The New Jersey Devils’ 2025–26 season is not going as planned. Instead of fighting for a place at the top of the NHL and fighting for home-ice advantage in the playoffs, the Devils seem more poised for a top-10 draft pick. The Devils already have several players who were drafted in the top 10, including captain Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. Could the Devils add another top talent to the roster? Here are the top 10 players expected in this year’s draft.
Almost every year, the Ontario Hockey League produces the most NHL draftees. Even though people like McKenna and Verhoeff are coming from the NCAA, it’s their first year with them; they have been playing in the WHL for most of their teenage years and have developed mainly with these teams.
1. Ivar StenBerg (F, SHL)
He is a top Swedish forward known for his elite offensive skills, playmaking, and high hockey IQ, having played professionally in the Swedish Hockey League. He was selected for Sweden at the World Juniors 2026 and became a key player. His quick decision-making on the ice stands out most, as he is a 5’11” player; he can predict where everybody is and where they are going. As a younger player at the World Juniors, his expectations were not high, but when you start watching him, you realize this is not the kind of play you see every day.
2. Gavin McKenna (F, NCAA PSU)
McKenna is 18 years old and plays NCAA Division I for Penn State University. Originally from the Western Hockey League, the Medicine Hat Tigers won the WHL Championship and the accompanying Ed Chynoweth Cup. McKenna also received the prestigious David Branch Player of the Year Award for the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Recently, he has represented Canada in the IIHF tournament but won bronze. He was one of the top scorers on the team, trailing only Zayne Parekh, but had the most points. He possesses a combination of hockey IQ, quickness in predicting a player’s next move and the ability to make plays in tight spaces, which makes comparisons to top NHL players.
3. Keaton Verhoeff (D, NCAA UND)
He was a high-scoring defenseman for the Victoria Royals, known for his offensive ability, before joining the University of North Dakota. Verhoeff totaled 45 points in just 63 games as a defenseman and was just 16 years old. His 21 goals last season were the third-most by a defenseman 16 or younger in WHL history. Verhoeff represented Canada at the IIHF U-18 World Championships, playing 5 games and totaling 4 assists. He’s a 6’4”, right-shot defenseman who skates exceptionally well, a combination scouts highly value for the NHL level. After changing from the crease to the blue line, he has made a difference in the game, which will let him hear his name early on draft day.
4. Chase Reid (D, OHL)
Reid is now one of the highest-scoring defensemen in the OHL for the Soo Greyhounds, but hasn’t played a full season yet. This strong player has a high point-per-game just from the blue line. He is a 6’2” defender and is committed to Michigan State University in 2026. This past year, Reid was selected to the U.S.A. for the World Juniors IIHF. During his debut game, he showed off his offensive skills, top power-play ability, and future NHL talent, as seen in everyday games. He has a very good shot, making him a potential power-play asset, and his offensive game is his selling point to NHL teams. He’s always getting up in the rush and adding another layer of attack for his team in transition.
5. Caleb Malhotra (C, OHL)
Malhotra is playing with the Brandfort Bulldogs and has developed alongside many other first-round NHL players, which has exposed him to quick-ice thinking and forced him to adapt to fast-paced play. His playmaking and vision make him an excellent at setting up teammates and advancing different plays into dangerous areas. Now he is a smart 6’2” center who is committed to Boston University, with exceptional stick skills and is defensively responsible on the ice, with the maturity level that will get him high on draft day.
6. Daxon Rudolph (D, WHL)
In Rudolph’s rookie year with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL, he recorded 41 points in 64 games. He is an aggressive two-way defenseman with offensive maturity. He can play in difficult situations thanks to his strong skating, puck-handling and high hockey IQ. Rudolph is able to close off lanes while using his size, which is 6’2”, allowing him to defend a wider area and recover lost pucks more cleanly. Not only does his size help him clear zones, but it also helps him engage physically in congested areas along the board and in front of the net.
7. Ethan Belchetz (F, OHL)
Belchetz uses his height, 6’5”, to win board battles and create havoc in front of opponents’ goalies. He is on the way to round 50 goals and making 80 points with the Windsor Spitfire and passing 50 minutes of penalty time. When you mix his strong physicality with his incredible hockey knowledge, it will be hard for him not to help his team. NHL teams are looking for players who are willing to put a body on someone anytime they can, and Belchetz does every time he can. Belchetz can be a good puck passer, not overthinking his passes to his teammates during the rush. Even though he doesn’t have the top speed in the draft or mobility, it hasn’t hurt his ethic in the offensive zone, because he will always be chasing after the puck.
8. Mathis Preston (F, WHL)
Preston has been playing for the Spokane Chiefs since 2023, but was traded to the Vancouver Giants. But before being traded, he scored 14 goals and 32 points in 36 games and led all WHL rookies in the playoffs with 16 points, helping the Chiefs reach the championship game. He excels at speed, allowing him to break past defenders and create offense. With his speed, which allows him to have one of the more dangerous shots in the WHL, making him capable of scoring from different angles and far distances. Despite not being the tallest in his draft class, which makes it harder to put bodies on other players, he still brings energy on the ice and battles for the puck.
9. Ryan Lin (D, WHL)
Lin has an extraordinary ability to read the game and makes quick decisions with the puck. His defensive ability is often compared to players like Quinn Hughes and Drew Doughty. He controls the tempo of the game with composure beyond his years; you will rarely see him make significant mistakes. He doesn’t have as much explosiveness as other prospects, but his agility and hockey IQ compensate well.
10. Viggo Björck
Reading the ice and anticipating plays well are what are going to get Björck drafted high in the class. He can manipulate defenders and make difficult passes to his linemates with great precision. He has set a record for the most points by a U17 player in the J20 National League. He is trusted by his coaches to play on the power play and penalty kill, thanks to his strong work ethic across all three zones: offense, defense, and neutral. The main concern for the scouts is his size, being 5’10”, which makes it hard for him to fight in the corners for the puck battles, but his being in the SHL has helped improve that weakness due to the physical demands from the older players.
