89 WHL Players Listed in NHL Central Scouting 2026 Draft Watch List

NHL Central Scouting has released its preliminary players to watch list for the 2026 NHL Draft, featuring 89 players developed in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Among these, seven WHL players received 'A' ratings, indicating potential first-round picks, including Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants and Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Medicine Hat Tigers lead WHL clubs with nine players named to the list, highlighting twin forwards Liam and Markus Ruck, both assigned 'B' ratings as second or third-round candidates. The list overall includes 27 players with 'A' ratings and spans 237 Canadian Hockey League prospects, with WHL players comprising a significant portion of these top prospects. Players are graded based on scouting assessments, which consider factors such as scoring, defensive play, and international experience, with rankings updated as the season progresses. This showcases a strong presence of WHL talent expected to impact the upcoming NHL Draft.