Top 20 NHL prospects to watch in the CHL in 2026-27

Sep 17, 2026, 08:46 EDT

Top 20 NHL prospects to watch in the CHL in 2026-27

The Canadian Hockey League still boasts the best junior hockey players in the world – but the landscape continues to change.

Only one player on this list appeared on Daily Faceoff’s top 75 skater prospects list for 2026-27: Adam Novotný. A large chunk of the list has CHL experience, including seven of the top 10 prospects. But in terms of guys actually returning to major junior, the list is very, very slim. On one hand, it’s good to see the league still churning out high-quality talent. On the other side, teams will continue having a difficult time keeping their top players for the entirety of their eligibility.

The good news? There’s still a ton of quality talent looking to shine through this year. NHL training camps are in full swing, with many players listed below still hanging around. Expect all 20 of them to spend most of the year in their respective CHL leagues.

Let’s look at names you need to know for 2026-27, with their current teams, league and NHL affiliations listed beside them ahead of opening night on Thursday:

Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants, WHL (Anaheim Ducks)

Preston is an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing pucks in the back of the net from the slot. It’s NHL-ready right now – something very few 17/18-year-olds can claim. Preston consistently finds open space, but he can also create those opportunities with his skating. He’s fast, can start and stop on a dime and can often skate himself out of dangerous situations. The production just needs to follow his top-end skill if he’s ever going to have a chance at cracking the top six. Fortunately, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to dominate with Vancouver this season.

Ryan Roobroeck, C, Guelph Storm, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks)

Roobroeck will have a chance to win the Memorial Cup with the tournament hosts, Guelph. Roobroeck’s combination of size (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) and goal-scoring prowess (99 goals in 176 regular season games over three years) makes him incredibly intriguing. And at one point, he felt like a safe bet to go in the top 10. You don’t find many forwards who can command a play like he can at his absolute best, especially after producing at a high level throughout most of his career. But for a guy his size, he often lacks the intensity required to be a true difference-maker. For the most part, he’s still an excellent OHLer who should be able to excel on the power play, and he’s good as a net-front presence. But scouts are worried about his work ethic on the ice, which is why he went from a projected top-10 pick to a second-round selection. Could he make the Blackhawks look like geniuses with a big bounce-back season?

Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL (Colorado Avalanche)

Shilov is one of Colorado’s top prospects – and he’s also one of the QMJHL’s most proficient offensive generators this past year. The Tigres finished second last in the West and were ultimately bounced in four games in the playoffs. But Shilov finished the season with 32 goals and 82 points, putting him among the top in CHL rookie scoring. Nobody else came close to even reaching 50 points, so Shilov was exceptionally important. He dominates the puck game, and he’s as skilled as you’ll find in the CHL. There’s no lack of talent here – but he can get caught watching the puck far too often and simply lacks the pace to thrive at the next level. That’s something he should look to address in Victoriaville.

Cameron Schmidt, RW, Victoria Royals, WHL (Dallas Stars)

Schmidt was once again one of the top players in major junior last aseason, registering 100 points in 69 games between Vancouver and Seattle. The small, shifty winger was an absolute force all season long, and he was much more physical than I remember him being. That’s especially important, given he’s only 5-foot-8. He hasn’t really bulked up much, but his speed and raw skill make him so difficult to contain. His lack of size will be an obvious sticking point going forward, but I still really believe in him as a smaller forward because his net-front presence is quite impressive overall. It feels like he doesn’t have much more to prove in the Dub, but look for him to gun for CHL MVP honors.

Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London Knights, OHL (Los Angeles Kings)

Brzustewicz had a strong two-year stretch with the Knights, which was highlighted by the Memorial Cup in 2025. He just missed the 20-goal mark this past year, but he continued to look more proficient with the disk. Brzustewicz is a reliable two-way defender who can shoot the puck, skate well and is willing to join in on the rush any time he can. The more he played, the better he played, too. I could see him becoming a second-pairing defenseman, but I’d like to see him take further steps in his own-zone play. Look for Brzustewicz to be one of the best defenders in the OHL this coming season, where he’ll be likely tasked with playing 25-plus minutes a night.

Vojtech Čihař, LW, Kelowna Rockets, WHL (Los Angeles Kings)

After taking home MVP honors at the World Juniors, Čihař finished the year with a point per game through 31 contests with the Memorial Cup hosts, Kelowna. Čihař was one of the few Rockets players who really came alive during the club’s short-lived WHL playoff run. He seems to often find teammates on high-danger chances. He’s quick, crafty and took very little time to adjust to playing against men in the top Czech league this year. I like how hard he works along the boards, though I wish he committed to that level of defense. Čihař will be Kelowna’s most important forward with Tij Iginla headed to the NHL, but many believe Čihař is capable of elevating his game to the level needed.

Adam Goljer, RHD, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL (Los Angeles Kings)

Goljer plays with a ton of confidence, which allowed him to consistently attack and defend strongly against older competition in the top Slovak league. Playing close to 20 minutes a night against men is no small feat for a 17-year-old, no matter the league. I like his gap control, his passing proficiency, and the pure power he plays with. I think he can get a bit antsy and make mistakes with his defensive reads under pressure, and his foot speed needs work. Both were exposed at the U-18s, but he’d often make up for it by dominating at both ends of the ice when he was at full force. A bit more refinement will go a long way in Goljer’s first OHL campaign – look for the Frontenacs to lean on his pro experience.

Liam Lefebvre, C, Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL (Los Angeles Kings)

Lefebvre proved how brave he was when he took on 7-foot-1 San Jose Sharks prospect Alexander Karmanov in a fight last weekend. But, if you’ve seen the 6-foot-3 forward play, you know how fearless he is. wasn’t highly rated heading into the season after jumping up from the prep-school ranks. Last year, Rimouski traded Lefebvre to Chicoutimi and helped the team win the QMJHL title. Lefebvre was then one of the better players at the Memorial Cup, registering at least one point in his first three games. Lefebvre plays with a ton of pressure and force. He’s an average skater, but he works and plays a strong checking game. Scouts noticed a ton of skill and goal-scoring acumen last year, and they’re excited to see if he can continue to round out his defensive game.

Filip Růžička, G, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (Minnesota Wild)

Růžička proved on many, many occasions that he’s capable of some absolutely unbelievable performances. Most notably, he made 64 saves on 65 shots in Game 1 against Calgary in the playoffs last year, and followed it up with 48 stops two games later. That helped establish himself as one of the WHL’s most promising goalies, and it led to him becoming one of the first 2026 draft picks to sign their entry-level contract. Růžička is extremely competitive and does a good job of keeping himself square to shooters. You won’t find many shots trickling in slowly past the Czech keeper – he seals holes as well as anyone. But the one thing that concerns me is that he can be a bit too slow, both in his skating and in his general movement. He’s 6-foot-8 – that’s not uncommon. An NHL team can work with him on that, though.

Lucas Beckman, G, Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL (Ottawa Senators)

Beckman has been one of the QMJHL’s top goaltenders for a few years now. He had 31 wins for Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2024-25 before following that up with a 13-1-0 run with four shutouts and a .940 SV% in Chicoutimi last year. That was enough to help lead the Saguenéens to the Memorial Cup, and while the team ultimately fizzled out, Beckman was one of the team’s brightest stars. Now set to join the Eagles, Beckman is definitely one of the more fascinating young goalies in the CHL. He’s strong positionally and seems to play better when he’s busier. He has stolen his fair share of games over the past few years and will get to do that again this year as the Eagles look to fly to the top of the standings.

Brek Liske, RHD, Everett Silvertips, WHL (Philadelphia Flyers)

Liske was a big reason why Everett won the WHL title last year. The 6-foot-2 defender is strong, stable, and really came alive during the championship series, where he had at least one point in four of the five games against Prince Albert. Liske reads plays well and is definitely creative with the puck. While Landon DuPont was more of the dominant two-way presence on Everett, Liske had enough skill with the puck to consistently give his opponents fits. His skating is a limiting factor right now, though – if he can find another gear with his footwork, he could be an absolute force. Liske will be given more responsibility with DuPont out of the picture, but he should be able to handle it.

Peyton Kettles, RHD, Kelowna Rockets, WHL (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Kelowna’s big in-season trade was to acquire Kettles from Swift Current, only for him to get hurt in his third game and miss the rest of the regular season. He returned for the Memorial Cup, but didn’t look up to speed and was far from the terrifying defender we’re used to seeing. The 6-foot-6 blueliner loves to patrol his zone with ferocity, giving opponents little time to work with. He’s as proficient of a shutdown defender as you’ll find in the WHL; there’s nothing really about his offensive game that stands out. Still, he’s a tough-as-nails defender who could force his way onto Canada’s World Junior team if he thrives in the first half of the campaign.

Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack, OHL (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Mbuyi, a Penn State commit, was the OHL’s top rookie in 2024-25 and then continued that run with a 32-goal, 75-point sophomore campaign. He loves creating chances on the breakaway, and he rarely loses a 1-on-1 battle in the offensive zone. I’d like to see some improved game-to-game consistency, and I feel like he can shoot more. But the talent is definitely there, and he’s already very multi-faceted. The Attack haven’t been competitive throughout Mbuyi’s tenure (they allowed 35 goals over the final four games in 2025-26), but the 18-year-old winger is legitimately one of the more fascinating young forwards in the league. Scouts liked his play in recent rookie tournament action with Pittsburgh, for what it’s worth.

Liam and Markus Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Together, these two are unstoppable. The Ruck twins found themselves on top of the CHL’s scoring charts last year, with Markus leading the way with 108 points. The pair dominated the WHL’s preseason and even got to play alongside their younger brother, Landon, for a bit. With Jonas Woo and Bryce Pickford moving on, the Ruck twins will be even more important when it comes to generating offense. Clearly, they have the best chemistry of anyone in major junior hockey and should continue to be absolute forces offensively. Many scouts aren’t fully convinced they’ll be high-impact NHLers because they lack true game-changing skating, but that’s going to be a big area of improvement for them in 2026-27.

Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL (St. Louis Blues)

Dagenais had 62 points in 62 games last year with Quebec, with him quickly becoming one of the most dangerous CHLers in the second half. Now, he’s back for more as one of the QMJHL’s most dangerous scoring forwards. He has an NHL caliber-frame at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds, and he’s extremely reliable at both ends of the ice. Dagenais isn’t flashy, but he’s smart, toolsy and plays with a ton of power (something he showed frequently at the U-18 World Championship in the spring). At times, he’s able to dominate the puck better than most other big forwards in the 2026 draft class. Dagenais’ hockey IQ is impressive, and he’s a good skater for his size.

Alexander Bilecki, LHD, Kitchener Rangers, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Bilecki was a big reason why the Rangers went the distance in the OHL last season. The 6-foot-2 defender showed some decent offensive upside this year while showing a level of fearlessness that few defenders in the OHL displayed this year. He boasts impressive mobility and creative playmaking instincts. It feels like he has some room to grow as a puck mover, but many scouts think he’s going to be a solid bottom-pairing defender in the NHL. After a solid showing at the prospects tournament in Gatineau, look for Bilecki to be motivated to dominate in Kitchener.

Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights, OHL (Vancouver Canucks)

Medvedev’s numbers were lackluster in London last year, but they weren’t the typical powerhouse team we’ve come to know and love, either. The Russian goaltender is very athletic and moves exceptionally well, which is what made him one of the top goaltenders off the board in 2025. The 6-foot-3 keeper can struggle with rebounds from time to time, but he has the ability to dial himself in and win games on his own. So despite the numbers falling off a bit, I’m not too worried. Medvedev should be one of the best goalies in the CHL and should continue to give London a chance to compete for a title, even if they lack superstar talent in front of him.

Adam Novotný, LW, 18, Peterborough Petes, OHL (Vancouver Canucks)

Novotný is a rugged, heavy-playing forward equipped with a solid shot release. While his lack of raw production at the World Juniors was initially surprising, the underlying process was stellar; he consistently navigated into high-danger areas and generated quality chances. Any concerns about his transition to North American ice were quickly erased during a 30-goal rookie campaign, where he easily paced the Peterborough offense. Combine that offensive drive with a highly committed, responsible two-way game, and he projects strongly as a high-impact, top-six power forward at the NHL level – someone in more of the 40-50-point range. The real question here, though: will Novotný play well enough to keep him in Vancouver, or will he back to Peterborough quite soon? The latter is the best option, no doubt.

Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals, OHL (Vancouver Canucks)

Rogowski is committed to Michigan State, but he’ll spend a third year in the OHL first. Rogowski has had a fantastic few months, especially at the recent World Junior Summer Showcase. He then continued with some excellent efforts during the OHL preseason, for good measure. At 6-foot-7 and nearly 240 pounds, he’s got an absolutely massive frame. But I also appreciated how well he hustles at both ends, chasing pucks and breaking up plays. He’s a smart forward who uses his big body to win battles, but he also has a good shot and isn’t afraid to launch it from anywhere in an attempt to surprise the goaltender. Rogowski won’t be a big-time offensive threat but, as a supporting player, he has a ton of tools to make himself useful.

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