2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Bingo]

Updated rankings ...

5 rankings in the mix
Need to appear on 2 to make the order

Gavin McKenna LW 1.00

Ivar Stenberg RW 2.40
Keaton Verhoeff RHD 2.60

Tynan Lawrence C 5.20
Ethan Belchetz LW 6.60

Ryan Roobroeck LW 8.40

Ryan Lin RHD 10.60
Viggo Björck C 10.60
Mathis Preston RW 10.80
Chase Reid RHD 11.40
Daxon Rudolph RHD 11.40

Carson Carels LHD 14.00
Alberts Smits LHD 14.50
Adam Novotný LW 15.00
Elton Hermansson RW 15.20
Xavier Villeneuve LHD 15.20

Marcus Nordmark LW 16.40
J.P. Hurlbert LW 16.50

Juho Piiparinen RHD 18.25

Nikita Klepov LW 20.40
Malte Gustafsson LHD 20.60

Oliver Suvanto C 22.33
Oscar Hemming LW 22.75
Niklas Aaram-Olsen LW 23.00
Jack Hextall C 23.20

Caleb Malhotra C 25.20
Beckham Edwards C 25.25
Yegor Shilov C 26.00
William Håkansson LHD 28.25

Oscar Holmertz C 30.67
Tomas Chrenko C 31.00
Alessandro Di Iorio C 31.50

[Enoch Root]

some early ledges forming

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think Lawrence works his way into the same ledge as Stenberg and KV once he plays more games, and due to the absence of other centers. Generally the various mocks and lists don't fully account for the priority given to the center position. Centers go higher than anticipated and wingers go lower.

[Matty81]

He could do for sure and I hope Lawrence lights it up and makes the draft class deeper - but not a sure thing he's a center in the NHL, he's only 5'11" which is a bit small for an NHL center, I could see him ending up a winger too.

And then he's got miles to go to catch up and close the gap with Stenberg based on early season offensive performance, I think Stenberg is closer to McKenna right now with how much he's scoring in the SHL, for me that league is very good 15 pts in 19 games is pretty incredible for his draft season. I like Verhoeff too but for the flames landing one of McKenna or Stenberg would be franchise altering - a franchise center is critical but I think you start with the most dynamic forward you can get. Realistically the flames will probably have 3 or 4 top 10 picks coming up would be my guess with how bad the team is and the prospects we have close so I don't think they have to solve every problem in this one draft.

Unfortunately of course it's the Oilers who screwed us by feeding at the welfare trough too long and getting the rules changed meaning even if finishing last flames are likely to pick 3rd.

[fotze2]

I like Carels, watched him at PG camp for when we go on the inevitable 20 game tear.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Matty81

He could do for sure and I hope Lawrence lights it up and makes the draft class deeper - but not a sure thing he's a center in the NHL, he's only 5'11" which is a bit small for an NHL center, I could see him ending up a winger too.

And then he's got miles to go to catch up and close the gap with Stenberg based on early season offensive performance, I think Stenberg is closer to McKenna right now with how much he's scoring in the SHL, for me that league is very good 15 pts in 19 games is pretty incredible for his draft season. I like Verhoeff too but for the flames landing one of McKenna or Stenberg would be franchise altering - a franchise center is critical but I think you start with the most dynamic forward you can get. Realistically the flames will probably have 3 or 4 top 10 picks coming up would be my guess with how bad the team is and the prospects we have close so I don't think they have to solve every problem in this one draft.

Unfortunately of course it's the Oilers who screwed us by feeding at the welfare trough too long and getting the rules changed meaning even if finishing last flames are likely to pick 3rd.

Just want to make a little correction- Lawrence was measured by Central Scouting as being 6’0.5”, so he’ll play at at least 6’1”. No worries about his size.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Just want to make a little correction- Lawrence was measured by Central Scouting as being 6’0.5”, so he’ll play at at least 6’1”. No worries about his size.

They all lie about their height anyway. It's ridiculous. Tall guys are even worse about it.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by fotze2

They all lie about their height anyway. It's ridiculous. Tall guys are even worse about it.

Oh yea, he'll be 6'3 by the draft.

[Sandman]

More takeaways from Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings:

-I was a huge fan last season of RW Lirim Amidovski (4th-round, Minnesota), and I'm now a big a fan of his little brother Nathan, a C-rated LW/C who plays for the 67's. Nathan is 6'1.5", but is a very slight 183lbs, and needs to bulk up and get stronger- but he's a well-trained puckhandler, a hard-worker, and a diligent pace-pusher, whose skating is a real strength. Right now, he's sitting at 16 points in 18 games for Ottawa (a pace that puts him at 57 points in 64 games), who sit in 3rd-place in the OHL, and has posted 7 points in the last 6 contests. Amidovski plays a bit of a power game, but isn't consistently physical, although he works hard in battles and does a lot of the heavy lifting for his line. He can make plays, and has a hard, deceptive release.

-Amidovski's teammate, B-rated LC Thomas Vandenberg (5'11.5",179lbs) was turning heads before going down to injury near the end of October- although he was on a 4-game pointless streak at the time. To date, he has produced 6 goals and 12 points in 13 games for the 67's, a pace that would put him at 54 points in 59 games at the end of the current campaign. One of the youngest players in the 2026 Draft (September 8th birthday), Vandenberg is extremely reliable in all situations, and very well-rounded in his skillset; he's a good skater, owns well-developed puck-skill, and displays play-driving capabilities, and a nose for the net. He can unleash a laser shot, and has good hands in-tight to beat goalies from the slot. He's not the biggest player out there, but he's not afraid to play through contact, is not afraid of traffic, drives the middle, and dishes out some physicality of his own.

-Another player I really appreciate is B-rated LW Chase Harrington (6'0.5",195lbs) of the Spokane Chiefs, who is lurking around the end of the first-round/ early second in most mocks. Harrington should be well above a ppg this season, based on his 2024-25 production of 50 points in 68 games, as well as the fact that he's a little older, sporting an Oct.30th Birthday, but as it stands- he has only managed to post 14 points in 20 games (a pace that would put him at 48 points in 68 games). He also rides shotgun with highly touted RW Mathis Preston, who has had the same trouble putting up offense (they occupy the top-two spots in scoring for Spokane); the problem lies mainly with the team, who are 14th out of 23 teams, and are 21st in goals-scored. Harrington is a rambunctious power-forward who never passes up the opportunity to dish out a thunderous hit, and his 42 PIM show how mean he is. The reason he's rated so highly though, is the fact that he's quite skilled, skates very well, and is a very well-balanced, two-way competitor- and though he is often seen supporting Preston's efforts, he is capable of driving play himself. Simply put, Harrington is WAY better than his production would indicate, and if he can put more points on the board- teams with a pick in the late-twenties will be looking at him. Love this kid!

-The Hitmen are 6th-place overall in the WHL, but they have also had issues scoring- sitting in 16th for goals-scored. The lack of offense might be affecting B-rated LW Landon Amrhein (6'4.5",190lbs), who has only managed to put up 13 points in 19 games, which prorates to 47 points over 68 games in a slightly watered-down league. To be fair, Amrhein is still getting used to his surroundings, as he was playing last season in Texas, and for a winger who specializes in playmaking, it's hard to show up in the boxscore when your linemates aren't finishing. Amrhein is a smooth and projectable skater, but he will need plenty of work on his explosiveness and acceleration, and for a kid with his size- he could afford to be much more physical than he is. He uses his body to drive the middle though, he will power his way to the inside position on opponents, and works hard for loose pucks. Amrhein handles well, and is a gifted passer with good vision and IQ, but could afford to add a better goal-scoring element to his repertoire; he is also a responsible two-way forward who is tied for the lead in plus/minus on the Hitmen, with a +8. My bet is that he has a big second-half to the season.

-Speaking of the Hitmen, B-rated LD Ben Macbeath (who hails from Calgary) has put up enough offense on a goal-starved team to catch one's attention- with 11 points in 19 games (prorated to 39 points in 68 games) to lead their backend by 4 points. He is 6'2", 184lbs, and came over in a trade that sent Captain Carson Wetsch to Kelowna, after an impressive 16-year-old season that saw him post 34 points in 53 games for Salmon Arm of the BCHL- which led their defense in scoring by 19 points. Though he doesn't employ much physicality, and doesn't display a mean edge, he is a well-developed rush-defender and seems to specialize in separating man from puck in the defensive zone with clever stickwork, expert angling, and tight gap-control. In the other end of the ice, he activates quite often and gets pucks on-net with good frequency. Macbeath has decent speed, but even better edges and agility to pivot on a dime, transition seamlessly, and surf laterally with quickness.

-Power-winger RW Cole Zurawski (6'0.5",192lbs) is off to a great start, with 11 goals and 20 points in 20 games for Owen Sound of the OHL, despite being C-rated. At his best, Zurawski is an intense, strong-skating, two-way goal-scorer with an NHL shot- but too often, he is the victim of inconsistencies in his effort and engagement, as well as his physical game and pace. Even still, if he can keep up his scoring pace, there are plenty of teams that will be interested in his services on Draft-day, as he has plenty of projectable NHL tools.

-C/RW Carter Stevens (6'2.25",195lbs) is another player who got off to a nice start, with 7 goals and 14 points in 15 games for Guelph (OHL) before succumbing to the injury bug. The B-rated pivot plays a responsible 200-ft game, and is very well-rounded- showing a strong skating stride, a competitive nature, and intelligence in all situations. He competes in the dirty areas, goes to the net, attacks the inside, and is a force along the boards and down-low. Stevens can make plays, but makes most of his living in funneling pucks to the net, finishing in-tight, and beating goalies with his arsenal of hard shots.

-In his 16 year-old season, B-rated LW Adam Nemec (6'1",176lbs) registered the 27th-best season in the history of the Slovakian U20 league, with 57 points in 43 games. In 2024-25, with more games (35) in the men's pro leagues, he only played 32 games in the U20 circuit, but put up 51 points- which is tied for the 35th-best ppg (1.59) by a U-18 player with 10 games or more in a season in the league's history. In the same season, he tied for the 27th-best season all-time by a U-18 player in the top men's league with 7 points in 20 games (23rd in ppg, with .35 for players with 10 games or more), and put up the 30th-best season by a U-18 player with 10 games or more for ppg (.60) in the 2nd-tier league, with 9 points in 15 games. In the current season to date, Simon's little brother has posted 7 points in 19 games in the top league, but is a little older by draft standards, with an Oct.18th, 2007 birthdate. Even with his advanced age, I would say that Nemec is more potential right now than finished product, but his ceiling is quite high- so much so that many have him in the middle of the first-round in some mocks. He's an excellent playmaker with top-tier sense and vision, but I think his rigid attention to playing a tight two-way game might mean a decrease in points for him- which is definitely not a bad thing. His boots need a bit of attention, but his work ethic and motor more than compensate right now, and he could stand to use his body a bit more, but he plays an NHL style.

-LHC Olivers Murnieks (6'0.25",200lbs), who is B-rated, got off to a pretty good start in his first season with the Saint John Sea Dogs, collecting 9 points in his first 9 games- but he has since faltered, with only 2 points in his last 9. More was expected of him this year, after a 2024-25 season that saw him post a very respectable 35 points in 52 USHL games with the Sioux City Musketeers as a 16 year-old- which ties him with Matt Boldy (among others) for the 35th-best U-17 season in the history of the league (and 1 point behind Adam Fantilli and Frank Nazar). Murnieks is another import who plays a detailed and responsible two-way game, disrupting the opposition's attack, then driving play in the other direction. He isn't really dynamically skilled or fast, but his hockey sense is near-elite, and he employs a power game to win positioning in the offensive zone, and separate man from puck in the defensive zone.

-When he was 17, NHL-star Mikko Rantanen put up 9 points in 37 games in the SHL, for a ppg of 0.24. A-rated C Oliver Suvanto has posted 5 points in 22 games in the SHL, for a ppg of 0.23, as one of the youngest players in the 2026 draft- sporting a September 3rd, 2008 birthday. Suvanto made waves in the summer's Hlinka tournament, where he led all Finnish forwards in ice-time by a wide margin, played in all situations, and even wore an "A" for Suomi- putting up 4 points in 5 games. He's a fantastic two-way C who wins faceoffs, drives play with his heightened vision and awareness, plays a physical game, protects the puck well, and wins board battles. Skating could use a little work though. Look for him in the latter-third of the first-round.

-LW Adam Novotny (6'1",204lbs), who was rated an "A", has largely been in most watchers' top-20 for the upcoming draft. Part of the recognition might be coming from his performances in the U-18 Tournament (6 points in 5 games for the Czechs, 2nd in scoring on the team), and the Hlinka (5 points in 5 games, 3rd in scoring on the team). He is plying his trade right now for the 11th-place Peterborough Petes, and has so far amassed 11 goals and 21 points in 21 games. Novotny has 51 games of pro experience under his belt from the Czech league over the last two seasons, but has only put up a combined 4 points; even still, he exerts a pro style game that includes detailed and reliable two-way play, and the capacity to play a rugged physical style. He is blessed with top-notch vision and hockey sense, as well as a robust shooting arsenal, and is an excellent skater. He started out a tad slow while he acclimated himself to the OHL, with only 2 points in his first 5 games, but has settled in nicely with 19 points over his last 16- to lead the Petes in scoring.

[TheIronMaiden]

What's the word, is this trending to be a strong draft class?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

What's the word, is this trending to be a strong draft class?

Probably an average class IMO.

The draft is thin in the top end for Cs, but seems to be heavy on C in the last half of the 1st round going into the 2nd. So might see some teams reach for Cs in the early/mid 1st.

[HighLifeMan]

Alberts Smits has already surpassed Miro Heiskanen's draft year point production in the Liiga - granted he is eight months older that Miro was, but it's still an amazing start to the year. If he keeps up anywhere near this level of production - it's hard not to see him pushing as a top three pick.

[devo22]

McKenna with our own and Suvanto with the Vegas 1st is my very early dream scenario.

[stemit14]

Any NHL comparables for each of the top 3 players?

McKenna seems like an even better version of Nylander to me.

I don’t think Verhoeff is close to being a Schaefer-level defence prospect. From the limited viewings I’ve watched (2 games this year), he reminds me a bit of Owen Power with more aggressive offensive instincts.

No idea with Stenberg.

[Enoch Root]

Somewhere between Nylander and Kane is probably a good range. I think he's more like Kane, and has Kane's upside, personally.

I don't think Bedard is the worst comparison either, though Bedard is a little more shot-dependent

[JTech780]

I think Chase Reid will move his way into the top 5 by the mid way point.

I also think Adam Valentini, Alessandro Di Iorio and Caleb Malhotra will start to climb draft rankings in short order.

[JTech780]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...raft-prospect/

Bukala has Verhoeff as the #1 prospect in the draft. I know I am in the very small minority on this, but I agree. If the draft was tomorrow, I would take Verhoreff 1st overall.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by JTech780

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...raft-prospect/

Bukala has Verhoeff as the #1 prospect in the draft. I know I am in the very small minority on this, but I agree. If the draft was tomorrow, I would take Verhoreff 1st overall.

I don’t know it’s that small a minority. In the Athletic today, Pronman said 7 of 17 NHL scouts he spoke to have someone other than McKenna ranked #1. I’d wager Verhoeff is the #1 choice of most of them.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don’t know it’s that small a minority. In the Athletic today, Pronman said 7 of 17 NHL scouts he spoke to have someone other than McKenna ranked #1. I’d wager Verhoeff is the #1 choice of most of them.

That actually makes me look forward more to drafting #1 or #2.

It looks like there's an actual contest now as to who will go first overall, and those guys are going to have in the back of their minds and want to compete for that honour. Probably Verhoeff and McKenna will both have a little sharper focus on improving their game because of it. If so, getting either one of those players will be a big lift for whichever teams have that chance.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Probably an average class IMO.

Which isn't a bad thing if you are drafting in the top tier of the 1st round, from the perspective of gaining ground on other teams. In a shallower draft with small tiers and steeper ledges, fewer teams deeper in the draft are likely to draft stars, so the teams with the top 3-5 picks have more of an advantage.