The 2026 World Junior Championship is a holiday season staple, and the focus of the hockey world. NHL Draft Class previews the tournament and some of the top 2026 NHL Draft talent that will be playing in it with Steven Ellis from DailyFaceoff.com. Steven shares his opinions on who could win the tournament, what Gavin McKenna needs to show and what other 2026 draft prospects he'll be keeping a close eye on.\n
\n \nThe Toronto Maple Leafs have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and one of the people responsible for making that selection, Maple Leafs amateur scouting director Mark Leach, joined NHL Draft Class live at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Leach discussed how big an impact it is having the No. 1 pick, how close the Maple Leafs will be to making a decision following their interviews at the combine, how his relationship with new Toronto general manager John Chayka is growing and more.\n
\n \nThe 2026 Olympics are here! Cam and Chris share their thoughts on the opening games of the games in Milan including Macklin Celebrini's tremendous debut with Canada. The duo also chats about top performers at the Olympics including Juraj Slafkovsky and other youngsters like Dalibor Dvorsky, Damian Clara and many more. Cam and Chris also break down how big of an impact Alberts Smits could have on Team Latvia. Outside of the Olympics, Gavin McKenna is set to return to Penn State's lineup for the first time since facing charges for an alleged altercation. Maddox Schultz had his breakout moment as a 15-year-old in the WHL. Plus, don't miss Beyond Belief and You Have To Pick One as Chris and Cam debate what they'd rather build a team around, Canada's forwards or USA's defense and goaltending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nFrom the sterling NHL debut of Cole Hutson, to the latest outlook on the NCAA Men's Hockey tournament to an NHL Draft stock watch, Chris and Cam cover a lot of ground on Called Up this week. Find out their thoughts on the Hobey Top 10, the NCAA tournament bubble, who is up and who is down for the NHL Draft and much, much more, including our Beyond Belief segment and You Have To Pick One. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nThe 2026 NCAA Men's Frozen Four is here and there's a lot to talk about. Chris and Cam take a look at Michigan, Denver, North Dakota and Wisconsin who will compete for the national championship in Las Vegas. Who will win? The hosts don't agree. Also on this week's episode: Ryan Lin commits to Denver, Mercyhurst drops their men's hockey program and more college hockey notes. Chris and Cam also take a look at the CHL Playoffs including Kelowna's hot start in the WHL, Flint making OHL history and the favorites rolling in the QMJHL. Don't miss our regular segments including Beyond Belief and You Have To Pick One! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nAs the college hockey season wraps up, we look at the biggest storyline of the year: Gavin McKenna's one (and likely only) season in the NCAA at Penn State. Chris and Cam discuss the many, many facets of McKenna's decision including if he made the right call to go to Penn State, if the team's investment in him paid off and what's next for the player. Additionally, Chris and Cam discuss a new proposed NCAA rule that could throw everything in this ever-changing landscape into further flux. Plus, Chris shares some thoughts from a trip to Brantford to see arguably the best team in junior hockey -- the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs. Don't miss our regular segments including Beyond Belief and You Have To Pick One as Cam rubs it in that he is in Las Vegas and Chris is not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nThe NHL Central Scouting final rankings are out. Chris and Cam, as you'd expect, have some thoughts on the way it all shook out. The two discuss the surprises or lack thereof and also take a look further down the list. Plus, you won't want to miss the discussion on the way teams and international federations are trying to stop the flow of players to developmental paths they are competing with. Chris and Cam share their own opinions about how international federations are using national team opportunities as battle grounds to stop player movement. Up next, Chris and Cam discuss the early rosters we've seen for the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship which kicks off next week in Slovakia. This week, we also brought back the Called Up Challenge where Chris and Cam test each other's prospect knowledge with just a few context clues. Plus we talk about David Carle's future, the NCAA coaches that could get NHL nods, plus some NHL Draft prospects that could get the nod for Men's Worlds in our Beyond Belief segment. And lastly, Chris and Cam talk about which superstar teenager they would rather build a team around: Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer. It's a jam-packed show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nThe NHL Draft is a big focus this week as Cam shares his thoughts from what he's seen at the wild U18 Worlds in Slovakia including some incredible upsets early in the tournament. Cam also talks about what players are raising their stock and who is seeing their stock go down over the early stages of the tournament. Chris chimes in with some thoughts on the players still active in the CHL playoffs including top QMJHL defensemen Tommy Bleyl and Xavier Villeneuve. Plus a quick look at the transfer portal, Chris struggles through another Called Up Challenge, we ask if this draft class is any good at all in Beyond Belief and then the two hosts go head-to-head on which of the top QMJHL D they would take first in the draft. There's a ton of ground covered this week, so you won't want to miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nCalled Up is going deep on the top of the 2026 NHL Draft and beyond this week as Chris and Cam discuss how the first round can be tiered. Chris and Cam think as many as six players belong in the serious discussions for teams at the very top of the draft. Find out who they are and why this class is so tricky. Additionally, Chris and Cam share a little insight into list building, handicapping where they think some players will go by sharing if they'll go before or after a player in a similar tier. After that, Chris and Cam get into a True or False style Called Up Challenge, go through Beyond Belief and a unique You Have To Pick One segment. Lastly, this week's episode is dedicated to the memory of Johan Nilsson, the founder of EliteProspects. Johan passed away Wednesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. His influence and impact on the hockey world at large is immeasurable and he will be missed. Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
\n \nIt happens every year, where a few players upset the apple cart in the NHL Draft. Players like Beckett Sennecke or Moritz Seider immediately jump to mind. The thing about the 2026 NHL Draft is that there are TONS of wild cards. Chris Peters and Cam Robinson go on a deep dive for the players that could be the real disrupters in the draft, either by moving way up, way down or bucking trends. There are probably more players in the 2026 class that can slot into a whole variety of spots in the draft, creating uncertainty and a whole lot of drama. Among the players discussed: Wyatt Cullen, Viggo Bjork, Simas Ignativicius, Jaxon Cover, Brooks Rogowski, Ryan Roobroeck, Xavier Villeneuve, Egor Shilov and many more. Chris and Cam take a look at a bunch of names you need to know from the top of the draft and well beyond. Plus, the duo talks about NHL Draft prospects at the Men's World Championship, and preview the upcoming Memorial Cup. Plus you won't want to miss the Called Up Challenge, Beyond Belief and You Have To Pick One. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\n
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