The 2026 NHL Draft class has shown a lot entering the new year.
Some players took massive steps upward. Others joined new teams or leagues. Some even regressed.
We just saw many of the top players in the draft class compete at the World Junior Championship, where Sweden, Czechia and Canada made up the podium.
The second half of the season is always incredibly important for players in their draft year. It’s where they can leave a lasting impression on NHL clubs.
With the calendar freshly turned to 2026, it’s time to see what the top prospects in this year’s NHL draft must prove to plant themselves firmly near the top of the order.
Top 10 NHL draft prospects
1. Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg
Stenberg’s coming off a gold medal at the World Junior Championship with Sweden, where he played a significant role and only got better as the tournament went on. As Stenberg returns to the Swedish League, he must continue to produce at the record-breaking pace he was on before the U-20 tournament. If he stays on his pace that produced 24 points in 25 games, he could be the first player selected at June’s NHL draft.
2. Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna
McKenna’s offensive skill has always been stellar. His 14 points in seven games at the world juniors made it seem like he was a dominant force. He was feasting on the power play and beat up on lower-end teams for the most part. McKenna must prove he can commit defensively and add some level of board play to his game. He’s an on-puck machine and a disappearing act off the puck.
3. Boston University (NCAA) center Tynan Lawrence
Lawrence will reportedly leave the USHL after recording 17 points in 13 games and join Boston University mid-season. After recovering from an injury-filled start to the season and jumping to the college ranks, Lawrence must prove he’s capable of playing against bigger, faster, stronger competition. BU needs a spark, and Lawrence might be the perfect player to give them one.
4. Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
After a middling world juniors for Canada where he was out of the lineup to start the tournament and then playing third-pair minutes by the end, Verhoeff must continue to show he can be an effective two-way presence at the NCAA level. His offensive game has begun to flourish as of late, with 11 points in 16 games in college.
5. Vancouver (WHL) right wing Mathis Preston
For much of this season, Preston has been a one-man show. His speed and skill were the driving force for the Spokane Chiefs. The high-octane winger was traded to the Vancouver Giants, where he will have a bit more help around him, and he could see a major boost in production because of it. Preston needs to prove he’s still the stud high-caliber offensive player he was last year.
6. Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
There may not have been a player who came out of the world juniors with more hype than Latvian defender Alberts Smits. His combination of size, skating and skill is lethal. Smits might be the highest upside blueliner in the draft class. Every year, teams look for the next Moritz Seider, but they never seem to find one. Smits might be the closest thing we’ve seen in recent years.
7. Djurgarden (Sweden) center Viggo Bjorck
Bjorck helped Sweden win their first gold medal at the world juniors since 2012, playing a top-six role and showcasing how mature his game has become over the last year. His sound defensive play and impressive work rate complement his hyper-skilled offensive game. If Bjorck can continue to prove he’s a well-rounded player and that his size won’t impede him in the SHL, he could be a top-10 pick.
8. Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz
At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, NHL scouts are bound to be intrigued by the physical tools Belchetz possesses. What they want to see from him is that his mobility continues to improve and that he can continue producing at a high rate. Belchetz is about a point-per-game player, but with his skill and size, he could dominate. He needs to prove himself to be more consistent, though, because he can disappear at times.
9. Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) defenseman Xavier Villeneuve
The undersized blueliner will have to prove the same thing for the rest of his career. Can a small defenseman play steady enough defense in his own end to justify the offensive game that he brings to the table? Villenueve plays with a killer instinct, looking to thread the needle as a passer and weave through traffic as a puck carrier. His defensive game has improved, but whether it can take another step remains his biggest question.
10. Tappara (Finland) center Oliver Suvanto
We have seen his defensive game and his physical play at the world juniors and the Liiga level in Finland. What we need to see is the offensive skill that he flashes every once in a while become more consistent. Suvanto can be a truck on skates when he’s barreling up ice with the puck. Playing against pros, he’s been more reserved and relied less on his power-forward game and more on staying structured.
