2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

The question of Lawrence or Malhotra may be redundant. If flames scouting think they see something approaching a number one D in whats left that probably supersedes both if the centers and their could be 3 or 4 of them at five.

The other factor that may come into play is what available later for centers. While the draft isnt top heavy for centers the bottom of the first into the second has quite a few. Their is a bunch of guys in that range that i like ( obviously doesnt mean flames scouting feels the same) and if the flames see it the same way they may take the defender in the top ten then hit two centers (Dagenais)later.

Tough call as a top pair defender is only eclipsed by a top line center. Are Lawrence and Malhotra that? For our scouts to decide but i certainly have enough good will with our scouting to give whoever they pick the benefit of the doubt.

if we are at five i have no problem taking one of the centers i think both could be kadri level players. A decent number one but definitely at the lower end if the centers. My reasoning? If the base skill is there then chemistry with a good winger is just as important. If Malhotra is a decent number one and Reschny is a low end number one that’s still pretty stacked at Center

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

It's pretty close for sure but calling it one fat game is reductive when he's been clipping at like 2 ppg since the start of the World Js even before going bonkers last weekend.

1.54 PPG, not including the one game.

No shade on it, but Wyttenbach is only 10 months older and has been doing that all season (1.58), and Celebrini went 1.68, just for perspective.

Again, absolutely a deserving pick at 1OA. But it’s “one fat game” because the tone around him definitely shifted after it. Stenberg is still absolutely a contender for that pick.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

I wonder who has the higher ceiling - Lawrence or Malhotra?

Yeah I'm not sure. His dad was pretty awesome, but in a Stephane Yelle way (slightly more offence though).

Tankathon has Chicago taking Malholtra from 4th to 6th though, so it might be out of our hands anyway.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I still would be OK with Lawrence. I think there is a quality 2 way center there.

[FlamesAddiction]

Not that I necessarily trust Google AI overviews, but for discussion:

Caleb Malhotra

Caleb Malhotra is most frequently compared to elite, two-way centers like Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron due to his intelligence, reliability, and effectiveness on both sides of the puck. Analysts also draw parallels to players such as Nico Hischier and Nick Suzuki for his blend of vision, competitiveness, and composure. Furthermore, Malhotra has personally identified with the styles of Aleksander Barkov and Jack Eichel regarding his offensive creativity and all-around play.

Summary of Playing Style

Two-Way Versatility: Scouts and Malhotra himself emphasize his ability to be trusted in any situation—whether defending a lead, killing a penalty, or generating offense.

Hockey IQ: Often cited as his greatest strength, his high-level anticipation allows him to exploit passing lanes and read defensive plays effectively.

Development & Tools: While once considered a work in progress, his skating has become a standout asset, particularly his lateral mobility and ability to attack with pace. He is recognized as a complete, disciplined player who "does not cheat the game".

Tynan Lawrence

Tynan Lawrence, a top 2026 NHL Draft prospect, is frequently compared to high-intensity, two-way centers like Dylan Larkin and Nick Suzuki for his combination of elite speed, high-end motor, and intelligence. Scouts project him as a versatile, top-six forward who can drive play in all situations.

Key aspects of the Lawrence NHL comparison:

NHL Comparable - Dylan Larkin: Known for in-your-face speed, attacking downhill, and being a dual-threat center.

Style Similarities - Nick Suzuki: Cited by Lawrence himself as a, smart, strong two-way player who elevates teammates.

Scouting Profile: Described as a, "transition demon" with smooth, effortless skating and a high-volume offensive game.

Lawrence brings a combination of speed and, "nasty" competitiveness that makes him a dangerous, yet, "safe" pick, with some scouts viewing him as a potential 3C with 2C upside.

Viggo Bjorck (not as much comes up)

Viggo Björck is most frequently compared to Nick Suzuki due to his elite hockey IQ, playmaking ability, and high-effort, two-way style of play. Because of his compact 5-foot-9 frame, scouts also frequently draw comparisons to other successful undersized, high-compete centers like Marco Rossi and Logan Stankoven. Like those players, Björck is noted for his fearlessness in traffic, willingness to engage physically along the boards, and his ability to drive play despite being undersized.

It's kind of funny that Suzuki seems to be the common comparison for all three.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.27th: This year's Alex Huang/ Reese Hamilton might just be RD Rylan Singh (6'0",187lbs), who impressed in 2024-25, with 31 points in 65 contests for the Guelph Storm- but has disappointed this season, with only 23 points in 50 games thus far. The Storm may be 13th in the Standings, but they were second-last in the 20-team OHL last season, and not much has changed on their backend, or in their coaching staff- which makes his lack of progression a bit perplexing. In early December, Singh led the team's defense in scoring (13 points in the first 26 games), and was tied for the team-lead with a +6, but he has plummeted down to a -6, and is second in scoring from the blueline to Penguins prospect, Quinn Beauchesne (29 points). A big negative in the eyes of scouts will be his age, as he's one of the elder statesmen in this draft-class, with an October 4th, 2007 birthday, and that might be a factor in Central Scouting ranking him as #144 for North American Skaters in their Mid-Term List.

Other than a lack of ideal size, Singh has every tool one would expect the prototypical modern puck-moving defenseman to have, and he can play in any situation- including both special teams. A highly mobile defender, he owns high-end speed in all directions, with exceptional agility on his edges that allows him to pivot instantaneously, and change direction rapidly. While I wouldn't call him "explosive", his stride is smooth and powerful, with a rather peppy first-step, and rapid acceleration up to a pace-pushing top-speed that allows him to rush the puck through the neutral zone. Singh has become a solid player on the defensive side of the puck, with a specialty in defending the rush using his mobility to close gaps quickly, and expertise in reading the attack to make stops. Though he has a bit of trouble containing bigger attackers, he brandishes an active stick to sweep pucks away from danger, stalwart positioning to stay on the right side of the play, and a willingness to engage physically. Singh is confident and poised with the puck on his blade, and shows a high success rate in making polished retrievals, complete with a nearly spotless breakout pass. As both the eye-test and the advanced stats will tell you, he does all of the little things (and many of the big things) to tilt the ice in his teams' favor, and keep the play flowing in the right direction- he's a high-value transitional driver through passing or by carry, which may be his best asset. Singh was a standout at the OHL Top Prospects Game, contributing a goal and an assist, but most scouts question the depth of his offensive game at the next level, as he may lack truly elite-level, translatable creativity, and he gets in trouble when he's not keeping things relatively safe and simple. His hockey sense remains high though, and he's very active in walking the line when quarterbacking the powerplay, and pinching in to the play for better looks; he has a pretty hard shot as well. Look for him in the mid-to-late rounds, but he may be a good gamble.

[Calgary4LIfe]

FWIW, I remember reading some opinions at the start of the season that had Lawrence as a '2nd line center', and that there may not be any 1st line centers coming out of this draft.


With that being said, If the Flames are drafting 5th or later, I would be fine with it. I have the 'tiers' like this:


Tier 1:
McKenna
Stenberg


Tier 2:
Verhoeff


Tier 3:
Reid
Carels
Smits


Tier 4:
Lawrence / Malhotra

I am not necessarily sure I have Malhotra in front of Lawrence right now. So many similarities, but Malhotra has the bigger body. Either way, if the Flames finish 5th or lower, and Lawrence or Malhotra are available, I would be fine taking them, even if I had some of the D ahead of them at this point still. I think around the 5-7th pick, it can really open up, as a case can be made for a number of options. That's just my opinion of course, and I am not the draft expert as some other posters are here.

[traptor]

It depends on tour criteria of top line center.




Are Lawrence or Malhotra going to be top 5 centers in the league (MacK)? Probably not.




Could they be top 30 centers one day (kadri)? Forsure.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.28th: 19 year-old RW Cohen Bidgood (6'0.75",178lbs) was passed over in the 2025 NHL Draft, and was a 7th-round selection in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights, but he's getting attention as being a possible pick in this summer's draft-class, in his D+1 season; Central Scouting puts him #125 on their list of North American Skaters in their Mid-Terms. The Knights were sellers before January's trade deadline, sending regulars C Sam O'Reilly and D Jared Wooley out on January 7th in order to bring in multiple picks (11 of them), and a few younger players in D Jacob Xu, and 16 year-old prospect Kane Barch. The next day, they sent 19 year-old forward Ben Wilmott to Barrie for the rights to American C William Moore, and 4 more draft-picks, while also dealing D Julian Brown to Owen Sound for youngster D Jacob Vandeven, plus another 2 picks. With holes to fill in their top-six, and O'Reilly spending most of December and early January away at the World Juniors, the Knights have steadily granted Bidgood more and more ice-time and responsibility, and he has even been playing on the top-line in recent games- responding with 8 points in his last 4 tilts. Normally an energy player for London, he helped them claim a playoff-berth with a 4-point game on Feb.16th, and he currently has 11 goals and 32 points (45 PIM) in 41 games.

Even when tasked with top-line duties, Bidgood is still an "energy" player, supplying his team with boundless motor, and dragging them into the battle by constantly agitating his opponents. Obviously, he's a hard-nosed pest, who plays on the edge (and sometimes goes over), with a hard and heavy physical style that has cost him games due to injury. He goes all-out, and plays with pace and intensity, helped along by his speed and sky-high compete-level; he is intimidating and disruptive on the forecheck, and takes away time and space from attackers on the backcheck. A conscientious two-way player, he is trusted in checking scenarios, and kills penalties for a demanding coach in Dale Hunter, who teaches structure and expects defensive responsibility from his players. He will drop the gloves when challenged, wins battles, goes to the net, mixes it up in traffic, and never passes up the chance to dole out a stiff check- he also likes to get in an extra shot wherever he can, and might even take a liberty or two in a scrum. We're actually seeing a more "kinder and gentler" Cohen Bidgood in 2026, as he had amassed 29 PIM in his first 15 games, but only sports 8 in the last 14 tilts. He is good around the net and down-low, finds space to occupy below the dots, makes himself an available passing option off-puck, and will charge the crease to clean up garbage- there is also flashes of higher-end playmaking skill and vision. Bidgood is agile and wields smooth edges, with solid puck-skill to deke and dangle in tight spaces- although he can have trouble with his control and pass-receptions at high-speed at times. Look for him in later rounds, but while he may not have legitimate top-six NHL-upside, he could develop into an impactful defensive forward.

[Monahammer]

I think i take malhotra based on bloodlines. Dad played almost 1000 nhl games and his mom is steve nash's sister. There's an excellent chance that this kid is a great pro athlete for his whole career.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.28th: "W"-rated LW/C Cohen Klassen (6'0",177lbs), seems to be a fairly complete player, with a well-rounded skillset, and a solid all-around game, but he may not possess enough "special" elements to entice scouts come draft-day. He started the season off well, with 17 points in his first 25 contests, but has only been able to contribute 13 in his last 26, for a total of 30 points (10 goals) in 51 games- which prorates to 12 goals and 36 points in 62 tilts on the season. This has led Central Scouting to put him #142 for North American Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings. His team, the Regina Pats, are in 17th-place (out of 23 teams), and currently rank 13th in goals for (201 in 57 games), so there's not really an abundance of top-talent to work with there.

While he hovers around average in most categories in terms of tools, he can play in any situation, moves the needle in both ends of the ice, and contributes to both sides of special teams in Regina. He has even been put in a shut-down role at times for the Pats, with uncommon strength (he is farmboy strong, born in Martensville, SK) and a fairly sturdy physical style; he is hard-working, energetic, and competitive, and not afraid to muck and grind when needed. Klassen is an impactful defensive forward with solid awareness in his own-zone, pro-style habits, and a plus-level attention to detail; he is an intelligent off-puck player who reads the play well enough to always be in proper position, and makes himself a constant, available passing option to get the puck flowing in the right direction. Klassen isn't much of a goal-scoring threat, but he exhibits an elevated level of playmaking vision, creativity, and IQ to feed his linemates in advantageous positions on the ice. He is an excellent skater with a good top-speed, showing well-honed puck-skill that enables him to carry through traffic, and drive the play through transition. Klassen is one of the youngest players in the draft as well, with a September 8th, 2008 birthdate. Look for him in the late-rounds.

[Rejean31]

I'd like to see the Flames acquire another 2nd round pick in the 2026 draft. I think it would be great if we could somehow nab the Ruck twins in the second round.

[D as in David]

The twins seemed to have earned their spots early in this year's draft but one wonders if the novelty of picking them both would factor into that decision somewhat.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think i take malhotra based on bloodlines. Dad played almost 1000 nhl games and his mom is steve nash's sister. There's an excellent chance that this kid is a great pro athlete for his whole career.

I agree 100%.

Obviously it's no guarantee of any kind. But it is an advantage - all else equal, the bloodlines and the fact that he grew up around NHL players, and hanging out at NHL practices, is an advantage.

Everything I've seen from Malhotra is that he gets it, and knows what it takes to be a pro and to play in the NHL. Combine that with a pretty solid tool box: he's 6'2" at 17 years of age, is a great skater, and sees the ice at an elite level.

I continue to believe that he will be at worst, the 3rd best player in this draft. My order of preference is:

1) McKenna
2) Malhotra

[D as in David]

I watched a bit of the BU game last night. BU has 11 NHL-drafted forwards. Lawrence got very little, if any, PP time while I was watching. Is there a place where you get TOI stats for college players? Are his poor counting stats in college reflective of him getting little opportunity? Players indeed need to earn those opportunities but those opportunities in BU may be quite limited in number. As an example in contrast, they were saying during the Penn St. game last night, that McKenna often will stay out for an entire PP. McKenna is featured on his team's offence; I didn't get that sense from my (limited) viewing of Lawrence.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I still would be OK with Lawrence. I think there is a quality 2 way center there.

I don't mind him as our pick either. Would I choose Malholtra over him? Probably? I don't know for sure though, and that's where I really don't envy Button or Conroy if we're ever in a position to choose between them.

There's a portential Barkov ceiling with Malholtra, and an Aho ceiling with Lawrence. Obviously I (and I'm pretty sure most) would take Barky over Aho... but I mean, come on lol. If we can't build a winner around Aho, then what are we even doing.

Edit: It would be disapointing to not come out of this season with either McKenna, Stenberg or Verhoeff, though, considering how far below everyone else we once were and how there's literally zero point to try for the playoffs.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I still would be OK with Lawrence. I think there is a quality 2 way center there.

I don’t want Lawrence at all…

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by Naitix

I would still take Stenberg over McKenna

I think the trepidation with McKenna, and even Stenberg is that they neither a stud D Man or Top C.

The last small/ average sized winger to go 1OA that was a franchise player was Kane.

Either may be the best in this class, but its rare for a winger that size to be ‘step right in and be a franchise player’

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by metroneck

I think the trepidation with McKenna, and even Stenberg is that they neither a stud D Man or Top C.

The last small/ average sized winger to go 1OA that was a franchise player was Kane.

Either may be the best in this class, but its rare for a winger that size to be ‘step right in and be a franchise player’

I’m fine with drafting Patrick Kane.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.28th: It's hard to project players from the US High School Prep circuit. The 2024-25 season was RHC Liam Lefebvre's draft year, but he was passed over after registering 57 points in 25 games for the Trinity-Pawling School, which put him in a tie for 28th in the scoring race, but 6th in ppg (2.28). The Montreal-native moved to the QMJHL this season to play with the Rimouski Oceanic, where he put up 29 points (15 goals) in 34 matches, before being dealt to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens just before the trade deadline in early-January for defense-prospect Charles Genereux, and a swap of import picks. The Sags have loaded up on quality players in an effort to boost their playoff hopes, and are now first-place in the Q (the Oceanic are second-last), so with the extra talent around him, Lefebvre has piled up 17 points in 16 tilts with his new team, for a total of 46 in 50 games. He turns 19 on May 15th, but Central Scouting ranks him #70 for North Americans on their Mid-Term List.

Lefebvre's numbers are nothing to sneeze at, but he is in his D+1 year, and ranks 45th in QMJHL scoring- so it's hard to project him as a sure-thing to be a future top-six forward in the NHL. Even still, he fits the profile that scouts drool over, that of a power-center with size (6'3",203lbs) who skates well, shoots hard, and plays a physical brand of hockey. Lefebvre skates remarkably well on a long, powerful stride, but it's his agility and maneuverability on his edges that's shockingly impressive; he achieves excellent speed and balance through his tight turns, quick pivots, and rapid changes of pace and trajectory that make him hard to defend. At top speed, he's like a freight-train, and can control the pace of the game. Though he looks bigger on the ice than his listed size, he can maneuver through traffic while evading checks, and change direction without losing much momentum. Adding to this is his solid puck-skills and well-developed protection ability that enable him to maintain possession on the fly- his stability and balance help him to be strong on the puck, but he doesn't really try to beat opponents one-on-one with fancy stickhandling tricks. As the eye-test will you, and the advanced stats will confirm, Lefebvre is a top-tier defensive forward who understands his duties as a center (though he seems to be playing mostly third-line RW in Chicoutimi); he seems to take pride in being impactful on the backcheck, performing his duties with desperation and intensity, showing elevated awareness, good details, and astute positioning. He disrupts plays with a smart stick, punctuates his stops with grit and physicality, wins more than his fair-share of battles, and beats attackers to loose pucks with his quickness. He also displays a proficiency on the face-off dot- currently sporting a 53.3% in this category.

Lefebvre works hard, plays an energetic game, and is an intimidating and disruptive forechecker. He's a skilled passer with acute vision who reads the play well in front of him, and does all the little things to advance the play in the right direction, but he may not have any kind of advanced creativity in the offensive zone. Most of his play-creation comes from his nose for the net, and his shoot-first mentality, which funnels pucks to the net. Lefebvre likes to unleash a bullet of a one-timer from the high-slot, and he can pick corners with it, but he seems to do most of his damage by timing his attacks to the net to be there at just the right time to clean up garbage around the crease. He expertly finds open space around the net to sneak in and out of, and facilitates for his teammates by causing havok in-front, and providing a screen for them. Lefebvre knows how to use his size as leverage to win inside positioning, or to bull his way through traffic. and has plenty of snarl- evidenced by his 74 PIM in 50 games. With a mostly simple and straightforward approach, Lefebvre's game looks projectable, but it's hard to tell what his ceiling will be. Look for him in the third-round.