Underdog To Top Prospect: Chase Reid Shares Resilient Journey To NHL Draft Spotlight
Everyone's path to the NHL is unique, but there aren't many underdog stories quite like Chase Reid's.
At the end of the 2023-24 season, the Chesterfield, Mich., native was released by his USHL team, the Waterloo Black Hawks, after suiting up for just 10 games.
He found himself starting the 2024-25 season in Tier II junior hockey with the North American Hockey League's Bismarck Bobcats, a long way from being considered a high-end first-round NHL draft pick at a pivotal point in his development.
While his smooth skating and offensive tools have developed into standout traits of his, Reid said his defensive game has taken major strides during his time with the Greyhounds.
"I finally added a defensive element to my game that nobody really thought I could add," Reid said. "Having Brendan Taylor back there, my assistant coach, being able to feed off the things he's saying and be the player that he wanted me to be, I think I fulfilled that."
After a strong first impression, Reid continued to raise the bar for himself by tallying 18 goals and 48 points in 45 games as an alternate captain of the Greyhounds this season, all while averaging nearly 30 minutes of ice time.
Now, the star major junior defenseman has captured the 2026 CHL top draft prospect award and is entering the NHL draft as the No. 2-ranked North American skater on Central Scouting's rankings.
The CHL's top draft prospect award's previous winners include a who's who of elite NHL talent: Matthew Schaefer, Connor Bedard, Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane, Jordan Staal, Joe Thornton and Eric Lindros.
"It's a huge honor, and I would have never anticipated myself being here today," Reid said after accepting his award on Monday. "It was all the Soo Greyhounds – they gave me the chance to be the player I am today."
Full CHL Award Winners List: NHL Draft Prospects Earn Big Accolades
NHL draft prospects Chase Reid, Tommy Bleyl, Markus Ruck and Ryder Fetterolf earned some hardware at the CHL awards ceremony on Monday, while an Anaheim Ducks prospect was named player of the year.
Reid's ascension up the draft rankings was not a linear process, but as the first round in Buffalo on June 26 approaches, the tenacious pursuit of his ultimate goal of making the NHL has not gone unnoticed.
"I'm a very resilient person," Reid said. "I can fight through the most adversity that you want to put someone through, and I'm still going to go out there and prove to you why I should be the No. 1 guy."
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 7:33 AM.