Ben MacBeath – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Ben MacBeath

2025-26 Team: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Date of Birth: Mar 04, 2008
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB, CA
Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 181 pounds
Shoots: L
Position: D
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

• NHL Central Scouting: 22^nd (among NA skaters)
• McKeen’s Hockey: 38^th     
• Peter Baracchini’s March Rankings: 34^th     
• Andrew Forbes’ April Rankings: 75^th  
• Jordan Orth’s April Rankings: 45^th
• Dayton Reimer’s March Rankings: 48^th
• Craig Button- TSN: 23^rd
• Jason Bukala- Sportsnet: 32^nd    

There are always a number of players that will fly under the radar for the 2026 NHL Draft and eventually catch the eye of everyone. That has been the case of Calgary Hitmen defender Ben MacBeath as he was definitely one name that continued to rise and grab everyone’s attention in the second half. MacBeath finished 12^th among rookie skaters in the Western Hockey league with 51 points and 16^th among defenders. It was an impressive rookie campaign for him and it’s clear to see why. 

MacBeath’s strength lies in his quick puck movement and transitional play. He’s extremely confident when he has the puck, making quick and clean exits out of his zone and rushing into the offensive zone to set up an attack. He’s a smooth skater with great speed and edges, weaving his way through the neutral zone effectively to find the open lane.  His head is always scanning for a passing option, assessing everything and then making a quick play in order to get the puck out effectively and out of danger. He’s patient when he has the puck and can make strong passes on the breakout quickly to stretch the play forward, connecting with his teammates seamlessly. 

In the offensive zone, MacBeath provides good support from the point as he follows the play. He can jump in to keep plays alive and does a great job to get into the shooting lanes for a shot or second-chance opportunity as he does have great power. He doesn’t panic under pressure showing great composure when he has the puck walking the blueline and fending off attacking players. He spots seams very well, making quick and crisp cross-ice passes to generate potential chances.

Defensively there are some aspects that stand out and other areas of improvement for MacBeath. He does possess a sound two-way game. He is always in position when defending the rush, staying with his assignment and displaying an active stick to break a play up or prevent a passing option. He does a great job challenging puck carriers and keeping them to the outside. He can play the body well and can stop plays from developing. 

While the positioning and awareness is there, there are times where his reads and reaction time can be off within his own zone. There have been times where maybe he’s a second too late to cover or he’s off to tie up his man and the strength isn’t as consistent in one-on-one coverage. The good thing is, he knows where to be and over time, he can be a little more effective as a result. He’s been a reliable defender of the Hitmen as he can play in any situation and the results have shown it.

Other THW Draft Profiles

• Ryan Lin
• Daxon Rudolph
• Carson Carels
• Tommy Bleyl

Ben MacBeath – NHL Draft Projection

MacBeath was a really great surprise in the second half and it really has improved his draft stock. Where he goes remains to be seen. He does have the upside and potential as a first-rounder and it’s a good possibility that a team takes a flyer on him on day one. However, if he falls to day two, it won’t be long until he does get selected. It’s safe to say that he would be a valuable second-round selection.

Quotables

“There are parts of his game that remain a bit raw on the defensive side, but he’s an excellent skater who handles the puck extremely well. He’s quick to space, and his agility creates shooting and passing lanes in the offensive zone. He’s competitive and just scraping the surface of his overall trajectory.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

“The 6-foot-2 defender blends size, skill and mobility together to become an absolute force with the puck. Some scouts think the ceiling is high enough to take him in the first round. I’m not there yet because it feels like he can be a bit too passive with his decision-making at times.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Face-Off 

“MacBeath has emerged as a top-round defender on the back of his mix between size and play-driving ability. He can be trusted to carry the puck a full 200-feet, while keeping his head up for dangerous passes and beating opponents with quick lateral cuts.” – Gabe Foley, Recruit Scouting 

Strengths 

• Strong mobility and agility
• Strong puck sense and confident puck-mover
• Great two-way game and reliable in all situations
• Play driver and growing offensive impact
• Patient puck carrier

Under Construction- Improvements to Make

• Decision-making and reads can improve on both sides of puck?
• Not as strong and consistent in one-on-one coverage
• Raw defender, but upside could payoff

NHL Potential

Despite being raw in aspects defensively, MacBeath really has great upside as he’s a reliable defender. He can play in all situations, quarter back a power play and even kill penalties given his ability to get into lanes and break up plays. While he may not be a top unit on special teams at the NHL level, he could play a big part. He can log minutes and be a serviceable second pairing defender. 

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk- 2.5/5, Reward 3.5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense- 6/10, Defense 6/10

Awards/ Achievements

MacBeath suited up for Canada at the World U18 Championship and was a plus-five. He is also committed to the University of Denver next season.

Interviews/ Links

• CTV News: A Dream Come True

Ben MacBeath Stats

Videos