Two Regina Pats forwards are getting a taste of NHL attention.
Cohen Klassen and Zach Lansard were both named to NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, putting the spotlight squarely on Regina’s next wave of developing talent and offering a timely snapshot of where their development now stands.
For Lansard, that validation comes in at 72nd among North American skaters, a slot that currently projects the 2008-born forward as a potential third-round selection. The Ste. Anne, Man. product has taken a significant step forward this season, posting career-best numbers with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 38 games while emerging as a consistent offensive presence in the Pats lineup.
Momentum has followed. Lansard enters the rankings riding a four-game point streak and has recorded 11 points over his last 10 outings, signs of a player growing more comfortable with increased responsibility. Drafted by Regina in the fourth round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, he continues to reward the organization’s belief in his upside.
Klassen also finds his name on the list, ranking 142nd among North American skaters and projected as a potential fifth-round pick. The Martensville, Saskatchewan, product has contributed 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 32 games and has steadily developed into a reliable, detail-driven centre.
Selected in the third round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Klassen’s value extends beyond offence. His awareness away from the puck, defensive habits, and consistency shift-to-shift have helped define his role, traits NHL evaluators often track closely over time.
Zooming out, the Western Hockey League once again commands a significant presence in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings. A total of 78 players who have spent time developing in the WHL were identified, an 18.2 per cent increase from last season.
Ten current WHL skaters sit inside the top 32 North American rankings, including defencemen Carson Carels (Prince George), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert), Ryan Lin (Vancouver), Ben MacBeath (Calgary), and Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City), along with forwards JP Hurlbert (Kamloops), Mathis Preston (Vancouver), Liam and Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat), and Chase Harrington (Spokane).
Former WHL Player of the Year Gavin McKenna, who captured a league championship with Medicine Hat in 2025, remains among the top-ranked prospects, joined by former Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff.
Between the pipes, the WHL is equally well represented, with Michal Orsulak (Prince Albert), Tobias Tvrznik (Wenatchee), Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna), and Marek Sklenicka (Seattle) all ranking among the top 10 North American goaltenders.
In total, more than 76 per cent of players identified by NHL Central Scouting across North America have developed within the Canadian Hockey League, reinforcing its central role in the NHL Draft ecosystem.
For Klassen and Lansard, the Midterm Rankings are not a final verdict — but they are a meaningful checkpoint. In a league built on patience, progression, and opportunity, both Pats forwards have taken another step forward on a path that continues to unfold.
