Why Jaxon Cover is the 2026 NHL Draft’s most interesting prospect
Everyone loves a good underdog story – and Jaxon Cover definitely fits the bill.
Cover only started playing competitive ice hockey at 13 after making a name for himself on the inline hockey circuit. Before that, he grew up in the Cayman Islands – not exactly an area known for its budding hockey superstars.
But when Cover started playing U-14 hockey, he took like a fish to water and never looked back. Suddenly, with about half a decade of ice hockey experience under his belt, Cover is in the conversation to go in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis talked with Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton about Cover’s development and why you need to know more about him:
Tyler Yaremchuk: “We’ve been doing these sorts of prospect breakdowns on the show for years now. I love a good fast-rising prospect, and I love a good off-ice story. Tell me about Jackson Cover, who is from the Cayman Islands.”
Steven Ellis: “So Jackson Cover was a guy that just came out of nowhere. He only started playing ice hockey at 13 years old. Do the math, that’s about four or five years of competitive ice hockey. Before that, he was a roller hockey superstar. He played in the North American Roller Hockey Championships. He played in the pro inline league. This guy was incredible. And then someone eventually said, ‘Hey, try playing on ice.’ And he figured it out really quickly. From talking to guys who’ve done both, it’s not an easy transition. I can skate well on ice skates. I have no idea how to skate on roller blades.
“But then you look at just what he’s been able to do at every level. He’s been so productive, a natural goal scorer. And this year, he’s tracking for 57 points in the OHL with the London Knights. That’s a really good support system. They don’t need to have all these dominant high-end scorers to be impactful. And that’s because the Hunter brothers really force you to become everyday valuable players. You look at Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, some of the guys that have come through the system who had flaws early in their junior careers that have become a lot more rounded as a result of being part of the Knights’ program.
“Talking to some scouts about Cover, they say he’s super raw. He’s got unlimited runway at this point. If he could put up 57 points this year, what’s he going to put up next year after another year of development and growth? Could he get a hundred? I think we’re talking about a guy who a team could take in the first round, kind of like Mason West last year, as just a super raw player that kind of just came out of nowhere and made it work. I would love to see it.”
You can watch the full episode below: