{"id":293986,"date":"2025-11-19T20:23:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/293986\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T20:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:23:12","slug":"sportsnets-2026-nhl-draft-rankings-november-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/293986\/","title":{"rendered":"Sportsnet’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings: November Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

This isn\u2019t a one-horse race after all.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the floodgates haven\u2019t opened up to several players making a case to go No. 1 overall, there is a large groundswell of scouts who have commented on the emergence of North Dakota\u2019s Keaton Verhoeff.\u00a0Those same scouts have also been keeping close tabs on Penn State\u2019s Gavin McKenna.\u00a0And, due to their recent play, the two are moving spots from where they sat in our October rankings. <\/p>\n

And, while Ivar Stenberg is not quite there yet, his historic production in SHL play has him also entering this discussion about possibly ending up first overall.<\/p>\n

After those three players, there are still a number of great options for teams to pour through.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When looking at Verhoeff vs. McKenna, there are a few things to consider before deep-diving into play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When it comes to McKenna, does he project as a centre?\u00a0If not, there is more significant value in a right-shot defenceman.\u00a0Do you see McKenna growing more than six feet tall and playing at 190 pounds?\u00a0Both are likely, but not currently the case.\u00a0If Verhoeff doesn\u2019t grow another inch or lose any weight, he\u2019s still 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and will likely play closer to 215, and maybe 220 in the NHL.\u00a0So, for a team, the question is: does McKenna\u2019s elite offensive ability outweigh a top-pairing, two-way, right-shot defenceman?\u00a0<\/p>\n

If the draft were held tomorrow, it would likely come down to team need as the tiebreaker between McKenna and Verhoeff for first off the board.\u00a0The margin is razor thin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the rest of the draft class, there have been several opportunities to get noticed, with more on the horizon.\u00a0Recently, a couple of international events at the U18 and U20 levels were contested in Europe.\u00a0Closer to home, players should be in mid-season form.\u00a0Next week, we will get a chance to see the second edition of the CHL\/USA Prospects Challenge, which will take place November 25 and 26 in Calgary and Lethbridge, respectively.\u00a0The CHL roster will feature 15 \u201cA\u201d rated players according to NHL Central Scouting\u2019s Players to Watch list<\/a> released in October.\u00a0In a slightly different twist from last year, the CHL team includes four American-born players who won gold at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the other side, the USNTDP is always a must watch.\u00a0Their roster includes names such as \u201cA\u201d rated defenceman Luke Schairer and as many as seven \u201cB\u201d rated players including team leading scorer Victor Plante, along with Casey Mutryn, and Mikey Berchild.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re about a month away from the world juniors in Minnesota, and we\u2019re likely to see a large contingent of draft eligibles participating there.\u00a0Players can often alter the course of where they’re ranked due to how they perform at that tournament.<\/p>\n

But before we get that far, here are our November rankings:<\/p>\n

No. 1: Keaton Verhoeff, D, 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, North Dakota (NCAA)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The basics of Verhoeff are something every NHL team covets: a big, right-shot defenceman.\u00a0Beyond that, it\u2019s the mature play he has exhibited as a freshman in the NCAA that has him landing at No. 1 today.\u00a0Where McKenna\u2019s off-puck play has been brought into question, Verhoeff\u2019s ability to control play and regularly maintain over 20 effective minutes per game have vaulted him into top spot this month.<\/p>\n

No. 2: Gavin McKenna, LW, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Penn State (NCAA)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s never been a question about the prolific offensive skills McKenna brings to the table.\u00a0He\u2019s a threat to produce with every puck touch past centre ice.\u00a0McKenna\u2019s brain and creativity force teammates to be on the lookout at all times.\u00a0He has a bag of tricks at his disposal to ward-off would-be defenders and put him and his teammates in a position to produce.\u00a0Questions have started to arise regarding off-puck play and defensive awareness.\u00a0And for that reason, he gets moved down one spot in this month\u2019s rankings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 3: Ivar Stenberg, LW, 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, Frolunda (SHL)<\/p>\n

Stenberg continues to impress at the SHL level.\u00a0He uses his smarts and tenacity to move around the ice and impact play in all three zones.\u00a0Stenberg has shown deft puck handling skills and most importantly he\u2019s not afraid to get to middle ice.\u00a0He\u2019s also adept at using his quick hands to win board battles in tougher areas on the ice.\u00a0Stenberg has shown excellent distribution skills at the SHL level.\u00a0It will be fun to track his play at the world juniors to see if he feels comfortable being a little more selfish when getting back to playing closer to his age-group.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 4: Ethan Belchetz, LW, 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)<\/p>\n

Belchetz is becoming everything he was expected to be when the Spitfires took him first overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.\u00a0He continues to use his size to win board battles and get to the net effectively.\u00a0When the net front is not an option, he shoots it well enough to beat goalies from distance.\u00a0His combination of quick hands and long reach make it difficult for defenders to separate him from the puck.\u00a0He will engage physically at every turn and has some swagger to his game.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 5: Tynan Lawrence, C, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)<\/p>\n

He\u00a0has been a difficult player to get a handle on due to an injury sustained during training camp.\u00a0He got into two late October games, but was shut down after that weekend and has yet to return.\u00a0Of course, he produced a point in each of those two games, both Muskegon wins.\u00a0As such, Lawrence is still living off the currency he created at the Hlinka-Gretzky, where he showed a number of elements in his game that scouts think will translate well to the next level.<\/p>\n

No. 6: Carson Carels, D, 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Prince George Cougars (WHL)<\/p>\n

I like the fact he\u2019s always at the ready, aware of what\u2019s happening around him, and anticipates plays well as a result.\u00a0Carels exhibits a slightly hunched-over playing style that sometimes makes him look smaller than he is, but also acts as a surprise mechanism when he uncoils against would-be attackers.\u00a0Carels is an aggressive player in all three zones.\u00a0He projects as a solid two-way defenceman who can play both special teams.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 7: Adam Novotny, LW, 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, Peterborough Petes (OHL)<\/p>\n

Has experienced an uptick in interest over the past month. Surely time was needed to adjust to a new home, a new league and a new team as he arrived to the OHL from Czechia this season.\u00a0On his best nights, Novotny touches many parts of the game.\u00a0He shows grit and compete, but also plenty of skill and creativity.\u00a0He skates well enough to disrupt the opponent all over the ice and, as a result, is a good transitional player.<\/p>\n

No. 8: Mathis Preston, RW, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)<\/p>\n

Preston is an excellent puck transporter.\u00a0He gets to top speed quickly, and is able to handle the puck with his head up.\u00a0When you add in his agility and shooting ability, he\u2019s quite the threat off the rush.\u00a0He backs defenders off with ease and his finishing ability has to be respected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 9: Chase Reid, D,\u00a0 6-foot-2, 188 pounds, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhonds (OHL)<\/p>\n

Another good-sized, right-shot defenceman, Reid moves effortlessly around the ice.\u00a0He is comfortable using his skating and scanning ability to ward off would-be forecheckers.\u00a0Once in control of the puck in his own zone, he has a number of options for which to initiate the breakout.\u00a0He can zip lengthy passes up ice, find the shorter, safer option, or use his wheels to transport the puck to provide a second layer of attack.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 10: Ryan Lin, D, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Vancouver Giants (WHL)<\/p>\n

Definitely one of the most dynamic defencemen this draft class has to offer.\u00a0Lin is a threat all over the ice.\u00a0He can make a good first pass, but when that\u2019s not available he can break pucks out on his own.\u00a0He\u2019s deadly on the power play where he has even more time and space.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"3232 Thoughts: The Podcast<\/p>\n

Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n

Latest episode<\/a><\/p>\n

No. 11: Daxon Rudolph, D, 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)<\/p>\n

Is being leaned on so heavily that it\u2019s not uncommon for him to play upwards of 25 minutes on any given night.\u00a0He has an uncanny ability to find open lanes and release pucks quickly from anywhere in the offensive zone. He\u2019s someone you have to pay attention to if you\u2019re the opposition because he will jump the rush in a hurry and pinches often.<\/p>\n

No. 12: Ryan Roobroeck, C, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)<\/p>\n

As a late birthday, this player has had more than his fair share of viewings and, after so many, there\u2019s a tendency to emphasize the weaknesses as opposed to reenforcing the positives.\u00a0Playing to the identity of a power forward is an expectation for a player his size.\u00a0Roobroeck is not likely to be that guy, but as he matures and continues to understand how to use his big frame more effectively, at the core of this player is an elite shot.\u00a0Getting to areas where he can utilize that shot more consistently is something to work on as the year progresses.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 13: Caleb Malhotra, C, 6-foot-2, 182 pounds, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)<\/p>\n

He continues to climb the draft eligible ladder and by year\u2019s end, he may be inside our top 10.\u00a0Malhotra plays a complete game with the ability to make an impact even if he\u2019s not producing.\u00a0Being named captain of the CHL Top Prospects team tells me all I need to know about what he brings to the table in terms of intangibles.<\/p>\n

No. 14: Alberts Smits, D, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds Jukurit (Liiga)<\/p>\n

The typical path for players from smaller European nations is to play in Sweden, not necessarily Finland.\u00a0Smits has been in Finland since his U16 season and he\u2019s taken a steady path to prominence for this draft because of it.\u00a0He got into nine Liiga games last year and has been on a nice run with Jukurit lately, having put up seven points in his last nine games, while averaging over 20 minutes per game.\u00a0Clearly he made the right choice.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 15: Marcus Nordmark, LW, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Djurgardens (Sweden J20)<\/p>\n

Approaches the game with a plan.\u00a0Nordmark doesn\u2019t use unnecessary energy in going to places on the ice where nothing happens.\u00a0He\u2019s efficient in his routes, arriving on time to the forecheck, or swooping in on the net-front. At the U20 level, his strength is evident, but so too is his efficiency as he plays top line minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 16: Viggo Bjorck, RW, 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, Djurgardens (SHL)<\/p>\n

While he is not a speedy burner, Bjorck still maintains the ability to pace a game.\u00a0He has a keen sense of where to go to buy himself more time to make a play.\u00a0He has excellent hands and deft passing skills.\u00a0Bjorck is not afraid to play with some risk in his game, but is skilled enough to execute difficult plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 17: Elton Hermansson, RW, 6-foot-1, 181 pounds, MODO (Allsvenskan)<\/p>\n

At the J20 level, he can beat goalies from distance.\u00a0He has a deceptive release and isn\u2019t afraid to shoot it from anywhere inside the offensive zone.\u00a0Hermansson is more of a finesse player, always looking to make plays as opposed to bringing a physical brand of hockey.\u00a0I would like to see him get inside a little more and use his good hands in front of the net instead of working off the walls.\u00a0He transitions well and realizes when there\u2019s a faster player option, but then gets to a place where he can get the puck back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 18: Xavier Villeneuve, D, 5-foot-11, 172 pounds, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)<\/p>\n

Another dynamic defenceman who puts defenders on their heels when the puck is on his stick.\u00a0Like Lin, he\u2019s a a magician running the power play and leans heavy towards the distribution side as opposed to the goal-scoring side.\u00a0He gives off Samuel Girard vibes where he plays big minutes, exhibits top-level confidence and has some swagger in his game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 19: Juho Piiparinen, D, 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, Tappara (Liiga)<\/p>\n

His Liiga minutes started to dwindle in the second week of October and a short time later, Piiparinen was able to participate in a U20 event with the national team.\u00a0This mini departure from Liiga play allowed Piiparinen to get back to playing second pair minutes.\u00a0He leans more to the defensive side and has earned a reputation as a play killer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 20: Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, 6-foot-4, 184 pounds, Orebro (Sweden U20<\/p>\n

His one-timer isn\u2019t so much of a bomb, but more of a sweeper style that\u2019s timed perfectly and acts almost like a change-up.\u00a0When he\u2019s not using the one-timer, look for him on the off-side post where he seems to have a knack for going unnoticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RealReal Kyper and Bourne<\/p>\n

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things hockey with some of the biggest names in the game. Watch live every weekday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ \u2014 or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN \u2014 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Full episode<\/a><\/p>\n

No. 21: Malte Gustafson, D, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, HV71 (Sweden J20)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is a nice skater who can cut the net to initiate the breakout or remain strong on his skates in a stationary role protecting the net-front.\u00a0He will often make the right decision, but isn\u2019t always quick to execute his plan, adding unnecessary risk to his game.\u00a0As he matures, and as he grows into his body, he projects to be a second pairing-type of defence man — 2-3 potential.\u00a0So far this season, his play has earned him a couple of brief looks at the SHL level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 22: Brooks Rogowski, C, 6-foot-7, 232 pounds, Oshawa Generals (OHL)<\/p>\n

It might be a little heady ranking him here, especially now that he\u2019s injured and expected to miss at least a month.\u00a0But he created currency as part of the Team USA that won the Hlinka-Gretzky.\u00a0You can\u2019t help but notice a 6-foot-7 player.\u00a0Looks like a Brian Boyle-type.<\/p>\n

No. 23: Oliver Suvanto, C, 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, Tappara (Liiga)<\/p>\n

Although he\u2019s a little smaller than Aliaksei Protas, he exhibits the same posture and skating style.\u00a0He won\u2019t dazzle you with his speed, but he gets to where he needs to go on time.\u00a0Like Protas, he\u2019s a big body and excellent around the net.\u00a0When he sets up shop he is hard to move, yet Suvanto also has the hands to finish plays in tight, and even in coverage.\u00a0Keep in mind, he\u2019s one of the youngest players in this draft class, so there\u2019s plenty of runway left for development.<\/p>\n

No. 24: Oscar Hemming, LW, 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)<\/p>\n

The drama continues for Hemming, who is still battling to get a release from his Kiekko-Espoo club team in Finland.\u00a0While there was some thought he might be able to get into a BCHL lineup, that was nixed and Hemming remains in limbo.\u00a0There have been a number of cases where players taken in the first round didn\u2019t play much during their draft year, as was the case with Matthew Schaefer last season.\u00a0For now, it remains a wait and see situation for Hemming.<\/p>\n

No. 25: J.P. Hurlbert, LW, 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)<\/p>\n

Continues to produce at an elite level and is still leading the WHL in scoring.\u00a0No doubt Hurlbert will be highly motivated to perform well at the CHL\/USA Prospects Challenge, where he will get a chance to compete against his former USNTDP teammates.\u00a0His performances over the two-game set will be fun to track.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 26: Tomas Chrenko, C, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, HK Nitra (Slovakia)<\/p>\n

Has a nifty set of hands that he\u2019s not afraid to show-off despite playing in the highest men\u2019s league in Slovakia.\u00a0His puck handles are silky smooth and he definitely has some finish to his game.\u00a0He has to be respected as a dual threat option on offence.<\/p>\n

No. 27: Alessandro Di Iorio, C, 6-foot, 188 pounds, Sarnia Sting (OHL)<\/p>\n

Hard to get a read on Di Iorio\u2019s play considering he\u2019s just a few games back from injury and a recent coaching change in Sarnia.\u00a0Di Iorio is a smart, two-way player.\u00a0He can win puck battles at the junior level and while he has shown some willingness to get to middle ice, he could do it more often.\u00a0He will need some time to get back up to full speed and he should be close to that by the time the CHL\/USA Prospects Challenge takes place in Alberta next week.<\/p>\n

No. 28: Luke Schairer, D, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, USNTDP (USHL)<\/p>\n

Plays an updated style of defence. When it looks like he might get caught on the opposition\u2019s blue line, he\u2019s actually positioning himself to surf over and kill plays in neutral ice.\u00a0He\u2019s not a bruiser, but uses his big frame effectively to shield players along the wall and take care of the net front.\u00a0Leans more as a complementary defenceman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 29: Nikita Klepov, RW, 5-foot-11, 178 pounds, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)<\/p>\n

Played minor hockey in Russia and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, of all places. Klepov was spurned by the USNTDP, and instead won gold playing for the US at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky.\u00a0He will be highly motivated to play against the program in the CHL\/USA Prospects Challenge.\u00a0\u00a0By the way, he\u2019s third in OHL scoring and is the only rookie inside the top 15.<\/p>\n

No. 30: Egor Shilov, C, 6-foot, 177 pounds, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)<\/p>\n

Although he was mostly ineffective and exhibited inconsistent effort in a most recent viewing, his high-end skill is clearly evident.\u00a0Shilov is brilliant with the puck on his stick, either attacking one-on-one or dishing to others in small areas.\u00a0He gets a hall pass for this most recent viewing based on a five-point effort two nights earlier.\u00a0He will get written off by a number of teams, but there will be others that will be intrigued by the skill.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 31: Nikita Shcherbakov, D, 6-foot-5, 187 pounds, Ufa (Russia)<\/p>\n

Will get plenty of looks based on his size.\u00a0Shcherbakov makes many good decisions, whether he\u2019s pinching at the blue line, trying to close out plays in neutral ice or moving the puck from his own zone. However, he shows hesitation when doing so. As a result, the execution of his ideas aren\u2019t always effective because of those brief moments of hesitation.\u00a0It looks more like a confidence thing to me, as opposed to being a slow-processing hockey mind.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 32: Jasper Kuhta, C, 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, Ottawa 67\u2019s (OHL)<\/p>\n

Having gone undrafted as a late 2006 birthday, Kuhta is making a lot of noise for the 2026 draft.\u00a0Up until last season, he had not represented Finland internationally, and now there\u2019s a chance he’ll make the country\u2019s U20 team for the world juniors.\u00a0While he may lack some first step quickness, Kuhta rarely has an issue getting to areas on the ice where he can use his size to protect pucks, or utilize his cannon of a shot.\u00a0Kuhta is a low maintenance, late-bloomer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This isn\u2019t a one-horse race after all.\u00a0\u00a0 While the floodgates haven\u2019t opened up to several players making a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":234849,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[49,48,448,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-293986","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-nhl","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293986"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293986\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/234849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}