Top 15 wingers for the 2026 NHL Draft

Jun 8, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 7, 2026, 19:38 EDT

Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

Need a winger? It’s a good year to be in the market.

The top two prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft happened to be left wingers – Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. Both appear ready to challenge for full-time NHL gigs in 2026-27, with both coming off strong seasons in their respective leagues.

It’s not crazy to think 11 players from this list will go in the first round of the draft. While the top 10 might be very defenseman-heavy, we’re still talking about a ton of quality wingers to choose from this year.

We looked at the top 15 centers earlier this week, so let’s take a look at their linemate brethren:

1. Gavin McKenna, LW (Penn State University, NCAA)

Even though Ivar Stenberg has been busy at the World Championship, McKenna is still my No. 1. McKenna finished his freshman season with 15 goals and 51 points in just 35 games. His second-half play was as dominant as we’ve seen from just about any NCAA player. So the early concerns about his production were absolutely demolished down the stretch. Sure, an eight-point game against Ohio State inflated his numbers, but he was downright unstoppable at times with Penn State after the World Juniors. McKenna is the most exciting player in this draft class, bar none. He’s skilled, he thinks the game at a true difference-making level, and he plays with a lot of confidence. Give him a reliable two-way center to work with, and he’ll be a star.

2. Ivar Stenberg, LW (Frolunda, SHL)

Stenberg’s floor is very, very high, and he has proven that at the World Championship. Stenberg has virtually no holes in his game. He’s dynamic in possession, wields a lethal shot and flashes high-end hockey sense. Even though his point production tapered off slightly down the stretch, he still authored one of the most impressive U-19 seasons in recent SHL history and was excellent at the World Championship. Add a stellar gold-medal run with Sweden at the World Juniors to his resume, and his complete profile becomes undeniable. While his ultimate offensive ceiling may not reach McKenna’s pure scoring output, any team hunting for a dominant, 200-foot cornerstone needs to look no further. Realistically, he shouldn’t slip past No. 2 overall, but… hey, maybe someone else will get a steal.

3. Wyatt Cullen, LW (USNTDP)

Some scouts think there’s legit potential for Cullen to go in the top five. He was USA’s top player throughout the U-18 World Championship thanks to his high-end hockey sense and the ability to get the whole American attack moving. His puck-handling – both as a shooter and a passer – is remarkable. Cullen is a high-end skater who seemingly found a whole other gear once he got up to speed this season. Cullen is a constant scoring threat because he’s always scanning lanes for passes, but he has the quick footwork and lateral mobility to blow by most opponents and put himself into dangerous areas. Few players have risen as high as Cullen in recent months, and you should get on the hype train if you like someone who you can rely on.

4. Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Belchetz’s season ended back in March after breaking his left clavicle. He had really started to push himself up draft boards to the point where it felt like he was going to be a top-10 pick. 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. An injury wasn’t the only reason he slipped, though – some scouts worry that he doesn’t have any high-end traits beyond his size.

5. Liam Ruck, RW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)

Medicine Hat lost a lot of offense with the departures of Gavin McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom, among others, but Ruck made up for it. He loves to shoot from anywhere and does an excellent job of getting the puck where it needs to be. He led all draft eligibles with 45 goals, and that’s good for seventh in the country. Ruck is extremely dangerous around the net with a variety of quality shot choices at his disposal. His chemistry with his twin, Markus, was obvious from the get-go. It feels like it’s going to be difficult to select both together without some funky trade magic – that’s the downside of their incredible second-half play.

6. Oscar Hemming, LW (Boston College, NCAA)

After missing the first half of the season due to a contract dispute with his Finnish club, Hemming came out swinging with Boston College. He had a pair of assists in just his second game and even had a nice four-point run during a three-game stretch. But after finishing with just two points in his final 11 games, it was a difficult end for a guy many scouts still really like. At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential.

7. Adam Novotný, LW (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

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.

8. Nikita Klepov, RW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

Teams love productive wingers, and Klepov meets every requirement. The projected first-round pick is a tremendous playmaker and maybe one of the best in the CHL. But he’s also a stout shooter and wasn’t far off from reaching the 40-point barrier. It was surprising, given he only put up 31 points in the USHL the year prior. The Michigan State University commit plays with a ton of finesse, but he’s physically strong, too. He’s just an OK skater, but Klepov should still go high because magic tends to happen when he’s in control of the puck on the attack.

9. Elton Hermansson, RW (Modo, Sweden U-20)

Hermansson loves generating offense. He put up solid numbers in the second-tier Swedish league this year and scored at a goal-per-game pace with the U-18 national team. From an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot to love, especially on the power play. His game away from the puck has improved over the past few months. However, it still feels like he isn’t as impactful as he needs to be when he’s not piling shots on net. I want to see more urgency when attacking opponents to regain possession. The good news: he’s best at the hardest thing to do in hockey, which is scoring goals.

10. J.P. Hurlbert, LW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)

No CHL rookie was as lethal as Hurlbert, who recorded 42 goals and 97 points with Kamloops. He’s an exceptionally skilled forward who, at one point, was so far ahead in the WHL scoring race that nobody was in the same area code. The University of Michigan commit has a great one-touch shot that he routinely unleashes on the power play. He’s also an exceptionally smart puck-mover who has very little difficulty getting it where it needs to be against players his own age. My two pre-season concerns – his play away from the puck and his lack of high-end speed – remain issues. But overall, he’s a safe bet for the first round.

11. Mathis Preston, RW (Vancouver Giants, WHL)

Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Preston left scouts wanting more during the season. They fell in love again at the U-18s, where he was one of Canada’s top players every single game. He’s 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 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.

12. Ryan Roobroeck, LW (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)

Roobroeck is one of the more fascinating prospects this year. 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. Few players with Roobroeck’s level of talent fall asleep as frequently on plays, and it’s a shame. At the very least, Roobroeck 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 fell to this spot. Regardless, I think there’s still some significant upside here.

13. Casey Mutryn, RW (USNTDP)

Mutryn was one of my favorite American-born prospects this season. I like his physicality and work ethic and think that could allow him to be a decent third-liner. He’s smart, battles hard and has the ability to find chemistry with just about everyone. Although I don’t think his ceiling is that high, I feel confident Mutryn will be an NHLer. Most likely as a third- or fourth-liner who can grind it out and win most of his battles, but he’ll be a good one at that. He’s the type of guy every team wants come playoff time. Even if the upside isn’t too high, I have full belief he’ll become a solid NHLer.

14. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)

Aaram-Olsen always shines internationally, typically playing a big role for Norway across all age groups. He’s a pure goal-scorer, and he often can be found dominating his own age group. I love him on the power play, where it feels like he does a good job of cycling the puck and then firing quick one-timers. Against men, though. Aaram-Olsen has left a lot to be desired, and scouts have knocked him for having a lack of high-end tools outside of his shot. If he can play with more pace and learn to dominate play through the middle, he could be a good snag. I like the upside, even if some scouts aren’t as convinced.

15. Simas Ignatavicius, RW (Geneve-Servette, NL)

We don’t typically see many prospects coming out of the top league in Switzerland. But the Lithuanian-born winger has drawn a ton of attention from scouts this year. He’s a 6-foot-3 forward having a solid season in Switzerland’s top league and has been downright dominant internationally. Ignatavicius is so versatile, finding so many different ways to impact the play both with and without the puck. He’s good defensively, has a great shot release, has obvious muscle and is incredibly skilled, too. Is Ignatavicius notable because he’s a big dude playing pro hockey? Or is there something truly here? That’s the question.

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