Author Archives: Josh Tessler

The 2026 NHL Draft guide built on original scouting from a team of 11 scouts who watched this class all season. Every ranking has a scouting report behind it. No recycled boards. No filler. Just conviction. This is the first annual Smaht Scouting NHL Draft Guide. We plan to do this every year and thisContinue reading “The Smaht Scouting 2026 NHL Draft Guide”

Written by Josh Tessler My wife Elizabeth asked me a question the other day that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. She wanted to know if junior teams develop players for the team or for what comes next. It’s a question most casual fans don’t ask, and honestly, most serious fans don’t either.Continue reading “Goalie Development: Why the Numbers Don’t Tell the Full Story”

The 2026 NHL Draft is days away and we are sharing our complete rankings publicly ahead of Buffalo. Below you will find our full big board, 105 ranked prospects across six tiers, plus eleven Honorable Mentions. Every ranking reflects the consensus evaluation of our eleven-scout team after a full season of watching this draft class.Continue reading “Final 2026 NHL Draft Rankings”

Editor’s Note The puck dropped on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship on April 22 in Trenčín and Bratislava, and the round-robin is already underway. This preview was prepared ahead of the tournament and is being published with light editorial framing to reflect where things stand early on. The scouting reports below remain focusedContinue reading “Smaht Scouting: 2026 U18 Worlds Team-by-Team Guide”

Josh Tessler, Alexander Appleyard, Gray Matter, Nathan Hutchinson, SpokedZ, Chris Ford, Austin Garret, Iván Ortiz, Thomas Gagné, Tom Watson and Dan Haurin combined their draft rankings and put together the official Smaht Scouting Midseason 2026 NHL Draft Rankings, a comprehensive look at the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. The rankings reflect monthsContinue reading “Midseason 2026 NHL Draft Rankings”

The World Junior Championship remains one of the most revealing tournaments in hockey, offering a unique intersection of elite talent, developmental variance, and high-pressure international play. With this year’s tournament set in Minnesota, players will be challenged not only by the quality of competition but also by the intensity that comes with playing on NorthContinue reading “2026 World Junior Championship Primer”

Josh Tessler, Alexander Appleyard, Gray Matter, Nathan Hutchinson, SpokedZ, Chris Ford, Austin Garret, Iván Ortiz, Thomas Gagné, Tom Watson and Dan Haurin combined their draft rankings and put together the official Smaht Scouting 2026 NHL Draft Preliminary Rankings, a comprehensive early look at the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. The rankings reflectContinue reading “Preliminary 2026 NHL Draft Rankings”

Introducing the Smaht Scouting 2026 NHL Draft Mock Simulator (V1) We’re excited to launch Version 1 of the Smaht Scouting 2026 NHL Draft Mock Simulator, a free, interactive tool that lets you simulate all seven rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft. Whether you’re building your own mock, analyzing prospect depth, or just exploring how thingsContinue reading “2026 NHL Draft Simulator”

The 2025 NHL Draft class is built on projection. With no unanimous No. 1 and a tightly packed group of prospects through the first two rounds, this year’s draft is more about team identity, organizational need, and draft philosophy than ever before. From dynamic playmakers and towering defenders to athletic goaltenders and high-motor depth pieces,Continue reading “2025 NHL Mock Draft”

Alexander Appleyard, Gray Matter, Ben Jordan, SpokedZ, Chris Ford, Josh Tessler, Austin Garret, Iván Ortiz, Thomas Gagné, Tom Watson and Dan Haurin combined their draft rankings and put together the official Smaht Scouting 2025 NHL Draft Final Rankings. #1 – Michael Misa – C/LW – Saginaw Michael Misa remains our top prospect for the 2025Continue reading “Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings”