They have blind faith that their team is taking a difference-maker, especially in the first round.
While analysts can provide scouting reports, one of the easiest and most effective ways to convey who a player is to their newest fans is to compare them with a familiar NHL player.
NHL comparisons are almost never perfect. They are generalized and provide a stylistic comparison for how a given player plays the game. It’s a way to quickly give an example of how players use their skating, physicality and overall toolset.
Let’s look at the top 10 players in the 2026 NHL Draft and some comparable players:
Top 10 NHL draft players
Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg
Comparable NHLer: Lucas Raymond
This comparison might be a little on the nose, as Raymond was once a highly intelligent, skilled right winger coming out of the Frolunda program, but Stenberg’s game is equal parts cerebral and tactical, just like Raymond’s. Stenberg might even have a bit higher ceiling than Raymond. With high-end tools and an elite hockey mind, it’s hard to see Stenberg not reaching at least similar heights to Raymond.
Boston University (NCAA) center Tynan Lawrence
Comparable NHLer: Dylan Larkin
There aren’t many players in the NHL who play with the kind of in-your-face speed that Lawrence plays with, but Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is certainly an excellent example. He attacks downhill when at his best, looking to draw defenders in and make plays off of that. A true dual-threat center who plays hard at both ends of the ice, Lawrence has the potential to be a very good top-six center who can be relied upon in all situations.
Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna
Comparable NHLer: Jonathan Huberdeau
When the Florida Panthers traded Jonathan Huberdeau to the Calgary Flames in 2022, he was coming off the fifth-highest-scoring season ever for an NHL left winger, with 115 points. In the four years before the trade, Huberdeau averaged 1.21 points per game, which would be a 99-point pace. That’s the kind of offensive upside that McKenna has as a premier playmaker. Defensively, there are flaws, but when you’re putting up almost 100 points each season, it can be forgiven.
Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
Comparable NHLer: Moritz Seider
Similar to the way that Seider burst onto the scene in his draft year, Smits has been a massive riser throughout this season. Also like Seider, Smits comes from a somewhat unconventional hockey nation – Seider from Germany and Smits from Latvia. Both were big, mobile blueliners with all the tools you could want from a top-pair defender. If Smits can come close to the heights of Seider, whoever drafts him will be thrilled.
Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
Comparable NHLer: Thomas Harley
Although he’s taken a bit of a step back this season, we’ve seen Thomas Harley blossom into one of the NHL’s most underrated and well-rounded blueliners. That’s the kind of game that Verhoeff also brings to the table. His skating, skill and willingness to get involved at both ends of the ice make him one of the most intriguing defensemen in the draft. Much like Harley, Verhoeff could make a Canadian national roster one day.
Djurgarden (Sweden) center Viggo Bjorck
Comparable NHLer: Nick Suzuki
There aren’t many centers in the NHL who can operate at under six-feet tall. That meant it was difficult to find a solid comparable NHL player for Bjorck, but landing on Nick Suzuki feels best for now. Bjorck has a bit more high-end playmaking skill than Suzuki, but his all-out effort, intelligence at both ends of the ice and general play style all resemble the Canadiens captain. Sebastian Aho and Marco Rossi were also considered here.
Vancouver (WHL) right wing Mathis Preston
Comparable NHLer: Martin Necas
Mathis Preston is a high-octane forward who can rush from end to end with the puck and generate offense whether it’s on his stick or a teammate’s. Martin Necas has been a perfect fit with the Avalanche in the post-Mikko Rantanen Era because he’s brought back the speed to their attack that often fell on Nathan MacKinnon. Like Necas, Preston doesn’t necessarily fit in any system, but if he’s in the right spot, he could be an elite producer.
Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) defenseman Chase Reid
Comparable NHLer: Cam Fowler
A comparable for Chase Reid needed to be a two-way defender who leaned offensively. Cam Fowler isn’t quite in his prime anymore, but his ability to play on the power play early in his career and his growth defensively later on look similar to the career arc that many envision for Reid. The Soo Greyhounds defender is still figuring out his game, and that’s something Fowler had to do after being drafted as well.
Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz
Comparable NHLer: Jamie Benn
With size, skill and a great shot, Belchetz has many of the same traits that Benn brings to the table, right down to the physicality. Belchetz flashes the same kind of nasty streak that the longtime Dallas Stars captain has as well, just not to quite the same vicious level. Belchetz isn’t the fastest player out there, but he makes plays with his puck skill, which is quite high-end for a player of his stature.
Tappara (Finland) center Oliver Suvanto
Comparable NHLer: Anton Lundell
Suvanto and Lundell have very similar profiles. They are big, Finnish centers who have impressive defensive habits and heavy shots. Just like Lundell in his draft year, Suvanto has some skating concerns, but his intelligence helps him get where he needs to go. Suvanto may not be a true No. 1 center, but he has the chance to be one of the most important pieces on a championship-caliber team.
