The NHL draft is full of players with supremely talented skill sets.
The tools these players have are evident nearly every time they step on the ice. It’s truly remarkable to watch these 17- and 18-year-old kids play hockey and realize they are the future of the sport.
Each player has a standout trait. It’s the primary reason they find themselves near the top of NHL draft lists publicly and privately. In this week’s update of the 2026 NHL Draft board, we’re looking at those standout skills or traits that make each of the top-end players so special. That way, we can begin to understand how they can help an NHL team in the future.
Top 10 NHL draft prospects
1. Frolunda (Sweden) left wing Ivar Stenberg
One of the biggest reasons Stenberg has remained atop the list is his incredible intelligence and versatile game. When Stenberg’s A-game isn’t working, he’s quick to pivot to his B-game and remain an effective player. His capability as a playmaker, a shooter, a defensive winger or a transition-focused forward makes him hard to shut down completely. One game, he’s a skilled and speedy forechecker, and the next, he is a center-driven scorer.
2. Muskegon (USHL) center Tynan Lawrence
Lawrence’s ability to attack head-on and get downhill with and without the puck is truly a marvel to watch. Lawrence can drive the middle of the ice, taking on defenders with his speed and aggressive pace, unlike almost anyone else in the draft class. With and without the puck, Lawrence is a man on a mission. He’s not necessarily a power forward, but he plays a powerful game.
3. Penn State (NCAA) left wing Gavin McKenna
There is no denying that the pure skill as a puckhandler and playmaking vision that Gavin McKenna possesses are elite. There are things he can do with the puck that most hockey players are simply not capable of. He can stickhandle in a phone booth and find his way out of trouble in open ice so often. His pure offensive skill is more impressive than anyone else’s in the draft class.
4. North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
The most intriguing thing about Verhoeff might just be what he could be. He has all of the traits to be a true all-situations defenseman who can control play on the power play, eat minutes at even strength and shut opponents down on the penalty kill. His mobility, escapability and, most importantly, his poise, make him the most well-rounded blueliner in the class.
5. Spokane (WHL) right wing Mathis Preston
Preston hasn’t produced at the rate most had hoped, but there is so much to like about his game. He can put the team on his back for a shift or two and create offensive chances with his speed and skill, the way few can. No matter who is on the ice, when Preston decides it’s time to be the guy to create something, it’s hard to stop him from at least generating a high-end chance.
6. Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) defenseman Xavier Villeneuve
Although undersized, the elite on-puck game Villeneuve possesses gives shades of Quinn Hughes at times. He’s agile and powerful while being skilled and controlled as a playmaker. The kind of skill and play-creation Villeneuve brings as a defender is reminiscent of what McKenna brings as a forward. There is so much offensive juice in his game that it’s hard to deny just how special he could be.
7. Djurgarden (Sweden) right wing Viggo Bjorck
Bjorck’s elite hands and dirty dangles make him so much fun to watch at the junior level, and he’ll be an important player at the World Junior Championship in just over a week. But his ability to work his tail off and diversify his game at Sweden’s pro level has been such a welcome sight. He’s always been skillful and cerebral enough, but adding the motor has made him much more effective this season.
8. Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
NHL teams love a player they can mold like a ball of clay, so long as that ball of clay is a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder who can skate like the wind. Alberts Smits has the kind of raw upside that could make him one of the best players in this draft class. He’s already playing big minutes against pros in Finland, allowing him to develop his game at both ends of the ice.
9. Windsor (OHL) left wing Ethan Belchetz
Belchetz’s combination of size and skill intrigues NHL teams more than anything. Not many players can bowl over a defender along the wall and then dangle the goalie from in tight the way Belchetz can. His developing skating has made him all the more dangerous, but it’s the size/skill combo that has scouts drooling.
10. Tappara (Finland) center Oliver Suvanto
A two-way center is often underappreciated because they may not have the offensive punch of the elite skill guys, even though they can shut down the opposing team’s top players. Suvanto is that kind of player. He’s a massive center who plays down the middle of the ice at both ends, clogging up the middle defensively before getting on his horse and driving the center lane offensively.
