Men's Ice Hockey | 1/15/2026 9:21:23 AM

Sixty-seven players with United States Hockey League (USHL) ties made NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings of North American skaters and goaltenders ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Ryan Sikes took a look at the biggest risers and fallers since the preliminary rankings in October.

Biggest Risers

Wyatt Cullen, F, USA Hockey NTDP U-18 Team
Cullen, initially a C-rated prospect on the preliminary list back in October, rose to No. 23 among North American skaters in the mid-term rankings. The Minnesota commit, while limited to just 14 games, has been productive to the tune of three goals and 12 points for the NTDP U-18 Team.

Landon Nycz, D, University of Massachusetts (Waterloo Black Hawks/Sioux City Musketeers)
Initially a C-rated prospect back in October, Nycz is the No. 28 North American skater in the mid-term rankings. The 6’3”, 205-pound defenseman is a freshman at UMass this season, where he has one goal and one assist in 20 games played. Prior to college hockey, Nycz spent two seasons in the USHL, recording eight goals and 27 points between Waterloo and Sioux City during the 2024–25 season.

Brady Knowling, G, USA Hockey NTDP U-18 Team
Initially graded as a B-rated goalie on the preliminary list, Knowling is ranked as the No. 1 North American goaltender at the halfway point. The Boston University commit, listed at 6’5” and 202 pounds, owns a 3.22 goals-against average in five USHL games this season. Knowling also posted a 2.35 goals-against average and .914 save percentage en route to helping Team USA earn a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup back in August.

Ilya Morozov, F, Miami University (Tri-City Storm)
Initially graded as a B-rated prospect in October, Morozov has surged to No. 8 among North American skaters in the mid-term NHL Central Scouting rankings. Perhaps more impressive, he’s done so as the youngest player in college hockey this season at Miami. With the RedHawks, the 17-year-old has seven goals and 14 points in 22 games. Prior to college hockey, he spent a season with the Tri-City Storm, where he posted 11 goals and 22 points in 59 games.

Rudolfs Berzkalns, F, Muskegon Lumberjacks
Berzkalns was graded as a C-rated prospect on October’s preliminary list but rose to the No. 49-ranked North American skater in the mid-term rankings. The 6’4”, 204-pound forward has recorded seven goals and 16 points in 27 games with Muskegon this season.

Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, D, University of Michigan
Rhéaume-Mullen, a re-entry candidate for the 2026 NHL Draft, appeared in the mid-term rankings at No. 107 among North American skaters after initially being projected as a 6th or 7th-round pick on the preliminary list. The 6’1”, 188-pound defenseman is a sophomore at the University of Michigan this season, where he has four goals and 13 points in 22 games.

Adam Valentini, F, University of Michigan  (Chicago Steel)
Initially rated as a 6th or 7th-round prospect on the preliminary list, Valentini has climbed to No. 109 among North American skaters, suggesting he could be taken in the fourth round. The 5’11”, 185-pound forward is spending his draft-eligible season as a freshman at the University of Michigan, where he has 18 points (6-12-18) in 22 games. Prior to college hockey, Valentini spent one season with the Chicago Steel, recording 39 points in 58 games.

Cole Tuminaro, D, Chicago Steel
Tuminaro, initially a W-rated defenseman in October, appeared at No. 115 among North American skaters in the mid-term rankings. Listed at 6’4” and 230 pounds, the Cornell commit has two goals and eight points in 26 games with the Chicago Steel this season.

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading 16–to 20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede).