2026 NHL Draft – Top 5 Playmakers – The Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft has loads of playmaking talent. Here are the top five playmakers in this year’s class, all of whom should be picked quite high.

5. Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

Back in October, Wyatt Cullen was considered a mid-round prospect. In the months since, he has worked his way up into the top-10 conversation in a Beckett Sennecke-esque fashion.

Cullen’s skating and hands are among the best in this year’s class, but his playmaking is also quite deadly. The 17-year-old left winger—who doubles as a capable centerman—recorded 16 goals and 29 assists in 40 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) this season. He led the program in assists and points per game, and by a decent margin, too.

Thanks to his creativity, deceptiveness, and vision, Cullen is a high-end playmaker. He has top-six forward potential.

4. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda HC (SHL)

As opposed to Cullen, Ivar Stenberg has been considered a top prize in the 2026 class for a long time. Today, he’s widely considered to be this year’s second-best prospect, and his playmaking is a big reason why.

Stenberg put up all-time numbers in Sweden’s top junior league, U20 Nationell, last season, recording 26 goals and 27 assists in 27 games. Making the jump to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Frölunda HC, he had the third-highest point total for a draft-year prospect in history, recording 11 goals and 22 assists in 43 games. Only Daniel and Henrik Sedin have him beat in the points department.

With excellent vision and one of the most well-rounded games in the class, Stenberg is an elite playmaker. He can create scoring chances in a multitude of ways. He’s quick and decisive in transition and dangerous both with and without the puck in the offensive zone.

3. Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Going back to riser territory, Caleb Malhotra fits the bill. The Brantford Bulldogs’ centerman is defined by the completeness of his game, which has a crucial role in his playmaking upside.

On a star-studded Bulldogs team, Malhotra managed to stand out. He recorded 29 goals and 55 assists in 67 regular-season games, then added 13 goals and as many assists in 15 playoff games. With 110 points overall, his total ranks fourth among under-18 players in the last decade—only Michael Misa (137 in 2024-25), Nick Suzuki (119 in 2016-17), and Cole Perfetti (111 in 2019-20) had more.

As mentioned, Malhotra isn’t a top playmaker solely for his vision. He is an incredibly hard worker, winning tons of battles and being heavily involved in the defensive zone. With his impact in all three zones, he may become one of the NHL’s best playmakers someday.

2. Viggo Björck, C/RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

Viggo Björck‘s status as a premier playmaker goes back a while. He really put himself on the map after averaging 1.81 assists per game as a 15-year-old in Sweden’s top under-18 league and 1.12 assists per game in their under-20 league last season. He made the jump to the SHL in 2025-26, and after a slow start, he returned to his elite two-way form.

Viggo Björck (#2026NHLDraft) has had one of the biggest first half vs. second half glow ups I’ve seen in my years of tracking data.

During fall, he was mostly a good checker at the SHL level. Since the start of 2026, he’s posted both elite offensive and defensive results. pic.twitter.com/qSBLWK49O0

— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) March 16, 2026

Across the regular season and the playoffs, Björck recorded seven goals and 11 assists in 45 contests. Those are already good numbers for a draft-eligible prospect, but more importantly, his playmaking and overall offense went from poor to exceptional in the second half. His defense, meanwhile, remained a major strength.

Björck’s vision and ability to create inside the offensive zone are top-notch in this draft class. He has the potential to be a two-way playmaking top-six center, with 1C upside.

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State University (NCAA)

Donning the playmaking crown for the 2026 NHL Draft is, of course, Gavin McKenna. He had a slow start at Penn State University, but the talent inevitably came through. In 35 games, he scored 15 goals and added 36 assists.

In the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, McKenna recorded the highest assist-per-game rate for a draft-year or younger prospect this century. In the NCAA this season, he doubled down with the second-highest assist-per-game rate for a draft-year or younger prospect this century. It’s important not to put too much stock into raw numbers, but they are unquestionably elite.

McKenna’s hockey sense, vision, and hands make him the most dangerous playmaker in the draft. He can slow things down to his pace and string perfect passes that way, and also use his game-breaking hands to open up shooting and passing lanes.

McKenna, Björck, Malhotra, Stenberg, and Cullen each have a top-10 case for the 2026 NHL Draft. Their playmaking has a big role in that.