2026 Draft Preview: Midseason 1-8
It would take somewhat of a New York Islander-like miracle to find the Habs drafting within this section of the draft and it looks like most, if not all, Montreal fans are absolutely fine with that reality. While the chances of the Canadiens drafting here are little to none, let’s end this draft ranking with the cream of the crop, players that might face the Habs as early as next season, in some cases.
#1 – Ivar Stenberg
Frolunda HC (SHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 3
Scoring 32 points in 36 SHL games and adding on 10 points in a seven-game gold medal effort is one way to get the entire world talking about you. The difference between Stenberg and all below appears to be that his game is pro-ready and polished. This has really allowed him to take over in big games, as shown at the World Juniors. The SHL point totals, if kept up, is on pace to beat the Sedin twins at the same age. On the ice, he’s a dog on a bone in puck pursuit, has great offensive vision, excellent puck control, and an IQ that shines in all game situations. With the maturity to his game and his already playing in a pro league, Stenberg appears ready to overtake McKenna for the top spot, something that appeared inconceivable at the start of the season.
#2 – Gavin McKenna
Penn State University (NCAA) – LW
Start of season rank: 1
This was once considered to be the McKenna draft but that is the case no more. Despite strong production with 14 points in seven World Junior games and 43 points in 28 NCAA games, some questions have crept up regarding a lack of engagement and attention to detail at five-on-five. Ironically, McKenna made the jump to the NCAA to squash those murmurs, believing playing in a tougher league against older opponents might help, but it appears to have magnified the issues somehow. He still looks elite in offensive IQ, skill, and vision, but there remains a sense that it’s not constant enough, which has allowed Stenberg and Verhoeff to challenge him for the top spot. Add to the on-ice issues some off-ice legal issues for McKenna. In the end, one wonders if this isn’t a case of unrealistic expectations being placed on the kid, and the question is more about how McKenna handles those expectations mentally more than the skill of the player.
#3 – Keaton Verhoeff
University of North Dakota (NCAA) – RD
Start of season rank: 2
The 6’4 defender is firstly defined by his agility as he excels at small area plays and at walking the line. He’s had a more successful adjustment to the NCAA, compared to McKenna, with 18 points in 28 games as a freshman defender. The offensive instincts are not in question, but there are concerns about straight-line speed, though most believe that an increase in raw strength will handle this because his stride is there, as shown by his off-the-charts agility. The defensive reads are adequate but the decisions off the reads can be a bit raw at times. The size of the player and the fact that the qualities that he possesses are the harder things to teach make him a slam dunk top of the draft pick. If the Habs were picking this high, and they won’t, this would undoubtedly be my selection.
#4 – Chase Reid
Soo Greyhounds (OHL) – RD
Start of season rank: 6
The 6’2 defender is scoring this season with 47 points in 42 games on a team that is hoping to contend for an OHL championship. He was impressive at the World Juniors, notably after Cole Hutson went down with an injury, as he stepped in and used his offensive IQ to create offensive opportunities from the blue line. He’s equally as smart and aggressive in pursuit of defensive plays and when to apply pressure. Should be a slam dunk pick for one lucky team in June.
#5 – Tynan Lawrence
Boston University (NCAA) – C
Start of season rank: 4
Lawrence missed some time with a lower-body injury in the first half, and that has impacted his ranking on a few lists. However, his work ethic and ability to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates have been noticeable with his 17 points in 13 USHL games. He’s been held to just two points in 13 NCAA games, though. The move to the NCAA was a bit of a surprise, but should he complete the transition with success, it should cement his spot near the top of the draft. What happens if the transition is NOT as smooth as expected is anyone’s guess.
#6 – Alberts Smits
Jukurit (Liiga) – LD
Start of season rank: 18
The winner of this season’s draft board riser is without a doubt Smits (HM to Malhotra) as the 6’3 defender wasn’t on every list to start the season, but he is now. That will happen when you log an average of four minutes more than any other teammate at the World Juniors. He was the only draft-eligible player to play in the Olympics, too. He’s showing great poise and confidence in Liiga this season, even if he needs to better pick his moments to attack both offensively and defensively. This appears to be a pretty comparable player to David Reinbacher, both in play style and how they ascended the ranks in their draft season. There is no chance he remains available for the Habs.
#7 – Ethan Belchetz
Windsor Spitfires (OHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 5
The 6’5 winger has scored 57 points in 54 OHL games, relying mostly on a power game to get there. He obviously dominates down low, but he’s also got hands which allows him to attack the net while protecting the puck. He has cooled off a bit of late, so scouts will be interested in seeing how he responds to a little adversity. There is no way he makes it out of the top 10, as a team will undoubtedly be in love with the combination of size and skill. Where he ends up will largely depend on how much he can produce in the playoffs when the games get harder. The Habs would dream of having both Belchetz and Slafkovsky on the same team.
#8 – Viggo Bjorck
Djurgardens IF (SHL) – C
Start of season rank: 9
The undersized centre is having a productive season in the SHL with 11 points in 35 games. He really popped at the World Juniors with nine points in seven games for Sweden, where he was consistently pushing the pace and creating offensively. He’s responsible defensively and won over 54% of his faceoffs at the WJC. What a coming-out party for him. The Habs are already small and Bjorck won’t be available anyway, so it’s definitely not a match.
Midseason Rankings 9-16
Midseason Rankings 17-24
Midseason Rankings 25-32
Midseason Round 2 Rankings