2026 NHL Mock Draft Shock: Gavin McKenna Tops Corey Pronman’s List—But Can He Live Up to the Hype?
19. Minnesota: Alberts Smits, LHD, Jukurit (Liiga)
Smits played well in Finland this season, ending up earning time in Liiga for Jukurit and was a top player for Latvia’s U18 team. Smits isn’t going to bring a ton of offense to the higher levels, but he’s a mobile 6-foot-3 defenseman who competes well and makes a reliable first pass. He’s the type of player coaches will feed minutes to.
20. Washington: Tobias Tomik, LW, Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)
Tomik played regular minutes against men in Slovakia this season. He also made their World Junior team. Tomik is a well-rounded winger. He skates well and competes at both ends of the ice. He’s a skilled puck handler who can make difficult plays at high tempos. I wouldn’t call him a dynamic offensive player, but he sees the ice well and has a good wrist shot.
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