HockeyProspect.com Top 32 for 2026 NHL Draft - November 25th 2025

[Dead Coyote]

youtube does NOT count as professional scouting!

I watch their games live, I don't watch youtube highlights lol.

 

[Fantomas]

The Fyodorov disrespect is just stupid, IMO. Not a perfect player, but easily a top-30 guy.

 

[LeProspector]

The Fyodorov disrespect is just stupid, IMO. Not a perfect player, but easily a top-30 guy.

I don’t get it either.

Seems like Dobber are the only guys that are able to see what we do.

 

[CrashOut]

I've seen Villeneuve plays live last season a lot. Just once this season but he isn't that short. He is skinny asf but at his age he has time to fill up.

Extremely skilled, I doubt he gets drafted #6 but between 10 and 15 wouldn't be surprising for me.

 

[JeromeHP]

Anymore insights on Pantelas and Cover? Also, who the heck is this big Lithuanian IGNATAVICIUS?

We talked about Ignatavicius on this week’s episode of Scouting Sessions.

 

[TLEH]

Some of the discourse around Verhoeff has been a bit much for me. Some quotes about "best D from Western Canada in 30 years." Blah blah. I just don't know if he's a fluid enough skater to be a true shutdown guy that can also produce great offense like his profile would suggest.

 

[jtechkid68]

Some of the discourse around Verhoeff has been a bit much for me. Some quotes about "best D from Western Canada in 30 years." Blah blah. I just don't know if he's a fluid enough skater to be a true shutdown guy that can also produce great offense like his profile would suggest.

It was reported he leads the NCAA dmen in turnovers - Smith from penn state is number 2 but he’s huge so who cares lol

 

[LeProspector]

Some of the discourse around Verhoeff has been a bit much for me. Some quotes about "best D from Western Canada in 30 years." Blah blah. I just don't know if he's a fluid enough skater to be a true shutdown guy that can also produce great offense like his profile would suggest.

Pretty clear Cale Makar takes that cake.

 

[S E P H]

I get the Reid hype, but I don't get how Hurlbert is setting the world on fire in one of the best junior leagues in the world, yet is barely a 1st round player. Does he have Antonio Stranges' level of concern? He will, by far and away, finish at the top of the WHL scoring title as a draft-eligible player. That is pretty much unheard of except with very special prospects like Bedard.

 

[pgfan66]

I get the Reid hype, but I don't get how Hurlbert is setting the world on fire in one of the best junior leagues in the world, yet is barely a 1st round player. Does he have Antonio Stranges' level of concern? He will, by far and away, finish at the top of the WHL scoring title as a draft-eligible player. That is pretty much unheard of except with very special prospects like Bedard.

Watch him and you’ll see he’s super low pace and always stops moving his feet to make plays. That just doesn’t translate even if you’re as smart and skilled as him.

 

[Peasy]

I get the Reid hype, but I don't get how Hurlbert is setting the world on fire in one of the best junior leagues in the world, yet is barely a 1st round player. Does he have Antonio Stranges' level of concern? He will, by far and away, finish at the top of the WHL scoring title as a draft-eligible player. That is pretty much unheard of except with very special prospects like Bedard.

Look at andrew cristall.

 

[pgfan66]

The Fyodorov disrespect is just stupid, IMO. Not a perfect player, but easily a top-30 guy.

He's featured in EP's current stock watch article, in the "stock falling" category:

All things considered, this season hasn’t been that bad for Viktor Fyodorov. He started November with the Russian U18 squad at the Future Cup, centring the top line throughout the event with just one point at the end of it. Following the tournament, he re-joined Torpedo-Gorky in the VHL for a few games and is now bouncing between the MHL and KHL. He scored his first career KHL goal on November 20th against Spartak Moskva and followed it up with his first MHL goal of the season the next day against Kuznetskie Medvedi.

What puts him in this category is the lack of consistent offensive output and the impact of bouncing between levels. In the VHL, his off-puck game has been effective – he’s always the hardest worker on the ice – but there’s only glimpses of his playmaking coming few and far between. Moving forward, more regular minutes to get back to his top level in the MHL sounds ideal, though there’s no complaints about squeezing him into the big club when possible.

 

[ScoutyMcScoutface]

I didn't say they were. I just said that I don't agree with Verhoeffs placement. I like the rest of the list a good amount. Better than most I've seen for sure.

The truth is there isn't anyone that deserves to go first overall.

Stenberg is probably my pick but I'd be very open to trading down if I had 1st overall

 

[S E P H]

Look at andrew cristall.

Not sure what this means? Cristall has had a very successful post-draft career up to this point.

 

[Peasy]

Not sure what this means? Cristall has had a very successful post-draft career up to this point.

He was the WHL top scorer behind Bedard and didnt get picked until the 2nd round?

Hes had a nice start to the AHL, but its not like hes some cant miss guaranteed prospect because he scored a lot in the WHL.

 

[covfefe]

The truth is there isn't anyone that deserves to go first overall.

Stenberg is probably my pick but I'd be very open to trading down if I had 1st overall

This is just a tacit admission that you have no alpha. Which, given your username, is an interesting stance.

 

[coooldude]

Smits is so chaotic. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a big faller relative to public perception, unless he cleans that up.

I keep seeing people say this but I don't see it. I've seen him make really thoughtful and active reads in the DZ pretty consistently. I've seen him behind the play a few times in a game where he looked generally tired but I really haven't seen the chaos and bad decisions knock in the three games I've watched courtesy of the good people at @Prospect Shifts on YT. The EP team says the same about his chaos. Maybe I've only seen the good games.

I personally think that if Smits were in NA he'd be the first D on the board right now.

 

[CLW]

I keep seeing people say this but I don't see it. I've seen him make really thoughtful and active reads in the DZ pretty consistently. I've seen him behind the play a few times in a game where he looked generally tired but I really haven't seen the chaos and bad decisions knock in the three games I've watched courtesy of the good people at @Prospect Shifts on YT. The EP team says the same about his chaos. Maybe I've only seen the good games.

I personally think that if Smits were in NA he'd be the first D on the board right now.

I've seen a few comments on Smits' supposed lack of professional conditioning. If NHL teams think that conditioning is his biggest flaw, then he'll go very high in the draft as that is a relatively easy fix, and many NHL teams take pride in their training staff.

 

[Dead Coyote]

The truth is there isn't anyone that deserves to go first overall.

Stenberg is probably my pick but I'd be very open to trading down if I had 1st overall

I agree. I'd be happy with any of McKenna, Stenberg, or whatever d-man goes first.

 

[Mark Edwards]

Most people seem to like Oscar way more than Emil so idk if Emil is relevant in the conversation really. The Hockeyprospect guys posted a video talking about some of the players and the only thing that they said Emil was better at was shooting, otherwise they see Oscar as a way better player. I've heard that from others as well, Oscar just seems like a way better bet to be a really impactful player in a top 6 role in the NHL potentially. And with Oscar showing a true power forward game I understand why he'd be more liked than Hermansson. It's all opinions and what people value more and think will translate to the NHL.

We spoke about him briefly (our youtube channel), basically we didn't move him because he has barely played, but obviously he needs to start playing.

 

[lanky]

These guys are the best scouting service out there IMO and I'm in withdrawal from their lack of coverage of the NHL draft. I think I heard mention of a health issue that Mark was dealing with a while ago, so I assume that's the reason.

Wishing you strength Mark.

 

[Ovechkin962]

These guys are the best scouting service out there IMO and I'm in withdrawal from their lack of coverage of the NHL draft. I think I heard mention of a health issue that Mark was dealing with a while ago, so I assume that's the reason.

Wishing you strength Mark.

Their final ranking and their annual draft guide is scheduled to be released in exactly two weeks on June 15th according to their website.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Their final ranking and their annual draft guide is scheduled to be released in exactly two weeks on June 15th according to their website.

Can't wait to see what they have in store.

I do miss their youtube content with Jerome and Brad, always come of the vids feeling like I learned something new (not always prospect specific).

 

[JeromeHP]

These guys are the best scouting service out there IMO and I'm in withdrawal from their lack of coverage of the NHL draft. I think I heard mention of a health issue that Mark was dealing with a while ago, so I assume that's the reason.

Wishing you strength Mark.

Can't wait to see what they have in store.

I do miss their youtube content with Jerome and Brad, always come of the vids feeling like I learned something new (not always prospect specific).

Thanks for the kind words guys, once the guide is out we will have coverage on our YouTube Channel until the draft and most likely we will do a live show too like last year.

 

[vortexx]

Thanks for the kind words guys, once the guide is out we will have coverage on our YouTube Channel until the draft and most likely we will do a live show too like last year.

Great to hear, looking forward to all of the upcoming content and very curious to see what your rankings look like since November. Especially enjoyed your Draft live show, happy to hear it is coming back!