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With the 2026 NHL draft fast approaching, scouts around the league are finalizing their rankings of players at every position, including defensemen.
This class is filled with high-end defensemen who project to be impactful at the NHL level for years to come, headlined by Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Alberts Smits. This class features it all: big shutdown defenders, undersized smooth skaters, and do-it-all defenders ready to dominate all areas of the ice.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 defensemen who will be up for grabs at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26-27.
1. Chase Reid, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Chase Reid’s ascension to the top of this draft class has been fascinating to watch. After being cut from his USHL team less than two years ago, he spent part of the 2024-25 season in the NAHL, a Tier II junior league, before signing with the Soo Greyhounds.
Since entering the OHL, he’s developed into a smooth skater who controls the entire flow of offense when he’s on the ice. He captured the CHL’s top draft prospect award earlier this month and has the best chance of becoming a true No. 1 defenseman out of anyone in this class.
2. Carson Carels, Prince George (WHL)
Carson Carels is the best two-way defender available in the draft this year. The 17-year-old played in all on-ice situations with the Prince George Cougars this year while racking up 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games, which was the fifth-highest point total among blueliners in the WHL.
The North Dakota commit is also a steady physical presence on the defensive end with a high work rate that is frustrating for opponents to handle. He can play in any role that is asked of him, and the gap between Carels and Reid is razor thin at this stage in their development.
3. Alberts Smits, Jukurit (Fin.)
Alberts Smits is the most NHL-ready defender in this class. The Latvian blueliner spent the majority of the season playing pro hockey in Finland before being loaned to the DEL in Germany for a playoff run with EHC Munchen, logging big minutes in both leagues.
Smits also had impressive showings on the international stage this year at the world juniors and the Olympics, proving he doesn’t look out of place against the best players in the world.
He’s aggressive at both ends of the ice, which can work to his detriment at times. Still, his desire to influence the game and the overall fearlessness he played with against older competition are attractive traits that teams will gravitate towards.
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4. Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota (NCAA)
An up-and-down freshman season with North Dakota caused Keaton Verhoeff’s stock to drop, but he still possesses a great foundation of tools that should make him a top-10 pick on draft day. Verhoeff has a high-end shot from the point, isn’t afraid to engage low in the offensive zone, and has proven to be an above-average defender at the NCAA level.
His decision-making under pressure was hit-or-miss, and his skating will need to take major strides to reach his ceiling, suggesting he might be a long-term project. However, the raw potential coupled with his imposing 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame is worth betting on.
5. Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert (WHL)
Daxon Rudolph really rounded out his offensive game with the Prince Albert Raiders this year, capped off by an incredible performance in the WHL playoffs, finishing with 27 points in 19 games. He can score from range, has great playmaking vision, and plays with poise on the defensive end. Some scouts view his calm demeanor as a negative, but his approach allows him to make the right reads and control the pace of play, rather than chase it.
There’s a real chance that Rudolph ends up being the best offensive defenseman to come out of this draft. He’s joining a stacked recruiting class headed for the University of Denver next season and, under the tutelage of David Carle, could add layers to his defensive game.
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6. Malte Gustafsson, HV71 (Swe.)
Malte Gustafsson is an incredibly smart and physically dominant defender who likely has the highest floor of all blueliners in this class. At 6-foot-4, he leverages his size and range to kill plays in a variety of effective ways, and has looked comfortable and sometimes dominant in the SHL against grown men.
Gustafsson also has an offensive element to his game that he doesn’t get enough credit for. He’s not afraid to jump in the rush, is confident carrying the puck in transition, and has flashed a pretty heavy shot from the point. He’s set to play another full season of pro hockey in Sweden with HV71, and should only add on more layers to that offensive foundation as he gains more confidence.
7. Ryan Lin, Vancouver (WHL)
Lin is arguably the most refined defensive talent in this class. His stick details when defending rush chances and in-zone cycles are second to none, and his ability to identify when to pressure opponents is very impressive for his age.
While he’s more than capable of quarterbacking a power play and has good, but not great, offensive tools, his production in the WHL may be misleading. Lin projects more as a highly competitive two-way defender with a great motor, giving him a strong base to become a long-time NHLer.
Lin will be joining Rudolph at the University of Denver, allowing him to compete alongside high-end teammates and expand his toolkit in pursuit of an NCAA title.
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8. Xavier Villeneuve, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Xavier Villeneuve is the most offensively gifted draft-eligible blueliner, drawing comparisons to Lane Hutson, with his dynamic mobility, playmaking, and deception as standout traits of his game.
Injuries and inconsistencies caused his stock to drop this season, and as an undersized player with defense as a weak point in his game, there will be some hurdles to overcome in his development, but Villeneuve’s ceiling is undeniably high.
Like Hutson, Villeneuve is headed to Boston University next season and will have the opportunity to build out his frame and iron out his defensive details against tougher competition.
9. Tommy Bleyl, Moncton (QMJHL)
Tommy Bleyl had a dominant rookie season with the Moncton Wildcats, recording 81 points in 63 games. Skating is his calling card, which he does better than almost all defensemen in this class, and it complements the rest of his offensive game very well. Whether on the rush, cycling around the zone, or breaking down defenders 1-on-1, Bleyl exploits open ice with ease.
His offensive game profiles similarly to Villeneuve, but Villeneuve’s playmaking remains a step above. Bleyl has been one of the draft’s biggest risers, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go earlier than some of the other defenders mentioned on this list.
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10. William Hakansson, Lulea (Swe.)
William Hakansson is an athletic defender who plays a hard, physical style and projects as a safe bottom-pair defender, with upside to play in a middle-pairing role. He spent time between the junior and professional ranks in Sweden this year, and even though he struggled with the pace of play in the SHL, he found ways to be effective through strong puck management and sound decision-making under pressure.
He’s got a pro frame at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds and has multiple paths to becoming an impactful player in the NHL. Hakansson needs to develop a stronger offensive game in order to reach that top-four ceiling, but there’s still plenty of value in what he already brings.
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