Before the tournament kicked off, I wrote about how it is the beginning of the 2026 NHL Draft year and how the Boston Bruins appeared poised for another impressive draft performance, building on their success from 2025.
For players, fans and country, it is about winning so a big congratulations to the Team USA players and their fans. It was well deserved after knocking out the top two teams in the tournament.
For NHL General Managers and their staff, the focus is on individual players, as this tournament marks the first opportunity to scout prospects eligible for this season’s draft. I always stress that you shouldn’t place too much weight on a single event—but at this point in the year, it offers an early glimpse of players worth tracking throughout the long season ahead.
As I mentioned in the preview, several top players were unavailable—some had aged out, others were sidelined by injuries, and in the case of Team USA, they traditionally don’t ice their strongest roster for this tournament. Even so, a number of players delivered standout performances, and a few lower-ranked prospects made a strong case to be watched more closely moving forward.
Let’s take a look at some of the players:
TEAM USA
Blake Zielinski – Elite playmaking skills that made his linemates better. The American’s best player.
Jack Hextall – High end puck handling skills to match his speed and IQ. Drives puck possession.
Nikita Klepov – Known for his shot generation so, more offense was expected of him.
TEAM SWEDEN
Marcus Nordmark – Known for his offense, he didn’t disappoint. One of the best players in the tournament.
Nils Bartholdsson – Surprised at his playmaking skills from the wing. One of the best in the tournament.
Oscar Holmertz – Another shot generator that didn’t disappoint. High end vision and IQ.
TEAM CANADA
Keaton Verhoeff – Started the tournament off strong but had a tough semifinal. Did not hurt his draft stock.
Tynan Lawrence – Makes plays, grinds it out, battles, never loses a shift. Will be a leader one day.
Ethan Belchetz – Big strong power forward with skill rarely loses a battle. He could be the next one.
TEAM FINLAND
Samu Alalauri – In my opinion, the Finns best defenseman from start to finish. Smart, moves the puck, strong defensively.
Oliver Suvanto – What stood out was his energy on both sides of the puck. As relentless on the backcheck as he is to get to the front of the net.
Oscar Hemming – Size, skill, IQ and a big shot generator. Consistency was an issue at this tournament, but there is lots to like.
TEAM CZECHIA
Frantisek Poletin – Thought of as one of the top goaltenders in the draft, he showed why. Has been a top international goalie for his age group.
Filip Novak – Very good on both sides of the puck. Engine never quits and can make opponents pay the price. Excellent shot.
Ondrej Ruml – Was a big minute eater on the blueline and the best on the Czechs in transitioning. He needs to work on his consistency.
TEAM SLOVAKIA
Samuel Hrenak – Keeps on building a name for himself in the crease. He was composed throughout and had some big saves.
Adam Goljer – Smart defenseman who strong defensively and physical and can make plays. I was a little disappointed though, but there is plenty to work with.
TEAM SWITZERLAND
Yanis Lutz – Playmaking winger who likes to rush the puck. Plays with a lot of effort and pace. Would like him to be more physical.
Fabrice Bouvard – Caught me by surprise. Played in all situations and put up some points. Incredibly strong for a smaller player.
Pascal Kunz – The goaltender played calm and cool, showed great reflexes and his excellent mobility. But at 6’0”. Size will be questioned.
TEAM GERMANY
Darian Rolsing – Germany’s best player, huge defenseman that is very good in his own zone and showed some offensive flair.
Anton Rockl – Rolsing may be the only German that will get drafted, but if Rockl were a few inches taller, he’d likely get a look from an NHL team.
So, what does this mean for the Bruins? While I haven’t broken down every player, the takeaway is clear: with two first-round picks in hand—assuming they hold onto both—they’re in a strong position to land two high-caliber NHL talents in the 2026 draft. That would nicely complement the additions they’ve already made. Of course, that all hinges on them staying the course.
This draft season promises to be intriguing, to say the least. What’s certain, though, is that the 2026 class is shaping up to be both high in quality and deeper than what we saw in 2025. I’m excited to see how it all unfolds in the lead-up to June and will be here every step of the way.
Next up on the docket is the CHL – USA Prospects Challenge where the top CHL players face off against the NTDP Under-18 squad. The two-game set takes place on Tuesday November 25 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary while the second game takes place Wednesday November 26 at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena in Lethbridge.
Last season, 16 of the 22 players that skated for the CHL were selected in the first round on the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Dom - Hockey 