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With the 2026 NHL draft fast approaching, scouts around the league are finalizing their rankings of players at every position, especially the wingers.
This class is filled with top-level talent on the flanks, led by Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and a major riser up the ranks in Wyatt Cullen.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 wingers who will be up for grabs at the KeyBank Centre in Buffalo on June 26-27.
1. Gavin McKenna, Penn State (NCAA)
Gavin McKenna has the best chance of becoming a franchise-altering talent among all players in this class, thanks to his vision and playmaking creativity.
He silenced a lot of his critics with a dominant second-half performance in the NCAA, recording 33 of his 51 points in 19 games played with Penn State after the world juniors. He processes offense at a level above his peers and could develop into a perennial 100-point player in the right environment.
MORE: Drafting Gavin McKenna is the only option for the Maple Leafs at the 2026 NHL draft
2. Ivar Stenberg, Frolunda (Swe.)
Ivar Stenberg is the ultimate competitor and elevates his game as the stakes get higher. He proved to be a play-driver against grown men with a historic offensive season in the SHL and continued to display his elite offensive sense on the international stage at the world juniors and the men’s World Championships.
Stenberg might not possess McKenna’s elite offensive tools, but his more well-rounded, two-way game makes him a safe bet to become a top-six player in the NHL right away.
3. Wyatt Cullen, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
Wyatt Cullen is a hyper-creative offensive player and one of the most elite skaters with the puck in this class. He has a variety of deceptive moves to evade pressure and weave through defenders in transition with ease.
Cullen is always looking to draw in pressure to create the most space for his teammates, and projects as a high-end point producer at the NHL level with the right supporting cast.
MORE: Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff highlight the top 10 defensemen in the 2026 NHL draft
4. Ethan Belchetz, Windsor, (OHL)
Ethan Belchetz has the rare combination of size and skill that will make him a highly-coveted player on draft day. When he leverages the physical advantages he has with his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and combines it with his soft hands, Belchetz has the ability to take over games.
A clavicle injury derailed his season, and there are legitimate concerns with his skating, but his ceiling is incredibly high. He could become a complementary top-line player in the NHL one day.
5. Oscar Hemming, Boston College (NCAA)
Oscar Hemming is a power forward who showed flashes of scoring, playmaking, and overall hockey sense at the NCAA level this season. He’s got a strong motor on the forecheck, punishes opponents with his imposing frame, and has an above-average shot that is threatening from distance.
There’s a clear runway of development where he can become more of a play-driver and less of a passenger, but his foundation gives him a projectable role as a middle-six winger in the NHL.
6. Adam Novotny, Peterborough (OHL)
Adam Novotny is a detailed two-way talent who projects as a middle-six winger and can play on both special teams units. He’s a strong skater and can frustrate opponents with his tenacious forechecking and stick details, breaking up passes and covering shooting lanes with his defensive-zone reads.
If Novotny can find a way to add a layer of creativity to his offense, he could become a strong second-line winger.
7. Elton Hermansson, MoDo (Swe.2)
Elton Hermansson has game-breaking skill that is impossible to miss. He works off oncoming pressure very well, using misdirection and deception to consistently slip past defenders with quick, creative hands.
Hermansson finished second in scoring at the Hlinka Gretzky and the U18s with Sweden and really found his footing in the HockeyAllsvenskan in the second half of the season, becoming more comfortable with the physicality of pro hockey and giving him legitimate top-six upside at the NHL level.
MORE: Top 5 goaltenders of the 2026 NHL draft
8. Nikita Klepov, Saginaw (OHL)
Nikita Klepov is a flashy offensive player who led the OHL in scoring this season with his blistering one-timer and crafty playmaking. He has the chance to develop into a real threat on the power play in the NHL with his dual-threat scoring ability.
Klepov has some off-puck details to clean up, and there were times when he struggled when under heavy pressure, but his pure skill is deserving enough of being a top-20 selection at this year’s draft.
9. Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Liam Ruck finished second in WHL scoring behind his teammate and draft-eligible brother, Markus, with 45 goals and 104 points with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Liam thrives in a fast-paced environment, leveraging his hockey IQ and quick decision-making to dissect defenses at a high level and maintain great off-puck habits.
Liam is the more pure goalscorer, possessing an NHL-caliber shot that can beat goaltenders with precision and power. He’s not a huge threat in transition, but his method of scoring is translatable to an NHL environment and should make him a valuable asset on draft day.
MORE: 2026 NHL draft: 5 best options for the Rangers at fifth overall
10. Mathis Preston, Vancouver (WHL)
Mathis Preston is an agile skater with great transition skills who showcased a high-end shot and vision for playmaking in the WHL, even if this season’s counting stats don’t jump off the page.
Lack of consistency, questionable decision-making, and an overall lack of physical engagement have been the biggest factors in Preston’s inability to maintain his status as a top-10 player in this class. Still, there’s real potential he ends up as a steal if he goes late in the first round.
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