2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Solstice]

Say we are the Canucks and drafted first overall. Even without knowing the recent development of them having a meeting with him, would you draft Verhoff, McKenna, or Stenberg?

They need a Hughes replacement so if I were them I’d draft V

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Whichever one of the Cs they like best. Or see if SJS would give us Misa for Verhoeff.

But we absolutely HAVE to come away with a top line talent. If it's one of McKenna or Stenberg - great. If not, it has to be one of the Cs.

I’m not as high on Lawrence as some. I’d reach for Malhotra if there’s not much of a difference between him and Verhoeff. It’s hard to pass up Verhoeff though.

[Enoch Root]

Yes, Verhoeff looks really good right now, and it looks like it would be hard to pass him up. However, if we draft him, we have:

RD: Parekh, Verhoeff, Brzustewicz, Mews

Top line: maybe Gridin, maybe Rechny

We need more balance than that. We need elite offensive talent.

[Yanda]

Draft Verhoeff then trade Paraekh for Cayden Lindstrom or Tij Iginla ect.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Draft Verhoeff then trade Paraekh for Cayden Lindstrom or Tij Iginla ect.

Those teams don't make that trade.

No one is trading a McKenna or Iginla level prospect for Parekh, you are only going to get offers more in the Reschny range. You're going to lose that trade.

[TheScorpion]

Cayden Lindstrom has one goal and five points in 19 games at Michigan State this year, Conroy would be (rightfully) flayed alive if he made that deal

[devo22]

Columbus easily makes that trade, simply because of Lindstroms injury concerns. He might still put it all together, and this season is essentially about getting back up to speed for him, so I don't put too much stock into his numbers this year (he'll absolutely have to deliver next season though) - but there's just so many question marks, you just don't trade Parekh for him. And I LOVE Lindstrom.

Even if you end up with Verhoeff, you don't trade Parekh. Two great RH defensemen is a great problem to have.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Solstice

Say we are the Canucks and drafted first overall. Even without knowing the recent development of them having a meeting with him, would you draft Verhoff, McKenna, or Stenberg?

They need a Hughes replacement so if I were them I’d draft V

I posted in the trade rumours thread that I have heard the Canucks are zeroed in on Stenberg at the top of their list. I wonder if the reason why is because they think he will help EP40 get back to the level he can be. Just trying to connect the dots on that.

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Those teams don't make that trade.

No one is trading a McKenna or Iginla level prospect for Parekh, you are only going to get offers more in the Reschny range. You're going to lose that trade.

I said ETC, maybe I shouldnt have name dropped who I would be most interested in. I never even said McKenna.. jc dude.

"Draft Verhoeff then trade Paraekh for another coveted prospect"

[dissentowner]

Trading Parekh would be stupid, his offensive upside is elite. You can have both Verhoeff and Parekh in your lineup.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2015445648871731704

He's 6'4 210lbs. He's had a massive size advantage most of his career, and it's no different playing this year in college. Will it be the same in the NHL when he's no longer the biggest guy on the ice every single night?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes, Verhoeff looks really good right now, and it looks like it would be hard to pass him up. However, if we draft him, we have:

RD: Parekh, Verhoeff, Brzustewicz, Mews

Top line: maybe Gridin, maybe Rechny

We need more balance than that. We need elite offensive talent.

Let’s say a guy like R. Thomas (STL) is available. Is it out of question to offer something like Frost/Zary, 2026 1st (VGK), and Mews for him? I’d rather Verhoeff than 2/3 listed, Parekh and him being very even.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Yanda

I said ETC, maybe I shouldnt have name dropped who I would be most interested in. I never even said McKenna.. jc dude.

"Draft Verhoeff then trade Paraekh for another coveted prospect"

Okay, but who? It's easy to say something like that, but extremely difficult to do.

And I know you didn't say McKenna specifically, but my point was that you won't get back a player in that first tier, like him or Iginla (who you did say), you're going to get a lesser player, and lose the trade.

But feel free - name a trade that you think is doable and makes sense.

[FlamesNightmare]

Just thought I'd add this here. It's a 2026 Mock NHL Draft article. See what you guys think.

http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/202...nberg-verhoeff

[Tbull8]

If the flames ended up 2 and Mckenna goes 1, you sprint to the podium to grab Stenberg. Both of these guys are gonna be studs imo, and I'll be ecstatic if we can get either one. I have a slight preference for Mckenna, but wont shed a single tear if Stenberg is the consolation prize

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by FlamesNightmare

Just thought I'd add this here. It's a 2026 Mock NHL Draft article. See what you guys think.

http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/202...nberg-verhoeff

I dont think the Flames would go RD with the Vegas pick with a guy like Chrenko on the board still. Double down on 1st round centers

[Enoch Root]

I doubt Malhotra and Bjorck go 8th and 15th - more like top 7 for both of them.

Cs always go faster than predicted (for good reason)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FlamesNightmare

Just thought I'd add this here. It's a 2026 Mock NHL Draft article. See what you guys think.

http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/202...nberg-verhoeff

I don't like the idea of drafting Lawrence at 3rd if Verhoeff is still on the table. It feels like drafting by position and reminds me the 2017 draft when Hischier and Patrick went ahead of Heiskanen and Makar. Or the 2018 draft when Kotkaniemi was taken ahead of B.Tkachuk and Hayton taken ahead of Hughes. You can see it in many drafts where it's not a strong year for centers and they get drafted higher than they should because of their position, and it doesn't work out for the best.

I get it, people want a center but he just doesn't seem that intriguing of a prospect at this point and this doesn't seem like a strong draft for centers.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't like the idea of drafting Lawrence at 3rd if Verhoeff is still on the table. It feels like drafting by position and reminds me the 2017 draft when Hischier and Patrick went ahead of Heiskanen and Makar. Or the 2018 draft when Kotkaniemi was taken ahead of B.Tkachuk and Hayton taken ahead of Hughes. You can see it in many drafts where it's not a strong year for centers and they get drafted higher than they should because of their position, and it doesn't work out for the best.

I get it, people want a center but he just doesn't seem that intriguing of a prospect at this point and this doesn't seem like a strong draft for centers.

Once again, you ask SJ for Misa. If they say no you make the pick and take V

[devo22]

I don't understand why people assume SJ is so eager to flip Misa. If he's all that special, SJ would be dumb not to build around Celebrini, Misa and Smith for the next decade.