2026 NHL Draft Thread

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

McKennas favorite player growing up was Patrick Kane and his favorite team was the Blackhawks.

Guy is box office, I want him badly.

If he can keep this up the rest of the way this might go down as one of the more eventful draft years ever.

- Becomes the first big star to make the jump from CHL to NCAA
- Doesn't quite live up to early expectations, drops in rankings slightly
- 2ppg in the World Jrs but still some concerns around his game
- Catches some charges outside of a bar
- Goes supersonic on the ice down the stretch
- Top 5 in NCAA scoring
- Potentially better scoring rates than Celebrini

Pure showtime.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.23rd: Watch out for LHC Alexander Command (6'1",183lbs), who is climbing lists like countryman Eddie Genborg did last season; like Genborg, he could end up getting picked in the early second-round- or perhaps even the late-first. He is up to 17 goals and 43 points (36 PIM) in just 28 contests in the U20 league in Sweden for Orebro, which is good enough to place 4th in scoring- and he doesn't even turn 18 until June 16th. He is tied for 55th all-time in points by a U-18 player in that league, and there is still games to be played. Command's play has earned him 6 games in the SHL, but he has only seen the ice in two of those contests, with no points. He was a standout for Team Sweden in November's U-18 Five Nations Tournament, with 7 points in 4 games en route to the Gold Medal, and posted 5 points in 5 games at the World Junior A Challenge in December. Central Scouting has him as the #12 European Skater in their Mid-Term Rankings.

Command isn't just about skill and finesse, as he brings energy, grit, and relentless physicality to his team, as well as a detailed approach to playing solid defense. He is a menace on the forecheck, attacking with purpose and tenacity to keep puck-carriers on their toes, force them into making mistakes and cause uncontrolled play. Playing a robust physical game with an edge, while showing elevated grit and compete, he wins battles in the trenches, and will throw big hits to dislodge possession from his adversaries. He can play through checks, and will gladly take a hit to make the play. Command plays at a break-neck pace (though some say he should slow down at times), and like most Swedes, he handles smoothly at top-speed, but his mobility is closer to average than it should be. He displays solid technique, and exemplary agility on his edges to outmaneuver checkers, but work must be done on his explosiveness and top-gear for the next-level- some of this will take care of itself as he develops more strength in his lower-body. Command gets inside, goes to the net for chances in-tight, and will crash the crease to clean up garbage, but also has a decent shooting arsenal with a deceptive release to fool goalies from distance. He leans a bit towards his high-end instincts and creative vision as a playmaker though, wielding an elite IQ to manufacture space for himself and his teammates, in order to drive the offense. He is a skilled passer who can bypass defenders' sticks and feet to find teammates on the other side of traffic. Command understands his responsibilities as a C, and can be depended on to play an engaged defensive game with an acute attention to detail; he comes back hard on the backcheck, exhibits solid awareness and positioning, and is highly effective in providing support for his D down low. I wouldn't hesitate to take this player with a late-first, but he may have to wait until the early-second to hear his name called on draft-day.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.25th: "C"-rated defenseman Jacob Xu has seen his stock slide quite a bit from where it was before the season began, I'm guessing because of his lack of offense, but some say he's had problems with managing the puck. Only 7 points in 31 games (19 PIM) with Kitchener (OHL), before an early-January trade sent him to the London Knights along with a myriad of picks, in exchange for mainstays D Jared Wooley, and C Sam O'Reilly in a pre-deadline deal. Since then, he has only managed to pick up 2 points in 18 games with his new team, for a grand-total of 9 points in 49 games on the season. Xu is committed to Harvard University for next season, and is #112 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Xu plays a very basic game, devoid of flash and dash, with a specialty in shutting-down his adversaries in the defensive zone, and getting the puck moving in the right direction. Despite sporting only 27 PIM thus far, he is rugged and physical, with the ability to energize his team's fans in the building with a huge hit, the size (6'2",194lbs) and strength to control the boards, and the grit to win puck-battles. He defends the front of his net with vigor, and with a bit of snarl. Xu is a capable clock-muncher who can log big minutes in important games, and can compliment the more skill-based, attacking blueliners on his team in the top-four. He owns excellent mobility on a smooth and projectable stride, that plies him with above-average four-directional speed, with strong agility on his edges to transition rapidly, and surf across the ice laterally with quickness. This helps him to mirror his counterparts' footwork when moving backwards against the rush while deploying tight gaps, and trapping his targets' with sharp angling to the boards, where he makes stops by layering stick-checks on top of stiff hits. Built for the shut-down game, he exerts solid range and elevated defensive awareness, with a solid attention to detail, pro-style habits, and well-timed use of his stick. While he's still showing some inconsistency, and has a tough game once in awhile, he is usually known to be a reliable puck-mover with calmness and poise who can shake off pressure in retrievals, while getting the breakout started with a safe first-pass. He needs some work on his scanning-habits, and is sometimes prone to mistakes and giveaways when under duress, but his smarts and mobility generally help him to support and influence his team's progress in all three zones. While he will occasionally pinch in to the play in the offensive zone to keep pucks alive and extend the cycle, he mostly keeps his contributions to support plays and shots from the point to cause havoc in-front, and create second-chance opportunities for his teammates. He has expressed his desire in the past though, to be a more effective two-way contributor. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Ba'alzamon]

Please tell me Alexander Command is his teams' Captain.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Please tell me Alexander Command is his teams' Captain.

Unfortunately, that honour goes to Filip Thorling…

[Fan69]

Most seem to have Command bottom of the first top to middle if the second. Lot of draft guys seem to really like him.

Quite a few of these kinds of centers in that range hopefully the flames grab one. Still high on maddox Dagenais. For the LA pick.

[CKPThunder]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Most seem to have Command bottom of the first top to middle if the second. Lot of draft guys seem to really like him.

Quite a few of these kinds of centers in that range hopefully the flames grab one. Still high on maddox Dagenais. For the LA pick.

LA pick? Are you hoping LA takes Dagenais or are you hoping the Flames make a deal with the Kings to get their pick? Sorry, I'm a bit confused.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by CKPThunder

LA pick? Are you hoping LA takes Dagenais or are you hoping the Flames make a deal with the Kings to get their pick? Sorry, I'm a bit confused.

Lol yes my bad was supposed to be vegas pick.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Let me preface this by saying that I am still fully on board with drafting a forward with our own pick. McKenna, Stenberg, Malhotra, those are my top 3 guys that I really like. Special shout out to Bjorck and Lawrence (but those are mainly for if we don't win the lottery and sit 6-10th).

However, I would be treating this draft as 2024 again. There are some top end stud D prospects that should not be overlooked. Always go BP, and if our scouts deem one of Verhoeff, Carels, Rudolph, etc. as a prospect we should select, then I will support it. Especially a guy like Carels, who is really looking like a stud and a guy I truly think could be the best defenseman in the draft.

My top 5 as of right now:

McKenna
Stenberg
Carels
Verhoeff
Malhotra

If we walk away with any of these 5 I am a happy camper. Again, not entirely upset if we get Bjorck, Lawrence, Rudolph, or anyone else, but I would be a tad bummed out.

TLDR: If we land a top 5 pick and select one of the 5 I like, I am stoked.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Top 10 for me:

McKenna (LW) - 6'0, 170,
Stenberg (F) - 6'0, 183
Malhotra (C) - 6'2, 183
Verhoeff (D) - 6'4, 212
Roobroeck (C) - 6'4, 216
Hulbert (F) - 6'0, 183
Belchetz (LW) - 6'5, 227
Rudolph (D) - 6'2, 203
Command (C) - 6'1, 185
Novotny (F) - 6'1, 205

Other guys I wouldn't be disappointed with in the 2nd round would be Tournas (RW) 6'2, 198, Baumuller (F) 5'11, 192, Ruck (F) 6'0, 176, or Erickson (C) 6'4, 201. We need to draft skill and size at this point. We have a lot of smaller players that should pop, now we need some bigger guys to play with them.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I'm all Command Central for the late first rounder...

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Top 10 for me:

McKenna
Stenberg
Malhotra
Verhoeff
Roobroeck
Hulbert
Belchetz
Rudolph
Command
Novotny

Other guys I wouldn't be disappointed with in the 2nd round would be Tournas, Baumuller, Ruck, or Erickson. We need to draft skill and size at this point. We have a lot of smaller players that should pop, now we need some bigger guys to play with them.

Can you walk me through your Roobroeck love? Numbers have improved in the second half of the year but still saw a lot of scouts raising red flags. Is the big factor for you the priority on size?

I've barely seen him play so curious your thoughts.

[dammage79]

My top 5 today:
1. McKenna
2. Bjorck
3. Stenberg
4. Lawrence
5. Verhoeff

[mile]

Top of the Draft
McKenna
Stenberg
Verhoeff


Top-Pairing D potential
Carels
Reid
Rudolph
Smits


Good #2C Potential
Bjorck - has the best chance of being a top line forward
Lawrence
Malholtra

[The Fonz]

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

Cosentino’s ranking released earlier today:

1. Stenberg
2. McKenna
3. Verhoeff
4. Reid
5. Malholtra
6. Smits
7. Carels
8. Bjorck
9. Lawrence
10. Hemming

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Top 10 for me:

McKenna (LW) - 6'0, 170,
Stenberg (F) - 6'0, 183
Malhotra (C) - 6'2, 183
Verhoeff (D) - 6'4, 212
Roobroeck (C) - 6'4, 216
Hulbert (F) - 6'0, 183
Belchetz (LW) - 6'5, 227
Rudolph (D) - 6'2, 203
Command (C) - 6'1, 185
Novotny (F) - 6'1, 205

Other guys I wouldn't be disappointed with in the 2nd round would be Tournas (RW) 6'2, 198, Baumuller (F) 5'11, 192, Ruck (F) 6'0, 176, or Erickson (C) 6'4, 201. We need to draft skill and size at this point. We have a lot of smaller players that should pop, now we need some bigger guys to play with them.

I have seen Roobroeck live 3 times and have always been disappointed and have lnever seen him play center. Suspect I will see him a couple more times as it looks like the 67’s are going to play Niagara in the first round. I would not have him anywhere near a top 10 list myself.

We have enough big forwards with Honzek, Battaglia, Strongrem and Suniev that I think we can error on the side of skill still regardless of size imo.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

We have enough big forwards with Honzek, Battaglia, Strongrem and Suniev that I think we can error on the side of skill still regardless of size imo.

By we do you mean the Wranglers?
I doubt more than one of those names even sticks in the NHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I have seen Roobroeck live 3 times and have always been disappointed and have lnever seen him play center. Suspect I will see him a couple more times as it looks like the 67’s are going to play Niagara in the first round. I would not have him anywhere near a top 10 list myself.

We have enough big forwards with Honzek, Battaglia, Strongrem and Suniev that I think we can error on the side of skill still regardless of size imo.

That group probably produces one or two NHLers, hardly enough to say that they can ignore acquiring more size

[HockeyKhan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That group probably produces one or two NHLers, hardly enough to say that they can ignore acquiring more size

Size can be found in rounds 3-7. I would much rather use a top pic on skill over size. We’ve been drafting for size for 30 years until recently and I’m much happier with the results.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by HockeyKhan

Size can be found in rounds 3-7. I would much rather use a top pic on skill over size. We’ve been drafting for size for 30 years until recently and I’m much happier with the results.

When you're drafting size in rounds 3 to 7, you're getting nothing but size. You need talented players with size.