Top 50 NHL Prospects Ranking (December Edition)

Ivar Stenberg (Bildbyrån)

    It wouldn't take a particularly avid sports watcher that happens to read my blog posts on occasion to understand that all is not well in Leafs Nation. Regrettably, I've entered a period of NHL apathy that feels vaguely foreign after nine consecutive playoff appearances for my favourite team. Luckily, I'll never fall out of love with hockey and a feast for the junior hockey enjoyers is just around the corner. 

    As the Christmas holidays draw nearer, the World Junior Championship approaches as well. The WJC is a vapid, short, and relentless time of fixtures that tends to dictate scouting reports to an incredibly high degree, but it also happens to be arguably the most fun hockey on the entire calendar, outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

    Given I am only human and thus bound to overreact to the World Juniors for my personal scouting list of the current draft-eligible players, I figured it was an ideal time to reveal my current top 50 prospect rankings, as of December 23, 2025. 

    Obviously, the draft is an inexact science. Even the best scouting teams in hockey have failing grades with their talent evaluation. As a 20-year-old taking an honours degree, I don't exactly have the time to bus around to CHL games and catch these individual players in a live atmosphere. Thus, I relied heavily on the YouTube channel ProspectShifts, which does a wonderful job of shrinking certain games into a consumable form of content, as well as hearsay from scouts that I trust in the media. While I don't have any credentials in the scouting department whatsoever, I know enough about hockey from playing it and watching it to feel fairly confident in myself. Plus, this is all a bit of fun at the end of the day. If anybody reading this article gets even a modicum of enjoyment or education out of my roughshod work, I'll be over the moon.

    I have divided the 50 players into eight separate tiers. The tiers vary in size and are generally formless in nature, but the tiers dictate a fairly significant gap between the prospects. Within the tiers, I have undoubtedly considered the placements carefully, but the margins between the players are quite small and meaningless. I've also taken the cowardly route to exclude goalies, because I would barely consider myself an amateur scout even before you account for a position with which I have little familiarity. 

Tier 1

Tynan Lawrence (Dan Hickling)

1. Gavin McKenna
LW, Penn State (NCAA)
HT 5’11 WT 170 Shoots L

The case against McKenna isn’t overstated nor does he warrant the first-overall slot on merit right now. His low on-ice shooting percentage at Penn State isn’t doing his statistical numbers any favours, but he simply hasn’t looked like an engaged two-way player this season. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to discount his obvious playmaking ability and domineering D-1 season with Medicine Hat last year. He came to the NCAA to improve his game, so we can’t reasonably make a lasting judgment on his quality after 16 games. He deceives defenders with flashy maneuvers and NHL-ready vision that could make him a threat for 80+ assists in the league. As much as I have the utmost confidence in McKenna to become an Artemi Panarin-caliber playmaker, the margin between him and Stenberg is shrinking with every passing game. An MVP performance at the World Juniors could be exactly what he needs to get out of his funk.

2. Ivar Stenberg 
LW, Frölunda (SHL)
HT 5’11 WT 183 Shoots L

By all measures, Stenberg has been the cream of the crop among draft-eligible prospects this season. His historic SHL scoring pace has drawn comparisons to legends of the Swedish hockey circuit, like Markus Naslund, Nicklas Bäckström and the Sedin twins. Stenberg has 30-goal and 90-point upside, but his challenge to McKenna is predicated on his highly impressive physical game. While McKenna has faced criticism for lacking engagement in his two-way play, Stenberg finds a way to make a difference by establishing a cycle game and making a difference on the backcheck, even in games when space in the offensive zone is limited. His smarts are his calling card; he has unprecedented vision of a player of his age and can consistently spot backdoor cutters. I wouldn’t consider his skating to be elite yet, but it’s still high-end and he has the ability to develop it.

3. Keaton Verhoeff
RD, North Dakota (NCAA)
HT 6’4 WT 208 Shoots R

I think I’m lower on Verhoeff as a pro-ready prospect than most pundits, but higher on his potential when he adapts to his frame and improves his decision-making. Verhoeff is blessed with rare physical gifts, allowing him to dominate battles and restrict zone entries. Although I wouldn’t consider him to be an offensive defenseman per se, he has a particularly aggressive tendency to activate and join the rush. Sometimes I suspect that his brain doesn’t quite keep up to his feet, which could be a concerning trend against NHL forecheckers who understand routes slightly better. Nevertheless, his doggedness and his stride length allow Verhoeff to mitigate his developing hockey IQ. On retrievals, I think he considers his next option too early and sometimes overskates the puck. Even if Verhoeff cannot tune his defensive game, his one-timer will keep him relevant in the NHL; the power it generates is reminiscent of Brent Burns at his best.

4. Tynan Lawrence
C, Muskegon (USHL)
HT 6’0 WT 185 Shoots L

I always considered it foolish to doubt Tynan Lawrence’s ability after an injury constrained his start to the USHL season. Once he returned, he proved me utterly correct, operating at a nearly goal per game pace since then. Like the best players in the current NHL, Lawrence is adept at attacking downhill, often circling to pick up pace and then make a mad dash to the net. With a powerful release, soft hands, and exponential improvements to his acceleration, Lawrence has the tools to be a valuable scoring center at the next level. However, his real calling card as a prospect are his pro-ready details. He works very hard on the forecheck and backcheck, never opting out of battles along the walls. Lawrence will be a real trump card on draft day because of the lack of defensively responsible centers in the lottery range, meaning he might be valued as high as first overall.

Tier 2

Chase Reid (Bob Davies)

5. Carson Carels
LD, Prince George (WHL)
HT 6’1 WT 202 Shoots L

Carels has been skyrocketing up draft boards in recent weeks after his surprise inclusion on Canada’s World Juniors squad. Frankly, it isn’t hard to see why. Carels might be the most mature defensive prospect to exit the CHL circuit in the last three years. He protects the middle of the ice so well, as he is smart enough to keep rushers in front of him and strong enough to force them into suboptimal routes. Once he pushes his opponent to the boards, he uses his frame to dominate 1-on-1 battles. I think he might be the best shutdown D-man available, but I’m slightly more intrigued by the offensive potential of Verhoeff. While Carels is a fairly clever passer, good enough to excel on retrievals, he lacks the problem-solving of Villeneuve and his shot doesn’t have the gusto of Reid’s wrist shot.

6. Chase Reid
RD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
HT 6’2 WT 188 Shoots R

In my mock draft 1.0, I mocked Reid to the Bruins at 6, remarking that I didn’t consider him to be a true top-5 talent in this class. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength to establish himself as the best player in the OHL and a genuine candidate to be the first D-man off the board. His recent game against my hometown Oshawa Generals was the best performance I’ve seen from a draft-eligible prospect this entire season. He’s very aggressive, but he has the skating ability to give him an edge in battles and to recover back if he loses the foot race. He excels at defending the rush with his disruptive tendencies and agility. In his own zone, he tends to make risky plays and he doesn’t always box out opposing forwards as well as his peers, but the potential is sky-high. Reid reminds me a lot of Brandon Montour. 

7. Xavier Villeneuve
LD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
HT 5’11 WT 162 Shoots L

There is no chance an NHL team takes Xavier Villeneuve in the top-10 a year removed from no team taking a single sub-6’0 defensemen in the draft. Nevertheless, the more I see him play against high-end competition, such as at the CHL-USA challenge, the more I see a player with dynamic ability to become a true difference-maker in the NHL. He has unbelievable confidence in his ability to keep the puck under pressure, leading to some truly wild sequences of dangling along the blue line. His stop-and-start motions freeze defenders, but he has the explosiveness to get around them. Despite the comparison being low-hanging fruit at this rate, Montreal’s Lane Hutson is the only player in the NHL that can execute those plays to the same degree. I think Hutson is a significantly better passer, but Villeneuve isn’t an obvious net negative in his own zone to the same degree as Hutson was during his draft year. He’s very competitive and uses his stick well to break up plays.

 
8. Ethan Belchetz
LW, Windsor (OHL)
HT 6’5 WT 228 Shoots L

While I still rate Belchetz quite highly, I’m not entirely sure why he gets a pass for his consistency and play-driving skills when Roobroeck gets admonished for a one-dimensional offensive skill set. Belchetz has a very soft set of hands for a player that stands at 4 inches and 25 pounds heavier than the average NHL player. Despite his immense frame, Belchetz often does his best work on the periphery, deceiving defenders to open up chances in the slot for his teammates. It’s very obvious that he’ll be a more dynamic offensive weapon when he gets more aggressive with his drives to the net, an ability that is hindered by his mediocre skating. He might be the only player in this class with 40-goal upside, but whenever I watch him, it feels more like it would be an Anders Lee 40-goal season than a Matthew Tkachuk 40-goal season. Luckily, he has more useful supporting skills in the offensive zone, particularly off the cycle. 

Tier 3

Alberts Šmits (Mikko Kankainen)

9. Adam Novotný
LW, Peterborough (OHL)
HT 6’1 WT 204 Shoots L

I’m a very big fan of Novotný as a prospect. He has taken like a duck to water in the OHL this season, expertly utilizing his physicality to create space and to gain positioning on lankier defenders. Defensively, he’s very adept at reading the passing lanes and blocking plays before they develop, showcasing a two-way potential that is a rare commodity in the 2026 forward class. His shot is really good and he has seen a major improvement during the season with his hands in tight spaces. Whereas I was once concerned with his handling, he has improved readily in that area and taken a big step with his playmaking to boot. Novotný has similar elements to prime Brandon Saad, who was a crucial part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams.

10. Ryan Lin
RD, Vancouver (WHL)
HT 5’11 WT 176 Shoots R

While undersized defensemen are often pigeonholed into offensive roles, Lin is best utilized as a steady, two-way force that erases plays in his own zone through a combination of smart positioning, an active stick, and solid mobility. Despite leading the WHL in points by draft-eligible rearguards, Lin is well-suited to being a secondary trailer on the rush, rather than a primary puck carrier. He’s accomplished as an outlet passer, using his body to hold off forecheckers, even though he usually has a clear size disadvantage. He’s remarkably capable at knocking the puck into space to keep it within his reach and outside of others, so he’s evidently used to working around his frame limitations. If Jared Spurgeon was able to establish himself as a legitimate top-4 defenseman for a decade, Lin, who is already a couple inches bigger than the Minnesota Wild ace, should be capable of enjoying a successful career.

11. Alberts Šmits
LD, Jukurit (Liiga)
HT 6’3 WT 205 Shoots L

6’3 defensemen with lightning feet don’t come around every year, so there is no surprise that Šmits has been getting serious top-5 buzz after seizing a top-pairing role in one of the world’s top 5 leagues, the Finnish Liiga. Typically, players with his innate physical traits and his high-end confidence tend to iron out the flaws in their game, but I’ve seen enough worrying moments of defensive IQ to pour cold water on his “best defenseman in the class” case. In isolated 1v1 moments against forwards, he has the defensive qualities to snuff out plays, but his coverage in the defensive zone reminds me of David Jiricek, who I was low on during his draft year and is currently trending to be a bust. As much as hockey sense seems to be a teachable trait, players with Šmits’ level of defensive intelligence have less predictable development curves. I think Šmits will eventually be similar to Darnell Nurse, for better or worse.

12. Daxon Rudolph
RD, Prince Albert (WHL)
HT 6’2 WT 206 Shoots R

Unlike Šmits, Rudolph doesn’t have obvious top-pairing upside, because he isn’t a clear dynamic offensive threat. He’s a smooth passer and skater, but he tends to be more passive with his activations. Nevertheless, Rudolph is a player that I truly admire. He’s a very fluid skater that cuts off lanes in transition very effectively, but his best quality is his outlet passing. Young defensemen typically struggle to make calm plays under forechecking pressure; Rudolph is the exception that generally keeps his composure and finds ways to effectively rim the puck up to his teammates. While his physical gifts pale in comparison to someone like Verhoeff, he’s quite strong, which allows him to box out players In his own zone, and he wields a decent shot from the point.

Tier 4

Caleb Malhotra (Dan Hickling)

13. Caleb Malhotra
C, Brantford (OHL)
HT 6’2 WT 183 Shoots L

My initial skepticism regarding Malhotra’s top-10 hype was backed by the perspective that he didn’t have the offensive ability to justify that investment. I’ve come around quickly on that element of his game. While he lacks a clear burst of acceleration, he’s a very good skater that can shift weight to either leg to maneuver in the tight areas of the ice. With his elite motor and strong defensive stick, he’ll likely be a fantastic NHL forechecker. Although I’m not sure he has the playmaking ability to create consistent chances for his linemates, I’m convinced that he can identify solutions that most centers fail to see; in other words, his ability to make quick lateral passes and give-and-gos indicate he’ll never be an offensive liability. He strikes me as at the perennial floor raiser.

14. Mathis Preston
RW, Spokane (WHL)
HT 5’11 WT 177 Shoots R

It is incredibly difficult to nail down a projection for Preston, as he lacks consistency within games. In his highlight packs, he looks like a borderline top-10 talent, but I need to exercise a bit of caution in this ranking. Preston has put up unflattering numbers in the WHL this year, but Spokane hasn’t surrounded him with many offensive weapons. Preston plays at warp speed and can execute skilled plays on the rush as well as anybody in the class. The scouting reports I’ve consulted have lauded Preston’s shot, but I haven’t seen much evidence of an NHL-ready release, aside from a nice wrister in Game 1 of the CHL-USA series. He might be a borderline first-rounder at this rate, but I think he has underrated physicality and he isn’t a complete defensive liability. He just needs to find more shift-to-shift consistency.

15. Malte Gustafsson
LD, HV71 (U20 Nationell)
HT 6’4 WT 200 Shoots L

Gustafsson will always be a menace to play against because of his height and physicality, but I’m confident in his ability to become a fairly dynamic two-way player as well. Although his decision-making has led to detractors pointing to his inefficient retrievals, he skates really well and can reliably execute outlet passes. At 6’4, he rarely loses body positioning on his marker in net front battles and he is always happy to lay out an earth-shattering hit. He will likely be a consideration for teams in the lottery, but I expect he could even threaten for a top-10 selection if he can improve at cushioning passes, as his first touch can be somewhat loose for a defenseman.

16. Ryan Roobroeck
C, Niagara (OHL)
HT 6’4 WT 216 Shoots L

Seemingly every pundit has sold their Roobroeck stock, but I simply can’t quite write off a player that might rack up 40 goals and 80 points in the OHL for the second consecutive season, especially on a middling IceDogs team. His effort level is incredibly questionable and often varies within games, but his toolbox is as exciting as anybody above him on the list. He has an NHL-caliber shot already and excels at releasing it from a standing position on the flank. Roobroeck has under-appreciated playmaking impacts and he uses his physicality to create chances off the cycle. His messy skating will be a consistently limiting factor to his rush ability, but I could absolutely see Roobroeck becoming a 2025 Patrik Laine-esque weapon, especially on the power play.

17. J.P. Hurlbert
C, Kamloops (WHL)
HT 5’11 WT 185 Shoots R

Hurlbert is a fairly tricky bet to be a surefire NHLer, in a similar vein to Roobroeck, but in a class of lower-upside players, I’d be comfortable taking him in the top-20. He is very dynamic in transition, capable of weaving through defensemen like few others, but his offensive production in the Western Hockey League has relied on his ability to slow the pace of the game down. This style is conducive to gaudy junior numbers, but I fear there is a chance that he simply becomes a bottom-six scorer, rather than a bona fide supporting option in the middle-six. I would compare him to Casey Mittelstadt, except Mittelstadt is generally a pass-first player, while Hurlbert is always looking for the shot, almost to a fault.

18. Yegor Shilov
C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
HT 6’0 WT 177 Shoots L

Shilov is one of the most skilled players in the entire class, especially among the limited center crop. He manipulates defenders’ sticks with hesitation moves, body feints, and quick hands to give himself an advantage. While this isn’t a perfect stylistic comparison, his puck handling through the neutral zone reminds me a lot of Troy Terry. At times, I think his decision-making is a bit selfish, but he is clearly a gifted passer when he chooses to move the puck. Although his dynamism matches up well with anybody else in the 2026 class, his motor doesn’t jump off the page and I think he could be even more impactful if he could develop more urgency in his game.

19. Viggo Björck
C, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
HT 5’9 WT 177 Shoots R

If there is any player that could vastly boost their stocks during the World Juniors tournament, it would be Sweden’s diminutive Björck. He has excelled at prior international tourneys for his country and will be entering the tournament as one of the youngest players in the entire showcase. Björck works incredibly hard on every shift; he consistently gains an advantage with his lower center of gravity and wins far more puck battles than you’d expect from an undersized forward. The majority of experts have Björck ranked a bit higher than I do, largely because I’m yet to be convinced of his skill. While he can make plays at speed and is a sneakily deceptive passer already, I predict his offensive contributions at the next level will be limited to connective, supporting plays, because he isn’t an incredible skater given his frame.

Tier 5

Juho Piiparinen (uncredited)

20. Oliver Suvanto
C, Tappara (Liiga)
HT 6’2 WT 207 Shoots L

Suvanto will undoubtedly be a hot commodity in the first round, as he is arguably the best defensive center in the class, despite being one of the youngest players available. Suvanto’s ceiling likely isn’t as high as the players in the tier above, but he’s a likely bet to be a useful two-way center at the NHL level. As a crucial part of the best team in Finland’s premier men’s league, he’s been a very mature play-driver in the middle of the ice. In my first mock draft of the year, I compared some of his habits to Anton Frondell, which I maintain, but Frondell clearly has higher offensive upside with his shot and hands. Suvanto’s skating and skill aren’t quite as flashy as his peers, but he should establish himself as an intriguing prospect at the World Juniors. Regardless of the offensive game, his ground-and-pound ability in the forecheck will always earn him fans among NHL scouts.

21. Elton Hermansson
RW, MoDo Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)
HT 6’1 WT 181 Shoots R

Hermansson has the ability to cement himself as a bona fide lottery pick, but he’s prone to selfish OZ play and he isn’t a high-end skater. His skill is dynamic, though, and he can deke around anybody in his age range. His decision-making could use some work, but if an NHL coach can limit his puck-carrying onus and transform him into an off-the-rush shooter with secondary playmaking chops, there is potential for a 30-goal, 65-point season. I seem to be higher than consensus on Hermansson, mainly because I think he can always fall back on his elite shot to be a Jaden Schwartz-type player, but that is on the lower end of his projection.

22. Juho Piiparinen
RD, Tappara (Liiga)
HT 6’1 WT 201 Shoots R

In his current iteration, Piiparinen represents a player profile that I have grown to dislike in the modern NHL. While tall, strong RHD with mature defensive details don’t grow on trees, Piiparinen’s skating and lack of playmaking skills are likely to hold him back at the next level. For my fellow Leafs fans, consider Piiparinen in a similar bracket to Brandon Carlo. However, Piiparinen has clearly improved his skating this season. He is active in every play and can generally win most battles with his opponents, yet I do still believe he can add some muscle. I’m not in love with his hockey IQ and he can get caught flat-footed when trying to make an outlet pass, but his defensive poise is quite impressive. 

23. Marcus Nordmark
LW, Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)
HT 6’2 WT 187 Shoots L

In the Swedish U20 circuit, Nordmark looks like a highly gifted, multidimensional threat in the offensive zone. Initially, I thought Nordmark had a fairly high NHL baseline because of his propensity to break open DZ schemes with his aggressive net-front drives and stick handling in tight areas. However, his decision-making needs a lot of work and he tries too often to leverage his physical gifts to force skilled plays, a tendency that doesn’t generally project well to the NHL. He is a decent passer, so I expect he could open up a lot of space for himself by being less selfish with the puck. It would do wonders for his draft stock.

24. Ilia Morozov
C, Miami (Ohio), (NCAA)
HT 6’3 WT 205 Shoots L

Morozov will never be a superstar, but he’s a physically refined prospect that has successfully leveraged his athleticism and work ethic to be one of the most successful NCAA rookies this season. The NHL has gradually grown to value a high-end motor in prospects and Morozov’s motor is outstanding. He should eventually become an excellent forechecker with his stick positioning and willingness to lay the body. There is definitely a pathway to Morozov becoming a threatening power forward, because his shot and handling appear promising, but I doubt he’ll ever be a threat in transition, as he struggles to make plays while carrying speed.

25. Alexander Command
C, Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell)
HT 6’1 WT 183 Shoots L

It feels as if Command’s name hasn’t gone completely mainstream yet, but he’s a very projectable prototype of successful NHLers. Although I did not manage to watch any of his film at the World Junior A Challenge, in which his motor and skill purportedly failed to wow scouts, I still believe in his profile. Unlike many Swedish youth prospects, he has a very refined physical game, knowing exactly when to engage and when to stay out of a situation. His average skating mechanics are somewhat offset by his excellent play along the boards. He excels at winning battles in the cycle and creating high-danger chances from his passes off the half-wall. I think there’s a pathway to Command being a reliable, Yanni Gourde-esque 2C in the NHL during his prime.

Tier 6

Liam Ruck (PuckPreps)

26. Oscar Hemming
LW, Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL)
HT 6’3 WT 193 Shoots L

The junior hockey gods have dealt Hemming a particularly tough hand as a legal battle between his BCHL club and his former domestic team in Finland has prevented him from playing a game this season. Nevertheless, Hemming is only a few months away from his starring role at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament in which he flashed signs of a dangerous wrist shot and advanced physical play. At 6’3, he possesses the requisite reach and strength to dominate battles against lesser competition and drive to the net. It will be hard for me to keep him in my top 32 prospects whenever I update this list unless he finds a way to get reps by joining a team. UPDATE: joining Boston College with the likes of James Hagens is an ideal situation to get the most of Hemming’s skillset, as reports are suggesting is the next step in his development.

27. Giorgos Pantelas
RD, Brandon (WHL)
HT 6’2 WT 214 Shoots R

Pantelas is likely to be valued quite highly on draft day, potentially up to the lottery selections, because of his mix of size, speed, and handedness. Generally, 6’2 right-shot defensemen that can clog lanes off the rush as well as Pantelas are snapped up quickly. There are a lot of similarities to Jaccob Slavin in the manner in which he utilizes his stick to block passes in the neutral zone. He’s a good, but not great skater, who is unlikely to ever become a deceptive puck-moving blueliner, but he skates backwards as well as anybody in the class. I was left wanting more from Pantelas after the CHL-USA series, particularly regarding his ability to collect retrievals against incoming pressure.

28. Nikita Klepov
LW, Saginaw (OHL)
HT 6’0 WT 181 Shoots L

Klepov is a particularly puzzling case. While I’ve generally been disappointed with his off-puck details, particularly the manner in which he gets caught puck-watching, his relentless physicality and energetic play style should be perfectly suited to a checking third line. I don’t see significant offensive tools in his game, but he is adept at opening up lanes for his linemates by inviting pressure or making a clean hit. He could be a projectable, tertiary playmaker with scoring upside in an NHL middle-six, à la Travis Konecny. Fine-tuning his energetic style into more tangible two-way play would convince me of his future in the Show.

29. William Håkansson
LD, Luleå HF (SHL)
HT 6’4 WT 207 Shoots L

I’ve yet to see Håkansson display a high-end trait, but towards the end of the first round, contending teams could absolutely be attracted by his blend of size and defensive solidity. At the very least, he projects as a conservative third-pairing D-man with room to grow if he can become more confident in his ability to jump in the rush. He is adept at carrying the puck, but he seems to opt for the safer play more often than not. To certify himself as a can’t miss shutdown defensive prospect, he should work on his ability at defending transitions, as he hasn’t quite mastered his timing on pinches.

30. Liam Ruck
RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
HT 6’0 WT 176 Shoots R

Ruck will not wow many watchers with his puck-handling or shooting ability, but he is an incredibly deceptive passer who utilizes his smarts to maximize offensive opportunities for his linemates. Very few prospects are as cognizant of the mechanisms to open up space in transition. Admittedly, a delay-driven game is most successful at the free-form junior hockey level, but he has the manipulative ability of a Matias Maccelli-caliber player. Despite his leaner body type, he’s dangerous in the blue paint as well and could have a role on a PP2 unit in the NHL if he continues to develop his shot.

31. Alessandro Di Iorio
C, Sarnia (OHL)
HT 6’1 WT 190 Shoots R

Di Iorio feels like a player that should be getting rave reviews, but I’ve seen muted hype about his start to the OHL season, which surprises me to a certain degree. Among the defensive centers of this class, Di Iorio has consistently impressed me with his takeaway ability. His stick is very active and he uses his body to eliminate space. I’ve always valued players that look comfortable in dirty areas, and Di Iorio fits that style to a tee. His offensive potential may not be up to par with a traditional first-round prospect, but there’s a direct avenue to him being a valuable third-liner with PK proficiency.

32. Brooks Rogowski
C, Oshawa (OHL)
HT 6’6 WT 231 Shoots R

At 6’6 with legitimately good skating, Rogowski is very likely to challenge for a first-round selection, especially among the contending teams toward the bottom of the order that are seeking a likely NHL bet with clear bottom-six tools. His puck control is limited, but he works hard and can make aggressive plays at the net front with his size. I consider Nick Bjugstad to be a solid comparison for Rogowski if he can improve his face-off prowess.

33. Jaxon Cover
LW, London (OHL)
HT 6’1 WT 185 Shoots L

I doubt that he’ll get much first-round love from scouts, largely because of his unpolished defensive zone play, but Cover’s raw ability as a transition threat should be tantalizing. Although his play off the rush is the biggest positive, he could easily develop into a strong forechecker with his bulky frame and manipulative cycle habits. However, he still struggles to use his stick to make takeaways and seize possession. He might be a couple of years away from cracking an NHL roster, but there is a genuine chance that Cover’s blend of playmaking and battling turns him into the steal of the draft.

Tier 7

Simas Ignatavicius (Bastien Gallay)

34. Maddox Dagenais
C, Quebec (QMJHL)
HT 6’4 WT 196 Shoots L

Although he may be a tricky NHL bet because of his mediocre foot speed, the details are high-end. He projects as a valuable forechecking threat, especially as the NHL moves towards a dump-and-chase metagame. Unlike most young prospects, Dagenais is highly capable in terms of absorbing contact along the boards and making connective plays to keep the puck in dangerous areas of the ice. A former first-overall pick in the QMJHL, Dagenais’ hands are quite impressive for a player with his innate athletic gifts.

35. Simas Ignatavicius
RW, Genève-Servette HC (NL)
HT 6’3 WT 198 Shoots R

Ignatavicius is still incredibly raw, but he projects as a great net-front scorer, given he has slick hands in tight and a NHL-ready frame. With his positive defensive impacts and underrated passing, Ignatavicius could become a Zach Hyman-lite in the Show.

36. Casey Mutryn
RW, USNTDP (USHL)
HT 6’3 WT 201 Shoots R

Mutryn seems like another likely NHL bet. He is smart enough to connect with his teammates along the boards and his motor is high-end relative to his peers. Although his skill level isn’t incredibly impressive, he possesses the hockey IQ to make creative plays at sharp angles.

37. Nikita Shcherbakov
LD, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
HT 6’5 WT 187 Shoots L

Shcherbakov will be an interesting case study on draft day. At 6’5 and with fast feet, he fits the profile of a player that will be overvalued by NHL clubs. His defensive IQ is still in need of some polish and he doesn’t excel at breaking the puck out. With some minor improvements, he could be a legitimate lottery consideration, but I wouldn’t predict Shcherbakov’s current iteration to be much more than a good third-pairing blueliner.

38. Jack Hextall
C, Youngstown (USHL)
HT 6’0 WT 185 Shoots R

Hextall has confounded me in my handful of viewings of his shifts. I’d predict him as a likely first-rounder as of today, but I’m not blown away by his raw tools, specifically his skating. He can often win more battles than one may expect on the back of his sheer hockey sense, but I don’t expect he’ll be an NHL-caliber creator without some significant improvement.

39. Adam Valentini
C, Michigan (NCAA)
HT 5’11 WT 185 Shoots L

In a similar way to Hextall, Valentini doesn’t seem like a meaningful NHL contributor on the stat sheet with his current offensive skillset, but that doesn’t imply he can’t be a useful player. He skates well and his positioning is incredibly sound. Add in a layered physical game and I could see Valentini being a solid bottom-six center in the NHL.

40. Pierce Mbuyi
LW, Owen Sound (OHL)
HT 5’10 WT 160 Shoots L

Players that weigh in at 160 pounds rarely get too much first-round hype, but Mbuyi is an incredibly gifted scorer with a deceptive release. Although he is constrained by his size, he works quite hard in the corners against bigger players. I could see him fitting into a similar role as Conor Sheary on the Cup-winning Penguins teams. 

41. Viktor Fyodorov
C, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
HT 5’10 WT 176 Shoots L

In a draft class stocked with low upside and highly projectable players, Fyodorov stands out for his offensive skillset. He’s an excellent passer and works hard in the corners to boot. Fyodorov might wind up as a career KHLer, but I see an upside of 40 assists and great on-ice possession metrics in the NHL.

42. Beckham Edwards
C, Sarnia (OHL)
HT 6’1 WT 181 Shoots L

Edwards has been one of the most exciting players in the ’08 age group, but he doesn’t quite have the dynamism of his CHL peers in this class. Nevertheless, he’s a great skater with promising forechecking habits and a heavy shot that could beat NHL goalies.

43. Wyatt Cullen
RW, USNTDP (USHL)
HT 6’0 WT 172 Shoots L

I’ve largely stacked Tier 6 with likely NHL players regardless of their upside, but Cullen has a much more intriguing risk-reward profile. He has some legitimately soft mitts that help him protect the puck. His two-way performance can be a bit shaky, but he nevertheless excels at good inside positioning and pulling defenders out of their comfort zone.

44. Luke Schairer
RD, USNTDP (USHL)
HT 6’3 WT 201 Shoots R

As a big, strong D-man with puck-moving chops, Schairer is highly likely to be valued highly by NHL clubs. I don’t see a high upside with Schairer; he usually makes the passive decision and doesn’t threaten much with his puck touches, but I think he’ll be a good rush defender at the next level.

Tier 8

Victor Plante (PuckPreps)

45. Niklas Aaram-Olsen
RW, Örebro HK (SHL)
HT 6’1 WT 185 Shoots L

Playing in the SHL at this ripe age is no small feat, so perhaps I’m too harsh on Aaram-Olsen, who has been spoken about as a first-round talent. He’s a pretty good skater, but his shot really jumps off the page. The physical tools are there, but Aaram-Olsen’s decision making isn’t good enough for me to be overly confident in his NHL abilities.

46. Tomas Chrenko
C, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
HT 5’11 WT 170 Shoots R

Chrenko is the player on this list with the most to gain from the upcoming World Juniors tournament. He’s a great skater and can make creative plays at pace, something I can’t say about many players in this range. Nevertheless, he’s too small to open up lanes for himself and his teammates. His upside is an Alex Newook-type player.

47. Victor Plante
LW, USNTDP (NTDP)
HT 5’10 WT 157 Shoots L

As his brother Max lights the NCAA up, the younger Victor continues to boost his stock with the American development program. He has a nonstop battery, charging into checks to give his teammates an advantage. His skill stands out among his peers. While I think he is too wiry to be a surefire NHLer, he has time to add weight.

48. Ryder Cali
C, North Bay (OHL)
HT 6’2 WT 209 Shoots L

I’ve only watched one game of Cali’s shifts this season, but I was impressed by his compete level and skating ability enough to throw him a bone on this list. From my perspective, players that can skate as well as Cali and aren’t afraid to get involved in the dirty areas tend to translate to the NHL.

49. Jakub Vaněček
LD, Tri-City (WHL)
HT 6’2 WT 194 Shoots L

I haven’t seen much of Vaněček, but the clips I’ve seen of his play look very promising. While I think he is still growing into his body a bit, he is an all-action defender who gets involved in battles and rarely fades to the periphery. I’ve seen him be a bit error-prone while breaking the puck out, but he has the passing and stickhandling ability to be a net positive in his own zone.

50. Chase Harrington
LW, Spokane (WHL)
HT 6’0 WT 201 Shoots L

I like the concept of Harrington as an energetic player capable of chipping in on offense in multiple ways. He doesn’t excel in any specific area, but he is a good shooter, a skilled passer, and a physical defensive player. There is clear bottom-six potential for Harrington.

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