Introduction
Coming in at number 22 is Hayden Paupanekis, a hulking 6’5″ centre from the WHL. The Montreal Canadiens have struck a solid balance of adding size and skill with their picks at the NHL draft, and the former was what they had in mind when they traded up to get Paupanekis in the third round in 2025.
A prototypical power forward, he spent his 2025-26 season with the Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets, his first full season with that club. Marginal improvement was achieved, but going from 0.6 points per game in 2024-25 to 0.64 wasn’t enough to see him make a big jump on our list.
He put together a decent playoffs for the Rockets with five points through nine games, but followed that up with a disappointing goose egg in three Memorial Cup games. That said, the Rockets were largely overmatched at that tournament, failing to win any of their matches, with just five players on their roster managing to put up a single point each.
He is now moving on from the WHL to join St. Cloud State in the NCAA. How he fares in the collegiate theatre should be very telling for his NHL hopes; a strong performance could see him shoot up our list around this time next year, while any regression could see him fall out of the Top 25 altogether.
Voting
With a high of 14 and a low of 40, we have anything but a consensus amongst our panellists as to where he belongs. Last year, his range spanned from 16 to 30, so he appears to be growing increasingly difficult to place.
Top 25 Under 25 History
Paupanekis maintains his debut position at 22nd he had as a freshly drafted 18-year-old.
History of #22
| Year | #22 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Hayden Paupanekis |
| 2025 | Hayden Paupanekis |
| 2024 | Sean Farrell |
| 2023 | Jayden Struble |
| 2022 | Michael Pezzetta |
| 2021 | Joshua Roy |
| 2020 | Michael McNiven |
| 2019 | Otto Leskinen |
| 2018 | Lukas Vejdemo |
| 2017 | Daniel Audette |
| 2016 | Brett Lernout |
| 2015 | Zachary Fucale |
| 2014 | Gabriel Dumont |
| 2013 | Zachary Fucale |
| 2012 | Joonas Nättinen |
| 2011 | Joonas Nättinen |
| 2010 | Alexei Emelin |
Strengths
We know from the last two years of the Habs in the playoffs that they need some bigger players who can play a Josh Anderson-esque role. Paupanekis has that ability, as he is very aggressive on the forecheck to force opposing defenders to make mistakes as they concern themselves with the possibility of being hit.
With the puck, his size and wingspan allow strong puck protection, making him a troublesome cycle player to deal with in the offensive zone. Skating and shooting are both plus tools for him, and he shows some flashes of sniper abilities at times with a heavy wrister that boasts a quicker release than you might expect.
Overall, he has the tools you want to see in a bottom-six centre that runs on a line with a heavy cycle game. He has also improved his defensive consistency over the last two seasons, a trend that would improve his likelihood of playing bottom-six minutes in the NHL if it continues.
Weaknesses
While he skates and handles the puck better than most players with his size, where he struggles is with putting these things together on the ice. He doesn’t seem to be able to consistently process the game in front of him fast enough to combine his skills and create offensive opportunities, significantly limiting his point totals. There are flashes of a more complete offensive player, but he has yet to decipher how to be that player more often.
That same lack of consistency also applies to his defensive engagement. While improving, there are still some questions about how he defends, particularly when things start to break down or he doesn’t have the opportunity to simply overpower his opponents.
These consistency issues cast some doubt on his ability to remain a centre. On the wing, a player can somewhat hide their inconsistencies, but in the middle, they’re exposed. His physical tools should afford him an opportunity to play professional hockey, but his position demands more development of his skills, and his consistency with them.
Projection
The earlier allusion to Josh Anderson is likely what we can call Paupanekis’s ceiling. His best shot at having a long NHL career is to become the kind of disruptive forward that teams hate to see in the opposing bottom six, and who can elevate that game in the spring when the games really start to count. The Habs have clearly been looking for players like this in the draft, and with the right development, that type of role is within his reach.
Continuing to improve his defensive game will be crucial to that goal. Being able to play a heavy cycle game is fantastic, but unless he has plans to transition to the wing, the defensive requirements of the centre position have to be met in order for him to get the opportunity. His focus should be twofold in the NCAA; increase his defensive efficiency, while figuring out some more ways to combine his offensive skills and add to the attack.
Frankly, the NCAA route is likely the smartest choice for him. His ability to fight was clear in the WHL, and another year of frequent fisticuffs would prove nothing for him. He can probably already hang with some of the bigger punchers at the professional level, and what will set him apart in the quest for roster spot in the NHL will be the finer aspects of his game. Getting a step up in competition to flesh out those aspects is objectively better than staying where he is.
It will be a big year in projecting his NHL future, and we’ll know a lot more about where he could stand in the prospect pecking order.
