2026 NHL Draft Thread

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

As of now, probably. Could change between now and then.
I know we feel like the Flames are in a good spot on D but that still is assuming a lot goes right. Nothing wrong with adding a guy like Verhoeff who projects to be a top pairing D.

If I'm not mistaken, he can play both sides too, right? I am sure one of Parekh or Verhoeff would go left side to ensure they play together.

[Wastedyouth]

Flames should draft Liam and Marcus Ruck back to back with their third rounders.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Flames should draft Liam and Marcus Ruck back to back with their third rounders.

Those two have been heating up and I doubt they last to the 3rd round.

It'll be interesting to see of they end up drafted by the same team.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

If I'm not mistaken, he can play both sides too, right? I am sure one of Parekh or Verhoeff would go left side to ensure they play together.

Pretty compelling top pairing.
Also, while less relevant, Verhoeff and Reschney are close.

[mile]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Let's say the Flame pick 4th OA and unfortunately all 3 forwards we liked go before our pick. Are we still going BPA and selecting Verhoeff?

Yes, I would - it’s nice having Parekh who could be a top-pairing D with elite offensive skills, but that doesn’t mean couldn’t use Verhoeff who can be the well-rounded top-pair D that can play all situations and eat big minutes

I feel like he would have the most potential as a gamebreaker after the other 3, seems like he’s always trying to make something happen when he has the puck in the offensive zone and he has a goal-scorers shot

[TheIronMaiden]

Flames have to go BPA. Targeting positions when you're in the top five is how you wind up with Juolevi instead of Tkachuk.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

It's happened..Pronman has dropped McKenna to #4 on his rankings.

Maybe we have a shot to draft him!

Tynan Lawrence moves into #1.

I'm going to say this is premature and McKenna re-establishes his dominance at the WJCs

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It's happened..Pronman has dropped McKenna to #4 on his rankings.

Maybe we have a shot to draft him!

Tynan Lawrence moves into #1.

I'm going to say this is premature and McKenna re-establishes his dominance at the WJCs

It's starting to remind me of the Shane Wright draft / situation.

Player universally thought to be a blue chipper for multiple pre draft seasons starts to show warts in draft eligible year and falls down the rankings and ultimately draft.

[FlamesAddiction]

McKenna is doing fine, but I think it just shows that he is probably going to need more time before being NHL ready. Talent-wise, I wouldn't be concerned about him, but the expectation for most 1st OA picks is that they transition right away into the NHL.

[SilverKast]

I was hoping we could get Malhotra with our Vegas pick but it looks like he's been moving up the rankings a fair bit.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Flames should draft Liam and Marcus Ruck back to back with their third rounders.

Get Emil Hemming from Dallas in the inevitable Andersson deal, draft the Oscar Hemming with the Vegas first, take the twins in the 2nd/3rd, fully commit to brothers on the wings for the 1st and 3rd lines.

Build the whole plane out of siblings.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

It's starting to remind me of the Shane Wright draft / situation.

Player universally thought to be a blue chipper for multiple pre draft seasons starts to show warts in draft eligible year and falls down the rankings and ultimately draft.

Reasonable comparison but Wrights numbers in junior are not nearly as impressive as McKenna’s

The 2 seasons before his draft Wright had 160pts in 121 games and 14pts in 11 playoff games in the OHL

McKenna had 244pts in 133 games and 45pts in 25 playoff games in the WHL all this while being younger than Wright as a 15-17 year old not 16-18 like Wright

[Roko]

Thought this was an interesting video about McKenna. Maybe some more context on him dropping.

https://youtu.be/jGBSU8PlZ6c?si=L_gXEhmLkHO1fsO4

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Reasonable comparison but Wrights numbers in junior are not nearly as impressive as McKenna’s

The 2 seasons before his draft Wright had 160pts in 121 games and 14pts in 11 playoff games in the OHL

McKenna had 244pts in 133 games and 45pts in 25 playoff games in the WHL all this while being younger than Wright as a 15-17 year old not 16-18 like Wright

Plus wasn't reported that Wright is a bit of a cocky dude? Interviewed poorly with some teams?

I can promise you that isn't/won't be the case with Gavin.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It's happened..Pronman has dropped McKenna to #4 on his rankings.

Maybe we have a shot to draft him!

Tynan Lawrence moves into #1.

I'm going to say this is premature and McKenna re-establishes his dominance at the WJCs

Pronman is an idiot, I wouldn't worry about what he thinks.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Pronman is an idiot, I wouldn't worry about what he thinks.

He has gotten a lot of things wrong in recent memory. Especially as it pertains to the Flames organization.

Not 'concerned' at all. They can spin whatever angle they want i.e. Gavin's flawed game calling his position into question. And if McKenna happens to slip under the proverbial radar and become available a 2 or 3, which is where I see the flames in a best case scenario, then all the better!

[Royle9]

What’s crazy is that if McKenna stayed in the CHL he’d be putting up record points against the weaker players and the same “ draft rankers ” would be all over his nuts.

Can’t trust half of them, eye test and statistical dominance at all levels still has him as #1 in my mind.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

What’s crazy is that if McKenna stayed in the CHL he’d be putting up record points against the weaker players and the same “ draft rankers ” would be all over his nuts.

Can’t trust half of them, eye test and statistical dominance at all levels still has him as #1 in my mind.

ABSOLUTELY. If he were still playing in the CHL, he would be chasing 160-180 points.

[devo22]

him slipping to 2 or 3, being drafted by the Flames and having a huge chip on his shoulder sounds pretty good to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if he dominated the WJC and returned to consensus #1 status though.

[PepsiFree]

Maybe, but progression isn’t linear. There’s no guarantee he’d eclipse 130 points. He could have even regressed this year.

But scouts and draft people get things wrong constantly, so I’m not sure why a player being off by 2-3 spots is controversial at all.