On Wednesday, we took a look at some forwards that will potentially have their name called in the top-10 of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. This time around, we will take a look at several defensemen who may also be selected in the top-10.
As mentioned in that previous piece, if the season ended today, the New Jersey Devils would have the seventh-best odds in the NHL Draft lottery.
Defensemen
Keaton Verhoeff
The top defensive prospect in the draft is Canada’s Keaton Verhoeff. Verhoeff is currently playing at the University of North Dakota where he has 18 points in 26 games, this coming after he posted 45 points in 63 WHL games the season before. Verhoeff also played for Canada at the World Junior Championships and confusingly started the tournament as a healthy scratch before posting four points in five games.
Listed at 6-foor-4 and 212 pounds at only 17 years old, Verhoeff has great size. He projects strongly at both ends of the ice at the NHL. Potentially a true No. 1 defenseman at the NHL level.
Chase Reid
American Chase Reid made a terrific impact for Team USA at the World Junior Championships as he had four points in five games. He has been lighting it up for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL this season as he has 47 points in 42 games. Across the last two seasons, he had 87 points (25 goals) in 81 games.
Reid has all the skills to be a top-end offensive defenseman at the next level. His 6-foot-2 frame should also help him hold his own in his own end as well. Reid may very well join Verhoeff as a top-five pick in the 2026 draft.
Carson Carels
Carson Carels joined Keaton Verhoeff on the blue line for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. Carels did only have one assist across five games but got good experience as a 16-year-old. The now 17-year-old has 52 points in 45 games for Prince George of the WHL. This is a strong increase over his 0.58 point-per-game average last year.
Carels projects as more of a defensive defenseman, but still has strong offensive numbers in the WHL. Carels should find himself just outside the top-five on draft day.
Alberts Šmits
Alberts Šmits played internationally for Latvia in both the World Junior Championships and at the Olympics. This is terrific experience for the 18-year-old who has a strong 6-foot-3 and 205-pound frame.
Šmits plays professionally in Finland for Jukurit of the Liiga. He has 13 points in 37 games this season. He is second on the team in ice time, playing 20:09 of ice time per night. Against the top-tier competition, his 43.63 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) isn’t flashy on paper, but ranks third on Jukurit among defenseman.
Šmits should be a strong two-way defenseman at the next level. His shot should translate very well as of his 13 points in the Liiga this year, he has six goals.
Note, all statistics are of the morning of February 17.