Top 2026 NHL Draft Prospects Lean Defense as McKenna, Reid, Verhoeff Lead Pronman Ranking
Corey Pronman’s early 2026 NHL Draft rankings place Gavin McKenna, Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff atop a defense-heavy class, with five defensemen in the top seven and no clear No. 1. McKenna has surged as NCAA scoring leader, while Reid and Verhoeff sit in a tight top tier, suggesting a strong but balanced group rather than a game-changing franchise pick.