2026 NHL Draft – Fastest Risers

One of the most exciting parts about the NHL Entry Draft is seeing players who weren’t on too many radars early or even late into the season become the talk of the town. Here are six of the fastest risers for the 2026 class.

Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Entering this season, Tommy Bleyl was a C-graded prospect by NHL Central Scouting, giving him a fourth- to fifth-round draft projection. In their final rankings, he moved up to 17^th among North American skaters—he has first-round potential.

Bleyl recorded 13 goals and 68 assists in the regular season, making him the top point-scoring defenseman in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) by a fairly wide margin. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound blueliner is extremely mobile and excellent on retrievals. While undersized, he has top-four, true two-way upside with game-breaking skill. He has done everything to warrant a pick in the teens, but recent mocks typically have him going in the 20s or later.

Alexander Command, C, Örebro HK (U20 Nationell)

Alexander Command had the lowest possible grade in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings: W, making him a sixth- or seventh-round candidate. Yet, he has worked his way up to the first round on most boards, considered a top-20 prospect by some.

Command put up good numbers in Sweden’s top junior league this season, with 17 goals and 27 assists in 30 games. Across 21 international contests, he recorded 21 points. This included a U18 World Championship where he produced at a point-per-game clip and won gold over Slovakia.

As The Hockey Writers‘ Peter Baracchini noted in his prospect profile (linked at the beginning of this section), Command’s completeness makes him stand out. The 17-year-old center kind of has it all: vision, a strong shot, and physicality.

Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

Nobody has risen in the last few months quite like Wyatt Cullen. He was a C-graded prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, rose to 23^rd on their midterm rankings for North American skaters, and now sits 13^th on their final rankings. When all is said and done, he might be a top-10 lock for this year’s draft.

A lot of things make Cullen special. He’s one of the most dynamic players for 2026, with high-end skating, creativity, deceptiveness, vision, hands, and puck-carrying ability. His shot can be pretty lethal, too. Beyond the skill, a growth spurt has eliminated most size concerns, allowing for some looks at the center position, and his two-way engagement is definitely there. To top it all off, if he were eight days younger, he’d be eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

It’s not like Caleb Malhotra came out of nowhere—he was considered a first-round prospect by many before this season—but he could go as high as third overall to the Vancouver Canucks at the 2026 NHL Draft. That much was far from anticipated.

Malhotra scored 29 goals and added 55 assists in 67 games this season, tying him for 11^th on the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) points leaderboard. In the playoffs, he upped that pace with 26 points in 15 games.

As the consensus top center for this year’s draft, it’s hard to imagine Malhotra going any later than fifth overall. His hockey sense, skating, playmaking, and two-way play are all high-end traits. He has top-six center upside with a chance to be a 1C.

Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

After spending half of last season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), Chase Reid has emerged as the top defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft on most boards. To some of his more ambitious supporters, he’s the No. 1 prospect, period. Many mock drafts have him going second overall to the San Jose Sharks.

Reid is a complete, high-upside package. His skating, puck-carrying, and offensive toolkit are all elite, and his defensive game was really impressive this season. Reid didn’t put up the most jaw-dropping offensive totals, with 48 points in 45 OHL contests, but he is more than worthy of a top-three pick.

Alberts Šmits, D, EHC Red Bull München (DEL)

Alberts Šmits is another player who had a first-round case entering the season, but he has cemented himself as a top-10 pick. Though some are concerned with his hockey sense, the consensus remains that the 6-foot-3, 205-pound blueliner is one of the best in the class.

As is the case with a lot of this year’s top defensemen, Šmits is super mobile. His play style is flashy, with aggressive defense and a solid chunk of puck touches. With a booming shot to boot, he could be an elite NHLer someday.

There’s a decent chance all six of these players are first-rounders in June, with four of them—Cullen, Malohtra, Reid, and Šmits—looking like potential top-10 selections. Just a few months ago, half of them wouldn’t have even been in the first-round conversation.