Ranking national team prospect pools, top 2026 D vs. 2024 D, Zeev Buium's rookie season: Mailbag

This week, I returned from the Frozen Four and released the 2026 edition of my top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking, putting a bow on my annual pool rankings. Now my attention turns fully to draft season, with U18 worlds beginning next week in Slovakia and CHL playoffs underway ahead of the Memorial Cup in Kelowna. Before we know it, we’ll be in Buffalo for the NHL Scouting Combine, too.Advertisement