2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Svartsengi

Their stats both look good. I have never seen them play but are one or both on the same line as Flames prospect Andrew Basha?.

All three were playing together last time I checked. May have changed in the last few games.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.20th: There aren't many gems coming out of the NTDP this year for the 2026 Draft, but the top one- at least according to Central Scouting- is LW Wyatt Cullen (5'11.25",174lbs), who they have rated as the 23rd-best North American Skater. That's quite a feat, considering that he's been limited to just 15 games total so far this season due to injuries, but his cause had a huge boost with his stellar performance in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. In that event, he finished in a four-way tie for 1st in scoring, with 3 points in two games, and scored the game-winner in the first tilt. The son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen had an excellent 2024-25 season, where he put up 31 points in 55 games with the NTDP, and impressively- 17 of those points came in 33 games against USHL competition. He was also named Player of the Game in the All-American Game, which is a contest between two teams made up of draft-eligibles from the USHL and NTDP, where he put up 2 goals and an assist for the losing team. In the 18 months prior to returning to the NTDP lineup from his injury earlier this campaign, some claimed that he had grown from 5'6" to his present height- which must have been difficult for him to navigate. There are also plenty of rumors that he now measures 6'1". Another big selling point is that Cullen is one of the youngest players available in this draft-class, with a Sept.8th birthday.

Cullen may not be the biggest guy, or the most physical, or even the fastest, but he is scrappy and intense enough to win more than his fair share of puck battles, and he is fearless in going to the hard areas of the ice. He is a high-motor, pace-pushing winger who drives play with his dynamic skill, competitiveness, and determination. He might be more quick than outright fast, and his mechanics aren't perfect, but he can beat defenders with deft footwork on his smooth edges, displaying the ability to sidestep contact with quick changes of pace and direction. If all else fails, he is still hard to stop, with his ability to play through contact, spin off of hits, and bounce off of attackers like a pinball. He owns fast hands to handle brilliantly while in full-flight, or weave through traffic, and has a deep arsenal of deception tactics that make opponents miss their check. Cullen has all the skills needed to be a top goal-scorer, including soft mitts, a good shot with a paralyzing release, and the ability to get open in unoccupied pockets of space, but he is primarily known for how he makes his teammates better with his high-end playmaking acumen. With elite vision and sublime instincts, he drives the offense and provides his teammates with advantages by finding them in areas of high-danger; he can pull off difficult passes through small spaces in traffic with near-perfect weight and placement, tape-to-tape. Cullen understands how to draw pressure in order to open space, and also uses cut-backs, changes in his angles, as well as delays to buy time. Even without an intimidating physical element in his game, he manages to be an effective forechecker, applying immense pressure on puck-carriers with his intensity and pace, and is often able to create turnovers to re-start the cycle. Cullen is usually well-positioned in the defensive zone, and he remains hard-working and energetic, but he doesn't seem as willing to get his nose dirty in his own-zone, as he is in the other end of the ice- he often lets his teammates do the heavy-lifting in regaining pucks. He isn't horrible in this area, but his awareness and engagement are a bit deficient in comparison to the other two-thirds of the ice. Don't be surprised if he is taken with a late-first this summer.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.21st: There's a plethora of reasons to like LHC Ryder Cali (6'1.5",210lbs), whom Central Scouting has ranked as the #22 North American Skater in their latest rankings. The big pivot is one of the youngest prospects available in this draft-class, with a Sept.6th, 2008 birthday, but he already plays a remarkably mature two-way game. Cali was drafted 18th-overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection by the Soo Greyhounds, but was traded to North Bay that September, due to his signing a contract to play the season in the OJHL, with the intent of attending Harvard University down the road. He suffered an injury this season in October that kept him out for two months, and he now sits at 11 goals and 16 points in 21 games, which prorates to 25 goals and 36 points in 47 games. His return from injury wasn't the smoothest, as he went scoreless in his first three games back, but he has since picked up 5 points in the last 5 contests, while playing on the first-line- both RW and C. The Battalion are a fairly mediocre team, sitting 10th in the OHL, out of 20 teams, and are 13th in goals-for.

Scouts will love Cali on draft day, because he already plays a pro-style game that looks tailor-made for the NHL. He is remarkably safe, simple, and efficient, with no real flashiness, or overly dynamic traits, and can be relied upon in all three zones; he has a huge impact on his team's defense and transition, and is quite valuable, even when he's not putting up points. While he isn't elite in terms of his explosiveness, or his top-speed, he is an excellent skater with smooth mechanics, and uncanny fluidity on his edges; his long, powerful stride helps him separate from pursuers, and win races to loose pucks. His agility and his footwork give him good lateral quickness, and extra maneuverabilty in traffic to evade checks and gain separation from attackers. His protection skills are top-notch, and his puck-skill is well-developed, making him a valuable contributor to his team's transition, by short-pass, or by carry. Cali is a power-forward with solid physical skill, that includes a lofty battle-rate to win pucks, the strength to barge his way to the middle, and the intensity to compete in hard areas; he will throw hits to separate man from puck, or skate through hands to win inside position. Cali sets up at the net-front on the PP, and has the size and grit to jockey for position with larger defenders- he gets pucks to the middle off the wall, drives the net, and is a menace around the crease. The driving forces of his game are his high-end motor, his compete, and his work-ethic- he never gives up on a play, and gives multiple efforts to get the job done; but he is extremely disciplined, with only 2 PIM thus far. Cali is a capable passer with solid IQ and offensive awareness, and always seems to be in the thick of the play, but he leans a bit towards his goal-scoring- he owns a paralyzing release, soft hands in-tight, and a nose for the net. Cali is excellent without the puck, and works hard in defensive scenarios, displaying uncanny attention to detail. He is also proficient on draws, with a 55.1 faceoff percentage. Don't be surprised if he's taken with a late-first/early-second this summer, with the possibility of being a 2C in the show.

[TOfan]

Wheeler’s mid season rankings;


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...nberg-mckenna/

His summary of Stenberg reminds me of Peter Forsberg. He has Lawrence at 6 which seems lower than other rankings I’ve seen recently.

Would really like to see the Flames be in position to grab a top 3 pick. Kinda feels like if they don’t, they’re just prolonging what seems inevitable. Trade two of Whitecloud, Kadri, and Coleman. Or trade all three. Flames can’t miss the bus here.

[Wastedyouth]

No matter where I sim with Tankathon (unless its top 2) Flames end up with Caleb Malholtra.

Don't hate it.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.21st: The Prince George Cougars are once again one of the best teams in the WHL, and are currently sitting in 6th-place overall, with the 9th-best goals-for (160 in 44 games). Big RW Kayden Lemire (6'4",194lbs) has been ranked the # 64 North American Skater by Central Scouting, despite only producing 21 points in 44 games, mostly from the Cougars' third-line. Lemire moves well for a big man, but could use upgrades to his explosiveness and first-step quickness, and he's not getting full power out of a rather short and choppy stride; even still, he manages to push pace with a high-end workrate. While he wields a physical power game with a high motor, he is not without finesse, and displays smooth puck-handling ability with tight protection skill that enables him to make his way through traffic with full control. On the forecheck, he is disruptive, intimidating, and physical, and when he parks himself in front of the crease, or drives the net, he is a massive load to handle for opposing defensemen. Lemire gives his all in puck-battles, winning a lot more than he loses, while employing his sizeable frame to give him advantages, and plays a heavy game with the willingness to throw big hits in order to dislodge pucks, or to create space. Still, he needs to be more consistent in his physicality and his engagement, as he can let up at times, and he could stand to add a layer of meanness. Lemire keeps it simple, funnelling pucks to the net by using his snappy wrister that he can uncork while in-motion, and will park himself in-front to screen the goalie and snag second-chance opportunities. I think If he were given more ice-time and responsibility, his stats would look a lot different, as he flashes high-end vision in his passing game at times, and can surprise opponents with some slick plays. Lemire might be a good pick in the middle-rounds, as he has a higher NHL-floor than some, with a specialty in playing a sound defensive game due to his smarts and awareness in his own-zone- in other words, he has the makeup of a good future checking-line winger in the show, with the potential for a bit more.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

No matter where I sim with Tankathon (unless its top 2) Flames end up with Caleb Malholtra.

Don't hate it.

He’s almost #1 on my list and I’ll most likely bang that drum until draft day

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.22nd: The Regina Pats are a fairly young team, and as a result, they are languishing near the bottom of the WHL standings, currently 21st (out of 23 teams), with the 14th-best goals-for. The Pats' duo of draft-eligibles C Cohen Klassen and Central Scouting's # 72-ranked North American Skater, RW Zach Lansard (6'0",174lbs), have seemingly been stapled together all season long, with a rotating cast of wingers filling in on the left side- including Keets Fawcett, and Ruslan Karimov. Earlier in the season, I would've said that Klassen was the more favoured of the duo by scouts, but it seems that things have changed, as Lansard has picked up the scoring pace in the last while, with 16 points in the last 15 games, for a total of 15 goals and 38 points in 42 games. Those numbers prorate to 24 goals and 61 points in 68 games, which is impressive on a team like Regina. Klassen, once considered the better two-way performer of the pair, is currently #142 on Central Scouting's list of North Americans, with 21 points in 36 games.

With 15 of his 38 points being goals, it's easy to deduce that Lansard has goal-scoring aptitude, and a nose for the net. Though he could use more precision in his shot, he owns a dangerous wrister with a stunning release that he can unleash in full-flight, and a rather explosive one-timer- both of which are facilitated by his innate sense of how to find pockets of open space in coverage. He can shoot through screens, and isn't at all afraid to drive the net with the puck, or take a beating in front of the goalie to get his stick on a tip or a rebound. He isn't without smarts and playmaking ability though, wielding solid instincts and offensive awareness, with the capability of driving play through transition. Lansard hustles hard, exerts high-motor and tenacity, and he skates very well, showing quickness in short areas, and a pace-pushing top-speed that he puts to good use in streaking up the middle of the ice, pushing defensemen back on their heels. His puck-skills are one of his best assets, giving him the ability to stickhandle through traffic, and beat attackers 1-on-1; he manages the puck well, and can play through contact while maintaining full control. Lansard competes in hard areas for pucks, and doesn't shy away physically, but he needs to get significantly stronger in order to win more pucks at the next level. He has been relied upon more and more in his own zone as the season has progressed, and he has shown increasing proficiency in shutting down time and space for the opposition, disrupting plays, and angling attackers to the outside effectively. Lansard is still considered to be a "raw" prospect, but he's also one of the younger kids available in this draft-class, born on July 29th, 2008. Look for him in the third-round.

[Snuffleupagus]

Not sure if the sandman mentioned him but one kid that has my attention is Colin Fitzgerald, big 6'2 210lb center that plays for the Soo, had 2 major injury's (wrist and knee) but is back on track and looking good, very good skater, smart with nice skill and plays mean, I'm hoping he can be snagged with our 2nd but the eyes had on him thinks he might rise to a late 1st.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.22nd: I was a huge fan of Teddy Mutryn from last year's draft, and I'm now a huge fan of his brother, RW Casey Mutryn (6'3",201lbs), who seems to be more heralded by scouts than his sibling was. The younger Mutryn is # 30 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, and was given the rank of "B" st the beginning of the season- indicating a potential second, or third-round pick. Unlike his older brother, Casey is currently playing his draft season in the NTDP (Teddy played most of the year with the Chicago Steel of the USHL), where he has produced 5 goals and 21 points in 34 games, for a very weak squad. Wearing the "C" for the U-18 National Team, Mutryn impressed with 6 points in 4 games for the Americans in November's U-18 Five-Nations in Sweden; unfortunately, they finished second to the home team, losing 6-5 to Tre Kronor in the finale. Time is on his side, as he doesn't turn 18 until July 5th, and he will be attending Boston College in 2027-28.

Mutryn participated in November's CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, and though he didn't get any points, he made his presence felt (literally) with his energy, and his edgy physical game. Mutryn is dangerous and intimidating, due to his blend of size, speed, and nastiness, which makes him a heat-seeking missile on the ice- his style fit in well with the Americans' identity, and drew the ire of the Canadians, making him a constant target in post-whistle scrums. Mutryn seemed to be around the puck constantly, with or without possession, as he hunted down puck-carriers with big hits, and was always in the faces of enemy attackers, suffocating them of time and space. He is a hard-nosed, north-south power-forward who leverages his large frame to win battles, control the walls, and to drive the net- he throws punishing hits early and often without taking himself out of the play, and owns a relentless motor, as well as an unwavering work-ethic. Mutryn is an excellent skater, which makes him so hard to play against, and he displays explosiveness in his first few steps, with quick acceleration up to a top-speed that allows him to win races, push the pace, beat defenders wide, and outrun pursuers. He handles quite well in-flight too, but his protection skills are exceptional, and he is hard on the puck- which makes it very hard to dislodge possession from him. There's also some deception in his handling to help him along, and he brings out some nice one-on-one moves at times to beat defenders, including deking around sticks, and dangling through triangles. While he is already a mature and responsible defensive player with solid awareness and fairly well-developed details, his game in the other end of the ice is still a work in progress- but his his high-end playmaking flashes are becoming more of a regular occurrence. Mutryn can thread the needle through multiple layers of traffic at times, and shows good instincts and vision to create advantages for his teammates- he also doesn't need much space to unload a hard and heavy shot. He's a leader, and a character player who sets the tone, and drags teammates into the battle. Look for him in the second-round, as he will be an impact player at the next level- be it as a third-line power-winger, or riding shotgun on a second-line.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Not sure if the sandman mentioned him but one kid that has my attention is Colin Fitzgerald, big 6'2 210lb center that plays for the Soo, had 2 major injury's (wrist and knee) but is back on track and looking good, very good skater, smart with nice skill and plays mean, I'm hoping he can be snagged with our 2nd but the eyes had on him thinks he might rise to a late 1st.

I think the two of us mentioned him multiple times, lol.

He's a beauty.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Sure hope the Flames target the Ruck brothers.

That would be fun.

Sandman, how well do the Rucks skate?

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

He’s almost #1 on my list and I’ll most likely bang that drum until draft day

Malhotra seems like a guy the Flames would be happy to pick if they end up in the 5-7 range.

I would have a hard time picking him over McKenna, Stenberg, Lawrence, Verheoff. Those guys seem to have too much upside whereas Malhotra, at least in Wheeler’s view, projects to be a 2C. Nothing to sneeze at but doesn’t address the Flames biggest need, elite talent preferably at forward.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Malhotra seems like a guy the Flames would be happy to pick if they end up in the 5-7 range.

I would have a hard time picking him over McKenna, Stenberg, Lawrence, Verheoff. Those guys seem to have too much upside whereas Malhotra, at least in Wheeler’s view, projects to be a 2C. Nothing to sneeze at but doesn’t address the Flames biggest need, elite talent preferably at forward.

I would draft Bjork ahead of Malhotra too. I would even think about taking him over Lawrence.

[Erick Estrada]

It would be a massive disappointment to endure a season like this and come out of it with Malhotra as the Flames first overall pick. He's a nice player and all but not likely going to be the difference maker this organization sorely needs.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Sandman, how well do the Rucks skate?

They move around ok, and they are agile, but they aren’t near fully developed physically, so they aren’t yet speed demons. Once they get bigger and stronger, the straight-line speed will improve nicely.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It would be a massive disappointment to endure a season like this and come out of it with Malhotra as the Flames first overall pick. He's a nice player and all but not likely going to be the difference maker this organization sorely needs.

Thing is they need a top 2 pick then IMO

McKenna and Stenberg are the two elite offensive talents in this draft.

Verhoeff, Reid, Malholtra, Lawrence...would all be nice pieces but not sure they are game breaking talents.

Bjorck might actually be the guy that is more high risk, high reward after the top 2 that could be a game breaker offensively.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Thing is they need a top 2 pick then IMO

McKenna and Stenberg are the two elite offensive talents in this draft.

Verhoeff, Reid, Malholtra, Lawrence...would all be nice pieces but not sure they are game breaking talents.

Bjorck might actually be the guy that is more high risk, high reward after the top 2 that could be a game breaker offensively.

Agreed.
I can't project who to draft if we are picking 3rd/4th.

[devo22]

if we miss out on McKenna and Stenberg, I think I just want Viggo.

[SuperMatt18]

It reminds me a little bit of 2014 draft TBH in terms of the top 8 or so

With Bjorck being the Nylander comp in that scenario