New NHL Rumors on Identical Twins Rising Up 2026 Big Board Rankings, Who Goes 1st in B/R Mock Draft?

Identical twins Liam and Markus Ruck are making their case to be first-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft next month.

According to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, the Ruck twins are "trending up" in the draft rankings, as Liam went from No. 26 to No. 20 and Markus went from No. 31 to No. 23 in NHL Central Scouting's rankings of the top North American skaters in the 2026 NHL draft.

In Bleacher Report's latest NHL mock draft by Hannah Stuart, Liam went 26th overall to the Seattle Kraken. Markus was not mocked as a first-rounder, but that could change by the time the draft rolls around.

Wheeler wrote that most scouts view Liam as the "slightly better prospect" between the twins due to his scoring ability, although Markus is a quality playmaker who plays the "premium position" of center.

Liam and Markus Ruck have drawn many parallels to Vancouver Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who are the most famous and successful twins in NHL history.

Daniel and Henrik went second and third overall in the 1999 NHL draft to the Canucks, and they both spent their entire, 17-year careers in Vancouver.

Henrik had 1,070 career points and Daniel had 1,041. While Daniel was the better goal scorer with 393 career goals, Henrik was the better distributor with 830 assists.

The Sedin twins were both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

Liam and Markus Ruck have a long way to go before reaching that level, and they aren't projected to be top-five picks like the Sedins, but there is a lot to like about their respective games.

Playing for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, Markus led the team and the entire CHL this season with 108 points, but Liam wasn't far behind with 104 points, including 45 goals.

Size may limit their draft stock a bit since both Ruck twins are listed at 5'11 ¾" and under 180 pounds, but they are dynamic offensive players with a ton of potential.