2026 NHL Draft: Scouting 15 top prospects from the World Juniors

We’ve had enough time to settle down and move on from the 2026 World Junior Championship by now.

Usually, there are at least a few draft prospects who are a bit too quiet and hurt their draft stocks. But, really, that just didn’t happen in Minnesota. Seriously, the player who received the most criticism was Gavin McKenna, and yet he still managed to finish with 14 points.

We ranked the top 10 2026 NHL Draft prospects – both new and re-entries – prior to the semifinals. Today, we’re looking at how 15 notable future draft picks performed under the spotlight:

Viggo Björck, C (Sweden)

If any prospect on this list helped their draft stock the most, it was Björck. The projected first-rounder had points in all but one of his round-robin games and seemingly got better with every showing. He finished the tournament with nine points in seven games and has been one of Sweden’s top U-20 players throughout the entire campaign. While scouts wish he’d be bulkier (he’s 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds), his hockey IQ is off the charts. Björck’s shot is incredibly deceptive, especially on the power play. He doesn’t give you much to work with if you’re a goalie – and it’s because he doesn’t need to. His shot is quick and accurate, and he consistently releases it from dangerous areas.

Carson Carels, LHD (Canada)

Carels had a strong pre-tournament, which allowed him to start the tournament in Canada’s lineup. But after a tough first two games, we didn’t see Carels again until the playoffs. I thought he had an excellent game against Slovakia, and he was fine against Finland. But his limited ice time, mixed in with some slow defensive reads, made it seem like he was playing nervously. It just didn’t feel like we were watching Carels at the same confidence level we saw in the pre-tournament against Sweden.

Tomas Chrenko, C (Slovakia)

Chrenko had a huge start to the tournament, which included consecutive three-point efforts against Germany and USA. I love his game, especially on the power play. But that’s also partly the thing – most of his damage came with the man advantage. The quarterfinal was an ugly showing for Slovakia as a whole, but Chrenko looked lost. I want him to be better at 5-on-5, given that’s where the majority of the game is played. But on the man advantage, Chrenko is a legit game-changer in a way very few in this draft class are. I’d be interested to see what he could do in the CHL.

Tomas Galvas, LHD (Czechia)

Galvas had at least one point in all but one game – the gold medal game. I still thought he was fine in that game, all things considered – and he deserved his addition to the all-star team. Galvas was easily one of the best skaters in Minnesota, using his quick footwork to pivot on a dime. He also makes quick, accurate backhand passes that seem to throw off opponents quite frequently. He was passed over twice before (he’s small at 5-foot-10, and there are still language barriers to deal with), but I doubt it’ll happen again.

Adam Goljer, RHD (Slovakia)

I’m a big Goljer fan – I see some first-round potential in his game. But I simply wasn’t that impressed with his tournament. I’ve seen him play some excellent hockey at the U-20 level this season, and he was one of my favorites with the U-18 team a year ago. I know offense isn’t the name of his game (although he shows some solid proficiency with the puck), but he struggled early in the tournament and his ice time suffered as a result. I just wanted him to take over and play a leading role on a team with a weak back end and it just never happened.

William Håkansson, D (Sweden)

There’s nothing flashy about Håkansson’s game, but the Swedes clearly liked him in more of a defensive role. He didn’t play a ton down the stretch, but he was relied on for his long reach and physical attributes on the penalty kill. He’s a raw prospect who plays more of a chip-out-of-danger puck game, although he does a solid job of disrupting plays and blocking scoring lanes. Teams love big defenders, and at 6-foot-4, he’s one of the more mobile ones available in the top 50 this year.

Ethan MacKenzie, LHD (Canada)

Three of MacKenzie’s five points came in the opener against Czechia. That game gave him a nice boost, ice time-wise, over the next few games before hovering around the 11-13 mark during the playoffs. I felt like MacKenzie’s ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. I know he’s an older prospect at this point after getting passed over twice, but that maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time. I think we’re talking about a mid-round prospect but someone who can kill plays and play lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Edmonton Oil Kings).

Gavin McKenna, LW (Canada)

On one hand, McKenna had one of the best outputs we’ve seen from a draft-eligible forward after registering 14 points in seven games. In fact, he had at least one point in every single game, including four in the bronze medal game. But scouts still saw a bit of what concerned them: primarily, a lack of 5-on-5 involvement and so-so effort levels away from the puck. That being said, he’s clearly the most skilled prospect in the 2026 draft, and he’s as electric as they come on the power play. I still like his upside more than most, but he has to find a way to impact shifts more consistently to become a true No. 1 prospect.

Olivers Mūrnieks, C (Latvia)

There were points where Mūrnieks was one of Latvia’s best players, but it still felt like a serious step down from a year ago. It’s been a difficult season for Mūrnieks, who simply hasn’t looked comfortable or overly dangerous in the QMJHL. He had four points in five games, including a goal against the Swedes. I thought he struggled at 5-on-5, though, and was most noticeable around the crease on the power play. I just wanted more from a guy who looked destined to go in the first round. Now? He’s not even a top 50 prospect anymore.

Adam Novotny, LW (Czechia)

Novotny had an excellent tournament, so it’s kind of crazy he only finished with three points (and two came in a blowout win over Denmark. His play away from the puck was impressive, often forcing turnovers before getting the puck into a scoring position. I thought he saved his best hockey for the medal round, although he had just one assist to show for. Novotny had 34 shots during the tournament but couldn’t get a single one past a goaltender. That’s just bad luck. If he can find another gear in his game in the second half of the OHL season, he’ll be a shoo-in to go in the top 15.

Chase Reid, LHD (USA)

On one hand, I loved Reid’s ability to take over when Cole Hutson went down with an injury. But there were some situations where you wanted him to take his game up a notch, and he just… didn’t. That includes the two losses to Sweden and Finland, where he struggled at times with the high pace. At his best, though, Reid showed a level of hockey sense and playmaking acumen that few 17-year-olds have managed to replicate. His ability to fake a shot before finding a perfect passing lane was unmatched among his age group. I just wish he kept the momentum alive when it really mattered.

Alberts Smits, LHD (Latvia)

With Latvia lacking true high-end talent, Šmits was tasked with heavy minutes – and he didn’t disappoint. He was excellent at both ends of the ice, and he often was tasked with leading the team’s offense when things were looking dire. Šmits’ mix of hockey sense, mobility and disruption potential should allow him to become a top-four defenseman in the NHL. There’s still room to grow in his decision-making and in whether his offensive prowess will carry over. But Latvia was much, much better with him on the ice.

Ivar Stenberg, LW (Sweden)

Stenberg finished the tournament with 10 points, registering at least one in all but one game – the 8-1 thrashing against Germany. He saved his best hockey for last, though, recording five points in the final two games to help lead the Swedes to victory. Stenberg got much better as the tournament wore on, which is exactly what stood out to me about both the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the November Five Nations tournament in Slovakia. Stenberg has been so productive at all levels, and there’s very little chance he’s back for a repeat gold-medal run next year, given how smart and dominant he can be with the puck on his stick.

Oliver Suvanto, C (Finland)

I liked Suvanto early on, but then usage became an issue. The Finns lacked a true No. 1 center, but they had Suvanto take the mantle over the first two games. But it was clear he didn’t fit there and ultimately ended up in a bottom-line role. Suvanto played fine on the penalty kill, and his strong, physical game made him a difficult matchup for even some of the tournament’s speediest players. But there were times when he looked completely invisible, and even got caught taking too long of shifts at points. I still like Suvanto as a first-rounder, though, and partly think his lackluster tournament was more due to Finland not having a deep enough offensive group to give him the true support he needed.

Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Canada)

Verhoeff sat out the first two games before getting into action against Denmark for Canada’s third game. He averaged around 10 minutes a night, but I thought he had a good showing, especially against the Slovaks, when he had a pair of assists. From the outset, it felt like Canada viewed Verhoeff as an outsider. But many thought he would have been on the top pairing had Zayne Parekh or Harrison Brunicke not been loaned out – that’s how much competition was on the right side this year. Verhoeff had his fair share of mistakes with the puck and his positioning was a bit questionable at times. But given his limited ice time, I feel like Verhoeff did more than he was asked to do, and it was a solid showing overall. If Verhoeff doesn’t go straight to the NHL next year, he’ll be Canada’s No. 1 defender at the 2027 World Juniors, no question about it.

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