2026 NHL Draft: Five re-entry prospects you need to know
Sometimes, you just need a second chance to prove yourself.
In recent years, we’ve seen NHL teams more willing to look at older prospects in the draft. That concept was elevated in recent years, partly due to the complications of scouting during the COVID period. These days, the shutdowns are much less of an issue. But development isn’t linear by any means.
Each year, NHL teams are still looking back to find someone they’ve missed. A lot of personal development – mentally, physically, you name it – goes on in a teenager’s life. For a hockey prospect, there’s so much pressure to prove yourself to 32 NHL franchises, and it’s easy for things to fall flat. It’s a tough world, and there’s a reason why so many quality prospects never make it to the big leagues. That’s why it’s always interesting to follow the re-entry options: guys who may have fallen under the radar in the past but figured it out in their second or third years of eligibility.
We’ll have a more comprehensive list prior to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. But for now, here are five overagers you need to know:
Egor Barabanov, LW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Nikita Klepov isn’t the only USHLer-goes-to-Saginaw-and-boosts-his-draft-stock prospect this year. Barabanov had a solid 38 points in games in the U last year before finding himself on a 90-point pace in Saginaw. The 19-year-old was passed over twice before, but he has really come into his own in recent months thanks to increased confidence and a strong work ethic. He’s also not afraid to drop the gloves, either.
Barabanov plays with a boatload of skill. He has quick hands and is always scanning for passing lanes, but he knows when he needs to shoot the puck himself, too. Barabanov does a solid job of exploiting open space, and he’s getting better defensively, too. He has always had talent, but the results are finally starting to follow – and it’s hard not to adore the nastiness in his game, either.
Tomáš Galvas, LHD (Bílí Tygři Liberec, Czechia)
Galvas was an absolute force at the World Juniors, having perhaps the strongest showing of any draft-eligible prospect. The 19-year-old finished with nine points in seven games en route to a silver medal – his third piece of hardware in three years. Beyond that, Galvas has been outstanding in the top Czech league, averaging 26 points as a junior-aged defender while playing against men.
Galvas is as good a skater as you’ll find at this tournament, using his quick footwork to pivot on a dime. He also makes quick, accurate backhand passes that seem to throw off opponents quite frequently. Passed over twice before (he’s small at 5-foot-10), it’ll be interesting if teams deem his talent too good to ignore at this point.
Ethan MacKenzie, LHD (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)
MacKenzie was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior training camp. But after a strong showing in the exhibition series against Sweden, MacKenzie stuck around and ultimately had a good showing. He started Canada’s tournament with a three-point outing. That gave him a nice boost, ice time-wise, over the next few games before hovering around the 11-13 mark during the playoffs.
It was a solid performance that helped ensure he would be selected this year after being passed over twice. I felt like MacKenzie’s ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. His maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time. I think we’re talking about a mid-round prospect but someone who can kill plays and play a lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Oil Kings).
Timofei Runtso, D (Victoria Royals, WHL)
Runtso wasn’t on anyone’s radar a year ago while playing with the NAHL’s St. Cloud Norsemen. He played around 15-17 minutes a night early on in the season but is now playing north of 20 routinely. Runtso recently had a strong showing at the WHL Prospects Game, which definitely helped his stock. The Victoria Royals defender has actually been one of the bigger risers in recent months, with some scouts seeing him as a potential second-rounder.
Runtso’s offensive game continues to improve, and I think it’s because he’s shown a greater willingness to be aggressive on the attack. He’s fearless, and you notice him (positively) nearly every time he hits the ice. Runtso will either shut someone down or get the puck down the ice. If he continues to keep with this trajectory, scouts will be fighting over him on the second day of the draft.
Michal Oršulák, G (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
NHL Central Scouting rated Oršulák as the No. 1 goalie in their midterm rankings, which raised some eyebrows. But the big goaltender has earned some love in recent months to the point. It’s pretty much a given he’ll be taken regardless in his second year of eligibility. He’s having a solid season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders (a team with a legit chance at winning the title), and just helped Czechia finish second at the World Juniors.
Oršulák is big at 6-foot-4, but he could definitely work on being a bit quicker in the crease. He’s good at dealing with shots through traffic and is typically quite positionally sound. It’s been a while since he allowed three goals in a game, so he does a solid job of shutting opponents down with strong rebound control.
Other notables: Alexander Sapozhnikov, LHD (Kapitan Stupino, MHL); Tobias Tvrznik, G (Wenatchee Wild, WHL); Liam Lefebvre, C (Chicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHL); Matthew Michnak, G (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL)
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