DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Three Stars

  • Weekly 2026 NHL Draft-Eligible Three Stars

    The World Junior Championships are in the books now, and players have returned to action for their respective club teams. The trade deadline has passed across the CHL which puts the push for the postseason front and center for some teams, while others prepare for the future. As teams gear up for playoff races in the second half of the season, NHL staff and countless other draft observers will be eyeing talent for the 2026 NHL Draft. This week in the three stars, a Swedish forward gets some recognition for his strong work this season, a Finn has returned to the OHL with new life after his trip to Minnesota, and a Canadian center is already adjusting to new surroundings after being dealt.

    Wiggo Sörensson | C/LW | Boro/Vetlanda HC (SWE-DIV2)

    Swedish forward Wiggo Sörensson is having a very productive season, splitting his games between the U20 level and Division 2 hockey. He’s amassed 52 points (30 goals, 22 assists) in 12 games with the Boro/Vetlanda HC U20 program and another 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 20 Division 2 games. Sörenssen may lack a little in physical tools at just 5 feet 11 inches and 181 pounds, but the rest of his game more than makes up for it. When playing at the U20 junior level, the April 2008 born skater has dominated the competition and showcased his offensive gifts over the last two seasons.

    Splitting time between Division 2 hockey and U20 Division 1, Sörensson led all draft eligibles last week with six points in three games. After not registering a point in his first game of the week, the Vetlanda, Sweden, native had six goals in the next two games. His biggest performance of the week was scoring all four goals in a 5-4 loss to the U20 Division 1 Alvesta SK club.

    Jasper Kuhta | C | Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

    After missing out on being selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, Finnish center Jasper Kuhta is putting together a case to be drafted in 2026. The 6-foot-2, 198 pound forward was impressive with Finland, finishing second in team scoring with eight points at his first world junior tournament despite a disappointing finish for his country.

    He returned to Ottawa after his sojourn in Minnesota and hasn’t missed a beat. On a Northern Ontario road trip against the North Bay Battalion, Soo Greyhounds, and Sudbury Wolves, the Helsinki native had five points in three games.

    Kuhta capitalized on the power play against the Wolves with just over three minutes remaining in the second period. After finding some open space in the right-side faceoff circle, he took a pass from Carolina Hurricanes prospect Filip Ekberg and buried a wrist shot. With 1:45 remaining in the second period, Kuhta doubled up. After the newly acquired David Bedkowski fired a shot, Kuhta quickly flipped the rebound in past the keeper on the backhand.

    Jean-Cristoph Lemieux | C | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

    17-year-old Jean-Cristoph Lemieux’s week started with a big change. The 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge gold medalist was dealt from the Windsor Spitfires along with a package of eight draft picks to the Sudbury Wolves for Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Alex Pharand and Seattle Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve. Lemieux has had a pretty seamless transition after moving from the team at the most Southern point of the province to one of the furthest north, with five points (three goals, two assists) in three games.

    He opened the week with a goal and an assist against the Greyhounds in a 6-2 loss for the Wolves. He picked up another helper for his lone point in a 4-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs.

    He saved his best for last with a two-goal outing against the high-flying Ottawa 67’s. With the Wolves on the power play in the first period, Lemieux wound up a one-timer to put the Wolves ahead by one. With just over three and a half minutes left in the second period, Lemieux went streaking down the left wing and took a breakaway pass to send him in alone. He made no mistake one-on-one with Ottawa goalie Jaeden Nelson, faking a shot and then flipping a backhand over the keeper.

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

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

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Team Canada (U20)

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

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

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

    Viggo Björck | C | Team Sweden (U20)

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

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

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

    Thomas Chrenko | C | Slovakia (U20)

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

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars: World Junior Edition

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

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

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

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

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

    Jasper Kuhta | C | Team Finland (U20)

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

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

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

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Team Canada (U20)

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Ryan Roobroeck | C | Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

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

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

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

    Alessandro Di Iorio | C | Sarnia Sting (OHL)

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

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

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

    Daxon Rudolph | RD | Prince Albert Raiders

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

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

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

    Mathis Preston | C | Spokane Chiefs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

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

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

    Tynan Lawrence | C | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

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

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

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

    Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

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

    Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers

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

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

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

    Yegor Shilov | C | Victoriaville Tigres

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

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

    Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor Spitfires

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

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

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

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    J.P Hurlbert Continues His Hot Start to the Year

    The 2025–26 Canadian Hockey League season is shaping up to be another showcase of emerging star power, with several draft-eligible talents making their mark early. Top prospects are wasting no time turning heads coast-to-coast, from a scorching start in Kamloops to dominant play down the middle in Oshawa and a power-play clinic in Peterborough. J.P. Hurlbert has been the talk of the Western Hockey League with a torrid scoring pace that’s drawing historic comparisons, Brooks Rogowski is using his size and skill to elevate his draft stock, and Adam Novotny continues to prove why he’s one of the Ontario Hockey League’s most dangerous young wingers. Here’s a closer look at three standout performances that defined this past week for draft eligibles.

    J.P Hurlbert | RW | Kamloops Blazers

    J.P. Hurlbert’s start to the Western Hockey League campaign has gotten people in hockey very excited for his pro potential. The 5-foot-11, 176 pound winger leads the league in points after roughly two weeks of regular season play with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 11 games.

    The Allen, Texas, native, who joined Kamloops via the United States National Development Team Program U17 team, continued to build on his hot start with eight points (two goals, six assists) in four contests in the past week. The two-way forward started his week contributing an assist on all four Blazers goals in a 4-3 overtime win over the Regina Pats. He followed it up with a goal and an assist on Thursday in a 7-5 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. Hurlbert drove the net and popped in a rebound to pick up his 11th goal in ten games on Friday, but the Blazers fell 6-3 to the Brandon Wheat Kings. Hurlbert was held off the scoresheet on Sunday during a 3-2 shootout loss to the Swift Current Broncos. It wasn’t for lack of trying, as he had 13 shot attempts with five hitting the target. Defensively, he was credited with six shot blocks in the contest.

    Hurlbert’s hot start has him on pace for a 68 goal, 80 assist, 148 point season, which would be the third-best draft-eligible season in the WHL behind Rob Brown’s 173 points in 1985-86 and Ken Yaremchuk’s 157 points in 1981-82. It would put him five points ahead of what Connor Bedard accomplished in 2022-23.

    Brooks Rogowski | C | Oshawa Generals

    In a draft year without a definite number one center, there is plenty of room for the young men who play down the middle to up their draft stock. Brooks Rogowski of the Oshawa Generals could find himself in that conversation.

    The Brighton, Michigan, native has excellent size and has shown a knack for getting on the scoresheet. The 6-foot-6, 227 pound middleman is averaging the second most ice time for forwards with an average of 22:15, behind only Columbus Blue Jackets fifth-round pick Owen Griffin.

    Rogowski opened the week by tying up the score 2-2 on the power play by collecting a rebound off a Hoaxi Wang shot and shoveling it past the Windsor Spitfires goaltender. He added a goal and an assist on Thursday night in a 7-3 loss to the Peterborough Petes. He led the Generals forwards in ice time on Saturday in a 7-1 drubbing of the Generals by the Kingston Frontenacs. He finished off the week with a four-assist afternoon as the Generals avenged its earlier loss to Peterborough, besting them 6-4.

    Adam Novotny | LW | Peterborough Petes

    Adam Novotny is an early favorite to land somewhere in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, and his start with Peterborough is sure to keep him in those talks. After spending the 2024-25 season split between junior national team duties and Mountfield HK’s pro team, the 6-foot-1 winger has acclimatized well to the OHL with 11 points in 11 games.

    Novotny opened his scoring for the week by being in the perfect place to pop a rebound by the Oshawa Generals’ goalkeeper to give the Petes a 4-1 lead in the second period. He added an assist later in the contest, making a slick move around a Generals defender and firing a shot that left a juicy rebound that teammate Matthew Soto pushed home. He wasn’t done there; Novotny put the game way out of reach after some good passing by the Petes’ power play. Novotny took a feed, waited a second for traffic to set up, and wired a wrist shot that the Generals keeper had no chance to get.

    Novotny continued to show his prowess on the power play throughout the week. During his team’s second contest of the OHL’s inaugural Rivalry Week, he took a feed while the Petes were on a 5-on-3 and wired a one-timer to put his team ahead 2-0. He added another power play marker in his team’s final contest of the week. After skating the puck up the ice, Novotny fed the point and then set up for a return pass. After getting the puck back, he stepped in and wired a wrist shot that had eyes for the back of the net.