2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.30th: After posting a mere 6 points in his first 17 games this season in Finland's U20, while playing mostly third-line minutes for the Pelicans, "C"-rated LW Luka Arkko (6'3",212lbs) caught fire after a decent showing in November's 5 Nations (3 points in 4 games), putting up 8 points in 7 games for the Pelicans' U20 squad (all wins for his team). In 10 games since that time (and 4 games in the U18 league), he has been held to six points- for a grand total of 20 points (10 goals) in 34 games. Arkko was Finland's second-leading goal-scorer in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, with 3 tallies (2 against Czechia, 1 against Sweden), and led the U17 National Team in that category- scoring 9 times in 20 games. He is #26 on Central Scouting's list of European Skaters.

Arkko's area of specialty is goal-scoring, and he displays the instincts to find open space in the offensive zone to unleash his deadly shot, but also has no fear in attacking the net, or planting himself in front of the crease for opportunities; he exhibits soft hands in-tight, as well as good hand-eye coordination. His game is still quite raw, and though he flashes moments of high-end ideas, he doesn't really have the puck-skill to consistently show play-creation ability, and he doesn't drive play- he's mostly an opportunist. While he can connect plays with short passes through the neutral zone, he relies on mostly quick-touches, and defers to others to do most of the carrying. Arkko will do the dirty work for his teammates though, in winning battles along the boards, digging pucks out from the corners, and going to the net-front to cause havoc. He is known for his energy, motor, and aggressive puck-pursuit, but also for being a splendid defensive forward who suffocates opponents of their time and space, wielding elevated awareness when defending. Arkko manages to keep the penalty minutes down (8 PIM in the U20), but he is an edgy physical player, and a nuisance to opponents, who are driven crazy by his constant "in your face" attempts to keep them off-balance. Going forward, Arkko needs work on his mobility, as he is slowed down by a stiff, upright stride, and is not very strong on his edges. He is not very agile or maneuverable in small areas, and can sometimes be pushed off the puck- showing deficiencies in his balance. He protects well, but his puck-skills need work, as he can lose the handle while in-flight, and has trouble with pass-receptions at times. Developing a more prominent playmaking dimension wouldn't hurt either. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Again though it's not just about production. It's about how he creates that offense. The concern is his play away from the puck, level of compete, and the fact that he doesn't create a lot of offense from the middle of the ice.

I still have him #1, but I'm not ignoring the concerns. I see Stenberg having slightly less risk but less upside as well. So that's the balance.

This is my take on McKenna as well.

I think I’ve said similar in this thread, he draws comparisons to Kucherov. He makes great plays along the boards and has an ability to make plays off rims and clearing attempts, but Kuch attacks the middle and the slot when he sees an opening. I don’t see McKenna making those plays. He’d rather try to make a play from the wall rather than attack the middle of the ice. He’s elusive enough that hopefully he can develop that part of his game. But there’s always the question of whether he can or not

[Canada 02]

Cam Robinson's poll of NHL scouts for a top 20 list
Stenberg was first for 6 of 10; one team had him at #3
Mckenna was first for 4 of 10; one team had him at #4
"Big gap down to Verhoeff"

https://twitter.com/user/status/2015835143957528866

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Cam Robinson's poll of NHL scouts for a top 20 list
Stenberg was first for 6 of 10; one team had him at #3
Mckenna was first for 4 of 10; one team had him at #4
"Big gap down to Verhoeff"

https://twitter.com/user/status/2015835143957528866

Where is Bjorck? I assume he is in one of the spots cut off in the post.

[BrennyBaller]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Where is Bjorck? I assume he is in one of the spots cut off in the post.

9) Oliver Suvanto
10) Viggo Bjorck
19) JP Hurlbert
20) Elton Hermansson

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by BrennyBaller

9) Oliver Suvanto
10) Viggo Bjorck
19) JP Hurlbert
20) Elton Hermansson

Hurlbert at 19 would be a steal

[Bingo]

Updated with Ellis's picks.

Removed all rankings that haven't been updated since December 1st.

All three Flames picks improve with standings update.

1 Ivar Stenberg 1.88
2 Gavin McKenna 2.00
3 Keaton Verhoeff 2.88

4 Chase Reid 5.00
5 Tynan Lawrence 5.38

6 Alberts Smits 7.63
7 Ethan Belchetz 8.75
8 Carson Carels 8.75
9 Viggo Björck 9.63
10 Caleb Malhotra 10.88

11 Ryan Lin 14.00

12 M Nordmark 15.75
13 X Villeneuve 15.75
14 Daxon Rudolph 15.88

15 Adam Novotný 16.63
16 Oliver Suvanto 17.25
17 El Hermansson 17.38
18 Oscar Hemming 18.00
19 Juho Piiparinen 18.38

20 Mathis Preston 20.13
21 M Gustafsson 20.14
22 J.P. Hurlbert 22.00
23 Will Håkansson 23.43
24 Nikita Klepov 24.80

25 Tomas Chrenko 26.80
26 Ilya Morozov 27.75
27 Yegor Shilov 27.88

28 Jack Hextall 29.50
29 Ryan Roobroeck 29.80
30 Pierce Mbuyi 30.00
31 Adam Valentini 31.80
32 Alex Command 31.80
33 N Shcherbakov 32.29
34 M Dagenais 32.50
35 N Aaram-Olsen 32.71

36 Wyatt Cullen 34.33
37 Casey Mutryn 35.33
38 Adam Goljer 35.40
39 Tommy Bleyl 35.67

40 Victor Plante 37.00
41 Ales Di Iorio 37.75
42 Liam Ruck 38.00
43 Beck Edwards 39.40
44 Tomas Galvas 39.67
45 Charlie Morrison 39.75

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Updated with Ellis's picks.

Removed all rankings that haven't been updated since December 1st.

All three Flames picks improve with standings update.

Bukala's update is out:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...026-nhl-draft/

Stenberg
Verhoeff
McKenna
Malholtra

Bjorck at 7.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.30th: LD Callum Croskery (6'0.5",185lbs) suffered a fractured wrist in the Soo Greyhounds' training camp that cost him the first few months of the season, which is a big shame as he is highly thought of by scouts- some even had him as a potential first-rounder. He returned in late-November, and has since put up 8 points and a +7 in 21 games for the 7th-place 'Hounds- who are tied for 2nd the OHL in goals-for. Croskery won Bronze with Team Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, but he only got into one game, with no points. The Greyhounds took him in the 2nd-round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection with the 40th-pick, after leading the OMHA in scoring by D by an incredible 13 points, with 52 in 29 games. He played the 2024-25 season with the Chicago Steel of the USHL though, but only managed to produce 10 points in 54 games on a weak squad. He is #59 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Croskery may not possess ideal size, but he is fairly well-rounded, can play in any situation, and seems to be above-average with regards to all the tools he has at his disposal. When healthy, he is blessed with a little bit of everything- he's an excellent skater, sees the ice very well, moves the puck quickly through transition, and makes smart plays under pressure. He moves smoothly and quickly in all directions, but his backwards mobility is notable in how well he closes gaps against the rush. His edgework is nearly immaculate, which gives him the ability to transition in an instant, pivot on a dime, and complete rapid turns with a small radius. Croskery should probably have better numbers offensively, but he is already a virtual stalwart in his own-zone, with his awareness, solid positioning, and well-timed use of his active stick. He is able to elude checks in retrievals, scans the ice thoroughly, and kickstarts the breakout with a smooth first-pass; he can also spot streaking forwards in the neutral zone, and has the passing skill to connect with crisp, accurate feeds. He is play-driver who pushes pace through transition, with the puck-skill and protection ability to rush the puck up-ice through exit and entry. While he's not the most physical player, he exerts intensity and grit to win puck-battles, and runs on high-motor- with the ability to log big minutes when needed. Croskery contributes in the offensive zone, and knows when to join the attack; he will often join the rush as an extra forward, and will sneak into the play from the point when he spots an opportunity. He runs the play from the line with intelligence to pry open lanes, and has a hard, accurate shot. I'm not sure how much his early-season injury derailed him, but scouts are still waiting for his flashes of play-creation to become a regular occurence. Look for him in the third-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.31st: "C"-rated Czech RW Jakub Frolo (6'1",194lbs) is a player I like, and with 12 points in the last 10 games (although it appears he was ejected on Nov.29th after only 2:18 TOI), he is now up to 8 goals and 33 points in 30 games for Ilves of the U20 in Finland- he is tied for 12th-overall in points, and 4th in assists. His efforts have earned him one game in the Liiga, with no points in just over 6 minutes on the ice. Frolo is #40 for European Skaters in their Mid-Term List.

Frolo plays the kind of physical, rambunctious style (85 PIM) that drives opponents nuts, and keeps them off-balance- he is mean and edgy, and always in pursuit of the puck, which keeps him in close contact with his enemies, and in their faces. He has no problem doing the dirty work for his linemates, as he is fully willing to dig out pucks from the corners, win battles along the boards, and cause havoc in front of the net. Coaches will never have to remind him to finish his checks, as he does so with gusto, and can dish out some heavy hits in open-ice. In addition to being hard-working, energetic, and competitive, Frolo displays vision and creativity with the puck in his high-end playmaking game, along with soft-touch in his passing, and above-average puck-skill- he can spot teammates through traffic, and can connect with slip passes though feet, saucers over sticks, and backhands. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and uses delays and cut-backs to open space and wait for the best options to open up. Frolo's handling is well-developed, and while he protects well when driving wide or streaking through traffic, he can also make defenders look foolish with dekes and dangles. He possesses strong off-puck intelligence, with solid spatial awareness, and looks to make himself available for passes, with good attention to his positioning at all times. Though he isn't a burner by any means, he skates well enough to contribute meaningfully to transition, and shows good maneuverability on his edges- which gives him an extra layer of escapability. With 5 goals in his last 10 games, it appears that he's shooting more lately, but I wouldn't call his shot threatening; he gets most of his scoring chances by attacking the middle, and driving the net. Frolo is also a responsible defensive player with good anticipation and awareness, who is as heavy on the backcheck as he is on the forecheck, and will lay out attackers; he might have a good floor as an NHL bottom-six player, with his ability to grind it out along the boards, but there's huge potential for more. There's a need for some attention to his foot-speed though. I have a feeling that a team will take a flier on him in the second-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.31st: The Wenatchee Wild are 18th in the 23-team WHL, and are the 3rd-lowest-scoring team in the circuit. I feel like "C"-rated RHC Caelan Joudrey (6'4.25",194lbs) would be a much more enticing draft-pick if he were on a different team- at least on the level of 2025 2nd-rounder Matthew Gard, who is a hard-hitting defensive specialist. The Airdrie-product is 6th (shockingly) on the Wild in scoring, with a rather paltry 12 goals and 17 points in 48 games in middle-six duty on a poor team, which prorates to 24 in 68. He is #101 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Most scouts are quite shocked and dismayed by Joudrey's numbers, due to the fact that he possesses a well-rounded skillset, as well as the ability to play in any situation (he contributes to both the PP and the PK), and unlike most big bruisers- he has a high amount of skill. He is cut from a similar cloth to Matthew Gard, or a guy like Cole Beaudoin, in that he's a hard-hitting centerman who displays a stifling defensive game, but can also contribute offense. I believe that Joudrey is a better skater than those two though, with impressive mobility for a big man, and even better edges; he could perhaps use a better start-up, but he looks pretty fast at top-speed with a long, powerful stride, as well as shocking agility. He can pivot on a dime, make tight turns, and change direction effortlessly. He is also a smooth stickhandler who exerts reliable puck-control- he protects well, and is able to weave through traffic. Joudrey exhibits awareness in all situations, high IQ and solid instincts, and sharply-honed passing-skill, with the ability to make plays in small-areas. He is more of a finisher right now though, and can often be found in close proximity to the enemy net, whether it's jockeying for position in-front, providing teammates with a moving screen, or crashing the crease for loose pucks. While his offensive game is a little raw right now, he is already a highly dependable shutdown player with acute defensive awareness, and a penchant for cutting off plays with violence. He is intimidating and physical with a real mean streak, as evidenced by his 44 PIM, and is more than willing to do the dirty work for his linemates in competing for pucks in the trenches, causing havoc in front of the net, and grinding along the boards. It's a shame that his talents are being wasted in Wenatchee, but he's going to Quinnipiac in 2027-28, to work on developing his sky-high potential, and physical two-way game. I think he might go in the third-round, but he's one to watch.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.31st: The Wenatchee Wild are 18th in the 23-team WHL, and are the 3rd-lowest-scoring team in the circuit. I feel like "C"-rated RHC Caelan Joudrey (6'4.25",194lbs) would be a much more enticing draft-pick if he were on a different team- at least on the level of 2025 2nd-rounder Matthew Gard, who is a hard-hitting defensive specialist. The Airdrie-product is 6th (shockingly) on the Wild in scoring, with a rather paltry 12 goals and 17 points in 48 games in middle-six duty on a poor team, which prorates to 24 in 68. He is #101 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Most scouts are quite shocked and dismayed by Joudrey's numbers, due to the fact that he possesses a well-rounded skillset, as well as the ability to play in any situation (he contributes to both the PP and the PK), and unlike most big bruisers- he has a high amount of skill. He is cut from a similar cloth to Matthew Gard, or a guy like Cole Beaudoin, in that he's a hard-hitting centerman who displays a stifling defensive game, but can also contribute offense. I believe that Joudrey is a better skater than those two though, with impressive mobility for a big man, and even better edges; he could perhaps use a better start-up, but he looks pretty fast at top-speed with a long, powerful stride, as well as shocking agility. He can pivot on a dime, make tight turns, and change direction effortlessly. He is also a smooth stickhandler who exerts reliable puck-control- he protects well, and is able to weave through traffic. Joudrey exhibits awareness in all situations, high IQ and solid instincts, and sharply-honed passing-skill, with the ability to make plays in small-areas. He is more of a finisher right now though, and can often be found in close proximity to the enemy net, whether it's jockeying for position in-front, providing teammates with a moving screen, or crashing the crease for loose pucks. While his offensive game is a little raw right now, he is already a highly dependable shutdown player with acute defensive awareness, and a penchant for cutting off plays with violence. He is intimidating and physical with a real mean streak, as evidenced by his 44 PIM, and is more than willing to do the dirty work for his linemates in competing for pucks in the trenches, causing havoc in front of the net, and grinding along the boards. It's a shame that his talents are being wasted in Wenatchee, but he's going to Quinnipiac in 2027-28, to work on developing his sky-high potential, and physical two-way game. I think he might go in the third-round, but he's one to watch.

I just want to say, I appreciate these detailed write ups!

[Sandman]

Thanks Rhett!!

[sch19lks]

Hey Sandman, always appreciate your insight.

If the Flames pick fourth and McKenna, Stenberg and Verhoeff are all off the board, who are you picking at 4?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.31st: In 2024-25, big LW Oscar Olsson (6'3",187lbs) was one of the best players in Sweden's J18 league, where his 28 points in 13 games was 3rd-overall, and his 2.15 ppg put him ahead of players like Alexander Command (1.94), Mans Jobrant (1.59), and Marcus Nordmark (1.73). In my profile from Dec.10th, Olsson was 8th in scoring (13 points in 20 games) on a deep and talented Orebro U20 roster that includes the likes of Command, D Axel Elofsson, C Ludvig Andersson, and RW Niklas Aaram-Olsen- and though he had played periodically with Aaram-Olsen, I wondered just how much ice-time he was getting. It seems that Olsson is starting to put it all together, as he has produced 13 points in his last 7 games dating back to January 10th, for a total of 12 goals and 26 points in 27 games (no call-ups yet, though). I thought maybe he was being given more ice-time due to one or more of the other three being called up to the pro-leagues, but he seems to be putting up points even when his more talented teammates are in the lineup. Olsson was given a "W"-rating in Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings, indicating a possible 6th, or 7th-rounder, but be went unranked in their Mid-Terms.


Olsson is a big, physical, two-way power-forward who wins battles along the boards, and goes to the net, but he also owns a fair amount of skill. While his explosiveness and acceleration need a bit of work, he actually skates quite well for a big man at top-speed, and moves around smoothly on his edges. It seems that most Swedes possess solid puck-skills, and Olsson is no different, being able to stickhandle through traffic on occasion, and having the ability to make plays in small spaces- he is mostly a quick-touch player though, and leans towards give-and-go's as well as connective passing in transition. He owns tight protection ability, which helps him immensely when skating up the boards, and when driving wide to the net. In the offensive zone, he is a high-volume shooter with a powerful shot on a snappy release, and displays soft hands to beat goalies in-tight, with a willingness to attack the net; he is usually parked at home plate on the PP, and makes a good screen. Olsson doesn't really drive play though, being more of an opportunist who takes what is given; though he can make simple plays on short passes, most of what he creates comes from his nose for the net, his shot-volume, and his willingness to funnel pucks to the middle. Olsson is tall, but has plenty of runway to bulk up, get stronger, and work on his skating. Look for him in the late-rounds, but there's potential here.

[CliffFletcher]

Smits the big riser since the WJC. Wonder if the Flames take him if they pick 4-5, or go with a C for positional need.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Hey Sandman, always appreciate your insight.

If the Flames pick fourth and McKenna, Stenberg and Verhoeff are all off the board, who are you picking at 4?

Thanks man!

I'm becoming a bigger and bigger Malhotra fan every day it seems, and I love Tynan Lawrence. We obviously need centers, but there are some absolute studs on defense, including Reid, Smits, Carels, Lin, and Rudolph- it would really hurt to pass them up.

I think we go Malhotra or Lawrence.

What do you think?

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Thanks man!

I'm becoming a bigger and bigger Malhotra fan every day it seems, and I love Tynan Lawrence. We obviously need centers, but there are some absolute studs on defense, including Reid, Smits, Carels, Lin, and Rudolph- it would really hurt to pass them up.

I think we go Malhotra or Lawrence.

What do you think?

Just my opinion but i think Bjork is going to be really high on flames lists. I wouldnt have an issue taking him at 4. I think what hes dine has been a little underrated.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.31st: "C"-rated Czech RW Jakub Frolo (6'1",194lbs) is a player I like, and with 12 points in the last 10 games (although it appears he was ejected on Nov.29th after only 2:18 TOI), he is now up to 8 goals and 33 points in 30 games for Ilves of the U20 in Finland- he is tied for 12th-overall in points, and 4th in assists. His efforts have earned him one game in the Liiga, with no points in just over 6 minutes on the ice. Frolo is #40 for European Skaters in their Mid-Term List.

Frolo plays the kind of physical, rambunctious style (85 PIM) that drives opponents nuts, and keeps them off-balance- he is mean and edgy, and always in pursuit of the puck, which keeps him in close contact with his enemies, and in their faces. He has no problem doing the dirty work for his linemates, as he is fully willing to dig out pucks from the corners, win battles along the boards, and cause havoc in front of the net. Coaches will never have to remind him to finish his checks, as he does so with gusto, and can dish out some heavy hits in open-ice. In addition to being hard-working, energetic, and competitive, Frolo displays vision and creativity with the puck in his high-end playmaking game, along with soft-touch in his passing, and above-average puck-skill- he can spot teammates through traffic, and can connect with slip passes though feet, saucers over sticks, and backhands. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and uses delays and cut-backs to open space and wait for the best options to open up. Frolo's handling is well-developed, and while he protects well when driving wide or streaking through traffic, he can also make defenders look foolish with dekes and dangles. He possesses strong off-puck intelligence, with solid spatial awareness, and looks to make himself available for passes, with good attention to his positioning at all times. Though he isn't a burner by any means, he skates well enough to contribute meaningfully to transition, and shows good maneuverability on his edges- which gives him an extra layer of escapability. With 5 goals in his last 10 games, it appears that he's shooting more lately, but I wouldn't call his shot threatening; he gets most of his scoring chances by attacking the middle, and driving the net. Frolo is also a responsible defensive player with good anticipation and awareness, who is as heavy on the backcheck as he is on the forecheck, and will lay out attackers; he might have a good floor as an NHL bottom-six player, with his ability to grind it out along the boards, but there's huge potential for more. There's a need for some attention to his foot-speed though. I have a feeling that a team will take a flier on him in the second-round.

Really hoping utah comes knocking they have three second rounders and i would absolutely take a flyer on this kid with one of them.

[Bourque's Twin]

Seems like McKenna and Stenberg are consensus 1-2 so if the Flames fall out of that they have an important choice to make. Take the consensus #3 in Voerhoff or pick for a position. Maybe they trade down a spot or 2. Would like to know everyone’s thoughts on h this. The Flames are deeper on D than F, especially C but they could also use a big, all-around potential #1 D.