2026 NHL Draft: Forbes’ Top 128 Final Rankings

The 2026 NHL Draft is right around the corner and with the NHL combine in the books and the mock drafts flowing around the hockey world, it’s the perfect time to drop my final rankings from the 2026 class. Team interviews and prospect performances at the combine surely held some weight in these final rankings. While the character of some players started to stand out, others’ led us to believe that there might be a particular spot within the draft that they will likely hear their name called.

On one hand, speculation is circulating that the Toronto Maple Leafs will take Gavin McKenna with the first overall selection, while others continue to try and determine what will happen beyond that first pick. Will it be Ivar Stenberg? Or Chase Reid? Will the Vancouver Canucks actually draft coach’s son in Caleb Malhotra? And where exactly does the drop off in talent begin in the first round?

One player I think deserves more attention is Ethan Belchetz, who has the potential to be a strong power forward in the NHL with his size and skill. Sneaking into my top-10, there were a number of risers over the last few months from my previous rankings. But with risers, come those who also fall in the rankings and with that, here’s a look at my top-128 prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft.

First Round

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

Well, if he wasn’t the top pick prior to the combine, things certainly pointed in his direction for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the week leading up to the event in Buffalo. Multiple times, the Maple Leafs spoke with the projected number one, even rumoured to have gone to Yellowknife to speak with McKenna.

As for what he brings, McKenna’s pure skill is hard to ignore. While it could take some time to transition to the NHL, his ceiling is far higher than those under him in this draft – even if it does take some time to reach it. What he has can’t be taught and what he’s missing can be developed. But his hockey IQ, his vision and his release have the potential of a star in the making and John Chayka can’t miss in his first draft back in the NHL.

2. Chase Reid, RD, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The top defensive prospect in this draft, Reid brings a lot to the table on the offensive side of the puck and in his own end. He drives possession and the pace of play and transitions the game well in the neutral zone. An injury did affect him this season, however, when he was healthy he showed commitment on both sides of the puck. He doesn’t sacrifice his offensive game, but prides himself on being the first defender back and leading the charge in his own end as well.

3. Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)

Stenberg could land anywhere from second to fourth to be perfectly honest. His development too a major stride this season in the SHL and with the number of international games he played throughout the year. His play on the global stage solidified his value, showing his speed and ability both with the puck and without it. He’s a slippery player that is tough to defend and his experience should make the transition to the NHL even easier.

4. Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

There’s a unique opportunity for Malhotra if the Vancouver Canucks choose to draft him third with his dad now the head coach of the franchise. Either way, his compete this season allowed teams to see just what he can bring to the table and it’s impressive. He completely dusted the rest of the Ontario Hockey League this season and it wasn’t just offensive skill that made him such a dangerous option for Brantford. He was rarely out of position this season and it allowed him to be an option off the rush. His speed and vision opened up the game for him and his teammates and he provides offence from all angles, scoring with his deceptive shot while also finding the seam for his teammates.

5. Carson Carels, LD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

The epitome of a hard-working defender, Carels farming background has translated into his game. He’s strong, physical and a tough defender to play against. He gets right in the face of his opponents and uses his stick to break up the play. But the benefits of Carels doesn’t stop there. He’s a transitional player that sees the play and makes the passes to move the puck up the ice quick. He adds some offence in his game walking the line well and keeping the play alive. While he’s not the top defender in this draft, he will be a top-pairing player for whichever team drafts him.

6. Viggo Björck, C/W, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

Undersized, but feisty. It seems like we have this conversation at least once every time the draft rolls around. This time it’s in regards to Björck who might be small, but can really play. He hasn’t let his size dictate his play, getting involved physically and not shying away from puck battles. He represented Sweden multiple times this season and was a spark plug for his country – something he brings to his game at every level. He likes to possess the puck and can move it up the ice quickly, becoming an option offensively with or without the puck on his stick. His vision is strong, but his tenacity might be one of his best qualities.

7. Alberts Šmits, LD, EHC München (DEL)

Here’s a big defender that isn’t afraid to engage. He climbed the ranks throughout the season and has landed inside the top-10 as another strong defensive candidate. He’s one of the few prospects in this draft who also represented their country in the Olympics and stood up to the test against stronger competition. While his defensive game is sound, there are areas of the transition game that Šmits can work on to get to the next level. That said, he’s a fiery player that displays that drive in his game. For what he brings on the defensive side of the puck, his offensive numbers can be overlooked while he makes the transition.

8. Keaton Verhoeff, RD, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

A victim of others playing their way up the rankings, Verhoeff would still be quite the pick at eighth overall. His calm demeanour carries into his game and while he did have some trouble moving over to the NCAA at first, Verhoeff recognized that it was getting used to playing against older competition that took some time to get used to. That said, while his ceiling is high, Verhoeff is still finding his overall game. He has the skill and the knowledge to do really well, but it’s raw and it needs to be shaped by the right hockey mind.

9. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

I may be alone in this take, but I see Belchetz going in the first round and inside the top-10 this draft. He’s big. He’s powerful and strong. He has the build and the mentality of an eventual pure power forward and it’s a role that is tough to come by at times in the NHL. Getting your hands on a player that gets involved physically and that can add offence the way Belchetz can is so important. With his dominance behind the goal line, he should be able to win some big puck battles and help retrieve pucks while being a strong net-front presence at regular strength and on the power play. His skills will take some developing, but he will have a big impact when he gets to that next level.

10. Daxon Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Another defensive prospect in the top-10, Rudolph was hard to ignore as well. Right-handed and coming out of the WHL, he brings so much in his game. He’s smooth. He’s silky. And when he gets the puck, it seems to just stay on his blade until he’s ready to move it. His ability to get the pucks through from the point makes him an intriguing defenceman in this draft class, but it all starts with his transitional play. He’s quick and that allows him to move the puck up the ice while carrying the pace of play. He isn’t afraid to hold onto the puck and doesn’t make any rash decisions. If Rudolph falls much further than 10th, it could be a first-round steal for whatever team takes him. That said, it’ll be hard for teams to pass over him early in this year’s first round.

11. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

12. Wyatt Cullen, C, USA U18 (NTDP)

13. Ryan Lin, RD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

14. Elton Hermansson, RW/LW, MoDo Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)

15. Adam Novotný, LW/RW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

16. Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

17. Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71 (SHL)

18. Xavier Villneuve, LD, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

19. Alexander Command, C, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

20. J.P. Hurlbert, RW, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

21. Oliver Suvanto, RW, Tappara (Liiga)

22. Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

23. Juho Piiparinen, RD, Tappara (Liiga)

24. Ilia Morozov, F, Miami University (NCAA)

25. Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

26. Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

27. Maddox Dagenais, C, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

28. Jaxon Cover, LW, London Knights (OHL)

29. Adam Valentini, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

30. Markus Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

31. Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

32. William Håkansson, LD, Luleå HF U20 (Nationell)

Second Round

33. Tommy Bleyl, RD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

34. Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

35. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

36. Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

37. Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

38. Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

39. Casey Mutryn, F, USA U18 (NTDP)

40. Filip Novak, F, HC Sparta Praha U20 (Czechia U20)

41. Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

42. Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

43. Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Slovakia)

44. Braidy Wassilyn, F, London Knights (OHL)

45. Oscar Holmertz, Linköping HC U20 (Nationell)

46. Lavr Gashilov, C, Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)

47. Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

48. Simas Ignatavicius, C, Geneve (NL)

49. Nikita Shcherbakov, LD, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

50. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

51. Ben MacBeath, LD, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

52. Vladimír Dravecký, LD, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

53. Victor Plante, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)

54. Adam Goljer, RD, HK Dukla Trencin U20 (Slovakia U20)

55. Adam Nemec, F, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

56. Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

57. Axel Elofsson, RD, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

58. Ryder Cali, C, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

59. Tobias Tomik, C/RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

60. Jean-Christoph Lemieux, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

61. Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW, Leksands IF U20 (Nationell)

62. Thomas Vandenberg, C, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

63. Vertti Svensk, LD, Saipa (Liiga)

64. Samu Alalauri, RD, Pelicans U20 (SM-sarja)

Third Round

65. Luke Schairer, RD, USA U18 (NTDP)

66. Cole Zurawski, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

67. Brek Liske, RD, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

68. Jakub Vanecek, LD, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

69. Vilho Vanhatalo, LW/RW, Tappara U20 (SM-sarja)

70. Giorgos Pantelas, RD, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

71. Viktor Fyodorov, C, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

72. Chase Harrington, F, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

73. Landon Hafele, C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

74. Alexander Bilecki, LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

75. Olivers Mürnieks, C, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

76. Nils Bartholdsson, RW, Rögle BK U20 (Nationell)

77. Brady Knowling, G, USA U18 (NTDP)

78. Mikey Berchild, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)

79. Tomas Galvas, LD, Liberec (Czechia)

80. Ryan Brown, LW, London Knights (OHL)

81. Beckett Hamilton, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

82. Thomas Rousseau, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

83. Wiggo Sörensson, F, Boro/Vetlanda HC (Division 2)

84. Evan Jardine, LW, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

85. Dmitri Borichev, G, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)

86. Blake Zielinski, F, USA U18 (NTDP)

87. Oscar Olsson, LW/RW, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

88. Timofei Runtso, RD, Victoria Royals (WHL)

89. Ethan MacKenzie, LD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

90. Yegor Barabanov, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

91. Matias Vanhanen, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

92. Alexei Vlasov, LW, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

93. Rudolfs Berzkains, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

94. Colin Fitzgerald, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

95. Casper Juustovaara Karlsson, C/LW, Luleå HF (SHL)

96. Zachery Olsen, RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Fourth Round

97. Landon Nycz, LD, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

98. Mykola Kosarev, LD, Stavanger Oilers (Norway)

99. Ola Palme, LD, Växjö Lakers HC U20 (Nationell)

100. Yaroslav Fedoseyev, RD, Traktör Chelyabinsk (KHL)

101. Michal Orsulak, G, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

102. Morgan Anderberg, C/LW, Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)

103. Cooper Williams, F, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

104. Landon Amrhein, LW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

105. Maksim Sokolovskii, LD, London Knights (OHL)

106. Noah Kosick, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

107. Jakub Frolo, C, Ilves (Liiga)

108. Vsevolod Matveyev, RD, MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva (MHL)

109. Alan Shaikhlislamov, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

110. Mans Gudmundsson, RD, Färjestad BK U20 (Nationell)

111. Luka Arkko, F, Pelicans U20 (SM-sarja)

112. Ludvig Andersson, C/RW, Örebro HK U20 (Nationell)

113. Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

114. Oleg Kulebyakin, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

115. Patricks Plumins, G, Zemgale (Latvia)

116. Liam Lefebvre, C, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

117. Simon Katolicky, LW/RW, Tappara U20 (SM-sarja)

118. Jayden Kurtz, RD, Rogers High (USHS-MN)

119. Ryder Fetterolf, G, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

120. Adam Andersson, C, Leksands IF U20 (Nationell)

121. Tyus Sparks, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

122. Lucian Bernat, LW/RW, Tappara U20 (SM-sarja)

123. Samuel Eriksson, LD, Färjestad BK U20 (Nationell)

124. Rian Chudzinki, RW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

125. Noel Pakarinen, LW, Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga)

126. Charlie Morrison, LD, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

127. David Sedlacek, LW, HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 (Czechia)

128. Zachary Lansard, RW, Regina Pats (WHL)