2026 NHL Draft: Top 15 prospects to watch at Hlinka Gretzky Cup
For those of you who keep talking about how much you miss hockey, here’s your cure.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup kicks off in Czechia and Slovakia on Monday, with the tournament running from Aug. 11-16. It’s a short tourney with just eight teams, but it’s the official start of the scouting season, with all 32 NHL teams flying to Europe to get a close look at the next wave of top talent.
It’s not the greatest hockey you’ll ever see, that’s for sure. You truly need to treat it like it’s a summer hockey tournament. However, it’s a good opportunity to see as many players as possible early in the season, just to gauge where everyone stands. Scouts use that as a baseline for the rest of the year, with all their viewings in domestic play and various other international tournaments. Canada is always the favorite, and that won’t change this year, but look out for Sweden and Czechia in particular to be in the running for gold.
Focusing primarily on players I’ve watched play, either in person or through online viewings, here is a look at 15 prospects from the 2026 NHL Draft that you’ll want to keep an eye on:
Ethan Belchetz, LW (Canada)
It was hard to miss the 2024 OHL Cup MVP during his first year of junior hockey. He loves to use his 6-foot-5, 227-pound frame to the full extent every single night. Belchetz is a big power forward who loves getting in the face of opponents and has a fantastic shot to boot. He had 17 goals and 38 points as a rookie, showing some serious potential as a shooter. Look for him to have a bigger role for the Spitfires this coming season – but a good performance in Europe to kick things off wouldn’t hurt.
Tynan Lawrence, C (Canada)
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. I didn’t notice him as much as other players at selection camp, but I loved his energy and his drive to the net. Now, it’s time to show the world why he’s a potential top 10 pick in 2026.
Ryan Lin, RHD (Canada)
Lin was Canada’s top player at Canada’s camp, and there’s a very good chance he’ll be taken early in 2026. 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.
Mathis Preston, RW (Canada)
Preston is so good with the puck on his stick and he plays with high-end speed – something many teams struggle to contain. He had a solid 45-point regular season, but he really came into his own near the end of the year. With 16 points in 20 playoff games, Preston was a huge part of Spokane’s postseason effort. Look for him to have an even bigger role with Andrew Cristall graduating to the pro ranks.
Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Canada)
Projected to go No. 2 in the 2026 NHL Draft, Verhoeff is the real deal. He has the athleticism to become a dominant defenseman in the NHL, and he’s already so far ahead of most players his own age, physically and mentally. He had a 21-goal, 45-point rookie season with the Victoria Royals and was one of the top defenders at both the U-17 World Challenge and the U-18 World Championship. Now set to go to North Dakota next year, the 6-foot-4 blueliner will look to start the year like he ended last year – with a gold medal.
Filip Novák, LW (Czechia)
Novák was one of Czechia’s most productive forwards at the U-16 and U-17 level the past few years and dominated against his age group. I don’t expect anything different at the Hlinka, especially after some decent showings to start the season with the U-18 team. Novák has a big 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and he isn’t afraid to use it. He has plenty of skill to boot, too.
Jakub Vaněček, LHD (Czechia)
Vaněček received rave reviews during Czechia’s recent camp, which he mostly spent on the top pairing along with 2009-born Lukas Kachlir. I like how willing Vaněček is to join in on the rush, although he can be a bit too choosy on when he decides to do it. I like his confidence under pressure, and he doesn’t get pushed around much, either. He’s strong, smart and skilled – and he can be very dangerous if he puts all that together every single night for the Czechs.
Oscar Hemming, C (Finland)
Yup. There’s another Hemming coming. After Emil Hemming was drafted in the first round by the Dallas Stars two years ago, Oscar is hoping to meet a similar fate. He’s already 6-foot-4, and he uses his frame to dominate with the puck. He had nine points in as many games at this tournament a year ago, but he also led all players with 63 points in 31 games in the Finnish U-18 league. He’s set for full-time action in the top Finnish junior league, but I’m intrigued to see if he can continue being an immovable object.
Vilho Vanhatalo, RW (Finland)
Speaking of big dudes, Vanhatalo is also a 6-foot-4 beast. He wasn’t far off the U-18 Finnish league scoring title, and he was also one of the best set-up guys on the U-17 national team. He plays with so much power and can drive the net as well as anyone. I like his game away from the puck, too, but I just want to see him play with a bit more urgency.
Elton Hermansson, RW (Sweden)
Hermansson makes things happen with the puck. He was one of the best Europeans at the U-17s, scoring five goals in four games. He continued on the heat the rest of the year, putting up some of the best numbers in international competition. Hermansson didn’t come close to touching Bjorck in the Swedish U-20 league, but he was among the most productive U-17 players. Swedish scouts like him – let’s see if that momentum continues over the next week.
Oscar Holmertz, C (Sweden)
Homertz’s game is all about blending speed and hockey sense. He had a great year in the Swedish U-20 league in 2024-25, showing a bit more competency in his shot than we had seen before. He’s also a stout playmaker who can make moves at a high pace. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move up a bit, especially as he continues to showcase his play on the international stage.
Marcus Nordmark, LW (Sweden)
Nordmark was productive just about everywhere he played this year. That was especially true at the U-17 national team level, where his 30 points made him the most productive 2025 draft prospect around. He put up great numbers in the Swedish U-20 league, showing what he can do as an equally talented shooter and playmaker. I fully expect him to be one of the top scoring wingers in this tournament.
Raphaël Achermann, LW (Switzerland)
The Swiss typically struggle at tournaments like this, but Achermann will be someone to watch. The mid-sized winger was one of the better Swiss U-17 players last year, showing promise as a shooter and a passer. I also liked him at the EYOF, where he played some of his best hockey to date. He’s quick, skilled and smart – and he doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff, either.
Jack Hextall, C (USA)
Hextall is one of the top Americans who didn’t sign with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. he had a solid 34-point season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms and was one of USA’s top players at the World Junior A Challenge, as well. He’s a mid-sized forward who can rush the puck up the ice with little difficulty, and I like his raw skill with the puck, as well.
Kalder Varga, RW (USA)
Despite an underwhelming showing at the U-17s a year ago, I think there’s a lot to like about Varga. He’s a solid goal-scorer, finishing with a goal per game during a recent USA Hockey showcase to help build this team. Varga put up decent numbers with the Kelowna Rockets but feels like the type of player who’s going to have a breakout campaign. He’s off to the University of Denver in 2027.
Other Notables: Beckham Edwards, C (Canada), Carson Carels, D (Canada), Ondřej Ruml, LHD (Czechia), Darian Rolsing, RHD (Germany), Axel Elofsson, RHD, 17 (Sweden)
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