2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

The question of Lawrence or Malhotra may be redundant. If flames scouting think they see something approaching a number one D in whats left that probably supersedes both if the centers and their could be 3 or 4 of them at five.

The other factor that may come into play is what available later for centers. While the draft isnt top heavy for centers the bottom of the first into the second has quite a few. Their is a bunch of guys in that range that i like ( obviously doesnt mean flames scouting feels the same) and if the flames see it the same way they may take the defender in the top ten then hit two centers (Dagenais)later.

Tough call as a top pair defender is only eclipsed by a top line center. Are Lawrence and Malhotra that? For our scouts to decide but i certainly have enough good will with our scouting to give whoever they pick the benefit of the doubt.

if we are at five i have no problem taking one of the centers i think both could be kadri level players. A decent number one but definitely at the lower end if the centers. My reasoning? If the base skill is there then chemistry with a good winger is just as important. If Malhotra is a decent number one and Reschny is a low end number one that’s still pretty stacked at Center

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

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.

1.54 PPG, not including the one game.

No shade on it, but Wyttenbach is only 10 months older and has been doing that all season (1.58), and Celebrini went 1.68, just for perspective.

Again, absolutely a deserving pick at 1OA. But it’s “one fat game” because the tone around him definitely shifted after it. Stenberg is still absolutely a contender for that pick.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

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

Yeah I'm not sure. His dad was pretty awesome, but in a Stephane Yelle way (slightly more offence though).

Tankathon has Chicago taking Malholtra from 4th to 6th though, so it might be out of our hands anyway.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I still would be OK with Lawrence. I think there is a quality 2 way center there.

[FlamesAddiction]

Not that I necessarily trust Google AI overviews, but for discussion:

Caleb Malhotra

Caleb Malhotra is most frequently compared to elite, two-way centers like Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron due to his intelligence, reliability, and effectiveness on both sides of the puck. Analysts also draw parallels to players such as Nico Hischier and Nick Suzuki for his blend of vision, competitiveness, and composure. Furthermore, Malhotra has personally identified with the styles of Aleksander Barkov and Jack Eichel regarding his offensive creativity and all-around play.

Summary of Playing Style

Two-Way Versatility: Scouts and Malhotra himself emphasize his ability to be trusted in any situation—whether defending a lead, killing a penalty, or generating offense.

Hockey IQ: Often cited as his greatest strength, his high-level anticipation allows him to exploit passing lanes and read defensive plays effectively.

Development & Tools: While once considered a work in progress, his skating has become a standout asset, particularly his lateral mobility and ability to attack with pace. He is recognized as a complete, disciplined player who "does not cheat the game".

Tynan Lawrence

Tynan Lawrence, a top 2026 NHL Draft prospect, is frequently compared to high-intensity, two-way centers like Dylan Larkin and Nick Suzuki for his combination of elite speed, high-end motor, and intelligence. Scouts project him as a versatile, top-six forward who can drive play in all situations.

Key aspects of the Lawrence NHL comparison:

NHL Comparable - Dylan Larkin: Known for in-your-face speed, attacking downhill, and being a dual-threat center.

Style Similarities - Nick Suzuki: Cited by Lawrence himself as a, smart, strong two-way player who elevates teammates.

Scouting Profile: Described as a, "transition demon" with smooth, effortless skating and a high-volume offensive game.

Lawrence brings a combination of speed and, "nasty" competitiveness that makes him a dangerous, yet, "safe" pick, with some scouts viewing him as a potential 3C with 2C upside.

Viggo Bjorck (not as much comes up)

Viggo Björck is most frequently compared to Nick Suzuki due to his elite hockey IQ, playmaking ability, and high-effort, two-way style of play. Because of his compact 5-foot-9 frame, scouts also frequently draw comparisons to other successful undersized, high-compete centers like Marco Rossi and Logan Stankoven. Like those players, Björck is noted for his fearlessness in traffic, willingness to engage physically along the boards, and his ability to drive play despite being undersized.

It's kind of funny that Suzuki seems to be the common comparison for all three.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.27th: This year's Alex Huang/ Reese Hamilton might just be RD Rylan Singh (6'0",187lbs), who impressed in 2024-25, with 31 points in 65 contests for the Guelph Storm- but has disappointed this season, with only 23 points in 50 games thus far. The Storm may be 13th in the Standings, but they were second-last in the 20-team OHL last season, and not much has changed on their backend, or in their coaching staff- which makes his lack of progression a bit perplexing. In early December, Singh led the team's defense in scoring (13 points in the first 26 games), and was tied for the team-lead with a +6, but he has plummeted down to a -6, and is second in scoring from the blueline to Penguins prospect, Quinn Beauchesne (29 points). A big negative in the eyes of scouts will be his age, as he's one of the elder statesmen in this draft-class, with an October 4th, 2007 birthday, and that might be a factor in Central Scouting ranking him as #144 for North American Skaters in their Mid-Term List.

Other than a lack of ideal size, Singh has every tool one would expect the prototypical modern puck-moving defenseman to have, and he can play in any situation- including both special teams. A highly mobile defender, he owns high-end speed in all directions, with exceptional agility on his edges that allows him to pivot instantaneously, and change direction rapidly. While I wouldn't call him "explosive", his stride is smooth and powerful, with a rather peppy first-step, and rapid acceleration up to a pace-pushing top-speed that allows him to rush the puck through the neutral zone. Singh has become a solid player on the defensive side of the puck, with a specialty in defending the rush using his mobility to close gaps quickly, and expertise in reading the attack to make stops. Though he has a bit of trouble containing bigger attackers, he brandishes an active stick to sweep pucks away from danger, stalwart positioning to stay on the right side of the play, and a willingness to engage physically. Singh is confident and poised with the puck on his blade, and shows a high success rate in making polished retrievals, complete with a nearly spotless breakout pass. As both the eye-test and the advanced stats will tell you, he does all of the little things (and many of the big things) to tilt the ice in his teams' favor, and keep the play flowing in the right direction- he's a high-value transitional driver through passing or by carry, which may be his best asset. Singh was a standout at the OHL Top Prospects Game, contributing a goal and an assist, but most scouts question the depth of his offensive game at the next level, as he may lack truly elite-level, translatable creativity, and he gets in trouble when he's not keeping things relatively safe and simple. His hockey sense remains high though, and he's very active in walking the line when quarterbacking the powerplay, and pinching in to the play for better looks; he has a pretty hard shot as well. Look for him in the mid-to-late rounds, but he may be a good gamble.

[Calgary4LIfe]

FWIW, I remember reading some opinions at the start of the season that had Lawrence as a '2nd line center', and that there may not be any 1st line centers coming out of this draft.


With that being said, If the Flames are drafting 5th or later, I would be fine with it. I have the 'tiers' like this:


Tier 1:
McKenna
Stenberg


Tier 2:
Verhoeff


Tier 3:
Reid
Carels
Smits


Tier 4:
Lawrence / Malhotra

I am not necessarily sure I have Malhotra in front of Lawrence right now. So many similarities, but Malhotra has the bigger body. Either way, if the Flames finish 5th or lower, and Lawrence or Malhotra are available, I would be fine taking them, even if I had some of the D ahead of them at this point still. I think around the 5-7th pick, it can really open up, as a case can be made for a number of options. That's just my opinion of course, and I am not the draft expert as some other posters are here.

[traptor]

It depends on tour criteria of top line center.




Are Lawrence or Malhotra going to be top 5 centers in the league (MacK)? Probably not.




Could they be top 30 centers one day (kadri)? Forsure.