Ivar Stenberg projects as a legitimate first-line winger, built on a rare blend of high-end offensive production, intelligence, competitiveness, and puck-handling strength rather than pure flash or elite physical tools. Across levels, his resume is historically impressive: he’s producing at nearly a point-per-game in the SHL as a draft-eligible, and he dominated the World Juniors.

Yet what separates him is how his offense is created. Stenberg consistently wins puck battles, protects pucks through contact, and plays a mature cycle game with NHL habits already embedded, using deception, timing, and quick cuts off the wall to generate scoring chances for himself and teammates. He plays at an above-average pace and is a mechanically sound skater. Stenberg is agile, efficient, and powerful in small areas, with a lethal release, strong one-timer, and advanced playmaking sense that allows him to break down defensive structures in the SHL. His off-puck game further elevates his projection: he works, competes, draws penalties, and brings real defensive detail with aggressive backchecking and intelligent off-puck defensive reads. He may not possess the raw creativity or highlight skill of some of the past top forwards to go in the draft, but his completeness, hockey IQ, and ability to consistently tilt possession make him one of the safest high-ceiling forwards in the class and the potential to anchor a top line at the NHL level.

I don’t have a player comparable for McKenna, but the best analogy to summarize his game would be that watching McKenna play is like if Josh Allen was the all-time QB in your family Thanksgiving backyard football game. He can make it rain all over the field, but he’s not running the ball and his production is really dependent on his receivers, and when it’s time to play defense, well he’s just not there.

Gavin McKenna is one of the most entertaining passers I can remember scouting, with elite vision and a rare ability to see layers of the ice that most players simply don’t. His passing volume and involvement in offensive transition stand out immediately, completing more passes than the rest of the North American forwards have even attempted and posting a 75.8% success rate in offensive transitions. The give-and-go game with McKenna is a joy to watch, particularly in the offensive zone. However, his linemates are clearly driving much of the neutral-zone play at even strength.

McKenna’s ideas with the puck are consistently high-end; even the plays that fail are A+ concepts, with the failures mostly attributed to him reading plays that his teammates don’t see. In tight spaces he’s shifty and creative, using Gretzky turns and quick fakes to create brief pockets of space, and he flashes individual skill with his hands as he’s able to manipulate defensemen’s triangles with ease. While he excels at finding teammates and manipulating passing lanes at even strength, there is less on his own stick in terms of using his feet with the puck on his stick that screams true top-end offensive driver at this stage.

The concern is a pronounced lack of engagement away from the puck, particularly defensively. McKenna shows virtually no hustle in his game and often appears disinterested unless a scoring chance is directly involved. The contrast between his inactivity and his counterpart winger’s engagement on opposite sides of the defensive zone is stark. He floats in coverage, rarely pressures on the forecheck, is inconsistent in backchecking, and assumes others will handle defensive responsibilities when defensemen activate; most notably giving up a costly breakaway in a tight four-on-four situation in his game against Minnesota before the World Juniors break.

His defensive-zone passing is fine when his feet are moving but I have concerns when he’s at a standstill, as his passes become errant when he’s stagnant and under pressure, and his feet simply have to move more consistently in transition and off the puck. He consistently will try to make risky passes at the blue line in both zones that occasionally get turned the other way for dangerous rushes for his opponents. While his pace with the puck isn’t a concern, he struggles to create separation after his initial move and lacks urgency through the next phase of the play. He prefers to slow the game down rather than playing at a fast pace. The skill level is unquestionably top tier, but the overall profile trends toward an all-offense archetype, making his projection more complicated despite being the best player in North America so far and far from a lock for the first overall pick without meaningful growth in compete and defensive detail.

Tynan Lawrence is a dependable, intelligent two-way center whose value starts with his strong defensive game and true 200-foot commitment. While he isn’t a dynamic puck handler, he compensates with excellent vision, a simple, efficient passing game, and a consistent ability to make the right reads and get to the right spots on the ice. His underlying playmaking indicators in the USHL are impressive, sending 31.8% of his passes into scoring areas while completing 81.8% overall, highlighting both decision-making and execution. Despite teammates often struggling to get him the puck in the offensive zone, Lawrence showed a knack for finding soft spots in the defensive structure, was effective off the rush, and owns a good shot when opportunities present themselves. He projects cleanly as a middle-six center at the next level, with a realistic pathway to a second-line center role if paired with more offensively driven, transition-oriented wingers who can capitalize on his vision and reliability.

Xavier Villeneuve is simply the most fun player in this draft, a dynamic defenseman who can beat anyone with his skating and skill and regularly turns nothing into instant offense. He breaks ankles with ease, goes end-to-end, makes absurd passes, and almost never turns pucks over in transition, showing elite confidence and control through the neutral zone. Despite his size, he consistently defends the blue line at a high level, using speed, angles, and excellent stick detail to deny entries, and he rarely gets caught out of position. Offensively, he’s tied amongst all forwards in dangerous shot attempts and is even out-performing Matthew Schaefer in transition involvement, a testament to how frequently he drives play. The one area for growth is adding a bit more variation at the top of the offensive blue line as he often prefers to cut laterally and fire quickly, when his vision suggests he could funnel even more pucks into the slot, where he already generates an absurd amount of offense for a defenseman. While he can get a little handsy at times, his defensive game has taken a noticeable step forward from last year, rounding out an impactful prospect profile that blends creativity, pace, and the highest of potential for producing points at the NHL level.

Chase Reid is a smart, competitive defenseman who consistently looks to make plays with the puck, uses pace well and excels at feeding passes down low and executing quality exit passes. He reads the game effectively, steps up to break up passes, and pinches down the wall with good timing. That said, his skating (foot speed, backwards crossovers, and quick pivots) is a limitation, and his passing under pressure can be inconsistent and he chases risky stretch passes too much that have lead to his less-than-ideal passing completion percentage and offensive transition efficiency percentage.

He can also be caught off balance when trying to stick check on backwards crossovers. The data shows a very offensive defenseman who tilts the ice for the Soo Greyhounds. He’s third in the dataset in regard to the raw total number of scoring area passes, he is one of the top scoring area shooters for a defenseman, and sports a nearly 63% Corsi through all games tracked.  His offensive game is amongst the best in North America, and with further development of his skating and off-puck defensive game in the defensive zone, I believe he could reach his potential as a top pairing defenseman who can anchor a power play at the NHL level. 

I’m not a European scout for Smaht, but when I put on a couple games of Gustafsson before the initial Smaht rankings I saw a big, mobile defenseman who had puck skill and defended well, but lacked a true offensive ceiling. I saw him more of a mid-late first round pick. With our midterm rankings coming up I put on the last two games Gustafsson played in the SHL and was blown away. His ability to play big minutes in the SHL and his offensive game has taken a massive leap since my initial viewings. Gustafsson projects as a modern, dependable NHL defenseman whose value is driven by size, mobility, and advanced defensive ability with advanced puck handling and passing skill. A big, rangy defender who moves well for his frame, he consistently shows strong stick positioning, timing, and awareness, using his reach to disrupt plays, defend passing lanes, and defend the inner slot without overcommitting. He competes physically and stays composed under pressure, making smart first passes and managing pucks responsibly to support clean exits and secondary transition offense.

He has above-average skating and puck skill for a big man and can lead the initial rush with the puck on his stick, and his offensive game has taken a leap where he’s activating more into the zone and sending passes to scoring areas a lot more than I saw in the first viewing a few months ago. There are still moments where his identity wavers between leaning fully into his shutdown strengths or exploring more offensive assertiveness, but his steady development, maturity, and growing role against strong competition suggest a reliable projection. In total, he fits the coveted mold of a big, mobile, defensively trustworthy blueliner with the physical tools to be an offensive defenseman in the NHL and an offensive game beginning to bloom in terms of activation and translatable point-producing decisions with the puck. There’s a wide-range of outcomes for Gustafsson that depend on the further development of his offensive game and this ranking is the most aggressive and optimistic of those outcomes that he can be a top pairing defenseman who plays on the powerplay. I’d venture to say that his median outcome would be a middle pairing defensive-defenseman who can transition the puck, and that floor would still be worth selecting in this range in the 2026 draft.

Verhoeff stands out as one of the most physically mature and reliable defensive prospects in North America, with legitimate top-four NHL projection built on strength, poise, and defensive certainty. He owns a heavy point shot, handles the physical demands of the NCAA with ease, and shows flashes of competence moving pucks on the breakout, reinforcing why he has long been viewed as a high-end prospect. Defensively, he is clearly ahead of peers like Reid and Villeneuve, playing a physical, low-risk game and thriving in a conservative role at North Dakota where he is trusted to anchor pairings while his partner activates offensively.

The question with Verhoeff is that I don’t see an offensive game that will translate to a point producer in the NHL. His lateral mobility lacks fluidity, his puck skill is comparatively limited, and he rarely activates into space or drives offense at even strength, instead relying heavily on point shots. That usage is reflected in the data, with no dangerous even-strength pass attempts and only middling transition efficiency. Against his age group at the World Juniors, those same limitations remained evident, which has caused his drop in my own rankings. While he may not offer the dynamic, play-driving offense of other top defensemen in this class, Verhoeff projects as a strong, dependable NHL top-four defender whose value will come from shutdown reliability rather than offensive impact, sliding him from potential top-pick consideration into the middle of the top-10 range.

Smits is a big and mobile Latvian defenseman whose rapid rise has been driven by a rare blend of confidence, mobility, and puck skill for a player already logging heavy minutes against men in Liiga. Standing 6’3 with a strong frame and smooth stride, he plays a big role in a men’s pro league and produces at an impressive rate. What separates him is his comfort with the puck: he has great hands and puck-handling ability as a big defenseman, can pull pucks laterally, protect possession with ease, and flashes highlight-level plays in the offensive zone, while still showing a reliable first pass and a heavy point shot. Defensively, he leverages his length, feet, and competitiveness to close gaps, uses his stick effectively, and plays the body when needed, though his assertiveness can occasionally lead to rushed decisions or over-pursuit at the blue line. While he isn’t yet a consistently refined puck-driver and still needs to sharpen his reads to fully harness his tools, the combination of size, skating, skill, and production against men gives Smits legitimate top-pairing NHL upside and places him firmly among the most intriguing defense prospects in this class.

9.) Viggo Bjorck, C/W, SHL

Bjorck is a highly intelligent, competitive playmaking center whose production and impact at every level have been driven by elite hockey sense, creativity, and engagement rather than size. Though undersized, he has consistently handled older and stronger competition, breaking scoring records at the junior levels, earning and keeping an SHL role, and emerging as a go-to player for Sweden during their World Junior gold medal run. With the puck, he is slippery and inventive, playing with poise and vision, running give-and-go sequences, and manipulating defenders with quick hands, deception, and advanced processing speed that allows him to make reads before pressure arrives. His skating is good rather than explosive, but he’s quick off the blocks, agile through cuts and Gretzky turns, and effective attacking inside space, while his strength on pucks, willingness to battle, and defensive awareness support a center projection. He plays with nonstop energy, contributes on special teams, wins faceoffs, and consistently disrupts play through anticipation and stick detail. While size and pure skating ceiling will remain talking points, Bjorck’s completeness, competitiveness, and proven ability to drive offense against men give him legitimate top-six NHL upside and make him a strong candidate to remain a center at the highest level.

JP Hurlbert is a classic case of a player whose impact is being undervalued probably because he doesn’t play at an ideal pace. He has the right ideas, and his offensive processing consistently outpaces his feet. While his skating reaction time isn’t elite, he mitigates it with very good offensive instincts: he moves into space quickly, identifies plays early, and positions himself to stay involved before defenders can close.

Hurlbert demands the puck. He actively puts himself in spots to get it back, and once it’s on his stick, my goodness, he’s making a play or ripping a shot. He shows a quick first move into space to get shots off, doesn’t hesitate, and plays with an attacker’s mindset. There’s confidence and intent in his game that’s hard to teach.

Defensively, his role is less defined. He tends to float within structure and is clearly offense-first in his reads. The moment a teammate looks like they could spring him, he’s anticipating transition. There are concerns about his defensive effort; some drive-bys, which aren’t fatal on their own, but it’s the immediate turn up ice and the tendency to float back that raises flags. That said, this is more a question of role clarity and stamina than awareness.

Physically, Hurlbert is hard on pucks and remains engaged. He doesn’t shy away from contact and competes in retrievals. He has a good shot that plays at the NHL level. When fatigue sets in, however, his effectiveness drops as he’ll default to dumping pucks rather than extending possessions, and his ability to connect on dangerous passes suffers despite the right ideas remaining intact.

The underlying data reinforces how undervalued he is. Hurlbert sends 28.6% of his passes into dangerous areas of the ice, the highest rate in the North American dataset. He’s involved in 50.6% of his team’s offensive transitions, succeeding on 71.9% of those attempts. In tracked games this season, he posted a 50.8% Corsi, holding his own in shotshare despite being leaned on heavily for offensive creation.

Taken together, this is a high-skill, high-impact offensive player whose processing, creativity, and puck demand are driving play more than his skating suggests. The concerns–pace, stamina, and defensive consistency– are real, but they’re being weighted too much against his offensive influence and translatable habits.

Hurlbert should be a lock in the lottery and firmly in the top 10. Labeling him a late first-rounder undersells both the data and the eye test. This is a player who creates offense, tilts ice, and will force an offensive role at the NHL level.

Preston profiles as a highly cerebral, offense-driving forward whose impact is better captured by his decision-making and microstats than raw counting numbers. He consistently provides strong puck support in the offensive zone, prefers control over dumping pucks, and manipulates rush lanes with poise, keeping possession and distributing pucks instead of opting for dump-ins or high risk passes. His skating allows him to cheat offensively while still recovering defensively, and his creativity flashes through high-end plays, including multiple highlight reel plays. The underlying data supports the eye test: he’s involved in over 50% of offensive transitions with a strong 78% success rate and sends 21.4% of his passes into scoring areas. If Preston didn’t get hurt recently I’d be screaming that he’s my top positive regression candidate for the back third of the season. The main limitation is physical engagement as he can be outmuscled in contact situations and isn’t overly effective battling through pressure, and his shot volume lags behind his playmaking impact, averaging only four attempts per game with fewer than two from dangerous areas. Still, the intelligence, skill level, and elite passing decisions give Preston a strong offensive projection that I believe could be a top 6 forward who drives a line, and whose true value goes beyond the box score.

Suvanto projects as a pro-ready, power-oriented center whose game is built on strength, competitiveness, and reliable habits rather than flash. One of the youngest players in the class, he has already played out of Finland’s U20 level to earn minutes with Tappara in Liiga, where he’s looked comfortable handling pro pace and responsibility, and he’s delivered in high-leverage international settings while centering Finland’s top line at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and earning top-three player honors at the World Juniors.

A big, heavy forward, Suvanto’s game is about going to the net, working through contact, and being strong in the cycle, using good hands and offensive instincts to create chances both around the crease and off the perimeter. He can shoot and has the sense to make skilled plays when space is available, but his game is defined by consistency and efficiency rather than highlight creativity. While his skating is adequate and improves once he gets moving, quicker feet and faster processing would help him maximize his upside. Still, his two-way physical competitiveness and pro habits give him a strong projection as an NHL center, with a realistic path to a middle-six projection if he continues to adapt to a higher pace.

Malhotra is a big, heavy forward who projects as a mid-first-round talent, defined by physicality, strong in-zone intelligence, and a microstat profile built on sharp contrasts. While he was largely uninvolved in offensive transitions in my viewings (often ceding line-driving duties to Cooper Dennis or Adam Benak), he shows clear value once set up in the offensive zone, excelling in tight-area passing, give-and-gos, and creative feeds into scoring areas, reflected in an elite rate of over 36% of his passes directed to dangerous ice. His skill level is solid rather than dynamic, with clunky mechanics but functional pace, and while his passing accuracy can be erratic, the ideas and timing are consistently strong. He plays with real engagement defensively, particularly in the neutral zone, where he disrupts plays and can turn defense into clean entries, though execution occasionally lags intention.

Offensively, he’s selective as a shooter, carrying below-average even-strength volume, but he showed touch and poise finishing a 2-on-1 with a soft five-hole goal in my last viewing. Overall, he profiles as a physically mature, intelligent forward whose impact hinges on puck touches in the offensive zone rather than transition play, making his projection dependent on usage and linemates at the next level. I don’t see a top-6 center, but I could easily project him as a top-6 winger who plays a passenger role in transition.

Nikita Klepov is a skilled, offense-minded winger whose game is built around puck protection, vision, and creativity, but whose skating limitations significantly shape his projection. His stride is noticeably clunky, with poor lower-body connection and balance issues that limit his speed and make him vulnerable in transition, particularly through the neutral zone. To his credit, Klepov is aware of these deficiencies and plays around them well, using strong puck protection, intelligent first touches under pressure, and quick puck movement to get himself into workable space rather than relying on foot speed. In the offensive zone, he’s versatile and dangerous, capable of creating from the half wall, drifting off puck to find shooting lanes, or planting himself at the net front, and he flashes high-end vision through his passing in transition and breaking down defensive structures with his passing in the offensive zone. However, his effectiveness drops sharply under heavy physical pressure, as seen in a game against Windsor, where he struggled to evade forechecks or separate from defenders and found himself knocked off the puck repeatedly by physical defenders when attempting to create off the rush.

While his defensive effort is solid and his offensive instincts are clear, Klepov remains a space-dependent creator with a nasty shot from distance who can punish teams when given time, but currently lacks the skating base to consistently generate that space on his own. Assuming the skating gets better, he projects as a solid scoring option in the middle-six who could be a passenger on a top-6 scoring line.

My scouting opinion of Maze does not factor in rumors of off-ice concerns. There is visible body language on the ice that shows too much negative emotion at times, and the fact that he has been traded twice within a calendar year, despite being an effective offensive producer, is a legitimate red flag. That said, I do not possess any inside knowledge of what is happening away from the rink, and I’m not going to suppress optimism for what consistently shows up on the ice.

Julien Maze is an electrifying, pace-driving forward whose blend of elite speed, skill, and transition intelligence makes him one of the most dangerous offensive players in this class. His feet are truly high-end as his start-stop ability, acceleration, and overall pace stand out immediately, and he uses that skating to slice through the neutral zone, create angles under pressure, and push pucks into dangerous areas with purpose. A transition monster by both eye test and data, he ranks near the top of the entire dataset in offensive transition involvement and efficiency, passing completion, and shot volume, backing up just how frequently and effectively he drives play. Offensively, he’s relentless and confident, demanding the puck, rebounding quickly after mistakes, and repeatedly creating high-danger looks through slot passes, quick feeds, and delayed plays that open space.

He can overhandle at times in the offensive zone and would benefit from playing more on the inside, and his lack of size shows along the boards, where he’s limited in battles and can shy away from contact. Defensively, he flashes strong instincts, disrupting plays, but needs to cut out fly-bys and engage more consistently. The single biggest swing factor in his projection is his willingness to play through contact to make plays, because if that element develops, then his intelligence, skating, and offensive touch give him legitimate NHL upside and make him a potential draft steal given his microstat dominance.

Ryan Lin projects as a steady, offense-leaning defenseman whose value comes from instincts, efficiency, and competitive detail rather than dynamic skill. He’s consistently involved in the offensive zone, activating to get shots through and ranking near the top of the dataset among defensemen in generating even-strength scoring-area chances, supported by strong offensive transition efficiency and accurate passing. While he doesn’t possess elite puck skill or lateral agility, he shows good awareness on outlets, smart first passes when he has time to scan, and a willingness to absorb contact to complete plays.

Defensively, Lin competes and shows physical engagement despite his size, but his backward skating limits his ability to contain speed through the neutral zone, leading him to concede too much space and occasionally get beaten wide or overpowered off the rush. He isn’t the most creative puck mover, but he is extremely good at activating and getting into space and is a very good distributor in the offensive zone. I think he could be a PP1 player, but I’m more comfortable saying he’s a PP2 QB who can help generate offense at even-strength. 

Oscar Hemming is a physically imposing winger whose combination of size, skating ability, and above-average skill makes him one of the more intriguing power-forward profiles in this draft class. Standing 6-foot-4, he plays a heavy, physical game, staying around the puck and using his frame to establish inside positioning, making life difficult for defenders along the wall and at the net front. He moves well for a big body and plays at an above-average pace, and shows the touch to make difficult plays on the rush, highlighted by a strong release that allows him to threaten from range and generate shot volume at higher levels. While his offensive ceiling may fall short of a true top-six projection, his tools and habits suggest a forward who can consistently impact games through physicality, puck presence, and secondary scoring.

A limited and complicated viewing sample, combined with his status as one of the youngest players in the class, adds some uncertainty to his evaluation, but early NCAA flashes show a player who is unique in the draft class. If he continues to stabilize his role and production against older competition, Hemming projects as a hard-to-play-against middle-six winger with the traits NHL teams covet in the playoffs.

Carson Carels is a skilled, mobile defenseman whose game is defined by feel and puck control, but whose overall impact fluctuates due to inconsistent engagement. At his best, he’s an excellent passer in tight spaces, showing the ability to manipulate pucks exactly where he wants them to go and rarely throwing away possession without purpose. He has the skill and mobility to influence play, yet too often he fades from the game, defaulting to d-to-d passes in transition and showing limited presence at the defensive blue line.

While he isn’t consistently active in either offensive or defensive transition, there are flashes where his timing and execution in both areas are effective when he chooses to assert himself. The result is a player who can look quiet and invisible for long stretches, then suddenly remind you of his upside with a well-timed play or sequence. He’s an effective in-zone defender, but it’s hard for me to say that the flashes of projectable offensive traits will manifest into a consistent presence in every shift in the NHL. For Carels to elevate his draft stock, he’ll need to bring more consistent urgency and involvement with and without the puck to match the high-end touch and control he displays when he’s engaged.

Ethan Beltchetz is a complementary forward whose game is built more on positioning, awareness, and volume than pace or play-driving impact. He shows some skill and owns a clean, if slower, stride, but lacks the foot speed and puck skill to consistently separate from defenders or influence play in transition, often fading into the background as a result. Off the puck, he’s intelligent in all three zones, using a good defensive stick, reading space well offensively, and finding soft areas around the net where he can get his shot off, particularly in net-front situations.

With time, he can make plays and distribute effectively, flashing touch on feeds like a well-weighted backhand setup that narrowly missed becoming a goal in a recent viewing. However, his processing speed doesn’t fully compensate for his lack of pace, leading to puck fumbles under pressure and limiting his ability to create advantages on his own. While he plays physically and finishes checks, that contact rarely disrupts the play, and much of his offensive output comes from volume rather than quality, benefiting from a line that sustains pressure but doesn’t rely on him to drive it. All that being said, there have been flashes that show a top-six forward, especially earlier in the season when he was playing with JC Lemieux and Ethan Garden, and they leaned on him to generate offense. I see a middle-six, passenger in the NHL right now, but there are flashes that suggest he could blossom over the next few years into a more offensive role.

Elton Hermansson is a skilled, offense-first winger whose game blends goal-scoring instincts with a quietly improving ability to handle higher levels of pressure. He first drew widespread attention with his finishing touch in international play, but his recent performances against men have highlighted a more nuanced and balanced offensive game built on quick processing, soft hands in tight spaces, and smart puck movement to escape pressure rather than force plays. Hermansson is most dangerous inside the offensive zone, where he finds soft ice without the puck, threatens from the flank with both a quick-release wrister and a confident one-timer, and can beat defenders one-on-one when given space.

While his skating posture can look awkward, and his off-puck and defensive engagement often leave me wanting more, he plays with enough pace to keep up and shows flashes of physicality that should improve as he adds strength. Hermansson is not yet a defensively responsible winger and still is attempting too many high-risk plays, but he nonetheless possesses legitimate top-six upside driven by skill, scoring touch, and an ability to adapt offensively against older competition, making him one of the more intriguing forward prospects in 2026.

Dagenais is a player whose game pops out in the eye test immediately, thanks to his pace and effort. He plays fast, attacks with intent, and shows very good puck skill through stop/starts and quick moves around defenders. There’s confidence in how he carries the puck, and he’s comfortable holding onto it long enough to create something rather than defaulting to low-impact plays.

Where he’s still developing is in his offensive processing. His vision doesn’t consistently read the play ahead, and his attack can lack planning in the offensive zone. He’s a good passer in a functional sense, but he struggled to generate truly high-end passes that break structure or consistently create elite chances. The ideas are there, but the execution and anticipation are in development.

Context matters with Dagenais. Quinn drove much of the line’s offense for stretches of his qualitative game I scouted, but when Quinn was off the ice, Dagenais became noticeably more present and assertive. He showed an ability to carry play independently rather than relying on a dominant linemate, which leads me to believe there is another level of his offensive development.

One of the most encouraging elements of his game is how he uses his size. He boxes out defenders effectively, shields the puck well, and understands leverage with his net-front goal in the first game I scouted, serving as a perfect example. He isn’t overly physical and won’t intimidate opponents with hits, and there are some “Bambi moments” on his edges where balance and control falter. Still, there’s a lot to work with mechanically, and those issues are correctable.

Dagenais brings consistent effort and legitimate defensive engagement. He tracks back, competes without the puck, and doesn’t cheat offense. That reliability, combined with his size and pace, raises his floor considerably at the next level.

The data (while not yet complete compared to some of his counterparts) is already pointing toward a much higher valuation. He’s averaging seven shot attempts per game, is involved in 40% of his team’s offensive transitions, and sends over 20% of his passes into dangerous areas of the ice. Those are elite microstats, especially for a player being discussed outside of the first round. The trajectory of the dataset looks far more like a lottery pick than a second-round pick.

Dagenais is being undervalued because his game isn’t flashy or fully polished yet, but the underlying indicators are strong. Size usage, pace, effort level, defensive engagement, and elite shot and transition metrics all point to a player that teams should be pounding the table for. He belongs firmly in the mid-teens of the first round and should not be slipping out of Round 1.

Ilya Morozov is a steady, cerebral forward who currently plays center but projects more comfortably as a winger or depth center at the next level, thanks to his pace and defensive engagement. He shows decent puck skill and vision, particularly as a passer who prefers to work pucks to the interior, supported by data that shows a strong rate of passes into scoring areas, but he isn’t a natural transition driver and tends to facilitate rather than dictate play. His pace is average, and he doesn’t consistently close space with urgency, often arriving in the right spots defensively but allowing opponents just enough room to make a play, limiting his ability to force turnovers or impose himself physically. Offensively, he has good positional ideas both on and off the puck, though his execution can lag, especially under pressure, and he rarely invites defensive pressure onto himself to create plays.

One clear standout tool is his heavy one-timer from the right circle on the power play, which gives him a defined scoring role. Overall, Morozov projects as a smart, complementary piece whose value comes from structure, passing, and special teams, rather than pace or play-driving, making him a reasonable late-first-round consideration with the hope that he could center a third line in the NHL or become a middle-six winger.

Juho Piipararinen is a quietly impressive, detail-driven defenseman whose value lies in maturity, efficiency, and being a reliable defenseman rather than one who is going to put up points. One of the youngest players in the class, he has already earned trust to log important minutes in a men’s league and contributed positively in short stints at the World Juniors. He isn’t a dynamic puck-rusher, but he moves well, closes space intelligently, and uses strong edges and straight-line speed to maintain tight gaps and disrupt plays through anticipation rather than risk.

His puck management is clean and purposeful, consistently turning pressure situations into controlled exits, and while his offensive production hasn’t yet followed, he has decent hands, a heavy shot, and confident puck touches that suggest room for growth. What stands out most is his composure and processing: he reads plays early, competes with a plan in puck battles, and shows the instincts to defend, transition, and defend the blueline effectively. With continued development and expanded usage, Piipararinen projects as a dependable, all-situations defenseman whose ceiling will be defined by how much offensive assertiveness he adds to an already strong two-way base.

Yegor Shilov is one of the most skilled centers in North America whose game is defined by elite puck feel and creative vision, but whose overall impact is limited by pace and engagement away from the puck. With possession, he’s among the most talented players in the class, manipulating defenders with ease, slipping pucks through traffic, and distributing the puck with imagination and precision. He defends more by anticipation than confrontation, playing with a deep, read-and-react posture that allows him to pick off lanes and disrupt plays with an active stick rather than physical pressure. That approach can look effortless when it works, but it also leads to passive defensive sequences and minimal involvement on the forecheck or in the defensive zone.

His skating lacks urgency, and his game would benefit from a more consistent 200-foot intensity and a greater willingness to insert himself into transitions rather than waiting for plays to come to him. While his underlying data paints him as an efficient offensive mover rather than a high-volume driver, his touch, deception, and decision-making are clear separators, and when paired with stronger transition partners, he looks far more dangerous. The risk lies in whether the pace and engagement ever rise to match the skill, but the upside remains compelling enough to bet on the talent. The upside could be a top-six scoring center, but the risk could be an AHL player if the compete level doesn’t develop.

Cullen shows clear offensive instincts and playmaking touch, with passing skill that stands out and a knack for creating looks for teammates once the puck is established in the zone. He’s a driver of transition as he’s involved in 64% of offensive transitions to date but is more of a facilitator than driver in the offensive zone, as the pace of his game and his ability to consistently keep the puck on his stick after getting into zone is inconsistent which limits how much he dictates driving offensive zone chances, but he’s effective at finding soft spots in the defensive structure and getting his shot off when plays break down.

There’s a noticeable offense-first lean to his game, though when he commits defensively, he’ll engage physically and hold his own. To push himself higher into the first-round conversation, he needs either another gear in his skating or to become more puck-dominant and assertive in how he creates offense. The data is still incomplete due to his early-season injury, but what’s there supports the eye test, painting him as an offensive transition driver with legitimate playmaking value, sending over 21% of his passes into scoring areas and showing an ability to funnel pucks on net against college competition. I would project him as a middle-six scoring winger right now, but there are flashes that he could be even more.

Roobroeck is a difficult player to project, as his production results are good, but his microstats and qualitative viewings suggest a lack of translation to the NHL, with the pace and overall engagement level lagging well behind what you want from a player of his size. He isn’t a particularly skilled puck carrier and struggles to generate clean zone entries, with clunky acceleration and poor stop-start ability along the wall hurting his effectiveness in transition. For a big body, he doesn’t initiate contact well, often leading with his hands and stick rather than using his frame when playing physically. That said, there’s a real scoring instinct here: he reads space extremely well off the puck, has excellent vision into dangerous areas, and consistently gets himself open to shoot. The microstats reinforce the mixed profile: elite raw shot volume and strong shot generation from scoring areas, limited passing efficiency despite a clear intent to funnel pucks inside, poor defensive impact in both the neutral and defensive zones, and one of the worst 5-on-5 Corsi’s in the dataset.

Overall, he looks like a complementary middle-six finisher, but his lack of pace, defensive value, and transition utility creates real risk that his game won’t translate well to the NHL. In the offensive zone, however, he looks like he could be a point producer at higher levels. Roobroeck is a hard evaluation to project, and one that might be worth the wild extremes and risk of his profile as a late-first round pick. 

Inconsistency has been the name of the game for Hextall this year. He’ll have a terrible game where his puck skill is sloppy, his passing lacks anticipation, and his skating looks off and clunky throughout. Then he’ll have a game where all of those things dramatically improve, and follow it up with a slight digression. While he remains physical and brings a grinder element, the offensive skill that stood out in prior viewings last year simply wasn’t there. He struggled to execute with pace, and plays died on his stick far too often for a player expected to drive offense.

That’s what makes Hextall frustrating. At his best, Hextall is a physical, cerebral wizard, someone who can dictate play as much with his brain as with his tools. He can be effective in transition and has shown the ability to control games when his timing and confidence are right. Right now, though, his offensive game isn’t impactful enough. He’s failing to connect on passes, isn’t consistently getting inside to generate shot attempts, and isn’t creating goals off his own stick. I’m willing to bet on him as a late-first round/early-second round player, and that the offense will continue to develop this year, heading to Michigan State in the fall. I think, at worst, he’s a bottom-six NHL player. But if he hits? He could be a good second-line center or the third-line center on a Cup-contending team.

Rogowski is a big, skilled forward who plays with strength on the puck and a consistently good motor, even if his overall pace isn’t a true separator. He’s hard to knock off pucks, shows skill and vision in traffic, and for a player of his size, he moves well enough to stay involved in the flow of the game rather than getting stuck as a passenger on his line. The data backs up the eye test: he’s extremely active in transition with over a 45% involvement rate and holds a solid 68% efficiency, while nearly 20% of his passes get funneled into scoring areas, and his even-strength shot volume sits above average. He isn’t a burner, but he gets where he needs to go, plays through contact, and makes enough plays to keep possessions alive.

Compared to some of the other big forwards in this range, he stands out for combining size, puck skill, and awareness, but I am worried he may fade into the background offensively as he moves up in leagues and develops. I think it’s a relatively safe floor with Rogowski, but the upside might not be as a play driver.

Plante is a fast-paced, highly engaged 200-foot winger whose pace and work rate drive his game on both sides of the puck. The skill hasn’t fully caught up to his feet yet, but he processes the game well, makes clean, purposeful passes, and consistently stays involved in the play rather than drifting. I really like the completeness of his game for a winger at his size, especially his willingness to backcheck, support down low, and re-engage quickly through the neutral zone. The data against college competition paints him as a defense-leaning forward with strong offensive transition involvement and efficiency, while also profiling as an effective facilitator in the offensive zone.

He doesn’t live on the inside, but when he does get there, it’s purposeful and efficient rather than wasteful. There’s some offensive runway left if the puck skill continues to come along, and that blend of speed, engagement, and two-way reliability puts him firmly in the late first to early second-round range for me. He could be anything from a standout AHL player to an effective middle-six winger in the NHL who provides scoring and defensive responsibility.

Duguay just plays an amazing 200-foot game every time I watch him. The footwork and pure speed aren’t great, and that’s really the only knock on him, but he makes up for it with excellent small-area skill, strong puck protection, and an ability to weave through traffic in transition when lanes are available. He’s a highly impactful facilitator who consistently finds teammates in dangerous areas, processes quickly, and uses pre-planned, one-touch passes to keep possession and move defenders out of structure. What really separates him is his 200-foot engagement as he’s one of the best defensive wingers I’ve seen with his stick, breaks up plays all over the ice, battles on the walls, and isn’t afraid to take contact to make a play. I’d like to see him generate a bit more shot volume off his own stick after facilitating, but when he does shoot, it’s almost always from the inside. The data backs it up: elite passing completion, roughly 19% of his passes to dangerous areas, and one of the most efficient offensive transition profiles among forwards. He may be viewed as a second-round type, but I’d have no issue taking him in the late teens as he’s the kind of player that makes teammates better and drives play in all three zones.

If you value defensemen who can skate like the wind, then you’re going to love Vertti Svensk.  Svensk is a player whose game really takes shape when you zoom out and see how consistently he impacts play with his feet and puck movement. He’s an elite skater for the position, able to close gaps early, recover effortlessly, and turn defensive sequences into clean exits or immediate transition offense. He’s confident skating pucks out of pressure, joining the rush as a secondary rush option, and walking the blue line to extend possessions, all while playing with pace and composure. There are moments where he’ll try to force a pass on breakouts or get a bit ambitious offensively, and he’s still building strength, but the compete level is there, and he battles harder than his frame suggests.

He plays tight, aggressive defense, built around positioning and timing rather than brute force, and his hands let him make plays through traffic without slowing the game down. The overall package isn’t flawless, but the skating, transition value, and ability to play fast in both directions make him a defenseman who drives play more than his current reputation suggests and one who feels undervalued relative to his impact. If he falls to the second round, he’s the archetype of a player that screams “could be the steal of the draft”.

Chrenko is an offensively tilted forward whose game is built around pace, puck control, and an NHL-caliber release, making him a constant threat once he gets into the offensive zone. He plays with quick feet and quicker decisions, using sharp edge work and deception rather than pure straight-line speed to separate and attack defenders, and he’s comfortable challenging players one-on-one or slipping pucks through seams to open teammates. He shows a strong feel for spacing, gets himself into scoring areas naturally, and can operate on the perimeter or on the inside, particularly on the power play, where his shot pops. While he’s logged time at center and competes with edge, his game feels more offense-driven than detail-oriented, and I don’t think he can consistently handle the defensive responsibilities and traffic required to stick down the middle long term. Still, he’s held his own against men, shows versatility across forward positions, and brings a blend of skill, scoring touch, and competitiveness that projects into a middle-six scoring role if the rest of his game continues to round out.

Daxon Rudolph projects as a defense-first blueliner whose offensive projection is rooted more in shot volume and activation than pace or puck skill. He’s not a dynamic skater and doesn’t create separation with his feet, which limits his ability to beat pressure or extend plays at the offensive blue line, and his hands are subpar when forced to handle through traffic. Offensively, he shows a willingness to activate and jump into space, particularly on the rush, but too often defaults to low-impact point shots rather than manipulating lanes or holding onto pucks to improve the quality of chances. His passing can be rushed and inconsistent, though he’s generally efficient when keeping things simple and moving pucks within the flow of play. Defensively, he’s reliable in the defensive zone cycles, reads plays well, and competes, with most of his issues coming against speed and layered rush attacks. The overall profile is of a smart, defensively aware defenseman with average transition involvement and solid efficiency, but limited upside unless the puck skill, patience, and offensive touch take a meaningful step forward.

Adam Valentini is a smaller player without elite speed, but his skill at the collegiate level stands out enough to put him on the first-round radar. While he’s not currently driving offense consistently, he has the tools to influence play through smart positioning, puck handling, and finishing ability. His data has been very good in the NCAA as he’s involved in over 40% of his line’s offensive transitions, completes 71% of his passes with 14% of his passes going to scoring areas, and averages 3 shots a game at even strength.  If he continues to develop his offensive instincts and leverages his skill in scoring situations, there’s a clear path for him to become a top-end contributor, making him a potential first-round pick despite size and pace limitations.

Blake Zielinski plays with good pace and enough puck skill to consistently get himself involved, and his game shows up on both sides of the puck. He’s an active transition player and one of the more efficient forwards in the dataset at moving the puck up ice, but the offensive results lag behind the transition efficiency right now. He shoots a lot, though too many of those attempts come from the outside, and having better shot selection would go a long way toward improving his scoring efficiency. The vision is there, and the ideas with the puck are generally the right ones, but the execution hasn’t caught up yet, reflected in a low passing completion rate and missed connections on plays that should generate more. Defensively, he’s engaged, reads the game well, and shows traits that should translate to higher levels of hockey. He likely projects as a winger at the next level, though there’s enough awareness and versatility to see a team try him down the middle. If the passing accuracy and offensive patience improve, there’s more offense here than the raw numbers currently suggest.

I’ve ranked him more aggressively than what I believe is his median outcome, mostly because I believe in the defensive side of his game and that he possesses above-average skill to make his game work in the middle-six in the NHL.

Axel Elofsson is a small, offense-first defenseman whose skill level is impossible to ignore and whose game lives firmly on the risk–reward spectrum. He’s one of the most creative blue-liners in the class with the puck on his stick, showing high-end hands, deception, and poise both off the rush and on the power play, where he looks entirely comfortable running a unit and manipulating coverage to open seams. The production backs it up, and he consistently plays like an extra forward at lower levels, breaking pressure cleanly and creating offense through timing and passing precision.

His skating is agile and fluid with strong lateral movement, though he could use another gear in his separation speed, which shows more against men. Defensively, the reads are generally fine, but execution is inconsistent, and his size limits his effectiveness in physical battles and leaves little margin for error when decisions get rushed. Trust from coaches at the pro level will hinge on how much he can clean up those moments, but the offensive ceiling is real, and for teams willing to bet on skill and power-play value, he profiles as a potential middle-pair puck mover whose offensive upside is going to drive his NHL draft day value.

Lars Steiner is one of the easiest players in the class to assess because his game is so clearly defined. He’s a relentless pest who plays at 100 mph every shift and is constantly hunting his shot. He owns wicked release and good puck-handling skills, and he isn’t shy about using them. However, despite playing at the junior level, he doesn’t see the ice well enough to function as a true playmaker, which gives me pause, given the environment he’s in.

There’s a lot to like in Steiner’s game, but the limitations are just so clear. He struggles to process under pressure, turns the puck over frequently, and doesn’t consistently move pucks to dangerous areas. He profiles as Cam Schmidt with more physicality: an excellent finisher but not someone you trust to start chain-linked plays. Given his size, he’ll need to become more than just a trigger man to survive as an NHL scoring winger. As much as I enjoy the tools and motor, the lack of play-creation makes it hard to project him beyond a second-round value.

There’s clearly some offensive skill in Novotny’s game, but the lack of compete level and ability to consistently drive play on his own is a real concern for me. He struggles to create when he’s the puck carrier over the blue line and too often relies on his linemates to manufacture offense once structure breaks down, which makes his impact feel more dependent than dynamic. He’ll put pucks on net at a high rate, but the majority of that volume comes from the perimeter and doesn’t meaningfully stress defenders or goaltenders.

The data reinforces the eye test: his passing accuracy is a major issue at just 40%, his transition game is inefficient at under 60%, and he isn’t reliably connecting plays to the middle of the ice. For a player often discussed as a possible lottery selection, I don’t see the puck dominance, pace, or competitive edge you’d want to bet on, and right now his profile reads more like a complementary scorer than a true driver of offense. So why is he ranked by you at all, Austin? Because there are flashes of brilliance and high-end ability in his game that frustrate me to no end, it only comes out in minimal spurts. If the skill and compete level show up in every shift, he has the chance to be a top-six scoring winger.

Håkansson is a big, pro-ready left-shot defenseman whose value is rooted in reliability, maturity, and the ability to handle real minutes against men. He skates well for his size, with solid pivots and edges that allow him to maintain tight gaps, close space early, and kill plays before they turn dangerous. His puck game is simple but effective: he can retrieve pucks under pressure, protect them with his frame, and move them out cleanly with a direct first pass, while occasionally showing the confidence to beat the first layer or walk the line when lanes are there.

He’s physical without being reckless, boxes out well, and reads offensive spacing intelligently. Offense isn’t going to be the calling card here, but he has a usable shot and some secondary playmaking ability, but production will always lag behind flashier peers, yet his compete level, defensive detail, and comfort in the SHL at a young age point to an everyday, minutes-eating NHL defenseman. He looks like a safe bet to play in the NHL, especially for teams valuing a defensive defenseman, size, and floor over upside.

A defenseman with good size and decent mobility, Laylin shows confidence in activating offensively, often pushing deep into the zone rather than settling for low-percentage point shots. He handles the puck well enough to make plays, and his shot is a legitimate weapon when he finds space. Defensively, Laylin competes well in battles and reads pinches effectively. However, his blue-line defense is a concern, as he frequently gives up too much space and can be exploited off the rush. He also made two major puck-management mistakes: one turnover in front that led to a goal, and another blocked point shot that created a dangerous chance the other way. While I question if the offensive ceiling is high enough to warrant first-round consideration, his offensive tools, off-puck defensive game, and compete level make him a solid second-round candidate.

Berchild is a smaller but feisty forward who plays bigger than his measurements and consistently makes his presence felt around the ice. Primarily a winger but capable of handling center duties, his game is built on confidence and creativity with the puck, using strong one-on-one skills and deception to challenge defenders off the rush and create chances in the offensive zone. He’s comfortable operating in traffic, protects pucks well for his size, and shows a scorer’s mentality with a quick, heavy release and real touch around the net. His compete level helps bridge the size gap: he engages defensively, wins battles through positioning and stick detail, and stays involved even when plays break down.

There are moments when he can overhandle or force offense, and the lack of size means production will need to stay consistent to justify his projection. But he skates well, plays with edge, and has enough skill and hardness to envision him carving out a middle-six NHL role if the development curve continues. 

Hafele is a physical, defensive forward who plays a hard, honest game and is clearly comfortable engaging below the dots and on the wall. There’s some skill and processing there as he makes the right reads and can execute in short bursts, but he fades for long stretches and doesn’t consistently impose himself offensively. Most of his offense comes from a shoot-first approach, where he gets pucks off his stick quickly rather than creating through possession or manipulation, and while the volume is there, the impact isn’t always. Transition efficiency is a swing area for me, as he doesn’t yet transport play cleanly or draw defenders to open lanes, and his passing game tends to stay on the perimeter rather than driving the middle. The foundation of a first-round profile is there with his size, physicality, and defensive engagement, but unless the offensive involvement becomes more consistent and intentional, he projects closer to a complementary, matchup-style forward than a true driver.

McLean is a quietly effective offensive player whose game is built on deception and efficiency rather than pace. He consistently uses subtle puck touches and well-timed moves to get to the interior, and while his feet won’t overwhelm defenders, he still manages to drive play through poise and anticipation. His passing stands out: he completes the simple plays cleanly and makes the difficult ones look routine, with a knack for finding dangerous areas without forcing the issue. Since moving to Kingston, the production has followed, and the underlying data support it, as he profiles as one of the most efficient offensive transition players in the dataset and an elite passer by both volume and quality.

Defensively, he’s reliable enough to stay on the ice, but I’d like to see him demand the puck more and assert himself as a primary touch player rather than letting the game come to him. The toolkit and efficiency point to a strong second-round talent with room to grow if he adds another layer of pace or assertiveness. He screams as the type of player who may get overlooked in the draft year, but four years down the road, he shocks everyone with his effectiveness in the NHL when he gets called up.

Mbuyi is a tough, high-motor forward whose evaluation really swings from night to night, which is why he lands in that Day 2 range for me right now. At his baseline, he plays a hard-nosed, gritty game with good pace and a willingness to engage physically, but his puck skills and transition passing can lag, leaving him more of a shooter than a driver. At his best, though, the flashes of skill are undeniable as he has the ability to push play with speed, carry pucks through the neutral zone, and actively looks to create dangerous offense rather than defaulting to safe plays. In his best games, he shows real transition value, a willingness to attack off the rush, and enough passing touch to keep defenders honest, pairing that with a legitimately good shot. The inconsistency is what keeps him out of the first-round conversation for now, but the blend of pace, edge, and upside with the puck makes him a great candidate for a player who can play his way into the first round by season’s end.

Bleyl is a high-skill, mobile defender whose game flashes offense far more than his overall impact currently reflects. His lateral mobility and hands at the blue line are legitimate weapons, allowing him to routinely beat defenders one-on-one and create clean shooting or passing lanes with subtle deception. The puck skill is there, but he plays a far more conservative game than his toolkit suggests, opting for safe, connective passes rather than leaning into his ability to create, which limits his offensive influence. Defensively, he’s positionally sound and competitive, but his lack of strength shows up as he can be knocked off pucks and out of battles too easily, and his size creates real challenges against heavier forwards. The next step for Bleyl is engagement: activating more consistently in transition, moving his feet rather than standing still, and asserting himself on the offensive end. If he can marry his elite hands and agility with more pace, assertiveness, and strength, there’s a very appealing offensive defenseman upside here, but right now the flashes outweigh the shift-to-shift impact.

McKenzie brings great pace, strong straight-line speed, and relentless hustle, paired with strong defensive detail. He’s consistently engaged away from the puck and impacts games as a true two-way forward. Among North American prospects projected in the second round and beyond, he stands out as the best two-way option available, with a motor and competitiveness that translate cleanly to the pro game. He’s a little undersized, but he plays hard and doesn’t shy away from contact or defensive responsibility.

Offensively, there are limitations that are suppressing his public value. He loses pucks too often when stickhandling and will rely on speed rather than puck protection through the middle of the ice. The skill level isn’t fully there yet, but the hockey sense is. He’s very good at facilitating play in the offensive zone and consistently puts pucks into areas that allow plays to develop. His understanding of spacing, timing, and support routes is advanced for his age.

The microstats support the projection: solid involvement, positive impact, and real production despite unfinished tools. McKenzie is the type of player worth betting on as his work rate and thought processing are clearly ahead of his current skill execution, and those are the traits that tend to catch up, not regress. He’s undervalued because he isn’t flashy, but as a second-round pick, he offers reliable NHL projection and real upside once his hands catch up to his brain.

Di Iorio is a competitive, hard-to-play-against center whose game is built around support, physicality, and finishing rather than pace or playmaking. He’s constantly involved around the puck, provides reliable support in all three zones, and has a legitimately dangerous wrist/snap shot that allows him to score without needing much time or space. The concern lies in his transition and play-creation through his passing: his straight-line speed limits his ability to separate or recover, and his passing decisions can lag behind the play, leading to missed opportunities in the offensive zone. He processes the game well defensively and stays in support of his linemates, but he’s not a driver of tempo or offense at this stage. Right now, he projects best as a dependable third-line center who can add secondary scoring, wear down opponents, and bring structure to a lineup, with any offensive upside hinging on improvements in pace and puck movement.

Nordmark is a highly talented winger whose skill level and offensive instincts clearly set him apart from most peers, even if his overall impact doesn’t yet match the sum of his parts. He has legitimate NHL size, smooth skating mechanics, elite hands, and a dangerous, pro-caliber snap shot that allows him to score from range or beat defenders one-on-one. His puck skills and passing touch are high-end, and he consistently shows the ability to read the play ahead, operate in traffic, and make creative plays both on the rush and in possession. He’s been extremely productive at every junior and international level, often driving offense against top competition, but the main concern is pace and engagement: he can slow the game down too much, drift to the perimeter, and fade for stretches rather than imposing himself shift-to-shift.

He’s not soft, but he’s more of a complementary offensive driver than a relentless puck-driver at this stage, and his defensive detail and urgency will need to improve. If this were a ranking on pure upside, Nordmark would be in the top 20. However, I’m struggling to see a floor with him, and the lack of engagement scares me into thinking he can’t stick in the NHL long term. If I were an NHL team, I’d love the chance to take Nordmark as my second player in the draft as a big boom/bust swing.

Cover has a non-stop motor and is a defense-first forward who brings real value through effort, physicality, and puck disruption rather than skill. He’s a relentless forechecker with a strong stick, consistently creating turnovers and extending possession through pressure and contact, and he’s dependable defensively in all three zones. The offensive production comes almost entirely from dirty areas and broken plays, which fits his profile as he scores by being around the net and earns assists by outworking opponents, not by creating with the puck. His main limitation is transition play, where he struggles to proactively scan, forces blind passes, and lacks the puck skills to maneuver or adjust under pressure, making him more of a finisher than a driver. There’s little playmaking upside here, but the role projection is clear: a high-motor, checking-line winger who can kill plays, wear down defenders, and chip in opportunistically. Profiles well as a middle-six passenger who complements skill, and with him being so new to hockey, I think there’s still untapped potential as well.

Singh is a smart, composed defenseman whose offensive value comes from well-timed activation rather than constant puck dominance. When he jumps into the play, he’s effective, creating offense with purpose and showing good instincts, but much of the sustained offensive zone play is still driven by the forwards rather than through him. He defends well, processes the game quickly, and moves the puck efficiently, relying on anticipation and decision-making more than foot speed.

He’s not a high-end skater, which limits his ability to consistently drive transition, but his passing is reliabl,e and he understands when to advance play versus when to live to fight another shift. There’s power-play utility here due to his vision and calmness with the puck, though he projects more as a secondary option than a focal point. Overall, he profiles as a dependable, two-way defender who could run a PP2 one day.