2026 NHL Draft Thread

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Vox

Since we're getting geeky, I assigned points to the players in reverse order (1st is 100 points, 100th is 1 point), and adding them up by team we get:

Cgy	540
Nsh	408
SJ	365
Mtl	332
Chi	291
Wsh	260
CBJ	245
Bos	241
Uta	222
Car	202
Sea	196
Buf	187
Phi	167
NYI	165
VGK	162
StL	158
Det	145
NJ	124
Pit	100
Ana	93
Dal	86
TB	72
Ott	66
Min	65
LA	55
Van	50
NYR	43
Edm	10

Corey Pronman was still rank Calgary 10th or worse in the pool rankings.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Alexander Sapozhnikov sounds a lot like Anton Babchuk.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Corey Pronman was still rank Calgary 10th or worse in the pool rankings.

Pronman is an idiot, I wouldn't put any stock in what he says at all.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Vox

Since we're getting geeky, I assigned points to the players in reverse order (1st is 100 points, 100th is 1 point), and adding them up by team we get:

Cgy	540
Nsh	408
SJ	365
Mtl	332
Chi	291
Wsh	260
CBJ	245
Bos	241
Uta	222
Car	202
Sea	196
Buf	187
Phi	167
NYI	165
VGK	162
StL	158
Det	145
NJ	124
Pit	100
Ana	93
Dal	86
TB	72
Ott	66
Min	65
LA	55
Van	50
NYR	43
Edm	10

I took an embarrassingly long time to figure out you weren't referring to Conor Geekie and not being able to find him on the list.

[Tbull8]

Van and NY being as bad as they are with nothing in the pipeline is wild

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Gridin should be the 2nd ranked Flame IMO

Agreed. I'm not saying I'd put him ahead of Parekh, but there's an argument to be made that he's had a better first year of pro hockey.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Nothing against Parekh, he's been fine, but I too would have Gridin ahead of Parekh at this point. Parekh plays a tougher position and one that takes longer to get acclimated to, but that shouldn't discount what Gridin has done.

If we had our prospects poll today, I would have Gridin 1st.

Gridin
Parekh
Reschny

To be exact.

[Monahammer]

People sleeping on a great Reschny campaign in the NCAA. He'd be up among the point leaders without the WJC break.

Gridin has been absolutely dynamite this year, I agree on that.

Parekh has also been amazing, especially since the confidence reboost at WJC.

I really, really hate how we have deployed him in the NHL but I think he'll still be the best of the three long term.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.11th: LW Oleg Kulebyakin was not considered to be a legitimate prospect before the season began, even though he was taken with the 9th-overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, with Central Scouting rating him as a "W". Kulebyakin (5'10.25",178lbs) opened eyes, with 17 goals and 33 points in his first 26 games in the QMJHL- a pace that put him on a trajectory for 42 goals and 81 points in 64 games. His torrid scoring-pace has cooled a bit, with only 18 points in his last 23 tilts, giving him 51 points in 49 contests- prorated to 30 goals and 67 points in 64 games. It's still pretty impressive to see an 18 year-old leading his team in scoring, even if that team is the 13th-placed (out of 18 teams) Halifax Mooseheads. The young Russian is #68 on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings for North Americans.

Though he's not an elite speedster, and requires work on his mechanics, Kulebyakin skates very well, plays with pace and shiftiness, and can go end-to-end with the puck on occasion- he is one of the few players on his team that can complete clean, controlled entries on a regular basis. His edgework needs more polish as well, as he can lose speed in turns, but he is light on his feet, and can still outmaneuver opponents on the run, stop and start rapidly, and make rapid lateral cuts to draw pressure and open lanes for shooting or passing. He is quick and pacey enough to push defenders back, keep them on their heels, and make them scramble to contain him- he is seemingly an expert in opening space by forcing defenses to shift with his high-tempo. He isn't a very physical player in terms of throwing hits, but he's not afraid of competing in the dirty areas of the ice, cutting to the middle from the wall, or skating through contact. Kulebyakin has some slick one-on-one trickery, shields the puck from checks while on the move, and handles very well in small spaces; he uses delays and fakes to buy time and space for himself and his teammates. His playmaking game is quite compact as well, as he relies mostly on short-range passes, and give-and-go sequences in the offensive zone, as well as in transition- he never seems to even try to complete longer-range feeds; he generally keeps things simple, and there's nothing wrong with that. His offensive game is quite well-balanced, and he can expertly locate soft spots in coverage to relocate to after dishing off, in order to make room to uncork his dangerous wrister- he's a constant threat with his quick hands that enable him to beat goaltenders 1-on-1, or freeze them with his quick release. While he utilizes his energy and motor to his advantage on the attack, he is less focused and aware in the defensive zone, and less involved; this part of his game needs plenty of refinement. It will be interesting to see where he is drafted, but I think he gets picked in the middle-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.12th: Liam Ruck is a goal-scoring, right-handed winger, while twin-brother Markus is more of a playmaking, left-handed center (which may up his value a bit). Last season, Liam was given middle-six minutes on the Medicine Hat Tigers (61gp/25g/16a/41pts,+17, 6 PIM), and in the Hlinka (5gp/2g/1a/3pts,+6, 2 PIM), while Markus was often on the 4th-line on both teams (62gp/8g/21a/29pts,+12, 6 PIM for the Tigers, and 5gp/0g/4a/4pts,+3, 2 PIM for Team Canada). Liam's 25 goals led all WHL rookies. Both Ruck brothers were given the rank of "B" by Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings, meaning they are seen as being potential 2nd/3rd-rounders, with Liam listed at 5'11.75",176lbs, and Markus measured at 5'11.5",167lbs. Markus is #31 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List, while Liam is #26.

Both move fairly well, though neither are world-class skaters, and I believe it's because they aren't yet nearly physically developed, and their speed will improve as they get stronger- and strength is another area in dire need of improvement. Both look quite slight, and both would win more battles with better strength and bulk. I would give the edge in skating to Liam, and his mobility is also pumped a bit by his persistent motor; Markus is not as intense as Liam is, or as consistent. The Ruck brothers are both a bit limited right now by their lack of higher-end quickness, but I think they will get better in this area as they develop.

Liam might have a slightly higher ceiling right now, as he can drive play in a way that Markus doesn't, and is more willing to play in the greasy areas of the ice to get things done. Markus has certainly closed the gap with his stellar play lately though, and has really come into his own. Liam attacks the net, will plant himself in-front to get chances, and finds open space in the slot to use his highly deceptive release. He is a battler, and owns solid finishing skills, as well as a hard and precise shooting arsenal, with the ability to fire off the catch without needing time or space- when the puck touches his blade, it's in the back of the net. Both brothers are highly skilled with the puck, and both look to be a few steps ahead of the play with their high-end instincts, sublime vision, and indomitable IQ's. Neither likes to hold on to the puck for too long, as both prefer give-and-go's, and connective passing with quick touches to move the puck along. I would give Markus the edge in passing skill, as well as creativity, but both can find their marks (most often it seems like each other) through the smallest seams in traffic. Markus has no fear in playing through contact to make a play, and isn't deterred by heavy traffic, but I don't think he's as willing to engage physically as his brother is, and I don't think he has the same battle level. Even still, Markus does a lot of the heavy lifting for their line, and even a good share of the dirty work, in recovering pucks to re-start the cycle, and digging pucks out from the corners. Both are competitive in their own way.

As one can tell by the numbers, both are extremely good 200-foot players, and both work hard in the defensive zone. In Medicine Hat, they are both usually on the first-units of both sides of special teams, and they are reliable on the PK. They are well-rounded, and can be relied upon in any situation. Right now, Liam is at 32 goals and 72 points in 51 games- which is 4th in the WHL, and his plus/minus of +29 is tied for 16th. In 26 games since the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge (he put up 1a in 2 games), he has amassed 48 points, and a +18. Markus sits at 13 goals and 72 points in 51 games, which puts him in a tie with his brother for 4th in WHL scoring, and his +26 ranks 22nd in the league. Since his brother's participation in the Prospects Challenge, he has amassed 45 points in 26 games, and seems to be a bit less dependent on feeding off of his brother in recent months; when I check the Three Stars in Tigers games lately, it seems that it is Markus' name that I see much more often these days. There aren't many prospects in this draft-class who have improved their draft-stock more since the beginning of the season than Markus Ruck, who was once betrothed to be a future NHL checking-line center. It's still a good bet that Liam will be the first Ruck to be picked on Draft-Day, but one (or both) could easily sneak into the late-first; after all, they are both projected to end up with 96 points in 68 games.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.12th: Before leaving for the WJC, LD Albert Smits' torrid points-pace had cooled off considerably, with only 2 points (-1) in his previous 10 Liiga games. Since his return, he has produced only 1 point in 8 games, with a -5. He is still impressively logging over 20 minutes per game, and getting over 3 shots on average, sporting 6 goals and 13 points in 37 Liiga tilts with Jukurit. His 13 points are tied for 21st-best all-time by a defenseman 18-and-under, and his 0.35 ppg is 22nd-best all-time by a defenseman 18-and-under in the Liiga with a minimum of 5 games played (and there's still games left). Jukurit is a poor team though, sitting 14th in the 16-team Liiga, and also 14th in goals-for (102 in 47 contests). Smits is #2 for European Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

The knock on Smits (6'3",205lbs) is that he's a bit too flashy with the puck, doesn't use his teammates enough, tries to do way too much on his own, and experiments a lot- all things that he won't get away with in North America. I watched him closely at the WJC, and it proved to be a bit hard to get a good gauge on his offensive game in a tournament like that, mostly due to the fact that the Latvians basically didn't create ANYTHING on their own- they were purely opportunistic, and fed off of the opposing teams' mistakes and turnovers, even against Canada. They didn't get get many chances off the rush, or off the cycle- they simply took what they were given. Watching him in that tourney, I came to really like him- even with the poor results. Impressively, Smits finished 7th in scoring by D in the WJC, with 5 points in 5 games, and was third in scoring on Team Latvia. His production was admirable, considering how little he had to work with, and how he seemed to be the only one on his team who could drive play.

Smits looks bigger than his listed 6'3", and he skates quite well, even pushing up his mobility a notch or two with his work-ethic and intensity. He can pinch down low as an extra forward, and still recover to his post at the line seamlessly to keep the play alive in the zone. He likes to carry the puck, and he does so with skill and rare confidence; though his stickhandling looks a little stiff, he still manages the puck reliably, and maintains control at high-speed. He was deployed on the first PP, and the first PK at the WJC, and he looked good on both, although some of his best ideas were unrequited, perhaps due to the lack of talent around him. He walks the line with confidence in the offensive-third, extends offensive zone time by keeping the puck in the zone, and pries open lanes to unleash his booming shot. Smits joins in on every rush that he can, and is very active in the zone.

While he possesses keen vision and offensive awareness, he doesn't need to put up points to be useful, as he's FANTASTIC in his own zone. Sure, his game is a bit immature and erattic, and he could improve his details a bit, but I would swear that he was responsible for every turnover that Latvia forced in the WJC, and he seemed to make every puck-recovery, along with every dump-out, and every pass out of the zone. He skates hard, takes away space and time, blocks shots, and has the superb hockey sense to disrupt (and steal) passes. Even against men in the Liiga, Smits is a stalwart against the rush, with his effortless mirroring of his opponents forward progress to close on them quickly, layering poke-checks on top of rub-outs along the boards. He uses his stick extremely well to block lanes, he's always well-positioned, and takes care of the front of the net with snarl. There's a shut-down defenseman in there, even if his two-way play doesn't pan out. Smits is physical, plays with an edge, and is quite active after the whistle; he's abrasive, hard to play against, and seems to like pissing the other team off. In retrievals, his confidence shines through, and he isn't afraid to bait attackers before attempting his exit-pass- although it has been said that he can be forced into errors and uncontrolled play when under extreme pressure. This kid is a beauty, and has high-end potential- he will most likely be picked in the top-10 of the 2026 Draft.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.12th: LD Theodor Knights (6'3.75",194lbs) only shows 2 points in 20 games, patrolling the blueline for MoDo- who are 5th in the Norra (North) Division, and 12th-overall in the 20-team U20 Nationell. The team has scored 85 goals in 28 contests, which ranks as 18th in the league. Knights made his impression felt in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, picking up 1 point en route to a Silver Medal with Team Sweden, showing his worth in his defensive play, and his ability to cause turnovers aplenty. Sweden won Gold in November's U-18 Five Nations, with Knights picking up 1 assist, and a whopping 56 PIM in just 4 games. Knights won Bronze with Tre Kronor at the World Junior A Challenge as well, picking up another assist, and only 6 PIM in 5 games. He has not yet received a call-up to the professional ranks, which would normally be concerning. Some consider Knight to be worthy of a first-round pick, or at least they did earlier in the season, but Central Scouting has him as #51 for European Skaters on their Mid-Term List.

Knights moves surprisingly well in all-four directions, which is frightening, because it makes him like a heat-seeking missile, using his mobility to dole out thunderous, punishing hits prolifically. He is mean, intimidating, and downright surly, but also a highly effective shutdown defenseman, who can mirror oncoming attackers' footwork to trap them in his tight gaps to then surf across the ice to finish them with a stiff hit. Knights is always tasked with shutting down the opposing team's top-players in any contest, and he does his job well- at least against junior-aged competition. He has enormous range, with a wide wingspan, and an active stick; combined with his quickness, it is a daunting task to try to get past him. Knights is keenly aware in defensive situations, and though he could maybe stand to improve his details a bit, he is proficient in shutting down lanes, and willing to put his body on the line to block shots. He is still raw, and his on-puck game is a work in progress, but those who watch on a regular basis say that he is improving his poise in retrievals, and working to improve his first-pass. Normally, he prefers short, simple feeds, or dump-outs and off-the-glass zone clears, but he is working on his poise and patience while under pressure. There isn't much here in terms of an offensive game, and he doesn't exhibit much puck-skill to speak of, unfortunately. Even with limitations in his stay-at-home style, I believe he will go in the top-three rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.12th: It would seem that LHC Max Isaksson (6'0",183lbs) is starting to put it together offensively, putting up 8 points in his last 5 U20 games, for 8 goals and 21 points in 23 matches for the Vaxjo Lakers, who currently occupy the 7th-spot in the Sodra (South), and are 11th-overall (out of 20 teams), with the 15th-most goals-for. I think it's safe to say that he would have more points on a different team. His play in the U20 has earned him only 1 game in the SHL, but he didn't see any ice. Isaksson was a player I really liked in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and he managed to produce 6 points in 5 games en route to the Silver Medal, playing mostly middle-six minutes, while wearing the "C" for Tre Kronor; he was 9th in scoring at that event. Isaksson's 3 points in 5 games were tied for 6th in scoring for Team Sweden in the World Junior A Challenge, and 16th in the tournament, as Sweden earned a Bronze.

Isaksson isn't flashy or dynamic in any way, and is one of those types that isn't elite in any one area, but can play in any situation, positively impact both sides of special teams, and contribute in both ends of the ice- and he performs these duties well. He is a high-energy forward with relentless motor who pushes pace, outworks larger opponents, and plays a robust physical game. Isaksson leads by example with his fearlessness, and goes to work in the greasy areas of the ice to win pucks and establish inside-positioning; he will also throw big hits to shake pucks loose. No matter how many points he puts up, he wields a high-end IQ that puts him in good position in every situation, gives him an ability to read the ice and make sound decisions, and play a virtually mistake-free game. With 18 points in 29 games last season for Vaxjo, I would have expected much better numbers from Isaksson, who holds potential as a playmaker with his vision and passing skill that seems to consistently give his teammates advantages. With an understanding of how to locate space, a willingness to get his nose dirty around the net, and a desire to play in the middle, he is a capable finisher as well, and owns a fairly accurate shot to pick corners on occasion. He exerts solid puck-control and stickhandling, with the skill to deke and dangle through traffic, contributing controlled exits and entries to his team's transition. While he's not a burner, he skates well and displays exemplary protection skills to help him manage the puck while weaving through the neutral zone. Isaksson seems to take pride in playing a reliable defensive game, and has the awareness and work-ethic to do just that; he is trusted on the PK, and is a constant irritant for attackers. Look for him in the middle-rounds, with the potential to fill a 3C role in the NHL.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.13th: Though he looked like a sure-fire pick for the top-64 in the 2026 Draft in the last 2 Hlinka tournaments (3 points in 4 games apiece), Central Scouting saw fit to give RD Adam Goljer (6'3",194lbs) a "C"-rating; he is still showing up in the top-two rounds on plenty of lists, though. He even showed up as #13 on their list of European Skaters in their Mid-Term List. The big Slovak is tied for 32nd-overall in scoring by D in his home country's top men's league, with 11 points in 37 games, which also makes him the 5th-highest scoring U-18 defenseman in league history- and there's still plenty of hockey left in the season. Goljer took part in the most recent edition of the World Juniors, but didn't get any points for the Slovaks. He's pretty young too, being born on June 7th, 2008, which is a big selling point.

Goljer will most likely be a bit of a project, as he needs upgrades to his speed, puck-skill, and consistency, though his stride is mechanically smooth and projectable, and is above-average in speed for the junior-ranks. Even at his young age, he's a minute-munching workhorse against men, and reportedly often gets the highest time-on-ice for his team, HK Dukla Trencin- but as one would expect, his play in the pros has peaks and valleys as a developing player. He can log big minutes (he was third-overall in average TOI at the Hlinka) while playing in any situation, including both special teams. Goljer plays a physical game (at least against juniors) and carries a calm, poised demeanor in his smooth retrievals, as well as his passes out of the zone. He showed his shutdown abilities in the Hlinka, and at the WJC, with a solid gap to stop the rush, an active stick, and heads-up awareness in the zone. In the other end of the ice, he keeps it simple but supports the play well, facilitates offense, and has a hard shot from the point that he can get on net with good frequency; most of his play-creation comes from his high shot-volume. Against men, his gaps are a bit loose, his physicality is inconsistent at best, his net-front defense is rather weak, and his own-zone play looks a bit too carefree; he is working hard though, at using his stick and his range better against the rush, timing his poke-checks with more acuity, and cleaning up the chaotic nature of his own-zone play. There's an excellent base here, and he looks remarkably mature in the pro ranks as a young player, but he'll need a bit of work. Look for him in the second-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.13th: "C"-rated LD Ola Palme (6'1",188lbs) was 11th-overall in scoring by D in the Hlinka with 3 points in 5 games, but he was tied for 3rd in plus/minus with a +5- displaying his ability to drive play through transition. He has had some bad luck with injuries this season, missing games at the start of the year, along with a few other minor setbacks, which some say might be affecting his play. He's had games in the U18 Region (5 points in 4 games), the U20 (8 points in 13 games), and the SHL (5 games, but only had ice-time in 1 contest). Surprisingly, he is tied for 55th in scoring by D in the U20, and his 0.62 ppg ranks 33rd. He is #46 for European Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Palme is active in the offensive zone, with no fear in joining in with the action, and an ability to both support and facilitate, but he might end up being a responsible puck-moving, defensive performer in the show. His background stats paint the picture of a defender who drives transition, tilting the ice in his team's favor, and quickly turning defensive zone-time into rushes going the other way- he is poised and patient with the puck on his blade. Palme has the puck-skill and awareness to shake off pressure in retrievals, and exhibits heads-up scanning habits to spot options for his meticulous breakout passes. Though perhaps not a high-end burner, he moves very well on a smooth and projectable stride, and owns quick hands to handle in traffic, as well as good puck-protection in traversing the neutral zone. He gets high grades for his hockey sense, IQ, and vision- which gives him immaculate positioning in the defensive zone, as well as the acute anticipation to stay above the puck at all times- although he looks more effective with the puck, than without. Palme is competitive and physical, launching himself into puck-battles, and makes life difficult for attackers in front of the net. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Nice! Let's base our entire economy on a technology that can't even count to 10!

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.14th: The Spokane Chiefs made some interesting trades leading up to the January 8th trade deadline to bolster their playoff aspirations, sending out potential NHL first-rounder F Mathis Preston, D Kaden Allan, and F Elias Pul (with multiple draft-picks), while getting back D Marek Howell, C Dominik Petr, F Tyus Sparks, a first-rounder, and Logan Wormald- who was leading the Lethbridge Hurricanes in scoring at the time of the trade. Since the deadline, the Chiefs have played .500 hockey, sitting 8th in the West, and 14th-overall in the 23-team WHL. Normally a background depth player for the Spokane Chiefs, "C"-rated LHC Brody Gillespie (6'0.75",194lbs) saw time in December with some of the better offensive producers on the team, Chase Harrington in particular, and responded with 7 points in 4 games at one point (he had 9 points in 11 December games). His efforts in those games gave him 16 points in 32 games at the time, but he has settled back into his defensive role since then, and now sports 7 goals and 22 points in 51 games. His fleeting pre-New Year's jump in production should come as no surprise, as Gillespie was the first-overall pick in the 2023 WHL US Import Draft by the Chiefs, and he was a participant in Team USA's entry in the summer's Hlinka tournament (no points), though he was deployed in a checking role. Gillespie is #138 for North Americans on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Gillespie, who is a native of nearby Portland, Oregon, plays a rather mature, responsible game to positively affect the play in all three zones, with NHL habits and translatability. Supplying the Chiefs with unrelenting energy, and boundless motor, he plays with a bit of power in his game when needed, and uses his frame to win his fair share of battles and establish inside-positioning. Only 10 PIM though, which is a sign of his discipline, but perhaps also his need to add a meaner edge to his game. He's a heads-up player with good scanning habits and a quick processor, who only flashes the skill that made him the top-pick in the Import Draft in 2023, showing a soft-touch in his feeds, with a bit of deception to mask his intent, and the occasional eye for advantage-creation. His handling and puck-control is reliable, his protection skills are advanced, and he sometimes surprises defenders with a slick one-on-one move in traffic. There has also been plenty of signs of a natural goal-scorer's mentality, including the innate ability to spot small pockets of open space on the cycle, and a knowledge of how to use screens to his advantage, but he's not getting to the net as much as he should be, and is too often playing on the perimeter. The good news is that he can beat goalies from distance with his hard shot, and can fire a bullet while in-motion off the rush. There isn't a whole lot of creativity in his game right now, and he has been criticized in the past for not using his teammates as astutely as he could be. Gillespie wields above-average speed and agility on his edges, with a peppy first-step and explosiveness in small-areas; his quickness is furthered by his high workrate, and he accelerates to top-speed rapidly. He plays on the PK, and is often given PP2 duty, but is used primarily in defensive situations, and although I believe he could be a big WHL scorer in the next few years, his greatest value lies in his checking ability; he is a disruptive play-killer on the backcheck, and displays high-end awareness, habits, and details in own-zone scenarios. With potential as a checker in the NHL, and the potential for more, I think he will picked in later rounds in the 2026 Draft.