Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 216 pounds
Shoots: Left
Born: September 25, 2007
Hometown: London, Ontario
2026 NHL Draft Eligible
Sportsvival moves back into its NHL Draft coverage with one of the most interesting big forwards in the 2026 class, Niagara IceDogs center Ryan Roobroeck. Roobroeck has the size NHL teams are always searching for down the middle, but what makes him more intriguing is the scoring touch that comes with that frame. At 6’4” and over 200 pounds, he already looks like a pro-style forward, and when he is playing with pace and confidence, he can be a matchup problem in the offensive zone. He is ranked 28th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and remains one of the bigger swing prospects in this draft because the tools are easy to see.
Background
Roobroeck was selected second overall by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, giving Niagara a major building block for its future. He quickly became one of the key faces of the IceDogs’ rebuild and showed early that his game was built around size, strength, and finishing ability. He is from London, Ontario, shoots left, and has spent his OHL career with Niagara.
His 2024-25 season put him firmly on the NHL Draft radar. Roobroeck scored 41 goals and added 46 assists for 87 points in 64 games, then followed that with 6 points in 5 playoff games. That season showed what his upside could look like when he is driving offense, finding soft spots, and using his release around the net.
2025-26 Stats
Niagara IceDogs, OHL
49 games, 30 goals, 28 assists, 58 points, 26 penalty minutes
Roobroeck’s 2025-26 production still shows a player who can score at a strong rate. He finished with 30 goals in 49 games, and Niagara’s official stats page also lists him among the team leaders in power-play goals, power-play assists, game-winning goals, and first goals. That matters because it shows he was not just collecting secondary offense. Niagara leaned on him in important scoring situations.
Player Profile
Roobroeck is a big-bodied center with a natural goal-scoring profile. His best weapon is his shot. He can beat goalies from distance, score off the rush, and finish plays around the crease. He has the frame to protect pucks below the dots and the hands to make defenders miss when he has time and space.
The appeal with Roobroeck is easy to understand. Big centers who can score are always going to get attention. He can play through contact, he has a heavy release, and he has shown the ability to become a major offensive driver at the OHL level. When he is engaged, he can look like a power forward who can eventually play in an NHL middle-six role with goal-scoring upside.
The question for Sportsvival is consistency. Roobroeck has the size and skill, but the next step is bringing the same pace, motor, and impact every shift. NHL teams will want to see him become harder to play against without the puck, stronger in the faceoff circle, and more consistent in transition. The tools are there, but the details will decide how high he goes.
Pros
Roobroeck has NHL size already. At 6’4” and 216 pounds, he does not need to add much physically to project into the pro game.
He has a heavy shot and natural scoring touch. His 41-goal season in 2024-25 and 30 goals in 49 games in 2025-26 show that his finishing ability is real.
He can be dangerous on the power play. Niagara used him in key offensive situations, and his production with the man advantage backs up his scoring profile.
He protects the puck well when he plays with strength. His reach and frame allow him to extend plays and keep defenders on his back.
He has center/wing versatility. Some teams may view him as a center, while others may project him as a scoring winger at the next level.
Cons
His skating is not poor for his size, but it will need to keep improving for the NHL pace. He can get better with his first few steps and overall quickness.
His motor can run hot and cold. When he is fully engaged, he looks like a first-round talent. When he drifts, his impact can fade.
He needs to become more consistent defensively. NHL teams will want to see more detail away from the puck if he is going to stay at center.
His draft stock has not been as steady as some other top prospects. The upside is there, but teams will have to decide how much they trust the full package.
NHL Comparison
NHL Comparison: Tage Thompson style of build and scoring upside
Roobroeck is not being called the next Tage Thompson, but the style comparison makes sense because of the size, reach, and shot-first offensive profile. Like Thompson, Roobroeck has the frame to create shooting lanes and the release to beat goalies when he has space. The big difference is that Roobroeck still has to prove he can consistently drive play at a high pace and round out the details of his game.
Draft Outlook
Roobroeck looks like a player who could hear his name anywhere from late Round 1 into Round 2, depending on how teams value the upside. NHL Central Scouting has him 28th among North American skaters, while other public rankings vary, which shows how wide the opinions are on him.
Sportsvival sees Roobroeck as one of the more fascinating forwards in the 2026 NHL Draft. The size, shot, and offensive production give him real NHL upside. He may not be the safest forward in the class, but he has traits that are hard to find. If the skating and consistency continue to improve, Roobroeck could become a strong middle-six NHL forward with power-play value and 25-goal upside.
Sportsvival Summary
Ryan Roobroeck is a big, skilled, left-shot forward who brings goal-scoring ability and NHL size to the 2026 draft class. He has already produced at a high level in the OHL, and his shot gives him a clear path to becoming a dangerous offensive player at the next level. The concerns are real, especially with consistency, pace, and defensive detail, but the upside is also real.
For Sportsvival, Roobroeck is the type of prospect worth betting on if he is still sitting there in the late first or early second round. Big forwards with scoring touch do not last long, and if the right development staff gets him, he could become one of the better value picks in this draft.