Photo by Rena Laverty
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Eighteen members of the 2025-26 U.S. National Under-18 Team and nine National Team Development Program alums were named to NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch list ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, set to take place next summer.
The preliminary rankings are broken up into four categories. An "A" rating indicates a player projected to be selected in the first round of the draft. A "B" rating indicates a candidate for the 2nd and 3rd rounds. A "C" rating is a possible 4th or 5th round pick while a "W" ranking indicates a selection in the final two rounds of the draft.
The NTDP's A-rated players include current skaters Luke Schairer (Charlotte, N.C.) with seven players following as B-rated players. Forwards Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.), Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.), Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) and Logan Stuart (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) were among the seven. Defenseman JJ Marthaler (Superior, Wis.) and goaltender Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) make up the rest of the current seven.
Defensemen Nick Bogas (Royal Oak, Mich.), AJ Francisco (Hermantown, Minn.) and Sam Wathier (Des Moines, Iowa), along with forwards Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.), Parker Trottier (Edina, Minn.) and Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, Ill.) all drew "C" ratings on the initial list.
Rounding out the preliminary list of current NTDPers is goaltender Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.), defenseman Logan Lutner (Maple Grove, Minn.) and forwards AJ Garcia (Romeoville, Ill.) and Brody George (Johnstown, Pa.), all given "W" ratings.
NTDP alum goaltenders Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo. / 2023-25), Jack Parsons (Ithaca, N.Y. / 2022-24) and Patrick Quinlan (Kennett Square, Pa.), defensemen Jonas Kemps (Santa Rosa, Calif. / 2024-25), Lincoln Kuehne (West Fargo, N.D. / 2023-25) and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (Northville, Mich. / 2022-24), and forwards Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska / 2023-25), JP Hurlbert (Allen, Texas / 2024-25) and Andrew O'Neill (Fargo, N.D. / 2023-25) were named to the list.
Current U18s Abe Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.), Tyler Martyniuk (Washington Twp., Mich.), Jamie Glance (Stratham, N.H.) and Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) are all ineligible for the 2026 NHL Draft as they are born after the September 15 cut-off date.
The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place in the summer of 2026, with specific dates, times and location to be announced.
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