The Windsor Spitfires are making waves early in the lead-up to the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, with a remarkable seven players named to the Preliminary 2026 NHL Draft "Players to Watch" List by Central Scouting. This strong representation ties the Sarnia Sting for the most players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) on the list.

This achievement puts the Spitfires on course to potentially equal a franchise record. The only other time the team had seven players drafted into the NHL was in 1986. However, it is important to note that the 1986 draft had 12 rounds compared to the modern seven.

Among the Spitfires' hopefuls is Ethan Belchetz, who received an "A" rating, projecting him as a potential first-round pick. Belchetz was the No. 1 overall pick by the Spitfires in the 2024 OHL Draft.

The Sarnia Sting also boast seven players on the list, including center Alessandro Di Iorio, who also received an "A" rating, indicating a potential first-round selection. Di Iorio, however, has yet to play this season due to an injury. Last season, as a rookie, he recorded 11 goals and 27 assists in 58 games. Center Beckham Edwards from the Sting, has a "B" rating, making him a possible second- or third-round pick. Edwards is currently the Sting's leading scorer, with 12 points in 10 games. Ryan Brown, a left-winger in his third OHL season with the Sting, received a "C" rating as a potential fourth- or fifth-round selection. Four other Sting players, Chase Gaughan, Kase Kamzik, Matthew Manza, and Patrick Quinlan, all received "W" ratings, making them candidates for the sixth or seventh rounds.

In total, 92 OHL players are featured on the preliminary watch list. The Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) lead the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) with nine players named to the list.

The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26 and 27, 2026, though the location has not yet been announced.