2026 NHL Draft Notebook: 10 CHLers off to huge starts

Oct 24, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 23, 2025, 16:13 EDT

Credit: Chase Reid (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

NHL teams have yet to reach the 10-game mark this season, but the three CHL leagues have already been up and at it for a month.

At this point, the sample sizes are growing enough where we can start to see who’s real and who’s not. Each of the three CHL leagues has about 10 players on pace for 100 points. That’s not truly sustainable, but at least a few draft prospects surpass it, while some others come mighty close.

A good first impression can go a long way. Sustaining that success is a totally different story, though. We’ll see how many of these players make it onto the CHL’s roster for the upcoming CHL USA Prospects Challenge, taking place next month.

Today, to kick off our weekly prospect notebook series, we’re looking at 10 players who have lit up the OHL, QMJHL and WHL early on this season:

J.P. Hurlbert, C (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)

Hurlbert might not only be the most productive draft-eligible in the WHL right now, he might be the best player in the entire CHL, period. Hurlbert put up 37 points in 56 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program last year, but has exploded for 24 points in just 11 games with Kamloops this year. He’s averaging a goal per game while pacing at nearly 150 points over a full season. Seriously, he’s wicked good right now. Special, even. My concerns heading into the season were about how consistent he could be – but given he has points in all but one game, I’d say he’s doing just fine.

Xavier Villeneuve, LHD (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)

At 5-foot-11, Villeneuve’s lack of size will be a talking point all season long. But, man, nobody can deny the pure talent. He’s up to an incredible 20 points in 12 games this year, highlighted by four games with three points or more. His five-assist effort in a 5-2 win over Newfoundland on Oct. 10 was one of the most impressive single games by a 2026 draft prospect so far this season. And it’s not a surprise, either – he had 62 points a year ago, and was one of the top players at the U-18 World Championship. You just have to watch him in person to understand his true value.

Yegor Shilov, C (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)

Shilov likes to shoot from just about anywhere. And so far, the results look promising with seven goals and 19 points in 10 games. He split last year between the USHL and AAA ranks but has come alive in a major role with Victoriaville. The Boston University commit is built around generating offense at all times, and the results have been extremely promising. Look for Shilov to make the CHL roster for the series against the United States next month. He might be more of a bottom-six forward in that event, but he’ll be damn dangerous, that’s for sure.

Nikita Klepov, RW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

Klepov kicked off the season with an excellent showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup before making the move to the OHL. Someone needed to step up offensively with Michael Misa moving on, and Klepov has done exactly that. He has 18 points in 11 games with the Spirit, putting him on pace for well north of 100. It’s hard to tell how sustainable that is, but he’s coming off a solid first year in the USHL, and his offensive instincts are more than prevalent every time he touches the puck. Don’t be surprised if he forces himself into the top 20 this year.

Alexei Vlasov, LW (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)

Vlasov is the smallest player on this list at 5-foot-9, but he’s been one of the biggest performers of the bunch. The Russian-born winger has 18 points through 10 games with Victoriaville while playing alongside Shilov. He’s in the midst of a five-game multi-point stretch, doing so even when the team has come up short against Halifax and Charlottetown. He gets a lot of volume on net, but he also brings speed and tenacity to every shift. He’s not big, but he’s fearless, and that’ll help him get drafted this year.

Noah Kosick, C (Swift Current Broncos, WHL)

If you watched Kosick last year, you saw an energetic forward used primarily in a depth role. He had three points in 34 games with the Calgary Hitmen and one goal with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede. By all accounts, it was nothing memorable. But now, the playmaking forward is on track for 115 points after starting the year with four goals and 17 points in just 10 games. He’s been one of the WHL’s most impressive forwards and easily one of the most improved CHLers, period. He’s a bit undersized, but the German-born Canadian forward is a remarkable setup guy who plays with a high hockey IQ. Kosick’s hockey sense should take him far, and while I’m not ready to call him a first-rounder, he’s looking like a serious breakout candidate.

Caleb Malhotra, C (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)

It’s never a bad thing to come from hockey bloodlines. Manny was a legendary faceoff specialist – his son, Caleb, might be more of an all-around threat, though. Malhotra put up modest numbers in the BCHL last year but is on pace for 110 points in Brantford. Playing on a good team helps, but Malhotra does enough play-driving that you can’t help but love his game. The former Vaughan Kings standout likely won’t be a massive point-producer in the NHL, but his hard-working nature and two-way habits will be a huge bonus. Most didn’t expect him to be a first-round candidate this early in the season, but he has earned it.

Chase Reid, RHD (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)

Reid went from starting in the NAHL last year to becoming one of the best defensive prospects in the game today. He’s humming along at a point-per-game pace while playing all situations for the Greyhounds. The team has had a couple of notable performers this year, but star forward Brady Martin has yet to suit up for a game. With that about to change, look for Reid’s production to keep improving. He’s a stout playmaker who loves making high-risk, high-reward passes. He’s no slouch physically, too – he’s built tough. Don’t be surprised if Reid is the third defender off the board this season.

Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Belchetz is must-see entertainment. At 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds, he’s hard to miss – and he loves causing calamity. The 2024 first-overall pick in the OHL Draft had a good rookie season, but he’s playing even better right now with 10 goals and 16 points. His ability to dominate shifts makes him so intriguing, and he can score from anywhere in any situation, too. Even when he isn’t getting too many chances with the puck, Belchetz is finding ways to push the pace, create havoc, and showcase raw skill. His footspeed needs work, but it’s clearly not slowing down his production.

Parker Snell, G (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)

Snell has shared the net with older veteran Ethan Simcoe for the red-hot Oil Kings this year, but Snell has the better numbers to boot. He’s 5-1-0 with a .922 save percentage, giving him some of the best numbers from a draft-eligible goaltender, regardless of league. Snell is a 6-foot-2 keeper who moves so well, has an excellent glove hand and tracks pucks as well as anyone. From a fundamental standpoint, there’s a lot to like. He didn’t play a ton of high-end hockey last year, but he put up some huge performances at the U-18 level. Now that he’s going up against top competition each night in the Dub, Snell is turning heads.

SPONSORED BY bet365