Top 10 NHL prospects to watch at 2026 Memorial Cup

May 21, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: May 20, 2026, 12:58 EDT

Credit: Carter Bear (Caroline Anne/Everett Silvertips)

The Memorial Cup begins Friday, with four teams vying for junior hockey supremacy.

The 106th edition of the tournament will feature the hosts, the Kelowna Rockets; the WHL champions, the Everett Silvertips; OHL title winners, the Kitchener Rangers; and the QMJHL powerhouse, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The week-and-a-half affair will see the four teams battling it out for the honor to become the top major junior team in Canada.

For the three champions, this will be a continuation of an otherwise spectacular season. Kelowna, however, was knocked out in five games by Everett in the second round and has thus had all this time to sit, get healthy, and prepare for the showcase. If all goes well, they could follow in the steps of the 2022’s Saint John Sea Dogs, who were knocked out in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs before going the distance on home ice.

So, let’s look at 10 prospects you need to know as the tournament runs from May 22-31. We tried to get as much representation from the four teams as possible. While some good players only made it as “notables,” it goes to show you just how deep the talent pool actually is.

Maxim Massé, RW, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Anaheim Ducks)

Massé was awarded the Michel Briere Trophy as the QMJHL’s MVP this year, registering a league-leading 102 points. He has always been productive, dating back to his 62-point rookie season. But Chicoutimi wouldn’t have gone as deep as they did had Massé not taken a leap forward this year as a 20-year-old. The University of Massachusetts commit plays a heavy power forward game, but he has a great shot release, too. He’s not the quickest skater, but he’ll obliterate goalies with a one-timer that few QMJHL teams have been able to figure out this year.

Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips (Detroit Red Wings)

Bear was one of the more productive WHLers on a per-60 basis this year, and it continued with seven goals and 22 points in 18 playoff games. The Red Wings’ first-rounder had at least a point in four of the five final round games while averaging just under five shots a night. That’s consistency. He’s also the most competitive forward they have, hitting everyone in sight and chasing every puck like he’s playing for his career. There’s NHL top-six upside here – he can play with just about anyone and get results. And defenders tend to hate his guts, too.

Shea Busch, RW, Everett Silvertips (Florida Panthers)

Busch missed five months with an upper-body injury, hampering what had been an otherwise outstanding start to the season for the 2025 fourth-rounder. The 6-foot-3 winger had 13 goals in just 12 regular-season games, so the injury was a big blow. But he came out flying in the playoffs and found his groove in the final, scoring four goals in the final two games. Now that he’s up to full speed, it’s going to be chaos for goalies over the next few days. Busch is a big forward who plays with absolutely no fear, and he loves to shoot, especially on the power play. Look for the Penn State commit to be an absolute force.

Vojtěch Čihař, LW, Kelowna Rockets (Los Angeles Kings)

Čihař joined the team after the World Juniors (where he took home MVP honors) and immediately hit the ground running. Čihař finished with 31 points in 31 regular season games, and then had another 13 points in nine playoff outings. Between him and Tij Iginla, the pair were absolutely unstoppable at points, especially against Kamloops. They were the only two that seemed to really show up near the end against Everett, too. He’s fully healthy and rested and will be leaned on to generate quality scoring chances. If Čihař falters, Kelowna might be doomed.

Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener Rangers (Nashville Predators)

Redid averaged about 24 minutes a night throughout the playoffs, while boasting a solid Corsi rating of 60 percent. He’s a do-it-all defender for Kitchener, playing just about all situations asked of him. He’s a great penalty killer, but he can also run the power play, too. Reid is one of the best skaters heading to the Memorial Cup, and he plays with a boatload of confidence. Sam O’Reilly might get most of the love on Kitchener, but Reid was just as important to the team’s playoff success this year.

Lucas Beckman, G, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Ottawa Senators)

Beckman has been solid throughout the past two years. He started the season with Baie-Comeau but was traded to Chicoutimi to help shore up their goaltending down the stretch. Beckman delivered, going 13-1-0 with four shutouts and a .940 save percentage in the regular season. He then followed that up with a 16-4 run with three shutouts and a .918 SV% in the playoffs for good measure. That’s the type of hot-run goaltending needed to win games at an event like this. Many consider the Saguenéens to be an underdog – but if Beckman can run hot, they’ll be in good shape.

Carson Wetsch, RW, Kelowna Rockets (San Jose Sharks)

Wetsch is a power forward who brings energy to every shift. He’s aggressive, especially around the opposing net, where he creates headaches for the defenders he battles with. Wetsch’s offensive game is built upon puck protection and winning battles for his linemates, while also being reliable defensively. He’s also an excellent skater for a big dude, too. The North Vancouver native is a good playmaker who was one of the better setup men in the WHL during the regular season. He had a quiet playoff run, though, so he’ll need to find another level in his game if Kelowna is going to go deep.

Julius Miettinen, C, Everett Silvertips (Seattle Kraken)

Fresh off winning the WHL’s playoff MVP award, Miettinen is looking for more. The 6-foot-4 center has been one of the CHL’s premier forwards due to his dominance with the puck, his big frame and his excellent release. He had 35 goals and 76 points in the regular season before exploding for 14 goals and 27 points in 18 playoff games. Miettinen doesn’t lose many physical battles, and he’s a shot-generation machine, often six-plus times per game. Miettinen has been lights out all season alongside his Finnish buddy Matias Vanhanen, who is looking to further boost his draft value at this event.

Sam O’Reilly, C, Kitchener Rangers (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Not only did O’Reilly take home the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL regular-season MVP, but he also nabbed the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award after his 17 goals and 28 points led Kitchener to the league title. O’Reilly had 28 points in as many games with London but had 43 points in his next 28 games after the trade to Kitchener. Despite that, he still isn’t known as a high-end offensive producer. Instead, he’s known for his incredible two-way play, which includes a penchant for winning every battle in his own zone. O’Reilly was a big part of Canada’s bronze medal effort, despite most expecting him to be an extra forward heading into the tournament. Now, everyone knows just how good he is.

Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna Rockets (Utah Mammoth)

With 41 goals and 90 points in 48 games, Iginla planted himself firmly into the WHL MVP race despite missing time earlier in the season. He’s a stout goal scorer who plays with as much poise and hockey sense as anyone at this level. The highly skilled sniper can shoot from anywhere, and he’s one of the more competitive junior players from a physical and battle-winning standpoint. There’s no question he’ll be ready for the NHL next year as a 20-year-old rookie – but first, he’s hoping to win the Memorial Cup and finish his time in Kelowna as one of the best junior hockey players in the world right now.

Also considered: Jack Pridham, RW, Kitchener Rangers (Chicago Blackhawks); Christian Humphreys, RW, Kitchener Rangers (Colorado Avalanche); Hayden Paupanekis, C, Kelowna Rockets (Montreal Canadiens); Alex Huang, D, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Nashville Predators); Christian Kirsch, G, Kitchener Rangers (San Jose Sharks)

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