It’s draft season in the world of sports, with the NBA Draft just wrapping up and the MLB Draft less than three weeks away. But in between is the NHL Draft, and while it may not get as much attention as its counterparts, it is just as critical to roster building. The first round of the 2026 NHL entry draft takes place on Friday, with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting first overall.
One can expect to see several international prospects taken early and often, but most NHL fans are curious about homegrown talents. Thus, we’ll take a look at the top North American draft prospects hailing from either the United States or Canada.
Gavin McKenna, Winger, Penn State (NCAA)
Considered the top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna just wrapped up his first season in the Big Ten after playing three years of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. With Penn State, McKenna tallied 33 points over his last 19 games, which puts him on par with another top overall pick in Macklin Celebrini. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and he was just as productive in junior hockey, posting a higher points per game (2.30) mark in his draft-minus-one year than the likes of Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid.A native of the Yukon territory in Canada, McKenna is poised to become just the fourth player to be born in Yukon to appear in the NHL.
Chase Reid, Defenseman, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Born just outside of Detroit, Reid played forward when growing up before switching to defense, and it shows in his game. He wrapped up his 2025-26 season in the OHL by placing second amongst defensemen with 1.07 points per game. That came a year after topping both all rookies in assists the prior season. Reid also produced on the international stage as a part of the U.S. national junior ice hockey team, where he had two goals and two assists over five games in the 2026 WJC this past winter.Brady Knowling, Goalie, USA Hockey National Team Development Program
The top-ranked North American goalie, Knowling is from Toronto but has represented the United States on the international level. He won gold with Team USA at the 2025 Gretzky Cup and showed remarkable improvement in going from the U.S. U17 team to the U18 squad. With the former in 2024-25, Knowling went 2-8-1 in net, allowing over 6 goals per game. But last year with the U18 team, Knowling had a 10-win improvement to 12-11-1 and allowed under 4 goals per game.Knowling has committed to playing for Boston University in the 2027-28 season but will suit up for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL next year.
Wyatt Cullen, Winger, USA Hockey National Team Development Program
The only U.S.-born player on this list who currently competes in the United States, Cullen hails from the hockey hotbed of Minnesota. He just finished his second season with USA Hockey’s NTDP, playing with the Under-18 squad and finishing fourth on the team in points. The prior year with the U17 team, Cullen led the squad in assists with 31 across 55 games.Cullen has genes on his side as the son of three-time Stanley Cup champion, Matt Cullen, who appeared in 1,516 NHL games. The younger Cullen will hope to have half the career that his father had, as Matt Cullen’s service is the most-ever for an American-born forward in the NHL.
Carson Carels, Defenseman, North Dakota (NCAA)
Carels, from Manitoba, Canada, has committed to playing for North Dakota in the 2026-27 season after playing three seasons for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. After combining for six goals and 32 assists over his first two years with the Cougars, Carels then went off for 20 goals and 53 assists last year. He’s an ironman who led the WHL in ice time last year, and his offensive production only pales in comparison to his work on the defensive end of the rink. He can blunt opponent attacks and often finds his way in passing and shooting lanes.Carels should hear his name called very early on Friday, which is just three days after turning 18 on Tuesday.
Caleb Malhotra, Center, Brantford (OHL)
The top North American center in the draft, the British Columbia-born Malhotra has Hall of Fame bloodlines. His uncle is Basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash, while Malhotra’s father didn’t have too shabby an athletic career either. Manny Malhotra played 16 NHL seasons and is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
Caleb Malhotra’s strength currently lies on the offensive end, as he wrapped up his year with Brantford with 24 multi-point games. He finished second among all OHL rookies with 55 assists, also ranking second among first-year players with 84 points. He then ascended to the top spot among rookies in playoff scoring as his 26 points were 18 more than any other rookie.
