If your team is on the lookout for a potential number 1 defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft, there are a couple great options, and Keaton Verhoeff was the runaway leader among blueliners coming into the season. With high-end aggression, a Shea Weber-esque bomb from the point, and some real promising playmaking flashes, Verhoeff is a beast when he's on his game. Inconsistent on-puck decision-making, breakout breakdowns, and a huge leap in quality of competition led to some steeper lows this season, however. Still, he's one of a handful of defencemen in the 2026 class who possess top-pairing upside. Where should he go on draft day?

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