2026 NHL Draft Thread

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by TOfan

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...-draft-scouts/

Piece on McKenna this morning. I think he goes 1OA. Some interesting takes from scouts and executives here.

One thing that most seem to land on is that this years draft seems strong at the top but there isn’t a Bedard, Celebrini, Schafer on the board. One scout in this article states he doesn’t think McKenna gets to a Patrick Kane franchise level player.

I’ve seen/heard recent comparisons to Artemi Panarin. Still a player the Flames should jump at given the opportunity.

Not that it matters - but there was about 0 scouts who thought Schafer was going to be this good. If anything last year's draft was talked about as weaker at the top than this one.

Less so than Schafer but very few had Celebrini as a Bedard level prospect either at the time of the draft.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Not that it matters - but there was about 0 scouts who thought Schafer was going to be this good. If anything last year's draft was talked about as weaker at the top than this one.

Less so than Schafer but very few had Celebrini as a Bedard level prospect either at the time of the draft.

Agreed. Celebrini has put up more points through his first 135GP than McDavid. The # of scouts who thought that was even a remote possibility would have been zero.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Hard to find a match-up for Tom Wilson in this draft (or any draft for that matter), with most of the big, mean intimidators coming from the backend these days. Here’s a few players that I love, who compare a bit to Wilson stylistically:

RW Rian Chudzinski: he puts the “power” in power-forward, and although he’s only 6’1”, he’s hard-hitting and mean, with 37 points in 50 games.

LW Sawyer Dingman: 6’4”, mean and physical, can beat people up, and is actually useful with regular minutes.

C Cameron Kuzma: 27 points in 62 games, but I think he’s capable of more. Plays a responsible game, and is rather scary.

RW Wesley Royston: 6’4”, and is a shockingly good skater who hits everything that moves. Very smooth and fast, with 18 points in 57 games. He’s better than his numbers though, and had 27 in 63 last season.

Really hard as well because there isn't nearly as much fighting in juniors these days either.

[PeteMoss]

There are more posts here about the Rucks than on their family group chat. Is it because they are twins that everyone is excited?

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

There are more posts here about the Rucks than on their family group chat. Is it because they are twins that everyone is excited?

[ah123]

Are there any good centres (I.e., better than what we have in the system now), that Connie could trade for with the draft capital we have? I am thinking of a reverse Hamilton trade (first and 2 2nds) or Zary, prospect and picks?

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

There are more posts here about the Rucks than on their family group chat. Is it because they are twins that everyone is excited?

Helps that they're Western Canadian kids who are currently 1 and 2 in CHL scoring on an Alberta team, playing with a Flames 2nd rounder as their center, have previously played with the player we all badly want with our 1st pick in the 1st round, and are slotted to go right around where we have multiple picks.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

There are more posts here about the Rucks than on their family group chat. Is it because they are twins that everyone is excited?

I think it has a lot to do with the fact the Tigers are still at the top of the WHL despite losing McKenna amongst several other players and the Ruck boys lead the WHL in scoring.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033498014887649717

Can't say I give a Ruck about that list, it lost me with Malholtra at 20 and Liam at 40.

[Teroy]

Draft ranking lists are all over the map. I'm sure there will be lots of surprises at the draft. My main want is a center.

[dammage79]

Man, I just have this feeling in my guts Viggo Bjorck is going top 5.

Teams just eat up GAF and high motor. Pair that with his skillset... It's a worthy gamble.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033580930774807027

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Man, I just have this feeling in my guts Viggo Bjorck is going top 5.

Teams just eat up GAF and high motor. Pair that with his skillset... It's a worthy gamble.

If the flames were picking 5 and saw him as the BPA I trust them.
I personally have him after
McKenna
Stenberg
Malhotra/Carels/Reid

But wouldn’t be shocked if he goes 5 either

[Two Fivenagame]

Yeah that's an interesting list for sure. Not sure what they see in T Lawrence to justify 4th overall. Malhotra at 20, and Carels at 13 is interesting.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Man, I just have this feeling in my guts Viggo Bjorck is going top 5.

Teams just eat up GAF and high motor. Pair that with his skillset... It's a worthy gamble.

I keep thinking he will fall due to his size à la Caulfield.

If we don’t get top 2, I would be open to moving down a few spots to grab him, and move the Vegas pick+ to grab a top D.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I keep thinking he will fall due to his size à la Caulfield.

If we don’t get top 2, I would be open to moving down a few spots to grab him, and move the Vegas pick+ to grab a top D.

5'10 is where he is at now. That's the same size as Crosby. And since yes still young there's a chance he has another inch to grow. 5'10-6'0" is all the same to me. Perfect good for NHL hockey. He's no Gaudreau.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Not that it matters - but there was about 0 scouts who thought Schafer was going to be this good. If anything last year's draft was talked about as weaker at the top than this one.

Less so than Schafer but very few had Celebrini as a Bedard level prospect either at the time of the draft.

I don't know about 'this good' but Schaefer was the consensus #1 OA through his entire draft season. He didn't have the question marks about his game that persist around McKenna. The only questions about Schaefer was the limited gamed he played due to injury.

[DomeFoam]

Im in the Bjorck camp too. If their is a toss up, give me the guy with the elite brain everytime. Someone that can anticipate things before they happen. Other tools can be developed with time.

Kucherov is one of my favourite players in that he perfectly exemplifies this skillset. Not overtly explosive in any one way, but a guy that can expose you through subtle deception and quick wit.

[FlamesAddiction]

Bjorck seems to be held in slightly higher regard around here than in most scouting reports. According to Elite Prospects, he is ranked between 6th and 13th by scouting services (16 sources), central scouting had him 5th for Euro skaters, not sure where that would put him overall. Most seem to have him projected to go around 8th to 10th.

Going in the top 5 would be a bit of a surprise, although maybe not totally shocking especially if the team picking is dead set on a center. Recent rankings also seem to have him a little higher than the older ones which could be a good sign.

[stemit14]

I think the toughest spot for the flames to pick will be 4th overall. At that point, the lines/rankings across the players get really blurred. I’m all for taking best player available. Having a loaded defence core drafted early in the rebuild would be great. Gives time for them to develop.

That said, it makes me wonder what steps the flames take depending on this year and next year’s draft. For example, if they draft Verhoeff this year and then end up picking Dupont next year, I think the team will definitely be overloaded on right-shot defencemen and have to make a trade. At this point, my assumption would be DuPont>Verhoeff>Parekh but who knows a year or two from now - and if one of those guys excels playing their off-side then no trade might be needed.

If the flames drafted Malhotra or Bjork and ended up picking DuPont next year, there is no need to trade anyone. I also think there would be no need to trade anyone if they ended getting Malhotra or Bjork this year and then got one of the top centers in next year’s draft (eg. Joseph). You can’t have too many skilled centers. You can always shift some to wing.

With defencemen, I think there is such a thing as too many offensively elite defencemen that are not strong defensively. If the flames somehow ended up with Dupont, Verhoeff and Parekh, I think you consider trading the one that is the least defensively capable. The return on having one of those players barely getting any powerplay time would be diminishing. What I would not want to happen is for the flames to pass on the BPA at any point because they are deep at that position. If DuPont ends up being the BPA next year, you have to take him rather than take a lesser player because they are a center. Especially since Dupont is looking like the next Makar/Hughes/Hutson/Schaefer. Might even be better than them. Who knows though.