2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Wow, amazing! Thanks CKP!

[Sandman]

The mighty Canadians have had to settle for bronze in the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with USA taking home Gold, and Sweden taking the Silver.

[Sandman]

Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Summary (PART THE FIRST):

Team USA won it's first Gold Medal since 2003 with a rather non-descript squad (or so I thought), beating Team Canada 4-3 in a SO in the Semi-Final, and then a very good Team Sweden in the Finals (5-3). The Americans accomplished this feat without the benefit of championship-caliber goaltending, with starter Brady Knowling finishing 12th in the tourney in SV% (.866), and 6th in GAA (2.35). Canada beat Team Finland in the Bronze Medal game, 3-0.

-RW Marcus Nordmark, SWE (6'1",183lbs): Power and speed, a nose for the net, with well balanced offensive skill- showing a lethal wrister, good puck-skill, and well-developed passing. He's also pretty good without the puck, finishing tied for 3rd with a +8, and showing keen anticipation in breaking up plays and intercepting passes. He led the tournament with 5gp/7g/5a/12pts,+8, 2 PIM, tying for 6th all-time in points, and 9th all-time in goals, and was the main catalyst for Sweden's offense, though he doesn't seem to be much of a play-driver. Looks like some have him in the middle of the first-round of the 2026 Draft so far, but he's certainly one to watch. Nordmark was held pointless in the Gold Medal game, but put up a hat-trick in the semi-final against Finland that included the game-tying goal to send the game to OT (a long-range snipe through traffic from the high slot), and the game-winner (cutting in to the net and beating the goalie backhand glove-side) to win the contest 6-5.

-RW/LW Elton Hermansson, SWE (6'1",181lbs): Tied for second in the tourney with 5gp/6g/5a/11pts,+5, 2 PIM, Hermey is more dynamic than his countryman Nordmark, with impressive puckhandling ability to dangle around opponents, excellent speed and footwork, a lethal shooting arsenal, and the ability to drive play with sharp playmaking skill. He was Sweden's best player at times, but is a little more finesse than sandpaper. He's better with the puck than he is without it, and though he doesn't embarass himself- he could stand to be a little more involved defensively.

-RD Axel Elofsson, SWE (5'10",163lbs): Tied with Hermansson for 2nd in tournament scoring, and tops for D, with 5gp/2g/9a/11pts,+8, 2 PIM- five points ahead of the next-highest scoring D. His 11 points are tied with Oleg Tverdovsky (1993-94) for the most points by a defenseman at the Hlinka all-time. He averaged over 20 minutes TOI, and logged over 23 minutes in three contests, with top PP duty. Small, but skilled and dynamic, he could use better top-end speed and improved explosiveness, but he's incredibly poised and confident with the puck on his blade, with sublime vision and creativity. As one can imagine, he could use improvements in his own-zone play, and struggles against larger opponents. In 2024-25, he put up an eye-popping 32 points in 38 games in the J20, with Orebro.

-RW Blake Zielinski, USA (6'0",185lbs): A big surprise for me, placing fourth in the event with 5gp/4g/5a/9pts,+1, 0 PIM, after an impressive USHL season in 2024-25, amassing 32 points in 41 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers. By the fourth game, Z was leading Team USA with 8 points- doubling up on the next-highest teammate (although Jack Hextall narrowed the gap with a 3-point effort in the Gold-Medal Game). Very well-balanced offensively, with equal parts goal-scoring (on a strong shot and a nose for the net), and quality playmaking, he's a very conscientious two-way player with good puck-skill, and skating- but he could stand to add better acceleration and top speed.

-LW Ethan Belchetz, CAN (6'5",227lbs): Though 4 of his points came in the first game, a 5-3 win against Finland, Belchetz was nevertheless impressive- finishing 5th in the tourney with 5/4g/4a/8pts,+5, 0 PIM. His enormous size gives him an advantage over his junior-aged counterparts, and he's not shy about exploiting it with his robust power game, but he conducts a lot of his business with well above-average skill, finesse, vision, and awareness. He's a decent skater for his size (but needs some work on his acceleration and top gear), and spends a lot of his time in the low slot, jockeying for positioning and fishing for loose pucks, with a wide array of dangerous shots. Obviously, he needs to work on his consistency game-to-game, but he seems to have ebbs and flows in his intensity on a shift-to-shift basis; his involvement defensively also has peaks and valleys. As a 16 year-old with the Windsor Spitfires, he put up 38 points in just 56 games in 2024-25, so it's a good bet that he'll be picked in the top half of the first-round next summer- likely top-10.

-RW Mathis Preston, CAN (5'11",176lbs): Preston is a dynamic forward that can dissect opposing defenses with his uncanny speed, a rapid change of direction and pace, supernatural awareness, and his ability to stickhandle in a phone booth; he finished in a three-way tie for 6th in Hlinka scoring, with 5gp/4g/3a/7pts,+7, 2 PIM. He seemed to be everywhere all at once, and though he's not particularly physical or hard-nosed, he's a buzzsaw with an amazing small-area game, and a number of ways to beat opponents one-on-one. With excellent vision and anticipation, I would say he's pretty well-balanced offensively (despite having more goals than assists everywhere he's played) between his finishing skills, his killer shot, and his finely tuned playmaking ability. I wouldn't call him a stalwart, but he hustles hard on the backcheck, and drives play through transition with apparent ease. Already, he's being talked about as a possible top-10 pick in the 2026 Draft, especially after posting 45 points in 54 WHL games as a 16 year-old with Spokane, with another 16 points in 20 playoff games.

-LHC Oscar Holmertz, SWE (6'0",190lbs): A potential first-rounder in 2026, Holmertz is perhaps one of those "good at everything, but not elite in any one area" guys, but he goes to work, and gets the job done. There's not many true weaknesses in his game- he skates and handles well, plays with pace, has a good shot, decent finishing skills, and possesses excellent vision and anticipation to make plays; if there's an area where he's high-end, it's his smarts and awareness all over the ice. Holmertz works hard, and contributes well in all three zones. In this event, he was tied for 6th in scoring, with 5gp/2g/5a/7pts,+4, 0 PIM, and he performed extremely well for a 16 year-old in the J20, amassing 30 points in just 32 games- pretty eyebrow-raising numbers.

-RHC Jack Hextall, USA (6'0",185lbs): Hextall was one of Team USA's best players game-in, game-out, but seemed to get even better as the tournament wore on. Tied for 6th in scoring with 5gp/2g/5a/7pts,+2, 2 PIM, his style reminds me a bit of one of my favorites from the 2025 Draft, in Jack Murtagh; very competitive, he skates quite well, with tremendous straight-ahead speed, and problem-solving agility, using his feet and hands to drive play, locate space, and make plays with his well-developed passing skill, and high-end vision. Hexy is also no slouch in the goal-scoring department, owning a laser shot with good power and precision, but usually opts to pass first. With leading-scorer Blake Zielinski held to one point in the Gold Medal Game against Sweden, Hextall took the reins- playing over 20 minutes, posting a goal and two assists, and showing his leadership capabilities. He also plays a very responsible two-way game, and was often an important part of the transition for his team. With 34 points in 53 USHL games with Youngstown, Hexy was 4th in scoring for U-17 players in that league- he might be one to watch.

-LW Oscar Hemming, FIN (6'4",190lbs): The younger brother of Dallas first-rounder Emil Hemming, the larger Oscar employs a more rugged power game than his sibling, with greater physicality, and perhaps an even stronger net-front presence. Oscar was tied for 9th in tournament scoring with 5gp/4g/2a/6pts,+1, 2 PIM, which was 3 behind his older brother's performance in the same event in 2023, but was enough to lead his team in scoring by 2 points. Hemming has a dangerous shot with good precision, but makes his living down low, and in front of the net- causing havoc, setting the screen, and waiting to pounce on rebounds, tips, and loose pucks. Going forward, he will need work primarily on his skating, as his boots are a little heavy, but he moves okay when he gets up to top speed. I really like this kid, and I believe he's being underrated thus far.

-LW Noah Davidson, USA (6'3",214lbs): Unbelievably, he's not available until 2027 (Nov.1st birthday), but he's definitely one to watch. Tied for 9th in the tourney (5gp/3g/3a/6pts,+1, 2 PIM), he's going to play this upcoming season in Medicine Hat of the WHL. Size, speed, smarts, and power.

-RW Nils Bartholdsson, SWE (5'10",174lbs): Tied for 9th in scoring, with 5gp/2g/4a/6pts,+6, 4 PIM, he's a smaller forward with some pluck who isn't very physical, and has trouble with larger opponents, but works hard in puck battles. His best attribute is his near-elite puck-skill, showing the ability to out maneuver opponents with dekes, dangles, and deception, and he is exceptionally slippery and elusive. While he's a high-end skater, he is perhaps a notch or two below elite in this area, but he possesses superb offensive awareness, heightened hockey sense, and a well-balanced skillset between his dangerous shot, and his exciting playmaking acumen. Bartholdsson is a play-driver at this level, and showed good effort in this event on the backcheck, but was stuck playing on the perimeter in the OZ too much for my liking. In 2024-25, he amassed an impressive 37 points in 39 J20 games with Rogle.

-RHD Ryan Lin, CAN (5'11",176lbs): Lin is a candidate to be picked in the top half of the first-round (perhaps even top-10) in 2026, and he showed why in this tournament- tying for 9th-overall in scoring, and 2nd in scoring by D, with 5gp/2g/4a/6pts,+9, 8 PIM. Lin led the Vancouver Giants in 2024-25 with over 25 minutes per night as a 16 year-old, but played mostly bottom-pairing minutes (and PP2) for a deep Team Canada blueline in this tournament. He started with 5 points in the first two games- a goal and an assist against Finland, then a goal and two assists against the Swiss, but was surprisingly good defensively in every game, and led all skaters with a +9 (tied with teammate Adam Valentini). While more offense may have been expected in this tourney, his 53 points in 60 WHL games in 2024-25 represent the 9th-most points by a U-17 defenseman in league history. Lin is an effortless skater with high-end speed and agility, drives play through transition, handles well, and can contribute in all areas with his elite hockey sense and compete- he will even throw the body around when needed. In the offensive zone, Lin is much more of a playmaker than a goal-scoring threat, and exhibits good vision and creativity, with poise and calmness in running the point. Going forward, his shot will need work as he doesn't get enough power or accuracy behind it right now.

Part 2 Coming Soon!

[sureLoss]

Scott Wheeler's top 32 + 39 honorable mentions:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...gavin-mckenna/

Tier 1:
1. LW Gavin McKenna

Tier 2:
2. RW Ivar Stenberg
3. RD Keaton Verhoeff

Tier 3:
4. RD Ryan Lin
5. C Tynan Lawrence
6. C Ryan Roobroeck
7. LW Ethan Belchetz
8. C Viggo Bjorck
9. LW Adam Novotny
10. RW Mathis Preston

[Royle9]

Thanks Sandman.

Mathis stood out for me for Canada, he looked dynamic out there and really controlled the offensive zone more than anyone else in just about every game. Very good edge work and quite elusive, reminded me of Johnny with the quick edge transitions.

Not the biggest and definitely not physical but easily the most offensively gifted forward I watched this tournament for Canada.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1957450683705376856

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Scott Wheeler's top 32 + 39 honorable mentions:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...gavin-mckenna/

Tier 1:
1. LW Gavin McKenna

Tier 2:
2. RW Ivar Stenberg
3. RD Keaton Verhoeff

Tier 3:
4. RD Ryan Lin
5. C Tynan Lawrence
6. C Ryan Roobroeck
7. LW Ethan Belchetz
8. C Viggo Bjorck
9. LW Adam Novotny
10. RW Mathis Preston

Sandman - do you have any early favourites amongst centers in this draft? Any of them looking on a level near or above Misa from the last draft?

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1957450683705376856

The Lin/Verhoeff competition for top defender in this class seems like a more interesting story than whether another player is going to unseat McKenna (which won’t happen).

[cral12]

Wow...things looking Up at Upside...

Sandman heating up already lol

E-Mac just sent me his post Hlinka rankings

After a bit of a break, we'll get some stuff going.

***
Paging CPers interested in having a look:

We've been continuously looking for ways to better display our rankings in user-friendly format (while still offering our detailed original one)...

If anyone, would like (this is pre-Hlinka version), would appreciate looking at this way - we're not sure if can move forward for this for each instalment but might be a good claen option:

Upside Hockey's Early 2026 NHL Draft Rankings

(It's a wee bit of a weird url - it's hosted on Glide at this time)

Thanks gang!

[sureLoss]

Just basing it of Wheeler's early rankings, it looks like centre position is not very deep for the first half of the 1st round but lots to be found in the last half of the first round.

Here are his C rankings in his top 32:

Tier 3:
5. Tynan Lawrence
6. Ryan Roobroeck
8. Viggo Bjorck

Tier 5:
21. Jack Hextall
22. Tomas Chrenko
23. Oscar Holmertz
25. Beckham Edwards
26. Adam Valentini
27. Alessandro Di Iorio
31. Olivers Murnieks
32. Colin Fitzgerald

Of his top 3 C's only Roobroeck is over 6 feet tall at 6'4'' but he is also one of the oldest players in this draft. And yes Lawrence is listed at 6 feet, but an article from Sportsnet at the Hlinka says he is 5'11''.


LD also looks like to be a weak year as well. Only 3 LD made Wheeler's top 32.

Tier 4
13. Carson Carels
14. Xavier Villeneuve

Tier 5:
19. William Hakansson


Of course there is still 10 months of hockey still to be played and there is always kids that play up their early draft rankings and those that free fall.

[Knut]

It would be so Flamesy to be crap in a year with no Franchise centers in the draft.

[Royle9]

Don't sleep on Viggo Bjorck.
His JR stats are bit mind boggling, he's been real good.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Knut

It would be so Flamesy to be crap in a year with no Franchise centers in the draft.

Won’t matter if we get mckenna.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Knut

It would be so Flamesy to be crap in a year with no Franchise centers in the draft.

Reschny will be the #1C, do not worry

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Don't sleep on Viggo Bjorck.
His JR stats are bit mind boggling, he's been real good.

Plays on the same team as Stockselius, but Bjorck scored 23 more points even though he was a year younger.

I figured that this board would meltdown if we started to discuss drafting him at his 5'8 hockeydb listed size (see Marco Rossi discussions), but Wheeler has him listed at 5'10 and he may end up playing at 6'. Wheeler had this to say in his write-up:

He’s on the smaller side for a center at the moment but he excels in the faceoff circle and he played the penalty kill with Djurgarden’s junior team last year. [His brother] Wilson is over 6-0 now, their dad is 6-2, Viggo himself is up to 5-10 and he’s expected to continue to grow.

Definitely one of the more intriguing centres in the draft especially if he grows another inch or two.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Sandman - do you have any early favourites amongst centers in this draft? Any of them looking on a level near or above Misa from the last draft?

It's already been answered, and it's still too early to make any predictions, but C Ryan Roobroeck would be a decent consolation prize to teams losing out on the McKenna sweepstakes (there aren't any Misa comparables yet). He's going to be one of the oldest players in the 2026 Draft, but he has size (6'4"), and has excellent hockey sense and awareness, a lethal shot, and high-end playmaking skills. He's been steadily improving in the speed department, but still needs a bit of work on his boots, and needs more consistency when it comes to his physical game, defensive engagement, and intensity.

C Tynan Lawrence is one to watch as well- he's a six-footer, but he's very well-rounded, and can do a bit of everything. He's also a hard worker with some grit and snarl.

C Colin Fitzgerald might end up being a favorite of mine. Right now, he's being underrated because of the fact that his stats were hurt by playing on a weak Peterborough Petes team, and he didn't get much TOI in the Hlinka, but he's a decent-skating 6'2",207lb power forward who loves to throw his weight around, and plays a complete game. He's already been mentioned in this thread.

Watch out for Beckham Edwards, Viggo Bjorck, Alessandro Di Iorio, Cooper Williams, and Oscar Holmertz as well.

Few names to kep an eye on.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Don't sleep on Viggo Bjorck.
His JR stats are bit mind boggling, he's been real good.

Bjorck's 74 points in 42 games are the highest total ever posted by a U-17 player in Sweden's J20 League, by a huge margin- the next best is Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, with 50 points in 36 games.

Likewise, Bjorck's 15 points in 9 playoff games are the best ever by a U-17 player in the J20, the next highest player being 9 points in 7 games.

[Snuffleupagus]

I wouldn't mind if the Flames snag a potential top 4 LS defenseman in the 1st this year, one kid that really caught my eye that might be in range for Conroy.

Carson Carels, Prince George, 6'2, skates well, sees the ice and moves the puck great plus has a howitzer of a shot. he's also very young which is always a big ++ for me.

[Sandman]

Hlinka Summary Part 2:

-LD Malte Gustafsson, SWE (6'4",196lbs): I was a fan of his brother Viggo in his draft year (3rd-round, Nashville) in 2024, and I may be an even bigger fan of Malte's. Both siblings have an excellent defensive presence and solid awareness, both are quite effective against the rush, and both apply a good amount of physicality to their duties- but Malte shows signs of more, tying for 9th in scoring (2nd for D) in the tournament with 5gp/2g/4a/6pts,+3, 8 PIM. He showed he can rush the puck (or pass) through exit and entry, and was able to effectively run the point with patience and poise. He will pinch into the play, or join the rush when he sees a safe opportunity, and has a pretty good shot from the point- although he had trouble getting it through consistently. Best of all, it's rare to find a rearguard of his size that can skate as well as he can, with good mobility in all directions, and uncanny agility. There's still plenty to work on, such as his puck-skills, and his consistency shift-to-shift.

-LW Nikita Klepov, USA (5'11",165lbs): Klepov (who was born in Florida) rode shotgun on the top line for Team USA with Zielinski and Hextall, and showed a bit more flashiness and dynamism than his linemates. Klepov has excellent puck-skill to deke, dangle, and dodge his way through traffic, or to cut inside, and has the patience and deceptive skills to delay or cut-back in order to await a prime playmaking opportunity. His speed is perhaps average, but it's brought up by his high workrate, and he owns well-developed edges that enable him to outmaneuver attackers, slip away from checks, and pivot on a dime. There's work to be done on his decision-making at times, and he needs to upgrade the power in his shot, but he's a creative playmaker who can drive play in the offensive zone, and he works hard in the other end of the ice, as well. He tied for 9th in scoring, with 5gp/1g/5a/6pts,-2, 0 PIM, and will play in Saginaw of the OHL this season, after posting 31 points in 59 USHL games last year.

-LHC Max Isaksson, SWE (6'0",183lbs): Tied for 9th in the event with 5gp/1g/5a/6pts,+1, 8 PIM, Isaksson (who wore the "C" for Sweden) is another player who may not bring you to the edge of your seat with flash and dash, and isn't elite in any one area, but he's solid in every situation, and average-to-above-average in every trait. He skates and handles well, takes pride in playing a solid game in both ends of the ice, has a bit of a fiery streak, and can make high-end plays in traffic. He's also versatile, showing the ability to play wing as well as center, and he performs well on both sides of special teams.

-RD Daxon Rudolph, CAN (6'2",205lbs): I love this kid. Anyone who has had the opportunity to watch DR play in Prince Albert already knows that he's a stalwart defensively, and a ninja when it comes to defending the rush, although there was a few hiccups in this tournament in his own zone that may be because of some unfamiliarity with his teammates. In this tournament, while wearing an "A", Rudolph finished in a tie for 5th in scoring by D, with 5gp/2g/2a/4pts,+5, 0 PIM, and was tied for third amongst defensemen in plus/minus. He could stand to be more physical, and needs to get stronger, but he's an excellent skater with good speed and fantastic edges (though he could use more explosiveness), and handles well enough to beat opponents one-on-one consistently. He is not at all afraid to join the rush, or activate in to the play from the point, and he's got top-notch vision and awareness to make high-end plays. His retrievals are usually flawless, he consistently makes smart plays to exit the zone, and he's invaluable when it comes to puck-movement in transition. Rudolph had 41 points in 64 games as a 16 year-old, and put up 12 points in 11 playoff games- he is poised to be a star.

-RD Keaton Verhoeff, CAN (6'4",212lbs): I love this kid, too- how did Team Canada lose with this blueline? Anyway, the Captain was tied with teammate Daxon Rudolph, posting 5gp/1g/3a/4pts,+4, 0 PIM, and has the aggressiveness, edge, intensity, physicality, and compete that is a touch less prevalent in Rudolph- although Verhoeff may just be a notch below Rudolph defensively. Both are pretty damn good two-way players though, with excellent puck skill and superb awareness all over the ice, but I think Verhoeff is a bit more content to run the play in the offensive zone from the point (he will still join the play as an extra F)- and he has a cannon of a shot. Verhoeff seems destined to be picked #2 in the 2026 Draft behind McKenna, as he has all the tools of a top-pairing D that one would want, can play in any situation, plus he's pretty young- with a June 19th birthdate. I think that while he's smooth and mobile, he could use a tweak to his explosiveness, acceleration, and perhaps his top speed- but his feet are not much of a weakness. In 2024-25, Verhoeff put up 45 points in 63 games with Victoria of the WHL, with 10 points in 11 playoff games; he is the best D available in the draft, but the gap between him and Rudolph is not that wide, IMO.

-C/LW Oliver Suvanto, FIN (6'3",209lbs): Wearing the "A" for the 4th-place Suomi, Suvanto was a big surprise- posting 5gp/2g/2a/4pts,+1, 0 PIM. He's one of the youngest players in this draft class, with a Sept.3rd birthday, but he wore an "A" for his team, and led all Finnish forwards in ice-time by a wide margin. He needs work in the skating department, but he's an excellent two-way player who can contribute in all areas, and drives play with his cerebral playmaking abilities, facilitated by his heightened vision and awareness. He's nicely physical, protects the puck well, and wins board battles. Also, he looks like a faceoff ace.

-RW Liam Ruck (5'11",176lbs), and LW Marcus Ruck (5'11",168lbs), CAN: Liam is more of a goal-scorer, and better offensively, so he got second-line RW duties (5gp/2g/2a/4pts,+6, 2 PIM), while Marcus (5gp/0g/3a/3pts,+3, 2 PIM) was on the 4th-line in this tournament. Both are hard-working, both play a solid two-way game, both are excellent playmakers with smarts and hockey sense; however, both are smallish, not very physical, and both need to improve their skating. Liam is touted as more of a potential second-line player in the NHL, while Marcus has been pegged as a mid-rounder who likely be more of a bottom-six checker. They both played for Medicine Hat in 2024-25, with Liam recording 25 goals and 41 points in 61 games (10 points in 18 playoff games) and Marcus picking up 8 goals and 29 points in 62 games (4 points in 14 playoff games).

-RD Samu Alalauri, FIN (6'2",201lbs): Before the tournament, Alalauri was billed as being a solid defensive player with a quality puck-movement game, but his performance in his own-zone this week was inconsistent at best, like many of his countrymen- when he made an error, the puck seemed to go in his net every time, and he finished with a -3. Conversely, he was much more active and effective in the offensive zone, with several forays into the play, and a hard and heavy shot, while showing off a fairly good playmaking game; he finished tied for 5th in scoring by D with 5gp/1g/3a/4pts,-3, 2 PIM. I thought maybe I had him confused with someone else. At any rate, he's big and physical, works hard, skates quite well, and owns above-average puck-skills. Alalauri uses his size well, winning battles and throwing his weight around to dislodge pucks. He keeps things relatively simple when passing out of the zone, and played a big part in his team's transition when he was out on the ice- sometimes rushing the puck through exit and entry. I certainly saw enough to be intrigued, and if his shut-down game is truly as good as they say it is, then he might just be a promising two-way D-man who had an off-week.

-C/LW Adam Valentini, CAN (5'11",185lbs): Valentini, who wore an "A" for Team Canada, was tied for 4th on the team in points (5gp/2g/2a/4pts,+9, 4 PIM), although they all came in the first two round-robin games against Finland and Switzerland (2 points in each contest). Even when he wasn't getting on the scoresheet, I thought he was one of the team's best forwards, with hard work and attention to providing solid defense (a tournament-leading +9), and an ability to facilitate and drive play. Valentini isn't big, but he wins battles, employs a physical game, fights through checks, competes hard, and plays with energy and high motor- he also looked good on draws. While he has a fairly good shot, his playmaking is his main forte', and he is blessed with high-end vision and anticipation to drive the offense, with a soft-touch on his passes. Valentini is also an excellent skater, with separation speed, shiftiness, and superb agilty to weave through traffic and get to the middle. He will be attending the University of Michigan this fall, but he put up an impressive 17 goals and 39 points in just 58 USHL games last season, on a very poor Chicago Steel squad that finished second-last in the league (he was tied for first in scoring on the team). He could be a first-rounder in 2026.

-RW Filip Novak, CZE (6'1",198lbs): Another player I really liked, Novak is a power-forward who finished with 4gp/1g/3a/4pts,-2, 2 PIM, which tied him for the scoring lead on Team Czechia. Novak plays a simple game without much dynamism, and doesn't possess any elite tools, but he's very well-rounded, plays a solid two-way game, and contributes in all situations. He is a high-motor player, plays a physical brand of hockey, and is a menace to opponents with how well he can skate- he may not be a speed merchant, but he moves very well on a long and powerful stride. Novak seems to be fairly well-balanced and intelligent offensively as well, with a pretty good shot and a shoot-first mentality, and the ability to make plays while in-motion. I'll be watching him for sure.

Part 3 Coming Soon!

[Sandman]

Hlinka Summary, Part 3:

-RD Juho Piiparinen, FIN (6'3",201lbs): Craig Button made the comment during the Bronze Medal Game that Piiparinen might be the second-best defenseman in this class, behind Verhoeff. Time will tell, but Pips was Mr. Everything for the Finns in this tournament, executing his game to perfection in both ends of the rink, contributing well on both special teams, and tilting the ice with his excellence in transition; he's confident and poised under pressure with the puck, and a calming presence on the backend. He flashes big-time offensive skill (5gp/0g/3a/3pts,+4, 0 PIM), and wasn't afraid to join the rush, or activate deep into the zone to create opportunities. Going the other way, Pips is excellent against the rush with his ability to angle opponents to the boards to separate man from puck with his deft stickwork, and he's a play-killer in the defensive zone with how well he reads and anticipates the play. He recovers pucks aplenty, and his breakouts are usually on point. His skating needs another gear or two, his shot needs better power and precision, and improved physicality would go a long way, but Piiparinen is a D who can log huge minutes in important situations, and provide his team with solid play all over the ice. He's also quite young, with an August 10th birthday- definitely one to watch this season.

-C/RW Nolan Duskocy, USA (6'2",190lbs): Duskocy was charged with bottom-six duties, and was not given much ice-time, but I thought he was very noticeable in a positive way every time he was on the ice, and he finished in a tie for 6th in scoring for Team USA, with 5gp/1g/3a/4pts,+4, 2 PIM. Duskocy supplies energy and grit, physicality along the boards, and exemplary defensive play, but can obviously chip in some offense when he gets the opportunity. He is not without skill though, and he's a fairly good skater, too. He's signed on to play with the Charlottetown Islanders this year, and I look forward to seeing what he can do.

-LHC Beckham Edwards, CAN (6'1",181lbs): I really like this kid- he competes hard, plays with energy and grit, doesn't mind the rough going, and is more than willing to muck and grind. Edwards is an excellent skater, and uses his speed to frustrate opponents on the forecheck, but also to pursue puck-carriers and break up plays on the backcheck. He will throw hits, battles for loose pucks along the wall, and fights for positioning in front of the net. I admire his attention to playing good defense (he was tied with Mathis Preston for 6th-overall in plus/minus, with a +7), and he was charged with PK duty, but like some of his teammates- I was a bit disappointed in his offensive output (5gp/2g/1a/3pts,+7, 0 PIM). Edwards showed his off-puck prowess in how he supports his teammates, stays in position to be a playable option, identifies threats early, plays detailed defense, ties up sticks, and aids his D down low. In the other end of the rink, he can make plays off the rush or the cycle, but his primary weapon looks to be his laser of a shot, facilitated by a wicked release that can freeze goalies. As a 16 year-old last season for the Sarnia Sting, he amassed 25 goals and 45 points in just 62 games. Already an early favorite of mine, he looks like a first-rounder next summer.

-LHC Tynan Lawrence, CAN (6'0",185lbs): Lawrence was often not only Team Canada's best forward, but he was often their best player, period- I have no idea how he ended up tied for 9th in scoring on that team (5gp/1g/2a/3pts,+2, 6 PIM). Already blessed with near-elite speed and relentless motor, he pushes unmatchable pace to keep opponents (and teammates) on their toes, and will not be outworked, or outhustled. He expertly finds or creates space to operate, and has the vision, IQ, and creativity to drive play, manufacture high-end chances, and elevate his teammates. While he may not be the biggest player, and doesn't possess a high-end shot, Lawrence still manages to do everything you would want a top center to do- and that includes his detailed defensive game, his good habits, and his seemingly effortless ability to transition the puck from defense to offense with his speed and skilled handling abilities. To paint another picture of how good this kid is, he put up 25 goals and 54 points (49 PIM) in just 56 USHL games as a 16 year-old, to lead Muskegon in scoring- and then amassed 18 points in 14 playoff games; he doesn't even turn 18 until August 3rd! Lawrence isn't a very physical player, but he goes to the greasy areas of the ice, battles hard for pucks, and attacks the middle without fear. Love him!

-LHD Carson Carels, CAN (6'2",194lbs): I liked him in the U-18's, and I liked him again in this tournament. Carels is a well-rounded, two-way performer who thrives in playing a near-spotless shut-down role, using his surprising four-way mobility, well-timed stickwork, and a dose of physicality. He is a weapon against the rush with his ability to mirror his opponents footwork, angling attackers out of danger, and he doesn't easily fall for deception or changes of direction. In this tournament, he anchored a pairing with the high-flying Ryan Lin in a defensive role, and kept things (as he always does) very simple and risk-free- although he showed a willingness to join the rush, or pinch in from the point when the coast was clear, and he owns a powerful shot. Though he isn't very dynamic, he's still reasonably skilled, and moves the puck up-ice with speed and efficiency, but I think there's more here. Last season in Prince George of the WHL, he had 35 points in just 60 games as a 16 year-old (another youngster too, with a June 23rd birthday), so I believe he might approach a PPG in that league, and will surely be in the first-round conversation.

-RHC Alessandro Di Iorio, CAN (6'1",190lbs): Di Iorio was in the bottom-six for Team Canada, used primarily as a checker, and managed to post 5gp/1g/1a/2pts,+1, 2 PIM. As everyone who has watched him will note, he employs an awkward-looking stride with deficient extension, but still generates surprising power and speed- which makes me believe he could develop into a real speedster when he fixes his mechanics and gets stronger. With his mobility and physicality, he's a load to handle on the forecheck, and similarly- he attacks the greasy areas with tenacity to win pucks, fights through contact, and will drop a shoulder to lean into opponents in order to bull his way through traffic, like a prototypical power-forward. He competes, and plays hard. Defensively, he owns excellent awareness and good details to kill plays, takes away the middle effectively, supports his D down low, and applies a high activity rate with exemplary positioning. Di Iorio also has above-average vision and hockey sense in the offensive zone in making plays, but his primary weapon might be his stunning release- I think he really needs to use it more. With Sarnia last season, he compiled 38 points in just 58 games.

-RHC Colin Fitzgerald, CAN (6'2",207lbs): Fitzy was Team Canada's 4th-line C in this tournament (5gp/0g/2a/2pts,+1, 2 PIM), and despite not getting a whole lot of ice-time, I really came to like this kid. He's a big power-forward with plenty of hard-skill and physicality, and I think he's been underrated because he plays on one of the worst teams in the CHL, the Peterborough Petes. He competes hard, is blessed with high motor, and though he may not be a burner, he's a surprisingly quick and agile skater who is strong on his feet, and hard to knock off the puck. With his speed, tenacity, and high work-ethic, he is a beast on the forecheck (even beating an icing or two), a menace in front of the net, a constant presence in open-ice, and hard to beat along the boards. There weren't many opportunities in this event for him to show what he's capable of offensively, but he's already showing his smarts and awareness in his own-zone, as well as his intensity on the backcheck, his proficiency in supporting his teammates off-puck, and an ability to push defenses back when flying through the neutral zone. He made a few smart plays to set up chances, and he looks to have a reasonably hard shot. Fitzgerald's 28 points in 48 games for the Petes was 6th on the team, but his 0.58 ppg was better than 5 of his teammates in the top-5- he was only 9 points out of first. Looking forward to watching him this year, but I hope he gets traded.

-RHC Brooks Rogowski, USA (6'7",227lbs): A moving skyscraper, Rogowski is a treat to watch because he skates quite well for a player of his size, and has a modicum of skill and smarts, putting up 5gp/1g/2a/3pts,+1, 6 PIM in this tournament. He's a physical player and hits hard, using his body to win battles along the boards, park himself in front of the net, and bully his way to wherever he chooses to go. His office is the low slot, where he makes himself an imposing screen, gives opposing defensemen fits, and waits for rebounds, tips, and loose pucks. He's no Datsyuk, but his puck-skills are another surprising part of his game; he can move through traffic while beating checkers one-on-one, and he exhibits impregnable protection skills. Rogowski has a wide wingspan with an extra-long stick, that he uses to be a very useful defensive player, with help from his keen awareness and anticipation. He exerts sound positioning, and works hard to disrupt enemy incursions into his zone. There's flashes of quality playmaking skill, but his shot could use some work- both in it's power and it's precision. Rogowski picked up 23 points in 66 games (only 9 PIM) for Ottawa of the OHL last season, with another 6 points in 19 playoff games.

Part 4 Coming Soon!