2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Top Prospects and Mock Order

Few things get hockey fans talking like the promise of a new draft class, and the 2026 group already has scouts comparing the top tier to some of the deepest years in recent memory — with a consensus No. 1 in Gavin McKenna and rising stars like Ivar Stenberg and Carson Carels generating buzz across every major scouting service. The differences between how TSN, NHL Central Scouting, and ESPN rank these prospects tell a story worth unpacking — and it’s one that could shift between now and draft day.

Top consensus prospect: Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State) ·
No. 2 prospect (ESPN): Ivar Stenberg (LW/RW, Sweden) ·
No. 3 prospect (NHL Central Scouting): Carson Carels (D, Canada) ·
No. 1 defenseman: Chase Reid (RHD, Sault Ste. Marie) ·
Ranking sources covered: 5 (ESPN, NHL, TSN, Craig Button, Sportsnet)

Five prospects at the top, one clear pattern: Gavin McKenna holds the consensus No. 1 spot, but the order behind him varies widely depending on which scouting service you trust.

The implication: While McKenna is the near-unanimous favorite, the gap between services on No. 2 through No. 5 reveals real philosophical differences — some favor two-way defensemen like Carels, others lean toward dynamic forwards like Stenberg.

Five key details, one headline: the 2026 class is deep at the top, but only a handful of prospects are considered sure things.

Is the 2026 NHL draft strong?

Ask any scout and they’ll tell you the same thing: the 2026 class has legitimate franchise talent at the top. Gavin McKenna is the consensus No. 1 prospect and considered a franchise-level player by analysts at ESPN (NHL draft analysis) and NHL Central Scouting (official rankings body). The 2026 class is regarded as deep with high-end talent, especially at forward and defense.

What makes a draft class strong?

• Depth of NHL-ready talent in the top 10
• Clear franchise cornerstone at No. 1
• Strong representation across positions — this class has both elite forwards and top-pairing defensemen

Analysts at TSN (leading Canadian sports broadcaster) compare the top tier to the 2023 draft (Bedard, Fantilli, etc.) but note that the 2026 class has less star power beyond the top 3. Still, the depth through the first round is considered above average for a modern draft.

How does the 2026 class compare to 2025?

• The 2025 draft was considered weaker at the very top, with no consensus No. 1
• 2026 has a clearer hierarchy: McKenna is the clear No. 1, followed by a solid tier of Stenberg, Carels, and Reid
• The 2026 class grades out as stronger overall in terms of top-end talent, according to The Athletic (NHL draft analysis)

The trade-off: While 2026 has a stronger top end, 2025 may have had more depth in the late first round. This year’s draft rewards teams picking early — the value drop-off after pick 10 is steeper than in a typical year.

What is the 2026 NHL Draft order?

The draft order determines everything — which prospect lands where — and it’s still being settled. Here’s how it works and where things stand.

How is the draft order determined?

• The draft order is set by reverse standings after the regular season, with a lottery for the top 2 picks
• The NHL Draft Lottery is typically held in early June, giving teams a month to finalize their boards
• As of May 2026, mock drafts from The Athletic (NHL draft analysis) project the Toronto Maple Leafs holding the No. 1 pick

Current lottery standings (projected)

• Teams with the worst records have the highest odds of winning the top pick
• The lottery determines only the top 2 selections; picks 3 through 16 are set by reverse standings for non-playoff teams
• As of late May, mock drafts show Toronto, Chicago, and Anaheim as the most likely top-3 picks

The catch: Until the lottery balls drop in early June, every projection is provisional. A team that expects to pick No. 3 could jump to No. 1 with one draw. For fans tracking international hockey, the Men’s Ice Hockey Olympics 2026 will also feature NHL players.

What are the TSN 2026 NHL Draft rankings?

TSN’s Craig Button is one of the most respected draft voices in hockey, and his rankings often diverge from the consensus — sometimes dramatically.

Top 10 prospects according to TSN

• Craig Button’s rankings list Carson Carels as No. 1, ahead of McKenna, highlighting his two-way ability and size (TSN (Craig Button draft rankings))
• Ivar Stenberg is ranked No. 2 by TSN, followed by Chase Reid at No. 3
• TSN updates rankings monthly leading up to the draft, making them a useful tracker of rising and falling stock

Craig Button’s rankings

• Button is known for valuing two-way play and physical maturity, which explains Carels at No. 1
• He typically publishes his final list in late May or early June
• His rankings often differ from NHL Central Scouting’s, giving fans a useful second opinion

The pattern: Button’s list is the most contrarian of the major services. If you’re looking for a ranking that challenges the consensus, TSN’s board is the one to watch.

The implication: TSN’s rankings offer a valuable counterpoint to the consensus, making them essential reading for draft watchers.

What are the Central Scouting rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft?

NHL Central Scouting is the league’s official ranking service — it’s the closest thing to a government-issued draft board. Their final rankings, published in April, carry significant weight with front offices.

North American Skaters final rankings

• Gavin McKenna is ranked No. 1 among North American skaters (NHL Central Scouting (official league scouting body))
• Chase Reid is No. 2, making him the top-ranked defenseman in North America
• Carson Carels is No. 3 among NA skaters
• McKenna, from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, completed his freshman season at Penn State and ranked second among U.S. college players with a 1.46 points per game average (NHL Central Scouting)

International Skaters final rankings

• Ivar Stenberg, left wing from Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, tops the list of international skaters (ESPN draft analysis)
• Stenberg is described as a dynamic playmaker with elite puck skills by analysts at ESPN (NHL draft analysis)
• The international list provides a useful comparison point for European prospects

What this means: Central Scouting’s rankings are the most “institutional” view of the draft. When they diverge from TSN or ESPN, it often reflects a split between traditional scouting and analytics-driven evaluation.

What are the predictions for the 2026 NHL draft rankings?

Predictions are where the fun starts. With the draft still weeks away, mock drafts are shifting weekly as new information comes in from combines and interviews.

Mock draft projections (first round)

• The Athletic (NHL mock draft analysis) projected Gavin McKenna to Toronto at No. 1 in their May 2026 mock
• Other top-10 picks include Chase Reid, Caleb MacDonald, and Ben Schmidt
• Uncertainty remains for picks 5-10 due to variability in scouting opinions across services

Dark horse candidates to watch

• Caleb MacDonald (C, Canada) — a rising center ranked top-5 in multiple mock drafts, could crack the top 3 with a strong combine
• Players ranked outside the top 10 by one service but inside the top 10 by another create opportunities for draft-day surprises
• European skaters outside Stenberg could rise as international scouts finalize their reports

The pattern: The top 4 or 5 picks feel stable, but the middle of the first round is where ranking services disagree the most — and where smart teams can find value.

For the team that wins the lottery, the choice is straightforward: Gavin McKenna is the consensus top talent, and passing on him would require a bold conviction in a defenseman or international wild card. But for teams picking No. 2 through No. 5, the decision is anything but clear — with TSN ranking Carson Carels first and NHL Central Scouting favoring McKenna, the gap between scouting philosophies is wider than usual. For fans tracking their team’s future, the next few weeks between the lottery and draft day will be the most telling. The trade-off is real: do you bet on the franchise forward, the two-way defenseman, or the dynamic European playmaker?

For every NHL front office, the mandate is the same: trust your scouts, but respect the consensus. Betting against McKenna at No. 1 could look brilliant or disastrous in five years — and that’s exactly what makes the 2026 draft so compelling.

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