Scouting reports on 16 surprise picks at the 2026 NHL Draft
Here at Elite Prospects, we pride ourselves on our ability to cover as many NHL picks as possible, but there will always be surprises.
This year, we featured 207 of this past weekend's 223 picks in our Draft Guide, our highest total ever.
Still, that leaves 16 players, mostly late-rounders, left uncovered. So, we went back, watched the tape, read our reports, and wrote reports on all of them.
For the full reports and grades, check out the newly updated web version of the 2026 NHL Draft Guide.
Upon closer inspection, we wished we had included some of them. None more than our first player, Vancouver Canucks draft pick Connor Davis.
Connor Davis, RW, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Vancouver Canucks)
After last season’s impressive Prep campaign, Connor Davis stepped into the USHL and instantly became one of the league’s most dangerous even-strength scorers. By the end of the season, he was seventh in the league in even-strength points per game and earned a commitment to the University of North Dakota.
Davis’ motor can’t be beat. He’s always in motion, working quick passing plays, skating hard to the net, and winning races off the wall. Though not the smoothest skater, he flashes a separate gear. Supplementing the pace is the physicality. He’s constantly lining up opponents for hits on the forecheck and backcheck, but doesn’t overextend. He racks up the steals most nights, combining pressure and physicality with precise stick work.
While Davis creates tons of loose pucks and flashes creative ideas, he’s not a play creator yet. His solution for solving pressure is usually to initiate the cycle or delay off the entry. There, he spots teammates inside, but lacks the accuracy to complete these plays. Instead, most of his offence comes through his ability to create loose pucks and capitalize around the slot.
Headed to North Dakota next season, Davis will likely start in a checking role and have to work his way up. We estimate that could happen pretty fast, if his USHL play is anything to go by. Though he’s a re-entry, he has a lot of room for physical development. He has checking potential in the NHL – a real solid pick at No. 129.
Tyler Deakos, RW, Waterloo Black Hawks (Montreal Canadiens)
The final pick of the draft is also one of its most interesting stories. Back in 2024-25, Tyler Deakos’ original NHL draft year, he was playing AEHL U18 and wasn’t exactly lighting it up. But something clicked in the offseason. After starting the year on fire with the Drumheller Dragons, he left for the USHL. There, he was very productive, but his season was cut short after an injury in late January. In that short time, he showed intriguing qualities that could make him a pro player.
In the USHL, Deakos looks like an NHL-calibre shooter. He has a knack for getting open right in the slot, and has both power and precision with one-timers and catch-and-release wristers. He’s also a skilled handler, creating space for his release by faking opponents one way before pushing around and firing. There are also flashes of serious physicality, running over opponents on the forecheck and creating chaos with his effort.
Deakos didn’t show much playmaking in our viewings, only passing as a last resort and often missing the mark. The real key to reaching his upside, however, will be his checking skills. Improving his defensive pace and keeping the physicality intensity running high will be required.
Signed to the Penticton Vees for 2026-27, Deakos could become an effective WHL scorer off the jump. While likely projecting more as organizational depth than an NHL player, he has a pair of NHL-calibre elements. That makes him worth tracking through the coming seasons.
Parker Von Richter, RD, Barrie Colts (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Third time's the charm for Parker Von Richter, who heard his name called 111th overall. Back in 2024, we ranked him at No. 129 prospect, and as a mid-round prospect in 2025. This season, only four OHL defenders played more minutes than him, and his minutes were always tough, high-event ones.
Von Richter is a play-killing defender who makes short work of the opposing cycle. He’s physical, precise, and quick to react to the play around him. Rush defence continues to be a strength, too, as he quickly closes space for clean stops and occasionally runs over an opponent with a massive hit.
Though not a creator, Von Richter has continually taken steps with possession. He’s a retriever and an offensive facilitator, supporting the play through his frequent activation and quick-possession reads. He deceives on the breakout at times, but he will have to become a more stable puck-mover under pressure to bring his game to higher levels.
Overall, the biggest hole in Von Richter’s game is the lack of the standout tools that NHL shutdown defencemen generally need. But his upward trajectory, combined with his defensive awareness and pace, gives him a chance to fill a depth role. He’s committed to New Hampshire next season, where he should earn a top role quickly.
Finn Kearns, LD, St. Andrew's College (Seattle Kraken)
Not having Finn Kearns in the original release of the guide was a mistake. We even debated including him! Then, Seattle picked him up at No. 131. He’s not flashy, but he has several qualities that NHL teams value highly in their shutdown defencemen.
With a rare combination of mobility and physicality, it’s not hard to see the appeal with Kearns. He’s a brutally punishing player, looking for any and every opportunity to run opponents into the walls, throw reverse hits, or throw heavy crosschecks. On his best shifts, he perfectly times a big hit, wins possession, and gets it to an open teammate for a clean exit.
With his level of physicality, improving his pace and urgency will take his game to the next level and could put him on a pathway to fill a depth shutdown role. More likely, he ends up becoming a second-tier pro player. The good news is that he has lots of time, as he’ll return to Sudbury for another season before heading to UMass in 2027-2028.
Mikhail Cherepanov, LD, New Hampshire Mountain Kings (Dallas Stars)
A rare skater picked straight from the NAHL, Mikhail Cherepanov was a complete unknown to us. When we back to watch him, we were enthralled by his high-octane, creative, and physical style of play.
A non-stop activator, Cherepanov puts together some impressive sequences, as highlighted in one of our game reports:
“Cherepanov had three instrumental third-period points in this comeback victory. The highlight was his assist on the tying goal, where he pulled the puck through his legs, cut back twice, then looked up and ripped a pass into the slot. The next shift, he went up the rink above his forwards, caught a pass, and scored with a nasty finish on a breakaway.”
There’s a ton of rawness in his game, however. He’s regularly overextending when joining the rush and overcommitting with crossovers defending it. Opponents walk right through him with little friction. He’s mean, but lacks the details to leverage his physicality into stops. Plus, he struggles with receptions and whiffs on a ton of plays.
Long-term, Cherepanov likely needs at least another year or two of junior hockey. Stepping up to the USHL or CHL would be ideal. His game is too chaotic and unstructured to make a clear projection, but his activity level is special and he shows some pro-calibre tools. He’s committed to Lake Superior State for 2027-28.
Cullen McCrate, RD, Fargo Force (Boston Bruins)
One of the final cuts from the initial version of the Draft Guide, Cullen McCrate turned a breakout season in a seventh-round selection. Two years ago, he was a depth defenceman for Dubuque. A trade to Fargo bumped his minutes up a bit. This season, he became a top-pair, all-around force, regularly playing half the game.
McCrate is a game manager, the type of defenceman who limits the risk and keeps play moving up the rink. He’s a fluid skater and a steady rush defender, and brings some physicality to keep opponents honest. His puck game is most evident in short-range outlets, making quick passes through the forecheck with occasional evasive moves.
As with all Fargo defencemen, McCrate is tasked with a lot of activation and pinching in the offensive zone. He’s the most successful at it, but he could add another layer of skill to translate this aggression to the NCAA. Overall, the key will be finding a standout dimension. Adding more defensive pace and physicality could be exactly what he needs.
In all likelihood, McCrate becomes an NCAA and, eventually, AHL minute-eater. To push for an NHL job, he will have to add precision and add a standout dimension. He’ll head to Michigan State this fall, where he will have to earn his minutes.
Ryan Cameron, G, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Edmonton Oilers)
Passed over in last year's draft, Ryan Cameron heard his name called at No. 212 this time through. Two seasons ago, he was lights-out in the NAHL. Though he racked up the wins in the USHL this past season, he had just an .882 save percentage.
Still, Cameron has some tantalizing tools. He’s a very fluid and quick skater, able to make big moves without relying on pushes, and allowing him to keep a ready stance. Alongside the mobility, he’s got solid mentals too, with great composure to bait out players into making the moves and not panicking under pressure.
With a smaller, six-foot frame and lacking workable flexibility, he’ll likely struggle to adapt to the quick changes in play necessary to physically keep up. He can also improve his eyes, as he tends to miss shots on occasion and is slow to react to passes.
Given those, Cameron's more of an NCAA projection than an NHL one. He should be poised for a fine second season in the USHL with Sioux Falls, as he continues to adjust to the league’s pace and structure. He’ll head to Boston College in 2027-28.
Jimmy Rieber, RD, Waterloo Black Hawks (Anaheim Ducks)
If there's a theme with our misses, it's NHL teams betting on development curve more than anything. Jimmy Rieber fits the trend, as the Ducks' seventh-rounder went from playing 16U AAA to a top-four role for the Waterloo Black Hawks.
Mobility is Rieber’s best tool, with quick, fluid movements that power his defensive game. He’s a rush absorber, winning the race to the middle and then pushing opponents to the outside with reach. With quick hands to match, he lands pokechecks in motion, and he has a knack for getting reacharound stops.
Rieber is a development project, a player who could surprise after a few seasons in the NCAA, when he’s had the time to bulk up and improve his shutdown skills. In all likelihood, he’s more of an AHL-calibre player than an NHL one, but his foundation has us intrigued.
Daniil Rusakovich, G, Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (New Jersey Devils)
At No. 149, the New Jersey Devils added Daniil Rusakovich. Belarus has been a bit of a hotbed for NHL talent between the pipes over the past few seasons, with the rise of Arseni Radkov, Pavel Moysevich, and Yegor Velmakin. Rusakovich is one to watch, too.
Physically, there’s a lot to like with Rusakovich. He’s a solid skater and an even better athlete, with the ability to get deep into single- and double-leg extensions. His skating chops are most evident in and around his post, where he’s able to lock into integrations and hinging well to modify his depth to match the play as it crawls around his net. He’s also a very active scanner on his posts, always looking for and calling out passing threats for either his defencemen to cover or for him to take on himself.
Rusakovich could look to improve his tracking, as he loses pucks after rebounds. He also struggles with his positioning, flinging himself into no man’s land on challenges and losing his angle more than you’d like. This play style lends itself to further breakdowns in technique, as his positioning faults lead to overreliance on his athleticism to bail himself out.
All in all, Rusakovich has the profile of a late-round draft pick, but we would've taken a wait-and-see approach.
Carl Axelsson, G, Muskegon Lumberjacks (Utah Mammoth)
The highest drafted goalie who didn't make it into our guide, Carl Axelsson was picked at No. 115 by Utah. He has been one of the best goaltenders statistically in the USHL, backstopping the Muskegon Lumberjacks this season to a Clark Cup Finals appearance, the team’s second in just as many years.
Carl Axelsson’s game is all about letting the puck and play come to him and making minor adjustments to make it work. He plays deeper in his crease to minimize excess movement and plays with incredible composure, letting his big 6-foot-4 frame do the work, while adjusting as necessary. There are also some flashes of tracking habits, latching onto pucks through shots.
To reach higher levels, Axelsson has to strengthen his foundation. Instead of proactively scanning, he reacts on-the-fly. If he had high-end processing speed, this may work, but he tends to be late to read passes and shots. His positioning is more than serviceable for the USHL level, but he’ll need to improve on it to better project moving up, as he challenges shooters off-angle or neglects to adjust it on the fly.
Axelsson should be poised to continue his development in the NCAA, where he’ll likely become a starter. The lack of an athletic and cognitive profile, especially for a 2006-born re-entry candidate, lines him up for a European pro projection.
Luken Huff, RD, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Seattle Kraken)
The second of two Kraken picks featured in this article, Luken Huff was among the USHL's biggest breakout players. His minutes more than doubled this season, and his production nearly quadrupled. He leaves the USHL as one of the league’s finest all-around defenders.
While Huff does a bit of everything, his best element is his physicality. He’s not a crushing open-ice hitter. Instead, his physicality appears in the aggressive wall tie-ups, ability to power through checks, and contact absorption on retrievals. Without any hesitation, he closes the space and immobilizes players along the wall.
Most likely, Huff projects as a second- or third-level pro player, especially if he can tap into his aggression more often. Next season, he’ll head to St. Thomas, where he should be an impact player right away.
Bobby Cowan, RW, Western Michigan Univ. (New York Islanders)
Back in 2025, we featured Bobby Cowan in our Draft Guide for his robust style and playmaking skills. We gave him a late-round grade. While he didn't quite make the initial cut this year, he continued to show some reasons to be excited about his future. Clearly, the Islanders agreed, as they picked at 205th overall.
A supportive offensive player, Cowan thrives when tasked with making quick decisions. Along the walls, he spots teammates and zips pucks to them instantly, leveraging his lower centre of gravity to shield possession when necessary. Though he’s not a transition puck carrier, he has a knack for getting open inside space off the rush and getting pucks into and across the slot for better looks.
Without speed or size, the odds are stacked against Cowan, but his playmaking, cycle game, and flashes of required gritty style could make him a surprise down the line. More likely, he’s a secondary AHL scorer.
Artyom Prima, LW/RW, Omaha Lancers (Utah Mammoth)
At 211, the Mammoth bet on development. Artyom Prima started the year in the NAHL, moving up to the USHL late in the season and instantly becoming a top player for the Omaha Lancers.
Constantly sprinting after the puck, Prima’s motor is his best element. He’s not an economical skater, but makes it work through his non-stop movement and power. On his best shifts, he shows a power game, catching pucks in motion and taking them straight to the net. For the most part, his puck game is about making simple plays as soon as they open.
Prima’s one of those players still searching for a role. He’s motory, but passes up opportunities to engage physically. He’s willing to drive, but not dynamic or precise as a passer or shooter. A full top-level junior season should help him find that role. Long-term, he's likely a depth piece, but his development curve is intriguing.
Darian Anderson, RW, Flint Firebirds (New York Rangers)
Even though he was ranked by NHL Central Scouting, Darian Anderson was one of the biggest surprises in this article of surprises. It's yet another bet on growth, and a low-risk one in the sixth round. Two seasons ago, he was playing just seven minutes per night (via InStat Hockey) in the USHL. A move to Flint changed everything for him, as his role skyrocketed and his production did, too, culminating with 13 points in eight playoff games.
A tall forward with impressive open-ice flashes, it’s easy to see Anderson’s potential. On his best shifts, he forces turnovers and then gets the puck inside, even adding deception at times. He’s a solid net-front presence who creates traffic and has the in-tight skill to capitalize on loose pucks.
Without the mechanical or pace ability to support the playmaking skills at higher levels, it’ll be important for Anderson to really lean into his checking skills. He flashes them at times, but getting on opponents quicker, engaging with his frame, and developing his puck protection skills are required. He’s likely organizational depth.
Max Vilén, LD, Moncton Wildcats (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Moving across the Atlantic proved to be the right call for 19-year-old Max Vilén. After going undrafted twice in Sweden, he was picked 218th after an impressive QMJHL season.
A steady, game-managing defenceman, Vilén’s success comes through his ability to mitigate risk. He’s mobile and rangy, able to keep fast-moving opponents in front of him and tip away their shots and passes. He’s physical, emphatically winning battles and tying up off-puck threats.
With possession, Vilén plays a simple game, forgoing advantage creation for minimal risk, but could improve his pass receptions and first-touch reads to keep playing this style at higher levels. Above all else, Vilén will have to add more aggression to his gap and close-outs.
If Vilén can do those two things, expect him to enjoy a lengthy pro career. Though we project him more as an AHL or top-flight European pro, his size and borderline NHL-calibre skating could give him a chance to play some NHL games.
Quinn McKenzie, C, Soo Greyhounds (New Jersey Devils)
It's not very often that undersized, moderately-scoring forwards get picked in the NHL Draft, but Quinn McKenzie just snuck in at 222nd overall. He's made a habit of overcoming his limitations and was a key part of the Soo Greyhounds forward core.
A pacey, give-and-go centre, McKenzie builds the game through his quick touches. When he’s not making the short-range pass with his feet moving, he’s battling or repositioning, getting open around the net, winning interior position, and getting his stick free. Along the walls, he bypasses battles with his quick-possession style.
At 5-foot-8 without dynamic skill or speed, the limitations are obvious with McKenzie. He likely lacks the tools to play in the NHL, though he plays a highly admirable style. In all likelihood, he projects as an NCAA scorer and second-tier pro middle-six forward. His motor and physical details could allow him to push higher up the lineup. Next season, McKenzie will head to Penn State.
