The World Juniors have come and gone and several 2026 draft-eligible prospects made lasting impressions on the biggest stage junior hockey has to offer.

From forwards Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck helping Sweden win its first gold medal since 2012, to defencemen Chase Reid (United States) and Alberts Smits (Latvia) becoming blueline pillars for their countries, the 2026 class had its fingerprints all over the tournament.

For TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button, the World Juniors also affirmed that Penn State forward Gavin McKenna remains the No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Questions have swirled around McKenna’s game all season long after he made the jump from the Western Hockey League to NCAA hockey. At Penn State this season, he has four goals and 19 points in 18 games. Last year, with the Medicine Hat Tigers, he had 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games.

McKenna had four goals and 14 points in seven games at the World Juniors as Canada went home with bronze.

Button notes that McKenna, who stands at 6-foot and 170 pounds, willingly sought out a bigger challenge for his draft year, playing against older, stronger competition with eyes on furthering his physical development.

“He’s an elite talent,” said Button. “I watch him, and I look for all these things that would give me pause to think he’s anything less than elite, and I don’t see anything.

“Gavin, to me, has continued to demonstrate and show me that there is nothing for me to change my projection or view on him.”

Frolunda’s Stenberg, a winger, remains at No. 2 on Button’s January draft ranking, while Reid makes the jump from No. 5 to No. 3 to be the top-ranked defenceman after a strong World Junior performance.

Reid had two goals and four points in five games while averaging 20:06 of ice time before the Americans were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Reid also has 15 goals and 38 points in 34 games this season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds.

“In terms of growth and room to improve, he might have the most,” said Button of Reid. “He’s got special abilities. He just keeps taking on more elements in the game that make him more impactful in the game and in so many different areas.”

At No. 4 is Smits, who cracks the top five for the first time this year after being ranked No. 12 in November.

Smits led Latvia in average ice time at the World Juniors with 23:40 and had a goal and four assists in five games as they reached the quarter-finals for the third straight year.

The 18-year-old has six goals and 12 points in 30 games skating in the SM-Liiga this season with Jukurit, and was recently named to Latvia’s Olympic roster.

“When you watch him play, [there are] two things: unwavering confidence and trust [in] his instincts,” said Button of Smits. “It’s just going to keep growing. He’s been a really good player in the SM-Liiga. He’s a young player and he [is] 100 per cent worthy of being on the Latvian Olympic team.”

Reid and Smits edge out Canadian defencemen Carson Carels (No. 5) and Keaton Verhoeff (No. 6), who also skated at the World Juniors.

Another player cracking the top 10 is Björck, who jumps from No. 22 in November to No. 7.

The 17-year-old was a key cog in Sweden’s gold-medal win, scoring three goals with nine points in seven games and was named a top-three player on the team.

At the club level, he has four goals and eight points in 25 games with Djurgardens in the Swedish Hockey League this season.

“When I watch him play, it conjures up images of Brayden Point,” said Button of Björck. “He beats you up with his brain. And then he’s got really good hands. He’s a really good elusive skater. IQ off the charts.”

Narrowly missing the top 10 is Brantford Bulldogs centre Caleb Malhotra, who clocks in at No. 11.

Malhotra, son of former long-time NHLer Manny, leads the Bulldogs with 53 points this season. On one of the CHL’s best teams with 11 NHL draft picks, Malhotra has stood out.

“I think Caleb, for me, second-line centre projection,” said Button. “He’ll give you offence, two-way play, he’ll give you that gritty, hard, detailed play when it’s necessary.”

The biggest riser on Button’s list is Swedish centre Alexander Command, who leaps from No. 36 to No. 16.

Skating with Orebro HK’s U20 squad this season, Command has 13 goals and 29 points in 20 games. He also helped Sweden capture bronze at the World Junior A Challenge with three goals and five points in five games as he was named to the tournament All-Star team.

“He’s a really good player,” said Button of Command. “Competitive, smart. I’m sure he will be a first-round draft pick.”

Note: The Ottawa Senators had to forfeit a first-round pick in either the 2024, 2025 or 2026 NHL Draft for the invalidated trade of Evgeni Dadonov made in 2022. The team kept its 2024 and 2025 first-round picks and therefore must give up their 2026 first-rounder, making this list a Top 31 for Round 1 and Top 63 instead of the usual Top 64. If the Senators fail to make the playoffs, the NHL’s draft lottery odds may have to be adjusted as well.

Craig’s List – January 15

RKPlayer
 TeamPosHTWTGPGP1Gavin McKennaPenn State (NCAA)LW5′11170184192Ivar StenbergFrolunda (SHL)LW5′11183256243Chase ReidSault Ste. Marie (OHL)D6′2 ¼1883415384Alberts SmitsJokerit (SM Liiga)D6′3205306125Carson CarelsPrince George (WHL)D6′1 ½189329346Keaton VerhoeffNorth Dakota (NCAA)D6′3 ½208184127Viggo BjorckDjurgårdens (SWE J20)C/RW5′917725488Tynan LawrenceBoston U (NCAA)C6′0 ½1851310179Oliver SuvantoTappara (SM Liiga Jr)C6′2 ¾207302710Oscar HemmingK-Espoo (SM Liiga Jr)LW6′3 ½19320211Caleb MalhotraBrantford (OHL)C6′1 ¼18239205312Juho PiiparinenTappara (SM Liiga Jr)D6′1201260313Ethan BelchetzWindsor (OHL)LW6′522838254014Daxon RudolphPrince Albert (WHL)D6′2 ¼20639194415Marcus NordmarkDjurgårdens (SWE J20)LW/RW6′1 ½1801972516Alexander CommandOrebro (SWE J20)C6′118320132917JP HurlburtKamloops (WHL)LW5′11 ¾18540266318Elton HermanssonModo (SWE J20)RW6′1181133919Ryan LinVancouver (WHL)D5′1117742115020Ben MacBeathCalgary (WHL)D6′21843863021Xavier VilleneuveB-Boisbriand (QMJHL)D5′111623563622Liam RuckMedicine Hat (WHL)RW5′11 ¾17641225823Adam NovotnyPeterborough (OHL)LW6′120431203624Ilia MorozovMiami-Ohio (NCAA)C6′32002271425Pierce MbuyiOwen Sound (OHL)LW5′1016041235026Egor ShilovVictoriaville (QMJHL)C6′0 ½17738215127Cooper WilliamsSaskatoon (WHL)C6′0 ¼16638133428Nikita KlepovSaginaw (OHL)RW5′11 ½17840235029Markus RuckMedicine Hat (WHL)C5′11 ½1674195530Malte GustafssonHV71 (SWE J20)D6′4 ¼200143931Tomas ChrenkoNitra (SVK)C5′10 ½17230519
32Thomas VandenbergOttawa (OHL)C5′11 ½17932132833Victor PlanteUSA NTDP (USHL)LW5′9 ¼16333162934William HakanssonLulea (SHL)D6′4 ½207220235Adam ValentiniMichigan (NCAA)C5′9 ¼1902261836Wyatt CullenUSA NTDP (USHL)LW5′11 ¼1741431237Vilho VanhataloTappara (SM Liiga Jr.)RW6′31872691638Jakub VanecekTri-City (WHL)D6′1 ½1913182139Mathis PrestonSpokane (WHL)C5′10 ¾17738153540Charlie MorrisonQuebec (QMJHL)D6′3 ¼198232641Nikita ShcherbakovNeftekamsk (VHL)D6′5187200642Ryan RoobroeckNiagara (OHL)LW6′2 ¾21540224743Maddox DagenaisQuebec (QMJHL)C6′3 ¼19638183244Gleb PugachyovN. Novgorod (MHL)RW6′31982782145Niklas Aaram-OlsenOrebro (SWE J20)LW6′018420162846Filip NovakPrague (CZE Jr.)C6′119824102847Landon AmrheinCalgary (WHL)RW6′4 ½1903872348Casey MutrynUSA NTDP (USHL)C/RW6′32003352049Jack HextallYoungstown (USHL)C5′11 ¾1882171850Beckham EdwardsSarnia (OHL)C/LW6′0 ¾18241143151Brady KnowlingUSA NTDP (USHL)G6′5202153.63.88752Olivers MurnieksSaint John (QMJHL)C6′0 ¼2002651753Alessandro Di IorioSarnia (OHL)C6′0 ¼1882491754Tomas GalvasLiberec (CZE)D5′101682131255Adam GoljerTrencin (SVK)D6′3194293956Luke SchairerUSA NTDP (USHL)D6′3196330857Jaxon CoverLondon (OHL)RW6′1 ½1804092958Giorgios PantelasBrandon (WHL)D6′22144121959Ryder CaliNorth Bay (OHL)C6′1 ½21019101460Brooks RogowskiOshawa (OHL)C6′72322762261Aleksei VlasovVictoriaville (QMJHL)LW5′917639275262Oscar HolmertzLinkoping (SWE J20)C6′01872372063Landon HafeleGreen Bay (USHL)C5′11 ¼18527827