Top 100 NHL Prospects 2026: EP's Top U23 Ranking
Who are the best young players in hockey right now? Elite Prospects has released its 2026 top 100 under-23 NHL-affiliated skaters ranking, the annual list that cuts across draft classes, leagues, and development timelines to rank the game's best young talent from one to one hundred. Unlike traditional draft rankings, this list includes NHLers already playing significant roles, AHL players on the cusp of breaking through, and elite junior and college prospects all stacked against each other on one board.
The full ranking, with tool grades, detailed scouting analysis, and a team-by-team breakdown, is available at Elite Prospects. Here's a taste of what's inside.
How Elite Prospects Ranks the Top 100 NHL Prospects
Not all prospect rankings are built the same. EP's under-23 list doesn't simply reward the players with the most points or the highest draft position. The methodology starts with upside, specifically the role each player is projected to occupy at their peak, then weighs proximity to that upside. That's why established NHLers dominate the top of the board while prospects appear more frequently as the list deepens and ceilings become harder to project.
From there, EP's scouts factor in production, usage, advanced stats, organizational fit, and recent trends. A player on a rebuilding team in a sheltered role is evaluated differently than one already handling top-pair or first-line minutes on a contender.
The result is the most comprehensive ranking of the best young NHL players available anywhere, covering everyone from players already in Norris and Hart Trophy conversations to junior prospects still two years away from the NHL. For the full breakdown on all 100 players, including EP's 1-9 tool grades and individual scouting analysis, the complete ranking is available in Elite Prospects' 2026 top 100 under-23 NHL-affiliated skaters ranking.
Who Leads the Top NHL Prospects Rankings in 2026?
Some rankings tell you who played well this season. This one tries to answer a harder question: who will matter most over the next decade? The gap between those two lists is where the most interesting conversations live, and EP's 2026 edition has plenty of them.
The board is NHLer-heavy at the top for a reason. Proximity to upside is a core part of the methodology, which means established players with high ceilings crowd out even the most exciting prospects until No. 25, where the list begins to open up.
Which Teams Have the Most Top NHL Prospects?
Four franchises stand out well above the rest when it comes to young talent depth, and their representation on this list reflects it.
The Chicago Blackhawks lead all franchises with 10 players in the combined top 100 and honourable mentions. After years of bottoming out, the rebuild in Chicago has produced one of the richest pipelines in the league, spanning multiple draft classes and development stages.
The Anaheim Ducks follow close behind with nine representatives. Three of their players appear in the top ten alone, which tells its own story about where this franchise is heading. Their young core is already showing up in the standings.
The San Jose Sharks place eight players on the list, headlined by the ranking's No. 1 overall. The Sharks' rebuild has produced arguably the most exciting young nucleus in the NHL, with several of their prospects already playing meaningful minutes together at the NHL level.
The Utah Mammoth also place eight, a strong result for a franchise still establishing its identity. Their depth across the forward and defence positions suggests the organization is building something worth watching in the coming years.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Colorado Avalanche are the only franchise in the league with zero representatives on the list, a reflection of how much the reigning dynasty has leaned into its championship window at the expense of future depth.
See the Full Ranking
The complete list with EP's 1-9 tool grades, detailed scouting analysis on all 100 players, and the full team-by-team breakdown is available in Elite Prospects' 2026 top 100 under-23 NHL-affiliated skaters ranking. For those looking for an NHL draft ranking of this year's eligible prospects, EP's Draft Center has you covered.
Top 10 NHL Prospects 2026 - Sneakpeak
- Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks - Drafted 1st overall by San Jose Sharks in 2024
- Connor Bedard - Chicago Blackhawks - Drafted 1st overall by Chicago Blackhawks in 2023
- Matthew Schaefer - New York Islanders - Drafted 1st overall by New York Islanders in 2025
- Lane Hutson - Montreal Canadiens - Drafted 62nd overall by Montreal Canadiens in 2022
- Ivan Demidov - Montreal Canadiens - Drafted 5th overall by Montreal Canadiens in 2024
- Wyatt Johnston - Dallas Stars - Drafted 23rd overall by Dallas Stars in 2021
- Beckett Sennecke - Anaheim Ducks - Drafted 3rd overall by Anaheim Ducks in 2024
- Leo Carlsson - Anaheim Ducks - Drafted 2nd overall by Anaheim Ducks in 2023
- Dylan Guenther - Utah Mammoth - Drafted 9th overall by Arizona Coyotes in 2021
- Cutter Gauthier - Anaheim Ducks - Drafted 5th overall by Philadelphia Flyers in 2022