The much-anticipated 2026 Draft is finally here! This draft has some fascinating storylines that I can't wait to watch play out. Who do the Sharks go with at 2nd? What order do the top defensemen end up in? Do the Ruck twins stay together? These are just some of the questions I'm excited to have answered this weekend.
At first overall, Gavin McKenna is nearly a lock to go to Toronto. He's being compared to previous first overall selections, Jack Hughes and Patrick Kane. He's been seen as 2026's best player for years now, and is someone Leafs fans are already pumped for.
My personal opinions do not influence my final rankings. They are built by combining my model's projections and consensus scout opinions. My combination of scout lists results in 223 players being ranked. My model has projections for 450 players. Each ranking results in a separate value, which get averaged between scouts and the model for a final combined value.
The value for a scout rank is simple. It comes from a typical draft pick value curve. For the model, it's created by multiplying a player's 1st line/pair odds by 7, 2nd line/pair by 4, 3rd by 2, and 4th by 1. This seems random at first, but it creates a value that mirrors a draft pick value curve.
Now that it's clear how these rankings are created, let's get into it! Enjoy this culmination of this year's work!
#1 - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State Univ. (NCAA)
Model Rank: 1st - Scout Rank: 1st
The 2026 Draft cycle started as the Gavin McKenna show, and it ends in the same way, but maybe with a little less confidence among scouts. McKenna is widely regarded as an elite playmaker and all-around offensive player.
He made the jump this season from the WHL to the NCAA, wanting to play in a more difficult environment than his D-1. This jump created some effort concerns where, at times, it seemed like McKenna was a passenger when the puck wasn't on his stick. His offensive game is so elite, however, that he is easily the best prospect in this class. He's held the #1 spot all season for me, and I expect him to join Darren Raddysh as the newest member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
#2 - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda HC (SHL)
Model Rank: 2nd - Scout Rank: 2nd
Ivar Stenberg had a great draft year. In the SHL, he produced at a historic rate, passing previous legends to come out of Sweden. It's important to note here that the SHL is not as strong as it used to be, so on an NHLe scale, Stenberg's production isn't as historic as it seems by looking at raw points. It still is an incredible pace, and is good enough to earn him the 2nd spot behind McKenna.
Stenberg was also great in the World Juniors and World Championship. Wherever Stenberg played this year, he was noticeably one of the best players. When guessing where Stenberg gets drafted, it's tough to tell. The unpredictability of this class starts at 2nd overall. If I were making decisions in San Jose, I would select him, but I understand why they might pass on him and select a franchise defenseman. Vancouver is possible in that case, but I think Chicago is much more likely.
POST EKLUND & BYRAM TRADES UPDATE: With Eklund out of San Jose, it seems likely that Stenberg will be a San Jose Shark after all. It's the right decision for me, regardless of whether the Eklund trade was a good idea or not.
#3 - Carson Carels, LD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Model Rank: 5th - Scout Rank: 5th
Carson Carels finishes out the year as my highest-rated defenseman. He had an amazing draft year. Carels started this season as a late lottery pick and now looks like a safe bet to be drafted top five. He is a mobile two-way defenseman with some serious offensive upside. He tore up the WHL this season as one of the younger players in this class (his birthday is in late June).
I'd imagine most people have Chase Reid as the better defenseman, but for me, Carels' summer birthday and more impressive production slide him ahead of Reid. The two defensemen are ranked closely by scouts, but the gap in model projection is much more significant, and is why Carels gets the higher spot on my board.
#4 - Chase Reid, RD, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Model Rank: 7th - Scout Rank: 3rd
Chase Reid is seen as one of the six best players in this class by everybody. He has elite mobility and a solid two-way game. You could have wanted a little more production out of Reid this year. As a late-2007 birthday, a point per game in a weakened OHL due to NCAA commitments leaves a little more to be desired.
That level of production ranks him as a possible top four defenseman in the model, a decent step below Carson Carels ahead of him, which is why Carels has passed Reid on my rankings. Going forward, however, I have no concern about Reid's development. Reid is heading to Michigan State and will be their #1 defenseman there. I'd be surprised if Reid isn't the first defenseman drafted on Friday, with how he's viewed by scouts and San Jose's need for a right-handed defender.
POST EKLUND & BYRAM TRADES UPDATE: Does Reid go to Buffalo now? Does Buffalo even own #4 by the time the pick is on the clock? No idea, but I'd expect Reid to be available at #4 with all of Tuesday's trades.
#5 - Nikita Klepov, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Model Rank: 3rd - Scout Rank: 20th
Nikita Klepov is officially "my guy" in the 2026 Draft. His production signals a player who should be drafted very high, but isn't seen as such by most scouts due to physicality concerns and his off-puck playstyle. Despite these factors, most scouts also recognize Klepov as an elite playmaker and one of the most elite offensive players in this class.
Klepov will turn 18 on Day 2 of the draft. Because he is so young, his level of production is even more impressive to the model, resulting in him being graded out even higher. He finishes 5th on my final board because his model projection is significantly better than those of the players behind him, giving the model rank more pull than his scout rank.
Additionally, Klepov is also headed to one of the best developmental programs in college hockey at Michigan State. Put all these factors together, and you get a player who I believe will be drafted much later than he deserves. I believe that whoever selects him is getting the steal of the draft.
#6 - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Model Rank: 4th - Scout Rank: 9th
Tynan Lawrence has been a strong debate topic this year. He's seen as a strong two-way center with top-notch skating and playmaking ability, whose season saw both good and bad stretches. The start of the season saw him lighting up the USHL with Muskegon. At his peak, Lawrence was my model's favorite prospect and ranked 3rd in my combined rankings. It was at this moment that Lawrence decided to make the midseason move to the NCAA with BU. He joined a dumpster fire Terrier team and struggled to score for his first couple of games.
If Lawrence's NCAA numbers were all he had on his record this year, he would be much lower than where I have him now. His 18 games at BU weren't great production-wise, but in his combined 18 games in Muskegon and with Canada's U18 team, he was great. His non-NCAA numbers are doing great work for his projection. All of Lawrence's production is getting boosted by the fact that he's one of the youngest players in this class, a common trend with players my model loves. If you're a team looking for a top-six center, Lawrence is a great option. In my opinion, he is the best center in this draft class.
#7 - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Model Rank: 9th - Scout Rank: 4th
Caleb Malhotra is widely regarded as the best center in this class. I have him as the second-best. Malhotra's stock climbed right at the end of the season with his incredible playoff run. In 67 regular-season games, he scored 84 points. It's not bad, but it's not great for a guy who's likely to be a top three pick and pretty much guaranteed to go top five. That all changed with his playoff run, where he scored 26 points in 15 games.
His playoff run moved him from the consensus 8th-best prospect to now the 4th-best. My model was always lower on him than scouts, but it saw a similar rise from regular season to playoffs. He jumped from the 17th best projection to 9th now. Scouts see Malhotra playing a pro-style game, a trait that GMs love in centers they draft. It seems safe to assume Caleb will be drafted by Vancouver and coached by his dad. It's a cool story that I look forward to seeing. If he doesn't go to the Canucks, it means we're in for a crazy, unpredictable show.
#8 - Wyatt Cullen, F, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 6th - Scout Rank: 11th
If Wyatt Cullen were born 8 days later, he would first be eligible for the 2027 Draft, not this year. That is absurd for the amount he produced this year, especially at the U18s, and a big reason my model is higher than any scout on Cullen. He has so much time to grow and is going to a college program in Minnesota that historically has been great at developing NHL talent.
Cullen has also grown an insane amount since coming to the Development Program, coming in at a tiny 5'5". My model loves the upside with him. His hockey IQ is incredible, which, when combined with his elite deception, leads him to be one of the class's most elite playmakers. I expect him to be drafted around 10th overall.
#9 - Viggo Björck, C/RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Model Rank: 10th - Scout Rank: 6th
In a normal draft class, Viggo Björck would not be getting as much from scouts considering his frame. What's different about this year, however, is that we all just watched Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake be two of Carolina's most important pieces in a Stanley Cup Playoff run. They proved to many NHL execs that it is possible to be smaller and have success in the playoffs. That is paving the way for Björck this summer to be drafted where he should be and avoid a Caufield-like fall.
The word I see being used the most to describe Björck is intelligent. He thinks the game is at such a high level that it allows his size to not be much of an issue. He was great in the SHL all year and proved against kids his age in the World Juniors and Swedish Juniors just how superior his skills are.
My model is slightly lower on Björck than the scout consensus since it is using smaller players from years past as his comps. These players were not given the amount of developmental opportunities that Björck will be given because of the era we're in now. Despite this, it still has him as a top ten prospect and worthy of a high pick.
#10 - Ryan Lin, RD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Model Rank: 8th - Scout Rank: 16th
Ryan Lin starts a run on defensemen in my rankings with the next four players ranked all being blueliners. Lin is regarded as one of the most intelligent defensemen in this class and as a guy who can be relied on all over the ice to move the puck up the ice and out of the defensive zone.
I don't think it's a secret, though, that out of the next four defensemen, Lin is likely to be the last one drafted. He doesn't fit the physical description that most GMs look for in their top pair defenseman. All of the next guys do. I don't have much concern that Lin's size will hurt him at the next level. Many GMs don't share that same sentiment.
#11 - Keaton Verhoeff, RD, Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA)
Model Rank: 20th - Scout Rank: 7th
Verhoeff is the first player on this list that my model is quite a bit lower on than the consensus. Scouts have him ranked anywhere from 3rd to 9th. My model has him 20th. Put those together, and you get a final rank of 11th.
Coming into the season, Verhoeff was seen as the 2nd best player in this class, right behind McKenna. Like the future first overall pick, Verhoeff also made the move to the NCAA, which also exposed playstyle concerns that weren't as apparent in the WHL. Scouts worry about some of his decision-making and tendency to overhandle the puck into turnovers.
While the concerns are legitimate, Verhoeff's talent can't be denied. He has looked like an elite prospect at times and still had a decent freshman season. He'll likely be picked inside the top ten and be counted on to be a future top-pair right-handed defenseman.
#12 - Alberts Smits, LD, Jukurit (Liiga)
Model Rank: 22nd - Scout Rank: 8th
Alberts Smits is one of the most fascinating prospects of this draft class to me. He's spent most of his draft season playing against men and looking like he belongs. Whether it was in Finland, Germany, at the Olympics, or World Juniors, most scouts always came away with the same conclusion: This guy is exactly what we want from an NHL defenseman. They see him as having a pro-style game.
For me, I worry Smits is falling into the "big man, skate good" archetype. Every year, there are big defensemen with high-end skating and a limited offensive game who get drafted as "pro-style" prospects who never work out. The Liiga is not what it used to be. I have it as the worst of the European pro leagues, behind the KHL, AHL, DEL, Czech league, and NL.
There is a chance his physical tools allow him to step into the NHL and flourish as a top-pair defenseman. There is also a chance that he struggles to crack an NHL roster due to a limited offensive game. This distribution is reflected in his model projection and is why I'm so intrigued to see where he gets drafted and where he plays next season.
#13 - Daxon Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Model Rank: 16th - Scout Rank: 12th
Daxon Rudolph is in a similar spot, ranking-wise, to Verhoeff before him, but loses out to him because of Verhoeff's higher rating among scouts. Rudolph's rankings are all over the place. Most see him as a late lottery pick, but some see him as a late 1st/early 2nd. These scouts cite a lack of "processing speed, pace and decisiveness" (Ryan Ma). Fans of Rudolph see him as a mobile defenseman whose skills tend to lead to a reliable future NHL defenseman that coaches can count on.
I'm in a similar spot to most scouts here. I see Rudolph as a late lottery-worthy selection. We're getting into a range now in this draft class where each player will have a significant concern that may stop their path to the NHL. I'd argue this is where the draft gets fun and the best front offices feast.
#14 - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Model Rank: 27th - Scout Rank: 10th
Ethan Belchetz is a typical first-end power forward. Not as loved by analytical models as he is by scouts, but there is no doubt that players like Belchetz help win in the playoffs. The push and pull is whether it's worth using a high-end pick on these players or opting for skill and finding your physical specimens via trade or free agency.
Most of Belchetz's scouting reports have him as an ultra-physical forward with details that will be useful in the NHL. My concern is about his scoring upside and whether it will be enough in the pros. I don't think anyone expects Belchetz to be a first-liner; the most likely outcome if he makes it is probably as a physical middle six forward.
#15 - Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Model Rank: 15th - Scout Rank: 28th
I have Jack Hextall as the 15th best player in this draft class. That makes me one of the highest on him among the scouts who's opinion are included in these rankings. Hextall's production in the USHL this season was impressive. It lends him to a decently high ceiling relative to other prospects ranked in the late 1st this year.
Scouts love Hextall's effort and high-energy playstyle. Those traits are something you usually see from prospects without impressive NHLe grades, but Hextall is different. Hextall's scouting reports all feature the word "pro". Some worry about how much he'll be able to produce, but I don't see that as a concern. He's already scoring at a rate my model likes, combine that with a playstyle many scouts also like, and you have yourself a worthy lottery selection in my eyes.
#16 - Adam Novotny, LW/RW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Model Rank: 24th - Scout Rank: 17th
Adam Novotny finishes higher on my final board than where both my model and scouts have him ranked. This is happening since many players ranked ahead of him by one are ranked much lower by the other rank. Essentially, the fact that both scouts and model like Novotny boosts him over many players where the two don't agree.
Scouts tend to describe Novotny as a power forward with great goal-scoring ability. It seems like he is likely to go after Belchetz if a team misses out on the can't-miss power forward that he is seen as. I rate the two players pretty similarly; whoever selects Novotny in the mid to late 1st round is getting a great prospect for that range.
#17 - Tommy Bleyl, RD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 23rd - Scout Rank: 22nd
Tommy Bleyl is a prospect that I personally love. My model is lower on him than you would expect because of how hard it's been for smaller, productive defensemen from juniors to make it to the NHL. What I will admit my model is not accounting for is the difference in the NHL now versus a decade ago. It is easier for smaller defensemen now to break into the league. They are given the opportunities they deserve to showcase their talents.
Bleyl is an elite skater who has risen a lot in draft rankings over the course of the season. He wasn't even on my draft list until March, but has quickly climbed into my 1st round. His offensive game is no doubt elite due to how he uses his mobility to break open defending schemes. He's also shown a lot of progress defensively and uses his feet and stick to defend where his frame can't.
Bleyl will be going to Michigan State next year. I expect him to be one of the NCAA's most productive defensemen and make a lot of teams look silly for passing on him. He'll likely be a late 1st or 2nd round pick, but I think he should be a 1st round lock with everything he's proven this season.
#18 - J.P. Hurlbert, LW/C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Model Rank: 21st - Scout Rank: 26th
Hurlbert is a highly skilled offensive forward who excelled in the WHL. You sometimes see scouts talk about players as great junior players but lack the translatable skills to make it to the NHL. This is usually what causes highly productive junior players to get drafted later than their production would indicate. Hurlbert seems to fall into that category this year. There are concerns about his pace and off-puck play not holding up in the NHL.
If he hits, a team will get a player who can be relied on for offense night in and night out. If he doesn't hit, there's a good chance he's producing at a high level in the AHL or Europe, but just can never fully crack an NHL lineup.
#19 - Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
Model Rank: 13th - Scout Rank: 47th
Tomas Chrenko is extremely boom or bust. His odds to be a 1st line forward nearly match his odds to be a 2nd through 4th liner combined. The reason for his low scout rank has to do with his smaller frame and where he played this season. The Slovak league isn't on the same level as the other European pro leagues, but that doesn't make Chrenko's production in it any less impressive.
Chrenko has impressed against kids his age for years now, in junior leagues and junior tournaments. I wouldn't expect to hear his name called until Day 2 of the draft, but I believe whoever does will be selecting one of the best players available.
#20 - Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71 (SHL)
Model Rank: 45th - Scout Rank: 13th
Malte Gustafsson is regarded as the best defensive defenseman in this draft class. If you're drafting him, you're not looking for offense. You select him to be a defensive anchor that shuts down the other team's top line and then gets off the ice for a change. He's described as a big and strong guy who plays a competitively physical brand of hockey. He's also seen as a high-end skater to be a mobile shutdown guy one day.
For me, I worry his non-existent offensive game will prohibit him from making it to the NHL. I talked about the "big man-skate good" archetype with Alberts Smits earlier. I see the same thing with Gustafsson. Over the past few drafts, Dmitri Simashev has been one of the only players like this to make it to the NHL. If Gustafsson hits, you're getting a great player. My concern is that the hit rate for players like Gustafsson historically is pretty low.
#21 - Evan Jardine, F, Youngstown Phantoms
Model Rank: 12th - Scout Rank: 76th
I'm going to assume this is the highest anyone will have Jardine ranked. Evan Jardine is a productive forward out of the USHL, a common trend for my rankings. I am higher on the USHL as a league than most, which results in plenty of players coming out of the USHL being well-liked by the model.
Jardine has great skills and elite competitiveness, which scouts love. What holds him back for many is his skating and smaller (but not tiny) frame. I've been high on Jardine since my update in March, but I've started to notice him popping up on my draft rankings as of late. I still think the 3rd round is the most likely spot for him, but I wouldn't be shocked if someone takes him in round two.
#22 - Blake Zielinski, F, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Model Rank: 11th - Scout Rank: 78th
Blake Zielinski is in a very similar spot to Evan Jardine and thus is ranked one spot behind him at 22nd overall. Zielinski is also a high-producing USHL forward. He's described as having great tools and offensive instincts, but may lack the playstyle to make it to the NHL. There are concerns that he plays too much of a perimeter game.
I think using a 3rd round pick on Zielinski, which is where I'd expect him to be selected, is going to be a great decision that some team makes on Day 2.
#23 - Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Model Rank: 18th - Scout Rank: 46th
No prospect hurt their draft stock more this season than Ryan Roobroeck. Coming into the season, he was seen as a top five prospect. He was fresh off a 40-goal, 80-point season and looked poised to dominate the OHL. What we saw this year was nothing like that. His production regressed severely, and scouts saw worrying signs about his competitiveness.
He has an elite shot and good puck skills, but lacks the pace and physicality that you would like to see from a 6'4" center. My model still has him as a mid-1st rounder because of how good his D-1 was and his frame. As a big forward, he will be given opportunities in a team's bottom six and will stick easier than a smaller player.
Roobroeck will return to the OHL next season as a key piece for the Memorial Cup hopeful Guelph Storm. He will need to dominate and approach 100 points to be back on track developmentally. If he doesn't, then I will be more concerned than I am now.
#24 - Tomas Galvas, LD, Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)
Model Rank: 14th - Scout Rank: 85th
If you've been following the NHL Draft for at least a few years, Galvas is not a new name. Tomas Galvas is a double overager, just finishing his D+2. It seems like this is the year when he'll finally get drafted. The current version of my model would have ranked Galvas 87th in his first draft-eligible season in 2024.
The jump in Galvas' stock began with his elite World Juniors performance, in which he looked like the best defenseman in every game he played. He also had a great year in the Czech pro league and looks ready to make the jump to the AHL next season.
Galvas is a small but hyper-mobile defenseman with top-notch IQ. It's a prototype that has proven to work just fine in the NHL recently. Last year, no defensemen under 6' were drafted. That has me wondering if there's a chance that results in Galvas once again going undrafted this year. I'd be shocked if that happened, but I guess you never really know. All it takes is one team to believe in him and select him on Day 2.
#25 - Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)
Model Rank: 62nd - Scout Rank: 14th
Oscar Hemming struggled to find a place to play in the first half of the year, but when he finally landed at Boston College, he quickly started turning heads. Scouts like his shot and skating, which give him traits that you look for in a power forward. He was playing like a guy that teams covet when it comes to playoff time.
Model-wise, Hemming's production wasn't that impressive, even with his late summer birthday. He didn't play in a great league last year either, so he doesn't have any seasons with a high NHLe rating on record yet. I think it's safe to assume he'll produce better next year with more consistency, but he'll need a substantial increase for my model to align with how the public sees him.
#26 - Thomas Vandenberg, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
Model Rank: 19th - Scout Rank: 48th
Thomas Vandenberg may not seem like a guy an NHLe model should like. He was under a point per game in the OHL and didn't produce much at the U18s. That changes when you look at when Vandenberg was born. He is one week away from not being eligible for this draft because he is too young. What he did as a 17-year-old all season is very impressive, and it leads to him being a guy my model really likes.
Scouts see him as a 2nd round pick who is good at a lot but not elite at anything specifically. I've seen him described as having pro habits, which is a great sign for how young he is. He was also great in the faceoff circle this year, which should keep him at center as a pro despite his average size. I like Vandenberg as a selection for a team picking early on Day 2.
#27 - Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigers (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 25th - Scout Rank: 39th
Yegor Shilov's odds profile perfectly depicts how scouts see him. If he hits, he could be a highly productive top-six forward. If not, he might be a 4th liner, but likely out of the league. There's not really an in-between for Shilov. He's offensively skilled, especially in his playmaking ability, which is seen as one of the best in the class.
The concerns with Shilov that limit his NHL odds have to do with his pace and defensive play. He'll be heading to BU next season, where he'll hopefully round out the rest of his game to match his offensive abilities. I think he'll be one of the first players drafted on Day 2 and will be a great pick at that spot.
#28 - Juho Piiparinen, RD, Tappara (Liiga)
Model Rank: 42nd - Scout Rank: 23rd
Juho Piiparinen split time this year between Finland's pro and minor leagues. When he was up with the major club, scouts described his game as mature and reliable but without an elite skill. The best part of his game is his defensive ability. He plays a shutdown role well and is what will be expected of him from whoever drafts him.
Players like Piiparinen never grade out well in NHLe models, and this is why it's important to balance them with scout opinions. I am always worried about how a non-existent offensive game now will serve these types of players in the NHL. I have Piiparinen graded similarly to Malte Gustafsson, this class's pure defense blueliners. We'll see if both, one, or none of them hit at the next level.
#29 - Simas Ignatavicius, F, Genève-Servette HC (NL)
Model Rank: 31st - Scout Rank: 31st
Simas Ignatavicius has done as well as you could ask for where he's played. He spent the year in Switzerland in the NL, which I have on par with other European leagues like the SHL, DEL, and Czech league. When he played in junior SL, he tore it up and was quickly brought back to the NL. Scouts describe Ignatavicius as a strong skater with a pro-ready shot. He's viewed as a safe prospect by scouts and will likely go late on Day 1 or early on Day 2.
#30 - Bode Laylin, RD, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Model Rank: 17th - Scout Rank: 140th
Bode Laylin is a model favorite who hasn't gotten much attention from scouts. He was great in the USHL this season with Tri-City as an undersized mobile defenseman. His competitiveness is also seen as one of his best traits, along with his skating.
He's moving on to the WHL next season with the Everett Silvertips, filling the hole that Landon Dupont will leave behind with his move to the NCAA. I'm excited to see him produce well in the WHL next year and get more respect from scouts. I'm not sure Laylin gets drafted this year. As an undersized defenseman, it'll be hard to get picked considering no blueliners under 6' were drafted last year, with the lack of scout attention he's received.
#31 - Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Model Rank: 28th - Scout Rank: 36th
Brooks Rogowski is a huge centerman, but concerns some scouts because he doesn't play like it. He is more of a skilled forward who happens to be tall rather than the traditional huge forward whose size and physicality are his best traits. Scouts who like Rogowski love his puck skills, skating, and defensive IQ. Those who are doubters of his are worried about how passive he is physically, despite his size.
Model-wise, I like him as a late 1st despite the below point per game scoring rate. His frame compares him to tall forwards of the past who made it to the NHL without scoring at elite rates. His production also gets boosted because of his late birthday. He is young and has plenty of runway ahead of him. Rogowski is off to Michigan State next year and will have to develop similar parts of his game that Dean Letourneau has at Boston College to make it to the NHL.
#32 - William Håkansson, LD, Luleå HF (SHL)
Model Rank: 37th - Scout Rank: 29th
The final player ranked in my 1st round is William Håkansson. He is a big defenseman who spent time between the SHL, AllSvenskan, and J20 leagues. He didn't get to show much offensive ability in his SHL minutes, but was apparently able to flash a little bit more of it when he went down to the AllSvenskan.
A few scouts see him as a safe 1st round pick, others see him as a border 1st/2nd rounder. They like his skating and view his defense as his most NHL-projectable trait.
#33 - Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (Ohio) Univ. (NCAA)
Model Rank: 58th - Scout Rank: 21st
#34 - Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 35th - Scout Rank: 32nd
#35 - Alexander Command, C, Örebro HK (U20 Nationell)
Model Rank: 123rd - Scout Rank: 15th
#36 - Maddox Dagenais, C, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 61st - Scout Rank: 24th
#37 - Liam Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Model Rank: 53rd - Scout Rank: 25th
#38 - Elton Hermansson, RW/LW, MoDo Hockey (AllSvenskan)
Model Rank: 106th - Scout Rank: 19th
#39 - Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)
Model Rank: 130th - Scout Rank: 18th
#40 - Adam Goljer, RD, HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)
Model Rank: 40th - Scout Rank: 37th
#41 - Alan Shaikhlislamov, RW/LW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Model Rank: 26th - Scout Rank: 82nd
#42 - Mathis Preston, F, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Model Rank: 65th - Scout Rank: 30th
#43 - Olivers Murnieks, C, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 36th - Scout Rank: 59th
#44 - Rudolfs Berzkalns, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Model Rank: 34th - Scout Rank: 63rd
#45 - Xavier Villeneuve, LD, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 87th - Scout Rank: 27th
#46 - Gleb Pugachyov, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
Model Rank: 64th - Scout Rank: 34th
#47 - Jonas Kemps, LD, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Model Rank: 29th - Scout Rank: 180th
#48 - Jean-Christophe Lemieux, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Model Rank: 33rd - Scout Rank: 100th
#49 - Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Model Rank: 39th - Scout Rank: 58th
#50 - Justin Graf, C, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
Model Rank: 30th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#51 - Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Model Rank: 38th - Scout Rank: 61st
#52 - A.J. Francisco, D, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 32nd - Scout Rank: 151st
#53 - Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgårdens IF (U20 Nationell)
Model Rank: 70th - Scout Rank: 37th
#54 - Markus Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Model Rank: 59th - Scout Rank: 42nd
#55 - Nikita Shcherbakov, LD, Toros Neftekamsk (VHL)
Model Rank: 77th - Scout Rank: 35th
#56 - Landon Hafele, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Model Rank: 41st - Scout Rank: 89th
#57 - Mikey Berchild, F, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 43rd - Scout Rank: 74th
#58 - Lavr Gashilov, C, Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)
Model Rank: 46th - Scout Rank: 69th
#59 - Luke Schairer, RD, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 49th - Scout Rank: 68th
#60 - Viktor Fyodorov, C, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
Model Rank: 48th - Scout Rank: 70th
#61 - Adam Nemec, F, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Model Rank: 47th - Scout Rank: 72nd
#62 - Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 63rd - Scout Rank: 56th
#63 - Matias Vanhanen, F, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Model Rank: 54th - Scout Rank: 66th
#64 - Adam Valentini, F, Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)
Model Rank: 99th - Scout Rank: 40th
#65 - Victor Plante, F, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 68th - Scout Rank: 57th
#66 - Maksim Sokolovskii, LD, London Knights (OHL)
Model Rank: 71st - Scout Rank: 52nd
#67 - Adam Levac, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Model Rank: 44th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#68 - Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Model Rank: 55th - Scout Rank: 79th
#69 - Niklas Aaram-Olsen, RW/LW, Örebro HK (U20 Nationell)
Model Rank: 237th - Scout Rank: 33rd
#70 - Ryder Cali, C, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
Model Rank: 132nd - Scout Rank: 41st
#71 - Dayne Beuker, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 57th - Scout Rank: 105th
#72 - William Tomko, F, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Model Rank: 50th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#73 - Alexander Ivanov, LD, Bars Kazan (VHL)
Model Rank: 51st - Scout Rank: 199th
#74 - Cole Tuminaro, RD, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Model Rank: 52nd - Scout Rank: Unranked
#75 - Morgan Andernberg, LW/C, Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
Model Rank: 56th - Scout Rank: 134th
#76 - Yaroslav Fedoseyev, RD, Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)
Model Rank: 72nd - Scout Rank: 79th
#77 - Alexander Bilecki, LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Model Rank: 114th - Scout Rank: 51st
#78 - Philippe Veilleux, LW, Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 60th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#79 - Brek Liske, RD, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Model Rank: 136th - Scout Rank: 49th
#80 - Nolen Geerdes, LD, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Model Rank: 66th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#81 - Cole Zurawski, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Model Rank: 76th - Scout Rank: 91st
#82 - Luka Radivojevic, RD, Boston College (NCAA)
Model Rank: 67th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#83 - Jet Kwajah, RD, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Model Rank: 69th - Scout Rank: 215th
#84 - Beckett Hamilton, F, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Model Rank: 125th - Scout Rank: 59th
#85 - Ben Macbeath, LD, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Model Rank: 244th - Scout Rank: 43rd
#86 - Braidy Wassilyn, F, London Knights (OHL)
Model Rank: 73rd - Scout Rank: 145th
#87 - Matvei Kotkov, F, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Model Rank: 75th - Scout Rank: 147th
#88 - Sam Wathier, LD, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Model Rank: 74th - Scout Rank: 204th
#89 - Vladimír Dravecký, RD, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Model Rank: 89th - Scout Rank: 86th
#90 - Landon Nycz, LD, Univ. of Massachusetts (NCAA)
Model Rank: 105th - Scout Rank: 73rd
#91 - Chase Harrington, F, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Model Rank: 170th - Scout Rank: 54th
#92 - Wesley Royston, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Model Rank: 78th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#93 - Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW, Leksands IF (U20 Nationell)
Model Rank: 139th - Scout Rank: 62nd
#94 - Cooper Soller, F, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Model Rank: 79th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#95 - Zach Wooten, C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Model Rank: 80th - Scout Rank: Unranked
#96 - Oleg Kulebyakin, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 81st - Scout Rank: 148th
#97 - Ryan Brown, LW, London Knights (OHL)
Model Rank: 91st - Scout Rank: 112th
#98 - Chad Lygitsakos, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Model Rank: 82nd - Scout Ranked: Unranked
#99 - Alex McIean, F, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Model Rank: 85th - Scout Rank: 158th
#100 - Ty Meunier, F, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Model Rank: 83rd - Scout Rank: Unranked
Honorable Mentions (#101 - #110)
