2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would love to see a breakdown and direct comparisons between Lawrence/Malhotra/Bjorck. I feel like Malhotra is the safer pick between him and Bjorck and I love how he has progressed this season. Both probably have 2nd line center upside, but Malhotra's size could make him a poor man's 1st line center.

Lawrence is a bit of a mystery box to me.

I have a lot of the same quibbles with this draft after two. I think Mckenna and Stenberg are pretty safe at the top but after that i think anyone could go three.

Bjork has probably proven the most mens league, records, great world jr , used in all situations. Could easily go three.

Malhotra arguably best center in the draft rocketing up draft boards, size skill vision, skating, great package.

Lawrence also a center transition to ncaa has not been great but is also one of the youngest players in the draft, has a good shot, skating, high gaf, harder to say he is you g but mY be being downplayed with recent performance.

But then you mix in Carels, Verhoeff and Reid, and my guess depending on the team maybe Lin or Villeneuve. This draft could be all over.

Maybe not a lot if superstars but i think this draft produces a lot of solid nhl’rs.

My opinion of course.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I like the fact that it would give every fan something to cheer for down the stretch - including cheering for wins instead of losses. The worst teams would still have the best chances of getting the highest picks, but tanking would be discouraged.

I agree there are some downsides, but overall I think it's way better.

Imagine the #1 pick being up for grabs in the final weekend of the season, but instead of fans cheering for a loss, they are cheering for a win.

I'm all in on that.

Exactly why I’ve never seen the appeal.
It’s a gimmick for maybe 20 genuinely more meaningful games in Apriil, across a season of thousands. And I think fans lose as many or more meaningful games in March.
It won’t change tanking - in season or over years. It doesn’t solve for anything really, just pushes peas around the plate.

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Exactly why I’ve never seen the appeal.
It’s a gimmick for maybe 20 genuinely more meaningful games in Apriil, across a season of thousands. And I think fans lose as many or more meaningful games in March.
It won’t change tanking - in season or over years. It doesn’t solve for anything really, just pushes peas around the plate.

There is no perfect system but I agree this doesn't solve anything on it's own, and certainly doesn't discourage tanking, if anything it encourages it more. Teams that want to tank will go harder to be eliminated as early as possible, to create more time to build up more draft points than the next team. What's the quickest you can be eliminated?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.16th: This year's edition of the USHL's Tri-City Storm are 3rd in the Western Conference (out of 8), and are in a three-way tie for 8th (out of 16) in the league, but have done so with the 3rd-worst goals-for, tallying only 120 times so far in 47 games. Their top-scoring blueliner is RD Bode Laylin (6'0",185lbs), who leads their defense by an incredible 23 points, with 32 in 41 games- which is good enough for 3rd in scoring by D in the USHL. Laylin started strong, with 11 points in his first 14 contests this season, but looked as though he had plummeted back down to earth through the months of November and December, posting only 5 points in the next 13 tilts. Since the calendar flipped over to 2026 however, he has garnered plenty of attention from the scouting world it seems, with 17 points in 14 games, helping the Storm to go 11-2-0-1 in that time. Another highlight of his season so far is his Gold-Medal win with Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. Laylin is older by draft standards, sporting a Nov.17th birthdate, and is currently #103 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Despite his listed height and weight, Laylin looks like a tank on the ice, and possesses uncommon strength that he puts to good use in playing an aggressive physical game, winning battles, and in levelling opposing attackers with big hits. He is competitive, hard-working, and has a slight edge to his game (37 PIM). Though he owns elevated IQ and vision, none of his tools are elite- except perhaps his confidence with the puck; as most scouts exclaim, he isn't satisfied with making low-percentage plays in the offensive zone, and will roam deep with the puck in search of high-danger opportunities, rather than constantly opting for simple shots on goal from the point. Highly active and poised, he is patient in holding on to the puck, eating up all of the time and space he needs to open up seams, shifting defenses and drawing pressure to find teammates in high-danger, often for quick-strike chance-creation. Laylin is the perfect PP quarterback who exploits open space with his pronounced vision, and picks defenses apart with his evasiveness and maneuverability, prying open lanes from the line, and jumping into the play to unleash his dangerous shot. While not a burner, he owns solid four-directional quickness, and problem-solving agility on his edges, and though his stickhandling has been described as being stiff, he manages to maintain control of the puck outside of the reach of stick-checks using his advanced protection skill. He can still surprise defenders with some slick one-on-one moves at times, and is able to play through contact. His puck-management needs work though, as he has been prone to coughing up possession at inopportune times, particularly in his own-zone. Defensively, he is suitably hard-working and physical against the cycle, but his rush-defense is deficient, as he gives oncoming attackers too much room; his gaps are loose, and his angling is in need of refinement. Additionally, he lacks details and impact in defensive scenarios, and is vulnerable to making mistakes with the puck after recoveries. Even still, he is known as a quality puck-mover, and can drive play through transition, starting with his proficiency in making well-placed breakout feeds. Look for him in the mid-to-late rounds. Laylin will be attending the University of St.Thomas in the 2027-28 season.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Exactly why I’ve never seen the appeal.
It’s a gimmick for maybe 20 genuinely more meaningful games in Apriil, across a season of thousands. And I think fans lose as many or more meaningful games in March.
It won’t change tanking - in season or over years. It doesn’t solve for anything really, just pushes peas around the plate.

Yeah, the argument is that it would mean teams won't tank down the stretch, which might be true, but it would encourage them to tank even earlier to get to the point that they're eliminated. Also, it's not like teams can just flip a switch and start winning, so it would favour the bubble teams, but only those who get eliminated early enough.

A big problem with it is teams would be more likely to hold onto players who they might otherwise trade away, which would make the trade deadline less interesting. As we've seen this year, people complain that the young kids aren't being given a chance to play, but that would be even less likely if teams were needing to win as much as possible down the stretch.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I think the best solution is to just give every non-playoff team an equal chance to win the lottery and add some safeguards to ensure the same teams can't keep getting the top picks in a short time period.



Interestingly, over the weekend, news came out that the NBA is now looking at making changes to their draft lottery to prevent tanking (including possibly eliminating the draft completely): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...tanking-draft/ (Athletic subscription required, sorry).

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by getbak

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I think the best solution is to just give every non-playoff team an equal chance to win the lottery and add some safeguards to ensure the same teams can't keep getting the top picks in a short time period.

I've been saying this since shortly after the salary cap came in. The league promotes parity when it comes to how much teams can spend, but then really over compensates some teams through the draft lottery. A few points in the standings isn't really indicative of a huge talent gap compared to how top draft picks can hugely change the fortune of franchises. Five to ten points in the standings can easily be attributed to puck luck, loser points, an unlucky injury, and even the schedule, yet it could mean the difference between a team gravely needing a franchise player and not getting the chance to draft high enough to get one. And teams shouldn't be penalized for trying to compete using systems despite lacking talent. Just make the odds in the draft lottery more even for non-playoff teams or come up with some type of model that considers different metrics to assign draft positions without a lottery.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.16th: Ilves is dominating Finland's U20 this season, leading the league by 11 points (89), and scoring 27 more goals than their next-highest competitor (174 in 39 games). What's interesting is that the team is being led by 2 first-time draft-eligibles, in forwards Jakub Frolo (39 pts in 33 gp), and 17 year-old LHC Jiko Laitinen (6'0",168lbs), who is 11th in the league in scoring, with 18 goals and 37 points in 36 contests. While 7 of the top-10 leaders in the category of plus/minus are from Ilves, Laitinen ranks 2nd in the U20, with a +31. His fine play has earned him 2 games in the Liiga, and he has already scored his first goal in the nation's top circuit. In last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he was tied as Finland's fifth-leading scorer, with 3 points (2 goals) in 5 games- earning a 4th-place finish, after losing to Canada in the bronze-medal game. Laitinen is #48 for European Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Laitinen struggles to make room for himself, as his straight-ahead speed is average at best, and he's not as maneuverable or agile on his edges as he could be. At his size, being more evasive would give him more opportunities, and adding more quickness would help help him separate from checkers, but he still manages to show high-value as a transitional driver. To offset his limitations in mobility, he plays with a touch of power in tight areas, wins battles by outworking larger opponents, and outthinks his rivals with his high-end smarts, keen instincts, and superb spatial awareness that allows him to seek out open pockets in coverage to occupy. Laitinen's puck-skills are well-developed as well, and he displays shiftiness in his carries, using a bit of deception to make defenders miss, while owning quick hands and some slick one-on-one moves to make his way through traffic; he can also maintain control through contact.. He leans towards goal-scoring as his primary talent, but his offensive game is actually quite well-balanced, as he can also make high-end plays at times, though he takes a very simple approach and keeps his touches quick most of the time. Scouts consider him to have stronger playmaking potential in the future, but he is already advanced in terms of finishing skill, showing a willingness to get his nose dirty in front of the net, or sneaking around the slot to be in the right place, at the right time to pounce on a rebound, or get his stick on a tip. His hands are soft enough to beat goalies in-tight, and he exhibits superb timing and hand-eye coordination, but he also has a decent shot with a deceptive release; his 18 goals are tied for 10th in the U20. Laitinen is versatile, displaying an ability to play center or wing with equal proficiency, as well as the two-way acumen to contribute in any situation; he plays both sides of special teams, and as his +31 can attest to, he is a reliable and responsible defensive contributor. Scouts will have to decide if he's got NHL-potential, or if he's just going to be a good player in the Liiga. Look for him in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.16th: Calgary-born C/LW Cooper Williams (6'0.25",166lbs) was sparingly used in last summer's Hlinka by Team Canada, and only played 3 games (3gp/1g/0a/1pt,+1, 0 PIM), but scored the Bronze Medal-winning goal in a 3-0 win over the Finns- an easy tap-in off of a nice pass from Colin Fitzgerald. There isn't a whole lot to go on based on this tournament alone, but based on what I've seen and read of his performance last season with Saskatoon, I would have stated with confidence at the start of the year that he would be a shoe-in to be picked somewhere in the first-half of the first-round of the 2026 Draft- he was that good. First off, his 57 points in 68 WHL games is tied with Brayden Point for the 26th-best season by a U-17 player in that league in the last 30 years. He might've been Rookie-of-the-Year, if it weren't for Landon DuPont. As a 16 year-old, he was second in scoring for the Blades, who finished 10th in the standings, but 13th in goals-for. This season however, he isn't making the expected impact on the offensive side of the puck, posting 18 goals and 44 points in 53 games, which projects to 54 points on 22 goals in 66 contests. The Blades are in virtually the same position right now as they were in 2024-25, sitting 11th in the WHL, with the 13th-best goals-for. Williams is the #42-ranked North American Skater in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Williams' season has been disappointing, not only for his offensive output, but because he's not as physically active as he was last season, isn't as involved or engaged, and seems to be more of a supporter than a driver. He needs to bulk up considerably, but he skates well, although he needs to improve his explosiveness and acceleration a bit- this is most likely due to his lack of strength. He is agile and maneuverable on his edges, handles smoothly in traffic, and protects well against the checkers he can't beat with his quickness and one-on-one skills. Williams is blessed with high-end intelligence and hockey sense that belies his age, and his impact on the ice goes far beyond his offensive output; he would bring a tear to a glass eye with how jaw-droppingly good a two-way player he can be when he's on top of his game. In the defensive zone, he's like another defenseman- he separates man from puck by either skating through hands, intercepting the pass, lifting the stick, poking away the puck, picking pockets, etc. Then he recovers the puck time and again, starts the breakout, rinse and repeat. Amazing stuff. He is usually perfectly positioned, incredibly detailed, and always poised and calculated- he can be found taking away the middle from incursions while scanning for threats, supporting teammates along the wall, subbing in for his D down low, or taking their place battling with aggressors in front of the net. He's like another Point/Cirelli/Bergeron-type with how much of an impact he can make defensively.

Williams does more of the same in the other two zones with uncanny timing and anticipation- killing rushes coming back through the neutral zone that he then turns into possession for his team, while stuffing breakouts in the offensive zone before they get going to extend the attack. The ice is steeply tilted when Williams is out on the ice- he's tenacious, and active. He works hard, plays with pace, and exhibits plenty of smarts and deception in making plays, with the ability to thread the needle through traffic at times, showing flashes of creativity and high-end vision. He may not be the most physical player out there, but when at his best, he goes to the greasy areas, works the boards, gets inside, and goes to the net. He will use delays or cut-backs to wait for the troops to arrive, or to shift the opposing defense in order to open a passing seam. He has an above-average shot, with a snappy release, and good hands to beat goalies in-tight. Going forward, he will need to bulk up and get a lot stronger, improve his battle level, keep getting faster, and perhaps refine his playmaking skill, but obviously- I like this kid a lot. He needs to regain the compete he had last year, though. Look for him in the second, or third-round. Williams has a long runway, as he's attending the University of North Dakota in the 2027-28 season.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.16th: LW Alan Skaikhlislamov (6'1",187lbs) has plenty of things working for him, but there's also a whole lot of red flags- it will be interesting to see where he gets picked in the 2026 Draft. For starters, the "C"-rated winger is one of youngest players available, with a September 4th, 2008 birthday, which gives him a longer development curve. In 2024-25, Shaikhlislamov put up the 15th-best season by a U-17 player in MHL history, with 33 points in 46 games, and his 20 goals are 5th-best all-time for a U-17 player, behind Michkov, Kucherov, Ryabkin, and Privalov. This season, he came back on January 5th from being hurt in late October, but produced 7 goals and 11 points in just 10 games prior to his injury, with a one-game cup of coffee in the KHL (no points, and a -3). His return was slow at first, posting 1 assist in his first 6 games back, but has since put up 7 points in his last 4 games, for 10 goals and 19 points in 20 games. He is #28 for European Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Shaikhlislamov owns an NHL-caliber shot with blistering velocity and pin-point precision that can beat goalies from distance, and from seemingly any angle. He is a straight-line player with good skating ability and agility, and exhibits soft hands around the net, but he is unfortunately a quick-touch player who is purely opportunistic, as opposed to one who can drive play. His playmaking ability seems to be non-existent, and he defers to teammates to do most of the carrying, as he doesn't seem to be able to beat opponents one-on-one, he can't separate himself from checkers, and looks to have very little ability to create space for himself- he needs to keep his feet moving more. The good news is that he protects the puck well, and can maintain control through contact. He has size, finishes checks, has a nose for the net, and will plant himself in front of the crease on the PP for opportunities- he needs very little time or space to get a quality shot off, and is willing to take a beating in-front. Shaik has a laser-like curl-and-drag wrister, an ability to pick corners off the catch, and he can fire while in-flight. Like a true goal-scorer, he can sniff-out open space in coverage, and has the timing to be in position at the right time off-puck to make himself available for a high-danger pass. Shaikhlislamov contributes to team defense, and his positioning looks sound, but he's not as engaged or hard-working as he appears to be in the other end of the ice. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.16th: Not that it matters much, but in 2023-24, right-shooting LW Alexei Vlasov (5'9",176lbs) and teammate Yegor Shilov of Yunost Yekaterinburg ended up tied for the 3rd-best season of all time by a 15 year-old in Russia's U17 league. In the current season, the two comrades are teammates once again- this time for the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL, and while Shilov is the more highly-touted of the two, Vlasov is only 2 points behind (and 10 goals ahead), with 24 goals and 63 points in just 50 games. Those numbers put him on pace for 44 goals and 81 points in 64 contests, but he is #108 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List. Victoriaville are 14th in the standings out of 18 teams, and are tied for 13th in goals-for, with the squad's offense seemingly running through the two young Russians- the next highest scorer on the club after Vlasov has only 35 points!

Vlasov is short in stature, but he's built like a fire-hydrant at 176 lbs, and doesn't shy away from the danger areas, or from contact; in fact, he's a physical player who will throw his weight around to create space for himself, and goes to war for loose pucks along the wall. While he's smart and offensively aware enough to make plays, it's his shot that is his most prominent asset- he doesn't need much time or space to pick a corner for a blistering wrister, and he has no fear in cutting to the middle of the ice, or driving the net (he is sixth-overall in goals in the Q). Like most Russians, his stickhandling is very well-developed, and he can fool goalies in front of the net, or make defenders look silly in open-ice; the problem is that his skating is rather average, and not particularly dynamic or explosive, which will hurt his draft-standing this summer as a smaller player. To counter his lack of high-end mobility, he's a high-energy, high-motor sparkplug, and works hard on both sides of the puck. I think he's better than his numbers this year, but he will have to wait until later rounds to be drafted, due primarily to his size/speed ratio. He will be attending the UConn in the 2027-28 season.

[fotze2]

In that Hitmen game Eric Tu stood on his head. Do you have him ranked anywhere. Unreal.

[Jing]

Apparently Smits has had a very strong olympics as well.

Verheoff, Reid, Smits and Carels are all very intriguing picks in the top 10 for D.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.17th: LW Nikita Klepov (6'0",181lbs) has been an unfairly overlooked and forgotten commodity in this year's draft-class, and most have him stashed at the back of the first-round, but he has been kicking down doors lately, forcing scouts to take notice of his talents. With 27 points in his last 15 games, Klepov is now second in the OHL scoring race (only 2 points out of first), with 75 points in just 54 games- his 31 goals are 7th in the league. Making those numbers even more impressive is the fact that the team he plays for, the Saginaw Spirit, are 14th in the standings (out of 20 teams), and are 12th in goals-for. The team is propped up by two Americans with Russian backgrounds in California-native Egor Barabanov, who has 72 points, and Klepov, who hails from Florida; after the two of them, the next highest scorer is Dima Zhilkin, who has only 56 points. Klepov was a favorite of mine in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he managed to post 6 points in 5 games, which tied him for 9th in tournament scoring, and 3rd on the Gold-Medal winning Team USA. He didn't exactly come out of nowhere this season, as he put up an impressive 31 points in 59 USHL games in 2024-25, which put him second in scoring for U-17 players. A younger player for this draft-class, Klepov sports a June 27th, 2008 birthday, and is #16 for North Americans in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List- but it might be time to start moving him up. He will be attending Michigan State next season.

Scouts have been talking all year about Klepov's high NHL-floor, citing his high-end checking skills as a factor in pencilling him in as a possible middle-six player in the show. Klepov is now forcing those who watch him to talk about his ceiling, as he is driving play more consistently, and dominating offensively with his projectable game, while looking more and more like a possible top-line winger in the NHL. Klepov is a solid skater, and though he may not be a burner, he plays at an insurmountable pace to keep defenders off balance, and push them back on their heels; he is highly maneuverable and agile on his edges, giving him the ability to change pace and direction on a dime. When it comes to work-ethic and motor, there are precious few in this draft-class who can match him, but if there's one true standout trait in his repertoire, it is his elite-level puck-skill. Klepov handles and protects like a dream, and uses a fair bit of deception to manipulate would-be checkers, making him a top-tier driver through exit and entry in transition- he is extremely confident with the puck, and wants it on his blade. He makes his way through layers of pressure with full control at top-speed, and effortlessly makes defenders miss with his array of tricky one-on-one moves; he can deke and dangle through opponents, handle around triangles, and maneuver through feet. While dynamically skilled, and sometimes showing a bit of flash, he is also a fairly hard-nosed player who wins battles by outworking larger opponents, works the boards, cuts inside to the slot, and will throw his weight around to win pucks. He has no fear in going to the dirty areas of the ice, or going to war in the trenches, and plays through contact.

Klepov has been increasingly driving play in the offensive zone more often as the season has progressed, and he has also been developing his finishing skills, as well. With a dangerous shot, and a deceptive release, he is proficient at locating open pockets of space in coverage to present himself as a high-danger passing option, and can uncork a potent one-timer from the dot. He is highly aware offensively, and his game is well-balanced, but he leans slightly towards his high-end playmaking- wielding elite-level vision, and soft-touch passing skill that allows him to thread the needle through traffic, after creating space with delays, fakes, and deception. His passes have a high accuracy rate, and are often completed to teammates in high-danger. Though he has been accused of being inconsistent in the past, his defensive game is advanced, and nicely detailed; he is a pest on the backcheck, a disruptive force, and a diligent puck-hound. Going forward, Klepov will need to bulk up and get stronger if he hopes to be able to handle the rigors of pro hockey, while playing his style. With the way he's been playing in 2026 (he's on the trajectory to be over 90 points at season's end), I would be willing to take him in the first-half of Round #1, but I will say he goes top-20.

[Rick M.]

Am I imagining things, or is there an inordinate number of promising LWers in this draft?

[Roof-Daddy]

The Rucks are now 3rd and 4th in the WHL scoring race and within striking distance of 2nd and 1st overall.

You have to think whoever takes Liam is going to position themselves to also grab Markus and I don't see either of them making it deep into round 2 at this point.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by UKflames

There is no perfect system but I agree this doesn't solve anything on it's own, and certainly doesn't discourage tanking, if anything it encourages it more. Teams that want to tank will go harder to be eliminated as early as possible, to create more time to build up more draft points than the next team. What's the quickest you can be eliminated?

I believe it's possible to have a perfect system if we got to a 24 team playoffs and 8 team draft playoffs. Top 8 get a by. Middle 16 play an extra round, (maybe 5 game series) . The bottom 8 play 3 rounds for 1st overall. Every team gets playoffs and owners get a big boost in revenu.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Rucks are now 3rd and 4th in the WHL scoring race and within striking distance of 2nd and 1st overall.

You have to think whoever takes Liam is going to position themselves to also grab Markus and I don't see either of them making it deep into round 2 at this point.

Perfect, Vegas 1st and our 2nd.

It's a match made in heaven.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Rucks are now 3rd and 4th in the WHL scoring race and within striking distance of 2nd and 1st overall.

You have to think whoever takes Liam is going to position themselves to also grab Markus and I don't see either of them making it deep into round 2 at this point.

I wonder if Conroy would take them with our Vegas 1st and our 2nd rounder.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I wonder if Conroy would take them with our Vegas 1st and our 2nd rounder.

I could see it but I wonder if any team taking one of them will need to make sure they get the following pick before they do so they know a team can’t steal the second kid over the span of those 5-6 picks. I could see it being a priority to get both if you’re going that route.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I could see it but I wonder if any team taking one of them will need to make sure they get the following pick before they do so they know a team can’t steal the second kid over the span of those 5-6 picks. I could see it being a priority to get both if you’re going that route.

I almost think that if you take the first one, another team won't be as incentivized to take the other since they know they'll only get one