Cosentino ranks Verhoeff #1 in November rankings.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

I'd rather count on years of generational promise and production over a 15 game sample size in which he's playing against men for the first time ever and is still putting up decent-yet-disappointing production despite such bad shooting luck from him & his linemates so far.

Absolutely, though I do cringe a little at the use of ‘generational’. He's in the same generation as Bedard and Celebrini, he's not in a class by himself even if he pans out perfectly.

If he hasn't got his offensive game together by, say, January or February, it will be time for concern. I'm sure McKenna knows as well as anyone that he needs to do better, and his coaches will be working overtime to figure out linemates that he clicks with.

If he were to finish the whole season at the pace he's on now, hoo boy, time to look for a different #1 pick.

[GioforPM]

There's always an attemnpt to build up some drama at the draft, so we need to take some of this with a grain of salt:

eg: https://thehockeywriters.com/jesse-p...in-2016-draft/

[GioforPM]

OTOH:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospe...february-2013/

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

OTOH:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospe...february-2013/

Nathan MacKinnon third. Oof!

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

OTOH:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospe...february-2013/

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...tober-edition/

This one changed too, Schaefer at 3rd, Misa at 5. The guy who went 7th was the universal first overall pick for all of 2023 through January of 2025.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

When you are a 6’4 220 pound dman who is dominating 20-24 year old kids you can probably come into the NHL and do the same thing.

8 points and a +4 in 12 games doesn't say "dominating", but I haven't seen a minute of him playing in NCAA, so I'm guilty of basing my opinion purely on point totals. Obviously that doesn't always tell the whole story, especially for defensemen.
Like, he IS a 17 year old defenseman playing 18-23 minutes/game in the NCAA in his draft year.

[Vinny01]

McKenna is not playing another NCAA game until after the world juniors after tonight where he got another assist so 16p in 15g

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

McKenna is not playing another NCAA game until after the world juniors after tonight where he got another assist so 16p in 15g

Is the long break just because of college exams in December?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Is the long break just because of college exams in December?

Yes Penn State plays again on Jan 3

[browntrout]

I have a hard believing any team would pass up on McKenna, as good as Verhoeff has been, I am not passing up on McKenna, is skill set is just way to special.

I think it would be suicidal for CC to pass up on McKenna if Calgary is lucky enough to have the ability to select him, watch him light it up on a different team, CC ain't going to risk that

Honestly i could even see team like San Jose drafting him over Verhoeff, and San Jose probably could probably rather use him, as they need defense, but McKenna is just too special, you don't pass up on that regardless if you have celebrini.

At the end of the I think you see McKenna go first overall, maybe some more risk, but his potential is sky high

[Snuffleupagus]

Verhoeff could very well be the best overall player in the draft

But, not to the Flames

[Sandman]

For U-18 defensemen in the NCAA, Keaton Verhoeff currently holds the 14th-best ppg ALL-TIME (0.67 ppg), just behind Zach Werenski (0.71 ppg).

That mark is is the third-best ppg for a U-18 defenseman since the 1988-89 season. Of course, there's plenty of hockey remaining in the season, and he could still drop in production...

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

For U-18 defensemen in the NCAA, Keaton Verhoeff currently holds the 14th-best ppg ALL-TIME (0.67 ppg), just behind Zach Werenski (0.71 ppg).

That mark is is the third-best ppg for a U-18 defenseman since the 1988-89 season. Of course, there's plenty of hockey remaining in the season, and he could still drop in production...

Hockey was different back in the late 80’s and early 90’s as well. To put Verhoeff’s accomplishment in forward terms, McKenna is far behind Paul Kariya’s 2.56 PPG pace in Kariya’s draft year in the NCAA. Incredible stuff to be the best offensive dman (so far) in the last 36 years in the NCAA. To be doing it in a year where allegedly the talent pool has increased so much as to be the explanation why McKenna is behind a number of forwards in recent times is all the more incredible.

Really hope the Flames get Verhoeff.

[jmac98]

They have their franchise goalie and d-man. It would be nice to add a forward to that crop. Additionally, a goal scoring forward would compliment the offensive minded Parekh. Adding a high end d-man is certainly never a bad thing, but without help up front it would likely be handcuffing some of Parekh’s most notable attributes.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by jmac98

They have their franchise goalie and d-man. It would be nice to add a forward to that crop. Additionally, a goal scoring forward would compliment the offensive minded Parekh. Adding a high end d-man is certainly never a bad thing, but without help up front it would likely be handcuffing some of Parekh’s most notable attributes.

The Flames are almost certainly at a stage where they can pick BPA outside of the goaltending position. They have 2 wingers that look like they will be top 6 forwards in the system and they have at most 2 dmen that look like they will be top 4.

Sandman could probably find where McKenna ranks for all time U-18 PPG in the NCAA but it is not 14th. Might not even be 14th this century. There is a clear difference in production so far this year. Add on that offence is pretty much all McKenna does (think McDavid/Draisaitl levels of commitment to the defensive zone) and there is definitely cause for concern.

[BigThief]

Can't help but think what a compliment Verhoeff would be to Parekh on our blueline. Having a guy who plays the way Verhoeff does would allow Parekh to do what he does even more.

[Vinny01]

Just a hypothetical

Would you rather have

Parekh+McKenna

Or

Iginla+Verheoff

[jmac98]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The Flames are almost certainly at a stage where they can pick BPA outside of the goaltending position. They have 2 wingers that look like they will be top 6 forwards in the system and they have at most 2 dmen that look like they will be top 4. .

I guess my thoughts are that I’m hoping for a franchise altering forward to compliment guys who will be in top 6 roles. Again it’s not to say building from the backend is a bad thing. It’s just my view I’d prefer one over the other. Though you can’t go wrong really with either.

Thanks for the thoughtful and kind response, I appreciate it.

[fotze2]

McKenna now doesn’t play for 40 days. Crazy different schedule vs Jr.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Just a hypothetical

Would you rather have

Parekh+McKenna

Or

Iginla+Verheoff

If they all meet their potential, Parekh and McKenna and it’s not close

But ……