As the scouting cycle for the upcoming NHL draft progresses, the gaps between the top talent in the 2026 class are closing at a rapid rate.
Headlined by Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff, this group features a ton of players making second-half surges, such as Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra, proving the rankings of these prospects are far from decided.
The NHL standings are far from decided as well. The Vancouver Canucks are still in last place, but the St. Louis Blues slid, while the Winnipeg Jets climbed up three spots in the past two weeks.
Considering the standings and the needs of the teams positioned to select in the top 16 of the first round, let's take a crack at what those picks could look like in June.
(Draft order determined by standings, sorted by points percentage, before games on Jan. 29, 2026)
NHL mock draft: Top 16 picks
1. Vancouver Canucks: Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg
With 28 points in 29 games, Stenberg is scoring at a rate we rarely see among draft-eligible players in pro hockey, challenging Daniel Sedin's record for the most points by a Swedish League player in their draft year. Production is one thing, but his ability to create offense through contact, his vision, shooting, playmaking and two-way game have him projected as a top-end talent that will give opposing teams nightmares at both ends of the ice.
2. St. Louis Blues: Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna
McKenna has really found his confidence since returning to Penn State after the world juniors, putting together 11 points in his last five games, including a hat trick in a four-point effort against Wisconsin. If he continues to string together games where he shows how overwhelming and assertive he can be offensively, while also finding ways to impact the game away from the puck, he'll reclaim the top spot in this class.
3. Calgary Flames: Boston University (NCAA) center Tynan Lawrence
There are few players who can match Lawrence's pace of play in this class. His ability to transport the puck through the neutral zone remains elite, and there were times this season in the USHL when he looked two steps ahead of every other player, creating dangerous chances. There have been some growing pains since switching to the NCAA, but Lawrence still possesses high-end tools that make him worthy of being selected in this range.
4. New York Rangers: North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
As a 6-foot-4, 208-pound right-shot defenseman, Verhoeff possesses one of the most sought-after physical profiles in today's NHL. On top of that, he handles a heavy workload at the NCAA level, often playing over 20 minutes a night while displaying a mature defensive foundation and consistently improving as an offensive threat with his shot and playmaking vision. There are others pushing Verhoeff as the top defender in this class, but he remains the top choice.
5. Winnipeg Jets: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) defenseman Chase Reid
Chase Reid is truly the total package. His length, mobility, and hockey IQ makes it very difficult for opposing players to create advantages over him while defending. He’s also arguably the best player at creating transition offense next to Lawrence in this class with his feel for anticipating offense, developing into a breakout threat with his passing and skating. There’s not much separating him from Verhoeff, and he could easily be a top-3 pick this summer.
6. Chicago Blackhawks: Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
Smits may have the highest compete level among all players in this class. His game oozes confidence in his willingness to engage in the rush, and he looks to be a difference-maker every time he steps on the ice despite playing against grown men in Finland. Smits is on Latvia's roster for the Winter Olympics in Milan, and it should be a treat to watch him play against the top competition in the world.
7. Nashville Predators: Vancouver (WHL) defenseman Ryan Lin
While concerns regarding Lin's size may have others leap him on draft day, he's easily the most detailed defender in this class. He's not overly physical, but he competes incredibly hard and wins puck battles at a high rate without compromising his positioning. His offensive production may be misleading, as he doesn't have any standout tools that would suggest he'll be a top point producer in the NHL, but he's a reliable top-four D-man nonetheless.
8. Washington Capitals: Djurgarden (Sweden) center Viggo Bjorck
Bjorck plays with a motor that has allowed a lot of scouts to overlook his size disadvantages and skating issues this season. He's constantly putting pressure on opponents while on the forecheck and wins a ton of battles that turn into dangerous scoring chances thanks to his crafty playmaking. It's unlikely he'll remain a center as he develops, but he'll undoubtedly be a great complementary winger with top-six potential at the NHL level someday.
9. New Jersey Devils: Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz
Things have trended downward a bit for Belchetz over the past few weeks. He's continued to show flashes of high-end playmaking, and his physical tools alone will still make him highly sought after on draft day. However, with his offensive production slowing down, he must find a way to impose his will as he did early in the season to overcome his skating issues and maintain his status as a top-10 prospect.
The Ottawa Senators will forfeit this year's draft pick after failing to disclose Evgenii Dadonov's limited no-trade clause when they sent him to Vegas in 2021, leading to an invalidated trade between the Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks the following year. The Senators drafted in the top 10 four times in the last six years, choosing Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Tyler Boucher and Carter Yakemchuk.
11. Boston Bruins (via Toronto): Prince George (WHL) defenseman Carson Carels
Carels has some of the best hockey sense in this class, and it's reflected in the trust he's gained in Prince George, playing on the power play and penalty kill. What makes Carels so special is that he projects as a top-pairing defender who could play in a shutdown role or use his playmaking instincts to affect the game offensively, depending on what the assignment is on any given night.
12. Seattle Kraken: Prince Albert (WHL) defenseman Daxon Rudolph
Rudolph is a smooth skater who uses his feet effectively to lead rushes and shut down plays in the defensive end. While he's not overly physical, he has great range at 6-foot-2 and is smart with his stick in breaking up plays in zone and off the rush. As Rudolph continues to stack dominant offensive performances with the Prince Albert Raiders, he's inching closer to being a top-10 player in this class.
13. Philadelphia Flyers: Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) defenseman Xavier Villeneuve
There is no defenseman in this class who's more gifted with the puck than Villeneuve. He uses his deception and skating ability to create separation at the blueline very similarly to Lane Hutson. Villeneuve's defensive game leaves a lot to be desired, and as an undersized defender, that could be a cause for concern. However, his compete level and foundation of skills are worth betting on as a potential top power-play quarterback in the NHL.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Brantford (OHL) center Caleb Malhotra
Malhotra's skill, decision-making and mature two-way habits undeniably make him worthy of being picked in this range. He's been a standout offensive producer in his first OHL season on a Brantford team filled with NHL-drafted talent, and in a class without many high-end options at the center position, don't be surprised if he's taken much higher on draft day.
15. Anaheim Ducks: Peterborough (OHL) left wing Adam Novotny
Novotny has continued to be an offensive threat for Peterborough after a solid world juniors showing with Czechia, displaying his high-end skating and wicked shot that beats goaltenders regularly from just outside the dots. Novotny feels like a player coaches at the NHL level will gravitate toward, given his stick habits and polished defensive game. He projects as a middle-six winger with scoring upside who is capable of playing both special-teams roles.
16. San Jose Sharks: HV71 (Sweden) defensemen Malte Gustafsson
Gustafsson is a 6-foot-4 defenseman with good mobility. He's shown flashes of playmaking as of late, earning him some power play opportunities at the Swedish men's level while playing an overall bigger role on a weak HV71 team. He's hovered in this range for a while, but if he shows that he can truly add an offensive layer to his game, there's a good shot he'll end up as a lottery pick this year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL mock draft 2026: Ivar Stenberg leads pre-Olympics edition
