2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Naitix]

I would still take Stenberg over McKenna

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm not ignoring anything. It's my opinion. That's it. It's not close and I don't think it ever should have been. But that's why the games are played.

Not even close??

I dont get this whatsoever? Stenberg is point per game in a men’s professional league at 18?

Mckenna last month has been impressive but he is in a league a tier below as far as im concerned. He has yet to prove what stenberg has already proven.

[sureLoss]

Don't read too much into reports about teams liking certain prospects. Sometimes it is just misinformation to see if a team will pay to trade up and grab a player.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Not even close??

I dont get this whatsoever? Stenberg is point per game in a men’s professional league at 18?

Mckenna last month has been impressive but he is in a league a tier below as far as im concerned. He has yet to prove what stenberg has already proven.

Regardless it is about which player the team picking sees as the best player and best fit for their club. Pretty sure whoever lands either of these guys is going to be very happy.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Stenberg looks like an awesome prospect and would be a worthy 1st overall pick and if McKenna isn't there but Ivar is Conroy should be sprinting to the stage. That being said, has his production dropped a bit since the World Js? I thought he was right around point per game most of the year but now he's at 32 in 37, slightly off. Still unreal but can anybody that watches SHL clarify if he's slowed down a tad?

Such an interesting top of the draft because it's such a massive apples to oranges in terms of environment for two high IQ offensive wingers.

McKenna adjusted to a new level in a new country while playing with only a handful of high level players and has exploded in the second half of the year.

Stenberg meanwhile has been in the Frolunda organization since he was like 15, now in his second year playing against fully grown men and is by all accounts playing on a high powered team (5 guys with 30 plus points, 1 guy with 29) where producing at an excellent clip most of the year.

Such a champagne problem having to pick between the two. Was in Milan last week and the sentiments were funny from Canuck fans, basically saying ideally they pick #2 cause then they just pick whoever is left and won't have to worry about screwing up whoever they'd pick first. Horrendous vibes in that fanbase right now.

[PepsiFree]

Are people seriously suggesting McKenna put Stenberg out of 1OA contention because of one fat game where he racked points?

Love both players at this point but come on, it’s pretty close between them regardless of which you prefer.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I'd happily take either player.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Are people seriously suggesting McKenna put Stenberg out of 1OA contention because of one fat game where he racked points?

Love both players at this point but come on, it’s pretty close between them regardless of which you prefer.

No I have said McKenna is #1 from day one

The NCAA he plays in is the best NCAA ever

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Are people seriously suggesting McKenna put Stenberg out of 1OA contention because of one fat game where he racked points?

Love both players at this point but come on, it’s pretty close between them regardless of which you prefer.

It's pretty close for sure but calling it one fat game is reductive when he's been clipping at like 2 ppg since the start of the World Js even before going bonkers last weekend.

[FanIn80]

According to Tankathon, we better be fans of Tynan Lawrence because that's who we're getting.

(we either take Stenberg first, McKenna second or Lawrence 6th (our current position), 7th or 8th according to them... and i've run it about 15 times just now lol.)

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Naitix

I would still take Stenberg over McKenna

I hope the dopes in Vancouver agree with you

[Two Fivenagame]

Gavin could move into first place (ppg) tonight.

[Two Fivenagame]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

According to Tankathon, we better be fans of Tynan Lawrence because that's who we're getting.

(we either take Stenberg first, McKenna second or Lawrence 6th (our current position), 7th or 8th according to them... and i've run it about 15 times just now lol.)

I wonder who has the higher ceiling - Lawrence or Malhotra?

[The EBUG's EBUG]

If the Flames end up in that 4-7 range its going to be really interesting to see the path they choose.

You'll most likely have your pick of a pretty premium LD in Smits or Carels in a spot like that which, while not the sexy problem to fix, would definitely stabilize a long term key position.

Alternatively you'll probably have a chance to take a big big swing if you think one of these centres is worth the theoretical "reach" in a Bjorck or a Lawrence.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

According to Tankathon, we better be fans of Tynan Lawrence because that's who we're getting.

(we either take Stenberg first, McKenna second or Lawrence 6th (our current position), 7th or 8th according to them... and i've run it about 15 times just now lol.)

Ugh...

A waste of a tank if that is what we come out with and the end of the season.

[SuperMatt18]

I'd be taking Bjorck or Malhotra before Lawrence at this point and hopefully they'd still be there at 6 too.

[dino7c]

I think we should be confident the Flames will pick the right guy at their spot...why worry about it now?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'd be taking Bjorck or Malhotra before Lawrence at this point and hopefully they'd still be there at 6 too.

Same, well at least Malhotra for sure. Tankathon has Malhotra going before Lawrence, so for the purpose of their mock draft, it isn't an option (they have Bjorck going 12th).

I'd probably take another defenseman like Smits or Carels before Lawrence.