Top 20 NHL-affiliated prospects to watch in the NCAA in 2026-27
NCAA men’s hockey kicks off this weekend, with teams across the United States looking to dethrone the Denver Pioneers as national champions.
American college hockey is now in its second full year of utilizing CHL players to stack their lineups. Last season had one of the strongest talent pools college hockey has ever seen, and that’s not going to change this year thanks to an influx of quality 2026 NHL draft prospects.
A large majority of the players listed below played in the Canadian Hockey League at one point or another. but it was actually a player who went the old-school route, via the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, who won the Hobey Baker Award in Max Plante.
We’ll continue to have college hockey coverage throughout the season – you can kick things off by checking out Tyler Kuehl’s preseason power rankings. But now, let’s look at 20 NHL prospects worth following closely this year:
1. Chase Reid, RHD, 18 (Michigan State University)
NHL Team: Seattle Kraken
Reid was considered by many to be the best defensive prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s very deceptive with the puck, and he can get into scoring lanes quickly. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, that’s a good frame to work with. He’s also a right-shot defender – you’ve probably heard teams value that. Reid is an outstanding skater – maybe the best of any top defender in the class. Reid has a remarkable shot, and he seems to think the game at such an advanced level. He rarely makes a bad pass, and he’s so elusive when he’s skating around with the puck at speed. Look for Reid to play heavy minutes for one of the top teams this year.
2. Carson Carels, LHD, 18 (University of North Dakota)
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Carels was one of the best young defenders in the CHL last year, which made him a prime target for college programs. North Dakota will utilize him in a busy role this year, with the potential to line up beside fellow 2026 draft pick Keaton Verhoeff. When you combine Carels’ elite defensive awareness, seamless two-way game, punishing physique and off-the-charts hockey IQ, you get a truly premium defensive prospect. You won’t find many more defensemen as well-rounded as him in the draft, and he hits like an absolute truck. Carels is the type of prospect who’ll work his tail off no matter what. Don’t be surprised if Carels is in the NHL by the spring (although North Dakota would rather chase a national title).
3. Max Plante, C, 20 (University of Minnesota-Duluth)
NHL Team: Detroit Red Wings
When Plante was drafted two years ago, he was easily one of the best playmakers around. No matter whom he played with, it felt like Plante could find them on a dime with little difficulty. Two years later, he is not only still a stout playmaker but also a legitimate goal-scoring threat. With 25 goals and 52 points in 40 games, Plante took home a boatload of awards in college, including the Hobey Baker as the top player in NCAA men’s hockey. The 2025 World Junior gold medalist is a high-end thinker who is always looking to retrieve pucks and win battles no matter what. It was a shame he was injured at the World Juniors, because USA could have used him at 100 percent. Notably, he’ll have both his brothers – Zam and Victor – by his side this season.
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4. Michael Hage, C, 20 (University of Michigan)
NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens
Hage decided to go back to Michigan this year and pursue a national title – and, hey, it’s a good group. He’s never been the most skilled player, but you’ll find few centers with as complete a package as he possesses. He has high top-end speed and the awareness to make quality plays on the fly. Hage is a tremendous puckhandler who consistently makes near-perfect passes. He’s deceptive, sharp and while he’s not massive, he’s built strong and lets opponents know that along the boards and in front of the net. You won’t find many more complete players on this list, and Montreal knows that.
5. Ethan Wyttenbach, LW, 19 (Quinnipiac University)
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Wyttenbach was a man on a mission last year. The 2025 fifth-rounder finished first in NCAA scoring with 59 points, which is utterly incredible for a player taken as late as he was just a few months prior. The Roslyn, N.Y., native is an undersized forward but always moving, carving his way through the ice to get into scoring situations. He has never been a high-end producer at any level – he was more productive as a freshman NCAA forward than he had been at any other point. Wyttenbach’s recent performance at the World Junior Summer Showcase continued to open eyes. If the knock against him was that he was primarily beating up on lower-end teams in college, then he started to really silence people with his play in Windsor. Wyttenbach was the best player at the tournament, regardless of team. It’ll be interesting to see what he’s able to do as a sophomore at Quinnipiac.
6. Caleb Malhotra, C, 18 (Boston University)
NHL Team: Vancouver Canucks
Malhotra’s hockey IQ and rock-solid two-way play made him the undisputed top center of the 2026 Draft. While the class lacks overall depth down the middle, his high floor safely projects him as a future top-six threat. Serving as the driving force behind Brantford’s strong campaign, he made sure the veterans in the lineup didn’t steal his ice time. Maybe that New Kid on the Block energy will pay off as he joins his fourth team in four years. Malhotra is a relentless competitor at both ends of the ice, suffocating the opposition and erasing their time and space. It feels like his detailed work ethic should allow him to thrive in college and potentially skate to the top of the lineup quite quickly.
7. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, 18 (University of North Dakota)
NHL Team: San Jose Sharks
Verhoeff put up solid numbers while playing top-four minutes on one of the top college teams as a 17-year-old freshman. He takes up a ton of space at 6-foot-4 and is willing to hit you hard while also making many high-end passes in the offensive zone. Scouts wish he’d add a bit more speed to be a true top-pairing defender, but there’s time for him to figure that out. I know his play near the end of the season left a bit to be desired, but the ceiling is still sky-high for such a young dude. I commend him for going to college early, and I think he’ll be much more comfortable this year.
8. Daxon Rudolph, RHD, 18 (University of Denver)
NHL Team: Buffalo Sabres
Rudolph’s hockey sense is so impressive. Rudolph doesn’t try to do more than he’s capable of, and he doesn’t force plays for the sake of making them. Instead, he plays to his strengths, which are quite a few. He has a booming shot, makes great breakout passes and can knock guys down. Rudolph finished the WHL playoffs with some fantastic numbers, although scouts are still a bit worried that he’s too passive in his own zone. I think we’re likely talking about a guy who can quarterback the power play for the Sabres. But first, he’ll patrol the back end for one of the most dangerous squads in college hockey.
9. Tynan Lawrence, C, 18 (Boston University)
NHL Team: St. Louis Blues
I know his first taste of college hockey wasn’t great, but a full season should be enough to get Lawrence back on track. He was one of the smartest forwards in the 2026 draft class. He reads open ice exceptionally well and consistently makes the right passes through traffic. Lawrence isn’t massive at six-foot and 185 pounds, but he plays with a ton of power. He plays a solid two-way game, and he boasts a boatload of energy, too. If you’re not moving quickly enough, Lawrence will swarm you instantly and make you pay. Nobody will mistake him for a burner, but Lawrence is a highly competent skater who should have no issue adjusting to the big leagues in that regard.
10. Ryan Lin, RHD, 18 (University of Denver, NCAA)
NHL Team: San Jose Sharks
Lin was a standout over the past two years with the Vancouver Giants. Now, he’ll play quality minutes on a University of Denver squad led by one of the best coaches in the game, David Carle. Carle tends to get the most out of his young players, and Lin – a one-man transition machine – should live up to the billing. Lin’s dynamic upside makes him a potential fan favorite at the next level. Scouts are willing to overlook his lack of size because he consistently dictates the pace of play by rarely giving up the puck. His sheer evasiveness limits his time spent defending. He is more than capable of holding his own in his zone, too, which isn’t always the case with smaller players.
11. Cole Reschny, C, 19 (University of North Dakota)
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Reschny was one of the most impressive NCAA freshmen last season, putting up 35 points in 36 games while playing a leading role on one of the top teams in the country. Reschny’s ability to produce no matter the situation makes him so intriguing. He’s not huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. He’s an outstanding playmaker – legitimately one of the best outside of the NHL. Reschny is smart, competitive and has all the makings of a top-six forward in the NHL one day.
12. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 20 (Boston University)
NHL Team: New Jersey Devils
It’s easy to look at Yegorov’s stat dip last year and feel a bit concerned. But Boston University wasn’t good, and Yegorov was left to do a lot of heavy lifting more often than not. The 6-foot-5 goaltender is quite aggressive with his angles, but he also has lightning-quick reflexes and gives opponents little to work with. He never lets a bad goal bother him because he’s one of the most mentally strong goalies you’ll find. It feels like his movements are more refined than they were when he first made the jump to college, and his glove hand has only gotten better with time. Yegorov will spend another year at BU before potentially turning pro and chasing a job in Utica in 2027-28.
13. Jack Ivankovic, G, 19 (University of Michigan)
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Ivankovic is one of the small goalie prospects I truly believe in. He’s only 5-foot-11, but you’ll have a hard time finding a more competitive goalkeeper. He’s been a high-pedigree goaltender for a long time now, and Hockey Canada absolutely loves him. Ivankovic has been their starter at various international events and briefly owned the gig at the World Juniors last winter. He’ll have an opportunity to go for gold on home ice this year in Edmonton, the site of his dominant Hlinka-Gretzky performance in 2024. He’ll also look to chase after a national title and build upon one of the most impressive rookie goaltending campaigns we’ve seen in recent NCAA memory. I love his glove hand, and I love how much of the net he takes up despite being on the smaller side.
14. Jackson Smith, LHD, 19 (Penn State University)
NHL Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Smith finished with an impressive 11 goals and 26 points as a college freshman while playing more than than 22 minutes a night. At his best, few defenders have as much impact with and without the puck. He’s always looking to send a guy flying, but Smith also loves to rush the puck and blast pucks past goaltenders. Smith’s game can be a bit erratic, and it didn’t really seem to improve in college compared to his WHL days. But I still love how dangerous he can be, and I think he should be a solid top-four blueliner for the Blue Jackets after another year of college.
15. Dean Letourneau, C/RW, 20 (Boston College)
NHL Team: Boston Bruins
Letourneau needed a huge 2025-26 more than anyone, and he made it happen. As a freshman, he failed to score and had just three assists. As a sophomore, he exploded for 22 goals and 39 points in 36 games, finishing second on the team in scoring – only behind James Hagens. Boston College struggled to generate quality, consistent scoring chances, but Letourneau really helped pick up the slack there. At 6-foot-7 and 229 pounds, Letourneau is an absolute beast, and he’s finally figuring out how to use that frame to his advantage at the next level. With James Hagens in the NHL, look for Letourneau’s ice time to continue increasing.
16. Ethan Belchetz, LW, 18 (Michigan State University)
NHL Team: Utah Mammoth
Belchetz’s final OHL campaign ended prematurely, but he looked solid at the World Junior Summer Showcase back in July. Belchetz has never lacked confidence – and you have to have loads of it when you’re the Tasmanian Devil on skates. He plays with so much power, which allows him to carve through the middle of the ice with little regard for human life. Hopefully, that showing at the WJSS helps him go full blast into the new season with MSU, where he’ll play a top-six power forward role.
17. Cameron Reid, LHD, 19 (University of Michigan)
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Reid surpassed the 50-point mark for the second consecutive year en route to helping Kitchener win the Memorial Cup. He became the captain this season, and it seemed like everyone loved to rally around him at all times. Reid clearly knows how to produce, but it’s his high-end skating and decision-making under pressure that make him intriguing. I think he tops out as more of a second-pairing defenseman, but one who’s very comfortable shooting the puck from any angle. Reid has continued to improve his defensive game, and now he’ll have an opportunity to go for a national title at the University of Michigan – although don’t expect him to get top-unit power-play time with Landon DuPont in town.
18. Václav Nestrašil, RW, 19 (University of Massachusetts)
NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Nestrašil is one of the more fascinating prospects on this list. The 6-foot-6 forward leaped up to college last year and put up 31 points in 34 games with UMass. He also established himself as a legit MVP contender at the World Juniors after helping Czechia take home silver in Minnesota. Away from the puck, I think he does an outstanding job of breaking up plays and winning individual battles. With the puck, his shot is so powerful. Nestrašil continued to work on his speed and skating throughout the year, and I loved the results. I think he’ll have a good chance of cracking the Blackhawks immediately out of college.
19. Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, 18 (Boston University)
NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Sticking with Hawks prospects, Villeneuve was one of the QMJHL’s most dangerous defenders for a few years. He also helped Canada win gold at the 2025 U-18 World Championship in Texas, where he finished with eight points despite averaging around 13 minutes a night. He’s small at 5-foot-10, but he thinks the game at such a high level and moves so fluently. He cites Lane Hutson as an influence, and while his defensive game is still far behind that of the Canadiens’ star, BU will be a great spot for him to hone his craft. Look for Villeneuve to get power-play time like the Hutson brothers both did the past few years.
20. Justin Poirier, RW, 20 (Penn State University, NCAA)
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Poirier has been a proven goal-scorer at every level. That includes last year in the NCAA, where he put up 18 goals and 29 points in 27 games as a freshman at the University of Maine. Now, he’s set for a big role at Penn State, where many analysts think he could be an outside candidate to win the Hobey. At 5-foot-8, Poirier lacks the size NHL scouts crave, but he makes up for it with a powerful wrister he can fire from anywhere. Could the Hurricanes have a hidden gem on their hands?
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