On Monday evening, NHL Central Scouting released their midterm rankings of prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft.
In October, NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary watch lists. In that process, they assign preliminary letter grades assigning estimated draft value on each player (example: an A grade means the NHL draft prospect has a first round grade). I wrote about those lists when they were released.
As always, NHL Central Scouting breaks up their NHL draft prospect rankings into four categories: North American skaters and goalies, and International skaters and goalies.
Keep in mind these rankings are all separated; NHL Central Scouting has not declared who of Gavin McKenna Ivar Stenberg is their No. 1 overall prospect. They did, however provide a couple comments on the top prospects on the respective skater lists. Before we get to those comments, here are their top ten skaters in North America and International.
Top 10 North American Skaters
Gavin McKenna, LW Keaton Verhoeff, RHD Carson Carels, LHD Chase Reid, RHD Caleb Malhotra, C Daxon Rudolph, RHD Tynan Lawrence, C Ilya Morozov, C Ethan Belchetz, LW JP Hurlbert, LW Full list of North American SkatersTop 10 International Skaters
Ivar Stenberg, LW Alberts Šmits, LHD Oliver Suvanto, C Elton Hermansson, RW Viggo Björck, C Juho Piiparinen, RHD Marcus Nordmark, LW Malte Gustafsson, LHD William Håkansson, LHD Simas Ignatavicius, RW Full list of International SkatersThe two No. 1 prospects
On Gavin McKenna:“Gavin McKenna is an elite talent with exceptional hockey sense, quickness and maturity which has allowed him to dictate the play and influence games at every level he’s played,” said Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting. “He possesses a combination of unteachable skills and attributes which have been on record-setting display the last couple seasons and place him in a category of his own as the top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.
“He was the consensus number one for mid-season and belongs in that special player category. The projection is not based on when he plays in the NHL; rather, once he gets established in the NHL.”
On Ivar Stenberg:“He has established himself as a top prospect, already playing regular minutes with powerhouse Frolunda in the SHL,” NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “His blend of speed, first-step quickness, and balance makes him a dangerous, dynamic skater who can both create and finish plays.
“Offensively, he displays elite hockey IQ and patience with the puck, often distributing with precision on the power play and in tight spaces. His vision and timing enable him to open up lanes and create high-quality scoring chances.”
Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler at The Athletic shared some thoughts on these new lists.Some quick thoughts on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings: t.co/y7R3wlGz6R
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 13, 2026Hence then, the article about 2026 nhl draft nhl central scouting releases midterm prospect rakings was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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