Tyus Sparks – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Tyus Sparks

2025–26 Team: Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Date of Birth: Jan. 4, 2008
Place of Birth: Meridian, ID
Height: 5-foot-11.5, Weight: 180 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

• NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings: 37^th (among NA skaters)
• Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff): 98^th

Before the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) inaugural Top Prospects Game, very few people were talking about Tyus Sparks. Listed at just over 5-foot-11, he wasn’t the biggest player up for the draft, and he’d been given a middling ‘C’ rating on Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List in October. It also didn’t help that he was a goal-scorer on the Vancouver Giants, one of the least offensively gifted teams in the Western Conference.

Still, Sparks’ 37 points in 40 games made him a top trade target at the deadline, and the Spokane Chiefs scooped him up from the Giants’ fire sale in exchange for fellow draft-eligible prospect Mathis Preston. In Washington, he really began to shine, and in February, he was given the biggest stage to show off exactly what he could do, scoring twice and helping Team West force overtime after his team fell behind early. Behind team captain Carson Carels, he was one of the most impactful players on the ice.

Following the game, Sparks couldn’t be stopped, putting up 14 points in the final 14 games of the season, then registered a point in the first three of Spokane’s five playoff games. Central Scouting recognized his skill and effort, bumping him up to 37th on their Final Ranking after listing him 63rd at the Midterm, as well as the growth spurt that pushed him up to just under 6-foot-0.

So why isn’t he getting any attention?

With less than a month before the draft, Sparks has been ranked by just one major scouting source for the 2026 NHL Draft, despite showcasing high-end skill, work ethic, and physicality.

The primary critique appears to be that he doesn’t stand out. Smaller players generally compensate for their lack of physical tools with high-end skating and puck-handling. It’s why Beckett Sennecke was such a unicorn ahead of the 2024 Draft; he had small-player skill and speed, yet a late growth spurt also gave him the size and strength. Sparks is by no means a bad skater, nor is he bad with the puck. He has a good top speed and uses bursts of quickness to overwhelm opponents, and he controls the puck well when it’s on his stick. Yet, because he’s not excellent in either area and doesn’t use a lot of creativity in his plays, he tends to slip into the background.

Yet those who pay attention to Sparks know that he can’t be slept on. He attacks any assignment head-on, and it’s made him a very difficult player to handle. He has a blistering shot with a quick release that he can fire from anywhere, and has great vision that often puts him in the right place for a scoring chance or helps him find obscured passing lanes. He’s also deceptively strong, and without the puck, he works hard to establish position in front of the net, and doesn’t shy away from backchecking or playing defence. He’s the definition of a hidden gem, yet he’s been hiding in plain sight the whole season and will make one team very happy on draft day.

Other THW Draft Profiles

• Ryan Lin
• Mathis Preston
• Zach Olsen

Tyus Sparks – NHL Draft Projection

Last season, Cameron Schmidt was expected to be a solid second-round pick, if not a late first, but didn’t hear his name called until 97th overall. A lot of it was due to his size; at 5-foot-8, teams weren’t confident he could handle the NHL. This season, he put up over 50 goals and hit 100 points between the Giants and Seattle Thunderbirds. With Sparks standing nearly four inches taller, he’s a good third-round bet, likely in the 50-80 range.

Quotables

“Ranked 63rd among North American skaters on the Midterm list, Sparks showed off his blistering shot as much as he could, but also his incredible work ethic. He identified weak spots and openings in Team East’s defence and put himself in the perfect position to capitalize on them, and his teammates were more than happy to feed him pucks. Everyone loves a smart, hard-working player, and with that shot, Sparks should start to get a lot more draft attention.” Dayton Reimer, The Hockey Writers

“I think Sparks has been underrated for most of the season. He has been productive across the board between Vancouver and Spokane this year, and he’s a great shooter, as he showed today (at the WHL Top Prospects Game). He’s one of the hardest-working players in the WHL and he was obviously huge in West’s comeback efforts. I think he has scored in every game I’ve watched from him this year.” Stephen Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“He’s a shooter. He’s got really good hands, and he is one of the best one-time shooters I’ve seen this year. He has the ability in the offensive zone to find space and get good spots, kind of like a Brett Hull. He’s a guy that just kind of finds spots, gets in good shooting positions and can really fire it and can beat goalies clean.” John Williams, NHL Central Scouting

Tyus Sparks is a dynamic right winger who boasts a versatile skillset that makes him a valuable asset on the ice. He possesses a deadly accurate shot, capable of unleashing heavy one-timers and wristers from soft spots in the offensive zone. Sparks’ skating ability is also noteworthy, with a powerful stride and excellent top-end speed that causes problems for defenders. He plays a strong, physical game, using his edges and stride to create separation and competing hard in high-danger areas. Sparks also demonstrates good puck control and balance when engaged physically, making him a reliable finisher on net-front plays. His ability to make plays under pressure and protect pucks well makes him an effective contributor on the power play and penalty kill. Sparks’ game is characterized by his mobility, board play, and willingness to battle, which project as key assets for an impact forward at higher levels. Overall, he plays a multi-dimensional game that showcases his strengths in several areas, making him a promising prospect with significant upside. Neutral Zone

Strengths

• Quick, accurate shot
• High work ethic
• Well-developed two-way game
• Strength

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Overall raw skillset
• Limited creativity

NHL Potential

Sparks has the skillset to be either a bottom-six, gritty, energy winger who can put up 20 goals or a slick, middle-six sniper who could flirt with 40. It really depends on his development and what he continues to work on. He’s a riskier pick, but if a team is willing to be patient, he could be quite a steal.

Risk – 4/5, Reward – 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offence – 7.5/10, Defence – 6.5/10

Awards/Achievements

• 2026 WHL Top Prospects Game, where he scored two goals
• Invited to the 2026 NHL Draft Combine

Interviews/Links

• Pucks, Planes And Parachutes: How Tyus Sparks Became A 2026 NHL Draft Prospect (The Hockey News)
• Sparks flying: Sophomore Giants forward from Idaho getting notice for goal scoring (The Province)
• Color of Hockey: Sparks hoping extensive travel leads to NHL Draft selection (NHL.com)
  

Tyus Sparks Stats

Videos