Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Can USA’s Brady Knowling become the 2026 NHL Draft’s top goaltender?

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Apr 23, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 22, 2026, 16:29 EDT
Can USA’s Brady Knowling become the 2026 NHL Draft’s top goaltender?
Credit: Steven Ellis

The concept of a goaltender getting taken in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft isn’t a crazy one.

Youngstown Phantoms netminder Tobias Trejbal is the presumed favorite after an outstanding rookie campaign in the USHL. NHL Central Scouting has him as the No. 3 North American goaltender. But Daily Faceoff has him as the first at No. 34 overall. A team picking at the end of the first round could realistically take a run at the 6-foot-4 stopper on Day 1.

But at the top of the NHL CSS’ goalie list is Brady Knowling, a 6-foot-5 keeper with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He’s ranked No. 58th overall by Daily Faceoff, and Knowling’s placement definitely is a bit more varied across public draft boards. But one thing’s for certain: NHL teams really like him, and he’s going to be one of the first goaltenders taken in Buffalo this June.

The Toronto-born goaltender (his mother is American, allowing Knowling to become a dual citizen) has spent the past two years with the famed American junior program. His rookie season a year ago was a tough one. Knowling had just two wins and an .829 save percentage over 15 games while missing time with an injury.

USA Hockey then made the rare decision to let him join the Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament. Very few USNTDP players have participated in it in recent memory. Instead, that event is usually reserved for talent playing throughout the USHL, NAHL and CHL. Knowling quickly assumed the starter gig and went on to lead the Americans to gold while establishing himself as a star goalie prospect in the process. Between that, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and his general play with the USNTDP, Knowling had to do a lot of heavy lifting this season.

In just about every showcase event, Knowling delivered – outside of the one that started at the World Juniors. To his credit, he was a 17-year-old who probably shouldn’t have been thrust into that situation with the top spot in the group on the line.

Regardless, scouts really like Knowling. He checks a lot of boxes: size, mobility and raw reflexes. Scouts are a bit worried that his hands are just not quick enough, even for junior hockey right now. That has prevented scouts from going higher with him this season. But at 18, there’s still so much runway for him to figure things out.

“Teams want bigger goalies, it’s no secret,” said one scout. “And when you’ve got one who moves as well as (Knowling) does, you’re intrigued.”

But you’ve got to be me more than just “big” if you’re going to be an NHL goaltender. He’s not even the biggest goaltender – Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Filip Růžička is 6-foot-8. But what separates someone like Knowling from, say, fellow 6-foot-5 goaltender Cash Cruitt?

“He just has pro game written all over him,” another scout said. “He commands the top of the crease that very few others do. He’s so competitive and gives you very little to work with. And his confidence is truly next-level, too – you can tell how much he believes in himself.”

From a basic standpoint, Knowling is one of the best goalies in this class at staying as square as possible to shots. You won’t find many shots that beat him where he’s completely out of position. Bad goals don’t seem to bother him, either – he has strong composure.

While goalies can be difficult to find comparisons for, it’s hard not to see a bit of Thatcher Demko. Primarily, in the way Knowling moves and hovers around the top of the blue paint. Demko is slightly smaller at 6-foot-4, but he’s quite athletic himself.

Knowling is currently with USA’s U-18 team in Slovakia, and he kicked off the tournament with a 3-2 overtime loss to Czechia. He had a fine effort, although the three goals against were… interesting, to say the least. Knowling should own the crease for the majority of the remaining games, but making sure he’s sharp down low and keeps his pads sealed will be critical to the United States’ challenge for gold.

A strong week and a half at the U-18s could help Knowling’s value. It’s hard to prove yourself going up against college competition as a young goalie, but Knowling definitely has a ton of potential. Knowling is committed to Boston University, where he’ll eventually replace New Jersey Devils prospect Mikhail Yegorov. He was also drafted by the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, who play just less than two hours north of USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. That might be the perfect landing spot for Knowling for a one-year stopgap.

Not everyone is completely sold on Knowling as a goaltending prospect. Some think he’s the best in the draft. Others see him as a mid-to-late-round pick. Regardless, most agree there’s a ton of potential here. With the right patience and extra work with quality goalie coaches, he’ll figure out how to refine some of the flaws.


Recent Articles by Steven Ellis

MORE FACEOFF.IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER