2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

I like those comps.

If you wanna get romantic, how about a more aggressive and hard-nosed Nico Hischier?

Maybe a little Anthony Cirelli?

[Sandman]

Nov.26th CHL-USA Prospects Challenge:

CHL wins Game #2 by a score of 4-3 in Lethbridge, after losing Game #1 at the Saddledome by a score of 4-2. Because the series was tied 1-1, the two teams competed in a "Super-Overtime" to determine the winner of the event, which is considered to be a Game #3 in the stats, and LW Victor Plante wins it for the NTDP- assists to 2027-eligible RW Sammy Nelson, and D AJ Francisco.

Game #2 Summary:

CHL: C JP Hurlbert (D Daxon Rudolph, RW Liam Ruck)

NTDP: LW AJ Garcia (C Lukas Zajic, D AJ Francisco)

NTDP: LW Victor Plante (RW Logan Stuart)

NTDP: C Jamie Glance (D Luke Schairer, C Wyatt Cullen) PP

CHL: C Caleb Malhotra (unassisted) SH

CHL: C Alessandro Di Iorio (C Maddox Dagenais, D Daxon Rudolph)

CHL: D Xavier Villeneuve (D Carson Carels, RW Mathis Preston) PP


Game #1 Summary:

NTDP: RW Dayne Beuker (LW Mikey Berchild, C Wyatt Cullen)

NTDP: RW Sammy Nelson (D Luke Schairer)

CHL: D Chase Reid (C Caleb Malhotra, RW Mathis Preston)

NTDP: C Wyatt Cullen (D AJ Francisco, RW Sammy Nelson)

CHL: RW Mathis Preston (D Carson Carels)

NTDP: C Jamie Glance (unassisted) EN, SH

NTDP Goalie Brady Knowling was named Star of the Game, stopping 42 of 44.

[Sandman]

Re: C Caleb Malhotra

When asked who he models his game after, he answered Jonathan Toews.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JTech780

That's a fair comparison. I just think Belchetz has more speed and skill to go with his skill than some other big guys who have come out of the OHL (Ritchie brothers for example).

I also think power forwards who can actually play in your top 6 are so rare, and every team in the NHL is looking to add that type of player to their team, that they are hard to pass on at the draft when they show up.

He has done nothing in two straight games in the tournament against USDP..

[Bingo]

Another ranking added (7 total / 3 needed to get an average)

Player Position Average
1 Gavin McKenna LW 1.14

2 Ivar Stenberg RW 2.43
3 Keaton Verhoeff RHD 2.57

4 Tynan Lawrence C 5.29
5 Ethan Belchetz LW 6.29

6 Chase Reid RHD 8.14

7 Ryan Lin RHD 11.43
8 Carson Carels LHD 11.86

9 Alberts Smits LHD 13.00
10 Daxon Rudolph RHD 13.57
11 Mathis Preston RW 13.86
12 Ryan Roobroeck LW 14.00
13 Marcus Nordmark LW 14.57
14 Viggo Björck C 14.71

15 Xavier Villeneuve LHD 15.86
16 Adam Novotný LW 16.29
17 Elton Hermansson RW 16.86
18 Juho Piiparinen RHD 17.00

20 Oliver Suvanto C 18.33
21 J.P. Hurlbert LW 18.57
22 Caleb Malhotra C 19.67

23 Malte Gustafsson LHD 21.50
24 Nikita Klepov LW 22.00
25 Oscar Hemming LW 22.67
26 William Håkansson LHD 23.00
27 Egor Shilov C 23.67
28 Jack Hextall C 23.83

30 Niklas Aaram-Olsen LW 25.20

31 Beckham Edwards C 27.80
32 Ilia Morozov C 29.20

33 Alessandro Di Iorio C 33.80
34 Tomas Chrenko C 34.20
35 Lars Steiner RW 35.67

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Nov.26th CHL-USA Prospects Challenge:

CHL wins Game #2 by a score of 4-3 in Lethbridge, after losing Game #1 at the Saddledome by a score of 4-2. Because the series was tied 1-1, the two teams competed in a "Super-Overtime" to determine the winner of the event, which is considered to be a Game #3 in the stats, and LW Victor Plante wins it for the NTDP- assists to 2027-eligible RW Sammy Nelson, and D AJ Francisco.

Game #2 Summary:

CHL: C JP Hurlbert (D Daxon Rudolph, RW Liam Ruck)

NTDP: LW AJ Garcia (C Lukas Zajic, D AJ Francisco)

NTDP: LW Victor Plante (RW Logan Stuart)

NTDP: C Jamie Glance (D Luke Schairer, C Wyatt Cullen) PP

CHL: C Caleb Malhotra (unassisted) SH

CHL: C Alessandro Di Iorio (C Maddox Dagenais, D Daxon Rudolph)

CHL: D Xavier Villeneuve (D Carson Carels, RW Mathis Preston) PP


Game #1 Summary:

NTDP: RW Dayne Beuker (LW Mikey Berchild, C Wyatt Cullen)

NTDP: RW Sammy Nelson (D Luke Schairer)

CHL: D Chase Reid (C Caleb Malhotra, RW Mathis Preston)

NTDP: C Wyatt Cullen (D AJ Francisco, RW Sammy Nelson)

CHL: RW Mathis Preston (D Carson Carels)

NTDP: C Jamie Glance (unassisted) EN, SH

NTDP Goalie Brady Knowling was named Star of the Game, stopping 42 of 44.

A couple of names I want to see more of as I think there is more there than their current rankings:

Caleb Malhotra: which you guys have already talked about, but is showing a strong two way game, seems like a really smart player.

Alessandro Di Iorio: I think I am higher on him than most, but another smart player, seems like a very good skater. Hasn’t gotten into many games this year, so we will see how his game develops.

J.P. Hurlbert: The numbers jump off the page, but yet he is a player I haven’t heard many people talk about. I will have to dig deeper to find out what the concerns are with this player.

Brady Knowling: I was pretty surprised by his play, big goalie, moves really well, very athletic. He could be one of those goalie’s that get drafted in the 2nd or 3rd that go onto be a star goalie. The US is turning out some top notch goalies lately.

[BarDown]

Only one C in the top 10, two in the top 15. I'm sure this will change as the draft approaches given the premium on the position, but nevertheless the early rankings are quite interesting. I also cant recall the last time the top 2 ranked players (or 2 of the top 3 considering Verhoeff) were wingers.

Will be interesting to see where Cs like Lawrence, Bjorck and Malhotra actually end up getting picked.

[Kipper_3434]

What's up with Roobroeck? I know there's questions about pace with him, but usually huge scoring Cs climb the rankings.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

What's up with Roobroeck? I know there's questions about pace with him, but usually huge scoring Cs climb the rankings.

He's misclassified as a center by some lists, but he's not, he's a winger.
I think he's also emerging as this year's potential big faller.

[howard_the_duck]

I know it's early, but I can't remember being this excited about an upcoming draft.

The Flames picking in the top 5 (hopefully top 3), a pick in the 20-25 range from Vegas, and hopefully another first from one of Andersson/Kadri, what an opportunity to supercharge this rebuild.

One of McKenna/Stenberg/Verhoeff...my goodness. A new franchise player would be so, so welcome.

[Roko]

I am very much looking forward to the world juniors to see who breaks from the pack amongst their peers.

[howard_the_duck]

Having Reschny, Parekh, and then the '26 draft eligibles that could be potential Flames will have me watching the WJ's with much more interest this year than any I can remember.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He's misclassified as a center by some lists, but he's not, he's a winger.
I think he's also emerging as this year's potential big faller.

He's not misclassified, he played center throughout his youth including with Niagara, the new coaching staff there uses him as a winger.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

What's up with Roobroeck? I know there's questions about pace with him, but usually huge scoring Cs climb the rankings.

His GAF meter is low.

[DuckSauce]

A guy can dream right?

McKenna/Stenberg/Verhoff
Malholtra
Morozov/Di Iorio
Iginla

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He's not misclassified, he played center throughout his youth including with Niagara, the new coaching staff there uses him as a winger.

Sure but I haven't heard of anyone thinking he will be a center at the NHL level.
From a draft POV he's considered a winger.

[Bingo]

Has Iginla always been a late late 2nd or 3rd rounder by expectation?

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Has Iginla always been a late late 2nd or 3rd rounder by expectation?

I wondered this as well. Years ago I thought that Joe was expected to be the better of the two.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I wondered this as well. Years ago I thought that Joe was expected to be the better of the two.

Yeah that's what I thought too.

I have him rated by Upside and Craig Button but that's it. Three of the rankings only list 32 players so that could still mean 2nd round for Iginla, but he was left off of both of Wheeler and Ellis' lists who had 64 and 50 players ranked respectively.

[Reggie Dunlop]

#Diver4Ivar