The 2026 NHL Draft begins on Friday night. Finally. The Chicago Blackhawks now own just two picks in the first two rounds (Nos. 34 and 37) after trading Nos. 4 and 45 overall to the the Sabres for Bowen Byram.
Today, we publish our final ranking list of this year’s class. We’re upping our game to the top 60 overall players in this year’s class.
Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg2026 NHL Draft — Top 60 Prospects
1. Ivar Stenberg, LW
5-11, 183DOB: Sept. 30, 2007Shoots: Left
Stenberg comes in at No. 1 on our final list. Of the two special, elite wingers at the top of this draft class, McKenna might have the higher offensive ceiling but Stenberg gets the top spot here because he has the more complete game. He’s a defensively responsible player who can impact the offensive end of the ice with his shot and passing ability. He had a more productive U-19 season in the SHL than Leo Carlsson and Anton Frondell and remained a standout on talented teams at the World Junior Championship and again against men at the World Championship. He’s the total package — even if he’s shorter than some might prefer.
2. Chase Reid, RHD
6-2.5, 190DOB: Dec. 30, 2007Shoots: Right
Reid is the total package on the back end. He’s smart, plays a physical game, skates very well and does anything you want/need with the puck. In this year’s OHL coaches poll, Reid ranked first in the Western Conference in best offensive defenseman category, second in best defensive defenseman, second in the best skater and third in best shot. Reid projects as a defender who’s going to play a lot of minutes, runs a top power play and helps kill penalties. He’s headed to Michigan State this coming season.
3. Gavin McKenna, LW
5-11.25, 170DOB: Dec 20, 2007Shoots: Left
McKenna is the most dynamic offensive player in this year’s NHL draft class. He’s an elite playmaker with great vision; he’s a great passer and has an NHL shot. There is no questioning his ability to make an offensive impact on the ice, even if the move to the college ranks led to a somewhat slow start to his pre-draft season and made some question his spot at the top of the draft board before Christmas. We have him at No. 3 on our list because Stenberg is the more responsible overall player and Reid is a potentially elite defenseman. With that being said, McKenna will likely be the first name called this week by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
4. Caleb Malhotra, C
6-1.75, 185DOB: June 02, 2008Shoots: Left
Malhotra has clearly established himself as the top center in this year’s draft class. He has the ideal size to play down the middle at the pro level, and he plays a smart, responsible game in every zone. He plays with pace, is a good skater and has a very mature game for a player of his age. The offense might not project him to be a top-line center, but he’s going to be an important piece for a team. He could hear his name called inside the top five of this year’s NHL draft; his father was named the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who own the No. 3 pick. He’s headed to Boston University this fall.
5. Carson Carels, LHD
6-1.75, 198DOB: June 23, 2008Shoots: Left
Carels plays the game with a physical edge, taking away space from forwards and closing gaps. He’s also a strong passer who sees the ice well and skates very well. He has a strong shot, but is more likely to be a top penalty killer than a power play quarterback. In this year’s top-end class of defensemen, Carels might project as the safest pick early in the NHL draft. He’s going to play a lot of reliable minutes as a top-end defender. He’s headed to North Dakota this fall.
6. Alberts Šmits, LHD
6-2.75, 209DOB: Dec. 02, 2007Shoots: Left
Šmits’ stock has steadily climbed throughout the past season. He played against men in Finland, showed incredibly well at the World Junior Championship and then played well against NHL players at the Olympics and the World Championship. With his size, Šmits skating and shot stand out and make him an easy top-ten pick this year. He projects as a top-pair defenseman in the NHL and could be the first left-handed defenseman off the board in this year’s NHL draft.
7. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD
6-4, 215DOB: June 19, 2008Shoots: Right
Verhoeff going the college route in his pre-draft season opened the door for criticism that he might not have received if he had stayed in junior — which is both good and bad. At the end of the day, he’s an enormous right-shot defenseman; Verhoeff has drawn comparisons to Aaron Ekblad. He has a big shot and plays a physical game. His college experience should pay dividends in the long run. His stock might not be as high now as it was for some 12 months ago, but he’s going to be a very good, top-pair defenseman in the NHL.
8. Viggo Björck, C
5-9, 180DOB: March 12, 2008Shoots: Right
If Björck was a couple inches taller, he would likely be a lock to come off the board in the top five picks of this year’s NHL draft. He’s a brilliant playmaker who has held his own against men over the past year in the SHL and internationally. His size makes his projection as an NHL center tough, but he’s a good skater with top-shelf instincts and marvelous with the puck. Björck also has a great shot.
9. Daxon Rudolph, RHD
6-2.5, 205DOB: March 06, 2008Shoots: Right
Rudolph has emerged as a bona fide top-ten prospect in this year’s class, and might surprise some fans if he comes off the board as early as the 5-7 range. He’s known as an incredibly smart defenseman who plays the puck well and is terrific with the puck. Rudolph could eventually run a top power play because of his shot and mobility.
10. Ethan Belchetz, LW
6-5, 230DOB: March 30, 2008Shoots: Left
Belchetz is the big, prototype power forward at the top of this class who is going to get all of the Tkachuk comps. He’s an enormous forward who goes to the crowded areas on the ice and makes an impact. His stock has slid a bit late in the process because of an injury, but he’ll be part of a loaded incoming class at Michigan State and get to play with a lot of NHL-caliber talent for the Spartans.
11. Tynan Lawrence, C
6-0.5, 183DOB: Aug. 03, 2008Shoots: Left
Lawrence was once projected to the top ten in this draft, but his stock slid after a somewhat disappointing run at Boston University; he made the jump mid-season and took time to settle into the college game. He’s still viewed as one of the top true centers in the class, and will be joined by Malhotra at BU in the fall. Some might be sleeping on his draft stock, but there’s a lot to like here.
12. Malte Gustafsson, LHD
6-4.5, 203DOB: June 11, 2008Shoots: Left
Gustafsson’s stock has been up and down this year, but it’s moving up late in the process thanks in large part to his size. He isn’t likely to drive a power play any time soon, but he’s a reliable, responsible, physical defenseman who can eat minutes and shut down an offense — and that has a lot of value to NHL clubs. He could hear his name called as early as the 10-12 range at the draft.
13. Wyatt Cullen, RW
6-1, 183DOB: Sept. 08, 2008Shoots: Left
The son of longtime NHL forward Matt Cullen, Wyatt’s stock has risen about as quickly as his listed height; he was considered a mid-second round prospect earlier in the year, but his stock went up to the first round when he found an extra couple inches. Now, he’s considered a potential top-ten pick who will head to Minnesota to play for the Gophers.
14. Alexander Command, C/W
6-0.75, 187DOB: June 16, 2008Shoots: Left
Like Cullen, Command’s stock has skyrocketed since Christmas; NHL Central Scouting had him as a late-round candidate in their preliminary rankings and he’s now knocking at the door of being picked in the early teens. He’s a good — not great — skater who plays through contact and has good instincts all over the ice. He was also initially listed as a wing, but has become an excellent faceoff guy.
15. Adam Novotný, LW
6-1, 200DOB: Nov. 13, 2007Shoots: Left
Novotný is an elite skater with a very good shot. And he has a good physical base on his skates, which helps his projection to the pro levels. The skating and build, coupled with a good compete level and terrific offensive instincts and a commitment to the entire sheet, make him a player who can bring a lot to the table as a middle-six winger.
16. Nikita Klepov, LW
6-0, 180DOB: June 27, 2008Shoots: Left
Klepov was dominant in the OHL this past season and played well at the OHL Top Prospects Game. He’s a crafty offensive player who’s dangerous around the net. Klepov is also a very good passer with terrific vision to go with a lethal shot. He isn’t a big player, but he’s strong on his skates. With a summer birthday, Klepov will be a player who excites a fan base when his name is called.
17. Oscar Hemming, LW
6-4, 204DOB: Aug. 13, 2008Shoots: Left
Hemming had some off-ice availability issues that needed to be resolved this year that led to a very late start to his season. He has the body to be a true power forward at the pro levels, and he’s an August birthday. Some question his individual playmaking and drive, but he has a presence on the ice that draws attention. He could be a strong middle-six power forward in the NHL.
18. Ryan Lin, RHD
5-11.25, 180DOB: Apr 18, 2008Shoots: Right
Lin would probably be a top-ten pick if he was six feet tall. He still has a strong base and plays the puck very well. The offense is there, and some consider him to be the smartest defenseman in the class. He’ll head to play for David Carle at Denver this coming season with a good incoming group of recruits, which will help elevate his development.
19. Oliver Suvanto, C
6-3, 213DOB: Sept. 03, 2008Shoots: Left
Suvanto is a big, physical center who takes care of the entire sheet of ice. With a September birthday, he’s one of the youngest players in this draft class but he’s already pro-size. His attention to the defensive end of the ice is very good, but his offensive ceiling being somewhat limited has seen his stock dip from a potential early-teens pick to the mid- to late-teens or early-20s in the draft.
20. JP Hurlbert, LW
6-0, 190DOB: April 11, 2008Shoots: Right
An electric offensive player who will take his talents to Ann Arbor this fall. His profile feels a lot like current Blackhawks wing Nick Lardis — not projected to have “star” potential and there are questions about his offense translating to the pro levels, but he continues to put up big numbers. His shot is pro-caliber, and that should get his named called in the first round.
21. Ilya Morozov, C
6-2.75, 205DOB: Aug. 03, 2008Shoots: Left
There’s a lot to like about Morozov. He started last year as the youngest player in the NCAA but was skating around 20 minutes per night and working on both special teams at Miami, which is no small feat for a young player. He’s an August birthday who already has a pro-ready body, which is going to tempt a few front offices in the middle of the first round.
22. Elton Hermansson, W
6-0.5, 182DOB: Feb. 05, 2008Shoots: Right
Hermansson is an offensively gifted right-shot winger who has a terrific shot and playmaking ability; his highlights are impressive. But he isn’t the biggest/strongest player or skater, which causes some to need more development time to be built into picking Hermansson. He needs to improve his defensive game as well. But the skill package on either wing makes him intriguing.
23. Maddox Dagenais, C
6-3.75, 198DOB: March 27, 2008Shoots: Left
Dagenais has a pro-ready frame who plays a strong, physical game with an edge. He likes to hit. But he’s also a good offensive player who’s known as a volume shooter; he gets to the tough areas and gets the puck on net frequently. Some view him as projecting on the wing, which makes his draft stock fall somewhere between the late-20s and the early second round. But he’s a prototype middle-six power forward who could get you 20 goals.
24. Gleb Pugachyov, LW
6-3, 198DOB: March 25, 2008Shoots: Left
Pugachyov is an absolute road grader who can skate and has some skill to his game, but being signed in Russia thru the 2027-28 season may push him out of the first round (which would be great for the Blackhawks early in the second). He likely projects as a bottom-six power forward who can bring some offense to the ice.
25. Tommy Bleyl, RHD
5-11.25, 170DOB: Dec. 1, 2007Shoots: Right
Bleyl’s stock has been climbing over the past couple months from a late-second round pick to seeming like a lock to be in the late-first conversation now. He had a terrific regular season and then went off in the QMJHL playoffs, where he produced 28 points (6 goals, 22 assists) in 21 games. He’s a terrific skater whose size might cost him a few slots, but the offensive upside here is undeniable. Bleyl said at the Combine that he will return to Moncton for the coming season before matriculating to Michigan State.
26. Liam Ruck, RW
5-11.5, 174DOB: Feb. 21, 2008Shoots: Right
Liam Ruck finished second in the WHL behind his twin brother, Markus, on the points leaderboard with 104 this season. There are some questions about his skating, but you can’t ignore the numbers he put up in his pre-draft season in the WHL.
27. Xavier Villeneuve, LHD
5-10.75, 164DOB: Sep 29, 2007Shoots: Left
Villeneuve’s stock has been sliding over the past couple months from a potential top-15 prospect into the second-round conversation in large part because… he’s not a large (enough) player. The height and weight conversation hasn’t hurt the stock of Lin or Bleyl as much as it’s seemingly impacted the talk here. He’s a good defenseman who plays with an edge. He’ll head to Boston University this fall.
28. Juho Piiparinen, RHD
6-1.75, 204DOB: Aug. 10, 2008Shoots: Right
Piiparinen is a slightly bigger right-handed defenseman who will benefit from some of the guys on the board around him being smaller. He’s young (August birthday) which teams will like. Piiparinen plays a very good game that doesn’t necessarily grab your attention — not noticing a defenseman can be a good thing. He skates well. He defends well. He’s got a little offense to his game. He feels like a fairly safe pick late in the first or early in the second round.
29. Jack Hextall, C
6-0.5, 195DOB: March 23, 2008Shoots: R
Hextall is strong on the puck, skates well and wins battles. With his size, he projects as a player who can stay at center at the pro levels, which helps his draft stock. Even if his ceiling is a third-line center, his overall game is strong enough to be a consideration late in the first round. He’s headed to Michigan State in an absolutely loaded incoming group.
30. Yegor Shilov, C
6-0.5, 177DOB: April 30, 2008Shoots: Left
Shilov has terrific hands and he’s a good — not great — skater who drives offense. He plays between the circles, which some front offices and coaches are going to love. He’s committed to Boston University, which is a terrific place to work on developing further.
31. Casey Mutryn, C/RW
6-3, 206DOB: July 5, 2008Shoots: Right
Mutryn is a big, bruising power forward who hits with intent. But he can also bring some offense to the table, which makes him a fascinating prospect. He’s been ranked (and mocked) anywhere between the late-20s to the mid-30s, but his stock seems to be moving up the board since the combine. He reportedly interviewed very well.
32. Markus Ruck, C/RW
5-11.75, 164DOB: Feb. 21, 2008Shoots: Right
Markus’ stock is moving up the board right now, to the point that he might slide into the end of the first round. The question will be how a team manages to draft both Ruck brothers. One of the concerns with Markus is physical play; he got pushed around in the WHL playoffs. But the offensive instincts are what make front offices get excited.
33. Marcus Nordmark, LW34. Simas Ignatavičius, C35. Mathis Preston, RW36. Ryan Roobroeck, C/LW37. Brooks Rogowski, C38. Maksim Sokolovskii, LHD39. William Håkansson, LHD40. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW41. Ryder Cali, C42. Jaxon Cover, LW43. Nikita Shcherbakov, LHD44. Ben MacBeath, LHD45. Jakub Vaněček, LHD46. Tobias Trejbal, G47. Adam Valentini, C48. Adam Goljer, RHD49. Adam Andersson, C50. Alexander Bilecki, LHD51. Samu Alalauri, RHD52. Dmitri Borichev, G53. Tomas Chrenko, C54. Chase Harrington, LW55. Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW56. Rudolfs Berzkalns, C57. Zach Olsen, RW58. Oscar Holmertz, C59. Pierce Mbuyi, LW60. Adam Nemec, LW
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