I’m not trying to create any 2026 NHL Draft controversy. That’s not my style. In this era of defense, could there be a team that NEEDS Verhoeff more than they want Gavin McKenna? Of course. Will he go #1? He could. It’s too early to say.
Verhoeff is a 6’4”, 212-pound, right-handed defenseman who plays for the University of North Dakota. He’s a freshman, and he’s putting up solid numbers. His eight points in his first 12 games are really good. At 17, he has some work to do, and he’s not the top scorer on his team just yet. North Dakota can churn out defenseman; they have a history of doing that.
The first thing that stands out to any college freshman is the amount of ice time they log. Verhoeff is currently logging 20:52 according to InStat. That’s impressive. The next thing that is uncommon is the 54% defensive zone starts. That’s incredible. That means the coaching staff relies on him already and that bodes well for the 2026 NHL Draft prospect.
The next thing that stands out is his poise. He knows when to take offensive chances or when to hang back. He already uses his frame to keep the opposition from getting to the net. He’s not that physical.
His first pass is smart and clean. His work on the power play is top-notch. He can walk the line, switch sides and make that cross-ice pass that is sometimes necessary to open things up.
His retrieval rate is excellent. He never panics. Does he have great speed? No. I think it can be improved upon, but he’s not going to have Matthew Schaefer speed. He’s a sure-fire, top-pairing defenseman. He’s a guy who will put up 50-60 points. In his best years, I can see him getting more than that.
What I’ll be looking for in the future is how he covers elite skaters. If I were to take him with the first overall pick, I would have to be certain he can cover those types of players since the NHL is now loaded with speed merchants.
Will some teams have him targeted for the first overall selection? Yes. However, in most draft years, there are always teams that go away from consensus to try and solve a team’s need. We never hear how many teams would have shied away from a first-overall pick when put in this situation. I feel like this is one of those years, but I also feel like he is the #2 at this point in time.
