PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Fifteen draft eligible players from the 2025-26 U.S. National Under-18 Team and seven NTDP alumni were named to the National Hockey League Central Scoutings' Midseason rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. The draft is set for June 26-27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

A pair of forwards lead Team USA's rankings as possible first-round selections as Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.) leads the way at 23rd overall. Right behind Cullen is Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) who comes in at 30th overall.

An additional trio of players on the current U18 team were ranked in the next 32 slots for possible second-round selections. The CHL-USA Prospects Challenge 'Super Overtime' game-winning goal scorer Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) was placed 36th, as defenseman Luke Schairer (Charlotte, N.C.) rounded out the back-to-back NTDP players at 37th. Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.) rounded out the second-round possibilities at 57th overall. 

Leading the charge of the midseason rankings among the top North American goaltenders is Hlinka-Gretzky Cup winning netminder Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) who ranks first overall. Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) is also on the list at 25th overall.

A total of seven NTDP alumni were listed in the midseason list, compiled of six skaters and one goaltender. The six skaters included forwards JP Hurlbert (2024-25) at 10th overall, Landon Hafele (2023-25) at 48th overall, defenseman Lincoln Kuehne (2023-25) at 60, Jonas Kemps (2024-25) 65th, Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (2022-24) 107th overall and Andrew O'Neill (2023-25) at 126th.

Netminder Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) was the lone goaltender at 7th overall.

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.