2026 NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects to watch at World Juniors

A major part of the allure of the World Junior Championship is NHL fans getting a closer look at their top prospects.

But for many others – the true diehards – they’re interested in seeing how the next draft crop handles the spotlight. There are various other junior national team events throughout the year, including the season-ending U-18 World Championship in April and May.

But this is the tournament that gets all the eyeballs. And this year, there’s a real chance that at least half the players taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NHL Draft will have participated in the World Juniors from Dec. 26 – Jan. 5 in Minnesota.

For a bigger NHL Draft list, check out our top 50 list released last week. But in terms of the tournament at large, here’s a look at 10 of the top draft prospects taking part in the annual holiday funfest:

1. Gavin McKenna, LW (Canada)

Being a top prospect doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to be a top-line player at this event. McKenna, though, absolutely will be. He’s an elite-level puck-mover who can absolutely dominate any shift. He showed real promise at points a year ago, although McKenna ultimately struggled to get points on the board (as did every other Canadian). My biggest concern is still his play away from the puck, but he makes up for it by beating most opponents in 1-on-1 situations. This tournament could be an opportunity for him to get himself back to the top of all draft boards. Fortuantely, Canada should have all the tools to ensure he gets somewhere in the 13-15-point area. A quiet showing, though, could bring up some serious questions.

2. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Canada)

There is plenty of competition on Canada’s ride side, but Verhoeff’s massive 6-foot-4 frame makes him an absolute force. He left the WHL to challenge himself in college, and his mature playstyle has allowed him to adjust quite nicely. Verhoeff is mobile, has a good shot and doesn’t lose many battles. He’ll be more of a depth player on this Canadian team, but Verhoeff has all the makings of a future top-pairing defenseman. He’ll look to prove that behind the likes of Zayne Parekh and Harrison Brunicke on the right side, though.

3. Ivar Stenberg, LW (Sweden)

Stenberg is about to cause issues for goalies at this tournament. He has been playing against men this year, where he’s tracking for about 50 points. That’s truly remarkable – something no other draft eligible has ever done in SHL history. Now, he’s ready for a top-line role with Sweden, where he’ll be relied on heavily for his high hockey IQ and tremendous play with the puck. Don’t be surprised if he ends up leading all draft-eligibles in scoring.

4. Chase Reid, RHD (USA)

Reid was on an absolute mission in his final few games before joining the Americans. At 6-foot-2, the mobile defender has a big frame, and he plays with a ton of power. I love his skating, and I really believe he can rise up the ranks for a team chasing an all-around offensive defender. We’ll see what type of role USA Hockey gives Reid in Minnesota after cutting him from the U-18 team back in April. Seriously, his game has come a long, long way since then.

5. Carson Carels, LHD (Canada)

Carels is likely going to hold down the fort as Canada’s No. 7 defenseman, where he’ll It helps that he’s a mobile, 6-foot-2 defender who wants to make an impact at both ends of the ice. Most of his breakouts are smart, and he does a good job of limiting his mistakes. Carels often plays over 30 minutes a night, which is crazy for a 17-year-old. How well is he going to play with even fresher legs in Minnesota?

6. Alberts Šmits, LHD (Latvia)

When you see a big, 6-foot-3 defender, it’s easy to assume they’re a defense-focused, shutdown guy. Šmits is good in his own zone, for sure. And he can definitely hit guys. But his puck play is incredible, allowing him to skyrocket up draft boards. He’s averaging a little below half a point per game with Jukurit, something very few U-19 defenders have ever come close to in Liiga history. Look for Šmits to play a big role with Latvia at the World Juniors – he’s already playing north of 20 minutes a night against men.

7. Adam Novotný, LW (Czechia)

The Czechs don’t have a true game-changing forward, but they have plenty of scoring weapons, regardless. Novotný is definitely among the best of the best. He has a great shot, skates well and I love his two-way commitment. After playing a depth role, his high-end play reads should allow him to slot into a top-six role over the next two years.

8. Oliver Suvanto, C (Finland)

Teams love their big, 6-foot-3 centers. Suvanto had a great showing at the Hlinka Gretkzy Cup and has done decently well against men in the top Finnish league. He’s not lighting the world on fire by any means, but he’s challenging to play against and consistently gets three shots on net a night against older, tougher competition. I think he’ll be a bottom-six player on this team, but his role is only going to increase the next few years.

9. Juho Piiparinen, RHD (Finland)

The 6-foot-1 defender isn’t flashy by any means, but he does such a great job at handling quality competition in his own zone. Piiparinen is smart, defensively responsible and can shut you down without getting himself into trouble. He was one of Finland’s standouts at the U-18s last year and played great at the recent U-20 Five Nations tournament. As long as he plays a smart, steady defensive game, he’ll be an impact player on this Finnish roster.

10. William Håkansson, LHD (Sweden)

Håkansson is projected to be more of a depth defenseman at this tournament, but he’s going to be a tough you-know-what regardless. The 6-foot-4 blueliner will do whatever it takes to keep you from getting close to the net, even if it ultimately penalizes him in the process. Håkansson moves well and is a decent playmaker, which doesn’t hurt. I think we’ll mainly see him in a shutdown role, but he can kill penalties, too.

Other notables: Vladimír Dravecký, RHD (Czechia); Tomas Chrenko, C (Slovakia); Adam Goljer, RHD (Slovakia); Viggo Björck, C (Sweden); Lars Steiner, C (Switzerland)

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