Ryan Lin Emerges as a Top-Tier Defensive NHL Draft Prospect
By James Moreau | 21 Jun, 2026

After a standout 57-point season with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, the 2026 NHL draft prospect is climbing the rankings as a premier puck-moving defenseman.

At only 18, Ryan Lin has established himself as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft class.  Much like the modern blueliners who have transformed the position, Lin has tailored his game for the modern era where high-level vision is paramount alongside technical precision and elite skating.

These skills have earned Lin the #16 spot of North American skaters on NHL.com and the #21 prospect per the projections model of ESPN NHL insider Rachel Kryshak.  His superior positioning and hockey IQ have consistently offset his relatively smaller 5’11”, 178-pound frame, leading scouts to compare his efficiency to established NHL defenders like Cale Makar and Adam Fox.

Mock drafts have Lin going as high as the number 10 pick and as far back as the mid-20s.  The Islanders, Predators, and Blue Jackets have all been linked to interest in the defenseman of Japanese and Taiwanese descent.

Since 2023 Lin has been playing for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League.  The past season he led all Giants defenders in scoring with 14 goals and 43 assists in 53 games.

Lin was raised in Richmond, British Columbia, and developed through the Delta Hockey Academy before becoming a high-impact player in the WHL.  In April, he committed to the Denver Pioneers, the defending NCAA Hockey champions, though he will remain in the draft.

Having earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the U18 World Championships this past year, Lin now looks to establish himself as a cornerstone of the next generation of NHL defenders.