{"id":654255,"date":"2026-05-07T18:28:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T18:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/654255\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T18:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T18:28:13","slug":"who-could-be-available-for-the-winnipeg-jets-at-8th-overall-in-the-nhl-draft-illegal-curve-hockey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/654255\/","title":{"rendered":"Who could be available for the Winnipeg Jets at 8th overall in the NHL Draft? \u2013 Illegal Curve Hockey"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the NHL Draft Lottery concluded Tuesday night, the Winnipeg Jets slid from seventh to eighth overall<\/a> after the San Jose Sharks jumped from ninth to second. Despite the drop, this is a deep draft class with talent available throughout the top 10.<\/p>\n

While some have questioned whether Winnipeg should retain the pick or move it for immediate help to the current core, it remains important to assess the players who could be available at the 2026 NHL Draft in late June.<\/p>\n

The draft board is never set in stone, and an unexpected selection can always alter the flow of the first round. Even so, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are regarded as consensus top-three prospects in this class, making it unlikely they reach Winnipeg at eighth overall.<\/p>\n

The focus for Winnipeg is on making the most of this selection, particularly given how rarely they\u2019ve been in this draft range in recent years. With only two top-10 picks in the last decade, the opportunity to add a meaningful piece to the organization is significant.<\/p>\n

In most cases, amateur scouting staffs will emphasize selecting the best player available rather than drafting for organizational need. That said, Winnipeg\u2019s current roster needs are well established, with the organization looking to add a second-line centre and a top-pairing right-shot defenceman. The complication with that approach is that most players from this draft class are not expected to make an NHL impact for several years.<\/p>\n

With that balance between best player available and longer-term roster needs in mind, attention now turns to the top prospects who could be on the board when Winnipeg selects in late June.<\/p>\n

Using the Elite Prospects consolidated rankings<\/a> as a guide, here is a look at players currently ranked between third and 13th overall, a range that could realistically shape Winnipeg\u2019s options at eighth overall.<\/p>\n

3. Keaton Verhoeff (D) \u2014 North Dakota (NCAA)
4. Chase Reid (D) \u2014 Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
5. Viggo Bj\u00f6rck (C) \u2014 Djurg\u00e5rdens IF (SHL)
6. Tynan Lawrence (C) \u2014 Boston University (NCAA)
7. Carson Carels (D) \u2014 Prince George Cougars (WHL)
8. Ethan Belchetz (W) \u2014 Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
9. Daxon Rudolph (D) \u2014 Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
10. Alberts Smits (D) \u2014 Jukurit (Liiga)
11. Adam Novotny (W) \u2014 Peterborough Petes (OHL)
12. Ryan Lin (D) \u2014 Vancouver Giants (WHL)
13. Caleb Malhotra (C) \u2014 Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)<\/p>\n

Here is a closer look at each of the players who could be in consideration when Winnipeg selects eighth overall.<\/p>\n

3. Keaton Verhoeff<\/p>\n

Is from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. He is a 6\u20194\u2033 right-shot defenceman who plays for University of North Dakota.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

4. Chase Reid<\/p>\n

Is from Chesterfield, Michigan. He is a 6\u20192\u2033 right-shot defenceman who played this past season for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and is committed to playing at Michigan State next season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

5. Viggo Bj\u00f6rck<\/p>\n

Is from Stockholm, Sweden. He is a 5\u201910\u201d forward who plays for Djurg\u00e5rdens IF in the SHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

6. Tynan Lawrence<\/p>\n

Is from Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is a 6\u20190\u2033 centre who plays for Boston University.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

7. Carson Carels<\/p>\n

Is from Cypress River, Manitoba. He is a 6\u20192\u2033 left-shot defenceman who plays for Prince George of the WHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

8. Ethan Belchetz<\/p>\n

Is from Oakville, Ontario. He is a 6\u20195\u2033 winger who plays for Windsor of the OHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

9. Daxon Rudolph<\/p>\n

Is from Lacombe, Alberta. He is a 6\u20192\u2033 right-shot defenceman who plays for Prince Albert of the WHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

10. Alberts Smits<\/p>\n

Is from Valmiera, Latvia. He is a 6\u20193\u2033 left-shot defenceman who plays for Jukurit in Liiga.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

11. Adam Novotny<\/p>\n

Is from Hradec Kralove, Czechia. He is a 6\u20191\u2033 winger who plays for Peterborough of the OHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

12. Ryan Lin<\/p>\n

Is from Richmond, British Columbia. He is 5\u201911\u201d right-shot defenceman who played for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL and is committed to to the University of Denver next season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

13. Caleb Maholtra<\/p>\n

Is from Toronto, Ontario. He is a 6\u20192\u2033 centre who plays for Brantford of the OHL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

With a wide range of talent expected to be available when Winnipeg is on the clock at eighth overall, the organization will have multiple directions it can go in late June. Whether they prioritize immediate organizational needs or continue to build for the future, the decision at the draft table will be a significant one for the next phase of the roster.<\/p>\n

As always, keep it locked to illegalcurve.com<\/a> and be sure to join us every Saturday morning at 9 AM on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show<\/a> as we lead up to the Draft.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the NHL Draft Lottery concluded Tuesday night, the Winnipeg Jets slid from seventh to eighth overall after…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":654256,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194296],"tags":[49,48,22073],"class_list":["post-654255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-winnipeg","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-winnipeg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654255","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=654255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/654256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}