2026 NHL Draft: Who has the best chance at dethroning Gavin McKenna at No. 1?
You’re not gonna find a serious 2026 NHL Draft board without Gavin McKenna at No. 1.
The Whitehorse, Yukon native is one of the most skilled forwards we’ve seen in quite some time. The Penn State commit is a gifted winger coming off a truly dominant Draft-1 season with Medicine Hat, helping the team make the Memorial Cup after winning the WHL title.
There was nothing left for him to prove with Medicine Hat, and that’s why he’s off to Penn State – projected to be one of the top hockey programs this season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him go for the NCAA scoring title as a 17-year-old freshman. He is simply that good.
But is it a foregone conclusion that he’ll be taken first overall in June? Most scouts would say yes – for now. So much can change in a year. So that’s why we’re looking at five candidates who could unseat the consensus top prospect a few months down the road:
1. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Univ. of North Dakota, NCAA)
Verhoeff is the top choice to go No. 2 according to most scouts, with some thinking he has a legitimate shot at No. 1. He had a 21-goal, 45-point rookie season with the Victoria Royals last year, and was one of the top defenders at both the U-17 World Challenge and the U-18 World Championship. Verhoeff struggled at times at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but it’s hard to take a performance there too seriously, given it’s in the middle of the summer and nobody is at full force. Verhoeff is set to go to North Dakota this year, where most expect him to have little trouble adjusting to older competition as a 6-foot-4 defender. He’s unique in that he has size, skill and mobility, potentially giving him an edge over Matthew Schaefer, who was taken first overall in 2025. I wouldn’t write Verhoeff’s name down at No. 2 with a Sharpie, but he’s the pre-season favorite, for sure.
2. Ivar Stenberg, RW (Frolunda, SHL)
There’s so much to love about Stenberg, who started the 2025-26 campaign off with a hat-trick during the World Junior Summer Showcase. He just seems to think the game at a much higher level than most kids his age and has the pure skill to consistently beat defenders. He’s exceptionally smart, moves the puck well and can beat just about anyone in 1-on-1 situations. The numbers don’t lie, either – he had an incredible 51 points in 29 games internationally last year, including eight goals and 13 points at the U-18 World Championship. He even played in 25 SHL games, and while the numbers weren’t impressive by any means, he got more confident as the season wore on as a 17-year-old. Stenberg is the best forward behind McKenna, and I think he deserves a lot more attention than the general public is giving him. Get ready to watch him play a full year in the SHL with Frolunda – after dominating the U-20 level, he’s ready.
3. Ryan Roobroeck, C (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)
As a late 2007-born forward, Roobroeck will have an extra year of development on most players in this class. Will it pay off? He scored an incredible 41 goals and 87 points this past year, before adding nine more at the U-18 World Championship with Canada. Roobroeck is expected to play a huge role with Niagara, a team that just added Vancouver Canucks prospect Riley Patterson to the top six. Niagara should be a legit contender, and Roobroeck will be the shiny toy scouts are excited to see. The 6-foot-4 forward has an incredible shot, but he also knows how to play specific roles, too. He loves spending a lot of time around the net, and his two-way game has come a long way in the past few years.
4. Ryan Lin, RHD (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
With many top CHL prospects going to the NCAA early, the Giants are probably thrilled that Lin is set to return. He was Canada’s top player at Canada’s Hlinka camp and was easily one of the best defenders throughout the entire tournament. He might not be big, but he’s smart and has the skills to take his game up a level. I loved him at the U-17s, but it feels like he’s a lot more confident these days. His decision-making is near the top in this draft class already, and he has the skating to burn guys. Verhoeff will have the pre-season advantage, partly due to size, but Lin might have the most individual skill of any defender this year.
5. Tynan Lawrence, C (Muskegon Lumberjacks)
Lawrence might have been Canada’s most impressive forward at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Scouts knew he was good, but he was downright dominant with and without the puck at times. Lawrence finished at just under a point per game with Muskegon this year, giving him one of the most productive seasons by a U-17 player in USHL history. The Boston University commit blended skill and a bit of nastiness in Muskegon, where he played a huge role from the get-go. He’s a dynamic scoring threat who can absolutely dominate puck possession, and his two-way game is excellent without sacrificing offensive zone attacks. Look for Lawrence to put himself into the top five conversation this year – but, hey, maybe he’ll go even higher.
Other notables: Mathis Preston, RW; Viggo Bjorck, C; Ethan Belchetz, LW
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