5 Underrated WHL Prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a goldmine for underrated players. The high physicality and emphasis on work ethic prepare NHL prospects for the pro circuit, and several later picks have become key members on their NHL teams. Mark Stone, selected in the sixth round, led the Vegas Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup and might just do it again this year. Brandon Hagel is currently the 11th-highest scorer from the 2016 Draft class despite going 159th overall. Brayden Point, a third-round pick, is a two-time 90-point player and two-time Stanley Cup champion. They all started in the WHL.

The 2026 NHL Draft will be no different. While the focus has mainly been on the elite WHL defencemen at the top, there are plenty of other players throughout the league being overlooked for one reason or another. Here are five to keep an eye on for day two of the Draft.

Tyus Sparks, RW, Spokane Chiefs

Tyus Sparks has all the makings of an early pick on day two of the Draft. He’s quick, hard-working, has a great shot, puts himself in good positions on both offence and defence, and finished with a point per game split between the Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs. Before the deadline deal that sent him south of the border, he had 16 goals and 37 points in 40 games; after the trade, he found another gear, scoring 12 goals and recording 28 points in his final 29 games. He was also fantastic at the WHL Top Prospects Game, where he scored twice and showcased his high engagement and dangerous speed.

Yet, despite being ranked 37th by Central Scouting, few public scouts have ranked Sparks at all, let alone within the top 64 prospects up for the draft. The primary concern seems to be his size and lack of creativity, yet he’s just a hair under 6-foot-0, and has shown that he can get things done despite choosing the simpler options. Neither of those things should be an issue later, making him one of the most underrated players in the 2026 Draft.

Noah Kosick, C, Seattle Thunderbirds

Noah Kosick had a tough start to his hockey career. Initially an NCAA commit, he switched gears late in 2024-25 and joined the Calgary Hitmen, but it was a difficult transition for the 16-year-old. In 34 games, he had just one goal and three points, so the Hitmen dealt him to the Swift Current Broncos for 2025-26. That proved to be the perfect fit. In 37 games, he already had 10 goals and 34 points. Suddenly, he was a top deadline target, leading the Seattle Thunderbirds to acquire him to help replace the outgoing Braeden Cootes. On a roster with a lot more talent, he didn’t shine quite as bright, but still finished the season with 20 points in 32 games, plus a team-leading five points in the playoffs.

The biggest knock on his game is his defensive engagement and strength, but that has significantly improved throughout the season. After going 11th overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, it seems that he just needed a little extra time to realize his full potential, making him a very intriguing late-round pick in June.

Julien Maze, LW, Calgary Hitmen

Despite the success of players like Cole and Lan Hutson, Logan Stankoven, Cole Caufield, and Nick Robertson, NHL teams still seem to have an aversion to undersized players. That trend is likely to continue with Julien Maze, who stands just 5-foot-9 and has hardly been ranked inside the top-100, if at all.

But those who really watch his game have no issues with his skill set. Splitting his season between the Hitmen and the Regina Pats, Maze put up 38 goals and 78 points in 68 games, the 17th-highest total in the WHL. He plays at a breakneck pace, making him a dangerous transition player, and he positions himself well in both offensive and defensive zones. He can get pushed around a bit and needs to get stronger, but he has all the tools you want from a play-driving forward. Someone is going to end up with a steal in the latter half of the draft.

Parker Snell, G, Edmonton Oil Kings

Several goalies are coming out of the WHL who could be early picks, with Harrison Boettiger, Filip Ruzicka, Tobias Tvrznik, and Michal Orsulak leading the way as some of the best goalies available in this year’s draft. But Parker Snell should also be in that conversation. He finished the 2025-26 season with a .895 save percentage (SV%) with a 21-9-1 record and three shutouts. In the playoffs, he was even better, posting a .924 SV% and a 2.22 goals against average (GAA) over four starts, which were better numbers than Orsulak, the second-best among North American goalies on Central Scouting’s final list.

At 6-foot-2, Snell is on the smaller side for potential starting goalies, but he’s an excellent skater, helping him cover a lot more room than his size might suggest. He has certainly outplayed his ranking of 19th among North American goalies, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him emerge as one of the WHL’s best goalies next season.

Brayden Klimpke, LD, Saskatoon Blades

Brayden Klimpke is not the biggest defenceman out there. At just 6-foot-0 and 174 pounds, he is notably undersized, but don’t be too hasty to count out the Saskatoon Blades’ defender. Last season, he arrived at training camp at 156 pounds, and in less than a year, he packed on nearly 20 pounds of muscle. That had a huge impact on his game. No longer was he easily muscled off the puck, allowing him to control the flow of the game better, and his vision, intelligence, and mobility shone even brighter. Despite his smaller size, he played all 68 regular-season and 11 playoff games, finishing with a combined 51 points, the fifth-highest point total among draft-eligible WHL defencemen, while also serving as Saskatoon’s assistant captain.

While all eyes have been on the likes of Carson Carels and Daxon Rudolph, Klimpke has shown that he can complete alongside some of the best defenders in the league and come out on top. He was solid at the WHL Top Prospects Game and was a quarterback for the young Blades. If his growth between his first and second seasons in the WHL is any indication, the Saskatoon Blades’ defender is on track for a big breakout in 2026-27.

The WHL has seen a lot of change over the past season, and the pressure from NCAA programs continues to mount. But the league remains competitive and fun to watch thanks to the dozens of underrated stars who have just as good a chance to make the NHL someday. Of the 90 players invited to the NHL Draft Combine, 25 were from the WHL, making up nearly half of all players invited from the three major junior leagues in Canada. That’s a great sign for the health of the league, and a better sign for some underrated players getting a chance to play in the NHL one day.

Honourable mentions: Brek Liske, Brock Souch, Hunter Aura, Zach Lansard, Yaroslav Bryzgalov