Alright, we got through the 2025 NHL Draft. Time to immediately turn the page to 2026. For some of us, this is one we’ve been looking forward to for some time. And there’s one reason for it: Gavin McKenna.

• Watch elite junior, college and pro hockey all season on FloHockey
• FloHockey's 2025 NHL Draft Grades
• Gavin McKenna Is The 2026 NHL Draft Prospect You Won't Stop Hearing About

Let’s not go around throwing around the “generational” tag, because it’s overused. Let’s just say he is far and away the No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, that he has a chance to be a massive star in the game and there will likely be a number of teams that won’t be too bent out of shape if their record puts them in the range to win the NHL Draft lottery.

While McKenna is definitely the No. 1 pick, there are several exciting players at the very top of this class including Swedish standout Ivar Stenberg, who shined in the SHL playoffs with Frölunda this year. There’s also big defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who made the decision to go to the University of North Dakota for his draft season. Big OHL forwards Ryan Roobroeck and Ethan Belchetz also have a chance to be extremely high picks considering just how much value we saw teams put on size in this last draft. 

They are not alone in the intrigue they create.

There is a lot that can change in a year. And there’s a lot more hockey to be watched, but based on what I’ve seen from the 2026 NHL Draft class, here are 10 players that stand out quite noticeably.

It’s our way too early 2026 NHL Draft Top 10 Rankings.

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers 

Between the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup, McKenna put up 173 points in 76 games. His 129 in the regular season ranks third among U18 players in the WHL in the last 35 years. He had points in 54 consecutive games. We can keep going on and on with the points.

What will make Gavin McKenna the No. 1 pick however is his impressive pace, ability to process the game at remarkable speeds and hand skills that will make more than a few defenders look silly even at the NHL level. He is a play-driving winger who craves the puck and makes plays in any way you can imagine. He is a legitimate shot-pass threat, though I think he’s a better playmaker than a goal scorer. 

He's a winner, too. McKenna led Canada to the U18 World Championship in 2024 while setting the Candian scoring record in the tournament, then took Medicine Hat to the WHL championship and the Memorial Cup final. He’s a special, special talent.

What makes McKenna even more interesting now is that he is the most sought-after college hockey recruit in history. McKenna is expected to choose the NCAA path after dominating the WHL. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, it is down to Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have a national championship contender loaded up for next season, while Penn State is fresh off its first ever Frozen Four berth and can offer McKenna the chance to be a transformational player for the program, which he’ll probably also be for whatever team drafts him next year.

2. Keaton Verhoeff, D, Victoria Royals (University of North Dakota)

Verhoeff only just turned 17 a few weeks ago, but he’s already 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds. He is a fantastic skater, especially at his size, can defend at a high enough level and he can make a lot of plays. Verhoeff scored 21 goals this season, most ever by a defenseman his age in the WHL. He’s heading to North Dakota for his draft season where he will be challenged by older, stronger players. However, with his physical maturity already at this level, he should be able to handle himself more than adequately.

If he continues on the trajectory he is on, with how much NHL teams value size on the blue line, I’m not sure he will be unseated as the most likely to go after McKenna.

3. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda

After spending most of the year in Frölunda’s junior team and flirting with the idea of coming to North America to play in the NCAA, the senior team called him up and Stenberg made it count. After a tepid entry into the regular-season with just three points in 25 games, Stenberg became a top-six forward in the playoffs and had six points in 12 games. He was then Sweden’s best player at the U18 Worlds where they took the silver medal, scoring eight goals in seven games. 

Stenberg has good-enough size, plays hard and has both the skill and speed to challenge pro defensemen. He sees the ice well, can extend plays and makes those around him better. He even did that at the pro level. Stenberg will be one of the older players in the draft in 2026, born 15 days after the cutoff, but the growth he showed this year was exceptional.

4. Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara Ice Dogs

If you want a big player that can score, Roobroeck might be your guy. He had 41 goals this season for Niagara amid 87 points in 64 games. It was a 36-point improvement over his rookie season. Roobroeck’s hockey sense and his hands are notable tools, though his skating will need some work. But he’s 6-foot-4, 190 pounds and won’t get pushed around.

5. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires

Only 17 and already 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Belchetz was a No. 1 pick in the OHL Draft. While his rookie season numbers don't blow you away, some of the flashes he showed throughout the season do. He's a legitimate goal-scoring threat with a quick release and heavy shot. On top of that, he's more like a freight train on skates with the ability to get up ice quickly, drive the middle and score the hard way. Belchetz will also lay the body and can drop the gloves when needed. When he's playing with a surly attitude, he's tough to stop and has good-enough touch on the puck to make plays. I'd expect a pretty big season from him in Windsor.

6. Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks

The Clark Cup Playoffs MVP as a U17 player, Lawrence took the USHL by storm as a rookie last season. Adding to the excitement is that he'll be among the youngest players in next year's draft with an August birthday. He's a sturdy 6-foot center, who should improve even more with increased strength over the next season. As a 16-year-old, he was nearly a point per game in the USHL regular season before dominating the playoffs with 18 points in 14 games as the Lumberjacks won their first ever Clark Cup. He has tremendous hockey sense with an ability to find the best play more often than not. 

7. Mathis Preston, C, Spokane Chiefs

Long one of the top players in his age group, Preston has shined on a number of different stages over his young career to date. He was the leading goal scorer at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where Canada White won gold. He also was a top performer at the Youth Olympics as a U16. This past season, Preston had 45 points in 54 games for Spokane before really shining in the playoffs with nine goals in 20 games on a long run for the Chiefs. Though Preston doesn't boast the size of some of the other forwards in this group, he does have a killer release and is a creative player who finds a variety of ways to impact the game offensively. He's going to be leaned on heavily in the coming season with Spokane potentially losing some of its big veteran stars.

8. Viggo Björck, C/W, Djugårdens IF U20

Last season, Björck set the single-season points record in Sweden's J20 Nationell, the top U20 league in the country. He had 74 points as a slight 16-year-old, in a U20 league. No other U17 player is within 24 points of Björck historically. Even his points-per-game average as a U17 dwarfs those of William Nylander, and Daniel and Henrik Sedin. This is a bit of a lofty ranking for Björck because of his 5-foot-9 frame, but there are special qualities in his game. He has tremendous hands, an ability to read plays in transition and he can pick defenses apart in a variety of ways. He can score in a variety of ways and he's going to often be a favorite linemate with how much extra time he can create to make plays. We'll see how much of a look he gets with the senior team if he stays in Sweden next year

9. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants

A talented puck-moving defenseman, Lin had 53 points in 60 games as a WHL rookie. Only exceptional status defenseman Landon DuPont had more among U17 defensemen in the league, while Lin’s total also ranks ninth all time among U17 defensemen in WHL history. He is a very good skater, retrieves pucks well and makes plays in all three zones. I’d expect a fairly explosive season out of Lin in terms of points and rising draft stock.

10. Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds

Reid kind of came out of nowhere last year to become one of the top young defensemen in the OHL. In just 39 games with the Soo Greyhounds, he put up 40 points and played massive minutes. What makes his story more fascinating is that he started the season in the NAHL with the Bismarck Bobcats before the Greyhounds came calling. He ended up finishing the season as an all-rookie selection in the OHL and led all rookies in assists with 33. At 6-foot-2 and a right-shot, and late 2007-born player, Reid has higher-end puck moving capabilities. He can play on the power play and still gives you good defensive value. 

Other Names To Know For The 2026 NHL Draft

Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders

Niklas Aaram-Olsen, C, Örebro HK J20

Adam Valentini, C, Chicago Steel (Kitchener Rangers)

Mikey Berchild, C/W, U.S. National Under-17 Team 

Adam Novotný, LW, Mountfield HK

Viktor Fyodorov, C, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod

Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars

Olivers Murnieks, C, Sioux City Musketeers

Elton Hermansson, LW, Örebro HK J20

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. 

Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch the AHL, ECHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
• Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
• Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook