Canada

Harrison Brunicke, Canada Win Bronze At 2026 World Junior Championship

Harrison Brunicke served as one of the alternate captains for Canada and recorded two assists in seven games while playing in all situations and winning a Bronze medal. After a strong but not dominant tournament, expect Brunicke to re-join the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The Blazers currently rank fourth in the Western Conference with 30 regular season games remaining. The addition of Brunicke potentially gives the team a nice boost headed into the postseason.

United States

Will Horcoff, United States Start Strong, Fizzle Out In Quarterfinals

Harrison Brunicke served as one of the alternate captains for Canada and recorded two assists in seven games while playing in all situations and winning a Bronze medal. After a strong but not dominant tournament, expect Brunicke to re-join the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The Blazers currently rank fourth in the Western Conference with 30 regular season games remaining. The addition of Brunicke potentially gives the team a nice boost headed into the postseason.

2026 NHL Draft Prospects To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins hold one first and two second round picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and currently project to take a player in the 15 to 20 range. Expect standout forwards Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg and touted defenseman Keaton Verhoeff to be out of reach. However, several prospects eligible for the 2026 draft and potentially available to Pittsburgh stood out in the tournament.

Chase Reid

Defense, United States

Chase Reid probably played into a top 10 consideration with a strong performance for the United States, finishing the tournament with two goals and four points in five games–finishg fourth overall on the team. The 6’2” 187 lbs. right-handed blueliner currently ranks third on the Soo Greyhounds with 35 points in 31 games. Expect Reid to be just out of reach if the Penguins pick in the 15 to 20 range.

Viggo Bjorck

Forward, Sweden

Another player potentially slightly out of reach after a strong tournament, Viggo Bjorck ranked third on Sweden with nine points in seven games–only one point behind potential first overall pick Ivar Stenberg and team captain Jack Berglund–en route to a Gold medal finish. Slightly undersized at 5’10”, 172 lbs. but not turning 18 years old until March, Bjork ranks currently ranks 12th on Djurgardens IF in the SHL with eight points in 24 games–the only 17-year-old with significant playing time in the league. Expect Bjorck to go just a few spots ahead of the Penguins current projected pick.

Tomas Chrenko

Forward, Slovakia

Projected to go late in the first round, Tomas Chrenko likely slid up a few spots on draft board projections after scoring five goals and recording eight points in five games for Slovakia. The 5’11”, 170 lbs. scored a natural hat trick in a 4-1 win over Germany and scored twice and recorded three points in a near upset over the United States in round robin play. Chrenko currently ranks ninth on HK Nitro in the Slovak Extraliga with 17 points in 28 games, leading 18 year olds in the league.

Adam Nemec

Forward, Slovakia

Likely available in the second round, Adam Nemec showed the ability to play a strong 200-foot game and managed five points in five games with Slovakia. The 6’1”, 176 lbs. Forward and younger brother of 2022 second overall pick Simon Nemec sits just behind Chrenko on HK Nirta with 15 points in 28 games and recently signed with the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL for the remainder of the 2025-26 season as the team looks to push for a playoff spot.

William Hakansson

Defense, Sweden

Probably a second round pick, William Hakansson, a big but mobile defenseman finished with two helpers in seven games for Sweden. With only two points in 22 SHL games with Lulea HF, the 6’4”, 207 lbs blueliner showed some offensive upside last season with 22 points in 42 games in the J20 Nationell, but projects as a shutdown defenseman.

Matias Vanhanen

Forward, Finland

Born four days before the 2025 NHL Entry Draft cutoff date, Mathias Vanhanen went undrafted last year but deserves some consideration as a later round pick in 2026. The 5’10, 174 lbs. forward recorded six points–all assists–in seven games with Finland and and currently leads the Everett Silvertips in the WHL with 44 points in 31 games. Kyle Dubas showed a willingness to take a chance on overage players in later rounds, including prospects like Chase Pietila (2024, 111th overall), Joona Vaisanen (2024, 175th overall), Finn Harding (2024, 223rd overall).