Scout's Notebook: Distinct scoring habits emerging for 2026 NHL Draft prospects Malholtra, Mbuyi, Williams, and Klepov

With the CHL season well underway, some noticeable habits are emerging from some of the CHL’s top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. From goal-scoring habits to zone entries and playmaking abilities, the players mentioned here are consistently demonstrating repeatable behaviors on tape that are emerging as cornerstones of their games, and it’s affecting their draft stock in positive ways.

Scoring chances aren’t accidents. They’re the result of countless small behaviors: positioning yourself in the proper shooting lanes, making strong drives towards the slot, or creating clean zone entries that net a scoring chance. 

Four CHL prospects, in particular, have mastered that rhythm between instinct and structure. They don’t just make plays; they set the perfect stages for them and deliver on the ex