Keaton Verhoeff is a guaranteed top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He could go as high as 2; maybe a few teams would take him with the top spot, but I don’t see it happening as of today. Although we have to remember what a 6’4”, 212-pound, right-handed shot means to a lot of teams. He is a commodity.
He has 17 points in 22 games. Considering his age, he’s younger than some of these defensemen that I’ll mention, and he should be right there for point totals in a freshman season: Charlie McAvoy (25), Shayne Gostisbehere (22), and Mike Matheson (25). He has a chance to be as good as McAvoy and possibly better in the long run. Time will tell on that one.
His poise, puck movement, and ability to know exactly when to pinch and use his size for a tip-in are exactly what coaches look for. Verhoeff has a shot that hits the net. He has six goals currently, and according to InStat, 49% of them hit the net. He’s still at .47 hits per game, so you’re not getting a physical defenseman, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to use his frame to his advantage. Those are two different things.
His first passes come in clean and efficient, and that really helps an offense when gaining the zone. He sets the tone for that, and then he knows where to go afterward to be in a position to create offense if need be. When he gets stronger, he will be a force. I think he will be a 50-60 point defenseman and a true #1 in every way.
Another big part of his game is the ability to handle big minutes. He already gets an average of 18:44 a game. Jake Livanavage is a veteran on that blueline, and he gets over 24 minutes. He’s 21, and by next year, Verhoeff will be getting that. That’s what you want for a player his age.
Whoever drafts him should let him go back to North Dakota for one more season. They’ve developed some great NHL defenseman, and he will be the next one. Let him build up his body and mature. Don’t rush him into the NHL because he’s big and a high draft pick. That’s not for everybody, and honestly, not for most draft picks.
