The 2026 NHL Draft conversation is heating up 🔥
In this episode, we break down our latest May NHL Draft rankings, biggest risers and fallers, underrated prospects, and the names scouts can’t stop talking about heading into June’s 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
From elite top-end talent to potential draft steals, we dive into:
🏒 Updated 2026 NHL Draft rankings
📈 Major stock risers & surprise drops
👀 Players NHL teams are watching closely
🔥 Early Top 10 debates
💭 Prospect projections & scouting insights
Reminder: this is NOT our final list — and now the real lock in begins. With another month of viewings these rankings are only the start.
🇸🇪 In fact, we already owe Viggo Björck an apology!
If you’re into NHL prospects, scouting, mock drafts, junior hockey, NCAA hockey, CHL, USHL, or international prospects — this podcast is for you.
Who’s too high? Who’s too low? Let us know in the comments ⬇️
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0:00 – Introduction
0:59 – 1) Gavin McKenna 2) Ivar Stenberg
2:13 – 3) Caleb Malhotra
4:45 – 4) Carson Carels 5) Chase Reid 6) Keaton Verhoeff 7) Alberts Smits
14:00 – 8) Viggo Bjorck (Sorry Viggo)
16:34 – 9) Oliver Suvanto 10) Ilia Morozov 11) Tynan Lawrence
21:10 – 12) Ethan Belchetz 13) Oscar Hemming 14) Maddox Dagenais 15) Daxon Rudolph 16) Wyatt Cullen
34:15 – 17) Elton Hermansson 18) Simas Ignatavicius
38:46 – 19) Niklas Aaram-Olsen 20) Liam Ruck 21) Markus Ruck 22) Nikita Klepov 23) JP Hurlbert
41:04 – 24) Alexander Command 25) Malte Gustafsson
42:29 – 26) Adam Novotny 27) Tommy Bleyl 28) Alexander Bilecki 29) Ben MacBeath
47:42 – 30) Mathis Preston 31) Xavier Villeneuve 32) Adam Valentini 33) Ryan Lin 34) Maksim Sokolovskii 35) Nikita Shcherbakov 36) Gleb Pugachyov
Official Rank:
1) Gavin McKenna
2) Ivar Stenberg
3) Caleb Malhotra
4) Carson Carels
5) Chase Reid
6) Keaton Verhoeff
7) Alberts Smits
8) Viggo Bjorck
9) Oliver Suvanto
10) Ilia Morozov
11) Tynan Lawrence
12) Ethan Belchetz
13) Oscar Hemming
14) Maddox Dagenais
15) Daxon Rudolph
16) Wyatt Cullen
17) Elton Hermansson
18) Simas Ignatavicius
19) Niklas Aaram-Olsen
20) Liam Ruck
21) Markus Ruck
22) Nikita Klepov
23) JP Hurlbert
24) Alexander Command
25) Malte Gustafsson
26) Adam Novotny
27) Tommy Bleyl
28) Alexander Bilecki
29) Ben MacBeath
30) Mathis Preston
31) Xavier Villeneuve
32) Adam Valentini
33) Ryan Lin
34) Maksim Sokolovskii
35) Nikita Shcherbakov
36) Gleb Pugachyov
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Let us know your thoughts on our May rankings! Still lots of work to do!
I hope Viggo falls to the NYI
Good analysis on Viggo. Question for you though. How many guys actually can start at wing and switch to C at the NHL level? I feel like they say that about lots of guys but they never do it (e.g. Nylander).
I don't see the athleticism of Parayko with Verhoeff. Verhoeff looks like Ekblad with Chychrun's shot. I expect he will need to significantly improve his puck handling and play making to put his shot to use on a top PP. He makes mistakes under pressure and even without pressure, he needs to create more offense outside of his shot which is superb.
With Stenberg & Björcks WJC. In the group stage, I think Björck was the best player on team Sweden but in the playoffs, Stenberg was the best player which is why I would say Stenbergs tournament was slightly better. I do disagree with if they were the same size Björck would be taken ahead, looking at their production and play the last few years, Stenberg has been better. Their D-2 years are the latest it's arguable but while Björck was j18 & u16, Stenberg was j18 & j20. The reason he would be taken ahead is the same reason Malholtra might be taken ahead, he's a center.
Malte Gustafsson at 25????? I think it's a higher chance he's top 10 than in the 20s
He played 1st center in Djurgarden/SHL after the junior championship. Now he's playing center in the top line in Sweden national team in the world championships, he was awarded best swedish player today against Denmark. he scored 1 goal as the youngest swedish player ever, the guy just turned 18. I predict he will be ranked higher after the world championships.
How do you guys rate Stenberg compared to Demidov when he was going into the draft?
Viggo please fall to the jets. Was looking realistic but he's getting too much hype now!
I love how every 6'2" 2 way Centerman has to be compared to Jonathan Toews. "Yeah hes like one of the best Centerman of the last 20 years."
Chase Reid seems like a player that has an Evan Bouchard like archetype.
All of you guys call Stenburg ' smaller ' he is 6 foot 180 at 18 .. he puts on 10 lbs .. I'd call him average size compared to McKenna at 170
As soon as the leafs get 1st everyone starts questioning McKenna's 1st overall spot some even saying he falls to 4
Of Misa was in the draft do you think him or Stenberg would be the better prospect?
My List:
1. Gavin Mckenna
2. Ivar Stenberg
3.Alberts Smits
4. Chase Reid
5. Keaton Verhoeff
6. Caleb Malhotra
7. Viggo Bjorck
8. Carson Carels
9. Tynan Lawrence
10. Ethan Belchetz
11. Adam Novotny
12. Oscar Hemming
13. Daxon Rudolph
14. Oliver Suvanto
15. Wyatt Cullen
16. Malte Gustafsson
17. Elton Hermansson
18. Nikita Klepov
19. Liam Ruck
20. JP Hurlbert
21. Markus Ruck
22. Ryan Lin
23. William Hakansson
24. Juho Piiparinen
25. Ilia Morozov
26. Maddox Dagenais
27. Mathis Preston
28. Tommy Bleyl
29. Xavier Villeneuve
30. Alexander Command
31. Niklas Aaram-Olsen
32. Ryan Roobroeck
Not much has changed from last time, I still think Smits is the best defenseman because I think he has the highest two way floor and still a high ceiling and I still like the other two along with him more than Malhotra, mainly because I find it easier to project them as a number one defenseman than Malhotra as a number one centre.
Carels deserves to be higher but I have to give Bjorck, Smits, and Verhoeff their flowers, I just don't think he's a number one like the others guys more a really good number 2 but he's still really good.
Why did Novotny slide so much on your board? I still like the floor and he has a motor and shot that can play in a top six.
Hermansson/Rucks/Klepov/Hurlbert are all similar molds to me, average skaters with high IQs and upside, I give the edge to Hermansson because he's showed it at a pro style and Cullen sits above them all because he's young and the skating is a lot better.
I think you guys are underestimating Ryan Lin's projectability, maybe the puck moving and skating aren't as elite as we thought going into the year but he does everything at a solid level and defends similar to how Lane Hutson defends (footwork and smart positioning).
Morozov and Dagenais I feel should also be higher, I just question the upside with them.
Of Preston/Roobroeck/Nordmark/Shilov Preston is probably the only one I'd take the swing on cause he's the only one that seems to give a shit, I think the already high end skills are improving and there's room for an undersized guy in a top six if you give him the right linemates. Roobroeck maybe because the frame is intriguing, Nordmark lost me at the U18s his game against USA was brutal. Shilov hasn't moved the needle for me at all this year.
Bleyl is better than Villeneuve
Aaram-Olsen is still underrated
Shoutout Sokolovskii, that dude is sick
Good list hope you both make it to the draft!
I wasn't a fan of the Rucks a few months ago but Rocco convinced me to go look at more footage of them. They're the real deal and could end up being steals in the late teens/early 20's, if they don't go earlier.
Viggo Bjorck > Malhotra (1 year wonder on loaded team) pretty easily imo. Many of the best players ever are 5’9” to 5’11” (even Gretzky listed at 6 foot I’ve heard was closer to 5’11” which Crosby is as well…Viggo has some Crosby to him).
He’s done HISTORIC things never done before at 16/17 in Sweden production wise! Was one of the best players at WJC. Had 11 points in final 12 SHL (2nd best league in world) games including 3 points in first playoff game at 17/18! Youngest players EVER to play in World Championship senior team for Sweden? Viggo, Leo, Sedin twins, Forsberg!
Frondell and Stenberg have said he’s the best player they’ve ever played with! Crosby just raved about him! Benson should have gone top4 in his 2023 draft, but moronically fell to #13 bc 5’9 to 5’10” just like Viggo even though just like Viggo had elite production.
I want my Blackhawks to take him at 4 unless Stenberg falls there and even that isn’t a slam dunk to me (neither is McKenna vs Stenberg). I don’t believe we will though bc GMs scared to take someone 5’10” type guys #1 outside of Showtime Kane! I do like Reid a lot too, but if Stenberg/McKenna/Reid all gone VIGGO is my guy!
I could see him fall into Panthers lap at #9 which would be amazing for them, but just like Benson, Marchand, Caufield, Hutson, Johnny Hockey etc people will regret letting him drop!
Most North Americans really don' t know how good Viggo Bjorck is. Better than Stenberg…
Viggo is the next Bergeron
best debate and information on the draft prospects on the internet. Do not agree 100% on the rankings but that is ok. I am with Rocco on Marcus Ruck and have Preston higher Stenberg slightly lower.
Top NHL draft-eligible prospect Viggo Björck is making history at the 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship as the youngest player and the first U18-eligible player to ever make Sweden's senior national roster. Skating as the team's first-line center
Love your videos I am a lot higher on Novotny and am happy Aaron-Olsen is getting respect. With Novotny I am worried about his defensive game but I think he’s really good
I think Hermansson deserves more love, has legit Top 6 upside , good size and less flaws compared to some of these other prospects. Top 15 worthy pick imo
These ratings are in a vacuum. Most have no clue why when a team says drafting (ed) BPA it is a set of categories that up and lower a players rating on each teams board like:
1) rating in a vacuum
2) Positional value
3) Need
4) Fit
5) tie-breaker the strength of the pre-draft year scouting of the following draft ex: 2027 20 of top 25 prospects are Fs with 1/2 bigger Fs. So if a team needs a top 6 forward and a top 4 Dman from the draft then they take the Dman this year because odds are they can get F next year. Especially for teams that are rebuilding/ restocking
Thus when one team drafts a guy vlaims he was BPA but the consensus ratings of the pundits are different because it is a rating in a vacuum and then fans of a team get upset. For instant at 2 SJ fans think easy Stenberg except much more likely their top Dman even more likely RHD is on top of their rating after maybe McKenna
Gustafsson in the mid 20’s is crazy.
How did Suvanto improve at end of the year? He was mid in u18 as well, and Morozov fell off production wise massively at end of year when Lawrence put up all his points in last 8-9 games of his season in ncaa
Klepov, Wayne Gretzky, same guy.