Could Kent Hughes Target the Younger Brother of former Second Round Pick?
The season hasn't even started yet, and already, the first lists ahead of the 2026 Draft are beginning to come out..
And if we go by the one from the well-known Scott Wheeler, the Canadiens could very well end up drafting the younger brother of a player very familiar to Montreal fans.
Scott Wheeler published - yesterday in The Athletic - his list of the top 32 prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. Of course, Gavin McKenna is at the top of the list..
Obviously, barring an unthinkable catastrophe, the Canadiens will have no chance of landing the player many compare to Connor McDavid.. But we were still curious to see which names were in the middle of the pack, around the 16th and 17th spots, where the Canadiens would have drafted last year if not for the Noah Dobson trade.
To our surprise, in 16th place on Wheeler's list, right in the middle of the pack, is a countryman of Juraj Slafkovsky and the younger brother of a player very well known to Montreal fans since the 2022 Draft..
The Canadiens Could Land Simon Nemec's Younger Brother
Assuming the Habs finish in the same range as last year in the standings, Adam Nemec - Simon's younger brother - could very well be available. Here's what Scott Wheeler had to say about him:
"Unlike his brother, Adam is a forward. He's a skilled, opportunistic winger who can create plays for himself when the puck is on his stick, but he also excels at getting open and positioning himself around the slot area. He reads the game at an advanced level. His play shows remarkable maturity for his young age, though he still needs to physically mature. He has excellent instincts with and without the puck, along with a quick release and good hands to finish plays."
-Scott Wheeler
-Scott Wheeler
Of course, if Adam Nemec will be available in the middle of the first round, it's because there are still some doubts in his game.
"His skating looked average to me during my first live viewings two U18 World Championships ago, but he works hard, battles, engages, and finishes his checks. On top of that, he has already produced against men at a young age. I thought he made some really nice plays during his second U18 Championship in Texas this spring: he finished with four points in seven games while playing with 2025-born players. I think he's a first-round candidate, but taking a step forward this year at the pro level will be an important test to confirm that, as I don't think he has an obvious role or projection in the NHL at the moment, despite his strong track record and career trajectory so far."
-Scott Wheeler
-Scott Wheeler
It will definitely be interesting to follow young Adam Nemec's development this season..
TRENDING NOW
