HF Habs: 2026 NHL Draft: McKenna Mania

[WinterLion]

I didn't know. And that is a very good thing. CHL players were always at a disadvantage because the NHL teams would have to make a quicker decision on them than those in NCAA and Europe.

At least this will even the playing field for the CHL to probably keep players and also NHL teams not to ignore the CHL because of this.

Yup it will be interesting. Going to be very different. Maybe more overages too?

 

[WinterLion]

My final list for 2026.

Tier 1
Ivar Stenberg LW SHL

Tier 2
Gavin McKenna LW NCAA
Alberts Smits LD Liiga
Caleb Malhotra C OHL

Tier 3
Daxon Rudolph RD WHL
Viggo Bjorck C SHL
Chase Reid RD OHL
Keaton Verhoeff RD NCAA

Tier 4
Tynan Lawrence C USHL
Carson Carels LD WHL
Wyatt Cullen LW USHL
Egor Shilov C QMJHL

Tier 5
Alexander Command C SHL
Ilya Morozov C NCAA
Oliver Suvanto C Liiga
Ethan Belchetz LW OHL
Malte Gustafsson LD SHL

Tier 6
Adam Novotny LW OHL
Niklas Aaram-Olsen LW J20
Oscar Hemming LW NCAA
Gleb Pugachyov LW VHL
Simas Ignatavicius C NLA
Tommy Bleyl RD QMJHL
Dmitri Borichev G MHL

Tier 7
Nikita Klepov RW OHL
Xavier Villeneuve LD QMJHL
Ryan Rooebrock LW OHL
William Hakansson LD SHL
Elton Hermansson LW Allsvenskan
Ryan Lin RD WHL
Marcus Nordmark LW J20
Tobias Trejbal G USHL

Tier 8
Maddox Dagenais C QMJHL
Lavr Gashilov C MHL
Mathis Preston C WHL
Juuho Piiparinen RD Liiga
Jack Hextall C USHL
Tomas Chrenko C SVK

Tier 9
Markus Ruck C WHL
JP Hurlbert RW WHL
Chase Harrington LW WHL
Jonah Sivertson LW WHL
Liam Ruck RW WHL
Ryder Cali C OHL
Wiggo Sorensen LW Ettan
Brooks Rogowski RW OHL

Tier 10
Oscar Holmertz C SHL
Cooper Williams C WHL
Adam Goljer LD SVK
Jaxon Cover LW OHL
Casey Mutryn C USHL
Brett Liske RD
Adam Nemec RW OHL
Olivers Murnieks C QMJHL
Maksim Sokolovskii LD OHL
Nikita Scherbakov

Tier 11
Viktor Fyodorov C KHL
Lars Steiner RW QMJHL
Samu Alalauri RD U20
Alan Shaikhlislamov LW KHL
Giorgios Pantelos
Mikey Berchild LW USHL
Adam Valentini C NCAA
Alexei Vlasov LW QMJHL
Oleg Kulebyakin LW QMJHL
Julien Maze LW WHL
Pierce Mbuyi LW OHL

Tier 12
Beckham Edwards C OHL
Blake Zielinksi C USHL
Tyus Sparks RW WHL
Thomas Vandenberg C OHL
Jones Lagerberg-Hoen RW
Zach Lansard RW WHL
Alessandro Di Iorio C OHL
Jakub Vanecek LD WHL
Vilho Vanhatalo LW Liiga
Filip Ruzicka G WHL
Axel Elofsson RD J20
Vladimir Dravecky RD OHL
Nils Bartholdsson LW SHL
Brady Knowling G USHL
Simon Katolicky LW U20

Tier 13
Cole Zurawski RW OHL
Landon Nycz LD NCAA
Joseph Salandra RW OHL
Ben MacBeath RD WHL
Harrison Boettiger G WHL
Nikita Ovcharov LW QMJHL
Colin Fitzgerald C OHL
Tobias Tomik LW WHL
Ossio Tukio LD Liiga
William Lacelle G QMJHL
Matvei Kotkov LW MHL
Landon Hafele LW USHL
Vertti Svensk LD Mestis
Yaroslav Fedoseyev RD MHL
Alexander Grunin LD MHL
Gavin Betts G OHL

Tier 14
Andrei Molgachyov RW WHL
Leon Kolarik LW OHL
Landon Amrhein RW WHL
Max Isaksson LW J20
Filip Novak LW Cze
Jean-Cristoph Lemieux C OHL
Zach Olsen RW WHL
Carter Casey G WHL
Luke Schairer RD USHL

Tier 15
Callum Croskery LD OHL
Boris Borin C BCHL
Xavier Wendt G WHL
Nikita Koltsov C VHL
Braidy Wassilyn C OHL
Louis-Felix Bourque LW QMJHL
Dylan Rozzi LW QMJHL
Dayne Beuker C USHL
Rian Chudzinksi RW QMJHL

Tier 16
Tobias Krestan RW J20
Kalder Varga RW WHL
Parker Vaughan RW OHL
Jakub Frolo RW FIN20
Lucas Zajic RW USHL
Alexander Bilecki LD OHL
Doman Kristoff Szongoth C FIN20
Jiri Kamas RD WHL
Ben Reisenecker RD WHL
Vladimir Provorov C OHL
Arseny Ilyin LW MHL
Vladimir Selivanov G MHL

Tier 17
Eddy Doyle LD QMJHL
Jacob Xu LD OHL
Cameron Chartrand RD QMJHL
Sean Burick RD WHL
Jonas Kemps LD USHL
Dmitri Drobyshevsky LW MHL
Vladimir Karabayev RW QMJHL
Mykola Kosarev LD WHL
Nick Bogas LD USHL

Is borichev the G that nobody has seen live?

I guess you’ll be banging the table for Shilov!!

 

[Adam Michaels]

Yup it will be interesting. Going to be very different. Maybe more overages too?

I think Montreal does draft overagers from the CHL, which is smart because it gives them extra info on them since they only have 2 years to sign them. They did that with Davidson and Pickford. It's almost as if they gave themselves 3 years to decide if they're worth it.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

He's in my top 20 and is one of my favorite forwards in this draft. Just a smart, dynamic player all over the ice in all situations.

His game is projectable, however he'll need to leave Landsbro / Vetlanda and challenge himself eventually as Div 2, HockeyTvåan and now the promotion to HockeyEttan isn't really the optimal development path imo, even though I heard he's got some valid reason to stay.

And this is where the risk presents itself in his case for me. (even though he's high on my list).

That's the weird one for me. He played the majority of his season on a Division 2 team - the 4th level of pro hockey in Sweden.

Even when he played for a junior team it was majority Division 1 and not J18 or J20 Nationell.

Next year, he's moving up one level to HockeyEttan. Most high level prospects are at least playing at the Allsvenskan level or J20 Nationell.

 

[Caser]

Unsurprisingly Bobrov was attending Milstein's draft camp.

 

[koivalev]

That's the weird one for me. He played the majority of his season on a Division 2 team - the 4th level of pro hockey in Sweden.

Even when he played for a junior team it was majority Division 1 and not J18 or J20 Nationell.

Next year, he's moving up one level to HockeyEttan. Most high level prospects are at least playing at the Allsvenskan level or J20 Nationell.

Good news is he was still processing the game just as quickly at the U20 and U18 level, and especially at the U18s last month. He's basically getting the treatment Zharovsky would have gotten if he'd played in the NMHL in his draft year.

He's 9th on my board now, ahead of guys like Cullen and Belchetz. I think there's a chance a smart scouting staff like Carolina takes him late 1st, but hopefully we can snag him at some point in the 2nd.

Definitely don't get a chance on low exposure guys like this every year, have to take advantage of it when it comes along.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Xavier Villeneuve HFHabber confirmed

 

[WeThreeKings]

Is borichev the G that nobody has seen live?

I guess you’ll be banging the table for Shilov!!

Nah, a lot have seen Borichev, maybe not live but whoever can get their scouts into Russia

 

[montreal]

they have us picking Morozov and in the 2nd round, LD Ben Macbeath from the HItmen.

 

[koivalev]

they have us picking Morozov and in the 2nd round, LD Ben Macbeath from the HItmen.

Pretty sure Buffalo traded up to 20 specifically to draft Morozov lol

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[WeThreeKings]

Can't wait to pick Shilov and have him become a top 6 center at 19

 

[Cubebrick]

That's the weird one for me. He played the majority of his season on a Division 2 team - the 4th level of pro hockey in Sweden.

Even when he played for a junior team it was majority Division 1 and not J18 or J20 Nationell.

Next year, he's moving up one level to HockeyEttan. Most high level prospects are at least playing at the Allsvenskan level or J20 Nationell.

Yeah, I am hoping that he gets loaned to Växjö sooner than later.

Like many others, he does not come without risks. However, imo, said risks are mostly not related to his own skillset and overall game but rather due to the lesser opposition he's facing. The T1D can scare off some but it does not bother me as plenty of other athletes have dealt with it just fine. Zach Olsen is another one that I also like (from the 3rd round out) who is dealing with it as well.

We're dealing with a very small sample but Sörensson's Växjö game in the U20 was excellent and while I usually don't put much emphasis on the U18 tournament, he definitely showed that he belonged with the rest of the '08 casts and he was my favorite forward for Sweden along with Command.

His overall game and his frame has room to grow, but I'm a fan of his toolset and commitment over 200 feet.

For me, him and Lagerberg Hoen are two prime candidates that are likely to outperform their draft slots.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I'm on the Elton Hermansson train at 28.

 

[Goldenhands]

I think its going to be between Ignatavicius and Pugachyov for the Habs. Cant wait for tomorrow!

 

[koivalev]

Yeah, I am hoping that he gets loaned to Växjö sooner than later.

Like many others, he does not come without risks. However, imo, said risks are mostly not related to his own skillset and overall game but rather due to the lesser opposition he's facing. The T1D can scare off some but it does not bother me as plenty of other athletes have dealt with it just fine. Zach Olsen is another one that I also like (from the 3rd round out) who is dealing with it as well.

We're dealing with a very small sample but Sörensson's Växjö game in the U20 was excellent and while I usually don't put much emphasis on the U18 tournament, he definitely showed that he belonged with the rest of the '08 casts and he was my favorite forward for Sweden along with Command.

His overall game and his frame has room to grow, but I'm a fan of his toolset and commitment over 200 feet.

For me, him and Lagerberg Hoen are two prime candidates that are likely to outperform their draft slots.

Yeah Maximum Dome dealt with the beetus as well and he was fine. If other teams want to look for reasons not to draft a guy who IMO is a top 10 prospect in this draft they can feel free to do so, but he wouldn't be the first guy ranked in my top 10 who we nab in the early 60s.

You can probably guess who the other was.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[sszorin]

Not too many teams are tanking this coming season which is strange because McKenna looks like a Superstar player.

However, by January 1st, teams will start divesting to get into the lottery draw for 2026.

A really early top 20 from Scott Wheeler (NYT, April 2025)

1. Gavin McKenna (LW) - Medicine Hat Tigers
2. Ivar Stenberg (RW) - Frolunda HC (SHL)
3. Ryan Roobroeck (C) - Niagara Ice Dogs
4. Ryan Lin (RD): Vancouver Giants
5. Keaton Verhoeff (RD): University of North Dakota
6. Viggo Bjorck (C): Djurgardens (J20)
7. Mathis Preston (RW) - Spokane Chiefs
8. Tynan Lawrence (C): Muskegon Lumberjacks
9. Ethan Belchetz (LW): Windsor Spitfires
10. Adam Novotny (LW): Mountfield HK (Czechia)
11. Daxon Rudolph (RD): Prince Albert Raiders
12. Adam Nemec (KW): HK Nitra (Slovakia)
13. Niklas Aaram-Olsen (LW): Orebro HK (J20)
14. Elton Hermansson (RW): Orebro HK (J20)
15. Tobias Tomik (LW): HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)
16. Carson Carels (LD): Prince George Cougars
17. Marcus Nordmark (LW): Djurgardens IF (J20)
18. Oscar Holmertz (C): Linkoping HC (J20)
19. Mikey Berchild (LW): USNTDP
20: Chase Reid (RD): Soo Greyhounds

Flying under the radar : Adam Goljer [pronounced Golyer - J = Y], the captain of the Slovak under 18 team.

 

[sheed36]

I think its going to be between Ignatavicius and Pugachyov for the Habs. Cant wait for tomorrow!

'
Ignatavicius is who Sportsnet's Jason Bukala as the Habs taking @ 28 in his final mock draft from today.

28. Montreal Canadiens: Simas Ignatavicius, Centre
Ignatavicius adds another layer of size, speed and tenacity to the Canadiens' roster in the middle of the ice. He’s a right-shot centre who’s listed at six-foot-two, 201 pounds. When he isn’t producing offence he hounds pucks and creates turnovers up ice. Ignatavicius produced 7G-6A playing pro in Switzerland this year and projects as a middle-size/spot-duty second-line centre.

His full 1st round mock.

Jason Bukala's 2026 NHL Mock Draft

Jason Bukala shares his mock draft predicting how he thinks things might go down on the draft floor during Friday's first round.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Ezpz]

Feed bad for you guys who think that pick will be in our possession at that time. Def bein traded

 

[WinterLion]

Feed bad for you guys who think that pick will be in our possession at that time. Def bein traded

Its ok. We are used to it.

 

[Goldenhands]

'
Ignatavicius is who Sportsnet's Jason Bukala as the Habs taking @ 28 in his final mock draft from today.

28. Montreal Canadiens: Simas Ignatavicius, Centre
Ignatavicius adds another layer of size, speed and tenacity to the Canadiens' roster in the middle of the ice. He’s a right-shot centre who’s listed at six-foot-two, 201 pounds. When he isn’t producing offence he hounds pucks and creates turnovers up ice. Ignatavicius produced 7G-6A playing pro in Switzerland this year and projects as a middle-size/spot-duty second-line centre.

His full 1st round mock.

Jason Bukala's 2026 NHL Mock Draft

Jason Bukala shares his mock draft predicting how he thinks things might go down on the draft floor during Friday's first round.

www.sportsnet.ca

I think Bukala has Zharovsky as the top ranked prospect outside of the NHL, so I like him alot!

 

[Flip The Bird]

'
Ignatavicius is who Sportsnet's Jason Bukala as the Habs taking @ 28 in his final mock draft from today.

28. Montreal Canadiens: Simas Ignatavicius, Centre
Ignatavicius adds another layer of size, speed and tenacity to the Canadiens' roster in the middle of the ice. He’s a right-shot centre who’s listed at six-foot-two, 201 pounds. When he isn’t producing offence he hounds pucks and creates turnovers up ice. Ignatavicius produced 7G-6A playing pro in Switzerland this year and projects as a middle-size/spot-duty second-line centre.

His full 1st round mock.

Jason Bukala's 2026 NHL Mock Draft

Jason Bukala shares his mock draft predicting how he thinks things might go down on the draft floor during Friday's first round.

www.sportsnet.ca

He sounds like another Zubrus

 

[Flip The Bird]

I think Bukala has Zharovsky as the top ranked prospect outside of the NHL, so I like him alot!

Bukala generally knows his stuff

 

[Cubebrick]

I think its going to be between Ignatavicius and Pugachyov for the Habs. Cant wait for tomorrow!

Solid pick at 28, gotta love their power game which also happens to be a lacking element in our pool.

I got Pugachyov pretty high on my list and Ignatavičius ranks above the Habs pick, so I'd be happy with either.