2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's my write-up, hope you enjoy:

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.29th: The Ottawa 67's have sure bounced back- after a 2024-25 season that saw them finishing 17th-overall in the standings, they are now the 2nd-best team in the league. "B"-rated LHC Thomas Vandenberg (5'11.5",179lbs) is 5th in scoring on the team, with 17 goals and 34 points in 37 games, and is turning many scouts' heads- even getting a first-round nod in Craig Button's rankings. He certainly deserves it, as few players are as well-rounded, or play the kind of mature all-around game that he does- and he's one of the youngest players in the draft, with a September 8th birthdate. He is #25 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Vandenberg drives play offensively, while shutting down the opposing team's attack going the other way- he plays a mature style that will translate well to the NHL. While he boasts a solid and responsible game in all three zones, and sports a remarkably well-rounded skillset, his effectiveness is facilitated by his high-end speed, and his stellar handling skill that gives him full control of the puck while flying up the ice. He could stickhandle in a broom closet, and can make defenders look downright foolish with his array of one-on-one moves and deception tactics. Using an outstretched arm to fend off checkers, and angling his body away from sticks, his protection ability is exemplary, and aids him in breaking through to the middle. Though he lacks ideal size, Vandenberg can play through contact, and will dish out some hits of his own, showing a strong physical game, and a willingness to engage with bodychecks. Highly competitive, with a sky-high motor, he launches himself into puck-battles, and wins more than his fair share of 50/50 contests- he's fairly hard-nosed and gritty, but manages to keep the penalty-minutes down (he currently has only 14 PIM). While he oozes hockey sense and offensive awareness, he leans a bit towards scoring goals, with the ability to turn goalies inside-out in-tight, and a laser shot with a paralyzing release. Going the other way, Vandenberg is a detailed defensive contributor who busts his butt on the backcheck, using his mobility and awareness to be highly disruptive, while doggedly hunting down pucks. His positioning is sound, and he effectively stifles enemy incursions to the middle with well-timed stick checks- he is also 56% right now in the faceoff circle. Love this kid, but I wish his numbers were a bit higher- even still, I wouldn't hesitate to take him with a late-first, or an early-second.

Thanks sandman! Always appreciated.

As you mentioned in the 27 thread this draft has a lot of guys in the second that are really interesting.

Personally dont see vanden getting past the second round. Really hope we get another second.

[Enoch Root]

With that game, McKenna is now 2nd in the NCAA in PPG, trailing only Wyttenbach - and there is no shame in that!



(put this in the other McKenna thread, but it probably belongs here)

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2025302691598270531

[Calgary4LIfe]

Looks like Conroy needs to start selling soon so that he can put the Flames in the best place available to draft Connor McKenna. Err.. I mean, Gavin McGregor. Dammit. I mean, Gavin McKenna.

[Fan69]

Wouldnt it be a chuckle if Wyttenbach and Mckenna were one and two in scoring and we drafted Mckenna? Would look seriously good for our prospect base.

Aldo changing my mind on Mckenna his recent performance is impressive and with his seeming interest in playing here it could certainly be a good one two punch for opening on the new building.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2025345457673961795

[MrIrrelevant]

Just watched the Penn State game and man that McKenna kid is talented, he just got the game winner in OT with a nice 1-on-1 move around the defender then goes far side. Also had a great slap pass for an assist which was pretty nice. Calgary NEEDS this guy up front.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.21st: The Chicoutimi Sagueneens went all-in at the trade deadline in early January to bolster their playoff hopes, acquiring D Tomas Lavoie (2024, 3rd-round, Utah), D Alexis Bernier (2024, 3rd-round, Seattle), D Jordan Tourigny, G Lucas Beckman (2025, 4th-round, Ottawa), C Mavrik Lachance, and C Liam Lefebvre, while giving up a bevy of picks, plus D Xavier Daigle, G Mathias Hernandez, and prospect D Charles Genereux. While C Emile Ricard (6'0",172lbs) has been used all over the top-nine in Chicoutimi at Center and RW (mostly in the middle-six), the acquisitions of Lachance and Lefebvre likely meant that he would be a fixture on the third-line for the foreseeable future on the second-place Sags. Unfortunately, Ricard has been out of action due to injury since January 10; before that, he had contributed 7 goals and 29 points in 39 matches, prorated to nine goals and 38 points in 51 games. With a November 18, 2007 birthday, Ricard is an older player by draft standards, and he's already a grizzled vet in the QMJHL- this being his third full-season in the league. He has the pedigree of being the Cape Breton Eagles' first-round draft-choice in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, before being dealt mid-way through his second year in that organization for two high picks after requesting a trade, but he's #173 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Ricard plays a simple game, free of flashiness or dynamism, plays a fairly straightforward style, and doesn't possess any true high-end traits- other than his work-ethic, and his footspeed. Quick as a deer, his skating is the foundation of his game, displaying overwhelming speed in a straight line that forces defenders back, makes puck-carriers scramble to get away from him on the forecheck, and gives him separation from checkers in transition. With strong edges, he maneuvers effortlessly in small areas, has the ability to make sharp lateral cuts, and pivot on a dime. His relentless energy and motor pushes his quickness up a notch or two, as does his willingness to attack with give-and-go plays. There's nothing too fancy about his puck-skills, but he handles reliably, protects well in traffic, and manages to maintain control under duress by staying strong on the puck. Ricard is a battler, and although he needs to get stronger to win more 50/50 contests, he is always game in confrontations, pursues pucks dilligently, and is fearless in competing in the greasy areas of the ice, showing disruptiveness in all three zones; he isn't big on throwing bodychecks, but will do so when necessary, and can change the momentum of a game with a crushing hit. While he's not a shoot-first player, those who watch him on a more regular basis say that he knows how to create opportunities for himself, shows good spatial awareness, and gets his fair share of quality looks- he is better than his stats suggest, but needs better finish, sharper precision to hit the net more often, and perhaps a better shot. Ricard does a lot of the dirty work for his line in winning possession, foiling breakouts to re-start the cycle, and digging pucks out from the boards- he also has a modicum of vision and hockey sense to facilitate plays, with the passing skill to complete some of the more complicated and difficult feeds at times, to teammates in high-danger. Showing high pace on the backcheck, his speed gives him advantages in off-puck situations, making him a pesky and industrious defensive forward, thereby improving his NHL-floor. Still, scouts might not like his production for his age, and he may have to wait until later rounds to be selected.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.22nd: The Halifax Mooseheads are 13th in the standings out of 18 teams, but rank 11th in goals-for, with a top-6 that contains the likes of Shawn Carrier, Liam Kilfoil, Quinn Kennedy, Connor MacPherson, Jasu Mensonen, and draft-eligible Oleg Kulebyakin. Their third-line C is a "W" -rated lefty by the name of Daniel Walters (6'0",193lbs), who the Mooseheads took in the first-round of the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft, at 11th-overall; he is a mean and surly pivot with solid shut-down potential. Central Scouting has him as #147 on the list of North American Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings.

Walters is a hard-nosed power-forward, with a robust physical game, an elevated battle level, and a high-motor. With 13 goals and 24 points in 53 games, to go with 98 PIM (projected to 15 goals and 28 points in 63 games, with 116 PIM), he may never be a big offensive producer, but he possesses good speed to dictate pace, decent puck-skill, and an elite compete level, to go with smarts and awareness in defensive situations- there is a reason as to why Halifax picked him in the first-round. In his own-zone, he is nicely detailed, displays good habits, and owns solid awareness of his surroundings; he identifies secondary threats, helps his D down low, and will switch off with them when they have to leave their post. He shows some proficiency on the faceoff dot as well, with a 51.4% win-rate, and will put his body on the line to block shots. Walters will drop the gloves if challenged; currently, he is second in the league in penalty minutes, but was the league-leader in that category earlier in February. He's hard-working, provides energy to his team, and plays on the edge- sometimes, going over it. In the other end of the rink, he plays a simple game with a specialty in going to the net to cause chaos, shows solid finishing ability with soft hands, and forechecks with purpose. Walters is not without skill, showing a capable passing game, an ability to make plays in tight spaces, and can generate opportunities for teammates with his tunnel-vision to the net- there are some who believe he could be a big offensive player in the Q over the next few seasons. He is undeterred by traffic, goes to the net, can play through checks, and will take a hit to make a play. I like this kid, and I think he might be worth a late-round pick, but he may be on the outside looking in come draft day.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:
.
Feb.22nd: RW Oliver Torkki (6'1.25",193lbs) was a bit invisible in a 4th-line role at the Hlinka (1 point in 5 games), and by all accounts was more of the same at the U-17 Worlds, and in early-February's U-18 Five Nations. In league play this season, his production has been respectable, with 19 points (11 goals) in 23 games (20 PIM) for Kiekko-Espoo U20, who currently rank 5th in the 18-team Finnish Junior circuit. To my surprise, Torkki was not ranked in Central Scouting's List of European Skaters.

Torkki might not project to top-line status in the NHL, but he's a solid north-south power-forward who moves well, brings energy, and wields a physical edge. While he doesn't possess any real standout traits, he is still fairly well-rounded skill-wise, can play on any line in any situation, and plies the style of a mature 200-foot game that is considered translatable. He is far from being a burner, and lacks explosiveness, but he's a solid skater with good quickness in straight lines, and strong agility on his edges to spin off of checks. His handling and puck-control are reliable, but his protection skills are very well-developed, making it difficult to pick his pockets, and aiding him in traversing tight-spaces. Though he's very inconsistent, he works hard and plays an intelligent off-puck game, with a heavy lean towards his finishing skills and his play around the net. He's a capable passer, but looks to be more "crafty" than creative, showing an ability to push pace with give-and-go sequences, and an eye for connective feeds in transition. A good portion of his play-creation comes from his tunnel-vision to the net, and his high-shot volume, but he can surprise opponents with a high-end play once in a while. An intelligent off-puck player, he is adept at sniffing out open space, locating lanes to the slot for rebound opportunities, and making himself available for the pass in high-danger areas- he has quick hands in-tight, a hard shot with a sneaky release, and good hand-eye coordination for tips. Torkki is mostly an opportunist, as opposed to a play-driver, but will do the dirty work for his line in digging out pucks, winning possession down-low, and setting screens. On the PP, he is often tasked with playing the bumper position. Torkki will drive the net, willingly take abuse at the net-front, and competes for pucks in the trenches; when he is on, he can control the play along the boards, and shift momentum with a bone-rattling hit. A solid checking winger, he shows sound awareness in his own-zone, and is trusted in defensive situations- including the penalty-kill. There are too many times however, that Torkki disappears into the background, and he may be too deficient when it comes to true NHL-projectable skills- look for him in later-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.22nd: The Chicoutimi Sagueneens picked RW Kornei Korneyev (6'1",176lbs) in the first-round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft, at 28th-overall, after he led Team Kazakhstan in scoring at the 2024 U-18 Worlds as a 16 year-old, with 4 points in 5 games. When he signed on the dotted line with the Sags, he was on his way to becoming the first player from Kazakhstan to play in the QMJHL. After a rookie season in 2024-25 that saw him post 21 points in 64 games, and two games with the Sags this season (2 points), he was traded to the 14th-place Victoriaville Tigres, who are 13th in goals for. The result is 8 goals and 25 points in an injury-depleted 35-game sophomore year for Korneyev, which prorates to 36 in 49- which is basically a 50-point pace in a 68-game season. Central Scouting has him as #174 for North American Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings.

Korneyev is another player who has some scouts questioning if he has enough high-end, NHL-projectable skill, with others saying that he has underrated upside. He's a power-forward with good size and even better strength, who plies a crash-and-bang two-way game, with an intimidating flair for the forecheck. Most of his tools grade at around average, or slightly above, and that includes his skating speed, which is amplified by his motor and intensity. While decently agile on his edges, and fairly maneuverable in traffic, he prefers to bull his way around the ice, and plays a mostly straight-ahead game. He handles smoothly and reliably most of the time, protects tightly, and has tons of confidence with the puck, but must work on his control at top-speed, as he can overskate or mishandle at times; he is unafraid to challenge defenders one-on-one, but shows mixed results. With only 8 goals on the season, he is obviously not a huge scoring threat, and perhaps has room to develop his finishing skills and upgrade his shot, but he is often a presence in the low-slot, has a nose for the net, and is unafraid to crash the crease to clean up garbage. Korneyev's potential lies in his playmaking acumen, which is still in development, but he regularly displays high-end vision and soft-touch passing skill, with flashes of NHL-caliber creativity and play-driving capabilities; it's these flashes that have scouts excited about his upside. Work is needed on his passing precision, but he can thread the needle through traffic at times- he could be a top producer in the Q in a year or two. He keeps plays alive by stopping breakouts, and recovers a large number of pucks in the offensive zone to keep the cycle going. If all else fails, Korneyev could conceivably have a high NHL-floor as a checking-line forward in the NHL, as he is a smart and well-positioned defensive player, although he needs a little work on his details. Look for him in the later-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.23rd: Believe it or not, LHC Adam Valentini was given a "W" by Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings, as a player to watch for the late-rounds of the draft. To date, he is ranked as a first-rounder on most lists, and has produced 24 points in 32 NCAA games with the Michigan Wolverines as a 17 year-old- which already ties the 38th-best season by a U-18 player all-time, or the 13th-best season by a U-18 player in the last 35 seasons (and there's still a few games left in the season). To put it in better perspective, his 0.75 ppg is 44th-best all-time in the NCAA by a U-18 player, and he does it with mostly third-line minutes in Michigan. In 2024-25, he posted an impressive 39 points in 58 games with the USHL's Chicago Steel, who were the second-worst team in the league (he was tied for first in scoring on the team). I thought he was one of the best players at the Hlinka, even though he finished 4th in scoring for Team Canada with 5 points in 5 games, showing an industrious and detailed defensive game (his +9 led the tournament), and the ability to facilitate and drive play offensively. Central Scouting still isn't very high on him, as they have ranked him #109 for North American Skaters on their Mid-Term List.

Valentini isn't big, but he wins battles, employs a physical game, fights through checks, competes hard, and plays with energy and high-motor. He isn't at all afraid to throw hits, and can change the atmosphere of a game with a thunderous bodycheck once in awhile. Valentini's skating gets nitpicked a little too much, but his stride is not mechanically perfect, with a bit of an upright stance, and some choppiness in his step. He still manages to be a speedy and shifty skater, who can elude attackers in tight spaces, and cut laterally with little effort, but must work to add another separating gear to his top-speed, as well as a little more explosiveness in his start-up. He can still win races to loose pucks, and can occasionally beat a defender wide. It helps that he keeps his feet moving at all times, and owns the stickhandling skill to deke and dodge through traffic, and maintain tight control of the biscuit when in-flight- he's a master of puck-management. Valentini displays a fairly good shot with superb accuracy, and a sneaky release, and he has been praised for his ability to score garbage goals due to his net-front presence, and his willingness to attack the middle, but his shot could use more velocity. He leans heavily towards his playmaking skills though, and while his ability to drive play offensively is a bit muted against older competition in college than it is against Juniors, his high-end anticipation and creative vision are still there, with soft-touch passing skill to thread the needle through traffic occasionally. He isn't holding on to the puck as long as he did in the past, and has learned to spread out the play through give-and-go sequences, and connective passing. Against Junior-aged players last season, he displayed a bit more proficiency in creating space by drawing pressure, and in making defenses shift with his high activity-rate. Valentini doggedly hunts down pucks in all three zones, and serves up a detailed, alert, and responsible defensive game that belies his age. Look for him in the late-first, or early-second.

[1qqaaz]

Gotta wonder how Adam Valentini would be doing if he were getting 1st line minutes and a team with slightly less talent. Some sites have him listed at 187 lbs, which is pretty heavy for a 5'10" 17 year old. Heavier than guys like Stromgren, Honzek, Kirkland, and Morin who are all way taller and older.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Gotta wonder how Adam Valentini would be doing if he were getting 1st line minutes and a team with slightly less talent. Some sites have him listed at 187 lbs, which is pretty heavy for a 5'10" 17 year old. Heavier than guys like Stromgren, Honzek, Kirkland, and Morin who are all way taller and older.

I dont imagine he is going to put on gobs of weight but ya a playing weight of around 200 on a 5 10 frame is a bit of a tank.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2026073305053049220

[devo22]

well, the Blackhawks can go pound sand.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2026073305053049220

Boo!

[Braden]

Wasn't there some post/article prior about McKenna not being high on Blackhawks list?
Cool story bro

[The EBUG's EBUG]

McKenna - Bedard would be a genuinely stupid first line. If I'm Sacha Boisvert I'm trying to glue myself to that RW for the next 15 years.

[Roof-Daddy]

McKennas favorite player growing up was Patrick Kane and his favorite team was the Blackhawks.