Welcome to your 2026 NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Sports and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the big event. This year’s draft is set to take place on June 26th and 27th live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Today, we bring you our 2026 NHL Draft Rankings for Players 6-16.
Each day, LWOH will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow our prospect writer Ben Kerr, and spread the word about the site that will bring you analytical and critical draft profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey and Top Shelf Prospects bring it to you. Make us your new headquarters for everything “2026 NHL Draft”! Check out part one of our 2026 Draft Coverage here.
Part 2: 2026 NHL Draft Rankings
6) Keaton Verhoeff, Right Defence, 6’4″ 210 lbs, North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCHC
After dominating junior hockey in 2024-25, Verhoeff struggled a bit with his transition to college hockey. However, it is a very difficult place for the normal freshman defenceman. For Verhoeff, who started university a year early at just 17, some growing pains were to be expected. He got better as the season went along, though, proving that hype as a possible NHL Draft Lottery pick was deserved.
A right-handed defenceman with excellent size, mobility and two-way ability, Verhoeff is a scout’s dream. He may not be NHL-ready, but he has all the tools to be a top-pairing shut-down defenceman. He shows smart positioning, a willingness to play physically, and an active stick. He is also able to make smart passes and start the transition game. The offensive potential seems a bit untapped. The skills flash from time to time, but it is hoped he will be more consistent over the next few years.
7) Viggo Bjorck, Centre/Right Wing, 5’9″ 181 lbs, Djurgaardens, SHL
Undersized players typically don’t do well in most sites’ 2026 NHL Draft Rankings, but Viggo Bjorck is the exception. Bjorck played centre in the Swedish junior leagues, but was mostly used at right wing in the SHL, Sweden’s top men’s league. No matter where he played, he impressed.
Bjorck’s speed is merely a bit above of average, but his edgework, agility, and balance are all off the charts. He combines this with high-end hockey IQ and positioning. Bjorck seems to always be in the right position. He is a dynamic offensive player, with excellent vision and passing skills. He is also willing to play in the dirty areas of the ice and get to the front of the net and can score goals in tight.
Despite his lack of size, Bjorck is committed and effective defensively as well. He works well on the back check and creates turnovers. His speed, vision and passing skills help him to effectively transition the puck up the ice.
8) Carson Carels, Left Defence, 6’2″ 194 lbs, Prince George Cougars, WHL
Blessed with size, very strong two-way skating ability, excellent offensive instincts and a strong defensive game, Carson Carrels is highly rated in most 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. He can play shut down defence against the other team’s top line, start the transition game in his own end, carry the puck through the neutral zone, and quarterback the power play.
Carels strong skating is key to his two way game, as he can get up the ice on the rush and back defensively. Good acceleration and agility helps him to maintain gap control and makes him hard to beat off the rush. In the offensive end, he has a big point shot and the passing skills to quarterback the powerplay.
9) Wyatt Cullen, Left Wing, 6’1″ 175 lbs, US NTDP, USHL
The US National Team Development Program continues to produce high end players, and Wyatt Cullen is their top prospect in our 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. Cullen has grown five inches since joining the US NTDP in the summer of 2024, which certainly helps raise his draft stock. However, he still needs to fill out his frame and get stronger to play his aggressive two-way style at the pro level. Cullen is involved physically on the boards and in front of the net at both ends of the ice.
He has a non-stop motor and high compete level. Cullen is always in the middle of scrums at both ends of the ice. He will do whatever it takes to win. He gets to the front of the net, tipping in shots, pouncing on rebounds and screening goalies. He has a good shot as well as excellent passing skills. Cullen reads the play well and puts himself in smart positions. His father is former NHLer Matt Cullen.
10) Daxon Rudolph, Right Defence, 6’2″ 205 lbs, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL
Daxon Rudolph is the top offence-first defenceman in our 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. He is an excellent skater and puck handler, able to transition the puck through the neutral zone, and quarterback the power play. He is poised with the puck on his stick and moves well laterally. Rudolph can walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes. He also has a powerful shot, and does a good job of keeping it low and on the net in order to give his teammates the opportunity to get deflections and rebounds.
Rudolph uses his skating in the defensive end, as he’s tough to beat off the rush and maintains good gap control. A quick and active stick helps him to cut down passing lanes and knock the puck off an opponents stick and create a turnover. Once a turnover is created, or a loose puck is available, he is quick to move the puck up the ice and create offence in transition. Rudolph could stand to be a bit more physical moving forward.
11) Ethan Belchetz, Left Wing, 6’5″ 225 lbs, Windsor Spitfires, OHL
Belchetz was the first overall pick in the 2024 OHL Draft. The big winger combines his size with excellent skating ability. His speed and acceleration, as well as his agility and edgework, allow him to get in quickly on the forecheck and punish opposing defenders. Once he gets the puck on his stick, he shows very good stickhandling ability along with excellent vision and passing skills. He gains and maintains possession in the offensive zone, and creates scoring chances for teammates. His quick hands also allow him score goals in tight to the net.
12) Tynan Lawrence, Centre, 6’0″ 185 lbs, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL / Boston University Terriers, Hockey East
Lawrence’s game is built around his excellent skating and puck handling. He carries the puck through the neutral zone, creating scoring chances in transition and creating effective zone entries to the offensive zone. His speed and vision allows him to open up passing lanes and find teammates for a scoring chance on the rush. He also has a good shot and good release that can fool goaltenders.
Lawrence uses his strong defensive game to create turnovers and start the rush from his own end. His ability to create transition offence will serve him well as he becomes a full time college player next season, as well as when he eventually hits the pro ranks. He’s also already shown excellent face-off skills.
13) Elton Hermansson, Right Wing, 6’1″ 181 lbs, Modo, Allsvenskan
Hermansson led the Under-18 World Championships in scoring, and helped Sweden win the gold medal. It was his second time dominating with the national team as he had 11 points in five games at last summer’s Ivan Hlinka tournament, helping Sweden to silver. Hermansson is a dynamic offensive talent. He can stickhandle in a phone booth. He also sees passes and sets up teammates for scoring chances when others wouldn’t try such a play. His shot and release are also good. However, he needs some real work on his defensive game.
14) Ryan Lin, Right Defence, 6’0″ 177 lbs, Vancouver Giants, WHL
Lin is a solid all-around defenceman who does everything well. His defensive game is strong, with excellent positioning, a quick stick, and excellent anticipation. He creates turnovers and moves the puck up the ice quickly, starting the transition game. Lin is also a good stickhandler and passer, and can create offence from the blue line. However, while he does everything well, there is no one skill that is truly elite. This means he projects as more of a second pairing defender at the NHL level, than a true top-pair franchise defender.
15) Malte Gustafsson, Left Defence, 6’4″ 200 lbs, HV 71, SHL
Gustafsson is another defenseman with excellent size and mobility. He plays an excellent defensive game, keeping opponents to the outside off the rush and away from the front of the net. He cuts down passing and shooting lanes and can be effective against the opponent’s top line and killing penalties at the junior level. Playing against men in the SHL, he didn’t look out of place and continued to bring a strong defensive game. There are some questions about his offensive ability, though there are flashes that show there may be some untapped potential. The team that drafts him will hope to help him develop that aspect of his game.
16) Maddox Dagenais, Centre, 6’4″ 195 lbs, Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL
The first overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft is the son of former NHLer Pierre Dagenais. Dagenais has the size and skill to intrigue NHL scouts and its rocketed him up the 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. With his long reach and excellent puck handling ability he can make plays off the rush as well as control the puck down low in the cycle game. He also has the speed to be a threat in the transition game. Dagenais isn’t afraid to use his size to be physical on the forecheck and get the puck to the front of the net. He also shows a bit of the lethal shot that made his father an NHL player, while not having some of the deficiencies that prevented his father from becoming a high-end NHL scorer.
Check back in later for our next group of 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings
Main Photo: Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The draft board is seen following the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
