Sportsvival continues to look toward the future with our NHL Draft scouting coverage, breaking down players who could become the next wave of impact talent at the professional level. As the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, Brooks Rogowski is one of the more intriguing names because of his rare size, right-shot profile, offensive upside and the fact that he is still learning how dominant he can become when he fully puts everything together.
Brooks Rogowski, C/RW, Oshawa Generals
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 234 pounds
Shoots: Right
Team: Oshawa Generals, OHL
Hometown: Brighton, Michigan
2026 NHL Draft Projection: Late First Round / Second Round
Background
Brooks Rogowski is one of the biggest forwards available in the 2026 NHL Draft class and one of the more fascinating projection players on the board. Oshawa selected him in the second round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, and since arriving with the Generals, he has quickly become a player NHL teams have to study closely.
Rogowski brings a massive frame, a right-handed shot, and the ability to play through traffic. His 2025-26 season was a major step forward, as he produced 15 goals, 27 assists and 42 points in 46 games for Oshawa. That kind of production from a player with his size is what makes him so interesting. He is not just a big body, he has real puck skill, vision and the ability to impact the game below the dots.
The biggest question with Rogowski is not whether NHL teams will like the frame. They will. The question is how much offensive ceiling they believe is still coming. If a team thinks the skating and pace can continue to improve, Rogowski could become one of the better value picks in the late first or early second round.
Scouting Report
Rogowski’s game starts with size. At 6-foot-6 plus, he has the reach, strength and frame NHL teams are always searching for down the middle or on the wing. He can protect the puck, shield defenders, extend plays and make life difficult around the crease. When he uses his body correctly, he is very hard to separate from the puck.
What makes him more than just a size prospect is the touch in his game. Rogowski can make plays off the wall, find teammates in the slot and create offense when defenders collapse on him. He has enough skill to work in tight areas and enough patience to let plays develop. His point production in Oshawa shows that there is a real offensive layer to his game.
Around the net, Rogowski has the tools to become a problem. He has the reach to get to loose pucks, the frame to hold his position and the hands to finish chances in close. He also has a shot that can become more dangerous as he adds more pace and confidence to his release.
The skating is the area NHL teams will study the hardest. For a player his size, he moves fine, but he still has room to get quicker, sharper and more explosive. If he improves his first few steps and becomes more consistent with his pace, his draft stock could rise. Big players sometimes take longer to fully coordinate everything, and Rogowski still has growth left in his game.
Offensive Game
Rogowski has the offensive tools to become a middle-six forward with power-play value. He can play a heavy cycle game, he can make passes from the boards and he can finish from the low slot. His size gives him a natural advantage, but his hands and vision are what make him a legitimate NHL Draft prospect.
He is at his best when he plays direct. When he attacks the middle of the ice, gets inside body position and uses his reach, he becomes difficult to handle. He can draw defenders toward him and open space for teammates. That is an important trait because big forwards who can create for others are valuable.
The next step is becoming more assertive as a shooter. Rogowski has the frame and tools to be a net-front scorer, but he can still look for the pass at times when the better play is to drive the puck to the net. If he develops more of a shooter’s mentality, the goal totals should continue to climb.
Defensive Game
Rogowski’s size gives him a strong defensive foundation. His reach can disrupt passing lanes, and when he is engaged, he can close space quickly. He has the frame to win board battles and the strength to be effective in his own zone.
As a center, the defensive details will need to keep improving. Faceoffs, support positioning, pace tracking through the neutral zone and defensive-zone reads will all be important parts of his development. If he stays at center long term, he will need to prove that he can handle the responsibility away from the puck. If he moves to the wing, the projection becomes a little simpler because his size and puck-protection skills would translate well on the wall.
There is two-way upside here, but consistency is the key. Rogowski has the tools to be a difficult player to play against. Now he has to make sure that shows up shift after shift.
Strengths
Rare size for a skilled forward
Right-handed shot
Strong puck protection
Good touch and vision for a big player
Can create below the goal line and off the wall
Net-front upside
Reach helps defensively
Still has room to grow into his full frame and game
Can play center or wing
Areas to Improve
Needs more explosiveness in his first few steps
Must play with a consistent physical edge
Can become more selfish as a shooter
Defensive details need continued work if he stays at center
Needs to prove the pace will translate to the NHL level
Should use his size to dominate more often
NHL Comparison
Sportsvival NHL Comparison: Nick Bjugstad with some Tage Thompson-style upside if the offense hits.
Rogowski is not being called the next Tage Thompson, but the reason the name comes up is because of the rare combination of size, reach, right-shot skill and offensive projection. A more realistic style comparison is Nick Bjugstad, a big forward who can play center or wing, protect pucks, work around the net and provide matchup value.
If Rogowski’s skating improves and the offensive confidence keeps growing, he has a chance to become more than just a big-bodied depth forward. There is legitimate middle-six upside here.
Draft Outlook
Brooks Rogowski looks like a player who could hear his name called anywhere from the late first round to the second round. Teams that value size, projection and positional flexibility will have him high on their boards. He is the kind of prospect that can tempt a team late in Round 1 because there are not many players in the draft class with his frame and offensive tools.
The safest projection is as a second-round pick with first-round traits. The upside projection is a big, right-shot middle-six forward who can play in all situations and become a matchup problem. The risk is that the skating does not take a big enough step and he settles in as more of a bottom-six power forward.
Sportsvival Final Take
Brooks Rogowski is one of the more interesting forwards in the 2026 NHL Draft because the tools are obvious. He has size, reach, puck skill and production. Players with his frame are always going to get extra attention, but Rogowski is not just big. He can make plays, he can produce and he has the kind of upside that makes scouts go back for another viewing.
Sportsvival sees Rogowski as a late first-round or second-round prospect with real NHL upside. He may need time, and the skating will determine how high the ceiling gets, but if everything comes together, he could become a very valuable power forward at the next level.