Called Up: The Hockey Prospects Podcast · FloSports

Breaking Down The Top 2026 NHL Draft Prospects In Each Top Junior Hockey League

·48 min·3 clips

Xavier Villeneuve won QMJHL defenseman of the year as a 5-foot-10 blue-liner.

1. Called Up: The Hockey Prospects Podcast breaks down the top 2026 NHL Draft prospects across the USHL, QMJHL, OHL, and WHL. 2. Chris Peters of FloHockey and Cam Robinson lead the discussion as they prepare for junior hockey opening week. 3. The episode asks which league names will shape the 2026 draft board once new junior tape replaces last season's looks. 4. The USHL section centers on Tynan Lawrence, whom Chris calls the league's clear number one prospect. 5. Lawrence's 25 goals, point-per-game production, and playoff MVP award are used to explain why scouts already view him as a top-five candidate. 6. The hosts stress that Lawrence's value rises because he plays center in a draft class with many wings and defensemen. 7. Chris says Lawrence will captain his team and draw the toughest matchups every night. 8. Cam says Lawrence already has a dual-threat offensive game, a strong release, and mature defensive positioning. 9. They say scouts want incremental growth, a little extra strength, and a 30-goal, 60-point season from Lawrence. 10. Blake Zielinski and Jack Hextall are discussed as the USHL players most likely to turn Hlinka Gretzky Cup flashes into first-round conversations. 11. Zielinski led Team USA in scoring at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and should have a shot at 25 USHL goals. 12. Hextall is praised for playmaking and ice reads, but the hosts say he must shoot more to avoid defenders sagging off him. 13. The segment on the USNTDP says Mikey Burchild and Casey Mews drew call-ups to the U18 team and will be watched closely. 14. Wyatt Cullen is highlighted because he returned for his U18 season at about 6-foot-1 and roughly 25 pounds heavier after entering the NTDP at 5-foot-8. 15. In the QMJHL, Xavier Villeneuve is described as the headline defender after winning defensive rookie of the year, defenseman of the year, and gold at the U18 worlds. 16. Cam compares Villeneuve's puck control and agility to Quinn Hughes and Lane Hutson while noting that his defense remains a concern. 17. The hosts describe the Armada as a loaded team, citing Justin Carbonneau, Bill Zonnon, Spencer Gill, Mateo Nobert, Jacob Malota, and Arseny Radkov. 18. The tone is scouting-heavy and conversational, with Chris steering league-by-league and Cam responding with direct evaluations and comparisons. 19. Junior hockey scouts and draft fans who follow USHL, QMJHL, and OHL rankings will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners looking for game recaps or non-draft hockey talk can skip this one.

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