With the Winnipeg Jets’ 2025-26 NHL season over and a mere 17 days until the Draft Lottery will take place, the True North fanbase will be turning their attention to fantasizing about which prospect the General Manager will be able to select with their high 1st round pick. To assist with these dreams of better times, I thought I would spend some time trying to sort out who might be available to become the next future Jets’ star.
Of course, this will be far from an accurate prediction since we don’t even know where exactly Winnipeg will get their chance yet….as well as the fact that even the experts are having a difficult time deciding on the rankings for the next crop of prospects. So what chance does a random fan like me have? Well, that won’t stop me for moving on with my plan regardless….because I am not concerned about accuracy, rather focusing on the possibilities. Lets get started by first looking at the odds for the upcoming Lottery, which has been scheduled for May 5th (courtesy of Tankathon):
As the chart shows, it is only possible for the Winnipeg Jets to finish with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, or 9th selection in the 2026 Entry Draft, which is scheduled to take place in Buffalo on June 26th & 27th.
To further help us determine which prospects may be available for our club at each of those possibilities, I have grabbed the rankings from 5 of the multitude of prospect rankings out there. I opted to go with 3 of them from scouting sites, Dobber Prospects, Draft Prospects Hockey, & Smaht Prospects. The final two include one from the hockey site Daily Face Off and the final one is a consolidation of all the rankings available from Elite Prospects.
The following charts will show just how imperfect scouting is, as there isn’t one position in the top 15 that all the scouts agree on. Even when it came to the very top of the draft, the scouts couldn’t completely agree on the first 3 picks with there always being one of the 5 rankings offering an alternate choice. While Gavin McKenna (1st), Ivar Stenberg (2nd), Keaton Verhoeff (3rd) did get 80% of the votes, there still seems to be some wriggle room depending on how the individual teams’ scouting departments see things. The level of certainty drops even more from there on and by the time the 11th selection roles around, the 5 rankings below all are suggesting a different prospect has the most potential.
I’ll let you scan all the 5 varying opinions below for a bit before we’ll start looking at the individual players more intently to see what they might offer as a future NHLer and potential Winnipeg Jet.
Consolidated Rankings
Daily Face Off Rankings
Dobber Prospects Rankings
Draft Prospects Hockey Rankings
Smaht Scouting Rankings
*****
While I will mostly be talking about the above rankings, I did take the time to go through all the different opinions that Elite Prospects had on their site. The order I opted to go through the prospects isn’t based on my feelings about them, but are rather a result of combining the 5 charts above.
Lets see who is projected to be selected in the top 15 before we end with a discussion on how likely they end up in a Winnipeg Jets’ jersey in late June.
Gavin McKenna
LW – 6″ 175 lbs – 18 yrs – Canadian
Last season, McKenna was the unanimous choice to be selected 1st overall, but his move from the OHL to the NCAA wasn’t seamless and has some scouts questioning whether the young prospect is the best of the bunch. Gavin did end up at the top of 9 of 17 rankings the site Elite Prospects has collected and that 53% was the highest among the eligible players, so he still holds the best odds of hearing his name called first.
With 51 pts in 35 games with Penn State University (15 goals) in the NCAA and 14 pts in 7 games at the World Junior Championships, it isn’t the Canadian’s offensive abilities that are in question. McKenna flashed his high skill off with a Penn State record 8 points in a single game this season and is known to make defenders look silly on a regular basis, especially fond of no look passes to wide open teammates. It is when the potential superstar doesn’t have the puck on his stick, that the concerns come to the forefront. And that won’t come to a surprise to the prospect himself, as he has previously indicated that the whole point of moving from the OHL to the NCAA was to work on that side of his game against older & more experienced opposition.
While Gavin plays a quick & agile game, he isn’t exactly a great skater and that has not only impacted his defensive coverage, but also his forechecking effectiveness against tougher competition this season. Some scouts say that he plays a opportunistic perimeter game while on offense, just waiting for the perfect time to make a pass to set up a teammate or get the puck and drive to the slot for a shot (which is highly dangerous). However, they say he also approaches defense the same way and McKenna doesn’t seem to want to engage enough to closely cover his mark, but rather holds off a bit and relies on his reading the play to quickly move to intercept any passes to his player.
On a positive, after a so-so World Juniors (offensive production was there, but questions about the weaknesses in his game lingered), the young prospect has upped his game by scoring 32 points in 17 games and only being held off the scoresheet in 3 occasions. Notably, McKenna increased his 5 on 5 scoring during that span (22 pts) and his plus-minus rating (+6).
While Gavin may have dropped out of the “generational talent” conversation, he is almost assured to turn into a very good NHL player. How his development & physical growth continues will determine how close to his projected ceiling he will come. Dobber Prospects has given him a 9.3 NHL Certainty rating, so it is not a question of if rather than when McKenna will don an NHL jersey for the first time.
Ivar Stenberg
LW/RW – 6′ 185 lbs – 18 yrs – Swedish
This season has seen Stenberg move steadily up the prospect rankings due to his strong play as an 18 year old in the Swedish Hockey League. It is rare to see a player that young thrive & keep up with the competition level in that league and by doing so, the young Swede has made many scouts grow fonder of him. While he was still only selected 1st in 6 of the 17 rankings (35.3%) Elite Prospects has gathered, Ivar has a higher NHL Certainty (9.5) rating than McKenna.
That number is largely thanks to Stenberg’s 2025-26 campaign, where his 33 pts in 43 games with Frolunda HC (11 goals) has only been surpassed by two other draft-eligible players before, Henrik (34 pts) & Daniel Sedin (42 pts). That means he out-performed good Swedish players like Nicholas Backstrom, Leo Carlsson, & William Eklund in the Swedish Hockey League as a young player. Then you add his 10 pts in 7 games for Sweden at the World Junior Championships…and you get a player a lot of hockey people are excited about.
A high IQ on both sides of the puck, combined with a pro-level work ethic that guarantees he’ll play with a high energy level every game. Has the ability to find open ice, makes quick & intelligent decisions with the puck, an excellent skater with good edges & speed, plus doesn’t let his mid-sized frame stop him from being competitive in board battles. The scouts rave about Ivar’s awareness and ability to adapt to any type of situation or game style. Strong stickhandling and play making abilities add to compliments the young Swede’s game has earned.
As I was trying to find a weakness to Stenberg’s game, I ended up just believing Dobber Prospects quote on the young kid….”has elite level skill to accompany a complete game with very few weaknesses” and gave up looking. He is one of the older players eligible for this Entry Draft, but that could just appeal more to a franchise looking for some immediate offensive help at the forward position. Because, out of every prospect in this particular pool, I would predict the Swedish winger to be the first to become an NHL regular….possibly as early as next season, depending on who gets the chance to select him.
Keaton Verhoeff
RD – 6’4″ 215 lbs – 17 yrs – Canadian
Verhoeff has kept his draft stock steady over the past two seasons, constantly being considered a top 5 selection in the 2026 Entry Draft. Last year, his 21 goals and 45 pts in 63 games with the OHL’s Victoria Royals and 11 pts in 10 playoff games got him into that conversation. Then Keaton put up similar numbers versus stiffer competition this year, with 20 pts in 36 games with the University of North Dakota (6 goals) in the NCAA. Those results, his huge size, and coveted right hand defender spot has almost everyone agreeing that the big Canadian will be the first defenseman off the board. And he shouldn’t have to wait, as he is close to the consensus pick for the 3rd overall selection.
Keaton started as an extra defenseman for Canada at the World Junior Championships, but worked his way into the starting line up before long as he put up 4 pts in 5 games while playing against competition largely 2 to 3 years older than him.
While Verhoeff has the build of a steady stay at home defenseman, that really isn’t what his dossier says about the prospect. He has been used as a workhorse for the U of ND this past season, consistently playing well over 20 minutes per game. But his strengths are mainly apparent in the offensive zone….with a high attack IQ to go along with a very good shot (both slap & wrist), the 17 yr old can excel as a powerplay quarterback. The defenseman is able to flash smart & creative plays in the offensive zone and is good at working into a position to get his shots through to the net.
There are some questions about his skating, ranging from “average” to “good for his size“, Keaton has work to do to develop into a true 2 way defender at the NHL level. The scouts also say that he has to learn when to join into the rush more often to fully unleash his offensive capabilities, as most of his current offense comes during established puck control in the opposition’s zone. Defensemen typically take longer to hit their potentials and when you add that to his young age, Verhoeff will probably need at least one more NCAA season before he is ready to make the jump to the professional ranks. That being said, Dobber Prospects’ NHL Certainty rating of 9.0 indicates that he would be a pretty safe bet for a team to make.
Tynan Lawrence
C – 6′ 185 lbs – 17 yrs – Canadian
Lawrence is often the first center to go off the board in various mock drafts, but his pre-draft season has made it much more difficult for people like me who rely on stats to help form their opinions. Not having the chance to watch the 17 yr old Canadian play often, the numbers and the opinions of others is all I have to rely on. Yet, when Tynan lit up the USHL early in the campaign (17 pts in 13 gms with Muskegon (10 goals) in the USHL), he opted to make the transition to the NCAA. It is not easy to make the jump from the OHL to the NCAA, as we have discussed with McKenna…but that is nothing when compared to leaping from the American Junior league and doing it mid-season.
As a result, the center’s 7 pts in 18 gms with Boston University in the NCAA doesn’t tell the true story of his talent. For example, Dobber Prospects has his NHL Certainty rating at a whopping 9.5 and he was selected 60% of the time at 4th overall in the above rankings. So since we can’t rely on the data readily available, lets hear from the scouts:
Dobber’s indicates that the first thing about Lawrence you will notice is his “smooth & effortless” skating and that helps him to be a complete 2 way center that is as effective at backchecking as he is at joining in on offensive rushes. Despite not being an elite stickhandler, Tynan was a zone entry & exit “monster” in the USHL and has shown that he can make intelligent reads to capitalize on free space or an uncovered linemate.
Smaht Scouting describes the 17 yr old as “a detailed and intelligent center with great instincts and supports teammates well. Lawrence is committed to playing defense, working off puck and tracking back to kill odd man rushes and disrupting opponents in transition“. Dangerous in transition and a high compete level are other compliments Tynan’s game has received. The team that drafts Lawrence will want their staff to work on his initial speed burst to help him get to the high danger zones quicker, plus should probably expect a bit longer of a development path.
Chase Reid
RD – 6’2″ 189 lbs – 18 yrs – American
By the time we get to the 5th pick in the above draft, we are already down to just 40% of the scouts to agree on who should fill that spot…..and that was the talented defenseman Reid. A couple of the above rankings had him picked before that, one even placing him as high as 3rd overall. After putting up 40 pts in 39 games with the Soo Greyhounds in 2024-25, the right hand defender has built on that this season with 48 pts in 45 gms (18 goals) in the OHL this year. To think that he started his draft year minus one campaign playing in the North American Hockey League and now he is a consensus top 10 pick, the Michigan native has certainly seen his stock rise in the past year & a half.
Chase working his way onto Team USA’s starting roster at the World Junior Championships, putting up 4 pts in 5 games to tie for the squad’s defenseman lead in points at the tournament. While most of the scouts go on & on about the American’s offensive abilities, it was noted by many that he plays an effective 200 foot game. Yet there is no doubt that it is his high end skills that make him most enticing to the GMs around the NHL.
An elite skater that uses those assets to carry the puck up the ice to create offense or just clear their own end, Reid could be the top play-driving defenseman in the 2026 class. The 18 yr old also has an NHL level shot that gives him the ability to snipe like a forward when in high danger areas, while he is also adept at getting his shots from longer range through to the net.
Chase’s skating also helps him out defensively, where he uses it often to go back to collect dump ins before starting a breakout from his own end with a smart pass or his feet. His mobility also allows him to keep gaps tight, giving his good stick work the chance to break up any passes before the puck even reaches its mark. While his emergence as elite prospect has only occurred over the past season & a half, the tools he has and coveted position he plays should give him a shot at turning into a good NHL defenseman (though Dobber’s only has his NHL Certainty rating at 7.0).
Ethan Belchetz
LW – 6’5″ 227 lbs – 18 yrs – Canadian
I have Belchetz next on my list because he was selected 6th 40% of the time in the above rankings, though he has fallen between 6th & 13th over the full 17 on Elite Prospects’ site. So what makes Ethan intriguing to the hockey world? Well, maybe Dobber Prospect’s following quote will clear that up…”a ginormous forward with the skill to play as a prototypical modern power forward“.
In 2024-25, the big winger started his OHL career with 17 goals and 38 points in his rookie year (56 gms) with the Windsor Spitfires. Yet the big Ontarian forward took his production to another level in his sophomore campaign, piling up 59 pts in 57 games (34 goals) in the OHL this season. On a team loaded with drafted NHL prospects like Liam Greentree and Jack Nesbitt, has used his assets to hold his own offensively.
While his 6’5″ frame helps him get some of his production from the “dirty areas” around the opposing net, Belchetz is able to make his mark in other zones too. The scouts say that he has an excellent shot, often scoring on shots from the face off circles or on booming 1 timers. A strong skater for his size, one of the Canadian’s best talents is the ability to get open when he doesn’t have the puck, making him a linemate other players are glad to play with.
The big prospect did have his season end with a broken clavicle on March 3rd….and while this is a significant injury that can cause issues later on, NHL rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer had the same injury at the end of last season and it didn’t seem to hamper him at all with the Islanders. Dobber Prospects isn’t entirely sold on the left winger, as they have his NHL Certainty rating at 6.0.
Viggo Bjorck
C/RW – 5’10” 175 lbs – 18 yrs – Swedish
The 18 yr old hasn’t been on the scouts radar for that long, as he entered this season considered a B level (projected 2nd or 3rd round pick) prospect by many. Yet by the midterm reports from this season, Bjorck had moved his way up to the 5th best international prospect in this pool. His play at the World Junior Championships played a large part in that, as his 9 pts in 7 games for Sweden led the team while he was often the most noticeable player on the ice despite highly touted Ivar Stenberg playing on the same team.
The diminutive forward made the leap to Sweden’s top league this year, putting up 15 pts in 42 gms with Djurgardens (6 goals) in one of the best league’s outside of the NHL. While his high hockey IQ, vision, and playmaking abilities are often the most talked about, many scouts commented how he has a level of maturity that isn’t often seen in young prospects and how that frame of mind helps him both on & off the ice.
Like many undersized players that end up defying the odds to make the NHL, Viggo makes up for his physical limitations by playing with tenacity and a fearlessness when it comes to battles for the puck. The Swede’s work ethic and high motor help him make an on ice impact beyond his size, plus he not only has the skills to play on the powerplay, he has also been an excellent penalty killer in the SHL this year.
When it comes to negatives, the 5’10” frame is the most mentioned, but it was also noted that he is a good, not great skater and that limits his breakaway speed. While most agree that Bjorck’s positives outweigh his negatives, the people at Dobber Prospects aren’t entirely sold as they gave him an NHL Certainty rating of 5.0.
Carson Carels
LD – 6’2″ 195 lbs – 17 yrs – Canadian
After putting up 35 pts in 60 games with the Prince George Cougars last season, Carels has emerged as one of the WHL’s best defensemen this campaign. His 73 pts in 58 gms with Prince George (20 goals) in the WHL put him 4th in d-man points and 5th in d-man goals.
The 17 yr old has a lot of assets to work with, starting with a big frame that allows him to play the game with intensity & physicality. Carson seems to make the scouts throw words like “elite” or “excellent” around, since they use those terms or other similar descriptive words when discussing his skating, his puck moving, and playmaking abilities. A great shot from the point and a quick wrister when needed adds to his strengths in the offensive zone. Carels’ quick crossovers and changes of direction when he has the puck on his stick makes me think of Josh Morrissey dancing along the blueline to suck in his man.
It is said that while the young Canadian (one of the youngest prospects in the draft) is capable of playing a strong 2 way game, he can become too passive & make poor decisions in coverage at times. He does have the speed and work ethic to clean up most of the mistakes he makes, it does show that there is still work to do for the team that picks him. With only 1 pts in 5 games at the World Junior Championships, that might bring some more concern into your mind….yet a guy named Scott Niedermayer was also in the same situation when he was that young and walked away with 0 points. He ended up turning out pretty well…and I think Carels will make his mark in the NHL.
A local boy from Cypress River in Manitoba, the defenseman loves to hit and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to block a shot. One of the best skaters available to be drafted, most scouts describe him as a player who can dictate the pace of play. Possibly will require a bit of polishing by whatever NHL team drafts him, but if they can find a way to reduce the rate of his mistakes without stifling his creativity, it sounds like they will have discovered a gem. That being said, Dobber’s only has his NHL Certainty rate at 6.0 with only one dominant Junior season in the books.
Caleb Malholtra
C/LW – 6’2″ 185 lbs – 17 yrs – Canadian
When it comes to Malholtra, the scouts aren’t united on a spot where they expect the forward to be drafted. Some have him pushing into the top 5, while others have him as a late first rounder. Quite the spread…lets try to figure out why that is.
One of the reasons is the lack of top tier centers in the 2026 draft pool, while Caleb also has genetics working for him since he is the son of former NHLer Manny Malholtra and nephew of former NBA star Steve Nash. Another reason is the rookie season he had with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, putting up 84 pts in 67 games in 2025-26 (29 goals). That put him 12th in league scoring and 2nd for rookie skaters, helping to make the Dogs one of the OHL’s best clubs this season. They have already swept their way through the first 2 rounds of the playoffs and have a couple more to go before they can lift the Championship trophy.
Smart with & without the puck, the 17 yr old can seem like he is playing a step or 2 ahead of his competition and that allows the forward to be in the right place to make an offensive or defensive play. Is as adept at finding open spaces to slide into as he is at hitting his linemates with passes when they are uncovered. Described as “completely unpredictable” & “creative” when he has the puck on his stick, the Toronto-born prospect has quick & soft hands to pull off dekes in tight places. Anyone else thinking of Gabriel Vilardi all of a sudden? Primarly viewed as a playmaker, Malholtra does possess a very accurate shot from the middle of the ice and often can pick the slightest opening from odd angles against OHL tending.
A never give up attitude combined with his strong skating makes him someone opposing attackers always have to pay attention to. Is intelligent enough to know where he is supposed to be without the puck and that shows up when he covers passing lanes to intercept pucks or supports his teammates during board battles. Not afraid of the physical play, the big forward could do more to put the “power” into the power forward position, but other than that the scouts didn’t have much negative to say about Caleb’s play. Which makes it a bit surprising that Dobber’s has his NHL Certainty rating as low as a 6.0.
Malholtra is committed to Boston University of the NCAA next season and that increase in competition/age level should help him work on using his 6’2″ frame to his advantage.
Alberts Smits
LD – 6’3″ 205 lbs – 18 yrs – Latvian
If you are a GM in the NHL just dying to draft a player who brings the physical play…then look no further than Smits. The Hockey Writers describe the left hand defenseman as playing “only in one gear – wide open & with aggression“. After getting a taste of Finland’s highest league in 2024-25, Alberts once again started in the U20 league for a brief stint before permanently making the move to Jukurit’s top club, where he put up 13 pts in 38 games in Liiga (6 goals).
Smits overall defensive game is considered top-notch when he is playing at his best, typically when he is smart enough to know when using his long reach to break up a play is the better decision over taking himself out of position to lay a big bodycheck. The Latvian is an very active player, typically involved in most of the breakouts & neutral zone rushes when he is on the ice. The 18 yr old defender isn’t one to just patrol the blue line when his team has the puck in the opponent’s end, often joining in on the attack to the point it is not surprising to see him with the puck deep in the offensive zone. “Great passer” and “unwavering confident” are some of the other descriptions of the young defender.
A strong showing for his country at the World Junior Championships saw Alberts put up a point per game rate (5 in 5) and has only enhanced the vast majority of scouts’ opinion of him. Not only is Smits set to become the 2nd Latvian ever to be drafted in the 1st round of a NHL draft (Zemgus Girgensons in 2012), he is also considered a lock for the top 10 in late June.
Projected as a top 4 defenseman, Smits showed that he could handle 20 mins/gm in the Liiga, while playing on both of Jukurit’s special team units. Dobber’s gives him a 8.0 rating in their NHL Certainty stat.
Daxon Rudolph
RD – 6’2″ 203 lbs – 18 yrs – Canadian
The Albertan-born prospect started his WHL career last season, when he debuted with 41 pts in 64 games as a rookie (runner up for Rookie of the Year). Rudolph has entered the high-end defenseman conversation this season with Prince Albert, as he amassed an impressive 78 pts in 68 gms in the WHL (28 goals). I will end up talking about 5 other defensemen who have received more laurels from the majority of the scouts, but some question whether Daxon might be the best.
A right defender with size and top 4 potential is always coveted by NHL GM’s, so it is hardly surprising that the 18 yr old is in the top 10 discussion after the season he has had. Predicted to be selected in 8th by 40% of the above rankings, the young Canadian is right around where the Winnipeg Jets’ best odds of picking are.
Intelligence is one of Rudolph’s main strengths, allowing him to play a patient game and allow the opposition to make the first mistake and then pouncing on it. His hockey sense and calmness allow the 18 yr old to make the right decision regardless of what is going on around him. A great skater that has offensive confidence and defensive maturity, Daxon is able to impact the game at both ends of the ice.
The scouting reports that I have read through might suggest that the young RD might be the best of all the elite defensemen in this year’s draft. Good positioning allows the prospect to get into passing lanes or take away a rebound chance from an opposing forward. He doesn’t panic with the puck on his stick and the forecheck bearing down on him, using his body to protect the puck before making the smart play. Dobber’s opines that Rudolph is likely the best 1 on 1 defender in the draft, using his reach, skating, and positioning to close off lanes, retrieve pucks, and initiate transition rushes. They also gave him a 7.5 on their NHL Certainty table.
The scouts seem to agree that Daxon plays a mature & complete game, with the only knock seeming to be a need to up the intensity. And by that they seem to mean some scouts would like to see him initiate the physical play more often, rather than just happily play through whatever the opposition throws at him. Makes me think of Dylan Samberg in that, a defender who isn’t afraid to get hit or battle in front of the net, but rarely going to lay someone out with a booming check.
Ryan Lin
RD – 5’11” 178 lbs – 18 yrs – Canadian
This prospect wasn’t selected by any of the scouts before the 10th overall spot, but he did earn 40% of the votes in the above rankings for the final selection of the top 10. Lin had already established himself in the WHL last season, when he put up 53 pts in 60 games with the Vancouver Giants as a rookie (14 goals). The undersized right shot defenseman picked up the pace as a sophomore, adding 57 pts in 53 games to his WHL totals (14 goals) and passing the point per game mark.
Descriptors like “dynamic” and “explosive” are often mentioned when scouts discuss Lin’s play. A great PP quarterback that has the ability to walk the line to open up lanes, where he can use his capable shot or find an open teammate with a crisp pass. As a 17 yr old, he was named captain of the Giants and that is a rare feat in the WHL for someone with his youth. So his Junior coaches certainly believed in his character. An amazing puck handler that loves to carry the puck up the ice, he can be caught out of position at times when someone doesn’t cover for his defensive role.
“Lin might not be big, but he’s smart and has the skills to take his game up a level. He is putting up outstanding numbers with the Giants, and could end up being one of the WHL’s top draft-eligible scorers – even as a defenseman. His decision-making is near the top of this draft class already, and he has the skating to burn guys.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
Xavier Villeneuve
LD – 5’11” 160 lbs – 18 yrs – Canadian
Another undersized defenseman comes in at #13 on my list, as the Quebec-born defenseman has proven he can play at a consistent level in the QMJHL. As a rookie three seasons ago, Villeneuve debuted with Blainville-Boisbriand and saw immediate success as a rookie (43 pts in 54 gms), then followed that up with a campaign of 62 pts in 61 games. This year, he added 38 pts in 37 gms in the QMJHL (6 goals). And while the Q does have a reputation for over-inflated stats, the consistency of the offensive impact cannot be ignored.
Xavier did suffer an injury in January and hasn’t played since….so this combined with the size concerns could see the talented defender drop in the draft. Dynamic and “with a big bag of tricks“, I am guessing that some will make the comparison to the Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson and that does seem to be the kids’ ceiling. A true play driver, it is not uncommon to see Villeneuve start offensive rushes from the neutral or defensive zones, using his elite skating & puck handling abilities to attack the opposition’s defense. Dobber’s called him “highly competitive & definitely electric“, but their 4.5 NHL Certainty rating suggest there are still doubts.
Defensively, Xavier is very capable off the rush and or when the puck is dumped into his corner, but can struggle with the net front traffic due to his diminutive size & weight. Seems like a bit of a high risk, high reward type of situation….but you have to think the success the Habs had with their own small but talented defenseman will make someone take a gamble on him.
Mathis Preston
RW/C – 5’11” 177 lbs – 17 yrs – Canadian
#14 on the list goes to a player who made a bit of a name for himself in his first full WHL season, as Preston gained 45 pts in 54 games as a rookie with the Spokane Chiefs. The 17 yr old was traded at the deadline this season, amassing 44 pts in 46 gms between Spokane & the Vancouver Giants (18 goals).
Mathis is another undersized forward with a lot of talent and intelligence that makes up for his lack of size with a high motor. His elite speed & skating allows him to cover a lot of ice and the young Canadian isn’t afraid to grind it out versus bigger players. The right winger likes to fly down the wing before using his top-notch shot to beat goalies either high glove or low blocker. Preston is a “pace setter & space creator” that uses his many skills to become a flashy offensive weapon. He also has a bit of a reputation for being a “pest” and getting under the opposition’s skin.
Born in Pentiction and now playing in relatively close Vancouver, the young forward does still have work to do to reach the NHL level. Injuries & being traded might have reduced the expected offensive increase in the past season, but he needs work on the defensive side of the puck….like many young prospects. A 6.0 rating by Dobber’s in the NHL Certainty stat means he is far from a sure thing, but we will start seeing less & less of those as we drop down the list.
Adam Novotny
LW/RW – 6’1″ 205 lbs – 18 yrs – Czech
Just the 5th non-Canadian on our list so far, Novotny made the move from Czechia to the OHL this season and his offensive potential was unleashed against his own age group. With 65 pts in 58 games for the Peterborough Petes (34 goals) in 2025-26 the winger has tempted the hockey world with visions of a goal scoring power forward being added to their favourite franchise. He certainly didn’t need any time to “adjust” to the North American game. The 18 yr old also added 3 pts in 7 games for Latvia at the World Junior Championships.
Well built, Adam has a strong work ethic and a motor that never shuts off, helping him to become a strong 200 ft player. His intensity doesn’t change whether he has the puck on his stick or is trying to get it off an opponent and is equally likely to use his large frame to fight for the puck in a board battle as he is to protect the puck as he drives into a scoring position. One of the knocks I’ve read is that he can be “shot happy” at times, but since they also agree that he probably has a NHL level one already, that can’t be too bad, nor too difficult to improve on.
Defensively, physicality is the theme, as Novotny will use his body to throw body checks, block shots, or coming to the defense of a teammate. A true believer of the “hit ’em to let ’em know you’re there” philosophy, the big forward can wear the opposition down over the full 60 minutes of a game. An interesting prospect, but might be a bit of a reach at Winnipeg’s lowest possible draft position (9th) since only one ranking had Adam getting drafted 10th overall and the rest had him lower than that. Dobber’s does give the lad a 7.5 rating in the NHL Certainty category.
JP Hurlbert
RW/C – 6′ 185 lbs – 18 yrs – American
Another prospect that burst onto the scene after making the move from the USHL to the WHL this season, Hurlbert caught the attention of some scouts with a massive 97 pts in 68 games with the Kamloops Blazers (42 goals). The Texas-born forward ended up 4th in league scoring as a rookie and that has brought him into the discussion for a potential top 15 draft pick.
JP’s biggest asset is his NHL caliber shot, which some say is the quickest release of a wrist shot that they’ve ever seen. The puck is instantly off his stick when he receives a pass in a scoring position, often almost appearing as if it was 1 timed. The American’s intelligence & awareness on the ice make it simple for him to spot weaknesses in the defenders’ positioning, allowing him to initiate plays to take advantage of them to create scoring chances for his team.
Despite appearing to play a quick game, some scouts say his skating is average and he doesn’t possess that explosive top gear that pays dividends in the big leagues. Although an offense-first player, Hurlbert doesn’t shy away from defensive play and saw some penalty killing minutes in the WHL this season. As with most young prospects, the play away from the puck needs improvement, but some GM is sure to gamble on his high end talent at some point in the 1st round. Dobber’s has given him just a 5.5 on the NHL Certainty chart, but a strong season in the NCAA next year will see that rise. Committed to the University of Michigan in 2026-27, so that is where the 18 yr old will continue his development.
Malte Gustafsson
LD – 6’4″ 202 lbs – 17 yrs – Swedish
The final prospect on our list is another one that Winnipeg’s GM probably won’t consider too much, as the earliest the above rankings has him selected is 11th. But since they did reach for Mark Scheifele way back in 2011 and they have seen some success with Swedish defensemen, I thought I would include Gustafsson.
It seems not many scouts are viewing the 17 yr old’s defensive talents as highly as those that make their impact on the scoresheet. Because from what I’ve read, Malte is the definition of a shut down defender that has top 4 potential at the NHL, at least according to some. Others feel he will be a very dependable 3rd pairing defenseman in the big leagues.
Gustafsson’s 3 pts in 27 games with HV71 (0 goals) in the SHL this season confirm those latter thoughts….even though it is still impressive that a player that young was a regular player in Sweden’s top league. Dobber’s 6.5 NHL Certainty rating suggests that there is a good chance a team will get an NHL player if they select Malte, but is his defensive ceiling high enough to out-shine the many flashy fellow d-man prospects in this pool?
*****
BOJA’s Final Thoughts:
Since it was so long ago, I figured I should remind you of the True Northers’ odds in May 5th’s Lottery to determine the final order of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. With our 7th best odds, Winnipeg has around a 6.5% chance at either the 1st & 2nd overall picks, a very slim shot at 3rd, and will most probably end up in the 7th to 9th range.
Should the Jets be fortunate enough to hear their names called for the opportunity to make the first selection of the draft, I am still not 100% on what my choice would be. I can definitely see positives in both McKenna & Stenberg’s potentials and probably will concede that Gavin probably has a slightly higher ceiling than Ivar. That being said, I am very much attracted by the Swede’s apparent NHL readiness, along with his stronger 2 way play. That moves it away from a strictly coin flip situation, as I am probably closer to 60-40 or 70-30 in favour of Winnipeg adding Stenberg. But 6.5% chance of something happening isn’t something I would lay money on, so I realize adding either of these elite prospects is unlikely. But there is a chance….
While the comparison may not be entirely apt, I was thinking back to the 2016 Entry Draft when it was Auston Matthews & Patrik Laine dominating a #1 & #2 conversation. That one looked close for a while, but in the end it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs made the correct call. I don’t think either of these prospects will fall as far from grace as Laine….but if I had to bet on it, my money would be on McKenna since he seems a bit more hit or miss. Really think both of the young prospects will turn out alright….though still pushing my chips towards the Swede.
While there are a boatload of tempting defensemen in this draft, I don’t think any of them would be considered by Winnipeg in the top 2 spots and since the chance of the Jets ending up in 3rd is almost non-existent, I don’t see our GM being the first to draft a blueliner.
The first defender to come off will likely occur shortly after though (likely Verhoeff or Reid), with the potential for at least a pair of them being gone before Winnipeg could get their shot at their highest odd position, 7th (44.4%). At this point, I would be surprised to see the top ranked center Lawrence still on the board for the Jets. That could start a run on forwards, with players like Belchetz, Malholtra, &Bjorck potentially coming off the board before our turn comes along. I doubt all of those will be selected by 7th, but the two bigger prospects certainly have a shot. Ideally those are the two I would like to see if our GM went with a forward at this point, but there will also be some tempting defensemen like Carels, Smits, & Rudolph as well.
I am tempted to lean heavily towards adding a forward to help increase the Winnipeg Jets’ offensive capabilities in future seasons….but some of the defensemen in this pool have that capability as well. There is always a lot of value in getting a top 4 D, even if it is not an immediate position of need, so arguments can easily be made for all of them.
To wrap up, if Malholtra is still available when the Jets’ GM walks up on the stage….I think I will be a bit disappointed if Winnipeg doesn’t select him. Even if he isn’t the long searched for answer for the 2C position, adding a big forward with a scoring touch is enough for me. I will, of course, learn to appreciate and cheer for any prospect our club ends up selecting, but I am hoping we shy away from some of the smaller guys….even if they happen to be the next Rookie of the Year, I will never blame management for going another direction with the current construction of our franchise.
So I have provided a bunch of information and I am sure you’ve all did your own research….let me hear in the Comment section who you would pick if the Jets get #1 or #7/8? Why does that prospect stand out to you? Is it due to position, current/future team needs, or all about who you think is the most talented of the available prospects?
Have a good summer everyone!!! Seems like the warm weather is finally arriving in Winnipeg tomorrow…..about time!!