Chase Reid
2025–26 Team: Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Date of Birth: Dec. 30, 2007
Place of Birth: Chesterfield, MI, USA
Height: 6-foot-2, Weight: 187 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Defenseman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
When he was playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) a season ago, nobody would’ve dreamed of ranking Chase Reid as the top defenseman for the 2026 NHL Draft. Now, he might have a case.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
Let’s start with the numbers. With 18 goals and 29 assists in 42 games, Reid is tied for ninth in point-scoring among Ontario Hockey League (OHL) defensemen. This is despite missing time due to a current injury and representing the United States at the 2026 World Junior Championship (WJC). In points per game, he ranks second.
While we’re on the topic, Reid was solid at the WJC. He put up two goals and two assists in five games, tying for first in points among U.S. defenders. The Americans were bounced in the quarterfinals, but the 18-year-old showcased his dynamic potential.
Diving into his game, Reid is a great skater. His edgework is elite, allowing him to carry the puck with ease. He takes advantage of this in all three zones—from breakouts to power-play situations. Reid’s skating is part of the reason why he’s arguably the top play-driving defenseman of the 2026 class.
Chase Reid (SSM25) with a nice sequence here. Carries the puck up ice, dishes it off, gets it back for a shot, then turns aside a pass the other way that eventually results in an OZ drawpic.twitter.com/6Ey7xgW0SM
— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) October 16, 2025
Next, Reid has an impressive shot. He’s averaging over four shots on goal per game, and they’re not just muffins from the point. If you find Reid in a high-danger area, be wary that he can snipe like a forward. From long range, he’s also effective at getting shots on target.
These are the types of plays you can expect from Chase Reid
Receives the puck along the wall, skates it up to the point, quickly takes advantage of open space in the middle, and unleashes a really nice shot
The ceiling is a franchise defenseman pic.twitter.com/oEEE1nRGW2
— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) January 20, 2026
One typical knock on Reid’s game is his defense, but he does a lot of important things from the back end. For one, he has a good defensive stick, which he’s used to kill rush attempts. Also, given his status as a minute-munching, play-driving defender, Reid has to retrieve a lot of pucks. He does so admirably, which leads to breakouts the other way. With more skilled teammates who could handle his passes better, he’d be even more deadly.
This can be seen as both a positive and a negative, but Reid has really burst onto the scene since his OHL debut in December 2024. His trajectory has soared—one can only imagine what the next few years of development will look like.
Other THW Draft Profiles
- Gavin McKenna
- Ivar Stenberg
- Keaton Verhoeff
Chase Reid – NHL Draft Projection
Things can change quickly and drastically when it comes to the NHL Draft. But at the time of writing, Reid looks like a surefire top-10 pick who will likely go in the top five. In fact, with no consensus first-overall pick at this stage, you could make a real argument for Reid. This is a special player.
Quotables
“Reid isn’t overly physical, but he works hard enough and makes plenty of stops due to his reach, feet and compete level even while playing an aggressive style of play offensively. He projects as a major minutes NHL defenseman who can run a first power play.” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic (from ‘2026 NHL Draft prospects: Chase Reid, Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff top Pronman’s ranking,’ The Athletic – March 10, 2026)
“Almost all of his ice time comes at even strength and on the power play. He’s a high-volume shooter and creative playmaker. Four of his five assists were primary ones in this segment. The two-way defenceman and Michigan State commit (2027) projects as a potential top-pairing defenceman.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“At 6-foot-2, the mobile defender has a big frame, and he plays with a ton of power. I love his skating, and I really believe he can rise up the ranks for a team chasing an all-around offensive defender.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
Strengths
- Edgework
- Straight-line speed
- Size
- Power-play quarterback
- Five-on-five play-driving
- Shot, both short- and long-range
- Defensive stick
- Retrievals and his ability to start breakouts
- Plays a ton of minutes
- Has taken a huge leap in the last calendar year; that could mean more growth is ahead
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- Not a high-end defender yet
- Not super physical
- Current injury
- Previous track record falls well short of other top draft-eligible prospects
NHL Potential
Reid has franchise defenseman potential. My favorite ceiling player comparison for him is Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They’re both terrific skaters, take a ton of shots, and are elite play-driving defensemen. Werenski’s bulkier, but he’s the exact same height at 6-foot-2.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 10/10, Defense – 7.5/10
Awards/Achievements
- 2022–23: T1EHL 15U Champion
- 2023–24: T1EHL 16U Champion
- 2024–25: OHL First All-Rookie Team
- 2024–25: OHL Most Assists by Rookie (33)
Interviews/Links
Chase Reid Stats
Videos
Our 2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report series has started ????????
In this feature, Chase Reid (Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds) gets the full breakdown from @BrockOtten, including skating, shot, skills, and what to watch as the season continues ????
Read the full report at McKeen’s Hockey ????… pic.twitter.com/ozp9b47FT0
— McKeen’s Hockey (@mckeenshockey) January 20, 2026
