2026 NHL Draft: 15 prospects you need to watch at U-18 World Championship
The final major on-ice event of the 2026 NHL Draft season is upon us, with 10 teams set to battle for gold at the upcoming IIHF World U-18 Hockey Championship.
If you’ve never followed this event, just think of it as the World Juniors, but a year or two early. Some of these players listed below played in the top U-20 event a few months ago. But for the most part, this tournament is the biggest showcase any of them has played in.
Canada has won gold the past two years, and should look to contend again. The United States will look to secure a clean sweep of the major U-18 events this season after winning the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, albeit with a much stronger lineup. Sweden (Viggo Bjorck) and Finland (Oscar Hemming) will be missing their top draft prospects, but should still be in the medal conversation, as always.
Of the top 10 in Daily Faceoff’s top 75 draft list published earlier this month, only Canada’s Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin will play in this event. The rest have either aged out (born late in 2007), or are still actively playing in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if you see a few of them at the upcoming IIHF World Championship in May instead, though.
With the tournament set to get underway on April 22 in Trencin and Bratislava, Slovakia, here are seven players to watch for Canada.
Tynan Lawrence, C (Canada)
Lawrence’s move to the NCAA was a highly applauded one – he was dominating the USHL after returning from injury. The move might have positive long-term effects on his development, but the numbers were definitely concerning. For as much as Lawrence loves to dominate the physical game, he looked invisible a little too often on a team that didn’t have a ton going for them. The good news? He really found his game near the end of the season and should play a leading role with BU next year. There’s still a lot to love about his game and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s taken closer to fifth. But his stock has definitely fallen overall, with some scouts questioning if he has top-six potential.
Ryan Lin, RHD (Canada)
I liked Lin at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and then he recorded more than 50 points in his second consecutive WHL campaign. Consider me a big fan. He’s now committed to the University of Denver, where he should immediately play a big role, just like we saw him do at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. While Lin is small, he’s definitely one of the most skilled defenders in this class. His decision-making is near the top, and he has the skating to burn guys. You put those together and it’s easy to understand why Lin has the puck so often. Teams seem to be softening up to smaller blueliners – they should be all-in on Lin. This tournament could do wonders for solidifying him as a top-10 pick.
Mathis Preston, RW (Canada)
Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Preston left scouts wanting more in the WHL this year. Thankfully, he has been electric with Canada on numerous occasions, and he’ll have a chance to really push himself back up draft boards if things go well in Slovakia. Preston does a good job of getting to the middle of the ice to redirect chances and take space away. I’ve liked him more in the showcase events (Hlinka, CHL USA Prospects Challenge), which shows he can rise to the occasion when needed. Look for him to be leaned on as a difference-maker with Canada, perhaps in a top-six scoring role. He’s a good player, but the results just need to be better – and they can be if things go well here.
Keaton Verhoeff, RHD (Canada)
Verhoeff jumped from the WHL to the NCAA this year, a move that was well-received by the scouting world. He was productive while playing anywhere in the 16-20 minute range on one of the top teams in the country – a tough gig for any defenseman. Verhoeff doesn’t have many bad games – the floor is still quite solid. He takes up a ton of space at 6-foot-4 and is willing to hit you hard while also making many high-end passes in the offensive zone. Scouts wish he’d add a bit more speed to be a true top-pairing defender, though, but there’s time for him to figure that out. I’ll also add this: yeah, his Frozen Four performance wasn’t great. But the ceiling is still very, very high for such a young dude. I commend him for going to college early, and I think he’ll be much more comfortable next year.
Jakub Vaněček, LHD (Czechia)
The Czechs’ roster leaves a lot to be desired, with most expecting this team to miss out on a medal. But Vaněček will definitely be one of the team’s most notable players, especially after doing enough to earn a spot on Czechia’s World Junior team back in December. I like how he’s always moving thanks to a non-stop motor and good overall footwork. He beats opponents by taking their space away and forcing them to the perimeter. Vaněček isn’t too shabby with the puck, although his decision-making needs a bit of work. He’ll have an opportunity to play a ton of minutes and solidify himself as a second-round prospect.
Juho Piiparinen, RHD (Finland)
Piiparinen is one of a handful of players on this list who played in both the Hlinka Gretzky and the World Juniors this season as well. It’s been a busy season for Piiparinen, who primarily skated alongside pros in the top Finnish league. He’s a smart defender who doesn’t make many mistakes with the puck. He’s good when he keeps things simple, but he can also rush the puck up the ice and lower the boom when needed. Piiparinen isn’t flashy, but he’s calm and collected in his own zone and is generally reliable defensively. I was hoping to see him put up more offense this season, but his game is more about shutting opponents down with his mobility. Look for Piiparinen to handle No. 1 defender duties for the Finns.
Oliver Suvanto, C (Finland)
Suvanto spent most of the season playing against men in Tappara, where he has shown he can play a reliable two-way game. Now, he’ll have a chance to be a leader against his own age group again. Suvanto was excellent at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which helped cement him as a top 20 prospect. I really like his play away from the puck, and I thought he looked solid at the World Juniors in a variety of roles. I think we’re talking about a big, middle-six guy here in the NHL. But for Finland, he should be the No 1 center, and he’ll be relied on in all situations.
Adam Goljer, RHD (Slovakia)
I like Goljer – I think he could legitimately be a solid NHL defenseman. He’s raw, but that’s fine because there’s some solid upside. At 6-foot-3, he has the size teams crave. He also plays with a ton of confidence, allowing him to consistently attack and defend strongly against older competition in the top Slovak league. I like his gap control, his proficiency as a passer, and the pure power he plays with. I think he can get a bit antsy and make mistakes with his defensive reads under pressure, and his foot speed needs work. But there’s raw talent there. Playing close to 20 minutes a night against men is no small feat for a 17-year-old, no matter the league. His play against his own age group has been impressive, too.
Alexander Command, C (Sweden)
Despite his last name, Command doesn’t demand too much attention. Instead, he’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. He reminds me a bit of Milton Gastrin – someone who can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I’ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he’s more of a third-liner in the NHL, but one who shouldn’t have many issues being effective. At this tournament, though, look for Command to play a ton of minutes as he looks to ensure he’s selected in the first round.
Elton Hermansson, RW (Sweden)
If anyone is going to generate offense for this Swedish team, it’s Hermansson. He’s been dominant this year, scoring at a goal-per-game pace with the U-18 national squad. From an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot to love, especially on the power play. His game away from the puck is just “OK” at best. It feels like he isn’t as impactful as he needs to be when he’s not piling shots on net. I want to see more urgency when attacking opponents to regain possession. The good news: he’s best at the hardest thing to do in hockey, which is score goals. Sweden will need a lot of that out of him over the next few weeks.
Marcus Nordmark, LW (Sweden)
“Controversial” might not be the right word here, but scouts are torn about Nordmark. Nordmark blends high-end skill and hockey sense to create high-quality chances in the offensive zone. He routinely picks apart opponents in his own age group and has been truly dominant internationally. But scouts are worried that he’s a ghost defensively and that if he doesn’t dominate offensively, he won’t be good enough to crack the NHL. So he’s polarizing, which isn’t surprising for a 17-year-old with so much room to grow. Is he legit? Scouts aren’t sure yet. This tournament might not be change their opinions, but he should have no issue generating quality chances, though. For now, that’s all Sweden cares about.
Mikey Berchild, RW (USA)
Berchild was one of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s most productive forwards this year. The University of Denver commit is skilled, battles hard along the boards and wins most individual battles – that’s impressive for a 5-foot-9 forward. At this level, he shouldn’t have any concerns about his more petite frame. If he can spend the next few years bulking up, he might be able to outplay the size concerns. Game-to-game consistency and play reads remain an issue here, but he only needs to stay hot for about a week and a half. USA should contend for a medal as long as Berchild stays hot.
Wyatt Cullen, C (USA)
I really like Cullen, who is trending toward being the first USNTDP off the board this year. Injuries prevented the son of long-time NHLer Matt Cullen from starting the year on time, but he has been a point-per-game player ever since. The speedy, two-way center has saved his best hockey for major showcase events, which obviously gets scouts excited. Cullen isn’t a future No. 1 center, but he can be a reliable, smart two-way guy with the potential to be a No. 2/3. I might like him more than others, but a good showing in Slovakia could help solidify him as a first-round pick.
Brooks Rogowski, C (USA)
Rogowski found himself near the bottom of USA’s lineup during the pre-tournament, but that was to be expected as an outsider joining the USNTDP group. Still, lots of eyes will be fixated on the potential first-round pick. At 6-foot-7, he’s obviously got size. But he hustles at both ends, chasing pucks and breaking up plays. He’s a smart forward who uses his big frame to win battles, but he also has a good shot and isn’t afraid to launch it from anywhere in an attempt to surprise the goaltender. Rogowski won’t be a big-time offensive threat in the NHL, and probably is more of a support player here. But he should be tough to play against, at the very least.
Victor Plante, LW (USA)
Plante was one of my favorite prospects in the first half of the season, and he’s bound to have a big role at the U-18s. He’s a bit undersized, but Plante processes the game at such a high level. His brothers were two of the best playmakers in the NCAA this year – and Victor is set to join the family party at the University of Minnesota-Duluth next year, too. The two-way threat is a bit undersized, but he makes up for it by being consistently engaged in the offensive zone. Plante often forces opponents to give the puck away by consistently applying pressure. I like his old brother, Max, and I feel like Victor can reignite first-round talks if he has an explosive showing here, too.
CHECK OUT OFF THE ROSTER – NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEKDAY
Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about – it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.