2026 NHL draft rankings: Envisioning where top prospects fit best

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2026 NHL draft rankings: Envisioning where top prospects fit best originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The top 10 prospects in the NHL draft are skilled enough to succeed with whatever team selects them in the 2026 NHL draft, but there are scenarios where they may be best suited.

Whether it’s because their play style fits the team’s current system or would gel with that team’s best players, there are preferred destinations.

Today, we’ll revisit our top 10 and provide some best fits for prospects.

1. Gavin McKenna​

• Position: LW
• Current team: Penn State (NCAA)
• Measurables: 5'11", 170 pounds

Gavin McKenna and Penn State’s season ended on March 27 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Albany Regional. Minnesota-Duluth downed the Nittany Lions 3-1. Clanko Media reported on Monday that McKenna has departed Penn State, no doubt preparing for whichever team selects him first.

The Vancouvers have locked up the best NHL Draft Lottery Odds at 25.5%. Should Vancouver win, it will be their first-ever number one overall selection, making whoever they take the face of the franchise.

MORE: 2026 NHL Draft rankings: Defensemen continue to shine

2. Ivar Stenberg​

• Position: LW/RW
• Current team: Frolunda (Sweden)
• Measurables: 5'11", 183 pounds

Frolunda could not rally themselves to a Game 7, falling to Lulea Hockeyforening in Game 6, 1-0, ending Stenberg’s season. It was an incredibly close series with five of the six contests being decided by one goal and three games going to overtime.

He produced well in the playoffs with four assists in six games. While I would have liked to have seen a few postseason tallies, Stenberg doing this as an 18-year-old in the fast-paced SHL shows that he is just scratching the surface.

3. Chase Reid​

• Position: D
• Current team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
• Measurables: 6'2", 188 pounds

The Soo Greyhounds knocked out the London Knights in the OHL Playoffs in five games. During this series, Reid had a positive impact with a plus-3, two goals and eight penalty minutes. The penalty minutes are quite reassuring, showing he isn’t shying away from contact while returning from injury.

The real Reid comes when Soo faces the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Semifinals. Reid will more than likely match up against Jack Pridham, who finished one goal shy of the OHL’s scoring title. This clash could be the linchpin of the series, especially with how good offensively Kitchener has been during the postseason.

At the NHL level, San Jose could use Reid’s talents to inject youth into its defensive core, which has only two players under 25.

4. Keaton Verhoeff​

• Position: D
• Current team: North Dakota (NCAA)
• Measurables: 6'4", 208 pounds

Verhoeff and North Dakota are dialed in for their NCAA Semifinal matchup against Wisconsin on Thursday. The offensive edge in this game goes to North Dakota, thanks to its forward group.

However, both squads are defensive-minded, so Verhoeff will have to be at his very best. His size, skill, and physique make me think Verhoeff will be a good fit for the Boston Bruins, who have the seventh-best odds in the NHL Draft Lottery because they own the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round pick.

MORE: NHL draft lottery odds: 4 teams now eliminated from playoff contention

5. Viggo Bjorck​

• Position: C/W
• Current team: Djurgarden (Sweden)
• Measurables: 5'9", 177 pounds

Djurgarden and Viggo Bjorck put up a good fight against Malmo RedHawks, which ended on March 20. Depending on which team selects him and what their needs are, Bjorck may stay in Sweden next season until Djurgarden’s 2026-27 season ends before heading to the NHL. Bjorck could ease into the NHL, should he join a budding forward group in Calgary.

6. Alberts Smits​

• Position: D
• Current team: EHC Red Bull Munchen (Germany)
• Measurables: 6'3", 205 pounds

Smits has been heating up in the German playoffs. The young Latvian has four points (two goals and two assists) in six postseason contests while playing on the top defensive pairing.

This includes a three-point outing in the quarterfinal clinching game against ERC Ingolstadt on April 2. Smits said in a postgame press conference, translated, “We did a great job as a team. We won our battles, played simply, and consistently stuck to our game plan. That was the deciding factor today. Scoring a goal myself is, of course, nice.”

While his ceiling compared to Reid and Verhoeff is debated, Smits is, without question, the most NHL-ready defenseman in the draft. Chicago is on the up-and-up, so he could join the blue line right away if he were called upon.

7. Tynan Lawrence​

• Position: C
• Current team: Boston Univ. (NCAA)
• Measurables: 6'0", 185 pounds

Tynan Lawrence’s off-season continues after Boston University was eliminated in the Hockey East tournament. Lawrence looked better as the Terriers went down the stretch, and I am excited to see how he develops in his sophomore year.

If Lawrence goes to Florida, who have the sixth-best NHL draft lottery odds, they could give him even more time to marinate and grow while the Panthers pursue another Stanley Cup.

MORE: NCAA To The NHL: When Should We Expect Hagens, Augustine and Other High-End College Signees In The NHL

8. Daxon Rudolph​

• Position: D
• Current team: Prince Albert (WHL)
• Measurables: 6'2", 202 pounds

The Prince Albert defenseman continued his steady production this week. Rudolph accumulated a goal and an assist as his squad advanced past Red Deer in five games.

The Raiders will meet the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL quarterfinals. That should be a fantastic series, as both Prince Albert and Calgary had very similar regular seasons.

9. Carson Carels​

• Position: D
• Current team: Prince George (WHL)
• Measurables: 6'1", 175 pounds

It was good to see Carels back in action for the Cougars after sustaining an injury in Game 1 against Spokane. After a quiet game four, Carels picked up right where he left off, racking up four assists between Games 5 and 6, helping Prince George secure a date with the red-hot Penticton Vees.

I could easily see Carels on a pairing with Adam Fox in New York within the next few seasons if the Rangers select him.

10. Caleb Malhotra​

• Position: C
• Current team: Brantford (OHL)
• Measurables: 6'1", 182 pounds

It was a good week for Caleb Malhotra. Not only did he earn five points (two goals and three assists) in two games as Brantford swept Sudbury, but Malhotra was also named a finalist for the Emms Family Award.

This trophy is given to the OHL Rookie of the Year. Carels and Malhotra are neck and neck in my rankings. However, I would need to see Malhotra play some higher-level competition than before I move him above Carels. He gets that opportunity when Brantford meets the North Bay Battalion.

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