The 2026 NHL Draft is about a month out. For most teams the picture is already in: rosters have aged through another season, the prospect pool is what it is, and front offices know which slots they need to fill. This is the second of four articles, one per division, looking at every team through the same data lens: who qualifies as top-6, who qualifies as top-4, who is under 25, who is in the pipeline, and what that all says about the team's draft lean.
How to read the data
Each team gets a card below with four columns: Forwards, Defense, Goaltending, and Draft Lean. The Top-6: N and Top-4: N counts tell you how many players cleared the production bar at each position. The colored pill beside the count is the average age of that group: green for healthy, amber for trending older, red for aging out.
What it means to qualify
- Top-6 forward: 20+ games played AND at least 0.55 points per game this season.
- Top-4 defenseman: 20+ games played, at least 0.25 points per game, AND average ice time of 17:30 or more per game.
- Under 25: active NHL player under 25 years old, regardless of games played. Captures both the franchise-building tier (Power, Sanderson, Knies) and the call-ups.
- Top prospects: ranked from each team's prospect pool by current-season points within their league. Skater prospects are tiered AHL first, then NCAA, then KHL, then everything else. Goalie prospects stay in NCAA / AHL only, with OHL / WHL / QMJHL as a fallback if the team has fewer than two in primary leagues. Players with 20+ NHL games this season are filtered out as graduates.
The right-most column is the draft lean. It is never goaltending. In modern drafts only a goalie or two goes in round 1, so even teams with shaky goalie depth get pointed at forward or defense, with a "Watch G depth" note when it is warranted.
A full division-wide overview table sits at the bottom of the article if you want to scan everyone at a glance.
Team by team
Carolina Hurricanes · BPA
Justin Robidas AHL 58gp · 23G · 60P
Bradly Nadeau AHL 52gp · 27G · 56P
Ronan Seeley AHL 69gp · 11G · 23P
Aleksi Heimosalmi AHL 52gp · 4G · 17P
Andersen (36) 35gp 0.874
Carolina is one of the best-built rosters in the league. The top-6 forwards qualify at 6 with an average age of 27.3, the top-4 defensemen at 4 with an average age of 28.5, and the under-25 column is full at both positions (Bradly Nadeau, Jackson Blake, Domenick Fensore, and Russian draftee Alexander Nikishin all already on the books). The Canes drafted the way Carolina drafts: best on the board.
Goaltending is the one transition story. Brandon Bussi is the future, posting .895 in 39 GP at age 27 and grabbing the starter's workload. Frederik Andersen is 36 and on a down year behind him. The data lean is BPA, and Carolina will be picking near the end of the draft, so they take whichever skater their scouts love off what slips. The crease will sort itself out.
Columbus Blue Jackets · Forward (lean)
Luca Del Bel Belluz AHL 55gp · 22G · 58P
Mikael Pyyhtia AHL 59gp · 21G · 49P
Corson Ceulemans AHL 64gp · 8G · 24P
Guillaume Richard AHL 70gp · 7G · 18P
Merzlikins (32) 30gp 0.883
Columbus is trying to rebuild, and the pipeline reflects it. Adam Fantilli (2023 #3) and Cole Sillinger (2021 #12) are graduated. Denton Mateychuk (2022 #12) is locked in on D. The 2024-2025 draft class added Cayden Lindstrom (#4, NCAA freshman), Jackson Smith (#14, NCAA), and Pyotr Andreyanov (#20, the goalie of the future) to the cupboard.
The data flags forward because the top-6 averages 28.4, but that average is anchored by Fantilli and Marchenko both still in their primes. Realistically Columbus can take BPA at their slot. If a clear top-end center falls past the first handful of picks, they go. Otherwise it is hard to argue against anyone the scouts love.
New Jersey Devils · Forward (personal lean)
Angus Crookshank AHL 60gp · 24G · 36P
Brian Halonen AHL 51gp · 20G · 34P
Calen Addison AHL 65gp · 6G · 31P
Topias Vilen AHL 61gp · 4G · 27P
Allen (35) 37gp 0.904
Nico Daws AHL 44gp · 0.892 SV% · 2.78 GAA
Mikhail Yegorov NCAA 35gp · 0.904 SV% · 2.73 GAA
The Devils' defense pipeline is one of the deepest in the Metro. Luke Hughes (2021 #4) and Simon Nemec (2022 #2) are both graduated and playing regular NHL minutes. Anton Silayev (2024 #10) is the prize prospect, still in the KHL. Seamus Casey, Topias Vilen, and Calen Addison round out a real AHL group. The qualifying top-4 number sits at 3 but the depth chart is loaded.
That depth is why I'd personally lean forward in 2026, even with the data saying defense. The top-6 forward group is at 5 and trending older (avg 28), and the under-25 forward column (Hameenaho, Lachance, Mercer) doesn't have a clear top-6 piece coming. The forward prospect pool is AHL-deep (Parent, Crookshank, Halonen) but light on first-round upside. Defense restocks itself within a year or two; the forward gap is what catches up with this group. Goaltending is the other watch with Markstrom (36) and Allen (35) winding down, but that's a free-agency problem, not a draft fix.
New York Islanders · Forward (critical)
Ruslan Iskhakov KHL 65gp · 17G · 38P
Rittich (33) 30gp 0.894
The Islanders have the worst top-6 data row in the Metro. Only three forwards qualified as top-6 production this year, at an average age of 31.3, the oldest in the division. Mat Barzal is 28, Anders Lee is 35, Bo Horvat is 30. The under-25 forwards (Victor Eklund, Calum Ritchie, Emil Heineman) are developing, but none is yet a top-6 piece. They will look to take the next step in the upcoming season.
Matthew Schaefer, the 2025 #1 overall pick, jumped straight to the NHL and looks like a foundational defenseman. Cole Eiserman (2024 #20) put up 18 goals in 32 NCAA games. Kashawn Aitcheson (2025 #17) had 70 points in the OHL. The defense pipeline is very strong, but the forward depth could use some more top-6 prospects, due to an aging core.
New York Rangers · Defense (priority)
Brendan Brisson AHL 66gp · 19G · 37P
Justin Dowling AHL 46gp · 9G · 29P
Casey Fitzgerald AHL 71gp · 4G · 23P
Connor Mackey AHL 62gp · 5G · 18P
Quick (40) 25gp 0.891
Spencer Martin AHL 22gp · 0.873 SV% · 3.51 GAA
Callum Tung AHL 16gp · 0.855 SV% · 3.94 GAA
Only two Rangers defensemen qualified as top-4 production this year, at an average age of 29.0. Adam Fox carries the workload and the supporting cast is thinning. The under-25 D group has names (Scott Morrow, Drew Fortescue, EJ Emery) but none ready to slot into the top-4 yet.
The forward group is healthy (7 qualifying top-6 forwards at an average age of 28.6) and Igor Shesterkin is 30 and signed long-term. There is no urgency at forward or in net. New York needs to draft a defenseman, ideally one who can grow into top-4 minutes within two seasons. The prospect pool's existing D group is more depth than top-end.
Philadelphia Flyers · BPA
Alex Bump AHL 36gp · 11G · 26P
Devin Kaplan AHL 49gp · 5G · 13P
Helge Grans AHL 61gp · 3G · 14P
Adam Ginning AHL 42gp · 2G · 8P
Ersson (26) 33gp 0.870
Carson Bjarnason AHL 32gp · 0.877 SV% · 3.43 GAA
Philly has a strong youth wave coming up. Matvei Michkov (2023 #7) is already graduated and a top-6 forward at 21. Porter Martone (2025 #6) is 19 and on the NHL roster. Jett Luchanko (2024 #13) and Oliver Bonk (2023 #22) are both developing. Jack Nesbitt (2025 #12) put up 58 OHL points. The under-25 forwards top-6 averages 26.1, the youngest in the division.
The defense pipeline got a boost when David Jiricek arrived from Columbus, joining Bonk and Helge Grans. There is no acute draft need anywhere. Philly should take BPA and trust their scouting department, which has been on a real run. The 2025 free agency window matters more than the draft for getting them into actual contention.
Pittsburgh Penguins · Forward (lean)
Tristan Broz AHL 47gp · 16G · 39P
Rafael Harvey-Pinard AHL 66gp · 21G · 39P
Finn Harding AHL 54gp · 4G · 22P
Quinn Beauchesne OHL 56gp · 7G · 35P
The Penguins' top-6 forward group has an average age of 33.3, the oldest in the league. Sidney Crosby is 38. Evgeni Malkin is 39. Kris Letang is 38. The under-25 forwards (Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz) are coming, and William Horcoff (2025 #24) put up 25 goals in 40 NCAA games. The gap between 'NHL ready' and Development is quite large. They are in no rush to force this rebuild.
The lean has been forward for two drafts running. Silovs is the answer right now, but keep an eye out for Sergei Murashov (.919 SV% in the AHL) as the long-term piece. Defense averages 31.8 too, with Letang at the top, but turnover is coming. This draft needs to be a forward who projects to NHL minutes within two seasons. Pittsburgh is closer to a teardown than a contender, and acting like it would help.
Washington Capitals · Defense (priority)
Bogdan Trineyev AHL 62gp · 17G · 45P
Alexander Suzdalev AHL 41gp · 10G · 24P
Ryan Chesley AHL 64gp · 6G · 16P
David Gucciardi AHL 52gp · 3G · 13P
Lindgren (32) 21gp 0.879
Garin Bjorklund AHL 17gp · 0.876 SV% · 3.72 GAA
Chase Clark NCAA 24gp · 0.903 SV% · 2.73 GAA
Washington's defense is the headline. Only three defensemen qualified as top-4 this year, and the under-25 column on D shows just one name: Cole Hutson (19). With John Carlson traded out, the qualifying group is young (avg 26.7) but thin. The blue line does not renew without help.
Forward depth is fine. Top-6 sits at 7 qualifying names with an average age of 28.4, and the AHL pipeline is loaded with scoring prospects (Andrew Cristall at 60 AHL points, Trineyev at 45, Suzdalev developing). Ryan Leonard (2023 #8) is already graduated. The problem is that Washington has been drafting forwards while the defense gap has widened. This is the draft to flip the script. Pick a defenseman.
The overview
The whole division at a glance, every team in one table.
Justin Robidas AHL 58gp · 23G · 60P
Bradly Nadeau AHL 52gp · 27G · 56P
Ronan Seeley AHL 69gp · 11G · 23P
Aleksi Heimosalmi AHL 52gp · 4G · 17P
Andersen (36) 35gp 0.874
Luca Del Bel Belluz AHL 55gp · 22G · 58P
Mikael Pyyhtia AHL 59gp · 21G · 49P
Corson Ceulemans AHL 64gp · 8G · 24P
Guillaume Richard AHL 70gp · 7G · 18P
Merzlikins (32) 30gp 0.883
Angus Crookshank AHL 60gp · 24G · 36P
Brian Halonen AHL 51gp · 20G · 34P
Calen Addison AHL 65gp · 6G · 31P
Topias Vilen AHL 61gp · 4G · 27P
Allen (35) 37gp 0.904
Nico Daws AHL 44gp · 0.892 SV% · 2.78 GAA
Mikhail Yegorov NCAA 35gp · 0.904 SV% · 2.73 GAA
Ruslan Iskhakov KHL 65gp · 17G · 38P
Rittich (33) 30gp 0.894
Brendan Brisson AHL 66gp · 19G · 37P
Justin Dowling AHL 46gp · 9G · 29P
Casey Fitzgerald AHL 71gp · 4G · 23P
Connor Mackey AHL 62gp · 5G · 18P
Quick (40) 25gp 0.891
Spencer Martin AHL 22gp · 0.873 SV% · 3.51 GAA
Callum Tung AHL 16gp · 0.855 SV% · 3.94 GAA
Alex Bump AHL 36gp · 11G · 26P
Devin Kaplan AHL 49gp · 5G · 13P
Helge Grans AHL 61gp · 3G · 14P
Adam Ginning AHL 42gp · 2G · 8P
Ersson (26) 33gp 0.870
Carson Bjarnason AHL 32gp · 0.877 SV% · 3.43 GAA
Tristan Broz AHL 47gp · 16G · 39P
Rafael Harvey-Pinard AHL 66gp · 21G · 39P
Finn Harding AHL 54gp · 4G · 22P
Quinn Beauchesne OHL 56gp · 7G · 35P
Bogdan Trineyev AHL 62gp · 17G · 45P
Alexander Suzdalev AHL 41gp · 10G · 24P
Ryan Chesley AHL 64gp · 6G · 16P
David Gucciardi AHL 52gp · 3G · 13P
Lindgren (32) 21gp 0.879
Garin Bjorklund AHL 17gp · 0.876 SV% · 3.72 GAA
Chase Clark NCAA 24gp · 0.903 SV% · 2.73 GAA
Up next
The Central article (Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Utah, Winnipeg) is up next, followed by the Pacific. The Atlantic write-up is here if you missed it.