The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is the unofficial kick-off to the NHL Draft, as it’s the first time many of the projected top prospects will get to show off their skills against each other. Much has already been said about the 2026 draft class. While the 2025 class had several intriguing players who will undoubtedly fill in the middle of NHL lineups, 2026 features more high-end prospects, making it one of the deeper classes in the last few years. The group didn’t disappoint, either, with the United States upsetting Canada’s bid for a four-peat in the semifinal and claiming their second gold medal at the tournament.
After commanding the top of the 2025 Draft, the Western Hockey League (WHL) was again well represented among draft-eligible prospects at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Several players from the league had incredible performances, which should translate to even bigger performances with their junior clubs. With less than a month before the start of the WHL season, here are five players to keep a close eye on throughout the year.
Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane Chiefs
Heading into the tournament, Ethan Belchetz and Tynan Lawrence were projected to be Canada’s top producers on offence. But, when the chips were down, Mathis Preston was more often than not making things happen for his team. Despite averaging around 15 minutes a night in a bottom-six role, he finished tied with Belchetz with four goals in five games and finished second among Canadians with seven points. He was electric every time he stepped on the ice, bringing energy and creativity to the attack. That lethal blend was crucial for Canada after falling 3-1 to the Americans after 40 minutes in the semi-final, as it was Preston’s goal that sent the game into overtime, and his shootout goal kept his team alive for one more round.
Preston saw his draft stock climb arguably more than anyone else on Team Canada. Already a projected first-rounder, he now looks like a lock for the top 10. That could continue to climb, too, as the Spokane Chiefs will need someone to replace Andrew Cristall on the top line and also may need someone to take over from Berkly Catton if he turns pro this season. While that might seem like a lot of pressure, Preston has proven he can handle it. According to Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala, “Preston is the kind of player who stands out with his relentless compete. He’s always around the play and involved. He’s the kind of player coaches start at the beginning of each period to set the tone for their team, and he makes life miserable on opponents with his quickness and push-back in the trenches.” That sounds like a player ready to break out if given the chance.
Daxon Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert Raiders
Although the University of North Dakota-bound Keaton Verhoeff was arguably Canada’s best all-around defender at the tournament, Daxon Rudolph was a close second. He was especially effective in the bronze medal final against Finland, where he set up Cooper Williams to open the scoring five minutes into the game. His positioning, skating, and awareness were all top-notch, and he also showed flashes of his offensive ability with two goals and four points. Stephen Ellis of Daily Faceoff wrote, “This felt like Rudolph’s best game of the tournament. He had some iffy moments against the Americans, but he did an excellent job skating smoothly and taking space away in the D-zone. I also liked how he continued to put pressure on the Finnish defenders by rushing in to generate quality scoring chances. He deserves all the love he has received this week.”
Rudolph’s success at the tournament is no surprise to fans back home. The rookie defender was a stud on the Prince Albert Raiders last season, finishing with seven goals and 41 points before putting up over a point per game in the playoffs. Had Landon DuPont not had the unbelievable season he did, Rudolph would have been a good bet to win the WHL’s Rookie of the Year. With most of the Raiders’ defence expected to return in 2025-26, Rudolph will get to build on what he started last season. He’s also drawn comparisons to former Raider Kaiden Guhle, a key part of Prince Albert’s 2019 Championship and now a core member of the Montreal Canadiens, albeit with more offence. If Rudolph follows in those footsteps, the WHL may not be ready for him.
Ryan Lin, RD, Vancouver Giants
Last season, only four undrafted defenders outscored Ryan Lin’s 53 points, and of those, DuPont was the only one not in their last or second-last year of junior eligibility. Lin showed off his brilliant puck movement in the first two games of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with five points in his first two games. His pace slowed after that – in the last three games, he only had one more point – but he still finished tied for second among defensive scoring behind Axel Elofsson’s unbelievable 11 points.
Related: 2026 Draft-Eligible Standouts at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
However, Lin’s rookie production has been a double-edged sword, as some have voiced their disappointment at his Hlinka Gretzky performance. The bar, it seems, was set far too high for the teenager to the point that anything less than leading the tournament in points wasn’t good enough. But FloHockey’s Chris Peters put his tournament into perspective, writing, “The smoothness and maturity of Lin is always on display when he has the puck on his stick. He’s made an impact in all facets of the game and is among the top scoring defensemen in the tournament with five points, including a pair of goals. He hasn’t necessarily shown anything that people watching him last year hadn’t already known, [but] he’ll remain a top defenseman to watch for this season.”
Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers
In all fairness, twin brothers Markus and Liam Ruck will both be must-see players this season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, but Liam promises to be the more dynamic of the pair. His 25 goals led all WHL rookies last season, and his 41 points finished 12th. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he was placed in a bottom-six role, but still managed to bring a lot of energy and two-way presence, resulting in two goals and four points over the five contests. Markus took on more of a supporting role, finishing with three assists, including one on Liam’s goal against Czechia.
What gives Liam an edge is his ability to put the puck in the net, which he admits is boosted by his brother. “We support each other a lot out there,” he said in an interview with Hockey Canada. “Markus makes my job as a goal scorer a lot easier when he sets me up, so we definitely get a lot of good chances out there together.” With the Tigers reeling after losing Gavin McKenna, Cayden Lindstrom, and Ryder Ritchie to the NCAA, and Andrew Basha, Hunter St. Martin, and Oasiz Weisblatt going pro, Medicine Hat will need to find several players to take on bigger offensive roles. Liam promises to be a prominent part of the next wave alongside his playmaking brother.
Kalder Varga, RW, Kelowna Rockets
A gold medal will make anyone a must-watch player, but Kalder Varga stands out as one who could break out in 2025-26. The American import had a solid rookie season with the Kelowna Rockets, scoring 10 goals and recording 24 points, which earned him a spot on the U.S. team as a depth player. At the Hlinka Gretzky, he put on another solid performance, scoring twice and finishing with three points in five games. Ellis was impressed with the flashes he saw and reported, “Varga is known for his speed and his shot, and he showed that in spurts early on. He often creates opportunities for himself by the way he pushes through, beating bigger defenders with ease often. The University of Denver commit didn’t produce like I expected, but I still thought he had a good showing overall because he was rarely not involved in his line’s scoring opportunities.”
That confidence will be crucial for Varga as he rejoins the Rockets. Last season, Kelowna was in rough shape, struggling to string wins together and find a rhythm with its young roster. Now, that team has a year of experience under their belt, and will be joined by WHL veterans Mazden Leslie and Carson Wetsch as they prepare to host the 2026 Memorial Cup tournament. Add in a healthy Tij Iginla and potentially the return of Hiroki Gojsic, the Rockets should have a much better team in 2025-26, and Varga could follow in his dad’s footsteps and break out as a point-per-game player.
Honourable Mentions: Carson Carels, Prince George Cougars; Marcus Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers; Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades; Marek Sklenicka, Seattle Thunderbirds; Jiri Kamas, Penticton Vees
Another Deep WHL Class
While it hurt to see Verhoeff and McKenna jump to the NCAA for their draft season, the WHL still boasts plenty of top talent for the 2026 Draft. Rudolph, Lin, and Preston are currently projected as top-10 picks, giving the WHL another strong cohort in the lottery picks, while a handful of other players could join them in the later selections. Then there are the 2027 hopefuls in DuPont, Noah Davidson, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, and Carter Esler, who are also expected to be early NHL Draft picks. Given the amount of talent currently coming out of the league, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the WHL dominate the next several NHL Drafts.
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