2026 NHL Draft Thread

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I'd like Verhoeff, but I think 3rd OA is the only spot where the Flames would be drafting him. At 1/2 it would be one of the wingers, and further down he probably wouldn't be on the board.

The Flames need to start filling out their forward talent going forward. They have a lot of B pieces, but not a lot of As.

[Fan69]

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.

No! but i do have a fundamental problem with picking a defender in the top ten in this draft.

This draft has a pile of defenders through the first into the second round. Personally think a guy like Rudolph isnt really much of a step down from the guys mostly listed in the top ten.

Shcherbakov is super intriguing. I think Gustafsson is being a little underrated, love this guys skill set, add in an incredible skater like Mcbeath. Guys like Lin, Villeneuve. Some of them are low first second round rankings.

I do think some if the forwards are top ten worthy without question. Lawrence, Malhotra,Bjork, mckenna, stenberg. Even a guy like Suvanto who’s consistently ranked in the teens is super interesting. 6.3 good skater, 200 foot player, loves barkovs game. Could he become a borderline forst line center? I think so! Maybe not flashy but effective.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't know what a Flamesy outcome is, but this is how I see it.


If the season ended as of last night's standings, then the most likely statistical outcome is for the Flames to get pushed down to 3rd. Yes, there is a chance that they get pushed down to 4th.


However, out of all the teams in this lottery, the Flames have the best odds at pushing Vancouver out of the 1st pick. Wouldn't that be glorious?


So stop all the worrying. The odds are the odds, and there are favourable and unfavourable outcomes. Stop giving the universe a reason to push Calgary down. If the Hockey Gods so decide to push Calgary down 2 spots, then so be it. Regardless of what happens, the Flames add a core piece to their squad. Whether it is Verhoeff, or Malhotra, or Reid, or Carels (or maybe someone else they like), that player is likely to become an important core piece. I am really hoping for McKenna as I not only think he is the best player in the draft, but I also think he will be the most entertaining player to watch in the entire draft. If the Flames miss out, then I will simply be happy with whomever else the Flames end up drafting, as that is likely to become the Flames best player in the organization as it currently stands. That's a great thought for optimism when it comes to the draft, no?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I don't know what a Flamesy outcome is, but this is how I see it.


If the season ended as of last night's standings, then the most likely statistical outcome is for the Flames to get pushed down to 3rd. Yes, there is a chance that they get pushed down to 4th.


However, out of all the teams in this lottery, the Flames have the best odds at pushing Vancouver out of the 1st pick. Wouldn't that be glorious?


So stop all the worrying. The odds are the odds, and there are favourable and unfavourable outcomes. Stop giving the universe a reason to push Calgary down. If the Hockey Gods so decide to push Calgary down 2 spots, then so be it. Regardless of what happens, the Flames add a core piece to their squad. Whether it is Verhoeff, or Malhotra, or Reid, or Carels (or maybe someone else they like), that player is likely to become an important core piece. I am really hoping for McKenna as I not only think he is the best player in the draft, but I also think he will be the most entertaining player to watch in the entire draft. If the Flames miss out, then I will simply be happy with whomever else the Flames end up drafting, as that is likely to become the Flames best player in the organization as it currently stands. That's a great thought for optimism when it comes to the draft, no?

That's basically the way I see it - it's one of two outcomes: either we get McKenna, the most dynamic player in the draft (and just what we need), or we get a great player (any of the other top 5 or 6).

Fretting over this win or that loss, or what the lottery odds are, is a waste of energy. Either it's McKenna, or it's one of the other 5 (and it'll almost certainly be the same player, whether we draft 3rd, 4th or 5th)

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by KipperFaNaTic

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

Funny enough, I thought about that too. Just like the player's skillset. Personally I really like Carels anyways and feel he would be a great fit on the team.

I don't disagree with the other points about some pretty good D men further down in the draft either so I wouldn't be disappointed at all with Malhotra. I think Flames end up with either 3 first round picks by leveraging their 2nd rounders or make some sort of deal involving those picks for younger players or a first rounder in 27. Will be interesting to watch regardless.

[dammage79]

Vegas still sucking. Down 2-0 to NSH. Keep on keeping on LVK. L. A is right on your butt and SJ can crawl up in there too.

[dammage79]

4-1 smashville. I like it.

[Calgary Highlander]

Vegas is 14th from the bottom.

I guess that puts their pick at 17th overall (since teams with more points than don’t make the playoffs will have a higher pick)?

Too bad San Jose and Seattle have fallen off. Playoffs are almost a guarantee at this point for VGK.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

Vegas is 14th from the bottom.

I guess that puts their pick at 17th overall (since teams with more points than don’t make the playoffs will have a higher pick)?

Too bad San Jose and Seattle have fallen off. Playoffs are almost a guarantee at this point for VGK.

As of this moment they would pick 18

1-16) non-playoff teams
17) LAK
18) VGS

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As of this moment they would pick 18

1-16) non-playoff teams
17) LAK
18) VGS

Updated and corrected:

17) NSH
18) VGS CGY
19) EDM SJS

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That's basically the way I see it - it's one of two outcomes: either we get McKenna, the most dynamic player in the draft (and just what we need), or we get a great player (any of the other top 5 or 6).

Fretting over this win or that loss, or what the lottery odds are, is a waste of energy. Either it's McKenna, or it's one of the other 5 (and it'll almost certainly be the same player, whether we draft 3rd, 4th or 5th)

If we're not completely last place, the lottery odds differences among the rest of them are pretty minuscule.

I highly doubt anyone is catching up to Vancouver for that significant % bump.

All Flames fans should do is just cross fingers and hope for the best. Be happy our guys still look happy to play and still give it their all, even with less talent amongst most of their competitors.

[Mathgod]

Bjorck's team eliminated from the SHL playoffs on a fluke stick break.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2035380976956645580

Fun fact, Kylington is also on that team. Neither of them were on the ice when this happened though.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2035465850464186679

[dammage79]

Man, the GAF and motor. Love it.

[mile]

I think Bjorck is who I want after the top 2. He just has that 'it' factor about him, I don't think size will hold him back.


Tbh he doesn't look that small in those clips - wouldn't surprise me if he measured in the 177-180cm range at the combine, not much smaller than Stenberg's 181cm.

[Samonadreau]

^^^That amazon add is the most obnoxious thing to look at watching a hockey game.

[Tbull8]

Imagine if Vegas misses and wins the lottery. Flames pick 2 and 6
Stenberg/Mckenna
Bjorck/Carels/Malhotra

[Enoch Root]

If VGS misses, they'll end up 13 or 14, not 16

So a lottery win would mean we would have 2 of the top 3 or 4 picks

That is why many of us have put rooting against VGS ahead of rooting against EDM.

[BigThief]

Vegas won't miss, the two teams chasing them, LA and Seattle suck too and even then they'll get in through the wildcard. The Flames and the rest of the Pacific division is kinda just trash. The Ducks lead but still have a goal differential of -2. Other division leaders are around +40 with Colorado at +80.

But yeah, be the last team to qualify so Calgary gets their pick in the late teens.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Vegas won't miss, the two teams chasing them, LA and Seattle suck too and even then they'll get in through the wildcard. The Flames and the rest of the Pacific division is kinda just trash. The Ducks lead but still have a goal differential of -2. Other division leaders are around +40 with Colorado at +80.

But yeah, be the last team to qualify so Calgary gets their pick in the late teens.

It isn't out of the realm of possibilities that the Central gets both wildcard spots. Nashville is currently WC2 and only 3 points back of Vegas with a game in hand.