2026 Draft Preview: Midseason 17-24
If everything goes as planned and not an ounce better, this should be the section of the draft that Habs fans will want to pay particular attention to. That doesn’t mean that the listed players will find themselves getting drafted here as one thing has been clear in assembling these rankings. This appears to be the safe zone for a list of players in two categories. The first group is players who had higher expectations and have failed to deliver. The second group has players who weren’t necessarily on the radar to start the year, but have had a good enough start to the season to now be on the radar. For many on this list, a continuation of their start to the season could quickly find them out of this range, either positively or negatively.
#17 – Mathis Preston
Vancouver Giants (WHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 7
He’s small, he’s fast, he finds ways to attack the middle of the ice, and he’s electric with the puck. At 35 points in 38 games, he should be a lock as an early pick. Except he’s small, so there will always be questions about his game translating to the pros and if his body can hold up. To that end, now he’s injured and it appears it won’t be a short stoppage either for Preston. Expect him to experience a free fall through the spring, but a strong playoff showing or a strong U18 in April could get his stock back up.
#18 – Malte Gustafsson
HV71 (SHL) – LD
Start of season rank: 17
Gustafsson’s all-around game is excellent, as shown by his splitting the season with 17 games in the U20 and 20 games in the SHL. While his ability with and around the puck remains an asset, it’s the physical nature of the young defender that really sets him apart as he remains unafraid to take away time and space while crunching opponents whenever he can, even in the SHL. Due to the nature and position of the player, I would be fairly surprised to see him be a target for the Habs despite his 6’4 frame being something we know the team is looking for.
#19 – Juho Piiparinen
Tappara (Liiga) – RD
Start of season rank: 20
At 6’3, his contributions are not measured by his three points in 29 games in Liiga. His defensive reads and gap control are off the charts, and he’s been a steady contributor in a men’s league at his age. He didn’t show that well in the World Juniors as the pace appeared to hamper his ability to make sound decisions with the puck, but he should find himself well within the parameters of the first round with his big frame and his abilities to shut down opponents once he gets used to the pace of the game around him. Should the Habs ultimately decide to trade David Reinbacher to fetch an established NHL player at the deadline or in the summer, this player could find himself an easy target for the Canadiens in June.
#20 – Marcus Nordmark
Djurgardens IF (SHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 15
The 6’2 winger had a recent stint in the SHL, where he scored one point in four games. In between, he has lit up the U20 with 37 points in 23 games. He’s a rather cerebral player who finds lanes to pass but also shoots effectively if the situation calls for it. He competes hard and has a strong enough puck-possession game that should see him succeed with it at the next level. Sounds like Joel Armia 2.0 and if it happens later in the round, it’s a good target for the Habs.
#21 – J.P. Hurlbert
Kamloops Blazers (WHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 25
This American player opted for the CHL and is providing major value for the Blazers as he’s currently the WHL top scorer with 84 points in 55 games. He’s just under the six-foot mark, he moves well, and his top quality remains his intelligent play all over the ice. He started the season at nearly three points per game but has slowed down a bit since. It will be interesting to see where his production goes down the stretch and what it will mean for his ranking. This could be a very interesting attempt at adding even more skill for the Habs, even if they aren’t necessarily in the market for more smaller players.
#22 – Oscar Hemming
Boston College (NCAA) – LW
Start of season rank: 31
The 6’4 winger plays his size, has a strong shot, and has solid skating mechanics. Many believe that he would be in the top 20 if scouts could see him play. After an impressive Hlinka-Gretzky tournament for the Finnish team, his debut with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers never happened after a dispute with his previous club team back home. Hemming thought he got out of the predicament by opting for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL, but the IIHF quickly intervened and threatened to prevent Hemming from representing Finland internationally. The only way out for Hemming? He signed with Boston College in the NCAA where he’s now put up eight points in 12 games and hasn’t looked out of place. He only started playing near the end of December, and already his rise through the ranks has been noticeable. Where he ends up on this list in June will be of great interest for many teams.
#23 – Ilia Morozov
Miami University (NCAA) – C
Start of season rank: 45
The youngest player in college hockey continues to impress with his 200-foot game. At 6’3, he has scored 17 points in 30 games. He’s a big, strong, smart centre playing on a bit of a lesser-known team. He’s very physical, so while the offence might be hard to project because of where he plays, his high floor isn’t thanks to his playing style. All he needs is for one team to be in love with his profile and he could easily surpass this ranking. For the Habs, this would be an interesting gamble for a team that is already talent-filled and can afford to take said gamble and rely on the floor in a worst-case scenario.
#24 – Nikita Klepov
Saginaw Spirit (OHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 28
With 75 points in 54 games, Klepov is on pace to just miss the 100-point mark in his first OHL season. The skill is obvious with this kid, but his commitment to defence remains a question mark. Scouts have observed a marked improvement in said commitment this season, so perhaps the productive six-foot winger can move up the ranking by June. This would be a very intriguing player for the Habs to consider as a bit of a safe option behind Alexander Zharovsky.