2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Fan69

He is 165 which mean the most he will probably put on is about 15 lbs. maybe underweight is a better description. What he does in jr doesnt impress me its what he does against men.

Point is physically he isnt doing much which means his skill has to do almost all the work. My point is also in a probably several of the top tens will be just as meaningful as a winger.

I have the same thoughts about parekh. High skill, yes will he be be an all situations defender? Probably not.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Fan69

He is 165 which mean the most he will probably put on is about 15 lbs. maybe underweight is a better description. What he does in jr doesnt impress me its what he does against men.

Point is physically he isnt doing much which means his skill has to do almost all the work. My point is also in a probably several of the top tens will be just as meaningful as a winger.

I see someone who if he puts his time in the gym to get bigger but to me he is not really smaller than any of the other elite wingers in the game like Kane or Kucherov.

It is fine you prefer the 6’4 Dman to him but you are arguing he is basically going to bust. I think that kid is going to be a mega stud.

[Royle9]

To be devils advocate a bit (not that I wouldn't draft McKenna) but the same things were said to be knocks against Bedard and you can see how he's struggled to be as effective against men in the NHL, even now.

Some guys (RIP Johnny) have a knack for being elusive and using that to their advantage, or high end speed, but it definitely is more difficult to be a game breaker the smaller you are.

With that said I do think he'll fill out a bit and likely end up better than Bedard anyway.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I see someone who if he puts his time in the gym to get bigger but to me he is not really smaller than any of the other elite wingers in the game like Kane or Kucherov.

It is fine you prefer the 6’4 Dman to him but you are arguing he is basically going to bust. I think that kid is going to be a mega stud.

Where did i mention bust?

I said high end offensive player but not a guy you probably have out to preserve a lead or in the last minute if a game your ahead. Im not the only one questioning his off puck play. Can a lot if that be coached out? Probably. Is it a guarantee? Nope.

[Erick Estrada]

Lets face it, a 6'4" defenseman is not going to fix the organizational issue lack of offense. We are seeing right now how difficult it is to win hockey games when you can only score 2 goals a game. Verhoeff isn't really going to move the needle much for this organization the way it's currently constructed.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Lets face it, a 6'4" defenseman is not going to fix the organizational issue lack of offense. We are seeing right now how difficult it is to win hockey games when you can only score 2 goals a game. Verhoeff isn't really going to move the needle much for this organization the way it's currently constructed.

Completely disagre. our defence this year has been a shambles and is leading directly to our lack of offense. We need help everywhere and i am not so enamoured with our defensive depth as some right now i see one nhl’er( brewski) and a couple of possibles as our defensive depth.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Where did i mention bust?

I said high end offensive player but not a guy you probably have out to preserve a lead or in the last minute if a game your ahead. Im not the only one questioning his off puck play. Can a lot if that be coached out? Probably. Is it a guarantee? Nope.

Your first post where you said he is nothing more than an offensive powerplay specialist. If that is all McKenna becomes it will be a bust. He has a ton of hype as being borderline generational

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Royle9

To be devils advocate a bit (not that I wouldn't draft McKenna) but the same things were said to be knocks against Bedard and you can see how he's struggled to be as effective against men in the NHL, even now.

Some guys (RIP Johnny) have a knack for being elusive and using that to their advantage, or high end speed, but it definitely is more difficult to be a game breaker the smaller you are.

With that said I do think he'll fill out a bit and likely end up better than Bedard anyway.

Bedard has 136pts in 159 games all but 9 of those games played as a teenager. He is doing just fine but I suppose if he is supposed to be the next McDavid or Crosby he should be at a higher ppg.

I don’t think McKenna will be the next great one but I do see franchise player potential in him for sure.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Your first post where you said he is nothing more than an offensive powerplay specialist. If that is all McKenna becomes it will be a bust. He has a ton of hype as being borderline generational

No i said offensive AND power play specialist.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Fan69

No i said offensive AND power play specialist.

Your exact quote was

“Undersized powerplay offensive specialist is what i see“

I guess I read it differently since there is no comma or and or / between powerplay/offensive

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Completely disagre. our defence this year has been a shambles and is leading directly to our lack of offense. We need help everywhere and i am not so enamoured with our defensive depth as some right now i see one nhl’er( brewski) and a couple of possibles as our defensive depth.

So the plan is to win games 2-1 for the long haul? You can win with defensive systems in place of having a stacked defense. It's much more difficult to manufacture goals.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

So the plan is to win games 2-1 for the long haul? You can win with defensive systems in place of having a stacked defense. It's much more difficult to manufacture goals.

Your offence isnt doing squat if they are pulling the puck out if their own net constantly. Yes goals have been a problem but allowed goals have been just as much of an issue his year. Our offense currently needs five a game to win? Thats not sustainable long term.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Your offence isnt doing squat if they are pulling the puck out if their own net constantly. Yes goals have been a problem but allowed goals have been just as much of an issue his year. Our offense currently needs five a game to win? Thats not sustainable long term.

Last season is evidence that this group can play defense and keep games close. Also proven is that they couldn't score last season and they can't score this season. To be fair Wolf hasn't been as good as he was last season which is compounding the defensive woes. If he plays better, the team can keep the goals down as they did last season. There's simply no fix for the lack of offense outside of drafting the most talented forwards available.

[YyjFlames]

You don't pick at first overall to fix the entire team's defense or offense. You pick the guy that is most likely to alter the franchise and be a superstar.

Right now, that's McKenna and it's not even close for me and for most prospect analysts. I actually like the fact that he's a skinny guy who put up crazy points in the CHL for the last two years as an undersized and underaged player. That should carry a lot of weight and not just be brushed off.

And if this weekend's games are any indication, he's started to figure out college hockey too, and he's going to pile up the points there as well. Maybe he doesn't, and we can have that discussion in December/January, but right now he's the guy you comfortably draft without question at 1st overall.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

You don't pick at first overall to fix the entire team's defense or offense. You pick the guy that is most likely to alter the franchise and be a superstar.

Right now, that's McKenna and it's not even close for me and for most prospect analysts. I actually like the fact that he's a skinny guy who put up crazy points in the CHL for the last two years as an undersized and underaged player. That should carry a lot of weight and not just be brushed off.

And if this weekend's games are any indication, he's started to figure out college hockey too, and he's going to pile up the points there as well. Maybe he doesn't, and we can have that discussion in December/January, but right now he's the guy you comfortably draft without question at 1st overall.

Didnt say he wasnt what i said is as far as im concerned their are a number of game changer in this draft and i dont think that mckenna is head or shoulders above some of them as some seem to think. Scouchings evaluations is the same as mine.

Again parekh was setting records still didnt come in on day one and become a difference maker and i see mckenna having a lot of the same issues as beddard.

Would i be upset if we drafted him? Only in the sense we are adding another winger when a top tier center and top tier defenders are available which are our areas of need.

[SuperMatt18]

My guess still is Flames won't be bad enough for 1st overall anyways, still more likely in that 5-7 range. If they do get 1st overall then I think you take Mckenna but picking there is still unlikely.

And hopefully they can get one of Roobroeck, Bjorck, or Lawrence there. C remains the biggest position of need in this organization.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

My guess still is Flames won't be bad enough for 1st overall anyways, still more likely in that 5-7 range. If they do get 1st overall then I think you take Mckenna but picking there is still unlikely.

And hopefully they can get one of Roobroeck, Bjorck, or Lawrence there. C remains the biggest position of need in this organization.

Roobroeck is a LW.

Also, IMO, he does not belong with those other names. I'd sooner take Caleb Malhotra, frankly.

[SuperMatt18]

I was just going by Sam Cosentino's rankings where he was listed as a C and those were the guys ranked 5-7 but I trust your take on it. I've never watched most of these guys play so not going to pretend like I have any knowledge of them at this point.

Although I do expect that Malholtra's pedigree and early season production as an OHL rookie is going to have him skyrocket into the top 10-15 of the next rankings.

[Vinny01]

Had the Flames been able to draft Tij in 2024 like many of us hoped I might lean towards Verheoff over McKenna if we had the first pick but with RHD being a bit of a strength and game breaking offense up front being the biggest need it is not close for me right now.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Fan69

He is 165 which mean the most he will probably put on is about 15 lbs. maybe underweight is a better description. What he does in jr doesnt impress me its what he does against men.

Point is physically he isnt doing much which means his skill has to do almost all the work. My point is also in a probably several of the top tens will be just as meaningful as a winger.

Artemi Panarin wasn't drafted at all partly because he was a skinny 155lbs, look at he now.

Mckenna decided to go the college route so he could have the extra time to work on getting stronger, he also picked Penn State because Rob McLean is known to be one of if not the best strength and conditioning coach in the game. I expect in a couple of years Gavin to be closer to 200lbs than 180.