Bryce Pickford should have become a household name for anyone in dynasty leagues over the course of 2025-26. Pickford was named WHL and CHL defenceman of the year, and WHL player of the year while scoring 45 goals over 55 games during the regular season. His scoring pace slowed down during the WHL playoffs due to a shoulder injury we would later learn required surgery over the off-season. Habs fans and dynasty managers alike must be having a hard time staying patient until Pickford gets some AHL experience to see if his offence translates to the pro level.

Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

The Tigers then had a Friday and Saturday home-and-home mini-series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In the first meeting, Ruck picked up a secondary assist on Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford’s 44th goal of the season but didn’t make any other noticeable impact on the scoresheet. The next night he had a much bigger role in helping his team secure a 6-5 overtime win. He notched a primary assist on twin brother Liam’s 42nd goal of the campaign to draw the Tigers back to 4-3 early in the third period. The WHL sophomore scored midway through the third to make it 5-4 and then had a secondary assist on the overtime winner.

Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

American defenseman Tommy Bleyl has been a point-producing machine in his rookie season in the QMJHL. He leads the league in points (76) and assists (64) by a defenseman in 58 games played. His assist total is higher than Nashville Predators prospect Alex Huang’s 61 points, which is second in the league. Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford and overaged defender Jonas Woo are the only rearguards with more points in Canadian junior hockey this season.

Pickford signed a three-year entry level contract with the Canadiens in December 24.

The new captain of the Medicine Hat Tigers is consistently scoring for a second season in a row. Pickford has offensive upside with his lethal shot. With 11 goals and 12 assists through the first 20 games of the 2025-26 WHL season, the projection for Pickford potentially filling a PP2 role in the NHL one day is becoming more confident. He would be a third-pairing defenseman if he makes it to the NHL, or a first-pairing power play beast in the AHL.

Selected 81st overall, Bryce Pickford is now a member of the Montreal Canadiens. An overage defenseman, Pickford was the first draft re-entry chosen in the 2025 Draft. For good reason, during the 2024-25 season, he showed vast improvement offensively. In 48 regular-season games, he produced 47 points (20 goals and 27 assists) while adding another 24 points (13 goals and 11 assists) in 18 postseason games, helping the Medicine Hat Tigers capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as Western Hockey League Champions. Earning Pickford his second Memorial Cup appearance in three seasons, he also played in the 2023 Memorial Cup with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He is off the fantasy radar, but is someone to watch in the next couple of seasons to see if his development continues to improve and if he stays in the CHL or decides to take the NCAA route.

DRAFTPRO – 2024 7-ROUND CONTRIBUTOR MOCK DRAFT

207. Pittsburgh Penguins –Bryce Pickford D Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

SUMMARY: In the final round Pittsburgh looks to select some upside again taking Pickford out of the WHL. Despite a poor draft year he was a staple on the Seattle blueline that went to the memorial cup final last year. He has the size and the skating to be a impact player, just needs to continue to work on his defensive consistency. – Colin Johnson