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Top 100 Hockey Prospects for 2026
As part of its ongoing coverage, The Hockey News has also released its anticipated list of the top 100 hockey prospects for 2026, with an issue set to drop on February 27, 2026, featuring editor Brian Costello. This list is crafted with insights from NHL executives, including general managers, head scouts, and directors of player personnel. These experts help identify and rank the top prospects from a pool of 320 candidates based on their potential to develop into NHL stars over the next five to ten years.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation process involves gathering rankings from a select group of scouts who assess the top 10 players from each of the 32 NHL teams. This collective effort allows for a robust ranking of the top 100 prospects. Teams undergoing rebuilding phases tend to have a higher number of players on this list, often exceeding the average of 3.13, while contending teams may feature only one or two, or even none at all.
Initiated in mid-January after the World Junior Championship, this project represents a critical moment in the NHL calendar when teams are busy reviewing their scouting efforts. This means that while some players may have already debuted in the NHL, they still qualify as prospects for the upcoming rankings. Players like Sam Rinzel, Isaac Howard, and Jonathan Lekkerimaki have transitioned to the NHL but remain on the prospect list, while prospects like Michael Misa and Zayne Parekh are listed despite limited play this season due to injuries. Each prospect’s previous year ranking is indicated in parentheses, with new entries marked as “NEW” or unranked players noted as “NR”.
Notable Prospects
Here are some notable prospects making the list:
- Anton Frondell, Chicago (New)
- Michael Misa, San Jose (New)
- James Hagens, Boston (New)
- Porter Martone, Philadelphia (New)
- Zayne Parekh, Calgary (Rank 6)
- Dmitri Simashev, Utah (Rank 20)
- Brady Martin, Nashville (New)
- Tiji Iginla, Utah (Rank 10)
- Michael Hage, Montreal (Rank 42)
- Roger McQueen, Anaheim (New)
For further insights, readers are encouraged to subscribe to The Hockey News for full access to the issue containing the entire prospect list and much more. Stay connected with the latest hockey news and discussions by signing up for the newsletter or engaging with the community on THN’s forum.
