2026 Mid Year BRHL Mock Draft

With the WJC well underway, as I always do, I like to look to the future and what might happen in the summer when we do our draft+1 year post the NHL draft. Standings as of 2/1/26 my time and without a lottery!

1.                                  Detroit – Schaeffer. Guy has 10 goals as NHL rookie and changing the Islanders franchise. He is their complete future and a Makar-like player. Stud for years to come. Dan is preying he wins the lottery.

2.                                  Sharks – Frondell – I think the kid has leapt Misa and others given his strong play in SHL as a teenager. From our boards, sounds like most are in agreement

3.                                  Canadiens – Misa – though slipped some, he is likely going back to the AHL/NHL after the WJC and as such, will not slide much

4.                                  Senators – first of three picks in first round in important rebuild year. This pick could go one of many ways. Desnoyers, Martin, Hagens, Martone. All teams need a top two-way centre to build around. Desnoyers will take time with depth in Utah and might slide some because of this. Martin and Hagens have a pretty clear slate ahead of them and expect both in the NHL next season. Going to go the big Canadian farm boy in Martin.

5.                                  BJs – Who doesn’t like the BJs….I think Jesse takes what he views as best available player. I suspect is one of the same guys left from above. Will go Hagens here.

6.                                  Hurricanes – I had to do a double take…Rich with multiple first rounders and a plethora of picks. He goes BPA and Desnoyers vs Marton is the go. I always lean the centre is more important and so go with Desnoyers.

7.                                  Hawks – Dave runs up and takes Martone though suspect is a thought to go with O’Brien.

8.                                  Wild – Whoever is left of the top 8 from NHL draft likely goes here. In this draft it is O’Brien who is having an elite year in the OHL but was disappointing late cut for team Canada.

9.                                  Leafs – Garrett will take BPA. Considerations are McQueen who dropped due to injury, Kindell who has surprised in NHL for Pens and Will Horcoff who is rocketing up lists, leading the NCAA in goals. I suspect he goes Kindell, the BRHL ready player

10.                           Ducks – Devon should be BPA…from the OHL….to build around Celebrini. McQueen, Horcoff are considerations, but suspect he goes with the stud he loves in Kash….Kashawn Aitcheson jumps up board.

11.                           Knights – Joe is slow and steady will take his BPA. Mrtka will be considered with Mcqueen, Horcoff and others. Given the young defense Joe has, I think they go forward and think will jump on McQueen here.

12.                           Devils – I doubt that Ken is drafting this low, but if is, might go defense here to bolster that group. Mrtka is the pick. 

13.                           Flames – Again I doubt he is picking this high…but as always, Kevin will take BPA. What does he view as BPA? Horcoff, Nesbitt, Bear and Carbonneau all considerations. Given near goal per game for Horcoff and Carbonneau suspect is one of the two, and suspect given NHL draft rating of Carbonneau over Horcoff, think he might go that way. Carbonneau is pick.

14.                           Canucks – Tyler with a homer pick, though a solid one. Cootes is the pick

15.                           Wild (from Kings) – with a centre with first pick, I think they take the draft climber Horcoff to accompany O’Brien on wing into the future

16.                           Mammoth – slow and steady development for Joel. Nesbitt, Bear, Smith best on board from NHL draft, but might go with one of the drafts big risers. Zharovsky has been a revelation in the KHL and was rated  late first in NHL draft by many. I think he is possible here and is the pick. 

17.                           Canes (from Avs) – Rich made the centre pick previously, does he go with rounding out the position with Nesbitt or focus on help at defense with Smith or Reid. Smith is a big man with some offense as evidenced by 9 pts in 14 gp in NCAA for PSU. He is the pick. 

18.                           Rags – First of 4 picks for PJ and will take BPA from the NHL draft I think though suspect this pick is much higher by end of year. Jack Nesbitt is the pick at this position.

19.                           Canes (from Caps) – Rich has a centre and dman, why not add a winger now. Bear is the pick. 

20.                           Lightning (from Panthers) – lots of young defense and few goalies suggests offense might be the flavour here. Of the remaining forwards, Reschny might be the pick.  

21.                           Pens – Matt has lots to choose from. Might the first goaltender come off the board in a strong goaltender draft. I suspect so, Andreyanov may see time in the KHL this year and been elite in the VHL and MHL. Ravensbergen has looked great. I suspect is one of the two so will take the higher drafted Andreyanov here.

22.                           Wild (from Sabres) – Centre, Winger with first two, suspect go defense or goal. Given the recent pick of Andreyanov, would not surprise me to see Ravensbergen taken here to make sure they get one of the top goaltenders in draft.

23.                           Canucks (from Blues) – forward taken with first pick by Tyler this could go anyway. Cam Reid is solid and steady dman. I can’t see him falling much further so will take here.

24.                           Isles – Joe suspect takes BPA. On draft board this is Eklund, Zonnon, Hensler, Nestrasil, Lee…..It could be any of these. Playing in SHL with 11 pts and 3 pts in 4 gp at WJC, suspect is Eklund, but Lee might be a consideration given high skill and upside.

25.                           Wings (from Jets) – pick flipped for two years of Hyman (though Jets will be looking to move into first round via trade with dearth of NHL dmen next year (Broberg, McDonagh, Lindell, Ekblad, Hague, Harley, Buium, Rinzel, Korczak, Bichsel, Lamoureux)…but onto the pick….Vaclav Nestrasil has had a strong year in NCAA with more than a point per game and with 6 pts in 4 gp at WJC he is not going to drop and might go earlier. Suspect Dan makes him the pick. 

26.                           Rags (from Lightning) – PJ has a run on prospects at back end and suspect he goes for a few homeruns. First pick Ryker Lee with high skill and playing well for USA and MSU. 

27.                           Rags (from Oilers) – two forwards with first two picks makes me think defense. Hensler is solid dman developing in NCAA and playing for USA at WJC. Suspect is the pick. 

28.                           Flyers – Anthony could go anyway here. Lakovic, Boumedienne, climber from 2^ndround….Boumedienne solid in NCAA and playing solid two way game for Sweden at WJC, might be the pick. 

29.                           Sens (from Kraken) – I can see a winger going here. Lynden Lakovic was a teens pick in many mocks predraft and continuing to score at point per game. Suspect he is taken in our first still. 

30.                           Rags (from Preds) – Do they take the risk and go with the unknown but highly touted West? I am not sure, but why not take a risk with this many late first. Mason West is the pick. Now that football season is over, will be interesting to see how USHL year goes and may climb or fall! With 5 pts in 6 gp so far, might be a climber by the time we draft. Off to MSU next year.

31.                           Sens (from Bruins) – with two forwards, this will be defense or goaltending. Frolov, Medvedev, Ivankovic, Bruztewicz all catch my eye, but Ivankovic has been elite for UM in NCAA and suspect will be our third goaler off the board.

32.                           Pens (from Stars) – with a goaler with earlier pick, can’t see a further run here…Bill Zonnon has dropped with injury and  limited play in 2025-6 but continued solid year in QMJHL will see him still be a first rounder in BRHL. 

Honorable Mentions that might make our first:

Gastrin, Cihar, Frolov, Medvedev, Bruztewicz