DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Three Stars

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Playoff races across the hockey world continued to intensify this week, offering draft-eligible prospects another opportunity to separate themselves through timely production and impactful performances. With each round raising the stakes, consistency and the ability to deliver in key moments remain critical factors in shaping the 2026 NHL Draft landscape.

    This week’s three stars feature a top OHL center continuing to drive one of the league’s most dangerous contenders, a high-scoring WHL defenseman leading from the back end, and a Slovakian pivot finding ways to contribute as his club pushes deeper into the postseason.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of April 6 to April 13.

    Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    Brantford Bulldogs center Caleb Malhotra continues to be a driving force behind one of the OHL’s top contenders. The Toronto native sits fifth in playoff scoring with 13 points (eight goals, five assists), making him the only draft-eligible player among the league’s top five scorers this postseason. A finalist for the OHL Rookie of the Year award after posting 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in the regular season, Malhotra continues to solidify his standing as one of the premier centers in the 2026 draft class.

    The fourth-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings remained productive as Brantford opened its second-round series against the North Bay Battalion. He wasted little time making an impact in Game 1, scoring a power-play goal just over two minutes into the contest by capitalizing on a rebound. Later in the period, he added a primary assist, feathering a pass to Cooper Dennis for a clean finish, before striking again by intercepting a clearing attempt and wiring the puck into the back of the net.

    Malhotra stayed active in Game 2, delivering another timely play late in the opening period. With under 10 seconds remaining, he forced a turnover on the forecheck and flipped a backhand on goal that found its way through the goaltender to beat the buzzer.

    While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 3, Malhotra continued to play a key role in a tightly contested matchup. He logged significant minutes, including extended ice time in double overtime, as the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game late before eventually securing a 3-0 series lead.

    Daxon Rudolph | RHD | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

    Daxon Rudolph’s emergence as one of the top offensive defensemen in the 2026 class has continued into the postseason. The Lacombe, Alberta native leads all WHL blueliners in playoff scoring with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through seven games, building on a dominant regular season in which he paced draft-eligible CHL defensemen in production.

    The 6-foot-2, 203-pound defender played a central role in Prince Albert’s strong start to its series against the Saskatoon Blades. In Game 1, Rudolph extended his team’s lead early, stepping in from the point and beating the goaltender with a well-placed wrist shot. He added a second-period assist with a precise stretch pass that sprung Brandon Gorzynski for a clean finish before picking up another helper on the power play in a 6-1 victory.

    Rudolph followed that performance with another impactful showing in Game 2. Activating off the rush to create a numerical advantage, he directed a shot toward the net that resulted in a rebound goal, helping the Raiders secure a 3-0 win and take early control of the series.

    Tomas Chrenko | C | HK Nitra (Slovakia)

    Tomas Chrenko has continued to build on an impressive draft year that has included strong international and professional experience. The Slovakian center recorded eight points (five goals, three assists) in five games at the 2026 World Junior Championship, showcasing his ability to produce against top competition. He also contributed 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 44 games in Slovakia’s top professional league during the regular season.

    Skating for his hometown club HK Nitra in the postseason, Chrenko has found ways to contribute despite limited ice time. After recording four assists in a seven-game second-round series win, he began to make a greater impact in the semifinals against Poprad.

    In Game 3, Chrenko helped open the scoring by creating a two-on-one opportunity, recovering a loose puck and setting up a teammate for a clean finish. He followed that up with a key contribution in a comeback effort, driving play off the forecheck before feeding a teammate for a one-timer that gave Nitra the lead in an eventual 5-4 victory.

    Chrenko remained involved in Game 5, helping his team respond after an early deficit. Carrying the puck into the offensive zone, he evaded pressure and waited for support before setting up a teammate at the doorstep to tie the game. Nitra went on to rally for a 4-2 win, continuing its push deeper into the postseason.

    Chrenko’s ability to contribute in different situations and against older competition continues to underline his value as an intriguing option in the 2026 draft.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The playoffs for prospects across the hockey world are now underway, marking a critical stretch where players can separate themselves from the rest of the draft class with standout performances in high-pressure games. This week’s draft-eligible three stars feature a Swedish center on fire in his junior club’s postseason after his pro season ended; a Western Hockey League (WHL) defender who piled up goals in the regular season and continues to do so in the playoffs; and a dynamic Ontario Hockey League (OHL) center who continues to drive one of the most dangerous teams in Canadian major junior hockey.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of March 23 to 30.

    Viggo Björck | C | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

    Swedish center Viggo Björck wrapped up his first full professional season with respectable totals for an 18-year-old with a March birthday. While his stat line — 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 42 SHL games — doesn’t jump off the page, the Stockholm native was a force at the World Junior Championships, recording nine points (three goals, six assists) for the gold medal-winning squad. Björck also earned increased ice time as the season progressed and was playing a top-line role by the playoffs.

    Despite producing at a point-per-game pace in Djurgårdens’ three-game first-round series against Malmö, Björck and his team were eliminated. That allowed the eighth-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings to join the club’s U20 team, which remained in the playoff hunt. The 5-foot-10 center made an immediate impact in the quarterfinals, helping the team advance to the semifinals.

    In Game 1, Björck recorded a power-play assist midway through the second period as Djurgårdens cruised to a 3-0 win. In Game 2, the IFK Täby product added a secondary assist on the opening goal before sealing a 4-1 victory with an empty-net tally. With a chance to clinch the series in Game 3, Björck delivered his best performance.

    The 2025 U-18 IIHF World Championship silver medalist opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game with a deft backhand finish. He added an assist in the second period as his team built a 3-1 lead, then capped off the win with a power-play one-timer into a nearly empty net. Despite appearing in just three games, Björck leads the league in postseason points per game.

    Daxon Rudolph | RHD | Prince Albert Raiders

    Daxon Rudolph’s calling card in his draft season has been his goal-scoring ability. The WHL sophomore led Canadian major junior defensemen eligible for the draft with 28 goals—eight more than Carson Carels of the Prince George Cougars. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound blueliner also added 50 assists, finishing second in CHL scoring among draft-eligible players behind Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats.

    The 10th-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings has carried that production into the postseason, facing the Red Deer Rebels in the opening round.

    In Game 1, Rudolph helped facilitate strong puck movement on the power play, earning a secondary assist on a goal by Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes. Early in the second period, Rudolph jumped into the play, initially firing a shot for a potential tip before circling the net and burying the rebound into a nearly empty net. The goal stood as the game-winner in a 4-1 victory.

    Rudolph stayed hot in Game 2 as the Raiders defended home ice. After a scoreless first period, he helped spark the offense in the second, holding the line to keep a play alive before setting up Ben Harvey for a goal.

    Later in the period, while killing a penalty, Cootes intercepted a pass and spotted Rudolph streaking through the neutral zone. The defender took the pass in stride and wired a wrist shot over the goaltender’s glove. He later added another power-play assist, bringing his total to five points through two games.

    Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    Caleb Malhotra played a key role in helping the Brantford Bulldogs finish atop the OHL standings this season. He ranked second on the team in scoring behind Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien, posting 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists). That total also placed him second among draft-eligible OHL players, trailing only Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Kelpov. The son of longtime NHLer and current AHL coach Manny Malhotra has firmly established himself as one of the top centers in the 2026 draft class.

    Malhotra has carried that momentum into the playoffs, recording four points through two games in the opening round.

    In Game 1, the former Chilliwack Chief extended his team’s lead to 3-0 in the second period, capitalizing on a rebound during a power play. He struck again later in the frame, picking off a clearing attempt and wiring a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle to make it 5-2. The Bulldogs went on to win 6-2.

    Malhotra remained a difference-maker in Game 2. On an early power play, Marek Vanacker recovered a broken play and found Malhotra alone at the backdoor for an easy tap-in to open the scoring. Later, with under five minutes remaining in the second period, Malhotra led the rush and threaded a pass across the zone to Cooper Dennis, who quickly set up a teammate in front to restore the lead. The Bulldogs added an empty-net goal late to secure a 2-0 series advantage.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The postseason has arrived for some prospects, while the chase to the end of the regular season has just wrapped up for others. This week’s draft-eligible three-stars highlights a Swedish winger who flourished in his team’s first round of the playoffs, an Ontario Hockey League winger helping his squad in the final push, and a Swiss forward who hasn’t let injuries get in the way of a productive draft year.

    Marcus Nordmark | RW | Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)

    Swedish winger Marcus Nordmark is having a very productive draft year. The 16th-ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings put up 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 25 games to lead all draft-eligible players in his league with more than 10 games played in points per game with 1.52. He also got into eight SHL games, producing an assist.

    The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Stockholm native was instrumental in helping his squad advance to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. After falling in the first game of the five-game series, Nordmark registered a goal and two assists as his team drew back even in the series with a 4-3 win. The 17-year-old was all over the ice in game three, picking up two goals and two helpers in a 5-4 loss.

    Nordmark was held off the scoresheet in game four, but his team managed to secure a 3-0 win. In the series finale, the Swede showed off his playmaking prowess with a trio of assists as his squad triumphed 6-5 in overtime. His 11 points in five playoff games is tied for second in the league.

    Pierce Mbuyi | LW | Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

    Pierce Mbuyi was one of the most productive draft-eligible players in the OHL this season with 75 points (32 goals, 43 assists), finishing third behind Nikita Kleepov and Caleb Malhotra. The second-year forward was an offensive catalyst for the Attack, leading the team in scoring by 11 points.

    The Attack remained in a battle for playoff seeding up until the final regular season game, and Mbuyi played a big part in helping to secure the sixth spot in the OHL’s Western Conference. Opening the week on a March Break Wednesday, Mbuyi picked up an assist before scoring the game winner in the third period in a 4-3 win over the Flint Firebirds. The Attack fell behind 2-0 quickly to the Guelph Storm in the second matchup of its week. Mbuyi had a pair of assists in the attempt to rally back, but Owen Sound fell 6-3.

    In the last game of the regular season, Mbyui scored on the power play as the Attack built a big lead in the second period. The Attack surrendered the lead with the Kitchener Rangers storming back to tie the game at 7 late in the third period. The 5-foot-11 winger picked up a secondary assist as the Attack snuck away in overtime.

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

    Despite missing time in his draft year due to an upper body injury, Swiss winger Lars Steiner enjoyed a successful draft year in the QMJHL. In 44 games, the 17th-ranked skater on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Ranking, scored 30 goals which was fourth among draft-eligible players in that league despite playing at minimum 18 fewer games than those ahead of him.

    The HC Davos product tied a career high with five points in the week’s opening game. The 5-foot-10 former All-CHL Rookie Team member got his night going with a secondary assist on a power play goal. He then had a natural hat trick with a goal at the end of the first period and a pair in the second. He added a power play goal in the third as the Huskies ran away with a 9-0 win.

    Steiner had a lone assist in his team’s second game of the week.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    As the NHL season comes closer to the end, the focus intensifies on the 2026 NHL Draft. Especially for fans and management of teams that won’t be competing for the right to lift Lord Stanley’s mug, now is the time to try to figure out which players will best help your club in the future. This week’s three stars are highlighted by the first player in the Canadian Hockey League to top the 100 point mark, a Latvian winger who is hoping to find an NHL home in his second year of eligibility, and a Western Hockey League (WHL) defender who is fighting for the top billing of rearguards from that league.

    Markus Ruck | C | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

    Markus Ruck continued his sensational draft year this week by becoming the first player in Canadian major junior to pass 100 points. The Okanagan Prep alumnus is up to 102 points (20 goals, 82 assists) in 66 games. The highly skilled and very smart offensive forward still has work to do in his own zone, but the high-end offensive talent will certainly have NHL teams interested in bringing him in.

    The 6-foot, 168-pound center led all draft-eligible players in scoring in the last week with eight points (a goal and seven assists) in three games. Ruck piled up four assists, collecting first-star honors, as the Tigers rolled over the Regina Pats 6-0.

    The Tigers then had a Friday and Saturday home-and-home mini-series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In the first meeting, Ruck picked up a secondary assist on Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford’s 44th goal of the season but didn’t make any other noticeable impact on the scoresheet. The next night he had a much bigger role in helping his team secure a 6-5 overtime win. He notched a primary assist on twin brother Liam’s 42nd goal of the campaign to draw the Tigers back to 4-3 early in the third period. The WHL sophomore scored midway through the third to make it 5-4 and then had a secondary assist on the overtime winner.

    Bruno Osmanis | RW | IF Björklöven (Allsvenskan)

    Despite strong production in the Swedish U20 circuit in 2024-25 and a memorable role in Latvia’s upset of Canada at the World Juniors, Bruno Osmanis went undrafted. The Latvian winger has a good chance to be selected this time with another strong World Junior tournament in 2025-26 (six points in five games) and increased production with his club teams.

    Splitting his time between IF Björklöven in Allsvenskan (22 games) and U20 Nationell (24 games), the skilled playmaker has added a little more goal scoring to his arsenal. At the pro level, Osmanis has nine points (four goals and five assists) after just seven (one goal and six assists) a year ago. Osmanis has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) playing against just his peers in U20.

    Playing for their lives in the U20 Nationell relegation tournament, Osmanis has been sensational. He opened with scoring a pair of goals while adding an assist in a 6-3 win over Huddinge IK U20. He followed it up with two goals and two assists as his team bested Sollentuna HC U20 7-4.

    Carson Carels | LHD | Prince George Cougars (WHL)

    Carson Carels and Daxon Rudolph continue to battle for the right to be the first WHL defenseman to hear their name called in June. The Prince George rearguard is one point behind Rudolph despite having played in 11 fewer games. Carels is third among draft-eligible defenders in the CHL in points with 73 (20 goals, 53 assists).

    The youngest member of Team Canada at the 2025-26 World Juniors is currently ranked the 14th-ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings. The Cypress River, MB native had a big week for the Cougars as the team made strides towards overtaking the Kelowna Rockets for the three seed in the WHL’s Western Conference.

    In the first game of the week, Carels fired a puck on goal with just over 30 seconds left, and a teammate drove home the rebound to send the game to overtime. In the extra frame, Carels held the line and skated in with the puck before dishing it to draft-eligible forward Brock Souch for an easy shot over a sprawling goalie.

    In a very tight second game of the week, Carels fired a point shot that redirected in for the only goal of the game in a 1-0 shutout win over the Wenatchee Wild for San Jose Sharks prospect Joshua Ravensbergen. The next night in a rematch with the Wild, the 6-foot-2, 194 pound defender was all over the scoresheet in a 5-0 win. He had primary assists on two power play goals as the Cougars got out to a 2-0 lead. Midway through the third, he scored his 20th goal of the season. He polished off the game with a perfect shorthanded breakaway pass to Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak, who tucked it through the goalie’s five-hole.

  • Weekly Draft Eligible Three Stars: The Goalie Edition

    This week’s draft-eligible three stars is taking a different approach. The main focus has been on some of the top point getters among players trying to build up their stock for the 2026 NHL Draft, but this week it showcases three goaltenders. Leading the way is a Western Hockey League (WHL) puck stopper who posted back-to-back shutouts. Sticking in the WHL, an American keeper is leading the way for his club, only allowing two goals in a pair of games. Finally, another American in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is proving to be a key piece for a strong contender.

    Parker Snell | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

    Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Parker Snell is one of the top draft-eligible goalies in the WHL this season. Despite his save percentage of .886, which ranks eighth in the league among draft-eligible puck stoppers (min. 10 games), his three shutouts and 2.94 goals against average (GAA) are both second in the WHL with those same qualifiers.

    Snell is not a huge goalie at 6-foot-2 and 179 pounds but has a strong technical base that makes him an intriguing prospect. The St. Albert, AB, native was the 21st-ranked goalie out of 37 on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Ranking of North American goalies. Snell played in a pair of WHL games last season and stopped all 54 shots, earning one shutout. This season, Snell has split the crease and played 27 games, amassing a 17-7-1 record.

    The Northern Alberta Xtreme product held down the fort for the Oil Kings on Friday night as they were outshot 34-23 by the Red Deer Rebels. He stopped every puck thrown at him in the contest, coming away with first-star honors in a 2-0 victory. Back at it on Saturday night, Snell had a quieter night with a 20-save shutout in a 6-0 blanking of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

    Harrison Boettiger | Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

    Harrison Boettiger has taken on the starting job for the Kelowna Rockets in his first season in the WHL. The Wheat Ridge, Colorado, native is second among draft-eligible keepers who have played at least 10 games in wins (21) and fourth in save percentage (.904).

    The United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) product was excellent in the first inaugural USNTDP vs. Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Prospect Challenge in November 2024. After the US was pounded 6-1 in the first game, with current Sarnia Sting goalie Patrick Quinlan struggling against the high-flying offense of Team CHL, Boettinger got the start in game two. He was sensational, with 35 saves and a .921 save percentage, and almost got the game to overtime but lost 3-2 with a last-minute goal by Calgary Flames prospect Cole Reschny.

    Boettiger, now a CHL goalie, suited up for the other side in the 2025 edition of the challenge. Unfortunately for him, fellow draft-eligible goalie Brady Knowling outdueled him, making 42 saves to win the game 4-2.

    The seventh-ranked stopper by NHL Central Scouting in its Mid-Term Rankings for North American goalies had a strong week for the Rockets. On Wednesday night, Boettiger made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. He followed it up on Saturday, turning away all but one of the Wenatchee Wild’s 26 shots to help secure a 5-1 win.

    Ryder Fetterolf | Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

    Ryder Fetterolf is really making a name for himself this season as one of the top netminders in the OHL. He is second in the league in both save percentage (.922) and GAA (2.11) with 26 wins in 36 games.

    The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native ranked as the 16th goaltender on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings of North American goalies. He is committed to Penn State next season. Fetterolf was a star on the American prep school circuit, putting up a .940 save percentage with 49 wins in 61 games in his final season with the Gilmour Academy. He played in one game with the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm that went very poorly, as he allowed six goals on 25 shots.

    The 18-year-old continued his hot play this week with a pair of stellar outings. On Thursday night, Fetterolf was beat twice in the first period but closed the door through the next two periods. He stopped all 10 shots as the 67’s coasted to an 8-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit. The Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program alumnus was the first star of the game Sunday afternoon. The 67’s built a 3-0 lead in the first period, and Fetterolf stopped all 28 shots by the Sarnia Sting as his club won 5-0.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    While most of the hockey world was locked on the Olympic tournament in Milan over the last couple of weeks, prospects across the globe continued to play games. In this week’s draft-eligible three stars, a prospective number one overall pick in 2026 shows why he still deserves the hype, a Russian winger makes his first appearance after a productive week, and a Czech winger reaches a big milestone as his strong season continues.

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (NCAA)

    Gavin McKenna may not have the firm grip on being the first overall pick in 2026 as it seemed to be prophesied, with challengers in Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg and Canadian NCAA defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, but the phenom is doing everything he can to remind people why he got that distinction in the first place.

    The former CHL Player of the Year was downright dominant this week in a pair of games against Ohio State, picking up 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in two games. The Whitehorse, YT, native had a night for the ages. With five primary assists, two secondary helpers, and a goal, McKenna set program records for most points and assists in a game. The former Medicine Hat Tiger is the first player to have eight or more points in a single game against another Division 1 program since Bob Joyce had nine points in a game on Jan 2, 1987.

    The number one overall ranked player on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings followed up his historic night with eight shots on goal in almost 27 and a half minutes of ice time. He sent a perfect backdoor slap pass for a helper on Penn State’s third goal in the comeback from down 4-2. The freshman made an Ohio State defender look silly before he sniped the overtime winner over the blocker to complete the rally.

    Oleg Kulebyakin | LW | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

    Russian winger Oleg Kulebyakin leads the Halifax Mooseheads in points with 60 (26 goals, 34 assists) in 55 games and is fourth in league scoring among 2026 draft-eligible prospects. The St. Petersburg native is no stranger to North American hockey, having come to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights during the 2023-24 season and staying since.

    The University of Massachusetts commit for 2027-28 was the number 68 ranked skater on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Ranking for North American skaters. The Lincoln Stars alumnus picked up at least a point in all four games this week for a total of nine points (three goals, six assists).

    After a pair of two-point outings to start the week, he notched one goal in a 7-4 loss to Drummondville before his signature game of the period. Kulebyakin was named the first star while registering four points (one goal, three assists) against the Rimouski Oceanic. After falling behind 1-0, the Mooseheads headed to the power play, where Kulebyakin set up the first of seven unanswered goals for the visitors. He set up a second power play marker in the third period. With 51 seconds left to go in the game, Kulebyakin found himself open in the slot and picked the corner with a wrist shot to make it 7-1.

    Adam Novotný | LW | Peterborough Petes (OHL)

    Czech winger Adam Novotný continues to impress in his first season of North American hockey. The slick shooter is third in the OHL among draft-eligible players in goals with 30, behind only Nikita Klepov (33) of the Saginaw Spirit and Ethan Belchetz (32) of the Windsor Spitfires. Novotný, who served as the captain for Team East, was sensational in January at the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game with a pair of goals.

    The Hradec Kralove, Czechia, native opened the week on Family Day with a goal and an assist to earn first-star honors in a 3-2 shootout win for the Petes over the Kitchener Rangers. He followed it up with a goal on a great individual effort to pot a goal with just under two minutes left in the contest against the North Bay Battalion to make it 5-4 in a game the Petes would ultimately fall in. The former Mountfield HK player added a goal and an assist in his team’s third contest of the week against the Brampton Steelheads.

    Novotný saved his best for last, helping the Petes in a big way to take down the Brantford Bulldogs on Sunday. Early in the first period, the 6-foot-1 winger swiped down a clearing attempt by the Bulldogs and stepped in to snipe a wrist shot off the bar and in to open the scoring. He continued to hound the Bulldogs all game with nine shots, but none was bigger than his overtime winner. With the Petes on the power play, Novotný took a pass before a couple of strides and picked his spot with a seeing-eye wrist shot over the glove of David Egorov.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The road towards the 2026 NHL draft continues to narrow as the season inches closer to the end. June will be here before we know it, and before that, prospects across the world will be proving they deserve to have their names called by an NHL team. This week’s three stars feature two Americans who powered their American Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team to a pair of wins this week and a Western Hockey League winger in the middle of a breakout.

    Egor Barabanov | C | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    Egor Barabanov is enjoying a banner rookie season in the OHL. The Anaheim, CA, native is third in league scoring with 72 points (25 goals, 47 assists), behind only teammate Nikita Klepov and New York Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall. The 19-year-old, who spent part of four seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Madison Capitals, was the 39th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting on its Mid-Term Rankings.

    Barabanov opened the week with a two-goal game against the Flint Firebirds in a 5-4 win. He scored a power play goal in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. He doubled down in the third period, scoring his 23rd goal of the season to tie the game at 4.

    The 6-foot, 181-pound forward followed that up with a career-high six points (one goal, five assists) in an 11-3 drubbing of the Sarnia Sting. Barabanov had three assists in the first period as the Spirit jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first period. He added a pair of helpers in the second before notching the 11th goal for his squad in the third.

    The Anaheim Junior Ducks product polished off the week with a goal and assist in a 4-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires.

    Nikita Klepov | RW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    The Saginaw Spirit has one of the most dominant duos of draft-eligible players between Nikita Kelpov and Barabanov. The American OHL rookies sit at numbers two and three in league scoring. Klepov was a first-round pick of the Spirit in the 2025 CHL Import Draft after scoring 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 59 games with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL. The 6-foot, 181-pound winger is the 38th-ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings.

    The Deerfield Beach, FL, native began the week potting a goal and three assists as the Spirit knocked off its American rival, the Flint Firebirds, 5-4. Klepov was all over the scoresheet again with another four-point outing against the Sarnia Sting. He finished the weekend with a lone assist in Saginaw’s 4-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires.

    Beckett Hamilton | RW | Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

    Red Deer Rebels winger Beckett Hamilton loves to shoot the puck. The Humboldt, SK, native is averaging a team-high seven shots per game with an average of 3.9 shots on goal per game. Hamilton is on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, but that nose for the net should get fans and scouts excited. The 17-year-old has blown by his rookie point totals. After posting 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 67 games in 2024-25, Hamilton is already at 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 52 games in 2025-26.

    Hamilton led all draft-eligible players this week in shots on goal with 24 in three games. He opened up with seven shots on goal while picking up an assist in a 6-3 loss to the Everett Silvertips. The 75th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting had a pair of goals and assists for four points, including a helper on the overtime winner, as the Rebels eked out a 5-4 overtime win against the Medicine Hat Tigers. He wrapped up the weekend registering 10 shots on goal but not picking up any points in a 4-3 overtime win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    2026 is now a month old, with the calendar turning from January to February. As the 2026 NHL Draft continues to inch closer, here’s how some of the top scoring draft eligibles fared this week. This week’s three stars include two players who were passed over in previous drafts and are hoping to find NHL homes this time around, as well as a Swede who appears to be a potential late first-round pick.

    Lukas Sawchyn | RW | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

    Edmonton Oil Kings winger Lukas Sawchyn has taken a big leap forward in his second season with the club. The younger brother of Florida Panthers 2023 second-round pick Gracyn, has 69 points (20 goals, 49 assists) in 48 games in 2025-26 after having 55 points (15 goals, 40 assists) in 66 games in 2024-25.

    The crafty winger’s impressive sophomore campaign in the WHL has made scouts take notice as he found himself ranked 168 on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings for North American Skaters. Bound for Arizona State in 2026, the 18-year-old, who turns 19 in February, is putting together a season that should get him more attention this time around.

    The 5-foot-10, 174-pound Grand Prairie, AB, native has been incredibly hot recently with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in his last five games, eight of those in three games this past week. The Oil Kings started the week by dropping a 5-2 decision to the Calgary Hitmen, with Sawchyn chipping in a secondary assist. Traveling to Moose Jaw for its second game of the week, Edmonton got a four-assist performance from the Shattuck St. Mary’s alum, but it wasn’t enough to topple the Warriors as the Oil Kings fell 7-5. In the final contest of the week for the Oil Kings, Sawchyn chipped in a goal and a pair of assists in a 6-3 victory over the Swift Current Broncos.

    Ethan MacKenzie | LHD | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

    Sawchyn’s junior teammate Ethan MacKenzie surprised a lot of people by being named to Team Canada for the 2025-26 World Junior Championships and played in all seven games for the bronze medal squad. The 19-year-old has found a new gear offensively in his fourth year in the WHL, with a career-high 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 40 games.

    The 6-foot, 174-pound two-way defender is finding the back of the net at a much higher rate than ever before with six goals in his last ten games. He scored five goals in 54 games in the 2024-25 season. His rise this season has brought his name into focus as a re-entry for the 2026 NHL Draft, with NHL Central Scouting ranking him 74 among North American skaters in its Mid-Term Rankings.

    The West Kelowna, BC, native was the second-highest-scoring draft-eligible defenseman this past week with five points (three goals, two assists) in three games, while firing 12 shots on goal. His biggest game of the week was a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 6-3 win over the Swift Current Broncos. MacKenzie rifled a power play goal up over the Broncos goaltender for an early 2-0 lead. He potted an assist on the man advantage, firing a shot that was tipped in to give the Oil Kings a 3-0 cushion. He later added his second marker by walking in from the point and firing a wrist shot that beat the goalie cleanly on the glove side.

    Marcus Nordmark | RW | Djurgärdens IF (U20 Nationell)

    Swedish winger Marcus Nordmark has been one of the top draft-eligible players in Sweden’s top U20 junior league. With 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 23 games, he trails only Alexander Command (38 points in 25 games) in scoring among players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. Nordmark has failed to really make an impact at the SHL level this season, with just one assist in four games. However, he’s only played very limited minutes, with 10:45 as his season high.

    Against his peers on the international stage, the 17-year-old has been dominant with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). His exploits have certainly got the hockey scouting community intrigued. He earned the number seven ranking on NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Ranking for International Skaters and is the 22nd-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Prospects Ranking.

    Nordmark trailed only Sawchyn this week in points by draft eligibles, with seven in two games. Nordmark was called up to the SHL for a game against Roglë but didn’t end up playing. He returned to the U20 team and torched Skellefteå AIK with a three-goal, three-assist night. He polished off his week with a goal to tie the game at one in a 3-2 overtime win for his team.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Another edition of the weekly 2026 draft-eligible three stars returns with a pair of exciting defensemen and a WHL forward who is on a big-time heater. 19-year-old Czech-born defenseman Tomas Galvas has been passed on in both the 2024 and 2025 NHL drafts, but in 2026 it looks like he should find a home. Carson Carels, who was already named a three-star in October, looks like a lock to be a first-round pick in June, and his continued play will have scouts and analysts wrestling with how high he should go. Finally, Markus Ruck has been on fire recently and was a big part of the Medicine Hat Tigers compiling a 19-game win streak that was snapped on Saturday.

    Tomas Galvas | LD | Bílí Tygři Liberec (CZE)

    The flashy skating of Tomas Galvas was incredibly impressive for Czechia at the 2026 World Junior Championship, finishing second in tournament scoring by a defenseman with nine points (three goals, seven assists). He ended the tournament as the third-highest player on his team in icetime, behind St. Louis Blue prospect Adam Jiricek and Seattle Kraken draft pick Jakub Fibigr.

    The son of longtime Czech pro player Lukas Galvas has returned to the Czech pro ranks after his trip to Minnesota on fire with four goals and an assist in four games. At 5-foot-10 and only 168 pounds, Galvas will still have to fight the notion that he is undersized for an NHL defenseman, but his skating skills continue to make him an interesting prospect. The hockey scouting community is starting to believe he might have a North American pro hockey career ahead of him yet, after his three medals at three World Junior Championships. Galvas landed at number 69 on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Ranking for international skaters, which equates to an expected third-round pick.

    Carson Carels | LD | Prince George Cougars (WHL)

    Carson Carels is another defender that has returned to his club team from the World Junior Championships and is excelling. The 13th-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings didn’t play a huge role for Canada, getting 10 and a half minutes or less of ice time a game, but the fact that he made the team and got to play those minutes was impressive for a 17-year-old.

    Carels has been an offensive monster this season. He already has in 35 games so far this year passed the 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) he put up in 60 games in his first full WHL season. He leads all CHL draft-eligible defensemen in points with 50 and trails only Prince Alberts’ Daxon Rudolph (20) and Soo Greyhounds’ Chase Reid (16) in goals with 11.

    Playing in three games this past weekend, Carels has a pair of goals to go with two assists. Perhaps most impressively, though, was that the Cypress River, MB native led all draft-eligible players this past week in shots on goal with 15. Carels earned himself the number three ranking on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking of North American skaters.

    Markus Ruck | C | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

    Markus Ruck and twin brother Liam are a big reason why the Medicine Hat Tigers are one of the top teams in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. While Liam has been more of a goal scorer with 25 in 43 games, Markus has been piling up the assists with 50 in 43 games. He is the leader amongst draft-eligible players in the CHL in helpers so far this year.

    After a slow start to the week with just one shot on goal against the Edmonton Oil Kings in a 3-2 shootout win, Ruck exploded for six points (two goals, four assists) in the following two games. The 31st-ranked skater by NHL Central Scouting in its Mid-Term Ranking for North American skaters for the 2026 class had three assists, including two on the power play, and the game’s last goal, as the Tigers defeated the Oil Kings 7-3. Ruck was named the third star of the game against the Prince Albert Raiders for his goal and assist in the Tigers’ rally back from down 4-1. Unfortunately, the Tigers saw the game slip away in the third as the Raiders scored twice on an empty net to win 8-5.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft-Eligible Three Stars

    January is almost over, and the 2026 NHL Draft inches closer with every flip of the calendar. For draft-eligible players, the next few months will do a lot to decide the future for these guys. This week’s Draft Prospects Hockey weekly three stars feature two of the projected top defensemen in the class and a forward who is rising up the boards.

    Chase Reid | RHD | Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

    After a short stint in the NAHL with the Bismarck Bobcats, right-handed defenseman Chase Reid joined the Soo Greyhounds and started piling up points in the 2024-25 season. In 39 games, the smooth-skating rearguard had 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists). In the same number of games so far in 2025-26, the Chesterfield, MI, native is leading all OHL draft-eligible defensemen in points with 45 (18 goals, 27 assists).

    Reid, the number 10 ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Ranking, continued his impressive offensive season with five points in three games. He started with three assists while taking five shots in a 5-3 win over the London Knights. Despite not finding the scoresheet, Reid played over 25 minutes in a 3-0 shutout of the North Bay Battalion for Los Angeles Kings prospect Carter George. He polished up the weekend with a pair of goals with five shots on goal in a 6-1 victory over the Battalion.

    Keaton Verhoeff | RHD | Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA)

    Keaton Verhoeff is one of five 17-year-old players in the NCAA this season but is the only defenseman. His 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 22 games place him third in draft-eligible scoring in college hockey behind Penn State’s Gavin McKenna and Michigan’s Adam Valentini. Verhoeff was a proven scorer at the junior level after scoring 21 goals and 45 points in 63 games as a 16-year-old with the Victoria Royals in 2024-25, but a move to the NCAA presented a potential challenge.

    The Fort Saskatchewan, AB, native has been up to the task and is showing why he is Draft Prospect Hockey’s third-best skater and top defender on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. This week in a pair of matchups with Arizona State, he scored twice while adding three assists.

    Jaxon Cover | LW | London Knights (OHL)

    Jaxon Cover has one of the most unique paths to becoming a prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft. He didn’t start playing ice hockey until he was 13, and before that, he was a sensation at inline hockey. After playing with the St. Andrews prep school team, he joined the London Knights full-time for the 2025-26 season.

    In 45 games this season, Cover has 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists), which might not scream NHL top prospect, but remember he grew up in the Cayman Islands and has only been playing competitive ice hockey for four seasons.

    Cover was held off the scoresheet in his first game of the week against the Soo Greyhounds but scored four goals in his next two games. He tied the game at two against the Sarnia Sting with eight minutes left in regulation. After getting the puck from a scrum, he walked into the left faceoff circle and lifted a backhand up and over the Sting goaltender.

    To end the week, Cover potted his first career OHL hat trick in a dominant 10-2 shellacking of the Peterborough Petes.