2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.8th: You can't go wrong with any one of the CHL's big 3 on defense; I'm talking about Chase Reid, Daxon Rudolph, and "A"-rated LD Carson Carels (6'1.5",202lbs) of the WHL's sixth-placed Prince George Cougars. Of the 3 young rearguards, Carels seemed to be the one most committed to playing a spotless defensive game before the start of the current season, and he exhibited his shutdown abilities in the U-18's (1 point in 7 games, and 4th in the tourney with a +11), and the summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup (1 point in 4 games, and a +4). While his 35 points in 60 games during the 2024-25 season was impressive, he has taken a step forward this year, posting 9 goals and 31 points in 30 games- good enough to tie for 9th in scoring by D. There's no doubt that Team Canada had a long list of suitable D that would have jumped at the chance to play in the WJC, but Carels was chosen to be one the 8 blueliners to go. Though he wasn't given much ice-time or responsibility, the fact that he got the call over many older players should be a feather in his cap, and he at least proved that he belonged; he only managed to pick up 1 assist in 5 games, though. Carels is younger than most of his peers in this draft-class, with a June 23rd, 2008 birthday.

Carels is highly mobile, with power and fluidity in his stride, as well as smoothness and agility in his edgework; he is quick in every direction, and can change pace and direction in a flash. He flashes these qualities when mirroring his opponents' footwork against the rush, applying tight gaps and sharp angling to guide attackers to the wall, where he layers hits on top of slick stickwork to dislodge pucks. He is near spotless defensively, keeping attacks to the outside and away from the middle, while defending his net aggressively and applying ample doses of physicality to separate man from puck; his defensive IQ and awareness are high-end. He seems to always be in proper position to clog a lane, knock down a pass, throw out a stick-check, or block a shot. Carels is a farmboy from Manitoba, which means he is exceptionally strong, and cannot be out-worked. He is as competitive as they come, and is highly aggressive in all areas of the ice. He's a special player though, and while he isn't overly flashy or dynamic, he has the high-end hockey sense, well-developed puck-skill, and sublime vision to have a huge impact on his team's transition, and their offensive attack. He carries, and moves the puck with poise and confidence, from seamless retrievals, to mistake-free outlets, to precise passes for controlled exits and entries. I wouldn't say he's as active in the offensive zone as Rudolph or Reid, but he will join the rush if the coast is clear, and he will activate into the play off the line for advantage-creation purposes. He is a clever playmaker with some creativity, and walks the line with shiftiness to open lanes to the net, with an NHL-caliber release, along with a bomb of a one-timer. Carels often fires to make plays as well, with well-placed shots that maximize chances for his teammates. He may not be as offensively inclined as Reid or Rudolph, but he can play in any situation, performs well on both special teams, and can log important minutes. Some label him as a "top-4" defenseman at the next level, but I can easily see him anchoring a top-pairing in the future.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

From Jan.8th: "A"-rated RD Ryan Lin (5'11",177lbs) may not be the ideal-sized defenseman, but ignoring his stature- he is one of the best two-way defenders in this draft-class. To be more accurate, he is one of the best offensive defenders available in the 2026 Draft, and has put up good numbers just about anywhere he's been. In 2024-25, he posted the 9th-best offensive totals of all-time by a U-17 defenseman in the WHL, or the second-best by a U-17 defenseman after Scott Niedermayer's 69 points in the 1989-90 season, with 53 points in 60 games. Perhaps even more impressive than the totals themselves, is the fact that he produced those numbers for the 13th-place Vancouver Giants; he was 6th on the team in scoring, and tied for first in plus/minus, with a +11. This season, Lin is the top-scoring D on the 16th-place Giants by a mind-boggling 37 points (!), sporting 9 goals and 47 points in just 39 games- which is good enough for 3rd in the league in scoring by D (that's 80 points in 67 games prorated). He was also tied for 3rd in scoring by defense at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer, with 5 points in 5 games, but led all players with a +9.

Of course, Ryan Lin is an elite offensive defenseman and puck-mover, but he is also elite when it comes to his mobility, hockey IQ, and vision. Not many players can cross a sheet of ice as fast as Lin can, but he can also dance around the ice with superb agility and maneuverability- much like a figure skater. He is slippery and elusive, explosive in his start-up, able to spin away from checks, and is impossible to catch up to when he separates. He makes his teammates better with his advantage-creation in the offensive zone- his creativity and instincts are superb, as is his soft-touch passing skill, making him a top-notch playmaker who can QB a powerplay effectively, or dismantle defenses at even-strength. I think his shot needs work in terms of power, but he will get pucks through to the net in order to create second-chance opportunities for teammates. It is much of the same in transition, as Lin's tools provide him with separation from pressure, mistake-free puck-movement, and controlled exits and entries through pass or by carry. Impressively, Lin is also an excellent defensive player with high-level awareness, and despite his lack of ideal size, employs a healthy amount of physical play to separate man from puck. His blinding speed, acute positioning, and well-timed stick are ideal in defending the rush, and he's quite detailed and engaged in the defensive zone; his efforts show up in his impressive plus/minus stats. He has been compared to Drew Doughty, and it's often easy to see why. Lin is a hard-working player who is capable of playing important minutes, and takes ample pride in his performance in all three zones. He will surely play in an NHL team's top-pairing.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts:

From Jan.8th: "A"-rated RD Ryan Lin (5'11",177lbs) may not be the ideal-sized defenseman, but ignoring his stature- he is one of the best two-way defenders in this draft-class. To be more accurate, he is one of the best offensive defenders available in the 2026 Draft, and has put up good numbers just about anywhere he's been. In 2024-25, he posted the 9th-best offensive totals of all-time by a U-17 defenseman in the WHL, or the second-best by a U-17 defenseman after Scott Niedermayer's 69 points in the 1989-90 season, with 53 points in 60 games. Perhaps even more impressive than the totals themselves, is the fact that he produced those numbers for the 13th-place Vancouver Giants; he was 6th on the team in scoring, and tied for first in plus/minus, with a +11. This season, Lin is the top-scoring D on the 16th-place Giants by a mind-boggling 37 points (!), sporting 9 goals and 47 points in just 39 games- which is good enough for 3rd in the league in scoring by D (that's 80 points in 67 games prorated). He was also tied for 3rd in scoring by defense at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer, with 5 points in 5 games, but led all players with a +9.

Of course, Ryan Lin is an elite offensive defenseman and puck-mover, but he is also elite when it comes to his mobility, hockey IQ, and vision. Not many players can cross a sheet of ice as fast as Lin can, but he can also dance around the ice with superb agility and maneuverability- much like a figure skater. He is slippery and elusive, explosive in his start-up, able to spin away from checks, and is impossible to catch up to when he separates. He makes his teammates better with his advantage-creation in the offensive zone- his creativity and instincts are superb, as is his soft-touch passing skill, making him a top-notch playmaker who can QB a powerplay effectively, or dismantle defenses at even-strength. I think his shot needs work in terms of power, but he will get pucks through to the net in order to create second-chance opportunities for teammates. It is much of the same in transition, as Lin's tools provide him with separation from pressure, mistake-free puck-movement, and controlled exits and entries through pass or by carry. Impressively, Lin is also an excellent defensive player with high-level awareness, and despite his lack of ideal size, employs a healthy amount of physical play to separate man from puck. His blinding speed, acute positioning, and well-timed stick are ideal in defending the rush, and he's quite detailed and engaged in the defensive zone; his efforts show up in his impressive plus/minus stats. He has been compared to Drew Doughty, and it's often easy to see why. Lin is a hard-working player who is capable of playing important minutes, and takes ample pride in his performance in all three zones. He will surely play in an NHL team's top-pairing.

Wheeler had Lin ahead of Verhoeff as the top defender in the class in his "way too early" 2026 rankings in April (He had Bjorck at six). He moved him behind Verhoeff in his August pre-season rankings, but his initial ranking stood out to me as there isn't a lot of chatter about Lin, likely because of the bad Vancouver team.

Lin seems like the type of player that could get drafted outside of the top 10 (Pronman didn't even have him ranked in his last top 32), and be one of the top defenders in this draft.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Malhotra is going to be a 1st line C. Really hope we end up with him somehow.

It's giving Reschny vibes. Finishing off strong in the 2nd half, and a team like us with zero lottery luck is going to be able to grab him with our own pick that will likely be 7th-12th. I would honestly have him as my #5 choice behind the top 4.

[TOfan]

Listened to an Athletic Hockey Show podcast earlier this week with Wheeler and Pronman with a WJC recap. Something that caught my attention was one of them said that McKenna has been open about returning to the NCAA next year. Personally, I haven’t seen/heard this from other sources but wondering how people would feel about this if the Flames end up with a shot to draft him.

If he went back to the NCAA, would that make him more or less appealing? Would the Flames support him if that is what he wanted?

[Circa89]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts:

You can't go wrong with any one of the CHL's big 3 on defense; I'm talking about Chase Reid, Daxon Rudolph, and "A"-rated LD Carson Carels (6'1.5",202lbs) of the WHL's sixth-placed Prince George Cougars. Of the 3 young rearguards, Carels seemed to be the one most committed to playing a spotless defensive game before the start of the current season, and he exhibited his shutdown abilities in the U-18's (1 point in 7 games, and 4th in the tourney with a +11), and the summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup (1 point in 4 games, and a +4). While his 35 points in 60 games during the 2024-25 season was impressive, he has taken a step forward this year, posting 9 goals and 31 points in 30 games- good enough to tie for 9th in scoring by D. There's no doubt that Team Canada had a long list of suitable D that would have jumped at the chance to play in the WJC, but Carels was chosen to be one the 8 blueliners to go. Though he wasn't given much ice-time or responsibility, the fact that he got the call over many older players should be a feather in his cap, and he at least proved that he belonged; he only managed to pick up 1 assist in 5 games, though. Carels is younger than most of his peers in this draft-class, with a June 23rd, 2008 birthday.

Carels is highly mobile, with power and fluidity in his stride, as well as smoothness and agility in his edgework; he is quick in every direction, and can change pace and direction in a flash. He flashes these qualities when mirroring his opponents' footwork against the rush, applying tight gaps and sharp angling to guide attackers to the wall, where he layers hits on top of slick stickwork to dislodge pucks. He is near spotless defensively, keeping attacks to the outside and away from the middle, while defending his net aggressively and applying ample doses of physicality to separate man from puck; his defensive IQ and awareness are high-end. He seems to always be in proper position to clog a lane, knock down a pass, throw out a stick-check, or block a shot. Carels is a farmboy from Manitoba, which means he is exceptionally strong, and cannot be out-worked. He is as competitive as they come, and is highly aggressive in all areas of the ice. He's a special player though, and while he isn't overly flashy or dynamic, he has the high-end hockey sense, well-developed puck-skill, and sublime vision to have a huge impact on his team's transition, and their offensive attack. He carries, and moves the puck with poise and confidence, from seamless retrievals, to mistake-free outlets, to precise passes for controlled exits and entries. I wouldn't say he's as active in the offensive zone as Rudolph or Reid, but he will join the rush if the coast is clear, and he will activate into the play off the line for advantage-creation purposes. He is a clever playmaker with some creativity, and walks the line with shiftiness to open lanes to the net, with an NHL-caliber release, along with a bomb of a one-timer. Carels often fires to make plays as well, with well-placed shots that maximize chances for his teammates. He may not be as offensively inclined as Reid or Rudolph, but he can play in any situation, performs well on both special teams, and can log important minutes. Some label him as a "top-4" defenseman at the next level, but I can easily see him anchoring a top-pairing in the future.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Listened to an Athletic Hockey Show podcast earlier this week with Wheeler and Pronman with a WJC recap. Something that caught my attention was one of them said that McKenna has been open about returning to the NCAA next year. Personally, I haven’t seen/heard this from other sources but wondering how people would feel about this if the Flames end up with a shot to draft him.

If he went back to the NCAA, would that make him more or less appealing? Would the Flames support him if that is what he wanted?

I would say more appealing. He's committed to development.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Listened to an Athletic Hockey Show podcast earlier this week with Wheeler and Pronman with a WJC recap. Something that caught my attention was one of them said that McKenna has been open about returning to the NCAA next year. Personally, I haven’t seen/heard this from other sources but wondering how people would feel about this if the Flames end up with a shot to draft him.

If he went back to the NCAA, would that make him more or less appealing? Would the Flames support him if that is what he wanted?

He needs another year, and should go back. Too bad he didn't go to MSU; better hockey program, more structure, and best fitness guru in the business

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Listened to an Athletic Hockey Show podcast earlier this week with Wheeler and Pronman with a WJC recap. Something that caught my attention was one of them said that McKenna has been open about returning to the NCAA next year. Personally, I haven’t seen/heard this from other sources but wondering how people would feel about this if the Flames end up with a shot to draft him.

If he went back to the NCAA, would that make him more or less appealing? Would the Flames support him if that is what he wanted?

I would say more appealing. Shows he’s willing to continue to work on his game in the NCAA rather than be adamant about getting his NHL career going. I think it would be a good decision for his development at this point - there will be a lot of pressure on him no matter what but another year in the NCAA could give him a “buffer” year before playing under NHL scrutiny all the time.

Would love to get this kid on the flames either way. My hope is Reschny also does another year in the NCAA. Another year at the bottom of the standings for the flames in 2026-2027, draft Alexis Joseph with their top pick in 2027, open the new barn with McKenna, Reschny and Joseph all in the lineup.

[Five-hole]

Who was the last 1OA not to play in the NHL in his D+1 year?

[Always Earned Never Given]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Who was the last 1OA not to play in the NHL in his D+1 year?

Nail Yakupov in 2012: Played another season in the KHL due to the 2012-13 NHL lockout

Erik Johnson in 2006: Played another year of college hockey at the University of Minnesota before joining the St. Louis Blues.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Always Earned Never Given

Nail Yakupov in 2012: Played another season in the KHL due to the 2012-13 NHL lockout

Erik Johnson in 2006: Played another year of college hockey at the University of Minnesota before joining the St. Louis Blues.

Owen Power. Got 8 games at the end though.

Imagine you'll see more of that now that guys can pull in 700k USD sticking around another year.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Listened to an Athletic Hockey Show podcast earlier this week with Wheeler and Pronman with a WJC recap. Something that caught my attention was one of them said that McKenna has been open about returning to the NCAA next year. Personally, I haven’t seen/heard this from other sources but wondering how people would feel about this if the Flames end up with a shot to draft him.

If he went back to the NCAA, would that make him more or less appealing? Would the Flames support him if that is what he wanted?

I'm not convinced that any of the 2026 draft class jumps into the NHL next year and makes much of an impact.

I feel like they would be fine with it. I wouldn't be surprised if Parehk starts in the AHL next year too.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by traptor

I'm not convinced that any of the 2026 draft class jumps into the NHL next year and makes much of an impact.

I feel like they would be fine with it. I wouldn't be surprised if Parehk starts in the AHL next year too.

I think Stenberg could. He'd fit in pretty seamlessly on a Backlund line as a rookie

[Knut]

I do not see any reason to try and rush any of these kids next year. Get them developing. Get another high pick the next year and then your "Star" lines up for the opening faceoff in the new rink.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by traptor

I feel like they would be fine with it. I wouldn't be surprised if Parehk starts in the AHL next year too.

not trying to change subject but i fully believe this also unless something drastic happens in offseason.

[Funkhouser]

I know all the hype surrounds the top 4, but I would almost prefer to have picks 5 & 6 to grab Bjorck & Malholtra than one of the top 4.

Can't imagine how it is possible.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I know all the hype surrounds the top 4, but I would almost prefer to have picks 5 & 6 to grab Bjorck & Malholtra than one of the top 4.

Can't imagine how it is possible.

Ask Brian Burke. It's his favorite story.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009381280035537158

[Roko]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009381280035537158

what a fun exciting day for those players