2026 NHL Draft Rankings: New names emerge, players shift within top 10 as playoffs approach originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In junior leagues across North America and in professional leagues across Europe, draft-eligible players will be handed possibly their final opportunities to improve their draft stock as we approach the playoffs.
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Players who step up and lead their teams will only help their case, but before we enter the pivotal moments of these draft-eligible players’ careers, we take another look at the top 10 players of the 2026 NHL draft.
1. Gavin McKenna
Current team: Penn State (NCAA)
Measurables: 5’11”, 170 pounds
Penn State has been on a slide, being held without a win since Feb. 21 against Ohio State. However, McKenna has been doing his best to shore up his team. He notched two points in the two losses to Wisconsin, and his eight shots on goal show his determination in the face of the team’s adversity. McKenna remains a shoo-in at No. 1.
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2. Ivar Stenberg
Current team: Frolunda (Sweden)
Measurables: 5’11”, 183 pounds
Stenberg was held off the scoresheet in his past five games. Frolunda only has three regular-season games remaining before the playoffs, so Stenberg is unlikely to catch Daniel Sedin’s record of 42 points in 50 games. The record chase being over may relieve some pressure on Stenberg, allowing him to focus on the chase for an SHL Championship.
MORE:Â 2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg continue star as top prospects on big board
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3. Chase Reid
Current team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Measurables: 6’2″, 188 pounds
The Greyhounds have sorely missed Reid on the blue line since his Feb. 1 injury. In the 14 games Sault Ste. Marie has played in his absence; they have won just eight games. Of their six losses, three were decided by one goal. Reid is considered day-to-day by The Sault Star.
As the Greyhounds move closer to the playoffs, they face Windsor and Flint, two teams directly above them in the standings. The sooner Reid returns, the bigger difference-maker he will be down the stretch.
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4. Keaton Verhoeff
Current team: North Dakota (NCAA)
Measurables: 6’4″, 208 pounds
Verhoeff has been quieter on the production side for North Dakota, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Fighting Hawks are in the midst of the NCHC playoffs, meaning veteran upperclassmen are going to get more ice time than a freshman like Verhoeff.
This step back allows Verhoeff to stretch his play style toward more of a second-pairing defenseman, further increasing his already strong versatility. It’s not to say that Verhoeff isn’t an offensive defenseman, but rather adding to his repertoire the ability to be a role player.
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5. Caleb Malhotra
Current team: Brantford (OHL)
Measurables: 6’1″, 182 pounds
Malhotra had a very respectable four points (two goals + two assists) in a trio of games this past weekend. He also bumped up his plus/minus to a plus-34, now eighth in the OHL. What excites me the most, however, is his legal physicality. Many times, power forwards get overzealous when throwing their bodies around, resulting in unnecessary penalties. Not Malhotra, who only has 2 penalty minutes in his last six outings. His composure, coupled with his skill, will take Malhotra far.
6. Tynan Lawrence
Current team: Boston Univ. (NCAA)
Measurables: 6’0″, 185 pounds
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As the season has gone on, Tynan Lawrence has found his groove more and more. Boston University has only played one game since our last ranking. In that contest, against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lawrence put up three shots on goal, his highest amount since Feb. 6 versus Maine. The Terriers are currently unranked, meaning a Hockey East Championship may be their only path to the NCAA tournament. I will be watching the single-elimination opening round on March 11 very closely.
MORE:Â NHL power rankings: Central Division continues to set the pace
7. Alberts Smits
Current team: EHC Red Bull Munchen (Germany)
Measurables: 6’3″, 205 pounds
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It has been an adjustment for Smits going from Finland to Germany. Through three games, he has no points. Adding to the change is the mentality shift from EHC Red Bull Munchen to his old team Jukurit. Munchen is in fourth place among 14 teams and is locked into a playoff position. Meanwhile, Jukurit is 14th of 16 teams, well out of post-season contention.
Smits may have some growing pains as he jumps headfirst into one of the best teams in Germany, but this experience will help him when he goes to North America.
8. Viggo Bjorck
Current team: Djurgarden (Sweden)
Measurables: 5’9″, 177 pounds
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Bjorck had a decent week, putting up one assist in two games. Djurgarden won both games last weekend, as expected, against Orebro and Lulea HF. As the SHL season draws to a close and Djurgarden holds on to their playoff spot, look for Bjorck to become more productive. The post-season could cause his draft stock to skyrocket.
9. Carson Carels
Current team: Prince George (WHL)
Measurables: 6’1″, 175 pounds
Carels is a great two-way defenseman who cracks my top ten after a fifth three-point weekend from the blue line. The biggest asset Carels brings is his vision in transition. He combines that vision with good edgework and a larger frame to direct traffic in the neutral zone.
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Carels’ aforementioned edgework allows for his active stick and soft hands to help control the offensive zone for Prince George. His resulting 47 assists and 66 points put Carels in the top five getters among defensemen in the WHL.
10. Oscar Hemming
Current team: Boston College (NCAA)
Measurables: 6’4″, 193 pounds
Boston College has been very streaky this season, making it harder to evaluate Hemming. The Eagles have lost their last three games by a combined score of 12-4. Typically, it falls on upperclassmen to step up in situations like this.
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However, I would like to see more simplicity to Hemming’s game, just throwing the puck to the net, as he has not taken three or more shots on goal since Feb. 9 against Boston University.
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