NHL Central Scouting Releases Final Draft Rankings

Top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg lead the way, but who else stands out?

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:52am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting various hockey elements like sticks, pucks, and players in motion, conveying the complexity and excitement of the NHL Draft process.The NHL Draft's top prospects are deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, hinting at the diverse talent pool and strategic decisions teams will face on draft day.Buffalo Today

The NHL Central Scouting has released its final draft rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, providing a glimpse into how the league views this year's top prospects. Penn State's Gavin McKenna and Frolunda's Ivar Stenberg top the North American and international skater lists respectively, but the rankings also highlight several other intriguing players, including a group of highly-touted defensemen and some potential value picks later in the draft.

Why it matters

The NHL Central Scouting rankings are a crucial resource for teams, analysts and fans leading up to the draft, offering valuable insights into how the league's scouting departments view the top talent. This year's rankings suggest the 2026 draft could feature a strong defensive class, while also highlighting some potential steals later on for teams willing to take a chance on skilled players who may have been overlooked.

The details

McKenna and Stenberg are widely expected to be the top two picks, but the rankings indicate a group of defensemen could be selected shortly after them, including Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verheoff and Daxon Rudolph. Latvian blueliner Alberts Smits is also generating buzz and could potentially be the first defenseman off the board. At center, Caleb Malhotra and Tynan Lawrence lead the North American rankings, while Oliver Suvanto and Viggo Bjorck stand out on the international side. Some potential value picks include WHL winger Mathis Preston, USNTDP forwards Casey Mutryn and Victor Plante, and Michigan freshman Adam Valentini.

  • The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26-27 in Buffalo, New York.

The players

Gavin McKenna

A top prospect from Penn State who tops the NHL Central Scouting's North American skater rankings.

Ivar Stenberg

A highly-touted international prospect from Frolunda who leads the NHL Central Scouting's international skater rankings.

Chase Reid

A defenseman who ranks behind McKenna on the North American skater list.

Alberts Smits

A Latvian defenseman who is generating buzz and could potentially be the first blueliner selected.

Mathis Preston

A WHL winger who could provide value as a potential second-round pick.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The debate between these two will go on until the day the pick is made and probably well beyond that as well, when both are playing in the NHL.”

— Tony Ferrari, USA TODAY Writer

“We could see half of the top 10 all end up being picks from the blueline.”

— Tony Ferrari, USA TODAY Writer

What’s next

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26-27 in Buffalo, New York, where teams will have the opportunity to select the top prospects highlighted in the NHL Central Scouting rankings.

The takeaway

This year's NHL Draft class appears to be particularly strong on the defensive side, with several highly-touted blueliners potentially going early. However, the rankings also suggest there could be some value picks later in the draft for teams willing to take a chance on skilled forwards who may have been overlooked.