2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: Ed Ta'amu was a 6'1",380lb offensive lineman in the NFL, who was selected in the 4th-round of the draft by the Minnesota Vikings. His son, "C"-rated LD Alofa Tunoa "Noa" Ta'amu (6'2",233lbs) was selected 3rd-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2023 WHL US Prospects Draft, and is currently sitting at 9 points (57 PIM) in 48 games. Ta'amu helped Team USA to win the Gold Medal in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, posting an assist, while tying for the team-lead, with a +4. Central Scouting puts him as the #94 North American Skater on their Mid-Term List.

His offensive numbers are paltry, but there's a reason as to why he was selected so early in that draft- he's physically intimidating, a stalwart shutdown defender, and a calming presence on the blueline for a team that sits in 6th-place in the WHL. Ta'amu is a standout in defending the rush, keeping tight gaps and forcing attackers to the outside- he never gives up the middle of the ice, and wins most puck-battles. His defensive awareness is high-end, making his positioning almost infallible, and though he has been criticized for inconsistencies in his aggression and intensity at times, he seems to physically separate his man from the puck at an unusually high rate. He casts a wide range with a long reach, and wields a well-timed, active stick to disrupt plays. It is impossible to overpower him in a net-front battle, and he imposes his will along the boards, tossing carcasses along the way. The rest of his game is quite simple, and devoid of any flash and dash, but he scans well to make the right play in retrievals, and is remarkably accurate and efficient in kickstarting the breakout. In the other end of the ice, he has been known to join the rush when it's safe to do so, and he will often activate into the play in search of offense. Ta'amu moves well for a big man, with fluidity and smooth mechanics, but his overall speed and agility are in need of improvement going forward. He could be picked as high as the second, or third-round in my opinion, but I can't see him making it past the fourth.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: In 2024-25, then-seventeen year-old LD Yaroslav Matyev (6'5",220lbs) played the 11th-most games in the KHL all-time by a U-17 player (no points, and a -2 in 19 games) for Amur Khabarovsk. His MHL team from this season and last, Amurskie Tigry Khabarovsk, is a very poor team, sitting 7th in the 11-team Western Conference-Silver Division, so his offensive output this year of 12 points in 47 games is hard to judge one way or another- but it's safe to say that he'll never be a big points-producer. He is highly thought of though, and Central Scouting has him as #42 on their list of European Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings.

Matyev skates very well for a player his size, with solid mobility in all directions, which gives him proficiency in matching the footwork of oncoming attackers when defending the rush. He exerts enormous range with an active stick to make stops, which makes it a daunting task to get past him. Matyev looks like a man among boys in the MHL, dominating physically with his size and strength, and intimidating with his willingness to throw his considerable weight around. There's no getting near the net when Matyev is patrolling the ice, as he keeps attackers boxed out from the net effectively, but gives those who go there a rough ride. He is a willing shot-blocker with strong defensive awareness who shuts down lanes, picks off passes, and identifies secondary threats. A physical workhorse, he is capable of logging big minutes, and is often deployed in a shut-down role to subdue the opposition's top-players. He has the footspeed to skate the puck out of the zone through exit and entry, showing solid protection ability, but his puck-skills are said to be in need of improvement, as his breakout passes are hit-and-miss. In the other end of the ice, Matyev is active in pinching in to the play and joining the rush, and he owns a rocket of a shot; there are plenty of scouts who believe that there is offensive potential there, if he can improve his play with the puck. Look for him in the third, or fourth-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: Swiss-born RW/C Fabrice Bouvard (6'0.25",185lbs) was given a "W" as a player to watch for the 2026 Draft, but he certainly made an impression in the Hlinka as Team Switzerland's top-scorer, with 5 points in 4 games- good enough for 17th in tournament scoring. He was Mr. Everything for the Swiss, performing on both sides of special teams, supplying energy and a physical presence, and doing a lot of the heavy lifting for his line; Bouvard was also the tournament leader in hits with 2.75 per game. In league play this season, he has posted 29 points in 34 games in the Swiss U21-Elit, putting him 9th in scoring by U-18 players- and he is one of only 3 U-18 players so far this season to play a game in the SL- the second-tier men's league (he has played 15 games with 3 goals). Considering that he plays in a Swiss junior league, I would have expected better numbers, but it's hard to judge. He is ranked #70 for European Skaters on their Mid-Term List.

Bouvard is a power-forward who plays a heavy game, and can set the tone of the game by dishing out big hits- he is much stronger than he looks. He intimidates on the forecheck, wins battles in the greasy areas, and can contribute in all 3 zones, in any situation- as he showed at the Hlinka. Bouvard is a speedster, who shows excellent acceleration up to a pressure-inducing top-speed that allows him to fly up the ice through transition, while connecting plays with short feeds on the go; he showed an ability to be a meaningful contributor to exits and entries at the Hlinka. Though he sees the ice well enough to make skilled passes at times, I would say most of his play-creation comes from his tunnel-vision to the net, his willingness to drive the slot, and his presence in front of the crease, which generates chances for his teammates. Bouvard is a volume-shooter, and has that goal-scorer's built-in ability to find open space in coverage, and the timing to be in the right place, at the right time, to capitalize on high-danger opportunities. He owns soft mitts in-close to beat goalies, and shows no fear in cutting inside to the slot to unleash a hard, accurate shot. Bouvard works hard on the backcheck, throws his weight around to dislodge pucks, and hunts down pucks, showing energy and reliability. Going forward, he needs work on his puck-skills, which can negatively affect his playmaking, and his consistency- which shows highs and lows, not only game-to-game, but shift-to-shift. Look for him in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: While he's been branded with a "W" by Central Scouting, and may not see top-six ice in the NHL, C/RW Ryder Carey (6'0",176lbs) is a player I like. He was actually putting up respectable numbers for a mediocre North Bay Battalion squad that sits 10th, out of 20 teams in the OHL, with 8 goals and 18 points in his first 25 games- which would prorate to 43 points in 60 games. Since December 28th though, he has only produced 4 points in 20 contests, giving him 22 in 45. His decline might be because of the Battalion's acquisition of C Sebastien Gervais on January 5th, which would have pushed him down the line-up. Carey is #212 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Carey models his game after Ryan O'Reilly, and he does show some parallels to the veteran center, in that he is versatile (can play all forward positions), leads by example, drags his teammates into battle, plays a detailed and reliable two-way game, and supplies a heavy style with plenty of grit and energy. Carey is a power-forward who goes to war in all of the greasy areas of the ice, but also shows some skill, with a powerful skating stride, and well-developed puckhandling that enables him to carry through transition, and beat opponents one-on-one at times. It should come as no surprise though, as he drafted 16th-overall by North Bay in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Like a true power-forward, he does a lot of his business in the low-slot, and is not afraid to drive the net, but also flashes high-end playmaking ability at times, with the ability to connect on dangerous passes through traffic- showing glimpses of quality vision and offensive awareness. I'm sure scouts would like to see higher numbers, with an effort towards turning those "glimpses" and "flashes" into regular occurrences. At this point, Carey is a long-shot to be drafted, but if he is- it won't be until later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: In early December, with injuries to their blueline, the Saskatoon Blades traded overage center Dominik Petr and a 5th-rounder to the Spokane Chiefs for winger Elias Pul, and 17 year-old LD Kaden Allan (6'2.75",185lbs). The injury bug hit him in January though, and he missed over a month of action with his new team, only playing 8 games with them to-date, picking up 1 point. While he only has 6 points through 27 games split between the two teams, Allan is the prototype for what scouts want in a two-way rearguard- one with a powerful skating stride, an ability to move the puck, and a high activity rate in the offensive zone. I wouldn't call him mean (only 6 PIM), but he's strong and physical, proficient in defending the rush, and hard to go up against in front of the net. He scans thoroughly in retrievals and evades pressure, displaying a high panic threshold, and is cool and calm in his breakout passes- even showing the smooth puck-skills to skate the puck out of the zone by himself on occasion. In the offensive zone, he will activate when the opportunity presents itself, and he has an absolute cannon of a shot. Allan is in danger of being skipped over in this summer's draft, and wasn't even raked by Central Scouting in their Mid-Term Rankings, but if he does get picked- it won't be until later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: "C"-rated LW Jordan Duguay (5'10.25",174lbs) has seen more than his fair share of criticism from scouts over the past few years, with many saying that his game won't translate, that he lacks any separating NHL-traits, he shrinks in physical games, he's not fast enough for a small player, and the list goes on. It's true that he's another player that fits the adage of one who is good at everything, but not elite in any one area, and that he lacks dynamic skill- which are not things you want to hear about a smaller player. Duguay had an excellent D-minus-1 year in 2024-25, putting up 32 points in 68 games, and he has followed that up in the current campaign by placing 3rd in scoring for the Portland Winterhawks, with 19 goals and 53 points in 54 games. The 'Hawks are 10th in goals-for right now, but they sit 13th in the WHL Standings, out of 23 teams. Duguay is #73 for North American Skaters, as per Central Scouting, in their Mid-Term Rankings.

While he needs upgrades to his top-speed and pace with the puck, Duguay is clearly a high-IQ player with offensive awareness, and well-developed puck-skill, who tilts the ice in his team's favor. He is a gifted playmaker who can find teammates in high-danger areas, through the smallest of open seams in coverage, while under duress. Skating with his head up to scan, he reads the ice at an advanced level, processes quickly, and makes deceptive maneuvers and fakes to shift defenses, or he delays to draw pressure, in order to pry open lanes in traffic. His passing skill contains a soft-touch and pinpoint placement, with the skill to connect on saucers over sticks, slips through triangles, or backhands behind defenders. He can get the puck cross-ice through traffic, or low-to-high from behind the net- Duguay's vision is elite. Obviously, he's a pass-first player, and while I wouldn't classify his shot as being particularly threatening, he has managed to rack up 19 tallies already- this is mostly due to his ability to seek out open space off-puck to strike at just the right time, as well as his smooth, quick hands. He is fearless in charging the net, and can be a dangerous net-front inhabitant. There's a bit of a chip on his shoulder too, and he battles hard in the trenches to win pucks for his team; a pesky, annoying presence, he brings energy, motor, and compete, with a solid 200-ft game. Duguay's ability to outthink opponents comes in handy in defensive situations, making him properly positioned most of the time, and he brings his high-battle level to confrontations along the walls, and in the corners. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: In the first few months of the season, the "Brown-Brown-Duguay" line in Portland consisted of Jordan Duguay, 19 year-old Nathan Brown, and "C"-rated LHC Reed Brown (5'10.5",161lbs), who produced 11 goals and 18 points in his first 26 games. It seems that the native of Tempe, Arizona is mostly playing on the third-line these days with fellow-American Jake Gustafson, and as a result- he has only been able to muster 8 points in his last 22 games, for 26 points (15 goals) in 48 contests. Brown was drafted by the Wheat Kings with the 6th-overall pick in the 2023 WHL US Prospects Draft, but was acquired by the Winterhawks in June of 2024. He is #167 for North American Skaters on Central Scouting's Mid-Term List.

Brown has plenty of assets that most would want to see in a top-six C, except for ideal size; he plays a very projectable, straightforward, and simple game, with contributions in all three zones, and in any situation. There is no issues in regards to his effort and engagement- he brings relentless energy to his team, and is aggressive and physical, as well as strong on the puck, but desperately needs to bulk up and get stronger in order to win more battles. Even still, he plays a heavy game, and is unafraid of competing in the dirty areas of the ice. Brown in known for his near-elite skating, which includes explosiveness in his start-up and acceleration, a blinding top-speed, and effortless agility on his edges that allows him to sidestep checks, change direction expeditiously, and pivot on a dime. It also makes him hard to deal with when he's streaking in on the forecheck. With his reliable handling and protection skill at top-speed, he is an able contributor to his team's transition, and a major factor in controlled exits and entries for his line. His offensive awareness and IQ are strong, with the vision to pull off some high-end plays at times, but his profile is that of a goal-scorer, and he has always had more goals than assists at every level of hockey he's played. Brown has a shooter's eye for open lanes, and understands how to make his own space, but is also unafraid to go to the net, or to plant himself in front of the goalie to finish. Even with some high-end skills, he keeps things relatively simple and devoid of flashiness. Brown works hard on the backcheck, wielding his high-end motor to be a constant nuisance, taking away space and time, while acting as a disruptive force- and doing so in all three zones. Look for him in the later-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: The powerhouse Brantford Bulldogs were loading up for their Memorial Cup bid when they traded LHC Layne Gallacher and four draft picks to the Guelph Storm in exchange for Flyers first-rounder Jett Luchanko, on Nov.4th. It was good news as far as I was concerned, for a player I really like in the "C"-rated Gallacher, who is listed as being 5'11" on some sites, but is actually 6'1",180lbs. My hopes were that Gallacher, who was injured in mid-November and returned in the new year, would hopefully get a legitimate chance to showcase himself for the 2026 Draft, with more ice-time and responsibility. Before the trade, as the Bulldogs' third-line C, he posted 5 goals and 12 points in 21 games, which prorates to 33 points in 57 games, but he started the season with 8 points in 10 games (with a +7). With the Guelph Storm, who are in 13th-place, he has only managed to contribute 10 points in 17 games. Central Scouting has him as the #62 North American Skater in their Mid-Term List, which shows how well he is thought of in the scouting world.

Gallacher is a player I like, and one who I feel has been severely underrated. While he has only accrued 4 PIM so far this season, Gallacher is a power-forward with a gritty physical game, and competes hard in the greasy areas for pucks, with a disruptive forechecking game. He is unafraid of driving the middle, or parking himself in front of the net to battle for position, screen the goalie, or pounce on rebounds- he exhibits a high compete level, with a relentless work-ethic. Gallacher is intense, wielding overwhelming motor to outwork larger opponents in puck-battles, and throws hits aplenty to keep the enemy team off-balance. With a powerful skating stride, he accelerates quickly up to an excellent top-speed that allows him to win races to loose pucks, separate in open-ice, and push defenders back on their heels when blazing through the neutral zone in transition. He handles and protects reliably too, giving him the ability to weave through traffic, and to drive the net with the puck; he scored the game-winning goal for Team West at the OHL Top Prospects Game in this manner. You wouldn't know it from his stats, but Gallacher has high-end IQ and hockey sense, which makes him able to anticipate the play in front of him, in order to be a few steps ahead of the opposition. His offensive game is well-balanced between his finishing touch, and his heads-up playmaking skills; he can finish in-tight with his soft hands, locate open pockets of space off-puck in high-danger to make himself available for the pass, and he can also pull off some slick seeing-eye dish-offs to teammates in traffic. Most of the time though, he keeps his feeds relatively safe and simple, as well as short-range- but there are flashes of higher-end playmaking potential. Gallacher is quite reliable defensively, and works as hard on the backcheck as he does on the forecheck, displaying his usual intensity while also bringing his heavy game. Look for him in the top-96.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.18th: RHC Caden Harvey (6'0.5",183lbs) looks like another American kid who has been relegated to a depth position on a deep and talented Canadian team, mostly deployed in a third-line role for the Windsor Spitfires- who are 6th in the OHL, and 3rd in goals-for. Reports are that he was tried on the top-line while Liam Greentree was away at World Juniors camp, but it didn't even last a full game. Harvey has the toolkit, but suffers from inconsistency, low pace, and an inability to put it all together on a nightly basis, with some saying he struggles with his identity on the ice. He is blessed with an athletic frame, a powerful stride, and exhibits flashes of high-end processing, vision, and playmaking prowess. His shot could use more power, but he owns soft hands around the net. Like the rest of his game, his physical engagement has ebbs and flows, but he sometimes looks like a power-forward with a high battle-level- too often though, his intensity and workrate are not there. Only 8 goals and 25 points in 55 games this season in the OHL, after playing a checking role for Team USA in this past summer's Hlinka, where he posted 2 goals in 5 games. Playing at a more up-tempo pace is a big need. Central Scouting put him at #178 for North American Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings, and I think he'll be taken in the late-rounds of this summer's Draft.

[fotze2]

I like no draft because it gives players some autonomy, but we know would be getting the big guys year after year. I guess it incentivizes being better and offering better whole packages. In my dad's era, there was no draft, you just were owned outright by the junior team you played. He was owned by Boston with no recourse because he played with Barrie Flyers and they were c-words. Was brutal and why he quit hockey.