2026 NHL Draft- Top 10 Right Wingers

He finished third in points (52) and assists (32), and second in goals (20) on the team this season. With the raw potential and being a player that can be moldable, the future Penn State Nittany Lion should catch the eye of an NHL organization that believes that they can turn that raw potential into a special player.

9. Alan Shaikhlislamov, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 25th (Among EU skaters)

Spending his draft-year season in Russia’s second-tier professional league (MHL), Alan Shaikhlishlamov put on a strong showing. While playing anywhere from 13-20 minutes a night, he showed off every tool he has. He has no problem being physical, fighting through contact to make a play with the puck on his stick, or throwing his weight around defensively. With the puck on his stick, he is a shooting threat, possessing a strong and heavy shot. He also has a strong mix of goal-scoring and playmaking abilities, putting up 18 goals and 17 assists this season. He may be a longer-term project for whichever NHL organization takes him in the 2026 Draft, but he has the tools to potentially be a bottom-six forward.

8. Casey Mutryn, USNTDP (USHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 24th (Among NA skaters)

A player who loves doing the dirty work while having the skills to be an offensive threat to go along with it, Casey Mutryn has everything an NHL team wants in their lineup. He plays with great pace and is relentless on the forecheck, making sure his opponents know he is there, and he throws his body around when he needs to. He is also strong when it comes to board and puck battles, showing his strong work ethic and motor to retrieve the puck to then turn it into offense.

When in possession of the puck, he flies around the ice and is great in transition. He has strong passing skills to be a threat as a playmaker, but also has a strong enough shot to be a threat in that department as well. In 70 total games with the USNTDP team this season, he tallied 21 goals and 32 assists before putting up five points at the U18 World Junior Championship with the United States.

7. Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 20th (Among NA skaters)

After seeing the departure of Gavin McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom from last year’s roster, the Medicine Hat Tigers needed someone to step up, and they got it in the form of both Markus and Liam Ruck. Liam finds himself entrenched as one of the top right wingers in this year’s class after a breakout season, putting up 104 points (second in the WHL behind his brother).

He has a high motor and strong work ethic in the offensive zone and shows great finishing skill around the net. He has a bit more goal-scoring skill to him than his twin brother does, but can also throw the puck around as a playmaker thanks to his hockey IQ and vision of the ice. Heading into the 2026 Draft, Ruck has built his draft value immensely with his play this season.

6. Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, Leksands IF U20 (Nationell)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 19th (Among EU skaters)

After a strong draft-year minus-one season last season, there were hopes that Jonas Lagerberg Hoen could replicate that and more this season. But, unfortunately, his 2025-26 season was limited to a total of nine games between the SHL and U20 Nationell due to injury. In the few games he did play, though, he reminded people what makes him an exciting prospect. He plays a strong power forward style of game with a solid frame (6-foot-2), and works well away from the puck to get himself into a position for a teammate to find him.

Once he gets the puck on his stick, he loves to fire it. He is a very high-volume shooter and has the skating ability to be a threat at any spot in the offensive zone to shoot. While being injured in his draft-year season puts a damper on his hype heading into June, the young Swede could hear his name called in the early rounds.

5. Vilho Vanhatalo, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 16th (Among EU skaters)

A big winger who loves to use his size (6-foot-4) whenever given the chance, Vilho Vanhatalo has plenty of aspects to his game that could make him an NHL player one day. On top of playing a physical style of game, he has a great shot, headlined by his snapshot that has a quick release, making it hard for opponents and goaltenders to keep up with.

After only putting up 10 goals in 38 regular-season games with Tappara’s U20 team, Vanhatalo had a strong playoff, putting up seven goals and five assists in only 13 games played. He did have a quiet U18 WJC with Sweden, but he has the tools and upside that NHL organizations like.

4. Simas Ignatavicius, Genéve-Servette HC (NL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 10th (Among EU skaters)

A bit of a wildcard in the 2026 Draft with his nationality and where he is playing, Simas Ignatavicius is a prospect to keep an eye on. He played in Switzerland’s top professional league for the majority of this season and stood out for a few different reasons. The first thing that stands out is his size, standing at 6-foot-3 and just shy of 200 pounds. For his size, Ignatavicius skates well and has good speed through the neutral zone and with the puck on his stick.

He plays a strong two-way game and, when in the offensive zone, has a high-level shot that makes him stand out. While he only tallied seven goals in 52 games in the regular season for Genéve-Servette HC, he has plenty of offensive potential in his game and has shown that at multiple international tournaments when he has represented Lithuania.

3. Gleb Pugachyov, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 9th (Among EU skaters)

A raw prospect with plenty of potential, Gleb Pugachyov is another draft-eligible player who has the size (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) and work ethic to be an NHL player, but will need some time and extra development to his game. He is constantly moving around the ice, whether it is looking to make a play, find a lane, or pick up an opponent defensively. Offensively, he already possesses a strong shot and enough skill to make you believe he could be at least a player who can bring some secondary scoring to an NHL lineup (24 points in 33 games in the MHL).

2. Nikita Klepov, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 8th (Among NA skaters)

There is not much Nikita Klepov can’t do on the ice. While he put his entire offensive repertoire on display in his first season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, he also has a solid two-way game. Offensively, Klepov is great with the puck on his stick, whether it is going through the neutral zone in transition, weaving through opponents with great hands, or in the offensive zone with playmaking and goal-scoring abilities.

The vision, hands, and shot that Klepov has helped lead him to taking the spot in the OHL in points with 97 (37 goals, 60 assists) and taking home the Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year). The future Michigan State Spartan put himself in a spot to be picked in the first round at the 2026 Draft with a superb draft-year season.

1. Elton Hermansson, MoDo (HockeyAllsvenskan)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 5th (Among EU skaters)

Between a strong showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a solid draft-year season with MoDo Hockey, and then leading the U18 WJC in points for Sweden (and earning Best Forward honors), Elton Hermansson has had a great season ahead of the 2026 Draft. He has all of the tools to be an offensive threat at the NHL level, with great puck handling and speed in his skating to get himself wherever he wants to on the ice, and then having the mix of playmaking and goal-scoring to be a nightmare for opponents.

Hermansson has great vision on the ice, both with and without the puck, which was on full display at the U18 WJC, where he put up eight assists. He has a strong enough shot to be a dual threat and make things hard for opponents whenever they go up against him. He has put himself in a position to be one of, if not the first, right winger to be taken at the 2026 Draft.