Elite Prospects – Classement du repêchage 2026 (mise à jour d’avril)
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JD397
@Blackhawks de Chicago
Elite Prospects – Classement du repêchage 2026 (mise à jour d’avril)
—
JD397
12 Comments
[Full article is here – paywall](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/2026-nhl-draft/elite-prospects-april-top-100-2026-nhl-draft-ranking)
I don’t think I can post the entire thing here but I wanted to share the top dogs since we are locked into a top 4 pick this summer! It was especially interesting to see how low EP is on Verhoeff, have to assume that is due to skating concerns?
Here are the notes on McKenna/Stenberg at the very top:
>*McKenna answered a lot of our questions in the second half – and it didn’t hurt that the percentages turned in his direction, leading to a 33-point second half in 19 games.*
>*While it wasn’t every night, McKenna generally showed significantly increased pace off the rush, greater involvement in the defensive zone, and showed more willingness to engage physically. It was enough to allow the elite skill to take over more games. Plus, other similar questions for other superstar wingers, like Nikita Kucherov and Patrick Kane, persist even to this day.*
>*Stenberg still maintains his status as a clear top-two pick, though. While his offensive form wasn’t as red-hot during the last few months as it was during the best stretches of the season, his borderline elite hockey sense and skill wrapped inside a projectable two-way game still give him clear top-line upside at the NHL level. Like Leo Carlsson a few years ago, there’s a chance Stenberg gets to close out his draft season at the men’s World Championships.*
I don’t claim to have hockey smarts but if the Hawks had their choice, I would want Stenberg for his two ability. Having played already with Frondell could go a long way with comfortability as well, as an added bonus.
Verhoeff at 11 is pretty wild. NCAA is worlds better than the CHL at the moment. Not that they are bad players, but I don’t see Carels, Reid, or Rudolph playing half as good in the NCAA this year as Verhoeff did.
Top 4 is good, would only want Bjorck, Smits, or Verhoeff at 3 or 4.
Top 2 has to be either McKenna/Stenburg
Such a risk ranking Villeneuve so high with how terrible the Q is these days
All aboard the Malhotra train 🚂
Carels at 4 please that works out perfectly if the balls fall that way as they most likely will. Smits if we are 3, McKenna if we are 1.
Seeing Villenueve so high is certainly a bold take. He missed almost half the season, but he’s been really good in the Q playoffs.
Guessing the Hutson brothers effect is helping his rankings being another highly skilled but smaller defensemen.
Bit bummed to see him that high as I am hoping he might be a guy the Hawks could trade back into the first round to try and snag. Coming out of the draft with McKenna or Stenberg and Villenueve would be awesome.
Carels and Daxon Rudolph have been really impressive. Carels just seems to do everything well and throws his weight around pretty good too.
I don’t think the Hawks will be lucky enough to land McKenna, but hoping other teams will be enamored with Reid, Carels, Verhoeff or Smits enough to still get Stenberg at 3 or 4. If not, hoping Kyle will try and swing a trade for the Stenberg pick, certainly have the assets to make it happen.
Imagine getting the number one pick and Florida falls to 11 and the picks fall exactly like this. That would be siiiick!
I’m praying for one of Stenberg and McKenna
I kind of think if we don’t land in the top two I might go for Belchetz. Malhotra seems good too, but I like the nasty edge Belchetz plays with. Whatever happens, I can’t wait for xmas…er, the whole draft process
They ranked frondell like 16th so idk lol