Craig’s List: McKenna stands alone at No. 1, defenders rise in deep draft

There are two things TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button believes about the 2026 NHL Draft.

The first is that Penn State winger Gavin McKenna remains a cut above the rest of the field, coming in at No. 1 for the second straight rankings. The second is that four defencemen are in the running to be considered the best blueliner available in the draft.

While McKenna hasn’t dominated the NCAA the same way he did in junior after making the jump following two seasons with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, Button has no concerns about McKenna’s game.

“Gavin McKenna has had a big, big sample size of exceptional play,” said Button. “And when you project that out, no question that he’s the best player in the draft for me.”

McKenna has four goals and 18 points in 16 games with Penn State this season. Last season with Medicine Hat, he had 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games as he helped the team capture the WHL championship and was named CHL and WHL Player of the Year.

Climbing to No. 2 behind McKenna on November’s list is Frolunda forward Ivar Stenberg.

Stenberg has five goals and 20 points in 21 games playing in the top league in Sweden this season.

The 18-year-old winger has represented Sweden on the international stage on several occasions, winning bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as silver medals at the U18s and World Junior A Challenge.

Behind McKenna and Stenberg is a quartet of defencemen that Button considers very close together in the rankings, starting with University of North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff (No. 3), followed by Tappara’s Juho Piiparinen (No. 4), Sault Ste. Marie’s Chase Reid (No. 5) and Prince George’s Carson Carels (No. 6).

Reid is second in the Ontario Hockey League in scoring by a defenceman this season with 10 goals and 28 points in 25 games.

The 17-year-old split the 2024-25 season between the NAHL and OHL, but in 39 games with the Greyhounds he had seven goals and 33 assists, with the latter mark leading all OHL rookies and was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team.

“Just a really well-rounded defender,” Button said of Reid. “The way the game is played now, you got to be able to make plays with the puck coming out of your zone, in transition, in the offensive zone. You’ve got to be able to think fast and skate fast. Chase Reid has all those qualities.”

Carels is averaging more than a point-per-game with the Cougars this season with six goals and 24 points in 23 games.

The Cypress Hill, Man., native has represented Canada three times in the past year, winning silver (World U17 Hockey Challenge), gold (U18s) and bronze (Hlinka Gretzky Cup).

“He’s got a lot of similarities to Josh Morrissey,” said Button of Carels. “I don’t know what area of the game he isn’t really, really good in – defending, physical play, skating, making plays.”

Another defenceman making waves this season is Blainville-Boisbriand’s Xavier Villeneuve, who is ranked at No. 15.

Villeneuve, who is in his third QMJHL season, is leading all blueliners in scoring with five goals and 27 points in 23 games.

“Xavier Villeneuve is a fascinating player,” said Button. “He patterns his game after Lane Hutson and rightfully so because he’s got all the elements. To me, he is so interesting in terms of what he could become.”

Tappara centre Oliver Suvanto is a player who made a big jump on Button’s list this month.

Rising from No. 21 in September to No. 8, Button says Suvanto has a strong understanding of what is needed in a game at a given time.

“He’s got this quality of ‘Oh, you need a play? I’ll give you a play,’” said Button. “He’s got a massive edge to him too. He’s a good player.”

Suvanto has two goals and six points in 24 games playing in the SM-Liiga this season.

Another centre who has impressed Button this season is Cooper Williams of the Saskatoon Blades, who comes in at No. 19.

Williams was the second-leading rookie scorer in the WHL last season after Everett’s Landon DuPont with 57 points. This season, he has 10 goals and 21 points in 23 games for Saskatoon.

“I think Cooper Williams is like Ryan O’Reilly,” said Button. “That strong, hard, smart, two-way centre. Every winning team has a player like that.”

One player who has yet to suit up this season is Finnish forward Oscar Hemming. Last season, he had 35 goals with 63 points in 31 games with Kiekko-Espoo’s U18 squad.

Hemming has been caught in what Button calls a “legal quagmire” as there are issues over where the 17-year-old is eligible to play this season. Despite that, Button has him at No. 10 on his list.

“Watching him prior to this season, he’s too good,” said Button. “He’s got too many attributes, too many areas of his game where the impact is significant. I think the most important thing for Oscar is he just needs to play.”

Craig’s List - Nov. 24