Timofei Runtso – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

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Timofei Runtso

2025-26 Team: Victoria Royals (WHL)
Date of birth: July 6, 2007
Place of Birth: Marina Del Rey, California
Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 186 pounds
Shots: Right
Position: Defender
NHL Draft Eligibility: Second year eligibility 2026

Levels

Timofei Runtso has become one of the top picks in the 2026 draft class after going undrafted last season. He jumped five spots from the Midterm to the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings after finishing the season of play in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The 6-foot-2, 186-pound right-shot defenseman played this past season for the Victoria Royals after making a surprise move from the North American Hockey League (NAHL), where he posted 27 points for the St. Cloud Norsemen.

Victoria missed the playoffs and had an up-and-down season, but Runtso took on a big role after the Royals lost a number of players, including Keaton Verhoeff, who was picked in the top five of the draft. Runtso entered the top pairing minutes and became the team’s most relied upon defender.

He also participated in the WHL Prospects Game for Team West in February, playing on the second pairing. His performance increased throughout the season, and his performance in the expected game earned him more eyes from NHL scouts.

Runtso grew up in Los Angeles as the son of Belarusian immigrants. His father, Andrei Runtso, played professional hockey in Belarus, France and the United States before becoming a stuntman in Los Angeles. That background is a big reason why Runtso grew up playing in the Los Angeles Kings Development Program. He committed to Miami University (NCHC) in August 2024, before Anthony Noreen’s first season as head coach, and Miami apparently had an eye on his talent early on.

Timofei Runtso, Victoria Royals (Kevin Light / Victoria Royals)

Offensively, Runtso put together a solid season. He led all WHL rookie defensemen in scoring for the better part of the season and finished with 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists). He led the Royals defense in scoring as a rookie and scored two game-winning goals.

Runtso ran the power play, scored four goals a man, and ran the unit from the blue line like a guy walking the blue line and blasting off screens with a heavy, accurate wrist – putting up 163 shots on goal, the most in the d-corps. On the man advantage, he led the team in assists with 15 and finished with four goals, ranking him second in power play points with 19.

He can play on the penalty kill with his versatility and discipline, finishing the season with just 28 penalty minutes. Her ability to handle heavy workloads and participate in all situations was a big part of Victoria’s identity.

NHL Draft Projection

I see Runtso going down in the early third to mid fourth round. If I were an NHL general manager (GM), I would take him in the third because the upside is absolutely there, and I hope to see where his development is headed. He joins a Miami program that is on the rise under Noreen, surrounded by other NHL draft picks and potential future NHL players like Ilia Morozov, Vladislav Lukashevich, and Matteo Giampa. That’s exactly the kind of development I can invest in as a GM.

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Measurements

“Runtso is an exciting defender who plays at his best in the attacking zone. He can control the game from the blueline but also has the ability to jump over walls or cut back to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. He combines skill and trickery to move pressure and has a good eye for pucks and passes.” – McKeen’s Hockey

“His feet aren’t up to par with others who push the same high-octane offensive game, but he still moves well in the zone to make things happen. Defensively, Runtso remains a work in progress. Although he’s stepped up his game this season, he tends to settle down against the rush, as he drops back and gives up mid-range opportunities and loses to Wall Attackers. He can kill games with good timing, but he’ll need to work on his quickness, positioning, and physicality to be on the floor. is a successful defenseman against tough competition. – McKeen’s Hockey

“Runtso wasn’t on anyone’s radar last year when he was playing with the NAHL’s St. Cloud Norsemen. He played about 15-17 minutes a night early in the season but now he’s playing north of 20 on a regular basis…Runtso’s offensive game continues to improve, and I think it’s because he’s shown a lot of willingness to attack him fearlessly, and he’s offensive) every time he hits the ice. – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

Power

A Two Way Game
Hockey IQ
Can Play Hard Work
Special Groups Flexibility
Playing
Passing by
Accurate and Heavy Balance

Under Construction/Development To Be Done

The body
Rush Defense
Defensive Position

NHL Power

Runtso projects as a versatile defenseman of the future at the NHL level who has yet to develop. I can almost guarantee that he will play a big role on Miami’s special teams next season. Their power play struggled a lot last season, and Runtso could help fix those issues. Noreen will not be afraid to throw him where he lets him grow, as she did to Morozov last season.

I see a future NHL defenseman if his development trajectory continues to trend upward. How he fares in the closely watched NCHC, the best conference in college hockey with eight of the last 10 national championships, will be a big indicator of where he goes.

Risk/Reward Analysis

Risk – 2/5, Reward – 4/5

The Power of Fantasy Hockey

Offense – 7/10, Defense – 7/10