The NCAA just keeps becoming more popular for top NHL Draft picks.
After 10 players selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft suited up in the NCAA in the ensuing season, the number is up to 14 when it comes to 2026 picks for the upcoming campaign.
This is year two of the NCAA allowing ex-CHLers to play, and a trend clearly is emerging of top CHLers taking their talents to U.S. college hockey following their draft year.
However, there are exceptions — with some elite players in their draft year entering the NCAA to face older and stiffer competition.
With 12 first-rounders from 2025 on rosters and four from 2024, the NCAA figures to be as strong as ever this season.
Heading into Friday's first games, here's a look at some of the big storylines:
DuPont makes the jump
Just like Gavin McKenna one year earlier, Landon DuPont is leaving the WHL after leading his team to a league title and the Memorial Cup final for a shot in the NCAA before he is eligible for the NHL Draft.
Also like McKenna, the former Everett Silvertips defenceman picked a program in the Big Ten — Michigan.
McKenna and Penn State fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament before the Whitehouse native was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
DuPont seems to have a real shot at making a deeper run with Michigan ranked No. 2 nationally in both polls entering the season.
Some of his teammates include top Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, Canadian world junior goalie Jack Ivankovic (Nashville Predators) and three first-round freshmen — forwards JP Hurlbert (Detroit Red Wings) and Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers), and defenceman Cameron Reid (Predators), who helped the Kitchener Rangers beat DuPont's Silvertips in the Memorial Cup.
Oh brother
Two sets of three brothers should play starring roles for potential contenders.
Minnesota-Duluth star Max Plante (Detroit Red Wings) is the first Hobey Baker winner to return to the NCAA since 2007. He's joined by his returning older brother, Zam Plante (Pittsburgh Penguins), and his younger brother and newcomer, Victor Plante (Red Wings).
Meanwhile, 2026 first-round prospect Sammy Nelson joins older brothers Danny Nelson (New York Islanders) and Henry Nelson at Notre Dame.
Top talent at Michigan State
Michigan State will have a record nine first-round picks on its roster this season. They'll play under a head coach who's also serving as bench boss for the U.S. world junior team this season — Adam Nightingale.
Key freshmen include towering winger Ethan Belchetz (Utah Mammoth), defencemen Chase Reid (Seattle Kraken) and Tommy Bleyl (Predators), and goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose Sharks), who replaces star netminder Trey Augustine (Red Wings).
Calgary Flames first-rounder Cullen Potter also has transferred to Michigan State from Arizona State.
Teams with the most first-round picks traditionally haven't been the most successful at tournament time, however. The youthful Spartans will try to overcome that hurdle.
What does Denver do for an encore?
The David Carle-coached Denver Pioneers won their third national title in five years in 2026 without the kind of star power seen on other teams.
Unheralded freshman goalie Johnny Hicks rode a tremendous hot streak to victory, and Carle had Denver playing a very effective style.
Hicks returns this season to a team with some very impressive freshmen on defence, including Buffalo Sabres first-rounder Daxon Rudolph and Sharks first-rounder Ryan Lin.
Forward Jack Pridham (Tampa Bay Lightning) also starts his NCAA career after helping Kitchener win the Memorial Cup.
Denver hosts Michigan Oct. 16-17 in a rematch of last season's Frozen Four semifinal.
Can Wyttenbach make a run for the Hobey Baker?
Flames fifth-round pick Ethan Wyttenbach made a huge leap in his freshman season at Quinnipiac, leading the country in scoring while helping the Bobcats advance to the NCAA tournament.
Wyttenbach has to be considered one of the favourites for the Hobey Baker this year as he enters his second season with a Quinnipiac team returning with its top seven scorers.
If all goes well, the native of Roslyn, N.Y., could sign with the Flames at the end of the season.
Flames watch at North Dakota
Flames scouts also will have a close eye on how things are going at North Dakota.
First-round forward Cole Reschny returns to captain the team in his sophomore season, while first-round defenceman Carson Carels enters the NCAA ranks after making Canada's junior team last year before being picked sixth overall by Calgary.
Toronto Maple Leafs third-round defenceman Ethan MacKenzie also is playing his freshman year at North Dakota after playing for Canada's junior team, while defenceman Keaton Verhoeff is back for his second year after going ninth overall to the Sharks.
North Dakota faces Michigan State on Oct. 31 in Austin, Texas, in what should be a fantastic game.
Battle of Boston
It was a down year for Boston College and Boston University last season, with both teams missing the NCAA tournament.
Both squads should have a chance to bounce back this season.
Six-foot-seven Boston Bruins first-round forward Dean Letourneau returns for a third season at Boston College after a breakout campaign last year. Columbus Blue Jackets first-round forward Oscar Hemming should improve after being limited to half a season last year because of a contract issue in Finland.
Dynamic forward Matias Vanhanen (New Jersey Devils) joins BC after playing a big role in Everett's march to the Memorial Cup final last season.
At Boston U, all eyes will be on incoming freshman forward Caleb Malhotra, picked third overall by the Vancouver Canucks in this year's draft after an excellent OHL season with Brantford.
Forward Tynan Lawrence (St. Louis Blues first-rounder) is back after a half-season with Boston last year, while new defenceman Haoxi (Simon) Wang (Sharks) and Xavier Villeneuve (Chicago Blackhawks) should provide a boost to the blue line.
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