2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by traptor

If we missed out on the top5, I think i would want the Flames to snag Bjork or Malhotra.


Is that crazy to take him between 6-10?

It might be a bit of a reach, and I'm waiting until later in the season to see if he can keep it up, but I don't think it's crazy. Consider this: Malhotra is headed for 85 points, and he doesn't even play on the top-line in Brantford.

[Sandman]

More thoughts from Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings:

-Keep an eye out for C Liam Lefebvre (6'2.75",203lbs), a "C"-rated skater who appears to be playing RW for the Rimouski Oceanic- who sit in 12th-place (out of 18 teams), and are 15th in goals-for in the Q. Lefebvre went undrafted by NHL teams this past summer in his first year of eligibility (he turns 19 in May), and was a free agent signing by the Oceanic who is committed to the U of Vermont next year- he played in the USHS Prep league in 2024-25. Lefebvre is an excellent skater, but his edges and agility are even greater assets, and he owns superb puck-skills, with an NHL-caliber shot. As of right now, he leads Rimouski in scoring by 3 points, with 9 goals and 20 points in 23 contests. If he keeps it up, he could be a candidate to be picked in the 2nd, or 3rd round of this summer's NHL Draft.

-"C"-rated LW Jean-Christoph Lemieux (5'11.25",190lbs) was quite noticeable in a background role at the Hlinka (1 assist, and a +3 in 4 games) for the fact that he will not be outworked, wins battles, drives opponents nuts, and provides detailed defensive minutes. A fiery competitor, he provides more of the same in limited ice-time for a deep and talented Windsor Spitfires club, and has contributed 10 goals and 15 points in 23 games (with 18 PIM). JCL is smart, and reads the game very well, attacking with his speed, motor, and overwhelming pace to win pucks for his team. He looks to be a good candidate to be picked in the middle-rounds.

-RW Kayden Lemire (6'4",194lbs) typically plays on the third-line for the Prince George Cougars (WHL), who are once again one of the best squads in the league. The "C"-rated winger doesn't get put in too many offensive scenarios, and has only been able to post 14 points in 25 games thus far, but will surely be of interest to NHL-clubs come draft day. Lemire has the smarts and awareness to play a responsible defensive game, and applies robust physicality to separate man from puck, but he is not without skill -and would undoubtedly have much better numbers if he were given the chance. He moves very well, especially for a big man, and owns smooth puck-skills, a nose for the net, and a nasty shot.

-The Cape Breton Eagles are 13th in the Q (out of 18 teams), but only ONE team has scored less goals than they have. This makes "C"-rated C Romain L'Italien's production even more impressive; the 6'1",196lb pivot leads the team in scoring, with 26 points in 24 games. L'Italien leans rather heavily into his playmaking, with 18 of his points being assists, and possesses the high-end puck-skill to maneuver around opponents in traffic. He sees the ice well, plays in the greasy areas as well as in front of the net, and is very good in his own zone, but could use upgrades in his skating and physicality.

-With 8 points in the last 10 games, "C"-rated defenseman Will McLaughlin (6'1.75",188lbs) seems to be settling in nicely to life in the WHL- with the 6th-placed Portland Winterhawks. The Canmore-born rearguard has put up 15 points in 26 games (projected to 39 points in 68 games), playing mostly second-pairing minutes, and has shown himself to be a poised, responsible, two-way presence; he is first on the team, with a +13. McLaughlin is not a very physical player, preferring to do most of his business with smart positioning, constant scanning, and an active stick. He is a smooth, projectable skater, but he could use upgrades to his acceleration and top-speed, although he comfortably carries the puck up-ice with poise and confidence, and is an excellent puck-mover with his accurate passing skill. Defensively, he is good against the rush, and highly aware in shutting down opposing teams' top players; he is used on the PK, and in a match-up role. In the Hlinka, McLaughlin was the second-highest scoring D for Team USA, with 3 points in 5 games. Hopefully, he keeps the offensive numbers flowing, in order to avoid being labelled too "vanilla".

-If you watched the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, then you probably came away with an appreciation for "C"-rated LW Pierce Mbuyi's game in very limited minutes. Though he was only able to produce 1 assist in 4 games, and he only measures 5'10",180lbs, he made his presence felt with his relentless motor, boundless energy, and tenacity in puck-battles. He was in his opponents' faces for the duration of every shift, disrupting the play, and keeping attackers off-balance with his constant physicality and pitbull-like compete. His speed is augmented by his high-end workrate, but further upgrades must be made to his explosiveness and separation speed; he is quite strong on his skates though, and hard to knock off the puck. Mbuyi is smart and aware all over the ice, defensively responsible, and a skilled offensive producer with a stunning release to beat goalies- he is currently 5th in OHL scoring, with 14 goals and 36 points in 29 games (and 43 PIM) for Owen Sound. He could easily make his way into the first-round.

-LW Filip Novak has tumbled down in most lists, and Central Scouting gave the rank of "C"; it may be because he hasn't produced as well as anticipated, although he is the third-highest scoring U-18 player in the Czechia U20 league, with 23 points in 21 games (good for 22nd-overall). The 6'1",198lb winger is a power-forward with uncommon strength, and he uses his size in battles, to protect the puck, and to power his way to the net. He plays a very straight-forward, simple, and projectable style, with a heavy net-front game, and a solid two-way conscience. He moves well, but needs to tweak his skating a bit; his speed is augmented by his high motor and robust activity rate. Novak put up 4 points in 4 games at the Hlinka, but 3 of them came in the first game of the tournament against the Swiss. I still think he is taken in the second, or third round, as there's good potential here.

-In 2024-25, "C"-rated defenseman Landon Nycz led all USHL U-18 blueliners in points, with 27 in 56 games split between Waterloo and Sioux City. The 6'3",205lb rearguard is finding points harder to come by in his freshman season in the NCAA, putting up only 2 points in 16 games for UMass, with severely limited ice-time and opportunity- he would have done better to stay in the USHL for one more season in my estimation. The good news is that while he's had plenty of growing pains along the way as a rookie, his play is actually getting good reviews; he's defending well for a youngster (although he's older by draft standards, with an Oct.4th, 2007 birthdate), closing gaps well against the rush, and moving pucks well on the breakout- for the most part. Nycz's main selling point is his effortless stride, and breathtaking speed in all 4 directions, but he's also cool and calm with the puck in transition-even against older competition. His best years are ahead of him, and he could be picked as early as the second-round.

-I think RW/C Thomas Rousseau (rated "C") is better than his stats this season- so far, he's only managed 24 points in 24 games with a mediocre Sherbrooke (QMJHL) squad as their top-scorer, but his production in 2024-25 (40 points in 58 games, 8 points in 9 playoff games) offered more promise. Rousseau was measured at 5'10.25", and 174lbs by Central Scouting, but he plays like a pocket power-forward, with plenty of aggression and physical engagement, tenacity in puck-battles, and a high motor. He is blessed with a high IQ, and plus-level playmaking vision, as well as excellent speed and maneuverability- although his explosiveness and top speed need a bit of work going forward. In addition, Rousseau is also an excellent defensive player with sublime awareness who hounds puck-carriers relentlessly. He could use more strength for the next level if he plans on playing the same style.

-Big Wesley Royston (6'4",190lbs) is a rough-and-tumble power-forward who can take over games with his intimidating physicality, and his dazzling speed. Royston is "C"-rated, probably because he may never be a top-6 player in the pros, but I think he's capable of more offense than he's been able to muster this season, as he had 27 points in 63 games last year. Recently, he was traded from the Erie Otters to the Owen Sound Attack, going from 4 points in 13 games, to 6 points (4 goals) in 11 games. Royston owns good hands around the net, a willingness to set up shop in front of the goalie, and a very underrated shot- he could be a player that pops for the Attack in a few years. He backchecks hard, throws bone-crushing hits, will drop the gloves, and provides energy, but it's that high-end skating that will interest scouts the most (he can separate in open-ice), with the possibility of being an impactful bottom-six player in the NHL.

[TOfan]

Jason Bukula with his list this morning.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...026-nhl-draft/

Verhoff
McKenna
Stenberg
Carels
Malhotra
Reid
Lawrence
Belchetz

Have to think the Flames are walking away with one of these players.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Jason Bukula with his list this morning.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...026-nhl-draft/

Verhoff
McKenna
Stenberg
Carels
Malhotra
Reid
Lawrence
Belchetz

Have to think the Flames are walking away with one of these players.

I really like Malhotra, top 5 feels high, but with the lack of centers at the top half of this draft I can certainly see him going early. I could be wrong but he gives me Bo Horvat type vibes as a comparable. He is going to play an honest two way game, and be a player that you can put out in any situation. Not sure he has the high end offensive skill set, but his smarts and compete will more than make up for it. I see him as being a reliable 2nd line center.

[Bingo]

Updated with Buckula's List

9 rankings
Need 3 to get an average

Flames in 2nd spot (and 34)
Vegas pick moves up a spot

1 Gavin McKenna LW 1.44

2 Keaton Verhoeff RHD 2.22
3 Ivar Stenberg RW 2.44

4 Tynan Lawrence C 5.33

5 Ethan Belchetz LW 6.67
6 Chase Reid RHD 7.56

7 Carson Carels LHD 10.67
8 Ryan Lin RHD 11.33
9 Alberts Smits LHD 11.43

10 Mathis Preston RW 14.44
11 Viggo Björck C 14.44
12 Marcus Nordmark LW 14.50
13 Daxon Rudolph RHD 14.67

14 Adam Novotný LW 16.00
15 Ryan Roobroeck LW 16.13
16 Xavier Villeneuve LHD 16.44
17 Elton Hermansson RW 16.78
18 Caleb Malhotra C 17.00

20 Juho Piiparinen RHD 18.67
21 Oliver Suvanto C 19.38
22 Oscar Hemming LW 20.43
23 J.P. Hurlbert LW 20.56
24 Nikita Klepov LW 20.63
25 Malte Gustafsson LHD 20.75

26 William Håkansson LHD 22.57
27 Egor Shilov C 24.00
28 Jack Hextall C 24.29
30 Niklas Aaram-Olsen LW 25.00

31 Beckham Edwards C 27.80
32 Ilia Morozov C 27.86

33 Tomas Chrenko C 31.83
34 Maddox Dagenais C 33.25
35 Alessandro Di Iorio C 33.80
36 Brooks Rogowski C 35.29
37 Alexander Command C 35.33
38 Lars Steiner RW 35.67
40 Adam Valentini C 35.80

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Updated with Buckula's List

9 rankings
Need 3 to get an average

Flames in 2nd spot (and 34)
Vegas pick moves up a spot

Brooks Rogowski jumped out at me (seemed like a hockey name) so I did some research. I discovered he's huge and Sandman has some good things to say (I didn't say it was intense research). He's now my favourite choice for our 2nd round pick.

[JTech780]

It’s going to be really interesting to watch what happens with Oscar Hemming the rest of the season. If he was playing any games at all, he would be in the mix to be a top 10 pick, but it’s hard to put a guy who hasn’t played that high.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by JTech780

It’s going to be really interesting to watch what happens with Oscar Hemming the rest of the season. If he was playing any games at all, he would be in the mix to be a top 10 pick, but it’s hard to put a guy who hasn’t played that high.

Sounds like a perfect target for a team with multiple 1sts this year...

[SuperMatt18]

McKenna is getting over evaluated.

He made the riskier move to go to NCAA and is being punished for it a bit.

If he was still in WHL putting up 2 P/GP this wouldn't even be a question who is going first.

My guess is Malholtra is going to be top 10 by end of the season.

[Vinny01]

Mission McKenna is still by far my most favorable outcome for the Flames

[robertsfanatic]

McKenna, Malhotra, Di Iorio....please and thank you.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

McKenna is getting over evaluated.

He made the riskier move to go to NCAA and is being punished for it a bit.

If he was still in WHL putting up 2 P/GP this wouldn't even be a question who is going first.

My guess is Malholtra is going to be top 10 by end of the season.

No he isnt? its legitimate questions. Same questions i still have with parekh. This he was labeled as generational so it must be so is getting out of hand.

More than a few scouts question his off puck. He is never going to be big or physical. He is uber talented but tends to be pass first which means he is more dependent on quality linemates than others. He is a winger the least influential position in hockey with basically a handful if wingers that are gamebreakers in the entire league. Is he marner or Laine? Thats the question and certainly not an illegitimate one.

At the end of the day the guys label doesnt mean squat to me what he does in the nhl is. He will have to be a top 3 winger in the league to be in the same value on ice in game as a number one defender which Keaton looks to be.
Stenberg may be less skilled but also doesnt come with the same question marks and is already playing ina professional league and is setting records.

To me his position at number one is absolutely to be questioned.

[Samonadreau]

Its fair to say both Mckenna is 1st OA ranked, and also not on the same level as a Celebrini.

It doesnt have to be one or the other. not every 1st overal is a Crosby.

[Roko]

Stink for Stenberg

[Sandman]

Slack off for Verhoeff

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Its fair to say both Mckenna is 1st OA ranked, and also not on the same level as a Celebrini.

It doesnt have to be one or the other. not every 1st overal is a Crosby.

I think I heard from an offence perspective, McKenna’s impact could be similar to Jack Hughes. So, not quite the top tier but in that next level. Everyone is probably familiar with the other positional compatibles, Kucherov, Panarin, Kane.

The Flames should leap at that level of talent.

From my perspective I would be pumped to land McKenna or Verhoff. stenberg and Lawrence would also be amazing.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Fan69

No he isnt? its legitimate questions. Same questions i still have with parekh. This he was labeled as generational so it must be so is getting out of hand.

More than a few scouts question his off puck. He is never going to be big or physical. He is uber talented but tends to be pass first which means he is more dependent on quality linemates than others. He is a winger the least influential position in hockey with basically a handful if wingers that are gamebreakers in the entire league. Is he marner or Laine? Thats the question and certainly not an illegitimate one.

At the end of the day the guys label doesnt mean squat to me what he does in the nhl is. He will have to be a top 3 winger in the league to be in the same value on ice in game as a number one defender which Keaton looks to be.
Stenberg may be less skilled but also doesnt come with the same question marks and is already playing ina professional league and is setting records.

To me his position at number one is absolutely to be questioned.

In a certain sense, I wouldn’t mind if the Flames ended up with the 2OA pick. Let another team make the decision.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I think I heard from an offence perspective, McKenna’s impact could be similar to Jack Hughes. So, not quite the top tier but in that next level. Everyone is probably familiar with the other positional compatibles, Kucherov, Panarin, Kane.

The Flames should leap at that level of talent.

From my perspective I would be pumped to land McKenna or Verhoff. stenberg and Lawrence would also be amazing.

Jack Hughes steers the ship in New Jersey. If McKenna is the same guy and less injury prone he's a no-brainer.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I think I heard from an offence perspective, McKenna’s impact could be similar to Jack Hughes. So, not quite the top tier but in that next level. Everyone is probably familiar with the other positional compatibles, Kucherov, Panarin, Kane.

The Flames should leap at that level of talent.

From my perspective I would be pumped to land McKenna or Verhoff. stenberg and Lawrence would also be amazing.

Kucherov is possibly the greatest offensive player in the last 25 years, doubt that is a fair comparable. I think a Huberdeau in his last 4 years in Florida or a passing version of a Kyle Connor is probably more accurate.

[Rick M.]

Could Wesley Royston become our Tom Wilson?