Say what you want about New England boys prep hockey — that it's not as good as it once was, that all the good kids leave early, that it's a young league.
It's all up for debate. But what isn't is that prep's class of 2026 NHL Draft prospects is the best prep has had in a long time.
For this story, I went back and looked at my stories from 2024 and 2025. Only a handful of those players ranked had a chance at getting picked. In 2024, St. Sebastian's forward Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) was the only selection, going to the Montreal Canadiens in the sixth round. St. George's Everett Baldwin (East Providence, R.I.) went in the fifth round to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, while Phillips Andover forward Grayden Robertson-Palmer was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round.
This year figures to be different.
Seven of the eight players in this story are all on NHL Central Scouting's watch list of potential draft prospects. From talking with NHL scouts all season, I wouldn't be shocked if any of these players are picked.
I also strongly believe this is the first time since 2022 that a prep player (or two) will be picked before the fifth round.
Here are my final rankings of 2026 NHL Draft prospects in prep.
1. Myles Brosnan
Dexter Southfield, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 6-0/194
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
There's a legitimate debate for Nos. 1 and 2 between Brosnan and McFadden. Both are right-shot defensemen, and both are good at different things. Brosnan is a fantastic skater who can generate speed quickly with and without the puck. The offensive instincts are there (51 points in 30 games), and he has no problem getting hard shots through from the point. He can run a power play with ease. One thing that isn't lacking is confidence, which will serve him well as he transitions to Harvard this fall. Brosnan wants the puck in all situations because he believes he can make the best play with it.
One thing I liked about Brosnan this winter was his growth in playing conservatively and focusing on the defensive side. There were times when Dexter protected leads late, and Brosnan was at the heart of weathering the storm.
His development will be interesting because juniors won't be in the cards. But he'll be given the necessary time and reps at Harvard to develop into an exciting puck-mover in the pro game.
He makes a lot of sense as an early fourth-round pick.
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2. Brian McFadden
Thayer, 1/2/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.
NCAA: NortheasternÂ
The NHL Draft is often about taking some swings and taking upside over current ability. There are NHL teams who feel this way about McFadden — and I do, too. He needs to fill out more and continue to get stronger. He will need to be more physical in juniors than he was in prep. One explanation for that is he didn't want to take penalties in prep since it's called tighter than juniors.
But it's rare for a 6-foot-5 defenseman to handle pucks the way McFadden does. The puck-moving instincts are there. He has poise and is creative with his passing. If he hits, will he be a puck-moving defenseman in pro hockey? Probably not, but that's an asset. If you're an NHL team and you can rely on your shutdown, third-pair, right-shot defenseman to make responsible, creative puck plays on zone exits and in the offensive end, isn't that a huge asset?
McFadden has a long way to go. There will be ups and downs. But he's well worth taking a swing on and seeing what he can become over time. Players like him don't grow on trees.
I wouldn't be stunned if a team went for him as early as the end of the third round.
3. Will Manchuso
St. Mark's, 1/9/2008, F, left shot, 5-11/192
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
NCAA: DartmouthÂ
Manchuso had a strong winter, leading the region in goals (32) and ranking sixth in points with 59. One thing that works against Manchuso in the NHL Draft world is that 5-foot-11 left wingers aren't hard to find. The draft has increasingly become about taking swings (i.e., McFadden-type players), and Manchuso isn't a swing. There are plenty of players of his size out there to grab.
But what he has going for him that most don't: he's a phenomenal skater and has a wicked shot. His speed is something defenders always have to respect. He can score from anywhere. This winter, St. Mark's power play utilized Manchuso at the top of the left circle, where he'd typically snipe a shot. Given those two vital skills, there's a lot to build off over the next few years for Manchuso, making him a worthy draft pick.
4. Charlie Puglisi
Winchendon, 1/16/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/172
Hometown: Latham, N.Y.
NCAA: CornellÂ
Puglisi was a low-key player on NHL Central Scouting in the first half of the season. He was given a W rating (sixth- or seventh-round candidate) in October, and at the midterm, he was dubbed a seventh-round selection. Then came the onslaught that was Puglisi from mid-January through the rest of the season, as he finished with 76 points — the most in prep.
He's a powerful force down the middle of the ice. While he's not a high-end skater, he has a heavy shot and a high IQ, which does him wonders when he has the puck in the offensive zone. The point total alone is enough that I wouldn't be surprised if he's picked. Add in his intelligence, and he's an intriguing draft prospect.
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5. Neilan Johnson
Hotchkiss, 8/1/2008, G, catches left, 6-2/163
Hometown: Annapolis, Md.
NCAA: NortheasternÂ
I'll say it until I'm blue in the face: It's hard to tell with goalies this early. But Johnson has a fantastic season for Hotchkiss, taking a team that won six games last winter to the Elite 8 semifinals. His 1.79 goals-against average ranked second among goalies with at least 1,000 minutes played, while his .940 save percentage was tied for fourth. Given his size and his athleticism, Johnson has the tools to be a goalie to take in hopes he pans out as a pro down the road.
6. Elliot Lennon
Deerfield, 3/5/2008, G, catches left, 6-3/181
Hometown: Kirkland, Quebec
NCAA: BrownÂ
I agree with NHL Central Scouting's assessment in putting Lennon one spot (22) behind Johnson (21). Lennon was outstanding as a junior last winter (2.03 GAA, .926 save percentage) and followed up with an arguably better senior year given the losses Deerfield took entering this season. The Brown commit put up a 2.22 GAA and a .937 save percentage. The biggest thing with Lennon is his size and squareness to shots.
In terms of Lennon or Johnson getting drafted, Taft's Rudy Guimond, the last goalie to be picked out of prep, was ranked No. 17 by NHL Central Scouting in 2023. All it takes is one team to love Johnson or Lennon.
7. Owen McHale
Dexter Southfield, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
NCAA: NortheasternÂ
McHale wasn't on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, so I'm going a bit off the board here. He had a productive prep season with 18 goals and 36 points in 27 games. He was recently a Phase 2 tender by the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. But it's his mix of being an agitator who is a nuisance to play against with his offensive upside that makes him a prospect to keep an eye on in the seventh round. The Florida Panthers' style has become all the rage in NHL circles over the last few years, and McHale projects as that kind of player. He's also legitimately tough, so be prepared for some great fight videos in the USHL next season.
READ MORE: 15 takeaways from NHL Central Scouting’s 2026 final rankings
8. Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/192
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.
NCAA: QuinnipiacÂ
Donia quietly had a productive year for Groton, scoring 5 goals and 22 points in 27 games. His puck play and hockey sense could use some work, but he has two notable strengths: skating and an edge. Donia is a great skater for his size, with good speed and an ability to jump into the rush and play aggressively on puck carriers. He also has no problem mixing it up.
In terms of getting picked this June, it's notable that some have always regarded him highly. He was the 19th pick (second round) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by the Lincoln Stars, which came right after he went to the U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp. Last year, he was taken in the fourth round (57th overall) of the QMJHL Draft by the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He also made the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Camp last summer. It's not crazy to think there are NHL teams that would take him in the later rounds.
