It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier on, we released the TWC consolidated 2026 NHL Draft rankings. The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo. 28th in our consolidated rankings is Wyatt Cullen, hailing from the U.S. National U18 Team and a projected first round pick at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Who is Wyatt Cullen?
| Player | Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | Born | Nationality | 2026 Draft Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WYATT CULLEN | Left Wing | Left | 6’0″ / 183 cm | 172 lbs / 78 kg | September 08, 2008 | USA | TWC rank #28 | CS rank #13 |
Born in Moorhead, Minnesota, Cullen is a versatile left winger, who “Unlike other dynamic undersized wingers, Cullen is highly engaged and constantly getting involved.” Cullen has committed to play for the University of Minnesota in the NCAA.
Cullen’s on-ice production
| Year | Draft Rel. | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | D-2 | 15U AA | Moorhead Bantam AA | 60 | 41 | 65 | 106 | 1.77 |
| 2023-24 | D-1 | 15U AA | Moorhead Bantam AA | 60 | 68 | 98 | 166 | 2.77 |
| [#] | [#] | [#] | ||||||
| 2024-25 | D+0 | NDTP | U.S. National U17 Team | 55 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 0.56 |
| USHL | USNTDP Juniors | 33 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 0.52 | ||
| 2025-26 | Draft yr | U.S. National U18 Team | 34 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 1.00 |
Cullen had a solid point per game year for the USNTDP Juniors, and overall, is developing promisingly and showing that he can continue his consistent play. An injury hindered his 2025-26 season ever so slightly. He’s still ranked as a top 30 prospect and should be a safe bet to go in the first round of the 2026 draft.
Cullen’s strengths
Skating
Cullen is a silky smooth skater; he’s light on his feet, and his agility allows him to move freely and control the pace in the offensive zone. Scouts have described Cullen as having “a relentless motor” and being dynamic on his blades.
Puck IQ & Vision
Cullen is described as a creative, offensive-minded player who is smart with the puck and has a great eye, especially when it comes to his passes. His vision has drawn high praise, specifically his ability to read the ice and anticipate a play before it’s even made.
Cullen’s areas of improvement
Physicality
Cullen isn’t the biggest winger in his class, standing at 6 feet tall and 172 pounds. A bigger defender or winger could push him off the puck if need be. His young age comes into play, but bulking up could be a major positive for Cullen to take that next step in his young career.
Cullen’s comparables
| Scenario | NHL Comparable | Position | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best case | Mitchell Marner | Right Wing | Strong hockey IQ, crafty playmaker. |
| Likely outcome | Nick Schmaltz | Centre/Right Wing | Strong passer, good vision |
Cullen has been an impressive player to watch as of late and has shown flashes of possibly having Mitch Marner-esque potential as a top-line playmaker if he can reach his full potential. Cullen’s strong skating and creative passing are the strongest points of his game. If given a proven goal scorer centring his line or on the left wing, he could put up some serious points.
Another comparable is that of Nick Schmaltz, one of the NHL’s most underrated passers and creatively minded offensive players. Schmaltz isn’t a flashy player like Marner, he’s more of a hard-working, gritty playmaker who can find passes amidst the chaos.
Fit with the Flames
| Organizational need addressed | Top-6 playmaker |
| Realistic pick range | 26-31 |
| NHL timeline | 2 to 3 seasons, AHL first. |
| Flames fit verdict | Possible fit |
The Flames have a surplus of wingers, Cullen would really have to shine in order to stand out from the likes of Andrew Basha or Ethan Wyttenbach. Cullen’s engine and eye for the puck would be his strongest skill, but the Flames have more important tasks at hand such as finding a top line centre.
If Cullen were to wear the flaming C come draft day in Buffalo, He’d have a lot of competition alongside the aforementioned Ethan Wyttenbach or Cullen Potter. Realistically, Cullen isn’t a fix for the glaring problem in Calgary, a top-line centre, and in an organization that’s full of wing prospects, it’s feasible that he could get lost in the shuffle. If Cullen falls to the 2nd round, then Calgary could circle back on him using one of their three second-round picks received from the Mackenzie Weegar trade.
Summary
Cullen is an intriguing prospect, But he doesnt fill the Flames biggest need at this point in time. The potential is definitely there though, If he reaches his ceiling its plausible the leauge could have a Mitch Marner type of player on their hands, He could very well evolve into a good top 6 winger.
Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2026 NHL Draft prospects.
