Landon Amrhein – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Landon Amrhein

2025–26 Team: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Date of Birth: Apr. 6, 2008
Place of Birth: Celina, TX
Height: 6-foot-4.5, Weight: 190 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Left Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

• NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings: 81^st (among NA skaters)
• Peter Baracchini’s Top 96 March Rankings: 86^th
• Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff) May Top 100: 77^th
• McKeen’s Hockey: 73^rd
• EliteProspects: 50^th

Landon Amrhein is a smooth-skating, playmaking winger who uses his high-end mobility to protect the puck as he charges towards the net, and can deftly move through traffic before finding the perfect passing lane. His movements are subtle and calculated, and although he is still a raw prospect, he has a strong foundation for a skilled two-way play driver.

But scouts likely won’t be talking much about Amrhein’s offensive game. He had a fantastic start to his first season with the Calgary Hitmen, putting up nine points in his first 11 games. By game 38, his pace had slipped a bit, but he was still a consistent point producer with seven goals and 23 points. However, over the next 26 games, he had just three goals and eight points, and in eight playoff games, he had just one goal and an assist. 31 points in 64 games are not what people expect from a top playmaker, and while his shot was accurate, it lacked the strength to intimidate opposing goalies.

What has impressed scouts is his combination of soft skills and size. Standing nearly 6-foot-5, Amrhein is not your average forward, especially with his high mobility. He can move his huge frame incredibly quickly, changing directions on a dime, and he demonstrates excellent patience and intelligence when looking for passing lanes. He’s also not afraid to take some punishment and will regularly go into the corners and behind the net to chase down the puck, and despite taking some big hits, he usually comes away still standing and carrying the puck.

However, there’s a belief in hockey that big players have to be physical. It was a constant criticism of Lyndon Lakovic last season, which nearly led to him falling out of the first round despite being considered a top-16 pick. The same thing seems to be happening to Amrhein. Like Lakovic, he doesn’t use his size to his full advantage, often playing on the perimeters of the offensive zone, tracking the play and waiting to grab a loose puck or set up the next scoring opportunity. But NHL teams want to see big players use their size to their advantage, and Amrhein doesn’t go out of his way to throw hits.

It’s not that he isn’t using his size, though. Amrhein has a well-developed two-way game, positioning himself well in the defensive zone and using his long reach to break up plays. His decision-making can use some improvement, but he is regularly putting himself in the right place to help his team, and his skill with the puck always makes him a threat to create a turnover.

Amrhein has the potential to be a high-impact forward. Last season, he led his AAA club with 92 points in 58 games, and he still had a solid first season in the Western Hockey League (WHL). If he sticks around, he could become one of the Hitmen’s top producers in 2026-27, but he may return to the United States in favour of an NCAA program. That will certainly help add a physical aspect to his game, which might be the key he needs to take over the ice much more consistently.

Other THW Draft Profiles

• Ben MacBeath
• Ethan Belchetz
• Cooper Williams

Landon Amrhein – NHL Draft Projection

Amrhein’s size and offensive potential should see him selected in the third round. Teams love to gamble on bigger prospects, though, so he could sneak up into the top 64, especially if there’s a team with multiple picks in that round.

Quotables

“One of the final cuts for my board, Amrhein is a big, rangy, athletic player who can handle the puck. He doesn’t play the physical, bullish, powerful game you typically expect out of a player with his size, but he has some feel on the puck and can make plays. That should come as he fills out his frame (which still has room on it) and develops more of an identity, but he’s going to have to do that to find a niche up levels I’d expect because he’s not going to be a skill guy in the pros. It’s nice that he has that foundation of puck skill, though, and I think he skates well enough. He’s intriguing and will be a mid-round pick, and he’s an equivalent prospect to those who snuck into the final tier on my board.” Scott Wheeler, The Athletic (from ‘2026 NHL Draft: 30 intriguing prospects who just missed Wheeler’s final ranking,’ The Athletic – 28/05/2026)

“I’ve had Landon Amrhein as high as the first round this year, but I think I got too pulled in by what could be there in time rather than what’s there now. He’s a slippery, skilled passer with great length and a fluid skating stride, but I am waiting for him to really take over stretches of a game, and just haven’t seen it yet.” Will Scouch, Scouching

“Amrhein’s numbers won’t bring you out of your seat. But as a complete package, Amrhein has so much going for him. He’s an excellent playmaker, but he’s even better as an off-puck supporting winger. At 6-foot-4, Amrhein takes a lot of physical punishment to make sure his linemates get the puck. He also has flashes of offensive skill that allowed him to push himself up Calgary’s lineup all season long. I could see myself putting him even higher in my final rankings if he continues to thrive during the WHL playoffs.” Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

Strengths

• Skating
• Passing
• Vision/IQ
• Two-way forward

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Explosiveness
• Shot strength
• Decision-making

NHL Potential

Amrhein has the two-way skill and vision to be a reliable bottom-six winger with the potential to climb into the middle-six. Teams will expect him to significantly improve his explosiveness, intensity, and physicality, but he has a good base to add those skills to his toolkit without sacrificing his offensive potential.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 3/5, Reward – 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offence – 7/10, Defence – 6/10

Awards/Achievements

• Invited to the 2026 NHL Draft Combine

Landon Amrhein Stats

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