to cover space faster than many goalies in this class.
    What separates him is his ability to stay balanced and controlled despite that speed. Many
    goalies with similar quickness tend to lose structure, but Ivanov remains composed, limiting his

    movements to what is necessary. His footwork is efficient and purposeful, keeping him
    consistently in position. He also brings a lot of twitch in his lower body, transitioning quickly
    between his feet and his knees depending on the situation. I also liked his use of the stick to
    manage low shots and direct rebounds. The main concern remains his puck tracking. It was
    inconsistent throughout the game, leading to goals against and poor rebound control. That issue
    alone will impact his draft positioning. Given how clean the rest of his game is, there is still a
    strong case for him to be selected in the later rounds.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Tomas Chrenko (C)

    Tomas Chrenko:
    Projection: Middle 6 Center
    Strengths: Sneaky release, Compete, Offensively versatile
    Weaknesses: Size, Lack of handles

    Analysis:
    Tomas Chrenko is a competitive, disciplined, scoring centerman.
    Chrenko is one of the hardest-working players in this draft. He never
    takes a shift off, always puts in effort supporting his teammates in
    his own end or on back checks, and makes an effort to create turnovers
    with his defensive stick. For all the work he puts in, he gets
    rewarded by nearly never taking a bad penalty and is constantly
    noticeably impacting the game. On top of his competitiveness and
    discipline, he can be very dangerous in the offensive zone. He has a
    very sneaky release that he can fire through traffic or beat goalies
    one-on-one clean. If he gets enough space in tight, he has fast hands
    to make quick moves around goalies. Although he’s not the most
    creative playmaker, he is great at finding open ice and taking
    advantage with his agility and foot speed.

    His biggest weaknesses, like most other skilled forwards, are because
    of his size. He’s on the smaller side, especially in terms of
    centermen, which could be a big problem when it comes to translating
    into the NA pro game. His lack of size inhibits him from being an
    effective force along the boards if the opponent has body position on
    him. It also makes him struggle a bit in the faceoff dot, but I have
    noticed an improvement as the season has progressed. He also gets
    knocked off pucks more often than most, but he doesn’t wait to hustle
    to get it back. His puck-handling skills are also slightly subpar in
    my eyes.

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

    Caleb Malhotra #27, F 

    Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    6’2”, 182 lbs, DOB 2008-06-02

    Malhotra once again demonstrated why he is one of the OHL’s most productive young forwards, while scoring the eventual game-winning goal in his team’s victory. His offensive instincts stood out throughout the game, particularly his ability to find space in coverage and position himself as a scoring threat when the puck moved into dangerous areas. He processed plays quickly, supported puck movement effectively, and consistently made himself available as an outlet. His goal reflected his goalscorer mindset with strong anticipation and composure. Malhotra competed well off puck, tracked responsibly through the neutral zone, and showed strong awareness in transition. While Malhotra’s offensive contributions were evident, his defensive play was equally impressive. He showed a strong understanding of positioning, consistently staying above the puck and supporting the defensemen low in the zone. His routes through the neutral zone were efficient, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes and limit Guelph’s ability to generate speed through transition. Despite not being an overly physical player, he competed hard in battles and consistently stayed engaged in play. His active stick helped break up plays and force opponents into less dangerous areas. His combination of hockey sense, offensive creativity, and reliability makes him a player capable of impacting games in many ways. The performance reinforced his projections as a top draft pick whose intelligence and consistency allow his offensive talent to translate to meaningful results. 

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 7

    Puck Skill: 7

    Scoring Ability: 8

    Hockey IQ: 8

    Character: 8

    Physicality: 6

    Defensive Play: 7

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Alexander Bilecki (LD)

    Alexander Bilecki:

    Description: Offensive defenseman


    Strengths: Bilecki is a mobile, offensively inclined defenseman who plays with pace and confidence. His skating ability stands out, allowing him to close space quickly, recover efficiently, and contribute effectively in transition. A crafty puck mover, he shows strong instincts jumping into the play and times his pinches well to sustain offensive zone pressure. Defensively, he utilizes an active stick to disrupt passing lanes and break up plays before they develop.


    Opportunities: Improving the consistency and accuracy of his first pass will help elevate his puck management and transition game. Adding more physical engagement and assertiveness in the defensive zone would also strengthen his overall effectiveness, particularly in net front battles and board play.

    Skating: 6/10

    Shooting: 5/10

    Playmaking: 6/10

    Defense: 5/10

    Compete: 6/10

    Hockey IQ: 6/10

    Projection: Projects as a middle four defenseman with offensive upside and is currently viewed as a potential 3rd round selection, around 84th overall.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Niklas Aaram-Olsen (LW)

    Niklas Aaram-Olsen:
    Projection: Middle 6 Winger
    Strengths: Release, Explosive skating, Confidence along the boards
    Weaknesses: Effort and consistency, Execution in his playmaking

    Analysis:
    Niklas Aaram-Olsen could be another late first-round steal in this
    draft. He’s a very confident and intelligent player, dictating plays
    and making use of open ice. He has an exceptional release that can
    find its way through traffic or beat goalies clean. He sees the ice
    very well and positions himself in places to make an impact. Along the
    boards, he is strong and agile, creating and taking advantage of any
    open space given the opportunity. He also has a very good
    stick-handling ability for someone of his size and stature.

    My concern is his consistency and effort. He can take shifts off or
    over analyze plays, effectively taking him out of the play and
    becoming ineffective. There are times when he gets caught floating
    around waiting for the puck to come to him, or he doesn’t back-check
    when needed. He also lacks consistency in his playmaking. His passes
    aren’t always crisp or reach their intended destination. He sees the
    ice really well, but struggles to translate that into his passing and
    playmaking.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Elton Hermansson (RW)

    Elton Hermansson:
    Projection: Second-line winger
    Strengths: Excellent anticipation and play reading, 200-foot game,
    Hockey IQ, Power play
    Weaknesses: Physical game, top speed, wrist shot release

    Analysis:
    Elton Hermansson is an excellent pass-first, defensive-minded winger.
    He understands the intricacies of the game very well, often being one
    step ahead of the play and dictating how the play should develop with
    the puck on his stick. He uses above-average footwork to open up lanes
    to or from his stick, sliding passes through seams, or looking for the
    open man back door. He’s also excellent on the defensive side of the
    puck, defending off the rush well through a strong back check and good
    stick work. He also has a slapshot he can let rip on the power play if
    he’s found wide open with time to let it fly.

    My biggest absence in his game is his physicality. He often is smart
    enough to get ahead of the play, so he doesn’t have to use his body,
    but when the time comes to use his body to defend the puck or push off
    an opponent, he struggles to generate enough strength to win the puck
    back frequently. I find he doesn’t have the highest top speed either,
    which is a minor setback. Lastly, I wouldn’t consider his wrist shot
    to be a major asset of his either.