2025-26 Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Date of Birth: February 17, 2006
Place of Birth: Redding, Connecticut
Height: 6-foot-2, Weight: 198 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: RW
NHL Draft Eligibility: Third Year Eligible
Rankings
- McKeen’s Hockey: 161st
- Elite Prospects: 160th
- NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters): 72nd
Niko Tournas has followed a fascinating development path in recent years, finally becoming a legit NHL prospect as a 20-year-old. Last season, Tournas was a leading scorer in the NAHL and decided to take that next step and enter the QMJHL. With Moncton, Tournas has shown that he is a goalscorer through-and-through, scoring 43 goals in his first season at this level.
He’s got room to grow of course, mainly when it comes to how quickly he processes plays in front of him, but Tournas’ size (6-foot-2), skill, and shot give him a real chance at the NHL. Tournas is committed to the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA for next season, but has expressed that he would be willing to play one last QMJHL season before going straight to the professional level if the team that drafts him would prefer that path.
The CHL losing a lot of 19 and 20 year old players to the NCAA was the best thing for Tournas’ draft stock. This talent exodus left spaces across Canada’s top junior leagues and he thrived in a big role for one of the best teams in the QMJHL.
Niko Tournas – NHL Draft Projection
Tournas is a 20-year-old winger who scored well but not at an elite level. His size and skills give him a good chance to be drafted, but his age and the fact that he was playing in the NAHL as recently as last season will give NHL teams pause. I think he will be in play around the fourth round and later, though I do think he’s got a good chance to be drafted.
Quotables
“He played nearly four minutes per game on the power play and scored goals in a lot of different ways (off the flank, rebounds, dekes, catch-and-release, bad angles, backdoor, tips, jam plays, drives).” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic (2026 NHL Draft ranking: Gavin McKenna leads Scott Wheeler’s final top 100 list, June 3, 2026).
Strengths
- Can score in a bunch of different ways
- Still has development ahead of him despite his age
- Good pro size and skating
Under Construction- Improvements to Make
- Might struggle to keep up with the mental pace of the NHL
- Has only played one season at a top junior level
NHL Potential
Tournas’ potential is tough to nail down, but I think the most likely position for him on a depth chart would be as a depth scorer who brings some physicality. If everything goes right for him in the next few years as he catches up on some development with better teammates and training, I think Tournas’ ceiling comparison is someone like Kevin Hayes.
Risk- Reward Analysis
Risk- 2/5, Reward 2.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense- 5/10, Defense – 4/10
Niko Tournas Stats