The 2026 NHL Draft season is still young, but it’s hard not to start forming clearer opinions about the outlook. We recently wrote that Gavin McKenna’s grip on the No. 1 spot is still tight, but there has been evidence of it loosening some. The biggest question is who could possibly knock him off the mantle?

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The rest of the 2026 NHL Draft class hasn’t made a strong enough case to knock him off, but certain players are trending in such a way that it seems at least possible that others can and should be considered as contenders for the spot.

One such player making among the stronger cases for consideration is Windsor Spitfires winger Ethan Belchetz. The former No. 1 pick in the OHL Priority Selection has long been lauded for his size and skill combination, especially with the mean streak that he plays with. 

What did not come as easily in his rookie season was points. Belchetz had 38 points as a 16-year-old with the Spits, which was respectable, but hardly earth shattering. 

As a result, most lists would have him as a top-10 pick, but usually in the latter half of that section. Then Belchetz had a strong showing for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored seven points in five games to lead the team.

That was merely the appetizer to the season ahead, though. After a relatively quiet opening night, Belchetz has been on a tear. Through 19 games, the 6-foot-5 winger has 13 goals and 24 points. He has been held off the score sheet in just four games total this season. It isn't outright dominant for a top-tier draft prospect, but it's a significant year-over-year improvement with signs that he's only getting better.

Belchetz has also managed to deliver some bone-crunching hits and has dropped the gloves a few times already. NHL teams are as enamored with that aggressive play as they are with his ability to score. When you put that in his massive frame at 6-foot-5 and more than 220 pounds at just 17 years old, the upside teams see in that kind of player is significant.

The size, skill and speed are all valued commodities. But what has to be more exciting and enticing is that the puck is on Belchetz’s stick an awful lot. One of the key stats of his season to date is 78 shots on goal through 19 games. He is averaging four shots per game, almost doubling his shots-per-game average from his rookie season.

Belchetz plays with top players in Windsor’s roster, often finding himself on a line with a top producer in Liam Greentree (LAK). That is two massive forwards that are going to be awfully difficult to contain.

Additionally, with Jack Nesbitt out for a few games, Belchetz got a few brief looks at center. It seems that his game is best suited as a power winger, but that’s something to keep an eye on. There is no question that NHL teams value centers more than wings, even big ones like Belchetz. 

Regardless of position, the potential Belchetz has shown gives teams opportunities to project him as a upper-lineup player in the NHL. If he can prove he profiles like a No. 1 winger at his size, that gives him a real case for consideration as a true McKenna challenger as the draft discussion heats up in the second half.

It is unclear if Belchetz will get much, if any consideration for a very strong Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. The way he has played, however, should have at least put him on the radar. Whether he makes it or not, the biggest tests for Belchetz come in the second half of the season.

Windsor has been one of the top teams in the OHL this season, putting them on a path to the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Only Brantford has a better points percentage than Windsor’s .800 entering Thursday night’s action. The Spits are tops in the Western Conference by four points and have won 15 of 20 games so far this season, losing just three times in regulation.

Should Belchetz help his team go on a deep run, possibly even win the title and earn a trip to the Memorial Cup, his draft outlook only gets stronger.

There’s still a long way to get to all of that, though. For now, Belchetz will continue to be relied on in the most critical moments of the game, and if he keeps delivering as he has, the rest will take care of itself. 

Fans can watch Belchetz and his Windsor Spitfires teammates this Friday for the OHL’s selected Friday Night Faceoff game against the Guelph Storm. The game will air live and free on FloHockey’s YouTube, X and Facebook channels. Details below.

How To Watch OHL Free Streams On YouTube

On Friday nights throughout the season, the OHL and FloHockey will present Friday Night Faceoff, a free game of the week on YouTube. The game’s primary broadcast will be shared as a free stream on FloHockey’s YouTube page. The free broadcast will begin shortly before puck drop. Check FloHockey and OHL social channels to see which game will be streaming each week.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch OHL Free Streams On X

On Friday nights throughout the season, the OHL and FloHockey will present Friday Night Faceoff, a free game of the week on X (formerly known as Twitter). The primary broadcast feed will stream on FloHockey’s X page. The free broadcast will begin shortly before puck drop. Check FloHockey and OHL social channels to see which game will be streaming each week.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch OHL Free Streams On Facebook

On Friday nights throughout the season, the OHL and FloHockey will present Friday Night Faceoff, a free game of the week on YouTube. The primary broadcast feed will be shared as a free stream on FloHockey’s Facebook page. Additionally, the game will stream live on the OHL’s Facebook page and on each participating teams’ Facebook pages. The free broadcast will begin shortly before puck drop. Check FloHockey and OHL social Channels to see which game will be streaming each week.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch The OHL On FloHockey

The OHL is streaming on FloHockey.tv and the FloSports app. Live games, replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms. Subscribe to FloHockey today so you never miss a moment of the exciting OHL season and the chase for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

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