Is Tynan Lawrence the Hidden Gem of the 2026 NHL Draft? You Won't Believe What Scouts Are Saying!

TRENCIN, Slovakia — When it comes to Tynan Lawrence, two names often come to mind for those in the hockey community: Jim McGroarty, general manager of the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and Colten St. Clair, Lawrence’s head coach. Both believe that Lawrence has a skill set reminiscent of the highly touted Macklin Celebrini.

In his time playing in the USHL with the Chicago Steel, McGroarty likened Celebrini to a "Sidney Crosby 2.0." After witnessing Lawrence lead the Lumberjacks to a Clark Cup victory while earning playoff MVP honors, he sees similarities that make Lawrence the closest thing the league has seen to Celebrini since. Notably, Lawrence became one of only 16-year-olds to win the award—following in the footsteps of Adam Fantilli, who was the third pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

“When you look at guys like Crosby and Celebrini and Tynan Lawrence, you think about habits and details,” McGroarty said. “Their habits and details are through the roof, and that’s what separates them.”

St. Clair, who was Lawrence's assistant coach last season and now leads him, offered a more tempered comparison. “I don’t want to get any crap for this, especially after the year that Celebrini had,” he said, “but I would say as far as players that have that skill set... that’s the closest comparable.” While acknowledging their similarities, he was careful not to claim that Lawrence was on the same level as Celebrini.

Unlike Crosby and Celebrini, who were considered top picks in their respective draft classes, Lawrence's path has been less certain. Hailing from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Lawrence shares a common background with Crosby and Celebrini, having played at Shattuck St. Mary’s. Coming off an impressive Clark Cup MVP run, where he tallied 18 points in 14 playoff games, he was initially seen as a contender for the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

However, a season marred by injuries—a broken foot and a high-ankle sprain—along with a midseason jump to the NCAA with Boston University, placed him seventh in NHL Central Scouting's North American final rankings. Now, at the U18 World Championships in Slovakia, Lawrence has a pivotal opportunity to showcase his talent once more.

St. Clair has been attuned to Lawrence's abilities for the past two years, noting how he consistently impresses in practice. “He would bat pucks out of the air at full speed,” St. Clair recalled, “and still bouncing, settle them clean and make a play that his teammates would have mishandled.” His relentless work ethic and stick skills set him apart as he navigates the ice with a competitive edge.

St. Clair highlighted one of Lawrence’s standout moments in his first home game back from injury. During a match against Dubuque, he transformed an ordinary play into a two-on-one opportunity that led to a goal, finishing the game with a hat trick. This kind of playmaking ability and commitment to puck battles caught the eye of his former coach, Parker Burgess, who pointed out Lawrence's dedication to winning battles on the ice.

Even McGroarty praised Lawrence's innovative play style, noting his effective use of the boards to create indirect passes, something rare for a player of his age. “He was always two or three steps ahead,” McGroarty remarked.

After a productive return from injuries, Lawrence scored 10 goals and 17 points in just 13 games with the Lumberjacks before making the leap to NCAA hockey. McGroarty firmly supported this decision, stating, “I don’t think there was any more that he could have done in the USHL. He had dominated.”

Lawrence became the second youngest player in college hockey when he joined the Boston University Terriers in January, registering seven points in 18 games as a freshman despite facing the challenges of transitioning midseason. “If you’re going to college midseason, that’s a jump,” McGroarty said, emphasizing the hurdles of adapting to college life while recovering from injury.

Jay Pandolfo, the head coach at BU, acknowledged Lawrence’s ability to adapt quickly, stating, “We weren’t playing well and were in the middle of a down year when he joined... you still saw a lot of the things that make him a really good hockey player.” By the end of the season, Lawrence’s efforts earned him a role in penalty killing and an average ice time of 17:28 per game.

Currently, at the U18 World Championships, Lawrence continues to demonstrate his potential. In four games, he has amassed five goals and seven points, including a hat trick against the Czech Republic. His performance has not gone unnoticed; after the opening tournament loss to Slovakia, he was named Canada’s best player of the game.

“He’s just very cerebral... and his speed chasing pucks is very effective,” said head coach Drew Bannister.

Reflecting on his up-and-down draft year, Lawrence expressed optimism for the future. “I can only build off that and continue to improve next year,” he stated. With aspirations of adding a gold medal to his collection, he views this tournament as a chance to solidify his place among the top prospects for the upcoming NHL Draft.

With the right mix of talent, work ethic, and determination, many in the hockey community, including McGroarty, believe that Lawrence is poised for success. “When I look at him, his passion for the game... he’s one of the best players in this class,” McGroarty concluded.