Alberts Šmits has the NHL Draft class’ best shot, according to Corey Pronman. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
June 20, 2026 Updated 2:14 pm EDT
Today, I release my annual look at the best skaters, puck handlers, competitors and smartest players in the 2026 NHL Draft class. In these lists, you will see a lot of familiar names and some unfamiliar ones as well. For the full evaluations of my top 112 prospects in the draft, click here.
Best skaters
Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand
Ethan MacKenzie, D, Edmonton
Thomas Vandenberg, C, Ottawa
Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, D, Michigan
Kalder Varga, RW, Red Deer
Lawrence and Villeneuve’s skating both stood out consistently when I watched them this season. Lawrence’s game is full of speed and energy. The quick twitch in his feet reminds me of the way someone like Alex Newhook skated.
Villeneuve is a dynamic player with the way he maneuvers off the blue line with his edge work, while also being very fast.
Best puck handlers
Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda
Wyatt Cullen, LW, U.S. NTDP
JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo
Viggo Björck, C, Djurgården
Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand
Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver
Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgården Jr.
Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw
Mikey Berchild, LW, U.S. NTDP
Tomas Chrenko, C, Nitra
Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat
Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat
There are some obvious names at the top of this list, with dynamos in McKenna and Stenberg who are projected to be major point producers at the next level. Cullen is right behind those two, though. He’s electric with the puck, is among the most creative players in this class and is now measuring in at 6-foot-1.
McKenna vs. Stenberg: Who’s No. 1?
Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler and more
Best hockey IQ
Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda
Viggo Björck, C, DjurgåFrden
JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand
Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie
Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
Tomas Galvas, D, Liberec
Axel Elofsson, D, Örebro Jr.
Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert
Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver
Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton
Liam Danielsson, RW, Örebro
You will see a lot of the same names from the most skilled department appear here, showing why names like McKenna, Stenberg and Bjorck are high up on draft lists.
Best shot
Alberts Šmits, D, Jukurit
Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, Örebro Jr.
Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara
Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW, Leksand Jr.
Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec
Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda
Jakub Vanecek, D, Tri-City
Best compete
Carson Carels, D, Prince George
Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Nizhny Novgorod Jr.
Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College
Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London
Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia
Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. NTDP
Rian Chudzinski, RW, Moncton
Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgarden
Ludvig Andersson, RW, Örebro Jr.
Jean-Cristoph Lemieux, LW, Sudbury
Casper Juustovaara, C, Luleå
Carels is a strong offensive player, but it’s his physicality, edge and extreme competitiveness that made him highly attractive to NHL teams. Pugachyov and Hemming are among the hardest guts to play against in this class, too, often landing loud hits and winning a lot of puck battles.
For Scott Wheeler’s draft class superlatives, click here.
The Athletic and FloHockey have partnered to bring fans a live 2026 NHL Draft show. Hosted by Max Bultman and featuring experts Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler and Chris Peters, The Athletic x FloHockey NHL Draft Live will livestream during the entire first round. Tune in June 26 at 7 p.m. ET on The Athletic Hockey Show’s YouTube channel, across FloHockey’s platforms, and on Amazon Prime (U.S.) and Fubo (Canada).
Jun 21, 2026
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