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Evaluating My Preseason Top 31 Of The 2026 NHL Draft At the Midseason Point

Chris RansomReports

I’m going to go through every single player in my initial 2026 NHL Mock Draft on my site Draft Utopia and track their progress up to this point in the season right here on Draft Prospect Hockey. Then I will begin scouting college hockey players with second round grades and debate if those players need to be moved into the first round. After that, I will probably make a new article with the top 63 based largely on these rankings so you may want to bookmark this page in case I update it.

  1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State His 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points in 22 games is a little bit underwhelming, yet he still averages a point per game even after transitioning from the WHL to the NCAA. I posted a Gavin McKenna Scouting Report here on Draft Prospect Hockey since scouting college hockey players is one of my responsibilities here. I also posted his film cut on my Youtube Channel, but you have to jump through some hoops to find it. McKenna began the year as the unanimous number one pick, but now only 13/15 scouting services have him as the best overall player. At this point, Gavin McKenna is still the front-runner to go first overall.
  1. Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota Keaton Verhoeff was the preseason number two player behind Gavin McKenna. Verhoeff currently has 6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points, and a +8 +/- ratio. I posted a Keaton Verhoeff Scouting Report here on Draft Prospect Hockey and am still working on a film cut for him on my Youtube Channel. He looks like he will be the second player picked behind Gavin McKenna as the 6-4 212 lb Keaton Verhoeff is still the consensus number two player on 8/15 scouting services including both Draft Prospect Hockey and my site Draft Utopia. Keaton Verhoeff is number one on Sam Cosentino’s current draft rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Cosentino covers the NHL Draft for SportsNet as well as NHL Network. Verhoeff has great size and is a dominant top line defenseman that can be an effective two-way defenseman in the NHL.
  1. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL) Ivar Stenberg entered the year as the preseason number three player. He still holds that distinction leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft with 7 goals, 21 assists, and 28 points in 30 SHL games. The Swedish left winger interviewed well and is rumored to be the top player on the Dallas Stars big board. Dallas traded their 2026 first to Carolina in the Mikko Rantanen trade, so unless a team offers the third pick, and two NHL ready caliber players in a monster package for Jason Robertson on Draft Day, I don’t see Stenberg going to Dallas. He could end up on a rival team to Dallas in the Central Division like the Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, or Chicago Blackhawks though.
  1. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL) Ryan Lin and Landon DuPont both became the first two players since Scott Neidermayer to get 50 points in a WHL season for a 16 year old defenseman in the Western Hockey League. Lin will improve his point total from last year. His +/- ratio has declined this season, but he has 11 goals, 39 assists, and 50 points in 42 games after having 5 goals, 48 assists, and 53 points last season. Only one other scouting outlet outside of myself still has him fourth overall. Lin is only 5-11 175 lbs smaller than most defenders. He should be the first faller on my preseason rankings, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
  1. Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) Ryan Roobroeck has the versatility to play center as well as left winger. He has added 26 lbs of muscle since the start of the season to go from 6-4 190 to 6-4 216 lbs. Only Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News, Draft Prosepect Hockey, and my site Draft Utopia still have Roobroeck at 5 with only 3/15 scouting services still having Roobroeck at 5. Both Craig Button of TSN and NHL Central Scouting have Ryan Roobroeck dropping all the way down to 27. Ryan Roobroeck is not projected to match the 87 points he had last season in the OHL when he had 41 goals and 46 assists, but he currently has 27 goals, 26 assists, 53 points, and a +3 +/- ratio in 46 games with the Niagara IceDogs. I would argue that Ryan Roobroeck is the first player in this list that I am giving serious consideration to moving down the next time I update my rankings. He could go as high as 5, but could fall all the way to 27 too.
  1. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University Tynan Lawrence got promoted to team captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks despite missing the early portion of the season. Tynan Lawrence now ranks in the top 5 in 9/15 scouting services. If we are grading consensus players based off of where scouting services rank prospects, an argument can be made that Tynan Lawrence is now the consensus fourth best prospect. Anthony Donatelli, the Prospect Don and Nathan Grav interviewed Lawrence. Tynan Lawrence enrolled into Boston University early and he now plays for the Boston University Terriers.
  1. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Ethan Belchetz was the first pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Ethan Belchetz improved on his rookie OHL season with 17 goals, 21 assists, and 38 points to 29 goals, 17 assists, and 46 points in 12 fewer games this season. Ethan Belchetz grew from 6-4 220 to 6-5 227 lbs. He may not be dominating offensively like other OHL players, but he’s got a strong two-way game effective both offensively and defensively. There are 13/15 scouting services that have Ethan Belchetz in the top 8. Draft Prospect Hockey has him at 6 and my site Draft Utopia had him at 7 in the preseason meaning this is the appropriate sweet spot for Ethan Belchetz at my midseason update.
  1. Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Daxon Rudolph was drafted first overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft. Daxon Rudolph only. had 7 goals, 34 assists, 41 points, and a +13 +/- ratio in 64 games getting promoted to the Prince Albert Raiders top line as a number two defenseman at the end of his second WHL season in 2024-2025. This year, the 6-3 202 lb Daxon Rudolph has 21 goals, 33 assists, 54 points, and a +20 +/- ratio in 46 games after getting promoted to alternate captain. Only 3/15 scouting services still have him in the top 8. This includes NHL Central Scoutings North American Skaters list, Dobberprospects, and myself at Draft Utopia. I cannot figure out what this young man did to move out of the number eight spot. Here is an exclusive interview with Daxon Rudolph from Draft Prospect Hockey.
  1. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) Lars Steiner entered the preseason as a top 10 pick. In fact Anthony and I had nine of the same players in our preseason top ten. The only difference was that I had Lars Steiner in my top 10 and he had Mathis Preston in his top 10. Outside of that, our top tens were identical. Lars Steiner went from 23 goals, 37 assists, and 60 points as a rookie to only having 14 goals, 12 assists, and 26 points in 25 games. He’s played fewer games, but no injury was listed on X either. Lars Steiner is going to play for HC Davos in Switzerland next year while he continues his development. Lars Steiner was 5-10 177 heading into the season and still weighs that. Only 3/15 scouting services, The Hockey News, Daily Faceoff, and Draft Utopia still have Steiner in the first round. Lars Steiner appears to be the second potential faller in my next rankings behind Ryan Roobroeck, but to a more extreme.
  1. Viggio Bjorck, C, Djurgardens IF (SHL) Viggio Bjorck has 4 goals, 4 assists, and 8 points in the SHL so far this season. He is still a top 10 prospect in 12/15 scouting services making Bjorck the second best Swedish prospect in this class behind Ivar Stenberg. So far through the top 10, I would argue that 8/10 prospects have lived up to their preseason hype. I think you can make an argument for moving Roobroeck moving out of the top 5, but not the top 10 at this point. Lars Steiner is the only player on this list that I would move out of the top 10 right now when I next update these rankings.
  1. Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) Xavier Villeneuve went from 12 goals, 50 assists, and 62 points last year to 6 goals, 30 assists, and 36 points this season. He’s not projected to match last years production, but his +/- ratio is still in the positive despite decreasing. Xavier Villenueve has the traits of a first line NHL defenseman on a top defensive line pairing, the experience of a second line defenseman, and the size of a third line defenseman. A player with that kind of skill set could end up all over the place as he could end up being the eleventh player in the 2026 NHL Draft, but he could also be a bust. Even though I think Villeneuve will get overdrafted, I’m not his biggest fan. He won the Emile Bouchard trophy a season ago, but hasn’t been as strong performance wise this year. Only 5/15 scouting services still have him in the top 11. I would move him down, but I don’t think I would move him out of the top half or the top 20 meaning I would still take him in the 16-20 range. I just wouldn’t take him in the top 15 from what I’ve seen this season.
  1. Colin Fitzgerald, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Colin Fitzgerald got promoted to alternate captain of the Peterborough Petes only to be traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Colin Fitzgerald went from 28 points last year to having 13 goals, 12 assists, and 25 points. Only The Hockey News, who had him as a preseason top 10 player still has a first round grade on him outside of Draft Utopia. Colin Fitzgerald appears to be the biggest faller not named Lars Steiner on this list so far.
  1. Braidy Wassilyn, LW, London Knights (OHL) Braidy Wassilyn complimented Ryan Roobroeck on the Niagara IceDogs last year posting 8 goals, 31 assists, and 39 points as a rookie. He got off to a bad start with Niagara, but has bounced back with the defending Memorial Cup Champion London Knights posting 15 goals, 17 assists, and 32 points so far this year. The Hockey News is the only scouting service that still has a first round grade on Braidy Wassilyn besides myself and I had him at 13 when The Hockey News still had him in the top 10. The Hockey News now has him lower than I do. What does that scream? That screams Draft Faller a guy whose draft stock may literally crash if he doesn’t turn things around before the OHL Season ends. He is going to Boston University to develop next year.
  1. Mikey Berchild, C, USNTDP (USHL) Mikey Berchild plays for the United States National Team Developmental Program. He was once considered the defacto challenger to Gavin McKenna three years ago. He only has 4 goals, 7 assists, and 11 points in the USHL. I saw him at the 2025 USHL Classic in Pittsburgh. He looked good there in person. Only The Hockey News and Draft Utopia still have him in the first round, but two analysts at The Hockey News still have him going in the first round versus one in Ryan Kennedy. I still think he could go in the first round as there are other fallers on this list that have been more disappointing, but I think his best chance to get picked probably sits somewhere outside of the top 25 in the latter part of the first round. My friend Ron over at RNJ Media actually interviewed Mikey and that will be the third Interview I post.
  1. Adam Nemec, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL) Adam Nemec is the younger brother of Simon Nemec. He went from HK Nitra to the Sudbury Wolves. The 6-1 176 lb Adam Nemec had 28 goals, 29 assists, 57 points, and a +42 +/- ratio in 43 games on the HK Nitra Under 20 Team in 2023-2024. Adam Nemec had 4 goals, 4 assists, and 8 points in 11 playoff games with the HK Nitra Under 20 Team. Adam Nemec had 28 goals, 23 assists, 51 points, and a +37 +/- ratio on the HK Nitra Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Adam Nemec had 9 goals, 6 assists, and 15 points in 11 playoff games with the HK Nitra Under 20 Team. Adam Nemec also had 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 20 games with HK Nitra in Tipos the professional hockey league in Slovakia. In fact the game I watched of Nemec where he had 1 goal and 2 assists was a Tipos game where he was competing against Slovakian men at the highest level. Adam Nemec had 3 goals, 12 assists 15 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 28 games in Tipos against men. He also has 4 goals, 7 assists, and 11 points in 9 OHL games with the Sudbury Wolves. Adam Nemec has the floor of a third line left winger and the ceiling of a first line left winger. I cannot think of a reason to move Adam Nemec out of the top 15 despite only one other scouting service besides my site Draft Utopia in The Hockey News having a first round grade on Nemec. A lot of players in the 11-15 range of my preseason rankings declined, but Adam Nemec has been the one steady constant.
  1. Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) I was lower on Mathis Preston than the consensus because he was a third line right winger on the Spokane Chiefs last year meaning he was able to tee off on opposing WHL third lines when creating scoring chances as both a shooter as well as a passer. He’s still not a top line player on Spokane. He went from 23 goals, 22 assists, and 45 points to 14 goals, 18 assists, and 32 points this season. Heck, even Anthony moved him down from 9 to 12 after having him in his preseason top 10. Only three scouting services have Mathis Preston in the top 10, but 12/15 scouting services including both Draft Prospect Hockey and Draft Utopia have Preston in the top 16. The three scouting services that do not have Mathis Preston in the top 16 include EliteProspects, Craig Button, and Sam Cosentino of SportsNet. Three of the bigger NHL Draft scouts don’t have Preston in the top 16, so Mathis Preston’s draft stock going forward will be interesting. It’s too early to say things are getting spicy in terms of draft stock. There’s still the 2026 WHL Prospects Game on February 18th, and the 2026 NHL Combine where Preston will have opportunities to gain some ground to try to reclaim that consensus top 10 grade that some had on Mathis Preston. I’ll probably leave Preston at 16 behind Nemec in my next update since those were the two most consistent plaeyrs in the 11-16 range of my preseason rankings.
  1. Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) I mocked Chase Reid at 17 in my initial 2026 NHL Mock Draft, but I also said this is a guy that could make eat my own words as I stated that this is a guy that had me thinking why did I mock this guy at 17 what the heck is wrong with me? Chase Reid played on the third, second, and first line as a rookie posting 7 goals, 33 assists, and 40 points. He showed he could be a number one defenseman in the game I watched heading into this year. Chase Reid has 18 goals, 26 assists, 46 points, and a +29 +/- ratio in 2025-2026. Shooting was the one major area of improvement for Chase Reid heading into this season. It appears he is beginning to master that area of his game that was once a weakness by slowly turning it into a strength. Chase Reid was 6-2 185 entering the season now is 6-2 187 lbs. Chase Reid is a consensus top 10 pick in 13/15 scouting services with Ryan Kennedy and myself being the only two that have him outside of the top 10. Chase Reid is also enrolling at Michigan State in 2027. This appears to be one of the strongest candidates to move into the top 10 of my next update and an ideal player to swap draft positions with Lars Steiner who I had at 9 in my preseason mock draft.
  1. Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL) Beckham Edwards had 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points as rookie. Right now he has 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points. He is projected to barely improve his total from last year with 21 goals, 25 assists, and 46 points. There are still 6/15 scouting services that have him in the first round including my site. That being said, my site now has the highest ranking of Edwards among those 6 scouting services.
  1. Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL) The 6-2 194 lb Carson Carels had 6 goals, 29 assists, and 35 points as the Prince George Cougars number one defenseman on their first line last season in 2024-2025. Carson Carels has 12 goals, 28 assists, and 40 points so far this season. If he’s not taking the NCAA route like Chase Reid, he’s going to get to the NHL quicker and that’s why I may lean toward him over Reid for that final spot in the top 10. There are 14/15 scouting services that have Carels in the top 10 and 8/15 that now have Carels in the top 10. NHL Central Scouting has him as high as third among North American Skaters trailing only McKenna and Verhoeff.
  1. Joe Iginla, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL) Joe Iginla is the younger brother of Tij Iginla and the son of Jarome Iginla. Joe Iginla improved from 9 goals, 7 assists, and 16 points to 11 goals, 10 assists, and 21 points. He has not recorded a point since being traded to the Vancouver Giants. NHL Central Scouting now has Joe Iginla ranked 124th among North American Skaters. Nobody else in terms of scouting services outside of NHL Central Scouting and my site Draft Utopia even has him in the top 100 and he improved from last year. If a player improves they shouldn’t drop out of the top 100 entirely. If you want to drop them out of the first round, fine, but removing a player that improves from the top 100 is where I have a problem. He wasn’t listed in Tankathon’s three round mock and is in round 7 of Lines 7 round 2026 NHL Mock which is way too late for Joe Iginla to fall to. I’m leaving Jarome Iginla’s other son in the top 20 and am praying my favorite NHL team the Dallas Stars gets him in the third round. This would give Dallas a trio of Emil Hemming, Cameron Schmidt, and Joe Iginla as players to compete for those last two bottom six spots behind Mikko Rantanen and Maverick Bourque.
  1. Landon Nycz, D, Massachusetts Landon Nycz is interesting since he was a third line defender on the Waterloo Blackhawks, a first line number one defender on the Sioux Falls Stampede, and a number four defender on the Massachusetts Minutemen. I posted his scouting report https://draftprospectshockey.com/landon-nycz-scouting-report/ on this site and I believe Landon Nycz has the floor of a number four defenseman on the second line and the ceiling of a number one defenseman on the first line. My NHL projection for him is a number two defenseman on the first line. He’s only posted 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points at Massachusetts after poisting 8 goals, 19 assists, and 27 points in the USHL last year. NHL Central Scouting has him at 28 on their rankings and I just love Landon Nycz on tape and from a ceiling standpoint too much to move him out of my top 31 overall. I had him in the first round in the preseason, Tankathon had him in the second round in the preseason, and Lines had him at 96 at the end of the third round, but has moved him up to 70. Tankathon dropped Landon Nycz to 66 in their latest mock draft, but I still believe Landon Nycz is a first round talent and has a similar trajectory as Sam Rinzel on the Chicago Blackhawks with the floor of Sam Rinzel and the ceiling of Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars. Landon Nycz would be my top draft target for the Dallas Stars with our first pick in the second round because Nycz still has some traction as a first rounder with NHL Central Scouting and myself both still having him in the top 32 with 2/15 scouting services still having him in the first round with most now having him in the late second to early third round in the 51-70 range where as Joe Iginla no longer has that traction. Landon Nycz is still a player I would pound the table for despite a rough freshman season at Massachusetts.
  1. Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (Liiga) Simon Katolicky had 24 goals, 28 assists, and 52 points on Tappara’s Under 18 team last year in 2024-2025. Simon Katolicky only has 5 goals, 9 assists, and 14 points on the Tappara Under 20 Team. He’s not playing against men yet. He is versatile enough to play both left winger and right winger. Only 3/15 scouting services The Hockey News, NHL Central Scouting’s European Skaters, and my site have him in the top 31 still. Anthony of Draft Prospect Hockey had him at 30 at the beginning of the year, but has moved him out of the first round.
  1. Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL) Pierce Mbuyi had 29 goals, 23 assists, 52 points, 46 penalty minutes, and a +8 +/- ratio as a rookie lst year. Pierce Mbuyi has 23 goals, 27 assists, 50 points, 65 penalty minutes, and his +/- ratio is in the negative. Pierce Mbuyi is going to Penn State to develop next Fall and is the likely replacement to top pick Gavin McKenna at Penn State next Fall. There are 5/15 scouting services Craig Button, Tonny Ferrari of the Hockey News, Sam Cosentino of Sports that still have a first roundNet, Bukala of SportsNet, and myself of both Draft Prospect Hockey as well as Draft Utopia that have a first round grade on Mbuyi and with Mbuyi projected to finish his regular season with 34 goals, 40 assists, and 74 points you have a hard time convincing me the 5-11 159 lb left winger doesn’t deserve to go in the top 31 picks.
  1. Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo Hockey (Allsvenskan) Elton Hermansson has 9 goals, 7 assists, and 16 points against men in Sweden. There are 14/15 scouting services that still have Elton Hermansson in the top 24 an 10/15 scouting services that have Hermansson in the top 20 and that excludes Draft Prospect Hockey and my site. The one scouting service that didn’t have Elton Hermansson in the top 24 was EliteProspects.
  1. Arseni Ilyin, LW, MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) Arseni Ilyin showed promise on the SKA St. Petersburg MHL team with 9 goals, 7 assists, and 16 points. He got moved to MHK Spartak Moskva which is MHL affiliate of KHL team Spartak Moscow. Arseni Ilyin only has 3 goals, 6 assists, and 9 points this season. Arseni Ilyin is ranked 124th among European Skaters on NHL Central Scouting. Unlike Joe Iginla who improved in terms of point production, Arseni Ilyin declined. Of every player in my prseason top 31, Arseni Ilyin has the strongest case to move out of the first round.
  1. Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL) Cooper Williams dominated last season with 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points, and a +19 +/- ratio. His skating reminded me of stars like Nate MacKinnon and Connor Bedard. He only has 16 goals, 23 assists, 39 points, and a -2 _/- ratio in 45 games. He is on pace to match his 57 point total from last season. Craig Button and myself are still the only two people that have first round grades on Cooper Williams. Cooper Williams will enroll at North Dakota in 2027. As long as Williams matches his point total, I’m gonna have a hard time moving him out of the top 32.
  1. Nils Bartholdsson, RW, Rogle BK (SHL) Nils Bartholdsson finally got promoted to the SHL, but has 0 points in 4 SHL games. Nobody else has this guy in the first round, but a few scouting services have Nils Bartholdsson in the second round.
  1. Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) Maddox Dagenais went from 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points after being the first pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft to having 21 goals, 19 assists, and 40 points. Maddox Dagenais also improved his +/- ratio from -22 to +9 this season. There are 6/15 scouting services that have Maddox Dagenais in the first round as I was one of a few that had Dagenais in the first round in the preseason.
  1. Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Tipos) I saw both Adam Nemec and Tomas Chrenko interview together with each other on a podcast. Tomas Chrenko went from 2 goals, 7 assists, and 9 points to 6 goals, 16 assists, and 22 points. There are 10/15 scouting services that still have a first round grade on Tomas Chrenko.
  1. Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL) Both Anthony of Draft Prospect Hockey and myself have Marcus Nordmark in the top 30. He has 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 4 SHL games. There are 14/15 scouting services that have Nordmark in the top 30 the lone site that does not is EliteProspects. I’ve pinpointed two examples where EliteProspects is behind the consensus when it comes to Swedish right wingers in the 2026 NHL Draft.
  1. Adam Valentini, LW, Michigan Adam Valentini moved from center to left winger. I did a scouting report on Adam Valentini saying he has the floor of a fourth line left winger in the NHL and the ceiling of a second line left winger in the NHL. He projects as a third line left winger. I was less impressed with Adam Valentini after watching his tape and posting his scouting report on Draft Prospect Hockey. https://draftprospectshockey.com/adam-valentini-scouting-report/

I think there are some college hockey players that I had round 2 grades on at the beginning of the year like Ilya Morozov from Miami Ohio and Oscar Hemming a Finnish right winger on Boston College that could both potentially jump Adam Valentini. I want to scout those two, and do a top 63. If the Olympics are still going on after that, I will do a 1 round NHL Mock for Draft Prospect Hockey. Also Draft Prospect Hockey just updated their top 32 and submitted it to Elite Prospects Today so check that out as well.

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