2026 NHL Draft Comparables: Best And Worst Case Scenarios For Top Prospects
With every NHL draft cycle, scouts and analysts look for ways to best compare the top upcoming talent to the current stars of the hockey world.
However, there's no true science to it. Development in professional sports is unpredictable, and it can be difficult to find true one-to-one projections for players at such an early stage in their careers.
The 2026 NHL draft class features high-end prospects with the potential to alter the trajectory of a franchise's future, but what happens if things don't go as planned?
This exercise aims to find a best-case and worst-case projection for some of the best players from this year's class in order to provide a better idea of what type of player they could become.
Top NHL Draft Prospects Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg Speak At Combine: 'I'd Be Pretty Fortunate To Go There'
Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg finished their NHL draft campaigns in impressive fashion. They reflected on the campaign that was and discussed where they may end up as the Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 pick.
Ivar Stenberg, LW
High-end Comparable: Lucas Raymond
Stenberg is a highly creative and cerebral winger with a well-rounded two-way game that gives opposing teams nightmares. He has all the tools to be a top-line winger at the NHL level and could evolve into a dominant playoff performer with his competitive nature and winning pedigree.
Low-end Comparable: Artturi Lehkonen
The body of work that Stenberg has put together suggests that the floor of his projection won't drop off as far as McKenna's. Stenberg can still become an incredibly impactful presence, even if he ends up a 60-point player rather than an 80-point player, thanks to his off-puck habits and commitment to playing a winning style of hockey.
2026 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Who The Maple Leafs Should Pair With Auston Matthews
Who should the Toronto Maple Leafs draft first overall? Could the Vancouver Canucks get a first-overall-caliber winger at third overall? Ryan Kennedy shares his instant post-lottery mock draft.
Chase Reid, D
High-end Comparable: Zach Werenski
Reid is one of this draft class's biggest risers, and he also has the best chance to become a No. 1 defenseman. At his best, Reid controls the flow of the entire offense with his dynamic skating and vision, and has an impressive shot that beats goaltenders from distance. He plays with a ton of poise and could become a franchise's cornerstone piece on the blueline.
Low-end Comparable: Mikhail Sergachev
While Reid's offensive game is special, he hasn't produced at the level of some previous high-end offensive-defensemen leading up to the draft. The process is borderline elite, but that's what you're betting on. There's also a chance that his defensive game doesn't round out enough to be trusted against the top matchups on a nightly basis, even though he's taken major strides in that area this season.
'He's A Franchise No. 1 Center': NHL Draft Prospect Caleb Malhotra Is His Own Guy
Caleb Malhotra said he's most proud of his dad, Manny Malhotra, for getting the Vancouver Canucks' coaching job. The big drama surrounding the prospect will come on draft day, but he's his own guy, wherever he goes.
Caleb Malhotra, C
High-end Comparable: Nico Hischier
Malhotra is a highly skilled center who flew up draft boards this year because of his ability to make creative plays with pace while showing a detailed, mature 200-foot game. He plays the type of style that coaches can trust, and even when his offense isn't at its best, his ‘B' game is better than most.
Low-end Comparable: Sean Couturier
Similar to Stenberg, Malhotra's offensive game taking major strides would really just be a bonus on top of the package he already brings. It's possible he doesn't end up being a team's top point producer, but what he provides in competitiveness and leadership can't be understated. At worst, he projects as a second-line center.
2026 NHL Scouting Combine Results: McKenna Tops VO2 Max Aerobic Fitness Test
Here's a list of the top-10 performers from each test taken place at the 2026 NHL scouting combine.
Keaton Verhoeff, D
High-end Comparable: Thomas Harley
At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Verhoeff has the physical profile that NHL teams dream of having as a pillar on their blueline. He's comfortable with the puck in tight spaces, isn't afraid to activate in the offensive zone, and possesses a heavy shot. The combination of size and offensive instincts gives him the look of a modern top-pair defender with the proper development.
Low-end Comparable: Aaron Ekblad
Verhoeff is still a very raw prospect when it comes to the mechanics of his skating and his defending. Scouts and analysts have softened on Verhoeff and have come to doubt what his ceiling truly is, but even if things don't progress as anticipated he is still very likely to become a top-four defender that can be trusted on both special teams units with his physical gifts.
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 10:04 AM.