2026 NHL Draft Thread

[saillias]

Cool story from Barnburner. Mike Commodore was apparently the first person to recognize Keaton Verhoeff's talent, when he was in Fort Sask dropping the puck for a bantam game. He spoke to the parents and let them know he thought their kid was a player.

Now years later they text him and thank him for being the first person to recognize their son's talent.

Both potential 1st overalls have local connections.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

By all accounts, Verhoeff’s skating is really good. It’s just that Schaeffer’s is elite+.

Fair enough, I can agree with that. KV's skating is actually a strength imo, especially for a big d-man.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by saillias

Cool story from Barnburner. Mike Commodore was apparently the first person to recognize Keaton Verhoeff's talent, when he was in Fort Sask dropping the puck for a bantam game. He spoke to the parents and let them know he thought their kid was a player.

Now years later they text him and thank him for being the first person to recognize their son's talent.

Both potential 1st overalls have local connections.

Interesting. I wonder if there was a connection between Commodore and Iginla back then to relay that info to Iggy, or if it was already well known how good he was as a 14-15 year old.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Probably not too far off imo. About the same size, both shoot right handed. I would say KV is more physical, can play more of a 'bull in a China shop' style at times. KV is also only 17 right now, imagine 10 years from now when he's in his prime, he will be a very valuable player imo.

He's not a Makar offensively (few are obviously), KV's strength is that he just does pretty much everything quite well. If you can draft a big kid with that potential, it's no wonder he's being talked about as a top 3 pick.

He is the right handed Chris Pronger of this draft. Not that he will necessarily be that good but like Pronger I think he will end up being the best player from this draft class and has the ability to play a bit of a similar game.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

By all accounts, Verhoeff’s skating is really good. It’s just that Schaeffer’s is elite+.

So basically last year was the year to tank?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

He is the right handed Chris Pronger of this draft. Not that he will necessarily be that good but like Pronger I think he will end up being the best player from this draft class and has the ability to play a bit of a similar game.

Who is this Chris Pronger? Nobody remembers who was 2nd... he must have been 2nd, right?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Who is this Chris Pronger? Nobody remembers who was 2nd... he must have been 2nd, right?

I just hope the Flames don't draft someone like the guy who went ahead of Pronger.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Schaefer vs Verhoeff = Makar vs Hedman? Would that be fair, or is the gap a little larger?

I would say you're at least in the ballpark...

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by traptor

is Pietrangelo a fair comp for Verhoeff?

No not really, style wise he's closer to Aaron Ekblad IMO.

He's good enough, smart enough and big enough to step right in and become most teams #1 Dman at 18 yrs old.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by saillias

Cool story from Barnburner. Mike Commodore was apparently the first person to recognize Keaton Verhoeff's talent, when he was in Fort Sask dropping the puck for a bantam game. He spoke to the parents and let them know he thought their kid was a player.

Now years later they text him and thank him for being the first person to recognize their son's talent.

Both potential 1st overalls have local connections.

I have a buddy that is a whisperer like that. He's called multiple kids. Local product at ten yrs old he's like 'he's gonna play in the NHL'. I was argued saying he was terrible and held his stick like he was presenting a baguette to a table. and sure enough, Penguins.

Another buddy who was my kids head coach, like a 100 millionaire and retired now and took a job for recruiting and NIL money for a Div 1 NCAA school in New York for free. Like hockey Savants.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by saillias

Cool story from Barnburner. Mike Commodore was apparently the first person to recognize Keaton Verhoeff's talent, when he was in Fort Sask dropping the puck for a bantam game. He spoke to the parents and let them know he thought their kid was a player.

Now years later they text him and thank him for being the first person to recognize their son's talent.

Both potential 1st overalls have local connections.

Ponder mentioned that McKenna was a Flames fan growing up? I know there is that one picture of him wearing a jersey at the Dome.

Frank has mentioned multiple times on the FAN that Verhoeff lived with the Iginla’s at some point prior to the dub and that Jerome knows Verhoeff better than any scout out there

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Ponder mentioned that McKenna was a Flames fan growing up? I know there is that one picture of him wearing a jersey at the Dome.

Frank has mentioned multiple times on the FAN that Verhoeff lived with the Iginla’s at some point prior to the dub and that Jerome knows Verhoeff better than any scout out there

Iginla coached Verhoeff in Kelowna and he was a teammate of Joe’s on that team. Verhoeff was drafted into the WHL out of that Kelowna program.

[mile]

McKenna mentioned being a big Blackhawks and Kane fan growing up

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by mile

McKenna mentioned being a big Blackhawks and Kane fan growing up

This.

[Monahammer]

Taking Verhoeff over McKenna if we have the option would be a huge mistake.

[Tbull8]

Cmon Vegas. Miss the playoffs and win the lottery. Let’s get both haha

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Taking Verhoeff over McKenna if we have the option would be a huge mistake.

McKenna is the guy and I really hope and just have a feeling he will be a Flame next season. I just wish he was a center but would be fitting for the Flames
To build their team around a winger for the third straight time

Iginla —> Gaudreau/Tkachuk —> McKenna

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by mile

McKenna mentioned being a big Blackhawks and Kane fan growing up

Safe to say a lot of kids around his age were big blackhawks and kane fans. Let me guess, he also like watching Crosby a lot haha

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

McKenna is the guy and I really hope and just have a feeling he will be a Flame next season. I just wish he was a center but would be fitting for the Flames
To build their team around a winger for the third straight time

Iginla —> Gaudreau/Tkachuk —> McKenna

In before someone says how it didnt work for us before etc etc.
Tampa won multiple cups with Point as their 1C and Kucherov as their superstar. Even Chicago won multiple with a solid but not superstar center in Toews and a star winger in Kane. Its doable if guys like Reschny and Potter continue to develop into top 6 guys

[shutout]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/lates...-gavin-mckenna

Despite his overwhelming offensive production and intelligence in the WHL, there were flaws in his game. It’s easy to forgive a lazy backcheck or a less-than-stellar effort in the corners when he's showing off his immense skill and averaging more than two points per game.

15 points in 14 NCAA games is solid for a player who turns 18 in December.
Only four of his points have come at 5-on-5. That’s just 26.6 percent of his total points

When comparing McKenna with those who played in the NCAA during their draft-eligible seasons, the level of concern only grows.

The power-play reliance isn’t the only concern in McKenna’s game, though. His poor defensive habits and lack of engagement away from the puck are significant issues that NHL scouts and analysts have noted.

McKenna has been known to cheat for offense from time to time, and he’s done that plenty at the NCAA level. He’s been bullied physically at times, especially when Penn State has played bigger, stronger schools, such as Michigan or Michigan State. His defensive issues stem from a lack of engagement and commitment, not from a lack of skill or ability.

The playmaker paints the offensive zone with bold passes, as if he's creating a work of art. His vision and ability to find the smallest seam to set up a teammate are elite. His puck handling is creative and daring, consistently putting opposing players in compromising positions.

In other words, McKenna is a force with the puck.