Penn State forward Gavin McKenna maintains his position as the top prospect in an updated 2026 NHL Draft ranking, with the 5-foot-11 left winger projected as a standard first-overall selection comparable to Jack Hughes in his draft year.
McKenna leads a draft class that currently appears average in overall depth, featuring a typical handful of elite prospects before a significant drop-off in talent. The junior and college seasons are well underway across all major development leagues.
Muskegon center Tynan Lawrence ranks second on the board, while North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff sits third. Both Verhoeff and Windsor left winger Ethan Belchetz are commonly viewed within NHL circles as potential challengers to McKenna as the season progresses.
McKenna earned a Tier 1 designation as an NHL star-level prospect. Lawrence and Verhoeff occupy Tier 2, classified as bubble NHL stars and top-of-the-lineup players.
Tier 3 consists of four prospects: Blainville-Boisbriand defenseman Xavier Villeneuve, Belchetz, Frolunda left winger Ivar Stenberg, and Prince George defenseman Carson Carels. All project as top-of-the-lineup players at the NHL level.
Tier 4 includes seven prospects ranging from Prince Albert defenseman Daxon Rudolph at eighth overall to Niagara left winger Ryan Roobroeck at 14th. These players project as bubble top-of-the-lineup or middle-of-the-lineup contributors.
Tier 5 encompasses 14 prospects from 15th-ranked Djurgarden center Viggo Bjorck through Spokane right winger Mathis Preston at 28th. All project as middle-of-the-lineup NHL players.
The board features prospects from nine different leagues, including NCAA, OHL, WHL, QMJHL, USHL, and various European circuits.
Full 2026 NHL Draft Rankings:
Tier 1 (NHL Star): Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Tier 2 (Bubble NHL Star/Top of Lineup): 2. Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon (USHL) 3. Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
Tier 3 (Top of Lineup): 4. Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) 5. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL) 6. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (Sweden) 7. Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)
Tier 4 (Bubble Top/Middle of Lineup): 8. Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL) 9. Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Finland) 10. Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit (Finland) 11. Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL) 12. Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 13. Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden-2) 14. Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara (OHL)
Tier 5 (Middle of Lineup): 15. Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgarden (Sweden) 16. Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 Jr. (Sweden-Jr.) 17. William Hakansson, D, Lulea (Sweden) 18. Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (OHL) 19. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL) 20. Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Finland) 21. JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL) 22. Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL) 23. Oscar Hemming, LW, K-Espoo (Finland) 24. Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL) 25. Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA) 26. Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden-Jr.) 27. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) 28. Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane (WHL)