Yet Another NHL Draft Ranking 2026 - Top 64 and Honorable Mentions

Welcome back to yet another draft ranking! If you're a SJHN YouTube/Discord member, you got some of this article early. I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts, clips and plays of the players with you all in the discord as I've put this list together.

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This year we have a top 64 and a whole lot of honorable mentions that I am excited to show you all.

I have two reference points next to each prospect: EliteProspects Ranking (EP) and the EP consolidated ranking from multiple sources (Cons.) The consensus ranking is from June 19th, so some may be off by a few spaces as they update that frequently. Each player's top line shows where they are ranked, with the gap to my own rank in parentheses. A plus means I'm higher on the player than that source; a minus means I'm lower.

Some players carry a 🎯 Perfect Fit flag. These are the players I'm more confident have a place in an NHL lineup, even if that ceiling isn't necessarily very high. They carry certain NHL qualities in their pace, processing, or compete that I think they fit different NHL archetypes at the next level despite size or other limitations.

Now certainly lots of other players on this list have a place in the NHL. The flag is mostly to highlight why I have them in a given tier, to showcase them a bit more, and explain why I might be higher than some on these players.

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This draft in my eyes isn't as deep as others. The last full writeup I did in 2023 was 100+ players because that draft felt so deep throughout the second round and into the third. This draft it seems like the high-end skill might run out a bit faster.

I think there are interesting picks on Day 2, and a lot of re-entries that have made real good cases for being higher picks than I think people are expecting.

Additionally, there aren't a lot of high-end goalscorers up front. There are lots of good playmakers, big project forwards and high motor guys, but pure snipers seemed hard to come by.

Defensively the top of this class is excellent, and better than I remember from recent drafts for sure. It does drop off pretty heavily after that top few tiers in my opinion.

Finally there are quite a few goalie options that I think will start going the beginning of round 2, like they seem to do over the past few drafts. While there may not be a true star in net, the ones I've highlighted here have stood out as good bets to me.

Click the arrow to expand the writeup for each player.

Tier 1 — Future Stars

It's a small tier at the top. I think these two players are the headliners of this class and have been for the majority of the year. These are the two players that I think have the best ceiling and certainty to being stars at the next level.

1. Gavin McKenna — LW/L · 5'11", 170 · Penn State (NCAA) · EP 1 (even) · Cons. 1 (even)

There may not be a ton to say about McKenna that hasn't already been written, but I'll certainly try to give my thoughts. When people use the work dynamic, they often misattribute the word to a single attribute. A player is fast = a player is dynamic. A player is a great puck-handler = a player is dynamic. To me, I try to avoid the word unless I'm talking about a specific combination of things happening on the ice with a player.

Gavin McKenna is dynamic. He shifts the play with his vision, his hands and his feet that then changes the flow of the game. That's dynamism. It's not rushing up the wing really fast or putting a puck through a defender's legs. It's manipulating the play so that the actions you take with the puck open up options. McKenna is the best in the class at this. He'll use his excellent awareness to shift play, move a defender, then connect where a teammate will be after he's moved. When I saw Will Smith in 2023, I wrote:

"His handling skills are so impressive. He's one of the few forwards on this list, or in any draft that can see how the ice will look like 2 plays ahead before he makes his move. Not, makes move, then sees teammate for pass. No. He makes his moves because the teammate will become open after he makes said move."

That's dynamism. That's Gavin McKenna...but he's even more advanced at this stage. He's more deceptive, faster and quicker with his thinking at the NCAA level than Will Smith was in his draft year. We've seen how good Smith is becoming at the NHL level next to Celebrini, and whoever drafts McKenna is going to be over the moon with his playmaking in a few years time.

Sure there are concerns about his physicality, but I don't think it's nearly as important as some make it out to be for a player like him. He's going to push play through other means, even if he does probably need a primary forechecker and puck-retriever on his line.

For a very brief time I moved Stenberg ahead of McKenna, but after he settled into the NCAA and started putting on highlight reel games again, playing with the confidence and swagger that he's had his entire career, I realized that it simply will not matter soon what league he's playing in. Gavin McKenna is a star in the making.

2. Ivar Stenberg — LW/L · 5'11", 183 · Frölunda HC (SHL) · EP 2 (even) · Cons. 2 (even)

Stenberg had a brief stent at #1 overall for me after the World Juniors, where I found him to be just a bit more impactful than McKenna on a game to game basis. Admittedly he's a player that I think isn't as high of a producer as McKenna at the next level, but it may simply not matter. When you need a player to give you that consistent offense and transition play, with solid two-way play up and down the ice, Stenberg is going to be the guy. His best asset is his ability to continually move the puck into better positions. If you distill Stenberg's success down to a single thing, it's that. He's constantly looking for the next play to move the puck into a higher danger area than it currently is. If he's got the puck in the highest danger area, he's shooting, and he's got a hell of a shot to go with an impressive playmaking toolkit. Off-puck he's opening himself up to receive the pass and sneak into scoring areas. In the same way people love to have 12 definitions of dynamism, they also love to have 12 definitions of hockey IQ. To me, Stenberg, to me, is hockey IQ.

While Leo Carlsson might have a higher ceiling and overall impact on the game at the NHL level because of his size and position, I can honestly say Stenberg has looked more impressive than he did at the SHL level. More impressive than William Eklund, Anton Frondell this year, and just about every Swedish prospect in the past 20 years.

So while I think he's going to be a star at the next level, I think McKenna has just a SMALL edge offensively that'll make him slightly more valuable to a team in the future. It's close, and it has been all year. Picking either first overall in a normal draft year would be absolutely justified.

Tier 2 — Blue-Chips

This tier is the blue-chips. High-end prospects that have the potential to be first line, first pairing players, but may not hit that ceiling. They'll be the best prospects for a lot of teams drafting them and help shape teams going forward. The certainty of stardom may not be there, but they have certainly separated themselves enough from the lower tiers. A star, possibly multiple may come out of this group for sure. They're top 10 quality prospects in most drafts.

3. Chase Reid — D/R · 6'2.5", 190 · Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) · EP 3 (even) · Cons. 3 (even)

To start: Chase Reid has the chance to be the most valuable player from this draft. The debate has raged online between scouting services, fans and the media about the top end of this draft with so many high-value defenders available vs. the smaller skilled wingers occupying the top two spots. What does an NHL team need if they all hit their ceiling? Chase Reid is the ceiling pick, but with risk.

Reid has been typecast as a purely offensive D with high speed, transition play and a lethal shot. While that's true, I think his defense gets overlooked. He's ahead of guys like Rudolph, Parekh and Yakemchuk from recent drafts defensively in my mind. He can be physical when he needs to be and at times it even looks like he enjoys a physical playstyle, throwing his body around to get the puck back. He can throw himself out of position this way by looking for a physical play instead of a simple steal, but I'd prefer seeing that he can use his frame rather than not. It's a bit of a balancing act defensively for him. There are times when, like mentioned he's too aggressive, but also times when he's a bit lackadaisical, waiting for the play to break down so he can pick the puck up and transition. This will need to improve. He's at his best defensively when he's involved, but trusting his D partner to pick up the puck after he makes a stop. Right now he was doing just far too much at both ends of the ice for the Greyhounds. Everything ran through Reid, which is somewhat encouraging. Once he's in a better system with a better D partner, more involved forwards in transition, I really see him flourishing. A place like Michigan State, which has accumulated some of the best talent for the upcoming NCAA season is going to allow Reid to thrive.

Offensively, when he's moving, he's a force. His hands are exceptional for a defenseman. He moves and transitions the puck so effectively at the junior level. The comp has been Zach Werenski for him, both used by himself and by public scouts, and that seems right. He's got a mind for getting the puck in deep by himself, making a play, retreating back and continuing to keep the puck in the zone to pressure defenses. He's an excellent shooter from the point, although his accuracy is a bit all over the map. Needs to improve on keeping the puck on net.

He's not in the same tier as McKenna and Stenberg simply because he doesn't have as long of a history as them at producing at a high-high level, and he wasn't always consistent with his play this year. To me though, he's the best defense prospect in this class, possessing the potential to be a true #1D on a team.

4. Alberts Smits — D/L · 6'3", 209 · Jukurit (Liiga) · EP 11 (+7) · Cons. 8 (+4) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a defense first, puck-retrieving #2 defenseman

Admittedly I'm higher on Smits than most. Playing against men in Finland and Germany, at the Olympics and Worlds, he has never looked out of place. That's extremely impressive for a draft eligible defender. He's aggressive and mobile above all. Smits is constantly trying to cut off lanes to steal the puck He wants to get involved physically and battle until the play dies...and then some. He combines elite retrieval skills with great straight line speed to transition the puck after he breaks up the attack.

I think a lot gets mentioned about what this player isn't rather than what he is. No he's not an extremely creative offensive play driver and doesn't project to be at the next level. There are definite questions around his passing ability as he misses targets a little too often on breakouts. He likes to rush the puck but doesn't always commit to doing much besides getting it to the corner and holding it to the boards. He does possess one of the better point shots from defenders in this class, which should help boost his offensive potential at the next level.

All of that aside, what he is though is so valuable in the NHL. I see him as a perfect fit as a modern #2 defender in the NHL. A player that if you slot him next to someone like Chase Reid or a real puck-mover, you've got one of the best D-pairs in the NHL. Retrieval skills, aggression and competitive skill make him a real pickup for an NHL team in the top 10 this year. I see him playing in the NHL as soon as next season.

5. Viggo Björck — C/R · 5'9", 180 · Djurgårdens IF (SHL) · EP 8 (+3) · Cons. 5 (even)

What a guy. If you're looking for the next small forward to be on a Stanley Cup winning team like your Stankovens and Points, your Marchands and Bensons (alright no cup here yet fine), Viggo might be that guy. He's ultra-competitive, intelligent and skilled. He's got a sixth-sense for knowing where his teammates are, but doesn't throw away pucks. He's possession focused, playing very smart hockey up and down the ice. He's small, but he's strong. He uses his frame to get under players in the exact way that small forwards have to do to succeed.

He has the skill to contribute on a powerplay, and the defensive mind to play on a penalty kill. I was super high on Zach Benson in his draft year, and it was absolutely crazy he fell into the teens. If a similar thing happens this year, if Viggo is falling, whoever lands him is going to be extremely happy in about 2-3 years. He's going to turn into a fantastic #2 center in the NHL IMO.

6. Carson Carels — D/L · 6'2", 198 · Prince George (WHL) · EP 4 (-2) · Cons. 7 (+1) 

Carson Carels has been a little slept on this season it seems. Perhaps I'm doing the same. He had one of the best WHL draft eligible seasons for a D ever this season. He's an excellent transition defender with a great skating stride, excellent breakout passing and overall great defensive mind. He reminds me of Bowen Byram at least offensively, utilizing 10-2 skating and smooth puck-handling to manipulate defenders in the offensive zone. He's competitive and loves to play physical in the corners and stop up attackers at the line. I think the reason for his #6 ranking, and third overall defender ranking on my list is that Reid and Smits have just a bit more uniqueness to them to slot them ahead. Reid is a more creative attacker with a unique offensive mind. Smits is a better retriever with a better frame and a bit more consistency. Carels has elements of both, but hasn't looked clearly ahead of either to me. That being said he projects as a top pair defender at the next level with some time needed to really come into his own before he gets there.

7. Caleb Malhotra — C/L · 6'1", 182 · Brantford (OHL) · EP 5 (-2) · Cons. 6 (-1)

We've reached this class's late season forward riser. Think Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Beckett Sennecke, Brady Martin, Nate Danielson. Malhotra is definitely a player, definitely a center, and definitely exciting to NHL clubs. He's what you've read: competitive and physical, defensively sound and sneakily creative. I really enjoy his style of play, especially late in the year.

He was creative in a different way than McKenna or Stenberg are late in the season and into the playoffs in the OHL. He would bait players into attacking him only to slip passes through them. He'd invite contact and initiate a battle just to draw players in to create space elsewhere to move the puck to. He is at his best when he utilizes his own willingness to battle to convince players to engage and lose their positioning. It's fun to watch.

I do think that with smarter players coming at higher levels, this might not be so effective. I believe in his upside as a second line center, but I don't subscribe to the notion that he's among the best players in this class or has a very high chance to be a number one center in the NHL. I think that's a bit of wishcasting. Still though, a defensively sound #2C with impact all over the ice is what an NHL team is going to expect from Malhotra.

8. Keaton Verhoeff — D/R · 6'4", 208 · Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA) · EP 12 (+4) · Cons. 4 (-4) 

Verhoeff! We've made it. Once ranked #2 on my board he's slipped considerably to #8. He rounds out this tier perfectly to me. The upside is still there, but an admittedly mostly down season in the NCAA has lessened the hype on him. Early on in the season and last season, I saw him as an all situations defenseman who can give you 25+ minutes per night. I think the biggest issue being his skating has impacted this a bit.

He's simply a bit too easy to beat around the outside, and a bit too slow in transition to project right now as that defender. He is intelligent and a force in the corners, right up there with Smits in retrievals. His decision making after is a bit of an issue as well, with turnovers becoming a hallmark of his game at the NCAA level. I think he figures it all out eventually, and I don't want it to seem that I don't think he's going to be a player at the next level. I absolutely believe he's going to be a top 4 D in the NHL, I just don't know if the dynamic skill or skating are there to be a real powerplay driver. Still he rounds out this tier to me as the last real blue-chip prospect give the size, compete and talent is all there.

Tier 3 — The Heart of Round One

I call this tier the heart of round one. This is the tier where I see potential top six forwards and potential top four defenders, but the chance of real stardom somewhat waning. A team is going to come away with a core piece for the future of their club, but certainly the risk is starting to become a bit higher as we work our way through the draft ranking.

9. Tynan Lawrence — C/L · 6'1", 185 · Boston University (NCAA) · EP 16 (+7) · Cons. 9 (even)

I think Lawrence has been difficult for scouts to get a handle on all year. Once as high as #1 on Corey Pronman's board midseason before a jump to the NCAA from the USHL, now as low as #34 on Hockeyprospect.com's Black Book. He's to me still an extremely projectable hockey player, making him the top of this tier in this draft.

Lawrence is a joy to watch skate with and without the puck, and a relentless forechecking presence highlights his game. He's constantly sneaking pucks off sticks, turning that into quick-strike offense. He carries the puck very effectively across the line, although he's not the most creative once he gets there. Admittedly I don't think the dynamic playmaking talent is there. He often is too simple and direct in his thinking, trying to get the puck on net above most else or keep to the outside rather than using his skating to open up the play once he's in zone.

Still the tools, skating and retrieval skills means I see a real good shot at a top six player if he starts to put it all together. I wonder if it's at center though. Admittedly the floor though puts him this high on the tier though for me.

10. Wyatt Cullen — C/L · 6'1", 183 · U.S. NTDP · EP 6 (-4) · Cons. 27 (+17)

Finally I get to talk about growth plates! When Lane Hutson showed up to combine in 2022 saying his doctor told him his growth plates were open and he had more room to grow, I think that wasn't taken very seriously. He fell to the end of the second round, grew two more inches, and now people want to pretend they're growth plate experts. Cullen is the latest to apparently disclose that he has open growth plates after growing multiple inches over the past year. You can expect a few more inches of growth, but no Cullen probably won't be 6'5".

Anyways. Cullen is interesting. He reminds me of Logan Cooley, using his plus hands and manipulating defenders in the offensive zone. He holds onto the puck for an extremely long time until a play opens up. I think Cooley had just a bit more offensive flair and just a bit more speed than Cullen, and even with that, his style was not always effective for him at the NCAA or NHL level coming up. I think there might be some growing pains (heh I made a pun), with this for Cullen as well. That being said if Lawrence is the floor pick, Cullen is the upside pick at this point in the draft. If it all works out, you're looking at Cooley but 6'2". That's a worthwhile gamble in the top 10, possibly top 5.

11. Daxon Rudolph — D/R · 6'2.5", 206 · Prince Albert (WHL) · EP 7 (-4) · Cons. 11 (even)

Rudolph is a skilled passer with an eye for the offensive zone; moves the puck into areas to create an advantage frequently from the point. Creates offense through efficient puck movement more than anything. He can be a bit stationary though, looking for the long-bomb instead of skating it out himself sometimes from his zone.

Defensively a work in progress, with a need for increased physicality, board battling, and reading forecheckers. Gets skated by too easily. Intensity level needs to ramp up it seems. Top-10 talent, but a high risk profile. Evan Bouchard comparable seems about right given he can be a bit unfocused defensively but provide a ton of offense.

12. Malte Gustafsson — D/L · 6'4", 200 · HV71 J20 (J20) · EP 10 (-2) · Cons. 16 (+4) 

To be perfectly honest, I love Malte Gustafsson. I think he's got a tremendous mind for the defensive side of the game. He's aggressive in retreating back to the net front and boxing out threats when the play breaks down. He ties up sticks and knocks down passes with such regularity that he looks like a pro already defensively. He's extremely mobile and continually pressures attackers coming over the line into the zone, angling them away or stealing the puck from them outright. He's got the brain, tools and feet to be a defensive stalwart in the NHL. Like others on this list, he's a very high floor pick for me. I haven't been convinced that he has the offensive upside of guys like Rudolph, Carels or Reid, but I could see a world where he ends up similar to a guy like Smits in value. There's definitely more than needs ironing out with him than Smits though, and he hasn't proven it at higher levels just yet. His SHL games were up and down for me. Occasionally he would struggle to move the puck under pressure from his own zone and the pace caught up to him. Other times the defensive game just took over and it was easy to project him. I think when all is said and done he'll end up a top 4 D in the NHL with his combination of defensive IQ, size and skating. I love the Mattias Ekholm comparable I've seen about the internet.

13. Nikita Klepov — LW/L · 6'0", 178 · Saginaw (OHL) · EP 20 (+7) · Cons. 22 (+9) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a second line powerplay winger who eats up softer competition

Klepov has been misrepresented in my eyes. I see reports that he's just a powerplay winger, who projects only if he hits another level offensively and won't bring much 200-foot game. I think he's just some skating improvements away from being an offensively minded top six winger but one who provides lots of forechecking and defensive elements as well.

Admittedly he does have some mediocre feet that can get him caught too far out of the play if he loses the puck. Acceleration has to improve. I do find him to be a good forechecker though, physical along the boards, trying to steal pucks and protect to prolong plays in the offensive zone.

He does have some bad habits offensively, holding onto the puck too long and trying to continually dangle through defenders waiting for a play to open up. That being said he is excellent at it. He's got great puck protection and it's extremely hard to get the puck off him because of his handling. He's a creative playmaker who baits defenders and makes highlight-reel passes through them repeatedly. I see him as a top 10 or 15 talent on skill alone in this class. Combined with actual good habits on the forecheck and a clear deficiency to improve, I think he could be the perfect fit for a top six winger found in the tens and twenties in this draft. I'm much higher on him than consensus, but I get the same feeling from him as I did guys like Helenius and Kindel and I've learned to trust that feeling and rank them high.

14. Ethan Belchetz — LW/L · 6'5", 230 · Windsor (OHL) · EP 9 (-5) · Cons. 10 (-4) 

Now on upside alone Belchetz would be much higher on this list. He's a massive human with soft hands, creative playmaking and physicality. He has had moments for me throughout this season that I thought he was a top 5 pick in this class. Then he has games where he does not a whole lot offensively or defensively to move the needle, or games where he's only focused on crashing and banging. There are also games where he's passive and doing not a whole lot at either end of the ice. He's a real dark-horse of this class. A team is probably going to take him early though because the payoff could be tremendous, and I don't think that's a bad play. When he uses his frame, his hands and connects plays he looks like a future star in the NHL. We'll see if he puts it together over what will assuredly be many years of development.

15. Elton Hermansson — RW/R · 6'1", 181 · MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan) · EP 25 (+10) Cons. 21 (+6) 

Hermansson I'm also a bit higher on than consensus. At the Allsvenskan level, which is a difficult league, he had truly excellent viewings. He has great hands and playmaking, connects passes up and down the ice easily. He's the kind of player that can connect between his defender making a pass to him, to a pass option so quickly and the passes launch so fast off his stick that you barely realize what a weapon he is offensively sometimes. He is looking to get the puck to the slot in-zone as well extremely frequently as well. At this level he can lose the puck up the wall, and despite being stocky, doesn't battle physically all that well. Acceleration and balance on his skates can be awkward right now. High, high offensive IQ, though as he gets himself or the puck into good positions very frequently. His shot is a weapon as well. There are times when I feel like the skill, shooting and playmaking reminds me of a poor man's David Pastrnak, and he produced similar to him too in the Allsvenskan in his draft year. Once the skill starts to run out after the top 10, he's a guy I'd take a swing on.

16. Oscar Hemming — LW/L · 6'4", 193 · Boston College (NCAA) · EP 18 (+2) · Cons. 14 (-2)

I'm not low low on Hemming, but I certainly didn't come around on him throughout his NCAA time. He's another large skater with good hands, a good nose for the net and some questionable performances. There were quite a few games at BC that he just wasn't very involved in the play, being unable to protect the puck long enough to open up space for a play, or just simply forechecking, skating back, going to the bench, repeat kind of play. When he's driving play he reminds me of a young Tomas Hertl. A little clunky feet, but power and skill to drive to the net front and score. The problem is he just doesn't do it all that often. I think his B game is projectable though and I do think his floor is higher than a guy like Belchetz, even if the ceiling might not be. He's a fine pick, but I'd want the higher upside guys like Klepov or Hermansson first.

17. Ryan Lin — D/R · 5'11", 177 · Vancouver (WHL) · EP 15 (-2) · Cons. 12 (-5) 

I was surprised when I put this ranking together that I was lower on Lin than EP and the consensus ranking. I don't want to make it seem like I'm too far down on him. I think he's an excellent defender despite his size. His off-puck positioning and anticipation defensively are simply excellent, and I would argue the best in the class. Feel for the game defensively is above the WHL level. Offensively I think he sometimes takes too long to make decisions with the puck would be my biggest criticism. Myself and teams included are likely unsure where to place him, as his size could be an issue: he likes to play physical and doesn't always have the muscle for it. He's a good skater but just occasionally will get caught flat footed and his acceleration needs just a touch more improvement to keep up. That being said his four way mobility is excellent, and should only improve as he develops.

I think the good news is his smarts defensively and his path to the NCAA at Denver means his development could turn him into one of the better defenders after the top group is taken. He's a potential top four defender, one that you rely on, even if he's not the biggest or as offensively gifted as Reid or Rudolph.

Tier 4 — High-end Skill and Well-Rounded Players

Tier 4 starts the real gem-mining. The players in this tier either fit well into a projected top-9 or middle-pair role, or have some risk associated with them even becoming players at the NHL level at all.

18. Thomas Bleyl — D/R · 5'11", 170 · Moncton (QMJHL) · EP 32 (+14) · Cons. 34 (+16) 

At a certain point I just couldn't keep putting players ahead of Tommy Bleyl. He's one of the best straight-line skaters in this draft with the puck. He's a heady defender who skates so well, transitions so well, and jumps into the play when needed. He doesn't force plays, if it's not there he'll chip it in or find a different option. He's just offensively very smart, utilizing his own specific toolkit to push play. I tend to rank players highly who know what they are and use that to their advantage. He's not overly physical, but has a good poke-check and stays responsible defensively. He does need to be meaner and bigger. Good scanning habits on retrievals though and he uses his D partner well to break the puck out. The obvious comparison is to someone like Xavier Villeneueve in the QMJHL, and I simply found Bleyl to be more projectable offensively and defensively despite both of their size limitations. A potential top 4 D but with some risk if he can't get a little tougher on pucks.

19. Ilia Morozov — LW/L · 6'3", 200 · Miami Univ. (Ohio) (NCAA) · EP 21 (+2) · Cons. 20 (+1) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a defensive third line center with net-front presence

Morozov was one of my favorites to watch this year. Even with a young August birthday, playing the entire year at 17 in the NCAA, he stood out. He has an extremely high defensive work rate. He gets back after play breaks down and keeps himself on the right side of the puck so well at his age. Play after play I would see him get back in the play if it broke down and cover his man. Really excellent defensive center in my mind and something that players typically don't have at this age.

In transition he opens himself up to his defenders for breakouts very well and can skate with the puck at speed. His hands and playmaking aren't advanced. He can seem a bit top-heavy and skinny, needing to add some strength to his frame. I really think that once he gets muscle in college, he could develop a very well-rounded game, with some netfront scoring and reliable defending. Really intriguing pick in the 20s. He's my perfect fit third-line center and one I would consider as an option pretty early in this draft.

20. Alexander Command — C/L · 6'1", 183 · Örebro HK J20 (J20) · EP 19 (-1) · Cons. 25 (+5)

Command has been rising up boards all year. Command loves to invite contact, protect the puck, and move it forward, keeping plays alive. Great defensive mind. Remains committed and focused every shift. Will fight for every puck he can and that's an understatement.

This may sound like a bad thing given Nico doesn't have the most offensive flair, but he reminds me of Nico Sturm. A solid, committed hockey player who can protect the puck, connect plays and chip in offensively on occasion. I think Command MIGHT have a bit more offense to make him a true 3C though instead of a natural 4C like Sturm is. He's a little more creative with the puck than Sturm. He's a definite high floor pick though. Command seems like he'll play, just a matter of where he slots. I have Morozov one spot higher because I think there's just a bit more interesting elements to Morozov offensively but they went back and forth on my list for a long time.

21. JP Hurlbert — RW/R · 6'0", 185 · Kamloops (WHL) · EP 30 (+9) · Cons. 17 (-4)

Hurlbert is a bit of a mystery to me. I have a hard time placing many players like him in the NHL as he currently plays. He reminds me of guys like Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Joakim Kemell, Terik Parascak and Otto Stenberg. Players with great scoring rates in juniors and internationally, but difficult to nail down how they translate their admittedly good dual-threat offense into the NHL. Now all those players have different skillsets, but they all felt to me to rely too heavily on their teammates getting the puck for them. He's waiting to connect plays or get into space for a shot rather than proactively engaging. He does have enough compete though to be a good bet here. This isn't a lost cause scenario, just like those prospects just mentioned weren't either. He just needs to clean up some bad habits, round out a physical game to go with a great shot and creative playmaking. A potential middle six winger but with some risk.

22. Simas Ignatavicius — C/R · 6'3", 198 · Genève-Servette HC (NL) · EP 36 (+14) · Cons. 38 (+16) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a third line power forward providing secondary scoring and tons of physicality before and after the whistle

While possessing the best name in this draft he also has a pro-style game with speed, aggressiveness, and physicality. At the top Swiss league level he would win net-front battles, make himself a menace to play against and had a real tolerance for the rough stuff that NHL teams love.

Outside the net-front the play would get away from him at times though and he struggled to really push play by himself at admittedly a really high men's league level.

His play a level down in the SL is why I think he's got more offensively than meets the eye. I found him to be more dynamic with the puck, utilizing his frame to carry the puck in transition and be a primary shooting threat as well. He can can be reckless defensively, though, opening himself up to being out of position by being a bit too physical.

I see him as a perfect fit third-line power forward. He's never going to put up the offense that'll wow, but there's enough there that he's going to make playing against him a chore for the opposition. I'm admittedly really high on him, as he may end up as a day 2 option, but I see a playoff player all day with him.

23. Oliver Suvanto — C/L · 6'3", 207 · Tappara (Liiga) · EP 28 (+5) · Cons. 15 (-8) 

Suvanto has been hard for me to really rank highly. I see the appeal to his profile. He's big, he's young, he's playing in a men's league in Finland and more than holding his own. He's defensively responsible, competitive and has playmaking skill that flashes on occasion. I just don't see a translatable offensive game at this time. He is slow in transition, not very creative offensively, and while it is commendable just how responsible he is at this stage in development, I'm not sold much more is going to develop outside the netfront. He has very little finishing to his game as well. He's certainlly not a bad pick, but I put him as a likely bottom-six guy rather than a real middle-six. Still valuable as a potential 3C, even if you never get the offense out of him.

24. Juho Piiparinen — D/R · 6'1", 201 · Tappara (Liiga) · EP 40 (+16) · Cons. 19 (-5) 

My initial read after watching Piiparinen at the Liiga level was that he's a smart defender, a responsible player who gaps well and is physical on the boards. He's a sneaky good passer, likes to bait-and-switch with no-look passes to his partner. He has some presence on the point, but not super creative. I've used the Jason Demers comp all year for him. A smart breakout passer, doesn't give up on too many pucks, but overall a two-way bottom four defenseman at the next level. Valuable in this range as we start to run out of these types super quick in this draft.

25. Adam Novotny — LW/L · 6'1", 204 · Peterborough (OHL) · EP 14 (-11) · Cons. 13 (-12)

Novotony, like Suvanto, is hard for me to rank super highly. He's a player who displays consistent pressure and a compete level that is extremely high. He plays heads-up hockey, moving pucks off the wall, getting up ice and trying to get into scoring areas. A great forechecker that feels like a plug-in-and-play bottom-six guy simply because I just don't see high -end skill to play higher in the lineup. He felt like a seasoned NCAA player playing in the OHL to me, if that makes sense. A guy that is scoring because he is playing hockey the right way, but isn't necessarily better at any specific thing. He doesn't have the vision necessary to reliably score at the next level to me. That being said, he's a valuable winger in this range, and probably higher to a team that wants a very solid base to start with.

26. Liam Ruck — RW/R · 6'0", 176 · Medicine Hat (WHL) · EP 24 (-2) · Cons. 30 (+4)

Liam Ruck just does the damn thing. He's a competitive, offensive minded winger who displays just okay speed, good hands and playmaking, drives the net and forces defenses back. He reminds me of a slower Jordan Kyrou. The problem is, if you take away the speed of Jordan Kyrou, is he an NHLer?

Liam Ruck wants to produce and when he's got it going, the combination of skill and compete adds up to a middle-six powerplay scorer potentially. The issue is the environment he was in let him do just about whatever he wanted to try to produce, and the measurables are just not great.

27. Xavier Villeneuve — D/L · 5'11", 162 · Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) · EP 13 (-14) · Cons. 18 (-9) 

Finally we've reached Villeneueve. I'm not going to stand here and pretend like I don't see the skill. I understand the comparisons with Lane Hutson. I understand the want to talk about how this guy can't fall and how it'll be a massive mistake just like it was that Hutson fell.

However. However. Now don't get mad at me here. I love smaller players. I just don't think he's in the same category as either Cole or Lane Hutson. He's an extremely gifted passer and an even better skater, but I just don't see the same level of compete, or even defensive awareness they had at their size. Lane Hutson was a force even when he made mistakes. He drove offense on a team of USNTDP stars like Cooley, Leonard, Smith. He worked to improve his turnover rate to become what he is today as a star D in the league.

Villeneuve is outmuscled heavily by players in the Q and it's only going to be tougher at the next level. Now Hutson made it work by both developing his body a bit but also because he was willing to go into the corners. I just don't see that with Villeneuve. As an older birthday with that skill in the Q, I wanted more from him. He has a chance to be a steal and at some point I'd pick him for certain, I just think the automatic comparison with Hutson is a little too simple. Many players like Villeneueve don't make the NHL.

28. Mathis Preston — RW/R · 5'11", 177 · Vancouver (WHL) · EP 33 (+5) · Cons. 23 (-5)

It's back to back fun picks here with Mathis Preston after Xavier. Preston is the definition of fun. Simply put he is an excellent playmaker. Will put the puck off a defender's skate, catch it, then make a pass through him kind of thing. Creative.

He's not efficient with his playmaking at all though and it leads to a fair share of turnovers, breakdowns and bad looking plays. Preston can look a little floaty at times on the back check to be certain. He has excellent skating but doesn't use it to get the puck back very well. Fun pick, but I'm not sure how we get him to the NHL. Does he clean up the playmaking and become more efficient? does he develop a better B game? Does he flame out like a Lambert or Lysell and never develop a real game besides puck skill and speed? Time will tell, but he's in this tier with Villeneuve because at a certain point he's the highest upside pick available.

29. Brooks Rogowski — C/R · 6'7", 232 · Oshawa (OHL) · EP 29 (even) · Cons. 28 (-1)

BIG.

Nah there's more than that. Rogowski is a large human who is going to entice a team pretty early on in this draft. He has sneaky puck skills that you might not expect from a guy his size. He moves well and can control the puck in tight. More needs to develop in all facets, and he is a raw prospect for sure. I think people will put him in the category as a "safe" pick given his size, but I see him more as a ceiling pick (get it...ceiling?).

I don't know if he sticks at center unless a team really wants to hammer him into that bottom six center role. I'd personally try to get him to unlock his skill a bit more on the wing and see if he can take off at the OHL level. Maybe you get Tage Thompson.

30. Jack Hextall — C/R · 6'0", 188 · Youngstown (USHL) · EP 39 (+9) · Cons. 31 (+1) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a well-rounded two-way player to slow the game down and provide defensive stops as a potential 3C

Jack Hextall is the perfect player to finish this tier in my eyes. He plays such a well-rounded pro-style game that is consistent. He's responsible defensively, patient with the puck and doesn't rush plays. He loves to maintain possession and slow the game down. I see him as a perfect fit as a potential 3C, even if the offense isn't going to wow you. A player that a team is going to feel comfortable with late in a game, on a penalty kill and who might surprise with a clutch goal every now and then.

Tier 5 — Round Two Swings and Goalie Run

Alright we're getting into it now. Every year a Day 2 pick becomes a massive steal. There are certainly some contenders for that in here for this tier. I do see lots of potential bottom-six contributors as well, plus the beginning of the goalie run.

31. Casey Mutryn — RW/R · 6'3", 200 · U.S. NTDP · EP 31 (even) · Cons. 41 (+10)

Casey Mutryn reads the play well, looks for steals and loose pucks to try to create. While he has a decent mind for playmaking he's certainly not the most deceptive player overall. He's smart and works hard though, even if he feels like a bottom-six NHL projection, teams will pick him in the back half of the first or beginning of the second because of his solid overall game.

32. Gleb Pugachyov — LW/L · 6'3", 198 · Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL) · EP 42 (+10) · Cons. 42 (+10)  🎯 Perfect Fit as a fourth-line smashing winger lifting a Stanley Cup one day

Gleb skates and moves like an NHLer. He's athletic, big, and hits like a truck. What's not to like? He wants to win battles and drag players into the fight. He feels like he'll be a very good fourth-line hockey player. Maybe you can get him on a third line as your ninth best forward on a team, but guys like him are coveted as fourth line smashers regardless. Guys like Jonah Gadjovich, Kevin Stenlund, Parker Kelly come to mind. Stanley Cup winning teams have these players in their lineup when they're lifting the cup, whether some fans want to admit it or not.

33. Giorgos Pantelas — D/R · 6'2", 214 · Brandon (WHL) · EP 49 (+16) · Cons. 47 (+14) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a shut-down bottom four D with a bit of offense. Jake Middleton comparable.

Giorgos Pantelas became one of my favorite defenders playing in juniors the year. He has excellent poke-checking and great stickwork defensively. Yes I underlined that for effect. He continues to move while he pokes, but his power with his pokecheck disrupts plays so well that I really think it's his standout trait. Yes he can over-commit to his man at times and get out of position in the defensive zone, but against the rush I think he was one of the better defenders in the draft. Offensively he's heads-up with the puck on his stick and looking for breakouts. Looks like an NHLer when he skates and moves the puck out, but isn't always willing to try it. To me I see him as a perfect fit bottom-four D, providing you 18-20 minutes per night of solid defense, transition play and penalty killing.

34. Maddox Dagenais — C/L · 6'4", 196 · Quebec (QMJHL) · EP 17 (-17) · Cons. 29 (-5)

Dagenais is a bit all over the map, and certainly is ranked much higher on a lot of boards. He's big with decent skating, decent playmaking a great shot, and not much else. Wing/center, but not defensively smart enough for center in my eyes. He tends to puck-push and throw the puck away too often. He doesn't attack the middle enough for a guy his size. Physicality doesn't match the frame, and he reaches instead of engaging with his body and stick. The reverse hits are things of legend, but I think his actual hitting talent is lackluster. I see an easy player to beat at the next level unless he really cleans it up physically and starts to push into the middle of the ice.

35. Tobias Trejbal — G/R · 6'4", 188 · Youngstown (USHL) · EP 34 (-1) · Cons. 39 (+4) 

Big, athletic, good positional righty goalie. Collapses down easily and the glove is a little low. Really high floor given the positional skills, size, and athleticism. Early second or late first; may be the first goalie off the board.

36. Nikita Shcherbakov — D/L · 6'3", 187 · Toros Neftekamsk (VHL) · EP 27 (-9) · Cons. 36 (even) 

He's got great feet for his size. Good defensive presence. Stopper at the next level in my opinion. Don't really believe the offense is real and to me he has poor IQ offensively. Stops up and doesn't have an idea of what to do next kind of thing when he gets into the zone. Still though, with his length and defensive mind, I think a player is there.

37. Marcus Nordmark — RW/L · 6'2", 180 · Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20) · EP 46 (+9) · Cons. 26 (-11) 

Oh hey! Marcus Nordmark. If you're unaware, Nordmark is just supremely skilled but there may be just be a bit going on between the ears that doesn't tranlate. He doesn't seem interested in being an NHL hockey player and doesn't have a B game to speak of. He stops up and doesn't battle at times. He lets plays die and doesn't backcheck. There are too many question marks for him to be more than a second rounder, one that you pick after you've picked 3-4 players already that you're happy with.

38. Tomas Chrenko — C/R · 5'11", 172 · HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga) · EP 88 (+50) · Cons. 40 (+2) 

Chrenko is a playmaking wing/center who can move well and sees the ice well. To me he reminds me of Felix Unger-Sörum. A little undersized, skinny, and getting by on intelligence above most anything. It feels like he needs multiple years before he could make an impact. Good second-round pick for a team with multiple picks, and if it all continues to improve, there is a shot at a top 9 scoring forward.

39. William Hakansson — D/L · 6'4", 207 · Luleå HF (J20) · EP 58 (+19) · Cons. 32 (-7)

Hakansson is big, he skates really well, and plays with a great motor. Too often tries to jump into lanes to cut off passes, believing his skating will save him but it doesn't always. Long passes aren't accurate. Offense is minimal, but he does have a bomb from the point. Projects as a shutdown guy, but given the size and athleticism, he's likely going to play. Have seen the occasional steal from him and offensive play after that makes me wonder if there's another level offensively that hasn't been unlocked.

40. Adam Valentini — C/L · 5'9", 190 · Univ. of Michigan (NCAA) · EP 55 (+15) · Cons. 37 (-3) · 🎯 Perfect Fit as a forechecking menace on a team's third or fourth line who pots in 25-30 points

Valentini was the first perfect fit players I scouted this year, spawning the idea actually. He's an excellent forechecker able to steal pucks then create sneaky offense afterwards. He played the whole year in the NCAA and looked the part despite his age and size. That means something in my eyes, and more than anything I see a perfect fit as a forechecking forward, providing some offense in a bottom-six role.

41. Ryder Cali — C/L · 6'2", 210 · North Bay (OHL) · EP 37 (-4) · Cons. 48 (+7)

Ryder Cali has absolutely excellent hands and shooting skills. Decent straight-line speed. Okay compete level. Can make nice defensive plays in tight because of his hands and how well he keeps the puck. Not the best offensive instincts and he loses himself in space a lot. Doesn't find the soft areas as much as he should. He gets caught puck-watching and waiting for the puck to come back. Worry about projecting at higher levels because of this. Decent day-two pick after the high skill is gone though, and honestly I had viewings where he was higher because his hands are really something.

42. Niklas Aaram-Olsen — F/L · 6'1", 183 · Örebro HK J20 (J20) · EP 64 (+22) · Cons. 35 (-7)

Great shooter, skilled playmaker, moves well. Thinks the game offensively well and is active defensively, but I'm not convinced the skill or size is good enough to play in the top six. The classic tweener question of are you good enough to be a powerplay guy, do you provide something else to be a bottom sixer? Are you smart or competitive enough to be a penalty killer? Watching him left me asking these questions and I never really got the answer to rate him higher than here.

43. Filip Ruzicka — G/L · 6'7", 205 · Brandon (WHL) · EP 143 (+100) · Cons. 94 (+51) 

I always preface these rankings that I'm not a goalie scout. I just know that a team is going to take a chance on this guy, and I can't blame them. Ruzicka is a massive, smart goaltender that reads the play well and won't quit. He's competitive, even if he looks like he's floundering a bit in net. Maybe even more than a bit.

In the playoffs I watched some of the best gametape I've seen of a prospect goalie in quite awhile. He has very obvious holes in his positioning and isn't the most athletically gifted or best skating goalie out there. But I think he's got a real shot to be the odds as a very, very tall goalie.

44. Pierce Mbuyi — LW/L · 5'10", 160 · Owen Sound (OHL) · EP 93 (+49) · Cons. 54 (+10) · 🎯 Perfect Fit for a sneaky bottom-six scorer with physicality and bite

Mbuyi is a smart, quick thinker offensively. He's small but strong on his skates and plays physical despite his size. He can catch guys sleeping, knocking them off their skates and stealing the puck. He's a great shooter as well and provide some utility there for a team. Reminds me a bit of Denver Barkey, but with a better shot, and to me feels like a perfect fit energy guy who can pot you some goals in a bottom six.

45. Dmitri Borichev — G/L · 6'2", 194 · MHL · EP 44 (-1) · Cons. 53 (+8)

Borichev is a great skating goaltender who has extremely quick feet and can get in and out of his stance super quickly. He has a strange tendency to drop his blocker super low in this awkward looking stance that needs cleaning up when he is squaring up to the shooter off the wing. Overall though he sees through traffic really well and moves in the crease probably the best in the class. A little small looking but looks like a pro in net. Can't see him making it far on Day 2.

46. Ryan Roobroeck — C/L · 6'3", 215 · Niagara (OHL) · EP 50 (+4) · Cons. 33 (-13) 

Yeah this just kept happening. I'd watch Roobroeck, get a bit disappointed, then drop him a spot or two. Repeat that 10 times. He's just not engaged enough to project at this point. Maybe the switch flips, but if it doesn't I don't think he plays above the AHL level despite immense talent. Same with Nordmark and Shilov, pick in round 2 after you're happy with 3-4 other players you've already picked in the draft.

47. Timofei Runtso (OA1) — D/R · 6'2", 185 · Victoria (WHL) · EP 47 (even) · Cons. 69 (+22)

Runtso earned the top spot as a re-entry player for me after quite a few contenders. I'm really hoping this player falls to my San Jose Sharks at #62 because I think there's a real shot at a top 4 defender here even if the bust factor might be high. He's played really well for Victoria, his first WHL season after spending his draft eligible season in the NAHL. He is a smooth skating 6'3" right shot D who loves to walk the blueline, cut to the inside and create from the point. He breaks the puck out extremely well, and his passes are accurate and clean. He plays physical and can stop the rush. He has a "do-it-all" quality to him that you normally see from first rounders. The only issue is the growth is all in the last year (admittedly I haven't seen his NAHL tape so maybe he was just underscouted last year), and the handling and skill level aren't super high end.

48. Jonah Sivertson — RW/R · 6'3", 194 · Prince Albert (WHL) · EP 35 (-13) · Cons. 79 (+31) 

Siverston is a big kid, loves to use his hands in tight to fool defenders and the goalie. Hard to move off the puck net-front. Shooting talent is a positive. Poor skater. He used Mark Stone as his comparable, and that would be a dream but I can see the shades. Good swing pick in the second round.

49. Maksim Sokolovskii — D/L · 6'7", 238 · London (OHL) · EP 22 (-27) · Cons. 58 (+9)

Look man. He's massive. He hits better than most in this class. He's gonna play for a team in the league. Do you value that in the first? A team probably will. I say unless they're something truly special, you can find these guys in free agency.

50. Adam Goljer — D/R · 6'3", 194 · HK Dukla Trencin (Slovak Extraliga) · EP 95 (+45) · Cons. 45 (-5)

Overall I am not a huge fan of Goljer. I find his feet to be a bit clunky, and I don't think he has much offense to speak of. The games I saw of his at the Slovak men's league were him mostly just holding his own, making simple plays to clear the puck out. I wonder if at the next level he provides more than just a bottom pairing D would if he makes it.

51. Alexander Bilecki — D/L · 6'1", 180 · Kitchener (OHL) · EP 41 (-10) · Cons. 65 (+14)

Bilecki to me seem to be just slightly better than MacBeath who we'll talk about soon. He moves well, but his offense is not very creative. He can be passive in both zones, reminding me of defenders who can hack it at minor league levels but can't separate themselves into a top 6 job in the NHL. Still though, he's a great skater, and a team will pick him pretty early to see which direction he can go.

52. Blake Zielinski — RW/R · 6'0", 188 · Des Moines (USHL) · EP 56 (+4) · Cons. 98 (+46)

When he's really competing, when he's really on, he has some shades of Travis Konecny. A good-great shooter and a quick thinker in the offensive zone. He is exceptional at getting to soft areas for a shot. Playmaking is hit-or-miss. Inefficient skating, and doesn't always engage with full intensity, which makes him easier to beat than he should be. Needs to improve his intensity, or else he might not make it. Some games he looks like a top 30-45 prospect, other games he faded to the background and more of a third rounder. Boom or bust for me.

53. Jaxon Cover — LW/L · 6'2", 180 · London Knights (OHL) · EP 23 (-30) · Cons. 44 (-9) 

Good skater, good puck skills and shot, but doesn't seem to track the play well or move into space well without the puck. I think he is driven by his tools and not an actual feel for the game. Going to need many years of refinement before the jury is out on what exactly he is. Admittedly the highs are high though and maybe I'm sleeping on him a bit. Fits right in this tier with other boom-bust guys nicely and a fitting end to it as well.

Tier 6 — High-risk fliers, Re-entries and Solid Depth

This tier extends much farther than 64, but that's where the ranking is going to end, plus some honorable mentions. We have some depth options, a lot of re-entries, and a few intriguing high-skill guys left to talk about in this tier.

54. Ben MacBeath — C/R · 6'0", 188 · Calgary (WHL) · EP 65 (+11) · Cons. 46 (-8) 

Smooth skater, but very passive both defensively and offensively. Has to assert himself eventually or else, like Bilecki is going to fade into the noise. Can pass the puck well on a powerplay though and break out well. A decent pick but maybe not the most exciting.

55. Lars Steiner — RW/R · 5'10", 175 · Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) · EP 63 (+8) · Cons. 63 (+8)

Love the shooting skill and the willingness to compete. Think he has some poor feet overall and can struggle to get back if the puck leaves the offensive zone though. Could be a player though as he does have a simple, focused game in all three zones. I bet he goes early third round or late second. I like him but I still can't see him making the league above other small guys in this class.

56. Jonas Lagerberg Hoen — RW/R · 6'2", 185 · Leksands IF U20 (J20) · EP 77 (+21) Cons. 100 (+44)

The biggest issue is just that we've seen about two seconds of hockey of him this year. The two seconds of hockey I did watch though was really really high end. Creative and deceptive playmaker with soft hands and a powerful shot. Could be a steal if his short sample size was the real him, but just have no idea what he is at the next level yet. Feels like he's going to be a Carolina pick.

57. Tomas Galvas (OA2) — D/L · 5'10", 168 · Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czech Extraliga) · EP 146 (+89) · Cons. 62 (+5)  🎯 Perfect Fit for a puck-moving third pairing D

If you've been following along, I drafted Galvas for my own HWH Sharks in 2024. Since that time he hasn't disappointed. He should have been drafted that year, last year and especially this year. He's a frankly effortless skater with and without the puck. Not the biggest guys but smart in his pokechecks, defensive reads and retrievals. Transitions the puck up ice easily and acts as a force multiplier for his team when he's on the ice. A dominant WJC shot him up many draft lists. I just hope a team takes a chance on him as I think there's a player here, a perfect fit transition-focused third pairing defenseman.

58. Yegor Shilov — C/L · 6'1", 177 · Victoriaville (QMJHL) · EP 26 (-32) · Cons. 24 (-34) 

Lots of puck skills, not a lot of pace... my god, he has no motor. I watched repeatedly as players skate in front of him with no movement, no recognition of the need for physical engagement. Nothing. He just stands there waiting for the play to die so he can pick it up and try to go the other way. I've seen him mocked in the first round and I don't get it. I would take him with like my 5th or 6th draft pick in a draft.

59. Jakub Floris — D/R · 6'3", 198 · Lukko U20 (U20) · EP 62 (+3) · Cons. 91 (+32)

Simple, big, decent skating defennseman who flashed some soft hands at times. I think he sees the game well at both ends, even if the tools are not amazing. I like him as a third round pick and a depth option going forward.

60. Niko Tournas (OA2) — RW/R · 6'2", 199 · Moncton (QMJHL) · EP 160 (+100) · Cons. NR

Good wrister. Loves to shoot. Sneaky puckhandling, but stands still too much. Physical and uses his body well. Not convinced his skating is good enough. Saw a really smart seam pass from the blue line. Sneaky talent. Reminds me of Hannes Hellberg when he was almost drafted as an overager. A late-pick, fourth-round-plus type that could pay off if the speed picks up.

61. Wiggo Sorensson — C/L · 5'11", 181 · Boro/Vetlanda HC (Swe. Div. 2) · EP 147 (+86) · Cons. 68 (+7) 

Electric speed, smart puck-mover. Lots of energy and skill. Great third-round pick. Obvious size concerns and very lean.

62. Axel Elofsson — D/R · 5'10", 164 · Örebro HK J20 (J20) · EP 130 (+68) · Cons. 84 (+22) 

Like a little less exciting Villeneuve. Take him if he's falling late as the skill is real but an NHL game may not be.

63. Brek Liske — D/R · 6'1", 190 · Everett (WHL) · EP 45 (-18) · Cons. 60 (-3) 

Solid defense against the rush, decent feet but not high-end. Not sold on the hockey IQ. I think he's a glass-and-out kind of guy.

64. Patriks Plumins — G/L · 6'3", 203 · Zemgale (Latvian) · EP NR · Cons. NR 

Calm, positional goalie. I think he is just a smidge lower upside than the two ahead, but it's really tough to tell. Was absolutely lights-out internationally this year and I think he gets picked early because of it and his league play.

Honorable Mentions In No Order

HM · Egor Barabanov (OA2) — C/L · 6'0", 173 · Saginaw (OHL)

Good puck-carrier, connects plays, patient game. Not convinced he's got the skill to convert to an NHLer; feels more like a Euro or AHL guy.

HM · Beckham Edwards — C/L · 6'1", 182 · Sarnia (OHL)

Good checker, decent defensive motor. Pushes pucks to open space and flashes good shooting talent, but overall isn't pacey enough, skilled enough, or interesting enough to be more than a depth guy likely.

HM · Roberto Henriquez (OA1) — G/L · 6'0.75", 168 · Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

Just a fascinating goalie. Excellent skating. Competitive, excellent reflexes. Great hands. Being too low and too small means he gets beaten up high relatively frequently, but man, he's got something. Committed to BC now instead of UNH. Great fourth-round-plus pick.

HM · Marcus Ruck — LW/L · 6'0", 167 · Medicine Hat (WHL)

I recognize the playmaking talent, I just am not convinced his is high end enough to warrant more than an HM here. I think if I have some question marks about his brother I have even more about him. Still if you pick one you gotta pick the other too right? See where it goes? Could be fun.

HM · Liam Danielsson (OA2) — RW/R · 6'0", 174 · Almtuna (Allsvenskan) 

Tons of playmaking talent, some bite on the forecheck, good hands. Decent speed. Great overager pick. I doubt he gets drafted but I think he could be a realy good pro in a few years time.

HM · Victor Plante — LW/L · 5'10", 163 · U.S. NTDP

It's hard not to love Victor Plante. That's pretty much my entire writeup. I like him. I'm rooting for him, but he is small without anything really standing out but hockey sense.

HM · Rylan Singh — D/R · 6'0", 176 · Guelph (OHL)

Late-rounder. Good defensive reads, competitive, sticks to his man. Likes to pass the puck out, but needs to learn glass-and-out instead of bad passes to no one.

HM · Noah Kosick — C/L · 5'11", 165 · Seattle (WHL) 

Smart playmaker — peripheral, patient. Has some decent defensive instincts despite not being physical. A late-round pick to see where he goes. Worth a pick, though.

HM · Alan Shaikhlislamov — LW/L · 6'1", 187 · Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

Raw, and doesn't see open space well. Not convinced the handling is a plus talent. I like his shooting.

HM · Ethan MacKenzie (OA2) — D/L · 6'0", 174 · Edmonton (WHL)

HM · Adam Nemec — LW/L · 6'1", 176 · Sudbury (OHL)

HM · Rudolfs Berzkalns — LW/L · 6'4", 204 · Muskegon (USHL)

HM · Samu Alalauri — D/R · 6'2", 203 · Pelicans U20 (U20)

HM · Jiko Laitinen — C/L · 6'0", 162 · Ilves U20 (U20)

HM · Beckett Hamilton  — C/R · 5'11", 170 · Red Deer (WHL)

HM · Carter Casey — G/L · 6'1", 179 · Medicine Hat (WHL)

HM · Olivers Murnieks — C/L · 6'0", 200 · Saint John (QMJHL)