2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Robbob

It was during the WJC, but they mentioned that if he had stayed in the WHL and slept walked while putting up 150 points, he would be the consensus 1st overall. McKenna is kind of being scrutinized for taking the harder route to better himself.

No not entirely.
The concerns were already there because of how he produces offense (perimeter), and the lack of compete when he doesn't have the puck.
NCAA was a chance to address those concerns, and instead he amplified them.
WJC was a chance and while his production was good, he got worse as the games got tougher.

This isn't about being over scouted. This is about real concerns about his game that he isn't addressing.

[dammage79]

I hope the Flames land one of McKenna, Bjorck or Lawrence. Those are my big 3. Yes, there's tons of other prospects to cover but those 3 , they have intangibles the Flames desperately need .

[Teroy]

If correct, I imagine $700,000 was a factor in his decision to go NCAA.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

No not entirely.
The concerns were already there because of how he produces offense (perimeter), and the lack of compete when he doesn't have the puck.
NCAA was a chance to address those concerns, and instead he amplified them.
WJC was a chance and while his production was good, he got worse as the games got tougher.

This isn't about being over scouted. This is about real concerns about his game that he isn't addressing.

If he put up 150 points, those concerns may still be present but putting up 2.5 points a game would not be as pressing as they are now.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.15th: A player I really like for the upcoming draft is "C"-rated RW Cole Zurawski of the Owen Sound Attack, who just participated in the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game for Team West- picking up no points, but earning 5 minutes in the penalty box for dropping the gloves against C Adam Levac of Team East. Zurawski started the year strong, with 28 points in his first 26 games, but has since hit a cold spell, with only 3 points in his last 10- for 17 goals and 31 points in 36 games. Those numbers prorate to 55 points (30 goals) in 63 games, on a team that sits in 12th-place (out of 20), but sports the 4th-best goals-for (158 in 41 games). Everyone is struggling on the Attack right now though, and they have gone 1-7-1-1 in their last 10, while selling off two key players at the deadline, in D David Bedkowski, and G Carter George. In their latest rankings, Central Scouting puts him in the 47th-spot for North American Skaters.

Cole Zurawski is a big (6'1",190lbs) power-forward with a lofty offensive IQ, but most of what he creates from his tunnel-vision to the net- he's a natural goal-scorer with an NHL-caliber shot, an ability to get to the middle, funnel pucks to the slot, and shows fearlessness in driving the net. There is good deception in his release, and he can fire a bullet off the catch. His efforts manufacture second-chance opportunities for teammates, and he stirs up plenty of chaos in front with his nose for the net. While he's a capable passer, and flashes high-level vision at times, building a more pronounced layer of playmaking to his repertoire would benefit his game going forward, and perhaps add more unpredictability to his attack. Z is an excellent skater who pushes pace, and possesses solid puck-handling skills, which makes him useful to his team's transition, and capable of completing clean exits and entries. He swoops in on the forecheck with speed to apply physical pressure on opposing defensemen, grinds it out along the boards to win battles, and throws his weight around with aplomb to separate man from puck. Hard-working and competitive, he applies his high-motor and energetic approach to his efforts on the backcheck, where he disrupts plays, strips pucks, and picks pockets, although he has been criticized for sometimes losing focus, and for inconsistencies in effort and engagement. There are ebbs and flows at times in his physicality in all three zones, as well. Definitely a player for the top-96, though.

[FlamesAddiction]

Do you guys think that 7' tall Moldovan kid gets drafted? I'd take him with a late round pick, but I don't see him on a lot of rankings.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Do you guys think that 7' tall Moldovan kids gets drafted? I'd take him with a late round pick, but I don't see him on a lot of rankings.

Alexander Kamanov
https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe...ander-karmanov

For me, maybe take a flyer on his with the obligatory Leander/Hurtig 6-7 rounder pick we tend to like to spend on a large defensive Dman but other than that, I cant imagine spending a pick on him. He is a long way behind the other kids in the draft in almost every way other than size.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2012304616835420202

[ForeverFlameFan]

Could definitely see the Flames or Canucks taking Malhotra at their pick with the way he's skyrocketed since the new calendar year. I really, really like the way he plays. My top 3 are obviously the two dynamic wingers and Malhotra.

[Matty81]

I watched Carels tonight.... he's a very good player. You don't notice him a ton most of the game just steady with a bit of bite and then someone sprung him in OT and he finished a breakaway like a high skill winger. He doesn't activate a ton or take a lot of chances so don't see him scoring in bunches, but he would look really good next to Parekh that's for sure. No mistakes at all, steady, good with the puck and a bit physical. Not a giant but big enough to throw some hits and seemed interested in the rough stuff between the whistles. He looks to me like a guy who will play in the NHL for 15 years and put up 25-45 pts a year. Maybe not a Norris candidate but just a very good solid building block for any team.

Tij gave the puck away about 10 times trying to deke through the whole other team, eventually got his goal and then bobbled the puck on the sequence leading to PG winning in 3 on 3 OT costing the Rockets. He clearly has skill but boy he's a frustrating player at times, he's really got to mature in the way he plays to take the next step to the NCAA or AHL successfully.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I watched Carels tonight.... he's a very good player. You don't notice him a ton most of the game just steady with a bit of bite and then someone sprung him in OT and he finished a breakaway like a high skill winger. He doesn't activate a ton or take a lot of chances so don't see him scoring in bunches, but he would look really good next to Parekh that's for sure. No mistakes at all, steady, good with the puck and a bit physical. Not a giant but big enough to throw some hits and seemed interested in the rough stuff between the whistles. He looks to me like a guy who will play in the NHL for 15 years and put up 25-45 pts a year. Maybe not a Norris candidate but just a very good solid building block for any team.

Tij gave the puck away about 10 times trying to deke through the whole other team, eventually got his goal and then bobbled the puck on the sequence leading to PG winning in 3 on 3 OT costing the Rockets. He clearly has skill but boy he's a frustrating player at times, he's really got to mature in the way he plays to take the next step to the NCAA or AHL successfully.

Awesome post, Matty. Carels is a farmboy from Saskatchewan, and is even stronger than he looks.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Awesome post, Matty. Carels is a farmboy from Saskatchewan, and is even stronger than he looks.

I came away impressed. I liked how he pushed back after whistles, so many of these kids now look completely apathetic as to the physical side of the game and it almost feels like european hockey in the dub some nights the last couple years, but he's clearly not cut from that cloth. And check out the mitts on this finish in OT, for a dman, froze the goalie and tucked it in:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1395987948931237

Only critique I'd have is like I said he seems like his instincts are more stay at home and aside from the OT rush he really didn't jump up into the play a lot which might limit his upside as a point producer at the next level, but might make him a good partner for a guy like Parekh who roams, but he for sure looks to me like he will play for a long time in the NHL, very high floor there.

[dino7c]

seems like a lot of good players in the top 6 or 7 now with not much to choose from between them. pretty great IMO

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I came away impressed. I liked how he pushed back after whistles, so many of these kids now look completely apathetic as to the physical side of the game and it almost feels like european hockey in the dub some nights the last couple years, but he's clearly not cut from that cloth. And check out the mitts on this finish in OT, for a dman, froze the goalie and tucked it in:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1395987948931237

Only critique I'd have is like I said he seems like his instincts are more stay at home and aside from the OT rush he really didn't jump up into the play a lot which might limit his upside as a point producer at the next level, but might make him a good partner for a guy like Parekh who roams, but he for sure looks to me like he will play for a long time in the NHL, very high floor there.

Before the start of the season, Reid was the free-flowing offensive dynamo who was deficient in his own zone, Carels was the defensive stalwart who would never be offensively inclined, and Rudolph was the high-skill two-way guy. It seems like these days, those three and Keaton Verhoeff have all improved their weaknesses, and have all drifted to the middle- so much so, that all of their games resemble each others pretty closely.

You’re right though, I think Carels always has one foot in the defensive zone, even when he’s in the other end of the ice.

[Roko]

This flames team desperately needs a top pick on a forward.
Of course we have some prospects with potential but we need a star forward.

That limits the players in the top 6 we should take.
I can appreciate BPA but we need it focus on some needs a bit this year

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Roko

This flames team desperately needs a top pick on a forward.
Of course we have some prospects with potential but we need a star forward.

That limits the players in the top 6 we should take.
I can appreciate BPA but we need it focus on some needs a bit this year

Verhoeff is the only defenceman consistently rated near the top of the draft, so you're pretty likely to get your wish.

It's a pity so many of the top players are wingers, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Verhoeff is the only defenceman consistently rated near the top of the draft, so you're pretty likely to get your wish.

It's a pity so many of the top players are wingers, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

4/10 of the players in the list above are D men. Since we aren’t going to out tank the tire fire Canucks, we are likely picking 4-7th. Square in malhotra or Bjorck realistically. But also right where Reid and carels are ranked too.

To expand, we have a 9.5% chance at 1st and 2nd with our current standings. Vancouver has a 25.5% at 1st. HUGE difference. We need to lose games to have any chance of raising those odds to get a Stenberg or mckenna.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Roko

4/10 of the players in the list above are D men. Since we aren’t going to out tank the tire fire Canucks, we are likely picking 4-7th. Square in malhotra or Bjorck realistically. But also right where Reid and carels are ranked too.

You’re going off one ranking that is, frankly, an outlier, and extending ‘top of the draft’ to 10 picks. Seems like you’re cherry-picking to get the worst outcome.

To expand, we have a 9.5% chance at 1st and 2nd with our current standings. Vancouver has a 25.5% at 1st. HUGE difference. We need to lose games to have any chance of raising those odds to get a Stenberg or mckenna.

This team is 29th overall WITH Andersson and AFTER an improbable heater in December. They’re going to lose plenty of games.

[Poe969]

What are the chances of the Flames getting the ruck twins? Would they both be late firsts or early seconds?

[dammage79]

Just get Viggo Bjorck and call it a day.

I'm prepared to be a mildly sad panda when he gets drafted elsewhere.