Top Young Hockey Players Ready for 2026 NHL Draft

The NHL draft is still two years away, but hockey experts are already watching teenage players who might become pro stars. A new ranking shows the top 75 players who could be picked in the 2026 NHL draft. Swedish player Ivar Stenberg from team Frolunda is ranked number one on the list. The 18-year-old left winger helped his team win big championships this year.

Stenberg stands out because he can score goals and also play good defense. He helped Sweden win a gold medal at the world junior championship. He also helped his club team Frolunda win the Champions Hockey League title. Hockey scouts say he is smart on the ice and shows up in the biggest games.

Coming in second place is Gavin McKenna from Penn State University. McKenna is also a left winger who is known for his amazing skill with the puck. He can make passes that seem impossible and dangle around defenders like magic. McKenna had a slow start in college hockey but got much better in the second half of the season.

Third on the list is Viggo Bjorck from Sweden. Even though he is only 5 feet 9 inches tall, he plays the center position very well. Most NHL teams are scared to pick small centers, but Bjorck is different. He has proven he can handle big responsibilities and take important face-offs against older players.

The top defenseman on the list is Alberts Smits from Latvia. He is ranked fifth overall and plays for a team in Finland. Smits is 6 feet 3 inches tall and 205 pounds. He already plays against grown men in pro leagues and even played for Latvia in the Olympics.

The list includes players from many countries like Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. They play in different leagues including college hockey, junior leagues, and some even play in pro leagues already. Many of these young players will compete in the World Under-18 Championship later this month. How they play in that tournament could change their ranking on the draft list.