The 2026 NHL draft is roughly five months away, but it still stands as a hot commodity. Especially for the Calgary Flames, who have found themselves near the bottom of the standings for the majority of the season. When the time comes in June, it’s almost guaranteed the Flames will be picking inside the top 10, with an incredibly strong chance that they’ll be picking within the top 5. So, with the NHL breaking for the Olympics, now is the perfect time to construct my personal top 10 for the 2026 draft.
1. Gavin McKenna – Penn. State University – NCAA
Where we currently stand, having Gavin McKenna at number one position may be a bit of a hot take. He hasn’t exactly been dominating the NCAA in the manner that people hoped; the competition has been catching up, and now he’s made the news for an altercation. However, I’m still a big believer in McKenna. Since coming back from the World Juniors, McKenna has seven goals and 14 points in eight games, including his first NCAA hat trick. He’s gone from hovering around point per game to a pretty solid 32 points in 24 games.
McKenna still portrays elite offensive skill that you should be clammering for at first overall. His hockey IQ and vision are hard to deny, and make me feel comfortable that he will produce at the next level. He displays this tremendous sense of creating danger in the offensive zone; threading deadly passes to his teammates, finding the back of the net in creative manners, and using his quick hands to control the pace of the zone.
McKenna is so incredibly deceptive with the puck. He presents this agile and shifty nature that makes it very difficult for opponents to tell what he is going to do. It may look like he’ll go for the simple play, but that pulls off a bewildering move that doesn’t seem capable. Although passing is the main threat to his game, don’t doubt McKenna’s shooting ability either. McKenna can finish plays off with a laser of a shot or a neatly placed, quick release.
While McKenna may not be the generational talent that many had hoped for, he is still a special player. The style McKenna displays can find success in a similar sense to Nikita Kucherov, and it certainly helps that he has the skill level to back it up. The value and potential McKenna brings in the offensive zone is what gives him the slight edge, to me, to stay at first overall.
2. Ivar Stenberg – Frolunda HC – SHL
Ivar Stenberg is having nothing short of a phenomenal year in the SHL. After lighting up the lower levels of Sweden and spending 25 games in the pro league last season, it was quite intriguing what Stenberg might get up to this year, and he has not disappointed. In 33 games, he has nine goals and 30 points, possessing the highest points per game on the team, at 18-years-old. This production is the best of any draft prospect in SHL history. In addition to the historical year, Stenberg played a big part in helping Sweden win gold at the World Juniors.
Stenberg is such a gifted hockey player. Smooth skill and being strong on his feet make Stenberg an unbelievable threat to the opposing players. He controls the ice by using his dynamic edgework and incredible puck control. It’s common to see Stenberg walk around the zone, avoiding defenders with ease, and generating pressure and space. He is constantly reading the play, looking for the next opportunity to pass or take a drive to a dangerous shooting zone.
I think if anyone said they expected Stenberg to have the season he’s having, they’d be lying, but it has been a treat to watch. It’s made a draft that was thought to have a sure-fire first overall pick, end up having an entertaining race for the top spot. You can’t go wrong with either option between Stenberg and McKenna. I’m quite okay if Stenberg proves me wrong, and I think he has a decent chance at doing so.
3. Keaton Verhoeff – University of North Dakota – NCAA
Keaton Verhoeff has been regarded as one of the best defensive prospects we have seen in recent times, and it does not feel like he has slipped away from it. Committing to the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff has produced six goals and 17 points in 24 games. Verhoeff drew in for Canada at the World Juniors after the first two games, where he would then go on to continue to flash his steady game on a bigger stage.
A strong presence every time he is out on the ice, Verhoeff is a threat at both ends of the ice. His large stature certainly helps out with that. Verhoeff moves pretty smoothly for someone his size. It allows him to attack the centre of the zone and provide high-quality scoring chances off of nice wrist shots or smart passes. He can move down the ice with a solid amount of speed and control the transition for his team.. Verhoeff ensures stability at the blueline, having the ability to control the puck with ease and walk along the line or take heavy and dangerous slapshots. Verhoeff’s size allows him to be stable in the defensive end, creating tons of pressure. He’ll use his body to feel as if space is limited, or his long reach will come into play to eliminate gaps and push opponents to the outside.
Verhoeff is the type of defensive prospect that most teams would die for. Big and mature with every trait you want in a defenceman at a high level. At the NHL level, Verhoeff should be in the best of the bunch and a name we hear for a long time.
4. Chase Reid – Soo Greyhounds – OHL
One of the biggest risers of the top 10 prospects so far has been Chase Reid. Reid has gone from around the outskirts of the top 10 to a likely top-five ranking. This is thanks to continued production and two-way play in the OHL. Reid got the call to the OHL around the quarter mark of the season last year. He produced at an above point per game pace, which has carried over into the current season. Reid has 18 goals and 47 points in 42 games and sits with second highest points per game of a defenceman in the OHL.
Reid possesses the perfect qualities of a puck-moving defenceman that you want in today’s NHL. He is an incredibly smooth skater, moving effectively in both the offensive and defensive ends. Offensively, Reid cycles the zone with his agility, creating danger with his high-end vision and very powerful shot. His elite skating makes him a viable option in the transition, sometimes opting to carry the puck into the zone on his own. On the defensive side of things, Reid is active on his feet. He uses positioning and his stick to keep opponents to the outside. Proper placement of the stick allows him to consistently succeed in stripping the puck and causing the play to go the other way.
Reid feels like one of the most complete players in this draft class. His combination of puck-moving abilities and two-way play may challenge Verhoeff for the spot of top defenceman. He is a very easy player to fall in love with, and the NHL team that grabs him is likely getting a future top-pair defenceman.
5. Tynan Lawrence – Boston University – NCAA
I’m not ready to give up on Tynan Lawrence yet. Yes, the switch from USHL to NCAA hasn’t been pretty, but Lawrence is still a top-end guy. Before jumping to the NCAA, Lawrence produced 10 goals and 17 points in 13 games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. With Boston University, Lawrence has struggled to produce. He has only scored one goal in 10 games, causing his stock to take a hit.
I feel as if Lawrence is one of, if not the smartest, player in the draft. He’s an incredibly steady forward, supplying solid performances at both ends of the ice. In the offensive end, Lawrence scans the zone and positions himself to make the right play. Lawrence isn’t super flashy; he’s more so quiet and effective. He makes intelligent passes, whether it be seamless tape-to-tapes across the zone, or simpler and effective chips and banks. Knowing when to attack is a strong basis for Lawrence’s offensive game. He’s very patient and will wait for the right opportunity to take full advantage. Defensively, Lawrence again uses his smarts to get into the proper position and strip opponents of the puck. Sometimes I do feel it’s like he needs that extra push to fully commit to the pressure, and I think fixing that issue could give his defensive game another step.
Lawrence has had a very interesting draft year. It doesn’t often feel like a top prospect jumps to the NCAA midseason. Add on that he was dominating the USHL, but struggling in college, and it creates a conflict of how truly good he is. However, I stand as a believer in Lawrence as I feel his intelligence and ability to be effective without being flashy will carry him out of this rut.
6. Carson Carels – Prince George Cougars – WHL
Carson Carels joins Chase Reid as another defenceman to rise in the top 10. Carels has gone from an outside chance at a top 10 selection to comfortably being inside it. With the Prince George Cougars, Carels has 15 goals and 49 points in 42 games, ensuring great production as the team’s number one. At the World Juniors, Carels was a surprise selection from Canada. He picked up one assist to help the country win bronze.
In a top five that already flashed all-around defencemen, Carels continues the trend into the other half of the top 10. Carels’ play just oozes with confidence. He plays with incredible poise, consistently finding himself in positions to succeed at both ends of the ice. Carels moves around the ice with smooth agility and quick feet. He’s not afraid to jump into the rush and blow past defenders to find open space. Constantly moves the puck around and has strong vision paired with an accurate shot. He controls the defensive end by staying aggressive on his feet and applying pressure to opponents. Much like the other defenders in this top 10, Carels supports his defensive game with strong stick work, keeping it low in lanes and good timing on pokes.
Yet again, Carels feels like another top-pair defenceman to nab at the top of this draft. His smooth skating mixed with his offensive flair and aggressiveness in the defensive end will make him a viable option on the left side for years to come. He feels like he could quite easily become one of my favourite players in this draft class.
7. Viggo Bjorck – Djurgardens IF – SHL
Viggo Bjorck is the biggest dawg in this entire draft. He may be 5’9, but he certainly doesn’t play like it. In 33 games, Bjorck has put up five goals and 10 points, which is pretty good for a draft-eligible player at the SHL level. Bjorck started the season on the wing, but has been getting some more reps at centre, making his stock rise a bit more. It also helps that he was always over the ice at the World Juniors, helping Sweden take home gold.
Bjorck has a never-ending motor that keeps him attacking and moving constantly. When he engages in a puck battle, he doesn’t just bash his stick amongst the rest; he waits for the perfect opportunity to slip his stick in and retrieve the puck. He is constantly going after the opposing puck carrier and trying to apply pressure in any way possible. To complement his motor, Bjorck brings a great amount of pace to his game and some very fast feet. This combination allows him to claim high-danger opportunities quite often. Sometimes, you wish he’d capitalize on them more often, but with better deployment and development, I believe that will come. Bjorck handles pressure well; he settles the puck and patiently waits for opportunities to arise instead of throwing the puck to nothing. Defensively, Bjorck is solid at keeping his body in lanes and protecting dangerous areas of the ice.
I’d say Bjorck is one of my favourite prospects in this draft class. He is pretty fun to watch and brings an amount of effort that you can’t teach. He feels like a player who wants to win and will put it on the line every single shift. I also feel he brings more high-quality traits than people give him credit for.
8. Albert Smits – Jukurit – Liiga
There’s one Olympian on this list, and that would be Albert Smits. Smits quietly launched onto the scene pretty early on in the season. His large stature was already eye-catching, but adding in some two-way capabilities, he started to shoot up people’s lists. Currently, Smits sits with six goals and 13 points in 37 games for Jurukit in Liiga.
At 6’3, 205lbs, it’s unsurprising that Smits brings a presence on the ice. He uses his frame to stay collected in the defensive end, applying body pressure and engaging in the battles. A long reach allows him to push opponents to the outside and take away shooting lanes with ease. It helps that he skates quite well for someone his size. With a good amount of speed, it’s fun to see a defender like him barrel down the ice. He is also pretty smooth on his feet, completing turns with ease, which allows him to stay on top of his opponents. Offensively, he has some untapped potential. He’s flashed some great skills in the passing department, as well as showing a hard and accurate shot.
I honestly wish I liked Smits more than I did, but to me, he profiles similarly to other recent draft prospects such as Dmitri Simashev and Anton Silayev. I think Smits might be the best of the bunch, but it’s a little hard to find excitement in a prospect I feel like I’ve seen lots of. That being said, Smits is one of the safest bets in the top half of the draft. It would be very surprising if Smits can’t find success in at least a top-four role at the NHL level. I could also see him reaching a top-two spot on a team, but that will all rely on how his offensive game translates.
9. Daxon Rudolph – Prince Albert Raiders – WHL
If there’s any prospect on this list that benefited from me not doing this update earlier, it’s Daxon Rudolph. I’m a huge fan of Rudolph’s game, but I’ve always questioned his offensive upside at the NHL level. In the early stages of the year, I didn’t really feel like Rudolph had taken any steps from the prior season in that area. Then, around the new year, Rudolph went on an offensive tear. He now sits with 22 goals and 57 points in 51 games.
Rudolph is perhaps the steadiest defenceman in this draft, in my opinion. He’s not the fastest or most agile guy, but he moves around the ice effectively and consistently puts himself in proper positions. His stick is constantly in passing lanes, being strategically placed for poke-checks, or being used as a tool to apply pressure. Passing is his greatest strength on the offensive side of the puck. He provides great breakout passes and keeps the puck moving in the offensive zone. While he moves around the offensive zone, he’ll often release a quick and accurate wrist shot that has ease in finding the back of the net. I think my biggest gripe with Rudolph is his inconsistency in placing pressure. Sometimes you can catch him standing around, not engaging, and almost waiting for the play to develop for him. However, I don’t see this issue in most games.
For safe bets in the top half of the draft, Rudolph is among the best for the later picks. I have good faith that he’ll become a stable top-four defenceman at the next level. A smart, two-way option to play in all situations. If his offensive game continues to trend in the right direction, the possibility of being a top-pair guy is there, too.
10. Xavier Villeneuve – Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada – QMJHL
If you want fun, you don’t have to look much further than Xavier Villeneuve. I think there’s a pretty good case for Villeneuve to be the flashiest player in this draft. With two strong QMJHL seasons under his belt already, Villeneuve looked to add another in his draft. And that he did, as the defenceman sits with five goals and 36 points in 35 games. Villeneuve is rounding out this defence-dominated top 10, and he is doing it with style.
As I heavily implied, Villeneuve is a very fun player. He flashes offensive talent every single shift he has. Dynamic edgework is the main pull to his game, moving around the ice swiftly and leaving opponents confused. You can add in his quick hands, plus his good puck control, and Villeneuve is a treat to watch in the offensive zone. He feeds his teammates with stellar passes and pulls off moves most defencemen would never dare attempt. Always active and moving, it’s hard to keep Villeneuve from finding flow in the offensive zone. But as the story with the most offensive defencemen goes, Villeneuve does have issues on the defensive side of the puck. He can be prone to turnovers from doing too much, being outmuscled by opponents and having shaky positioning.
Whatever team decides to pick Villeneuve is going be betting on his offensive upside and working out the defensive kinks later. Villeneuve would be the riskiest pick among this top 10 of what I feel mostly have safe projections. However, Villeneuve possesses an offensive ceiling that most of these defencemen likely couldn’t reach, and I think that makes him worthy of this position.
An intriguing draft class
The 2026 draft class is an interesting one. The top three of McKenna, Stenberg, and Verhoeff have certainly delivered and all three prospects you don’t want to miss. What follows them are a handful of prospects that I like quite a bit. I know guys like Caleb Malhotra and Ethan Belchetz will be on other top 10 lists and will probably go top 10, but I’m just not very fond of them. My top 10 is not a perfect match for the Flames as top-end forwards are limited, but even then, the Flames getting a great prospect I enjoy is better than nothing.