Meet the 10 best prospects to know in 2026 NHL Draft, from Gavin McKenna to Keaton Verhoeff

The next wave of hockey talent is on its way.

With the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery being held on Tuesday night, and the draft itself arriving in late June, teams will soon have the opportunity to add some of the best amateurs from the college and international ranks.

While there appears to be a clear consensus No. 1 prospect in this year's class coming out of the Big Ten, there are plenty more potential NHL stars to know.

Here's a look at the 10 best prospects to know in the 2026 NHL Draft.

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Best prospects in 2026 NHL Draft 

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State

Entering last season, McKenna was viewed as the consensus top 2026 draft prospect. That has not changed.

The 18-year-old had an outstanding season at Penn State, becoming the Nittany Lions' first freshman with at least 50 points in a season, totaling 15 goals and 36 assists. McKenna also  finished second in scoring at the World Juniors with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) for Canada in seven games.

The only slight against McKenna has been his size at 170 pounds. But he's viewed as a dynamic playmaker, a player who can instantly boost an NHL offense when he has the puck. He only got better throughout his time at Penn State, showcasing his upside.

Who else, but Gavin McKenna!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/7lf97uJC1I

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 14, 2026

MORE: Full 2026 NHL Draft Lottery odds 

2. Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, SHL

Stenberg, this past season, had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in the SHL, which was the fifth-most ever by an 18-year-old. Like McKenna, Stenberg is an elite offensive decision maker, able to create for himself or others.

At World Juniors, Stenberg helped lead Sweden to gold with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games, including three points in the title game. 

Stenberg, the younger brother of St. Louis Blues first-rounder Otto Stenberg, is also comfortable playing both wings; between his versatility and track record at multiple levels, he's been viewed as a consensus top-two player in the class.

— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) April 30, 2026

3. Keaton Verhoeff, RD, North Dakota

At 6-4 and 212 pounds, Verhoeff is bringing plenty of size to the NHL after impressing at North Dakota.

He had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 36 games, which was the fourth-most by a 17-year-old defenseman in NCAA history. At World Juniors for Canada, Verhoeff finished with four assists in five games.

— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) April 13, 2026

4. Chase Reid, RD, OHL

Reid is a Michigan State commit, set to join the Spartans next season. He's considered an outstanding skater at 6-2 and 195 pounds.

In the Ontario Hockey League last season, Reid posted 18 goals — fifth among all defensemen in the league — and a total of 45 points over 45 games. Reid also stepped up in Cole Hutson's absence for the United States at World Juniors.

5. Caleb Malhotra, C, OHL

Arguably the best center available in this year's draft is Malhotra, a 17-year-old coming out of the OHL. He is committed to playing at Boston University in 2026-27.

The son of former NHL 15-year veteran Manny Malhotra, the center finished second among all OHL rookies last season with his 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) over 67 games. Malhotra's all-around skillset should transition well to the NHL.

— NHL (@NHL) May 3, 2026

6. Carson Carels, LD, WHL

Carels (6-2, 198 pounds) is another fluid skater with two-way talent in this year's draft. The 17-year-old showed out in the WHL last season, ranking fourth among all defensemen with 73 points (20 goals, 52 assists) in 58 games.

Carels was also Canada's youngest player at the World Juniors, posting one assist in five games.

— NHL (@NHL) May 4, 2026

MORE: How Bruins may end up with Maple Leafs' top-10 pick

7. Alberts Smits, LD, Liiga

Already proven against a top level of competition, Smits competed for Latvia in the 2026 Winter Olympics. He was the youngest player in the entire tournament at 18 years old.

The 6-3, 205-pound defenseman left Latvia to play in Finland at 13 years old. Last season, in Finland's top professional men's league, Smits totaled 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and in 38 games for Jukurit. He also had six points (two goals, four assists) in 10 playoff games on loan with Munchen in Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top league.

— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) April 1, 2026

8. Viggo Bjorck, C/RW, SHL

Even at 5-9 and 177 pounds, Bjorck put up 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 42 SHL games last year. He's proved himself against older and larger competition with a high-end offensive skill set.

At World Juniors with Sweden, he helped guide the team to gold as a second-line center, posting nine points (three goals, six assists). Bjorck's passing skills have been praised as a likely top-10 selection.

9. Daxon Rudolph, RD, WHL

Another talented defenseman in this year's class is Rudolph, a 6-2, 206-pound young weapon who has shown the IQ and skill to succeed in the NHL.

As an 18-year-old in the WHL last season, Rudolph ranked third among all defensemen with  78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games.

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 29, 2026

10. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University

Lawrence didn't join Boston University until Jan. 6, but still posted seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 games. He opened the season for Muskegon in the United States Hockey League, where he totaled 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 13 games.

At 17 years old, Lawrence has shown a strong work ethic on both ends, including physicality at the NCAA level.

Tynan Lawrence finds the back of the net to make it 2-0 for Canada over Latvia! #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/6Nd5Lt0R8v

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 23, 2026