As the National Hockey League season moves to its end with the Stanley Cup Finals starting, the NHL Draft becomes closer. Every year, there’s one league that produces the most draftees: the Canadian Hockey League, which includes the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. But the OHL is ahead of all, followed closely by the WHL. Since 1969, more than 6,000 players have been drafted from the CHL. In the 2025 draft, 90 CHL players were selected, representing approximately 40% of the total 225 picks.
In the 2026 draft class, many players are coming from the CHL and stand out for their elite skills. But this past year, the NCAA allowed Canadian players to join after spending at least one year with their CHL team. Some people don’t agree with this because it takes away opportunities for Americans who can’t join the CHL, and the NCAA was for them. Some players who used to develop with their CHL team but have moved on to the NCAA, such as Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff. If players choose to stay in the CHL for their entire junior careers or use it as a stepping stone to the NCAA, these players benefit from a development path designed to prepare them for the next level. This mix of paths has created a 2026 draft class where CHL‑developed players are at the center of the conversation.
CHL coaches want these players to be the best of the best in the draft class. In the CHL, players play up to 68 regular-season games. The coaching staff wants to focus on preparing for quick system adjustments, skill development, and getting younger players used to everyday practice and back-to-back games. In the CHL, players can be drafted by a team at age 15 and play until age 21. Coaches want you to understand how to play with players of different skill levels who are also developing, as well as how to play against older players with NHL exposure. Some players start their careers on their CHL team, but after a few years, they move to the NCAA, while others stay in the CHL for their entire careers. When people commit to an NCAA hockey program, they stay with their CHL team to gain more playing time, since most first-year students don’t always get as much. Because the CHL has become such a strong development league, it’s no surprise that some of the top prospects in the 2026 draft are currently playing there.
As the three NY/NJ Metro teams move towards the draft, each is in a different place in terms of drafting needs. The CHL draft prospects offer each team an opportunity to take the next step. The Rangers, coming off a disappointing season, are once again retooling. They have the 5th and 26th picks in the first round, as well as nine others throughout the remaining rounds. The OHL gives the Rangers the chance to rebuild their team with a focus on depth. The Rangers have always had a great development program. They are not afraid to use quality drafting to get a big-name player.
The Devils, with new General Manager Sunny Mehta, have a decimated farm system due to poor trades and drafting by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Mehta is looking to this draft to help rebuild that farm system with players who can provide both short-term and long-term benefits. The Devils are deep in defensive players and will be more focused on size and skill. Something the Devils lack, but have many options in the CHL draft pool. The Devils have five picks in the 2026 draft, including the 12th overall. The Islanders, who just fell short of the playoffs, have a strong core of young and veteran players and will look to bolster their defense in this year’s draft. The Islanders also have five picks and are following the Devils at number 13 Overall.
The CHL will once again highlight some of the best players in this draft.
Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers) WHL
In the 2025 season, Ruck had scored only 29 points, but he produced 108 points in 68 games the year prior and finished as the WHL’s top scorer alongside his brother, Liam. Ruck can see the ice with clear vision and consistently gets the puck to his linemates in high-danger spots. Ruck can play along the sideboards in the offensive zone to be dangerous around the goalie. He is viewed as a player who can slow the game down and make skilled decisions under pressure. He may not be big enough to overpower other players. However, he consistently wins puck battles through his body positioning, stickhandling and timing. Ruck is an analytical player; he approaches the game with more intelligence than physical force. He identifies passing and handles the puck through traffic.
Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers) WHL
Liam Ruck, the twin brother of Markus Ruck, was one of the WHL’s most productive players this past season, recording 104 points in 68 games. He is known for his strong offensive instincts, smart positioning and a dangerous release, making him a constant scoring threat. Ruck is especially effective at finding hard-to-get-to areas in coverage, reading defenders and forcing turnovers that quickly turn into chances. Defensively, he adds value through his relentless motor, active stick and strong awareness away from the puck. He backchecks hard, pressures opponents effectively, and supports play responsibly, giving him the profile of a reliable two-way forward at higher levels.
Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) OHL
Cali is a forward with a strong two-way foundation, good speed and a strong hockey IQ. His speed, puck support and his ability to create offense in hard areas. He is heavy on physical play in his forechecking, getting inside on plays and making smart plays under pressure. He can finish around the net, get to the slot and capitalize on turnovers. When there is a turnover from the other team, Cali makes quick plays off those turnovers and attacks in his slot and arrives around the crease to attempt to put the puck in the net. This season is Cali’s first year on the North Bay Battalion lineup, and he has become a key factor on the team. He’s determined to find open spaces in front of the net, but he also looks to get open on the boards so he can step in and rip a shot on net. He loves to win puck battles and has a talent for muscling past players to get open.
Cooper Williams (Saskatoon Blades) WHL
Williams uses his teammates effectively to move into attacking positions, then puts himself in positions to get those pucks and put them in the back of the net. He can gain speed with a few strides and beat opponents with quick speed while protecting the puck. In tight-nit spaces, Williams can get to open teammates and eventually open those passing lanes. Many WHL players cannot make the same rigorous plays as Williams. Most of his goals come from having a high hockey IQ, getting into tight, dirty spots and making a clear shot to get past the goalie. By the end of his rookie year, Williams was gaining minutes on the penalty kill as a 16-year-old. With his quick poke check as a defender, he can also time his stick life enough to help defend on the PK. Williams hockey IQ is so high that it makes up for any flaws in his game. He finds a spot in the seams and focuses on taking advantage of a weakness, punishing a mistake, or using skill to overcome an opponent.
Jaxon Cover (London Knights) OHL
Cover didn’t start playing ice hockey until he was 13; he had only been playing roller hockey. But this current game shows little sign of that late a start. When he is given the right amount of time and space, he can make smart plays with his stick to go coast to coast ot create more space for his teammates in the offensive zone. Cover is known in the OHL for having a powerful and accurate shot, which makes him a threat on the ice. He also shows reliability in his own zone. He consistently puts himself in strong positions defensively, which supports his projection as a responsible two-way player. He’s insane for timing stick lifts well and having a solid poke check, so he can disrupt plays without needing to overpower opponents.
Nikita Kepvrov (Sagnaw Spirit) OHL
Projected in the first round, Klepovs’ offensive instinct stands out most among this year’s class. He is known as one of the OHL’s most dangerous scorers. This forward had led the Saginaw Spirit with 97 points in 67 games, securing the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy for the OHL’s top producer and being the rookie of the year. When Kepvorv has the puck, his high-end hockey IQ and ice vision allow him to stay patient on plays, avoid forcing passes and consistently find teammates in spots where the other teams would fail to cover. It all starts with his stick handling, and how he powers through the neutral zone, and finds a way to get his stick in a power shot into the net. He skates fast through zones but needs work on his skating skills.
Yegor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres) QMJHL
Shilov is considered one of the best players to come out of Russia in his draft class. He is one of the most developed, skilled players who knows how to play the puck. He thrives in transition and makes the most of his role on a Russian-speaking offensive line alongside Alexei Vlasov and Kazakhstan’s Kornei Korneyev. Shilov always seems to know how and where to play the puck. Shilov keeps his head in the defensive zone and helps protect his goalie. But you want him on a scoring line with his ability to score the most points and make smart offensive plays. He is an electric, dynamic puckhandler and all-around offensive player, which usually means he can generate offense off the rush, beat defenders one-on-one and create space to shoot or pass.
Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars) WHL
Being in his second season with the Cougars, he had made himself known in the CHL for being one of the top defencemen through every aspect of his game. In the WHL, there are few to no defencemen who have strong offensive skills. He has a skill for making great shots and a quick wrist, which he uses close to the net for backhand shots. Carels earned a point for every time Team West scored in the WHL Top Prospects game, totaling in 4 assists. He possesses great mobility and a strong stride that quickly builds his speed. He makes a dangerous presence wherever he is on the ice. Carels can easily get in front of the net to block a shot and create a turnover for the other team with a quick burst of speed.
Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) QMJHL
Villeneuve lacks size among defensemen in the draft, but what he makes up for in other areas draws teams to scout him. He is a fast puck mover with excellent agility, strong offensive skills, and the confidence to control possession under pressure. He creates space at the line, which he can expand by passing and shooting through lanes. He plays a high-risk, high-skill style, but it often works because his skating, hands, and awareness let him recover and still come out ahead. He’s willing to try difficult plays at the offensive blue line, attack through pressure, and hold onto the puck a little longer than most defensemen. Still, he usually has the agility and puck control to escape trouble. Villeneuve seems to defend by reading plays early, disrupting passing lanes, and using an active stick rather than overpowering opponents.
