DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Prospect Report

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Zac Olsen (RW)

    Zac Olsen:
    Projection: Bottom 9 Forward
    Strengths: Skating, Offensive awareness, Poise, Compete
    Weaknesses: Defensive awareness, Discipline

    Analysis:

    There is a tremendous amount of upside in Zac Olsen’s game. He is
    super versatile and brings a level of compete with him to each and
    every shift. The first thing that catches your eye is his speed. He is
    surprisingly quick when he has the puck on his stick or when he’s
    chasing down attackers. He can suddenly explode for a burst of speed
    you don’t think he could have whenever he wants, making him a
    dangerous transition player. I think he has an elite level of
    offensive awareness too. He is constantly reading the play in the
    offensive zone, putting himself in the best position to be a dangerous
    threat, and causing trouble for anyone defending him. Whether it be in
    front of the net, at the circle, or on the goal line, he has an
    offensive skill set to make him dangerous from any position in the
    offensive zone. He is very poised with the puck as well, making use of
    his stick handling and body positioning to protect the puck and make
    the best play as consistently as he can.

    On the other hand, his defensive attributes could use some work,
    primarily his defensive awareness. In his own zone, I think he can get
    caught watching the puck and leaving his assignment open for his
    opponents to use as an option. From what I have seen, he isn’t the
    most willing to block shots and his stick isn’t as active as I would
    like it to be. I also think he struggles with discipline. Though he
    has a super high level of compete, he struggles to remain calm and
    composed when he is frustrated, occasionally taking bad penalties for
    no reason.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Morgan Anderberg (LW)

    Morgan Anderberg:
    Projection: Middle 6 Winger
    Strengths: Skating, Stick skills, Creativity
    Weaknesses: Physicality, Positional awareness

    Analysis:
    Morgan Anderberg is a very good two-way winger who excels at creating
    turnovers. His most noticeable attribute in his game for me is his
    stick skills both on and off the puck. With the puck, he controls the
    puck super well with good stick handling, deking, and protective body
    positioning. These skills allow him to carry the puck into the zone or
    evade defenders as he searches for opportunities to put his creative
    playmaking skills to work. Off the puck, he excels at stick checking
    opponents while staying on them extremely well, creating pressure on
    his opponents to make a play sooner rather than later. His creativity
    and playmaking stem from his above-average vision and ability to get
    passes to areas he shouldn’t be allowed to get them to. His skating
    in general is also great, having good agility and top speed to keep up
    with the pace of play in the SHL.

    The biggest question mark in his game for me would be his physicality.
    He defaults to using his stick to generate pressure on opponents,
    which isn’t a horrible thing, but when he is forced into using his
    body to check his opponent, it’s very obvious that he’s significantly
    worse at checking opponents this way and he’s not nearly as
    comfortable doing it. Over time developing he would become better and
    more comfortable with it, but as it stands he would struggle to
    translate his current defensive checking abilities to the next level.
    Also, watching his game there are times when he has positional
    lapses, whether that be leaving his assignment early or just not being
    ready for a pass he should have been ready for, I would worry that his
    mind can’t read the game fast enough to keep up with that pace of play
    due to these lapses.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Brayden Klimpke (LD)

    Brayden Klimpke:
    Projection: Bottom 4 Defence
    Strengths: Skating, Poise, All-around game
    Weaknesses: Strength, Top speed

    Analysis:
    I wouldn’t be surprised if Klimpke becomes an NHL regular once he
    fully develops. His game is already very conservative and professional
    in the way he plays. He has some very smooth skating to keep up with
    attackers and work to open ice in the offensive zone. He is very agile
    with his stride and can skate himself out of trouble in his own zone
    if needed. With the puck, he has plenty of poise, keeping calm while
    weighing his options to make the best play available to him. He has
    great puck control and uses his body to defend the puck or force
    attackers to the outside. Honestly, every aspect of his game is at an
    above-average level for this class.

    The two things he needs to work on the most would be his physicality
    and top speed. Both will come as he spends a few years developing his
    strength, as he is pretty slight for someone his size. As he gets
    stronger, he will more consistently win puck battles along the boards
    and get faster with his fluid stride. The only real worry I’d have is
    what his highest ceiling is, but if he ends up being a bottom 4
    defenceman, that’s still exceptional value for where I have him ranked
    (Early third round).

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Jean-Cristoph Lemieux (C)

    Jean-Cristoph Lemieux:
    Projection: Third Line Center
    Strengths: Ability to drive the net, Hockey IQ, Puck control
    Weaknesses: Lack of elite attributes, Size and strength

    Analysis:
    When it’s all said and done, Jean-Cristoph Lemieux might be the best
    all-around undersized forward in this draft. He has a special ability
    to drive the net and find loose pucks with ease. He has a very good
    hockey IQ to read plays as they develop to be at the right spot at the
    right time. In tight, he is very good at controlling or shooting the
    puck and making quick decisions under pressure as well. He possesses a
    great amount of poise with the puck on his stick too, not rushing or
    throwing the puck away when under pressure as he looks for the best
    play available to him.  He isn’t a liability defensively and does what
    he is meant to do. He uses his body the best he can to maintain or
    recover the puck. In all honesty, JC Lemieux is an overall very good
    early pick.

    His only downsides are that he is a jack of all trades with nothing
    that jumps out as being elite, and his size. Without an elite
    attribute to hone in on and perfect, it’s going to be rather difficult
    for him to fill a meaningful role in the pro game. It also doesn’t
    help that he’s “small” for a centerman, being only six feet and ~187
    pounds; he needs to bulk up and gather some strength if he wants to
    continue playing center effectively at the next level.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Luke Schairer (RD)

    Luke Schairer:
    Projection: Second Pair Defenceman
    Strengths: Skating, Defensive aspects, Passing
    Weaknesses: Offensive Aspects

    Analysis:
    Don’t be surprised if Luke Schairer’s name gets called much sooner
    than he’s ranked. NHL teams love big, responsible, smooth-skating,
    right-handed defencemen. That’s exactly what Schairer is. He has an
    excellent stride that allows him to keep up with attackers coming down
    on him. His top speed is very good as well, helping him get to loose
    pucks or move the puck up ice quickly. He makes excellent use of his
    body to angle out attackers along the boards or to the corners, as
    well as boxing out in front of his own net. He has some good passing,
    too, making him a manageable option on the power play or in
    transition.

    Schairer really needs to grow his offensive game to make the
    transition to the next level. Apart from his passing, the rest of his
    offensive game leaves a lot to be desired. He’s good at getting pucks
    through towards the net, but doesn’t really have a dangerous shot to
    beat goalies clean. He isn’t the most creative player in the world,
    often just making the open and correct pass over a fancy pass to a
    high danger area. Apart from that, I wouldn’t be shocked to see
    Schairer in the NHL as a shutdown defender with some offensive input
    in the future.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Tommy Bleyl (RD)

    Tommy Bleyl:
    Projection: Top 4 Defenceman
    Strengths: Elite skating, Playmaking, Shooting
    Weaknesses: Physicality, Defensive IQ

    Analysis:
    Tommy Bleyl might be the most under-the-radar defenceman in this
    draft. The main attribute in his game is his elite skating. He has
    elite mobility and shiftiness, which is attributed to his excellent
    edge control and very good top speed. He moves around the ice so
    effortlessly that it allows him to jump up in the rush or maintain his
    gap control against very fast attackers. His playmaking and vision are
    also extremely good. His passes are crisp and always placed on the
    tape of his teammates. He sees the ice very well to find open ice and
    lanes through sticks. His decision-making with the puck is excellent,
    too, consistently making the right play. He also has a very deceptive
    release, making his shot a dangerous tool for him as well.

    Where he needs to improve is in his physicality. He needs to put on a
    little bit of muscle to help improve his net front and along the boards
    battling. He isn’t the best at using his body to separate opponents
    from pucks or box them out in front due to his size. I have found in
    the games I watched him, he sometimes has a lapse defensively, where
    he leaves his assignment open for a little longer than I like, or he
    defends them well with his stick, but then doesn’t take the body out
    of the play as well.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ludvig Andersson (RW)

    Ludvig Andersson:
    Projection: Bottom 9 Winger
    Strengths: Hockey IQ, Energy and physicality, Skating
    Weaknesses: Strength, Translation to the next level

    Analysis:
    Ludvig Andersson plays with an incredible amount of heart and skill.
    Even though he is a little smaller in stature, he plays just as well
    as anyone else in every aspect of the game. His most standout
    attribute is his hockey IQ and ability to visualize the game. He
    understands where everyone is on the ice constantly and uses that
    information to elevate his decision-making to make the best play
    available to him. He uses great playmaking and vision in combination
    with his hockey IQ to create opportunities in every area of the ice if
    the puck ever reaches his stick. He is reliable in his own zone due to
    his positioning and active stick, and isn’t afraid to engage in battles
    when needed. That’s honestly the second-best thing in his game, his
    willingness to use his smaller frame to attack his opponents
    relentlessly, like a dog on a bone, creating energy and chaos. You’d
    think that his smaller frame would result in his physical style of
    game being less effective, but it’s because of his small frame that
    his skating is remarkably good, allowing him to chase down opponents
    and hound them with ease.

    My only worry with his game would be his current lack of strength and
    ability to translate his game to the next level as an undersized
    player. If he had even another seven pounds of muscle, his physical
    game would improve dramatically, resulting in hits that would be more
    meaningful and heavy, creating more turnovers or, at the very least
    more pressure on his opponents. Building strength only requires time
    and development, so only time will tell how much this will improve.
    Similarly, once he gets the opportunity to play against stronger
    opposition more consistently, only time will tell how well his game
    will translate to that level.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Lucas Ambrosio (LD)

    Lucas Ambrosio:
    Projection: Bottom Pair Defence
    Strengths: Defensive attributes, Hockey IQ, Mobility
    Weaknesses: Offensive impact, Straight line speed, Active stick in
    defensive zone

    Analysis:

    Lucas Ambrosio will become an excellent defensive defenceman for
    whichever NHL team drafts him. The biggest thing that stands out in
    his game is how effective he is as a defender. He utilizes his size to
    his advantage, whether that be battling along the boards or in front
    of the net, defending the rush with his extreme reach, or sacrificing
    his body to block shots. His size helps him become a super-effective
    defender in any situation. His hockey IQ is amazing too, reading and
    anticipating plays with ease to disrupt passing lanes or interrupt a
    pass entirely, jumping up on his assignment when needed, and even
    joining the rush or carrying the puck himself out of his own zone when
    necessary. It helps that he is very agile for a guy of his size, using
    good edges and lower-body strength to maneuver around the ice with
    relative ease. His passing is also a strong suit of his, being able to
    break out or find open teammates in the offensive zone with crisp and
    clean passes.

    The biggest flaw in his game for me would be his offensive impact.
    Apart from joining the rush or pinching in the offensive zone when
    appropriate, he doesn’t provide a whole bunch in terms of offence. He
    also needs to work on his straight-line speed, as he’s not the
    quickest at being able to retrieve dumps in pucks or blow by defenders
    if he chooses to rush the puck himself. My only schtick with his
    defensive game is that I wish he used his long reach more often when
    keeping opponents to the perimeter and taking away passing lanes. He
    does it occasionally, but he would be even more effective than he is
    now if he did it constantly.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Nate Yellowaga (LD)

    Nate Yellowaga:
    Projection: Bottom 4 Defence
    Strengths: Skating, Hockey IQ, Playmaking
    Weaknesses: Positional lapses, Details

    Analysis:

    Nate Yellowaga is a gifted skater who can do a little bit of
    everything. I would put him in the running for the best skater in this
    entire draft class, having super strong edge control, a perfectly
    fluid stride, and great agility and power in his skating. Watching him
    skate around the ice looks like he’s effortlessly flowing around like
    a river, rarely having trouble getting around the ice to loose pucks
    or following the puck carrier around. He has a great hockey IQ to
    complement his skating, reading plays and anticipating where the puck
    is going to go next to stay one step ahead and get into the proper
    position quickly. His IQ also helps with his vision and playmaking,
    being able to make one-touch or no-look passes with ease or finding
    the best play available once he receives the puck. Defensively, he is
    good at containing and applying pressure to his opponents, clogging up
    passing and shooting lanes, and has a willingness to block shots and
    sacrifice his body for his goalie.

    For the most part, my only concern with Yellowaga’s game is his
    details. Because I find him to be super well rounded and able to do a
    little bit of everything, the best way for him to improve his game for
    me would be ironing out the kinks and focusing on the details. He
    could become a more consistent outlet passer when breaking out of his
    own zone, develop some more strength to win board and net front
    battles more consistently, and work on his quick decision making as
    there are some instances where he makes a poor choice that leads to an
    opportunity against. Those are just several examples, but pretty much
    every detail in his game could be worked on to some extent. The other
    big flaw would be the occasional positional lapse he has. He has a
    strange tendency to sometimes just completely ignore his assignment in
    his own zone or attempt to join the rush before his team even has
    control of the puck. Why this occurs, I’m not too certain, but it’s a
    noticeable flaw that needs to be improved upon for sure.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Thomas Rousseau (RW)

    Thomas Rousseau:
    Projection: Bottom 9 Forward
    Strengths: Hockey IQ, Puck control, Versatility
    Weaknesses: Strength, Size, Patience

    Analysis:

    Thomas Rousseau is an incredibly versatile undersized forward. In
    every situation of the game, his immense amount of hockey IQ allows
    him to be an effective player on the ice. At five on five, he is
    excellent at supporting his teammates along the wall, being an option
    for an easy breakout pass, and controls his opponents’ options with an
    active stick and continuous head on a swivel, dissecting their options
    and the best way he can eliminate the most dangerous one. Offensively, he
    is very good at making quick one-touch passes in transition, being a
    hard-checking F1 or supportive F2, and finding the open ice to be an
    option for a pass, deflection, or rebound. On the power play, he is
    good at gaining the opponent’s blueline while being effective with his
    hockey IQ and vision, playing either the bumper or flank. On the
    penalty kill, he again leverages his defensive attributes along with
    his strong faceoff prowess to be a reliable PKer.

    His flaws are unfortunately out of his control for the most part. The
    main thing is his size, being able to remain a super versatile forward
    in the next level won’t be the easiest thing to do because of his
    height. He also lacks a significant amount of muscle, but it will just
    take a few seasons and summers of developing to overcome that. The
    easiest thing he can develop in his game is a little more patience
    with the puck. There are times that he touches the puck as soon as he
    gets it, whereas if he waited just a second or two longer there would
    have been a better, more dangerous option available to him. In all
    honesty, he is very capable of becoming a very good NHL player, he
    just requires time to develop his body to the level needed to become
    that player.