Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff highlight the top 10 defensemen in the 2026 NHL draft

Sporting News has released its top 10 defensemen rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft, with Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff identified as the standout blueliners in this year's class. The rankings were published just days ahead of the draft, continuing a series of positional evaluations for the upcoming event. The piece highlights these three players as the most notable defensive prospects among this year's eligible skaters.