2026 NHL Draft Thread

[jg13]

just did the tankathon lottery 9 times in a row before calgary or vancouver won the lottery in last and second last. dont think it matters where we finish we will be destined to win for giving an honest effort every night

[Sandman]

Wow. Markus Ruck leads the WHL in scoring, with 104 points. Liam is 4 points back, with 100. JP Hurlburt is 3rd, with 96.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Mar.20th: RHD AJ Francisco (5'10.5",174lbs) was one of the best performers in November's CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, finishing first in scoring by blueliners, and tying for the scoring-lead, with 3 points in 3 games- including assisting on the deciding goal to win the event for the Americans in Game #3. Ranked #80 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, he is toiling this season in the NTDP, but posting good numbers, with 31 points in 45 games- with 12 of those points coming in 16 games against USHL competition. His 0.75 ppg puts him 5th in the USHL for defensemen- impressive numbers when considering how weak the NTDP is this year. Francisco was named the Youth Hockey Hub Bantam Player of the Year in 2023, in his first season playing defense after switching positions from being a forward, and his offensive inclinations are still visible today. In November, he was named Best Defenseman at the Five Nations, with 6 points in 4 games for Team USA. He is committed to the University of Notre Dame for the 2027-28 season.

Francisco doesn’t possess ideal size for a defenseman, and while he’s mobile and agile on his skates, he isn’t quite as speedy as one would hope an undersized blueliner would be. He gets good power out of an upright stance, and a slightly choppy stride, but upgrades are needed in his first-step quickness, his explosiveness, and his backwards fluidity. He is still fast enough to rush the puck through the neutral zone, and push pace while doing so, and he is able to recover to his post without missing a beat when he pinches in to the play, or leads the rush. His play in the defensive zone is a work in progress, but improvements have been made in his awareness and positioning; he can still miss secondary threats, struggles to defend his net, and his play against the rush is very inconsistent. While he uses his stick well to break up plays, and wields high-motor, his details could use some refinement. Despite his lack of size, Francisco is not afraid to play through contact, doesn't back down in battles, and plays a scrappy, pesky style; best of all, he is willing to throw his weight around to put pressure on opponents, and to separate man from puck. He is a cunning puck-retriever, and although he's not perfect, he makes heads-up feeds to kickstart the breakout. An aggressive, puck-moving offensive defenseman, he owns elevated vision and IQ, with a high activity rate in the attacking zone; he walks the line tactically and efficiently in an effort to break down the opposing teams' defensive structure, activates often in search of shooting lanes, and can quarterback a powerplay effectively. He might be a little more "crafty" than outright creative though, and he isn't as flashy or dynamic as he sounds. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[playmaker]

Caleb Malhotra had 3 assists tonight — now at 84 points in 66 games, pretty impressive for his first OHL season (and mostly playing behind Jake O'Brien as 2C). Curious to see how the kid performs in the playoffs.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Mar.21st: There isn't a consensus #1 pick for the 2026 NHL Draft. LW Ivar Stenberg (5'11",183lbs) refuses to go away, putting up the 5th-best season of all-time in the SHL by a player 18-and-under, with 33 points in 43 games this season. He made history in the 2024-25 season as well, with the 16th-best season by a U-18 player in the history of the U20, although his ppg (1.96) ranks 3rd-best for U-18 players with 10 games or more. His performance in the 2025 SHL Playoffs, 6 points in 12 games, ties the record for production from a U-18 player in the post-season. At last year's U-18 Worlds, he put up 8 goals and 13 points in 7 games en route to a Silver-Medal, and he tied for the lead on Team Sweden (5th in the tournament) with 10 points in 7 games at the most recent World Juniors as an 18 year-old, taking home Gold. In last summer's Silver-Medal winning entry in Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Stenberg was 3rd in scoring with 10 points in 5 games, which is 26th best all-time, and he was the leading scorer at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge as a 17 year-old (tied for 3rd-best all-time by a U-18 skater) with 11 points in 5 games- winning another Silver for Tre Kronor. Everywhere he goes, Stenberg puts up huge numbers.

Stenberg lacks ideal NHL-size, and is an Elder Statesman by draft standards, with a September 30th, 2007 birthday- missing last year's draft by just over two weeks. Other than those two things, one would be hard-pressed to identify any true weaknesses in his game. As a young player with plenty of physical development ahead of him, in one of the best leagues in the world, he is not yet showing off his true skill and creativity on a regular basis against mature competition, but he doesn't look out of place, and is moving the needle in both ends of the ice. Stenberg is a highly cerebral playmaker, boasting an elite hockey IQ and vision of the type that allows him to find passing lanes that few others could see, with the anticipation and instincts to be a few steps ahead of the action. An astute play-driver, he makes his linemates better, and is always in control of the space around him, and the pace of the proceedings; he influences passing lanes, and makes room for himself and his teammates by drawing pressure, shifting boxes, and slowing down the play. Manipulation by deception is a huge part of his game, using feints, fakes, and look-offs to throw off defenders, and he moves through traffic with slick dekes and dangles. With jaw-dropping puck-skill, he can connect with the most difficult of feeds, be it saucers, slips, backhands, drops, cross-seam, or cross-crease, and he makes plays in small-spaces, as well as through contact. Stenberg prefers to make plays from the wall to the slot, but he isn't afraid to cut inside, or pass low-to-high from below the goal-line.

As if that wasn't enough, Stenberg also has a goal-scorer's eye for open space in coverage, an ability to fire while in-flight, with a paralyzing release that can fool goalies, and the accuracy to pick off small holes. He can shoot off of either foot, and changes the angle of his stick blade, or the point of his release, to further confuse opposing netminders. His shot may not be the hardest or heaviest, but it can find the back of the net. Stenberg is not an elite speedster going full-tilt, and will require some work on his explosiveness, but he's extremely agile and elusive on his edges, with well-developed protection skill to weave through traffic. Though he sometimes appears a bit nonchalant, he is a high-motor player with contagious energy, he doesn't shy away from the greasy areas of the ice, and won't back down in puck-battles. He can play a physical game as well, and will throw his weight around when needed. Stenberg is a high-value option in transition, and can turn retrievals into controlled exits and entries, either by carry or by pass. A conscientious defensive player, he hounds pucks on the backcheck, and has a talent for intercepting passes on the fly; with solid positioning and awareness, he assists his D down low and at the net-front, gets his stick in lanes, and angles attackers to the wall in order to pin them. He shows fairly good details in his own-zone, as well as pro-style habits. With a bit of work in the summer, Stenberg is NHL-ready, perhaps the most ready of any forward in this draft-class, and will surely be picked in the top-three.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by jg13

just did the tankathon lottery 9 times in a row before calgary or vancouver won the lottery in last and second last. dont think it matters where we finish we will be destined to win for giving an honest effort every night

The odds are against the last two teams remaining as is, although it happened two years ago.

[Bonded]

Flames will finish second last and get bumped to 4th. No top three pick lol

[Bingo]

The most annoying thing is those walking out Flamesy or typical Flames in this discussion (nobody above doing that).

1) They've never done this (been top two in odds)
2) Many teams move down two spots because that's the odds.

If they finish 2nd they have almost a 50/50 chance of drafting 4th.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I bought their guide every year. Really sucks, but I will gladly start using upsidehockey / Sandman. We really have it good with him providing us all of this prospect content at no cost.

I will pay for their info this year. Sandman does crazy good work, and an admirable service for this site. he deserves to be paid for his work.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by cral12

We have a lottery simulator and mock draft tool we've added over at Upside fwiw. I admittedly vibe coded pretty quickly with my rudimentary skills...
Feedback welcomed. It's for limited amount of picks at the moment.
***Also realize at the moment it doesn't account for traded picks, so haven't been promoting it - it pulls in from the most recent NHL standings

If time permits I might expand to now cover Bingo's expanded Consensus rankings and see how to easily cover traded picks...

https://www.upsidehockey.com/nhl-dra...simulator-tool

I'd love to help you vibe code up some better navigation for this page, if you would like. DM me if you would like some help.

[fotze2]

A kid that needs to be on the deep future radar. My kids goalie this year had his first game in the dub yesterday. Goalie.

Played Everett (best team). He had 55 shots against, 1 goal vs 25 shots to his team. Won 5-1.

Carsten Layerzapf. Put that name on the future radar.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by fotze2

A kid that needs to be on the deep future radar. My kids goalie this year had his first game in the dub yesterday. Goalie.

Played Everett (best team). He had 55 shots against, 1 goal vs 25 shots to his team. Won 5-1.

Carsten Layerzapf. Put that name on the future radar.

Your grammar makes my head spin. I think I understood what you just said, but not quite 100% certain.

[Finger Cookin]

In 4 drafts since the current odds were implemented, the 31st place team has always drafted second or third, and never dropped to fourth.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

In 4 drafts since the current odds were implemented, the 31st place team has always drafted second or third, and never dropped to fourth.

While the greatest odds are to draft 4th OA at 31st, there's a nearly 60% chance of drafting top 3. That likely explains the last few years.

Knowing the Flames' luck with these things (well, all things), that probably ends this year.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2035366380162220263

[KipperFaNaTic]

Am I crazy for wanting to take Verhoeff? We would have our top pairing dmen wi the Zane and Verhoeff and I think tbh would complement each other well. He’s also Albertan so hopefully wouldn’t ditch like Johnny and Tkachuk.

I know we lacking scoring but I would build from the backend out first.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by KipperFaNaTic

Am I crazy for wanting to take Verhoeff? We would have our top pairing dmen wi the Zane and Verhoeff and I think tbh would complement each other well. He’s also Albertan so hopefully wouldn’t ditch like Johnny and Tkachuk.

I know we lacking scoring but I would build from the backend out first.

Not crazy IMO. I just wouldn't want him in the top 2. For me it's clearly Stenberg and McKenna there. After that, I think you'll get different opinions. I like Reid and Carels personally ahead of Verhoeff and I like Malhotra and Bjorck up front. Bit of a toss up in that 3-6 range and maybe even up to 8. For me at 3 - I prefer Reid, Carels or Malhotra.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Your grammar makes my head spin. I think I understood what you just said, but not quite 100% certain.

I am brutal on my phone so posts are tough. I have acquired my parents shakiness. I am much better in person and not the tard I come across as here.

But Layerzapf

[Jiri Hrdina]

I understand your post just fine.

[KipperFaNaTic]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Not crazy IMO. I just wouldn't want him in the top 2. For me it's clearly Stenberg and McKenna there. After that, I think you'll get different opinions. I like Reid and Carels personally ahead of Verhoeff and I like Malhotra and Bjorck up front. Bit of a toss up in that 3-6 range and maybe even up to 8. For me at 3 - I prefer Reid, Carels or Malhotra.

I am concerned about Reid leaving for an American team later on. I’m still traumatized after Johnny and Tkachuk. Lmao.