The 2026 WHL prospect pools for several NHL teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers, have been reported. The WHL appears to have had a significant presence in the 2026 NHL draft, with a notable number of players selected. However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the selection of players named Ruck, with different outlets reporting different draft positions and possibly different individuals, Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck, being selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins.