2026 NHL Draft: Top 10 re-entry prospects
We say it every year: no two hockey players develop the same.
When it comes to dissecting teenagers’ play, so much can change over a couple of years. Many scouts have wondered whether the NHL should move to having players drafted for the first time at 19 or 20, rather than at 17 or 18. There’s a very good argument for that because so many players develop later, and a lot of guys don’t really progress after their draft seasons to begin with. Having all that extra data could be effective for finding the best talent possible.
For now, scouting departments will continue to do their due diligence. Whether due to a lack of opportunities or sudden growth spurts, it’s not uncommon to see players passed over the previous year come back and wow scouts in their second opportunities.
Here’s the deal: if you’re a North American player born between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15, you’ve got a three-year draft window. Players born Sept. 16 to Dec. 31 get two years, while European players in European leagues get an extra year of eligibility. To keep it simple, if the player participated in the recent World Junior Championship, you’re still eligible for the draft. This year, you’ll see players from 2006 selected in their last year of eligibility.
Here’s a look at 10 of the top re-entry prospects looking to have their name called at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo:
1. Ethan MacKenzie, LHD (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)
MacKenzie was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior team, but he proved he belonged from the minute training camp opened. His ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. His maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time, and he can kill plays and log a lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Oil Kings). The University of North Dakota commit put up good numbers this year, but his true value will be in how he defends. He takes up a ton of space and is very reliable in his zone. The added offensive touch this year was nice, and I think he could be a solid NHLer in a few years.
2. Matias Vanhanen, LW (Everett Silvertips, WHL)
Vanhanen is one of the more intriguing re-entry prospects this year. Originally slated to go in one of the later rounds, if selected at all, Vanhanen quickly became one of the WHL’s premier setup wingers. He showed excellent heads-up hockey sense every time he hit the ice alongside Carter Bear and Julius Miettinen. If it wasn’t for him, Everett’s offense would be significantly less lethal – Vanhanen seemed to be the primary play-producer. There’s no question he’ll get drafted in his second year of eligibility, but scouts aren’t completely sure what type of player he’ll be at the next level. He lacks any sort of physical play, and he’s not all too quick, either. But, man, his puck play is truly remarkable, and I loved him at the Memorial Cup with Everett.
3. Liam Lefebvre, C (Chicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHL)
Lefebvre wasn’t highly rated heading into the season after jumping up from the prep-school ranks. But it became clear early this year that there was something there after he put up some good numbers with Rimouski. He was traded to Chicoutimi and helped the team win the QMJHL title. Lefebvre was then one of the better players at the Memorial Cup, registering at least one point in his first three games. At 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds, Lefebvre plays with a ton of pressure. He’s an average skater, but he works and plays a strong checking game. Scouts have noticed more skill out of him in recent months than they first thought, and he’s a solid goal scorer, too. Look for Lefebvre to be taken somewhere in the third or fourth round – scouts think he has a good future ahead of him.
4. Egor Barabanov, LW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
One of the more notable re-entry prospects, Barabanov was an absolute delight to watch in Saginaw this year. 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. The UMass commit really needs to improve his mobility and physicality if he’s going to make it to the NHL, but he has come a long way over the past two years, and I think there’s still a ton more runway to work with.
5. 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 looked great playing against men in the top Czech pro league, too. Galvas is as good a skater as you’ll find in the class, using his quick footwork to pivot on a dime. He also makes quick, accurate backhand passes that seem to throw off opponents quite frequently. He’s been passed over twice before (he’s small at 5-foot-10), so it’ll be interesting if teams deem his talent too good to ignore at this point.
6. Yaroslav Bryzgalov, LW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)
The Merrimack College commit means business. He’s a big, 6-foot-3 forward who can knock down just about anyone while being a tremendous playmaker. His hands are some of the best you’ll find from a player his size, and he often showcases impressive skill. The biggest thing holding him back from being a legit bottom-line NHL threat is his poor skating – something that hasn’t seemingly improved in the past two years. Without adding more speed to his game, he’s going to have a tough time making the NHL. If he can address that, though, watch out. Bryzgalov’s numbers were good in Medicine Hat, and I think there’s something here from an overall style standpoint.
7. Alex Kostov, RW (Flint Firebirds, OHL)
Is Kostov good because he’s big, or good because he’s actually good? That’s what scouts have been wondering all year long. The 19-year-old is very intriguing because he plays with a ton of pace for a guy with a 6-foot-4 frame. He’s not flashy, but he makes up for it by doing a solid job of chasing after opponents and forcing traffic. Kostov’s shot is pretty good, too. The biggest flaw at this point is his complete disappearance in the defensive zone, though. But as a re-entry option, I could see him making the NHL sooner rather than later. Is he dynamic enough to stick around for the long run? I’m not too sure yet.
8. Tobiáš Tvrzník, G (Wenatchee Wild, WHL)
At 6-foot-4, Tvrzník has the size teams crave. He also proved he can clearly handle pressure with ease, and many scouts like guys who can shoulder a heavy workload at a young age. It shows you can be a difference-maker when there isn’t much to work with. Tvrzník’s athleticism is already high-end, although he lacks elite speed in the crease. He’s also prone to some ugly rebounds, but that’s something an NHL goalie coach can figure out. The Wild struggled to win consistently, but Tvrzník was often the reason why the team managed to steal some wins along the way. He was 3-2-2 when making at least 40 saves this year, which is incredible – he stole more than a handful of games overall. His 60-save performance against Everett back in September was a true highlight of the campaign. Overall, there’s a great base here.
9. Michal Oršulák, G (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Oršulák had a big year, leading Prince Albert to the WHL Final while also snagging silver at the World Juniors with Czechia. He 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. Oršulák was in the spotlight quite often this year, which was great for his development – and he stole his fair share of games along the way. Still, some scouts are a bit concerned about his play, despite him being the second-ranked North American-based goaltender, according to NHL Central Scouting. I think most of his flaws are fixable – especially when it comes to reading 2-on-1s and breakaways. Still, if you watched his game a year ago compared to now, it’s clear he has taken big steps forward.
10. Niko Tournas, RW (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL)
Tournas was a big-game NAHL player last season and made the jump to the QMJHL this year. It was a great move – he finished with 43 goals and 74 points while also being a beast physically. I loved him during the playoffs, where he had another 18 points in 21 games as Moncton ultimately lost out to Chicoutimi in the final. Regardless, I think he’s a solid goal scorer who can power through opponents and shoot from anywhere. His skating is lackluster for a 20-year-old, though, so it feels like he’ll only be able to crack the NHL in a checking role, if at all. Regardless, I expect him to land somewhere in the middle rounds this year because I know scouts really like how far his game has come over the past 2-year years.
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