2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Incogneto]

Sandman, In light of the Rasmus Anderson deal, can you give an indication on how the 2027 draft stacks up against the 2026 draft in terms of talent?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

Sandman, In light of the Rasmus Anderson deal, can you give an indication on how the 2027 draft stacks up against the 2026 draft in terms of talent?

Sandman knows way more than I do, but the early view is the 2027 is an above average draft, and could be considered a better draft at the top end depending on how Joseph, Dupont and Privalov develop.

Privalov is the next great Russian coming along. He isn't getting the hype of Dupon and Joseph but he's right up there.

And it is a significantly better draft when it comes to centers.

Hard to say at this stage how deep it is though.

[Sandman]

Thanks guys!

Like Jiri said, the 2027 draft is said to be a very good group, at least the top end for sure. And also like Jiri said, more centers- and better ones at that.

Plenty of opinions regarding the return in the Andersson trade, but it’s a good thing to have 2 more high-end picks in 2027, IMO.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Poe969

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

I think Liam will go earlier, possibly in the latter-third of the first-round, while Markus may have to wait until sometime in the 2nd- the jury’s still out on him. Liam can drive play in a way that Markus doesn’t, and it’s my opinion that Markus feeds off his brother a bit. Both look like they’re going to finish well above the 90-point mark, though.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I think Liam will go earlier, possibly in the latter-third of the first-round, while Markus may have to wait until sometime in the 2nd- the jury’s still out on him. Liam can drive play in a way that Markus doesn’t, and it’s my opinion that Markus feeds off his brother a bit. Both look like they’re going to finish well above the 90-point mark, though.

If a team ends up with two back-to-back picks in the 2nd round m, I wonder if that team takes the plunge and just drafts them both together.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

If a team ends up with two back-to-back picks in the 2nd round m, I wonder if that team takes the plunge and just drafts them both together.

That would be a wise move IMO, but Liam might be gone in the first, and possibly even Markus.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

That would be a wise move IMO, but Liam might be gone in the first, and possibly even Markus.

Interesting. Could mean a team makes a big reach in the first/early second if they want to get both brothers.

[Roof-Daddy]

I wonder if the Rucks will tell teams in interviews that they would prefer to be drafted to the same organization. If they do that could buy the team that drafts Liam some time to also snag Markus.

In the bantam draft the Tigers took Liam 9th OA and then were able to take Markus 21st OA

[Sandman]

It will sure be interesting. I would have no trouble taking both in the first-round, as both are headed for points in the mid-nineties, after a slow start- I just don’t think Markus is as highly regarded.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Sandman

That would be a wise move IMO, but Liam might be gone in the first, and possibly even Markus.

When Vegas wins the cup to give us the 2028 first we draft Liam with their pick and take Markus with our second round pick. I like that plan.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by shutout

When Vegas wins the cup to give us the 2028 first we draft Liam with their pick and take Markus with our second round pick. I like that plan.

I would be all for it.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.19th: The Saint John Sea Dogs are in the midst of another rebuilding year, but they have taken a small step in the right direction, going from 17th-place in the QMJHL in 2024-25, to 15th-place this season; but it's their goals-for that has really made a huge jump, going from dead-last in the 2024-25 season (154 in 64 games), up to 8th in the current campaign (146 in 42 games). "C"-rated RHC William Yared (6'2",194lbs), who was drafted 5th-overall in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft, is way down the list of North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, at # 163, probably because of his rather disappointing offensive numbers, with only 8 goals and 20 points in 37 games- which prorates to 32 points in 59 games. Much more was expected of him, considering the fact that he managed to put up 30 points in 58 games in 2024-25- virtually identical numbers to what he is projected to pick up this year. Despite the mediocre offense, Yared is used heavily in all situations for the Sea Dogs, and is ideal in a match-up role, as he is one of the best defensive forwards in this draft-class.

Last season, there were many reports that mentioned his defensive game as a weakness, but he has obviously switched-up his mindset this year, as he exhibits high-end awareness and engagement in his own-zone, with acute attention to detail, intensity in hunting down pucks, and the work-ethic to close out time and space on attackers. Yared already plays a simplified, pro-style game, and is highly responsible, and very consistent in his reliability; he uses his size well to separate man from puck, win inside positioning, pin opponents to the wall, and throw hits. His concentration on playing spotless defense might be a reason for the lack in progression in his numbers from last season to the current one. Yared isn't flashy, and won't bring fans to the edge of their seats with dazzling feats of skill, but he handles well, and can throw off checkers with a nice blend of 1-on-1 moves, tight puck-protection, and deception to make them miss. Upgrades are needed to his start-up speed, acceleration, and agility, but he augments his quickness with high-motor, and the anticipation to be constantly in good position. He manages to be a threat on the forecheck, and applies his defensive presence in the neutral zone, pressuring puck-carriers with his well-timed stick and physicality, while picking pockets, lifting sticks, disrupting plays, and intercepting passes; he will grind along the boards, and fights hard in puck-battles. While he can uncork a heavy, accurate shot, and has a knowledge of how to locate open space in coverage, his main forte' is his playmaking acumen- displaying top-tier hockey sense and vision, with finely-tuned passing-skill to find his mark through traffic, and to make plays in small-areas. Hopefully, Yared will go on a good scoring streak, in order to improve his numbers.

[stemit14]

Looking at the standings at this point:

32. Vancouver (37 points, 49 GP)
31. Winnipeg (44 points, 48 GP)
30. St. Louis (46 points, 49 GP)
29. Chicago (47 points, 49 GP)
28. Calgary (47 points, 49 GP)
27. New York (48 points, 50 GP)

It looks like Vancouver has last place pretty well locked up. They should only be worse now and they might trade even more players. They have a 7 point cushion on that spot. I think they have pretty much solidified a top 3 pick barring some crazy good run.

I think Winnipeg will improve in the last 1/3 of the season. They won’t sell many players and their goaltending will regain form. I think they work their way out of the bottom 5.

St.Louis continues to always be in the way of the flames. I think they will sell some big pieces at the TDL and stay in the bottom 3 of the league.

Chicago doesn’t really have much left to sell off their team and I think Bedard will have a chip on his shoulder if he doesn’t go to the olympics. I think they have a better final 1/3 of the season and move out of the bottom 5.

Calgary is tough to say. While they traded Andersson, they replaced him with a defensively solid vet RS defenceman. Combine that with young players like Bahl, Brz and Parekh stepping up and I’m not sure they will feel the loss of Andersson as much as you would think. However, if they trade Coleman, Kadri and Whitecloud I think they would start to drop. That’s just a lot of good players to lose in a short time. Questions is, will they lose all those players and will the young players struggle to fill their roles? I’ll say the flames are likely on track to finish right where they are - around 4th/5th from the bottom.

New York will continue to sell off players and I think the negativity in that room will make them tailspin even worse. Miller is a bad guy to have in the room when a team is struggling. I think New York drops below Calgary by the end of the season.

My guess for the final finish at this point:

32. Vancouver
31. St. Louis
30. New York
29. Calgary
28. Nashville

Barring a big change from the draft lottery or a change in the prospect rankings… I think the flames would take whichever of the top centers is available at that spot.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Who's the next most highly touted center after Lawrence as of right now?

The NCAA start aside, if the two elite wingers are taken, he would probably be my pick if I'm Conroy.

Unless there is a riser at C in the second half.

[evman150]

Though he's stumbled a bit in the draft rankings (and just broke his wrist), I am selfishly hoping (family friends - and Ryan literally could not come from a better family) the Flames draft Vancouver Giants defenseman Ryan Lin with the Vegas pick in the first round. I'm not really sure why he's dropped in the rankings as he's having a very solid year (third in the WHL in defenseman scoring with 11-39-50 in 42 games).

A year ago, he was neck and neck with Verhoeff in the top 5 (they're great friends by the way and there is a ton of mutual respect and admiration). Now he's a late first rounder.

In any case, I hope the Flames can grab him. He's a hell of a player with a lot of upside. Very much in line with "today's NHL."

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

It looks like Caleb Malhotra is the guy that could overtake Lawrence at C in the rankings down the stretch.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.19th: The Drummondville Voltigeurs were expected to languish near the bottom of the standings this season, but as it stands, they sit in first place in the QMJHL's Western Conference, and 3rd-overall. They jettisoned their starting goalie, Louis-Felix Charrois, in favour of an unproven rookie tandem in Dayton Kitchener (who has since been traded to Rimouski), and Jan Larys- both of whom outperformed expectations. The team was also written off prematurely because of their offense, and though they started off slow, they have been scoring in bunches lately- moving from 12th-overall in scoring at the beginning of December, to 6th in the Q (159 goals in 42 games) at the present time. They were expected to be in a position by the deadline to be able to sell off some off their older players for futures, in order to make way for the team's plentiful young players- one of them being 6'2",215lb RW/C Louis-Felix Bourque, who is the 123rd-ranked North American Skater for the 2026 Draft.

Louis-Felix Bourque has greatly benefitted from the Volts' uptick in scoring, putting up 13 points in the last 12 games (9 in the last 5) to place 7th in scoring on the team, with 11 goals and 25 points in 32 games- which prorates to 43 in 54. Bourque plays a physical (but disciplined) game, somehow managing to only have 6 PIM, and uses his considerable size well to make room for himself, set up shop in front of the net, and win battles along the walls. Like a prototypical power-forward, he will drop a shoulder to bulldoze a path to the inside, and can bully his way through traffic. Bourque can also stickhandle his way through small spaces, using his well-honed puck-skills and his ability to deceive and manipulate. He skates well enough, but could use upgrades to his explosiveness and agility going forward; however, he manages to mask his deficiencies somewhat with his high-end motor, work-ethic, and compete. Like most of his teammates in Drummondville, he exerts a solid two-way game, showing good effort, engagement, and awareness in his own zone. Bourque is used most often in the Volts' bottom-six, sometimes on the 4th-line at RW, but he's been their 3rd-line C for the last while, and seems to understand his defensive duties as a pivot; he takes away the middle effectively, and helps his D down low, but he needs work on his faceoffs. Though I wouldn't call him a play-driver in the offensive zone, he's a capable passer with good instincts- but most of his play-creation comes from his high-volume shooting, and his tunnel-vision to the net. LFB has an excellent shot with a sneaky release that can paralyze goalies from distance, but he's like a freight train when driving the net, and has soft hands in-tight. Look for him in the later-rounds.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It looks like Caleb Malhotra is the guy that could overtake Lawrence at C in the rankings down the stretch.

He was my Flames hope for 3rd OA if McKenna and Stenberg were gone, Big Finnish center Oliver Suvanto is also someone to watch down the stretch.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Sandman knows way more than I do, but the early view is the 2027 is an above average draft, and could be considered a better draft at the top end depending on how Joseph, Dupont and Privalov develop.

Privalov is the next great Russian coming along. He isn't getting the hype of Dupon and Joseph but he's right up there.

And it is a significantly better draft when it comes to centers.

Hard to say at this stage how deep it is though.

Privalov looks like an absolute beast. He looks like a meaner Malkin. Kids a stud

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.20th: In October's QMJHL Top Prospects Game, one player who stood out to scouts was "C"-rated RW Rian Chudzinski (6'1",190lbs), with a goal and an assist, as well as plenty of grit and energy. In league play, the American-born winger plays for the Moncton Wildcats, a deep and talented team who sit 2nd in the Q standings; Chudzinski's 21 points in 32 games are 10th on that squad. His performance in the Prospects Game cemented my belief that he can do a lot more when given the ice-time and linemates to succeed, as he has been stuck mainly in the bottom-six in Moncton. As it turns out, he has been elevated to the top-six in recent games, and has responded with 5 goals and 7 points in the last 5 games. He missed a few games in October due to a bout with mononucleosis, and I have to wonder how much, and for how long, his game was affected.

Chudzinski is an excellent skater with a separation gear and smooth edges, and he pushes his speed up a notch or two with his break-neck pace, relentless motor, and high-end work-ethic. There are precious few in junior who can stop him when he's going full-tilt- he's intense, and brings it every shift. He is a pest, an agitator, and a constant physical presence who plays a gritty, edgy game, and intimidates on the forecheck- as well as the backcheck. He has the speed, smarts, and awareness to match-up against the best players, and plays a rough-and-tumble, but detailed defensive game. Chudzinski's skills and IQ have been severely underrated because of his place on a contender, but he could fill the role of goal-scorer on most teams, with his ability to locate open space, his willingness to cut to the middle and attack the net, and his soft-touch in-close. He has a good shot with accuracy on a deceptive release, and can beat goalies from distance, as well. If there's something he needs to work on, it's developing a more prominent playmaking dimension, but he doesn't have the linemates to do that in a bottom-six role. Most of what he creates for his teammates comes from his high shot-volume anyway, as well as his nose for the net. Don't be surprised if he's one of the team's top-scorers in a year or two, and don't be surprised if he's taken in the top-96 of the draft.