Dagenais is a poised, detail-oriented forward who plays a simple but very effective game built around strong puck control and smart, calculated decisions. He consistently slows the play down, especially on zone entries, showing patience and awareness to let plays develop instead of forcing anything, while still having the ability to slip passes through sticks when lanes open up. He is a really fluid skater with good edgework, and while he can beat defenders with speed, he more often uses that skating base with his poise to control the pace and maintain possession. His puck control stands out even more with how well he uses his body in battles, protecting pucks and coming out of contested areas with control. In the offensive zone he shows good movement within the cycle, staying connected to plays and supporting effectively to extend possession. Defensively, he is poised with the puck and makes clean, composed decisions, which really shows on breakouts as he moves pucks up ice seamlessly and keeps transition play under control. He keeps things simple, plays within structure, and doesn’t try to do too much, which makes him very reliable shift to shift. He is also a good shooter who looks to shoot, with a strong release that is most dangerous off the wrist shot in space rather than in tight, but he will still get inside when needed. On the power play, he fits naturally on the right flank, where he can attack off the catch or distribute. In the faceoff circle, he sits around 50 percent right now, but it feels like there is more there
and that should improve as he gets stronger and refines his technique. With his combination of skating, intelligence, puck management, and overall reliability, I could see him pushing for the top-three center spot in this draft, but at worst, he looks comfortably like a top-five center and a mid-first-round type who projects as a strong two-way 2C with legit defensive value, in my opinion.
Blog
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2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Maddox Dagenais (C)
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2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Wyatt Cullen (LW)
Wyatt Cullen (Ranked #24 on my list):
Projection: Middle 6 Winger
Strengths: Edge work, Release, Stick skills, Very young
Weaknesses: Size and physicality, Absence of engagement, Defensive attributesAnalysis:
Wyatt Cullen is a high-octane offensive play driver. When he has the
puck, he utilizes confidence, strong edge control, and impressive
stick skills to outmaneuver defenders and generate offense. He has a
special ability to use his edges to deke around defenders, protect the
puck, or grant him enough mobility to get open in the offensive zone.
He has a snappy release and a strong one-timer that make him even more
threatening on the power play. With the puck on his stick, Cullen can
be the most dangerous player in the game and completely take over.However, when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, I think he can be
completely absent from the game. I find him waiting for the game to
come to him, puck watching, and floating around until his teammates
can get him the puck. He lacks a sense of urgency without the puck,
which is the best way I could describe it. I don’t think he is the
best in the defensive zone either. Along the wall, he doesn’t have
enough strength to push opponents off pucks and retrieve them cleanly.
The bright side about his weaknesses is that he is such a late
birthday, he is only a week from being eligible next year. That gives
him up to an extra few months to grow and develop over some other
players in this class, which could be a huge advantage for his draft
stock. -
The Final Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars
By Stuart Miller-Davis
The 2025-26 season has officially come to a close for NHL Draft prospects around the world. The Kitchener Rangers capped off an undefeated run at the Memorial Cup by capturing the franchise’s third title, while Finland closed out the World Championship in Switzerland by defeating the host nation for gold.
With the season now complete, scouts and NHL front offices will spend the coming weeks relying on video review for final evaluations ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. With only a limited number of draft-eligible players still active over the past week, this edition of the three stars serves as a season-ending look at the prospects who made the biggest impact in this column throughout the year.
Here are Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 Draft-Eligible Three Stars for the 2025-26 season.
Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (NCAA)
The top-ranked prospect on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings also claims the top spot in the season-ending three stars.
After taking some time to adjust to the college game, Gavin McKenna quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NCAA. The Whitehorse, Yukon native finished his freshman campaign at Penn State with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games, ranking fourth in NCAA scoring as an 18-year-old freshman.
McKenna also played a major role for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota. Following a limited role in his first tournament appearance in 2024-25, where he recorded just one point in five games, the former Medicine Hat Tigers star returned with a dominant showing. He produced 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in seven games to help Canada capture the bronze medal.
Ivar Stenberg | LW/RW | Frölunda HC (SHL)
Ivar Stenberg’s remarkable draft season earns him the second star of the year.
The Swedish winger produced near-historic numbers in the SHL, recording 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games. Since 1990, only Daniel Sedin, Markus Näslund, and Henrik Sedin have produced more points in their 18-year-old season in Sweden’s top professional league.
The second-ranked prospect on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings also excelled internationally. The Stenungsund native recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games at the World Junior Championship, helping Sweden capture gold.
Stenberg later debuted with Sweden’s senior national team during the European Hockey Tour, where he averaged a point per game across five contests before earning a roster spot at the World Championship.
At the tournament in Switzerland, the younger brother of St. Louis Blues forward Otto Stenberg continued to impress against elite competition. His eight points in eight games ranked behind only Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews, Juraj Slafkovský, and Paul Kariya among draft-eligible players in tournament history.
Viggo Björck | C | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
While Viggo Björck did not produce the same offensive totals as fellow Swede Ivar Stenberg in the SHL, his overall body of work cemented him as one of the premier prospects in the 2026 class.
The Stockholm native recorded 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 42 SHL games during his draft season, but his progression throughout the year was equally notable. Björck earned increased responsibility as the season progressed and eventually rose into Djurgårdens’ top-line center role late in the campaign.
After the club’s professional season ended in the opening round of the playoffs, Björck joined Djurgårdens’ U20 squad and immediately dominated. The undersized center recorded 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in nine playoff games while helping lead the team to a U20 championship.
Björck also enjoyed a standout international season. Skating alongside Stenberg on Sweden’s second line at the World Junior Championship, he contributed nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games during the gold-medal run.
Like Stenberg, Björck also earned his first call-up to Sweden’s senior national team. He recorded two goals in five European Hockey Tour games before adding six points (one goal, five assists) in eight appearances at the World Championship.
Daxon Rudolph | RHD | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Few draft-eligible defensemen were more entertaining or productive during the 2025-26 season than Daxon Rudolph.
The Prince Albert Raiders blueliner finished third among WHL defensemen in scoring with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games. Wearing an “A” in his second season with the club, the Lacombe, Alberta native helped lead Prince Albert to first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound defender carried that offensive production into the postseason. Rudolph tied Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen for the WHL playoff scoring lead with 27 points in 19 games.
Behind the leadership of Rudolph and Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes, the Raiders advanced all the way to the WHL Final before falling to the Everett Silvertips in five games.
Honorable Mentions
Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Carson Carels | LHD | Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
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Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars
Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars
Draft-eligible talent across junior and professional leagues continued to deliver in high-pressure situations this week, with playoff hockey and international competition providing the perfect stage for prospects to elevate their stock. As the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, consistent production and timely performances remain key separators among the class.
This week’s three stars feature a towering Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) center finding his stride in a crucial push for a game 7, a Swedish pivot dominating at the U20 level following his SHL season, and a well-traveled Latvian defender who has found his offensive touch in the DEL playoffs.
Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of March 30 to April 6.
Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Quebec Remparts center Maddox Dagenais put together an impressive draft season, positioning himself as a potential late first-round or early second-round selection. The 37th-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings finished tied for third among QMJHL draft eligibles with 30 goals, while his 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) ranked fifth in the group. The 6-foot-4 pivot also represented Team CHL at the second annual CHL USA Prospects Challenge, recording an assist across the three-game series.
Dagenais has elevated his play as the stakes have increased in the postseason. Despite being held off the scoresheet in Games 1 and 2 against the Charlottetown Islanders — registering 11 shots on goal over that span — the Montreal native has responded with six points (three goals, three assists) in the following four games, helping the Remparts push their series to a decisive Game 7.
In Game 3, with the score tied late in regulation, Dagenais helped initiate the sequence that led to a dramatic, last-second power-play goal as Quebec secured a crucial victory. He followed that up with a standout performance in Game 4, opening the scoring with a strong end-to-end rush capped by a precise wrist shot over the glove. Later in the game, with under a minute remaining, he added another goal to bring the Remparts within one, though the comeback ultimately fell short in a 3-2 loss.
Dagenais recorded an assist in Game 5, continuing to generate offense despite another narrow 3-2 defeat. Facing elimination in Game 6, he delivered one of his most impactful performances of the series. He helped open the scoring by moving the puck to the point for a goal by defenseman Charlie Morrison. In the third period he moved the puck down low before finding space on a 4-on-3 power play, where he buried a one-timer over the glove to extend the lead and help force a winner-take-all Game 7.
Viggo Björck | C | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Swedish center Viggo Björck continues to reinforce his status as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft class. Following the conclusion of Djurgårdens’ SHL season, the Stockholm native joined the club’s U20 side for the playoffs and has been a dominant offensive presence. His 12 points (six goals, six assists) in five postseason games for 2.40 points per game ranks as the best point-per-game mark for draft eligibles in the U20 Nationell. He has been playing a key role in pushing his team to the semifinals.
Björck made an immediate impact in the series opener against Leksands. He evened the score at one midway through the second period, jumping into open space off the bench and finishing quickly with a wrist shot. The 2026 World Junior gold medalist struck again in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal after finding himself uncovered in the slot. He later added an assist on the empty-net goal to seal a 5-3 victory.
The skilled forward followed that up with another strong showing in Game 2. Björck opened the scoring with an impressive individual effort, taking a pass through the neutral zone, driving wide while protecting the puck, and finishing with a smooth backhand-to-forehand move to lift the puck over the goaltender. He added a power-play assist later in the game as Djurgårdens secured a 2-0 win and took a two-game series lead.
Albert Smits | LHD | EHC München (DEL)
Latvian defender Albert Smits has taken an unconventional path in his draft year, gaining experience across multiple leagues and international stages. The December-born blueliner began the season in Finland with Jukurit, recording 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 38 games. He later logged significant minutes for Latvia at the 2026 World Junior Championship and represented his country at the Olympic Games, where he contributed two assists in four contests.
Following the Olympics, Smits joined EHC München on a loan for the stretch run and postseason. After a limited role in the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound defender has found another level offensively in the playoffs.
In a back-and-forth contested series against ERC Ingolstadt, Smits broke through in Game 5, extending his team’s lead in the third period with a heavy point shot that beat the goaltender cleanly. He followed that performance with a three-point effort in Game 6, recording two secondary assists before adding an empty-net goal to help seal a 7-3 victory.
Smits’ recent surge highlights his ability to adapt quickly and contribute in key moments, further strengthening his case as one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the 2026 class.
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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.
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2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ryan Roobroeck (C)
Ryan Roobroeck
Projection: Middle 6 Center
Strengths: One-touch release, Maturity, Situational Versatility
Weaknesses: Off-puck play, Consistency, one-dimensional worriesAnalysis:
Ryan Roobroeck is the best offensively minded center in this draft.
His instant release when the puck reaches his stick makes him one of
the best pure goal scorers in this draft. Pairing that with his super
high hockey IQ provides him with the ability to read the play and take
advantage of open ice to be in a position to utilize that lethal shot.
He is also one of the more mature and disciplined players in this
draft. He uses his body and stick properly when defending and has a
long stride that helps him stick to attackers, so he rarely resorts to
taking any “dumb” penalties. With this maturity, too, his coaches can
rely on him in all situations. With his offensive mind, he is a given
for their power play, but he can also be plugged into the penalty kill
due to his reliability and great understanding of the game.What I find Roobroeck to lack is in terms of his consistent drive to
be the best on the ice. He can cause analyzing the play instead of
engaging in it, which can leave him in an awkward spot to catch up to
the play or miss being a part of it entirely. I would classify this as
a consistency issue, where he just isn’t on his “A game” every shift.
He shows with his offensive talents and maturity how good he is when
he is on his game, but not being on it every shift really brings him
down my list. Because of this consistency issue, I would be worried
about how he would translate his game to the pro level. If he doesn’t
become more consistent as a whole, he might fall to becoming a
one-dimensional scorer at the pro level, which obviously isn’t the
worst thing in the world, but not something you’re looking for in a
top-tier talent. -
Weekly 2026 NHL Draft Eligible Three Stars
The final opportunities for NHL Draft prospects to make their case on the ice are here, with the Memorial Cup underway and the IIHF World Championship entering its medal rounds. For many players, these games represent one last chance to leave a lasting impression before NHL teams make their selections in June.
This week’s three stars feature a Latvian defenseman with a chance to make history for his country, a Finnish winger whose breakout first season in the WHL is translating to success on junior hockey’s biggest stage, and an OHL blueliner whose steady postseason play continues to push him up draft boards.
Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of May 18 to 25.
Albert Smits | LHD | Latvia (WC)
Latvian defenseman Albert Smits has taken a unique path through his draft year. The Valmiera native left home at just 13 years old to pursue his hockey dreams, and five years later, he finds himself on the doorstep of an NHL career.
The 18-year-old began the season with Jukurit in Liiga, appearing in 38 games and recording 13 points (six goals, seven assists). From there, he represented Latvia at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota and the Olympic Games in Italy before joining EHC München in the DEL on loan for the remainder of the season and its playoff run.
Now wearing Latvia’s colors one final time in his draft season, Smits has continued to make an impression at the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound blueliner recorded three assists in four games this past week.
Smits picked up an assist against Austria while leading Latvia’s defense in ice time in a 3-1 loss. He was held off the scoresheet in a 7-1 defeat against Finland and again against the United States, though he finished as a plus-2 while leading the team in ice time during Latvia’s 4-2 upset victory.
The potentially highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history closed out his week with a two-assist performance in a 6-0 win over Great Britain.
Matias Vanhanen | LW | Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Matias Vanhanen went undrafted after posting 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in 42 games in Finland’s U20 league and producing at a point-per-game pace at the U18 World Championship. His decision to move to the WHL has proven to be a valuable one, positioning him to hear his name called this time around.
The September 2007-born winger led the WHL champion Everett Silvertips in regular-season scoring with 87 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 62 games. He followed that with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 18 playoff contests, finishing second on the team behind Seattle Kraken prospect and fellow Finnish standout Julius Miettinen.
The Nokia native opened the Memorial Cup in impressive fashion. He recorded a secondary assist on a goal by Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear to extend Everett’s lead to 4-2.
Vanhanen later sealed the victory with a shorthanded empty-net goal with just 20 seconds remaining, helping the Silvertips secure a 5-3 win and continue his standout postseason.
Alexander Bilecki | LHD | Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Alexander Bilecki may not carry the offensive flair of some of the more prominent defensemen in the 2026 draft class, but his steady play has made him an important piece of a championship-caliber Kitchener Rangers team.
In his second season with the Rangers, the former Mississauga Rebel recorded 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 66 regular-season games and added another 11 points in 18 playoff appearances.
The 49th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings continued that production in Kitchener’s Memorial Cup opener against the host Kelowna Rockets.
Bilecki picked up a secondary assist on Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly’s third-period goal before adding a primary assist on another late tally, helping the Rangers pull away for a convincing 5-0 victory.
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2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Jack Hextall (C)
Jack Hextall:
Projection: Middle 6 Forward
Strengths: Compete, Playmaking, Puck control
Weaknesses: Strength of competition, PhysicalityAnalysis:
Jack Hextall doesn’t know what it means to quit. He is relentless and
consistently giving it his all on the ice. He plays with a level of
care and competitiveness that not many players have. Without the puck,
he does whatever it takes to regain possession or provide his
teammates with another option to pass to. With the puck, he has
exceptional stickhandling, vision, and passing, which makes him a
lethal power play or transition player. He is also a great skater, so
chasing after opponents or barreling towards loose pucks comes easily
to him. In all honesty, I really like his game and see him as an
excellent, well-rounded, versatile middle 6 forward.My concern for Jack has nothing to do with his play at all, but more
with the players he plays against. Playing in the USHL, the
competition isn’t as high as the CHL or NCAA, so to do what he is
doing in the USHL is still impressive, but it would be much more
impressive in a harder league. That gives me worries that if he isn’t
extremely dominant in the USHL, how easily would it be for him to
translate his game and style to a harder or even professional league?
Next year, when he is playing for Michigan State, if he has very good
numbers and plays well there, whatever team picks him could have a
very promising player on their hands. I also wish he could be more
physical and have better body positioning along the walls, but again,
that’s something to work more on in harder leagues. -
2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Alexander Command (C)
Alexander Command:
Projection: Middle 6 Center
Strengths: Hockey IQ, Faceoff prowess, Vision
Weaknesses: Stick handling, Physicality, Top speedAnalysis:
Alexander Command is a very controlling and patient centerman. It’s
funny that his last name is Command because that’s exactly how he
plays. He takes control of the play without the puck, often directing
traffic and commanding the play to help his teammates make decisions
and create chaos in the offensive zone. He has a super high hockey IQ,
being able to see plays develop and react accordingly in real time,
helping him be in the right place at the right time. His vision helps
him take advantage of being one step ahead of the play, often finding
one-touch passes or moving to the open ice before it’s even considered
to be open ice. Another attribute of his I love is his faceoff
prowess. He has such a strong stick and stance to outmuscle opponents
in the circle, which is something he could easily translate to a pro
level.Where Command may fall flat for me is in the details of his game. He
doesn’t have the best stick handling, especially one-on-one or in
transition. He has a big frame for someone of his size, but he doesn’t
utilize it to its fullest potential. He has a very fluid stride, but
struggles to reach a very high top speed with it. If he could iron out
the details in his game, he could become an excellent mid-first-round
steal. -
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 makingAnalysis:
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.