Cootes!

A guy on Twitter requested the rest of my rankings so here they are… it gets real rough real fast this class lol

This top 3 is awesome too, really impressed with Verhoeffs game and Stenberg is a beast… and of course there is McKenna leading the way

A quick ranking of the first 12 guys I’ve viewed for the #2026NHLDraft already liking it more than this years. Can definitely see some changes in the future, Lin has a lot of potential, Bjork might drop cause of his size but hes so fun, Belchez might go up but I’ve only seen a D-2 game. A fun class!

Vojtech Cihar, great name, great player, high IQ, good motor, attacks the puck, really shined on the back check and D zone, doesn’t mind the dirty areas and getting physical, his skating and skill game isn’t anything special but he’s a solid bottom 6 pk specialist if he continues to develop

I’ve never been a fan of Ish Wozniak, felt like he lucked into his points last year, weird bounces or easy passes, lacks high end skill, doesn’t really play physical, flubs pucks, doesn’t do much on D, he’s got a decent shot and positions himself well in the offensive zone and can make passes but 🤷‍♂️

Zonnon is a very good hockey player, physical and skilled which is a breath of fresh air for the Q but man his skating is weird. Reminds me of Waluigi, kinda plays like he would too.

Lewandowski is a big forward with solid IQ and really impressive work along the boards, he’s not the best skater but does a good job of slowing down the pace of a game, with space he has a very good shot and is a solid player at moving the puck up ice in transition

I really love Limatovs game, needs some more consistency but when he’s firing he’s one of the more skilled and dynamic D men in this draft with a big frame as well. He can weave through defenses with his skating and puck handling, flashes high level playmaking, and isn’t a liability in his own end

If he does that he can be an elite power forward and I think that’s what people are banking on.

A good job on the forecheck or backcheck, he’ll stop moving his feet and reach for pucks. He’s got a great shot and his hands in tight in front of the net are elite especially with his reach but he’s a project. He needs to be more physical, improve his skating and work on his off puck game

McQueen, I just don’t see it. I don’t think he’s a good skater, his stride is very awkward, he doesn’t drive play, he waits for it to come to him and if he’s not in front of the net he’s kinda off along the boards standing around. He doesn’t really use his size to out muscle guys. He doesn’t do

Lakovic and McQueen I’m much lower on than most. Lakovic just doesn’t use his size and can be a bit of a perimeter player. I also don’t love his skating. But big guy can shoot and has some solid IQ. Good anticipation on D to intercept pucks every now and then and solid in the ozone.

Other guys I’ll talk about are Braden Cootes who’s very similar to Bear stylistically, bigger and maybe more physical but not quite as skilled or as good of a skater, Walmart brand if you will, which is not a knock cause that just means you could probably get a great deal on his price

After this we have a pretty significant drop off. But coming in at 6 Carter Bear is maybe my favorite player of the draft. Intense, high motor, elite forchecker, solid offensive skills that seem to be over looked, especially his playmaking. When a guy plays with that much effort and has skill too 👀

Eklund edges out Morton due to his skating and motor. Both high skill guys who despite there size difference play a physical game and drive offensive play. Morton’s biggest red flag for me is his defense, some games he looks checked out in his own end and is not a great back checker

Schaefer is right up there with those 2. Age being on his side while being a minute eating, excellent skating, transition D man, solid in his own end, I just think he’s not elite in the offensive zone on the cycle, I think that keeps him from being an elite #1 D but we’re splitting hairs here