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‘Fearless’ Adam Valentini is one of the 2026 NHL Draft’s most underrated forwards

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Apr 27, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 27, 2026, 08:16 EDT
‘Fearless’ Adam Valentini is one of the 2026 NHL Draft’s most underrated forwards
Credit: Steven Ellis

One of the biggest storylines early in the draft campaign was Adam Valentini leaving his commitment to join the Kitchener Rangers to head to college.

To say it was an unpopular decision was an understatement. Valentini had previously elected not to report to the Brampton Steelheads so that he could eventually end up in the NCAA. The Kitchener Rangers eventually traded four picks to acquire Valentini’s rights before eventually signing him last June.

On June 5, Valentini put on a Rangers jersey and officially signed with the club. Six weeks later, he was in a classroom in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The news seemed to have come as a shock to the Rangers, with GM Mike McKenzie saying the team found out a week before training camp began. For all the skill Valentini had, it was still a gutsy move. He had a middling rookie year in the USHL, points-wise. NHL Central Scouting initially gave him a “W” rating, meaning he was projected to go in the sixth or seventh round. At 5-foot-9, Valentini was too short for scouts’ liking.

So going to college raised some eyebrows. And he’ll have to continue dealing with any backlash related to the decision. Yet, hindsight is 20/20 – it might have been the perfect move for his career.

Valentini finished the season as the second-highest-scoring freshman in the NCAA, trailing just Gavin McKenna. The Toronto native finished with 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games for a Michigan team that was ranked No. 1 in the country throughout most of the year. He has also been one of Canada’s top players at the U-18 World Championship over the past week. He three points in his first two games and scored a big goal against Finland in the final round-robin game on Monday.

Daily Faceoff has had him in the 39-41 range throughout most of the season. NHL Central Scouting ranked him significantly lower at 86 among North American skaters. You do the math, and we’re talking about a fifth-sixth rounder if you combine all four lists. Other public outlets have him anywhere from 31st to 67th.

Many believe he’s not physically strong enough for the next level. There’s also concern that if he’s not in an offensive role, he’ll struggle. His defensive game has taken big strides over the past year – Michigan won’t let anyone just glide around. But he proved he could handle the added physicality of the NCAA this year, and, in some cases, was actually Michigan’s most aggressive player some nights. Valentini loves to attack on the forecheck and has the stamina to keep himself moving all game long.

“The fact he was 17 and played as well as he did in college is truly something to marvel at,” one scout said. “Especially on a strong team with many solid veterans. For him to step in and thrive is a big deal.”

Valentini can be a bit of a pain in the ass around the net because you can almost never keep up with his footwork. With the puck, Valentini brings so much to the table. Scouts aren’t worried about his ability to create damage with the puck on his stick. He’ll take punishment in front of the net because he knows he has the quick hands to capitalize in tight spaces. Forwards who are equally good as shooters and playmakers receive a lot of love from coaches. Valentini puts a ton of power behind his shot, but he’s also so good at being patient and waiting out opponents to get the puck into a scoring lane.

For someone who moves and grooves as much as he does, Valentini’s skating is still a work in progress. He’s not slow by any means, but he could add a bit more top-end speed to his arsenal to truly become a burner. He does a good job of dancing in and creating opportunities or firing shots from open spaces while standing still.

“He’s one of the most creative players in this draft class, bar none,” one scout said.

Another scout referred to Valentini as a bulldog. The fact that he never stops moving to create chances is something scouts absolutely love about him. Valentini goes into every shift like he has something to prove. That’s the type of player that coaches lean on in key situations when games are tight.

Nobody doubts Valentini’s talent. Many are moving past the size concerns. There’s legit first-round potential in Valentini’s game, and everyone is starting to take notice again. Canada lacks a true difference-maker up front at the U-18s, but Valentini is filling the gap quite nicely. The team that drafts him will be hoping to get a replica of Matthew Savoie, who really came into his own in Edmonton later this year after being a dominant junior player.

There’s a good motto scouts love: bet high on talent. That’s why you should bet high on Adam Valentini.

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