The 2026 NHL draft is shaping up to be a cross‑border showcase, as several of the league’s most coveted prospects are opting to trade the grind of major junior hockey for the academic and athletic environment of U.S. colleges.
Chase Reid, the Seattle Kraken’s first‑round selection, announced his move from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds to the University of Michigan, where he will join the Wolverines for the 2026‑27 season.
The shift is made possible by an NCAA rule change approved in November 2024 that lets players from elite junior circuits such as the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League maintain amateur status while enrolling in American universities.
The NCAA Rule Shift
WHL commissioner Dan Near lamented the exodus, saying the media spotlight now follows players to their college destinations rather than celebrating the junior league that nurtured them.
The ripple effect is already visible beyond Reid. Captain Tarin Smith and goaltender Anders Miller of the Everett Silvertips have also committed to U.S. colleges, and scouting director Robert Kron of the Kraken highlighted the NCAA’s lighter schedule as a draw for off‑ice development.
WHL’s Countermeasures
In response, the league has introduced schedule changes such as a later regular‑season end date, best‑of‑five playoff series and the allowance of air travel for certain road games to reduce travel fatigue and improve player recovery.
These adjustments aim to make the junior experience more competitive and attractive, but the league acknowledges that the allure of college hockey may continue to pull top talent away as the draft approaches.