2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The Flames will be just as bad next year, maybe even worse. lets be honest competitive by the 2027-28 season is a pipe dream.

Its refreshing to hear this said. We are slow playing the rebuild by trying to maximize our existing contracts and its not realistic for the team to be competitive by that window. The team will have more rookies on it by then and will market the "young guns" to sell seats.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Its refreshing to hear this said. We are slow playing the rebuild by trying to maximize our existing contracts and its not realistic for the team to be competitive by that window. The team will have more rookies on it by then and will market the "young guns" to sell seats.

I disagree. This team is already building from the back end out and if these players are are any good, in two seasons the goaltending and D could very good and around about that time we will have loads of skilled forwards spilling onto the roster as well.

Granted our C depth is sketchy and obviously very important.


If Parekh, Bruz, Bahl, Kuzy, Wolf are legit the team should be at least competitive. Not a contender, but solid enough and not a bottom dweller anymore. Just IMO

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I disagree. This team is already building from the back end out and if these players are are any good, in two seasons the goaltending and D could very good and around about that time we will have loads of skilled forwards spilling onto the roster as well.

Granted our C depth is sketchy and obviously very important.


If Parekh, Bruz, Bahl, Kuzy, Wolf are legit the team should be at least competitive. Not a contender, but solid enough and not a bottom dweller anymore. Just IMO

Agree in large part with this.

How fast the team is competitive is probably only a year or two away but being a contender and its timeline completely dependent on center ice.

Make a trade for a top line center already playing under 25 the team is probably better sooner rather than later; if it depends on the draft then only drafting top three would get him in the line up in less than 2 or 3 years.

Who that center would be in a trade i have no idea.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Agree in large part with this.

How fast the team is competitive is probably only a year or two away but being a contender and its timeline completely dependent on center ice.

That's why I keep saying the '27 draft is far more important for the franchise than this year's.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's why I keep saying the '27 draft is far more important for the franchise than this year's.

Probably not wrong.

I just dont see a potential first line center that anyone is going to give up.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Sandman:

Evry time i run the sim on tankathon it gives us beckham edwards in the second round . Do you have a read on him?

I know him fairly well. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year, I would have pegged him to go top-20 in this draft, along with teammate Alessandro Di Iorio, because of their points-totals last year. Sarnia is not a good team, but they weren’t a good team last year either; they are near the bottom of the standings both then and now. Di Iorio was injured for the first few months of the season, and Edwards was hovering around a ppg for a while, but the Sting brought in Mathieu Turcotte as their head coach in November- he coached Team Canada at both the U-18’s, as well as the Hlinka. He’s a more structured coach, but while Edwards has seen his points-totals decline, the Sting have only marginally improved in the standings.

That said, I really think both Edwards and Di Iorio are much better than their numbers, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take either one with a late-first/ early second. Edwards is a fairly well-rounded two-way power-forward who is a touch more goal-scorer than playmaker- he reminds me slightly of Jacob Battaglia if he played C. Edwards will need a bit of work on his boots going forward.

[Canada 02]

Lawrence scores his first NCAA goal

https://twitter.com/user/status/2014877453726929019

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I know him fairly well. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year, I would have pegged him to go top-20 in this draft, along with teammate Alessandro Di Iorio, because of their points-totals last year. Sarnia is not a good team, but they weren’t a good team last year either; they are near the bottom of the standings both then and now. Di Iorio was injured for the first few months of the season, and Edwards was hovering around a ppg for a while, but the Sting brought in Mathieu Turcotte as their head coach in November- he coached Team Canada at both the U-18’s, as well as the Hlinka. He’s a more structured coach, but while Edwards has seen his points-totals decline, the Sting have only marginally improved in the standings.

That said, I really think both Edwards and Di Iorio are much better than their numbers, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take either one with a late-first/ early second. Edwards is a fairly well-rounded two-way power-forward who is a touch more goal-scorer than playmaker- he reminds me slightly of Jacob Battaglia if he played C. Edwards will need a bit of work on his boots going forward.

How would you stack him against a Chrenko another center in that range. Also had us taking Rogowski with the L A pick but from what little i have seen im not sold on Rogowski. Certainly don’t expect Suvanto to drop that low.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Ok so if im understanding this correctly, best outcome for the Vegas 1st (short of them missing the playoffs) is not winning the pacific division, and being eliminated in the first 2 rounds. I can get behind that but it would be preferable if the team that leapfrogs them for the division isnt Edmonton.

I'd say it's better for the Vegas 2028 pick to move up 32 spots than it is for their 2026 to move up 5 or so, so the best outcome is for them to win the Cup.

By the end of the first, there's often enough variance in teams' lists that there's a good chance you'll get the same player in the mid-20s as the low 30s anyway.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Fan69

How would you stack him against a Chrenko another center in that range. Also had us taking Rogowski with the L A pick but from what little i have seen im not sold on Rogowski. Certainly don’t expect Suvanto to drop that low.

Chrenko’s knock is size and translatability. He has a higher ceiling perhaps, but I don’t think he would make a good bottom-sixer. Edwards and Di Iorio have higher floors, and therefore- maybe more certainty of making the NHL.

I’m not sold on Rogowski either, but he has some nice skill and decent mobility.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Chrenko’s knock is size and translatability. He has a higher ceiling perhaps, but I don’t think he would make a good bottom-sixer. Edwards and Di Iorio have higher floors, and therefore- maybe more certainty of making the NHL.

I’m not sold on Rogowski either, but he has some nice skill and decent mobility.

Going to look into Di Lorio.

Appreciate the feedback good sir.

[sureLoss]

McKenna turning it up

https://twitter.com/user/status/2014896773970419847

[Enoch Root]

rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated

[dammage79]

Should never have been in doubt. This is the McKenna draft.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Should never have been in doubt. This is the McKenna draft.

Absolutely.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Going to look into Di Lorio.

Appreciate the feedback good sir.

Thank you!

Keep in mind, Di Iorio is usually tasked with 2C duties.

[Roof-Daddy]

Good.

Hopefully shut some of the critics up for a bit.

[Canada 02]

His hatrick was against 5th ranked Wisconsin as well. Not some scrub team

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Absolutely.

Don’t know how others feel but seems this draft is overhyped.

It’s the medias job to promote and get people excited, but this seems to be a very average draft.

McKenna looks like he could be another Taylor Hall. I don’t know what Stenberg’s comparable would be but doesn’t scream superstar.

verhoff might end up being the best player out of the draft with his size and skill set. But will be become a number one D, or a solid 2?

Everyone is looking for the next biggest thing but I don’t see that (albeit with very limited knowledge compared to others). Seems like there are top 6 F and number 3-4 d men. Good players, but not generational/foundational ones.

Would be interested to see what comparables others have for the prospects of this draft. Trying to get excited but finding it hard to do so.

[Roof-Daddy]

McKenna looks like Taylor Hall alright.

Taylor Hall in his D -1 season in the CHL 1.43 ppg
Gavin McKenna in his D -1 season in the CHL 2.30 ppg

Basically a carbon copy lol