2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Caleb Malhotra currently has 48 points in 35 games for Brantford in his first OHL season. Has anyone watched him enough to get a sense of whether he has #1C potential? As a natural center and one of the youngest players in the 2026 draft, he’s listed at 6'2" and 185 lbs, so there’s a good chance his playing size in the NHL could end up closer to 6'3" and 200 lbs. Those stats are pretty impressive, especially considering he's likely been playing as the #2C behind Jake O'Brien for most of the season.

If we don't get one of the top 3, I am hoping we end up with Malhotra. Also, I expect he will move well up into the top 10 by draft time. Maybe 5-8 range.

[browntrout]

Seeing McKenna light it up is nice to see, alot less doubters now I would hope.

Looking less and less the team drafts him now, a missed opportunity

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

One thing I'll say is I don't believe for one second that he's actually 6'2". He was listed at 6'0" at the start of the season and I found that very believable. He is visibly smaller than O'Brien, who is also listed at 6'2".

I made a call on this and he measured 188 cm at camp. I guess we'll find out for sure at the combine.

[Funkhouser]

Assuming the Flames are too strong to finish bottom 4 and we end up drafting in the 10-15 slot...who are we targeting?

Bjork sounds great.
Malholtra is a major riser.

I don't know if either will be available past 10 TBH.

[Sandman]

Central Scouting measures prospects' heights and weights at various times throughout the season, and they measured Malhotra to be 6'1.25" at the start of the season. I usually think of their listed measurements as being the most accurate source.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Assuming the Flames are too strong to finish bottom 4 and we end up drafting in the 10-15 slot...who are we targeting?

Bjork sounds great.
Malholtra is a major riser.

I don't know if either will be available past 10 TBH.

Assuming we're still targeting a C, Oliver Suvanto, Yegor Shilov, Tomas Chrenko, Alex DiIorio, Adam Valentini, Jack Hextall, and Ilya Morozov should be in the mix.

Personally, I don't think we could go wrong with Shilov, Di Iorio, Valentini, or Morozov.

It would be extremely hard to pass on RW Marcus Nordmark, LW Adam Novotny, RW Elton Hermansson, and LW Mathis Preston, though. Not to mention all the really good D.

[Sandman]

Liam Ruck has racked up 23 points in his last 10 games, for 49 points in 36 games. That's a 93-point pace in 68 games.

Markus Ruck has 21 points in his last 10, for 49 points in 36 games, as well.

[stemit14]

@Sandman - at this point, is there a forward prospect (besides Bjorck) ranked outside the top 15 that you would consider more offensively skilled than most of the forwards in the top 15 but he is ranked lower because he has a flaw (real or perceived) in his game that keeps him ranked lower?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

@Sandman - at this point, is there a forward prospect (besides Bjorck) ranked outside the top 15 that you would consider more offensively skilled than most of the forwards in the top 15 but he is ranked lower because he has a flaw (real or perceived) in his game that keeps him ranked lower?

Here's a few to keep an eye on:

-C Yegor Shilov: For some reson, he doesn't seem to be cracking the top-15 on most lists, despite putting up 43 points in 34 games for the 14th-place Victoriaville Tigres. He and Alexei Vlasov (44 points) are the heart of the team's offense, with the next-highest scorer behind Shilov having only 29 points. Though he needs more pace in his game, and his skating could use another gear, he has high-end puck skill, a solid 200-ft game, as well as excellent vision and creativity.

-C Tomas Chrenko: He's not all that big (5'11",172lbs), but he has put up great numbers everywhere he's been, and he's currently dominating the WJC, with 5 goals and 6 points in 3 games for Team Slovakia. He's a bit older too, with a November.2nd, 2007 birthday, but his 17 points in 27 games in Slovakia's men's league are already tied for the 21st-best all-time for a player 18-and-under; his 0.63 ppg are 16th-best (5 games or more). Chrenko can play a physical game, and doesn't shy away from battling in the greasy areas of the ice. He owns high-end puck-skill for escapability in tight spaces, plays a tight two-way game (as you would expect of a center), skates well, and is balanced nicely between his playmaking and scoring. He could be a huge steal.

-RW Elton Hermansson: A favorite of mine from the Hlinka, where he was tied for 2nd in the tournament, with 11 points in 5 games, his numbers are sometimes overlooked, because he's playing in Sweden's second-tier league, the Allsvenskan- posting 10 points in 20 games with MoDo. He is already tied for 16th all-time for points by a U-18 player, and his 0.50 ppg are tied for 10th all-time (3 games or more)- he doesn't turn 18 until Feb.5th. Hermey oozes skill, and high-end instincts, with the hands to deke and dangle around defenders, and he owns a high-end shooting arsenal. He also drives play with keen awareness, and heightened vision. The knock is that he's mostly finesse, and needs to pay a bit more attention to the defensive side of the puck.

-RW Marcus Nordmark: Don't be surprised if he goes top-10, this kid is a true stud. He's 6'2",and gallops around the ice with speed, power, and finesse. He led the Hlinka in scoring, with 7 goals and 12 points in 5 games, and is currently 14th in scoring in the U20 league, with 25 points in 17 games (and he's racked up 38 PIM). Speed, sniper's hands, playmaker's vision, and can deke and dangle through traffic. Absolute beauty.

-C Alexander Command: 26 points in 18 U20 games, good enough for 10th in the U20 league. He's 6'1", plays a solid all-around game, and brings energy, grit, and constant physicality to winning battles along the boards. He plays at a break-neck pace, but his skating is closer to average than it should be. He has a powerful shot, but leans more towards his playmaking, and has top-flight IQ and awareness all over the ice. Like Genborg last year, he should be a riser, and is one of my early faves.


-I'm a massive fan of LW Chase Harrington (6'1",201lbs), but like his teammate Mathis Preston from the Spokane Chiefs, he has massively underperformed offensively, with 31 points in 35 games; I would have expected much more, especially after posting 50 points in 68 games in 2024-25. He's a little older, with an October 30th, 2007 birthdate, and plays a rambunctious power game, with a robust physical style (59 PIM), and a bit of a mean streak. The reason he's rated so high though, and why he was rated a "B" by CS, is that he's actually quite skilled, skates very well, and is a balanced, two-way competitor who can drive play. I would easily take him in the final-third of the first-round. Spokane is 15th in the standings, and 17th in goals-for. Watch out for this kid.

-LW Niklas Aaram-Olsen (6'1",184lbs) may get into the first-round. He's a shoot-first power-forward, with a laser-shot, a nose for the net, and an eye for open space. So far, he's got 14 goals and 24 points in 18 U20 games, and has earned 8 games in the SHL (no points). He's better than his numbers, as he had 41 points in 42 U20 games last season.

-LW Adam Novotny (6'1",205lbs) started his rookie season in North America slowly, but he's coming around, with 22 points in his last 14 games, for 19 goals and 35 points in 29 games. He plays with power, attacks the net, and has a sniper's mentality of finding open space to unleash his laser shot. He's a powerful skater, and employs a sound two-way game.

-C Oscar Holmertz (6'0",192lbs) is way better than his numbers- only 17 points in 20 games for the 14th-best team in the U20 (out of 20 teams). I would've expected much better numbers, as he put up 30 points in 32 games last season, and was tied for 5th in scoring at the Hlinka (7 points in 5 games). He's a speedster who works hard, can play in all situations, employs a pro-style 200-ft game, and is well-balanced offensively. While he's not elite in any one area, he's good at everything, and has no true weaknesses.

-LW Adam Nemec (6'1",176) is playing in Slovakia's men's league, with 15 points in 28 games- which is just behind Tomas Chrenko, for 30th all-time by a player 18 and-under. This comes in the season after posting the 27th-best season of all time in the Slovakian U20 league, with 57 points in 43 games, as a 16 year-old. Nemec is a little older, with an October birthday, but he plays a pro-style, displaying a hard-working, and detailed defensive game- so much so, that it may be costing him points. He's a superb playmaker with vision and creativity, but needs a bit of work on his boots, though his pace and work-ethic make up for his deficiencies.

-RW Lars Steiner (5'10",175lbs) may be small, but he plays like a pocket-sized power-forward, with a surprisingly robust physical style, an agressive nature, and a willingness to battle in the greasy areas. He's short, but stocky, and uncommonly strong, with a low center of gravity and balance on his skates. In 2024-25, he posted 60 points in 57 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, but only has 14 points in 15 games thus far; he actually started well, with 8 points in his first 7 contests, but was injured for 13 games thereafter.

[Samonadreau]

Shilov would be a great realistic get with the Vegas pick.

Malholtra and Bjorck will be long gone by then. Good chance they are both gone in the top 10.

[1qqaaz]

Chase Harrington sounds like the type of player that a lot of coaches like, especially in the playoffs.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Liam Ruck has racked up 23 points in his last 10 games, for 49 points in 36 games. That's a 93-point pace in 68 games.

Markus Ruck has 21 points in his last 10, for 49 points in 36 games, as well.

Where do you project these guys to go in the draft, Sandman?

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by stemit14

@Sandman - at this point, is there a forward prospect (besides Bjorck) ranked outside the top 15 that you would consider more offensively skilled than most of the forwards in the top 15 but he is ranked lower because he has a flaw (real or perceived) in his game that keeps him ranked lower?

Roobroek is a guy who has top ten skill but serious questions about his gaf meter. Could go anywhere almost in the first. Preston , could be a guy like that. Bjork obviously.

Some if the under to moderate sized defenders will probably be in that range. I expect smits, reid, Rudolph, Lin probably go top 15.

Some if the names i see.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Can we get everyone to declare if they have actually watched a player or just aggregating online scouting nerd drivel?

Don't know if this was directed at me, but my opinion of Malhotra is 100% based on my own viewings.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Roobroek is a guy who has top ten skill but serious questions about his gaf meter. Could go anywhere almost in the first. Preston , could be a guy like that. Bjork obviously.

Some if the under to moderate sized defenders will probably be in that range. I expect smits, reid, Rudolph, Lin probably go top 15.

Some if the names i see.

based on what I've seen from him--and again, just my opinion--Roobroeck does not have top 10 skill. Nothing about him stood out other than his size.

Maybe I only caught him on bad days, I don't know. He definitely scored two goals in one of the games I watched.

He's Honzek without the speed IMO.

[jg13]

Where is Joe Iginla supposed to go in this draft? Numbers aren't incredible but would love to see him in the organization

[Calgary Highlander]

He was a late second rounder on Craig Button's November list --> https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/craig...in-deep-draft/

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Don't know if this was directed at me, but my opinion of Malhotra is 100% based on my own viewings.

Definitely not directed at you. But awesome. But now i view your opinions as solid.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Where do you project these guys to go in the draft, Sandman?

If the Ruck brothers can keep up their torrid scoring pace, Liam will easily get into the first-round, IMO. Markus might have to wait until later in the second-round, or early-third.

Liam Ruck is a goal-scoring, right-handed winger, while Markus is more of a playmaking, left-handed center (which may up his value a bit). Last season, Liam was given middle-six minutes on the Medicine Hat Tigers (61gp/25g/16a/41pts,+17, 6 PIM), and in the Hlinka (5gp/2g/1a/3pts,+6, 2 PIM), while Markus was often on the 4th-line on both teams (62gp/8g/21a/29pts,+12, 6 PIM for the Tigers, and 5gp/0g/4a/4pts,+3, 2 PIM for Team Canada). Liam's 25 goals led all WHL rookies. Both Ruck brothers were given the rank of "B" by Central Scouting, meaning they are seen as being potential 2nd/3rd-rounders, with Liam listed at 5'11.75",176lbs, and Markus measured at 5'11.5",167lbs.

Both move fairly well, though neither are world-class skaters, and I believe it's because they aren't yet nearly physically developed, and their speed will improve as they get stronger- and strength is an area in dire need of improvement. Both look quite slight, and both would win more battles with better strength and bulk. I would give the edge in skating to Liam, and his mobility is also pumped a bit by his persistent motor; Markus is not as intense as Liam is, or as consistent.

Liam plays a more projectable game, as he drives play in a way that Markus doesn't, and is far more willing to play in the greasy areas of the ice to get things done. Liam attacks the net, will plant himself in-front to get chances, and finds open space in the slot to use his highly deceptive release. He is a battler, and owns solid finishing skills, as well as a hard and precise shooting arsenal, with the ability to fire off the catch without needing time or space- when the puck touches his blade, it's in the back of the net. Both brothers are highly skilled with the puck, and both look to be a few steps ahead of the play with their high-end instincts, sublime vision, and indomitable IQ's. Neither likes to hold on to the puck for too long, as both prefer give-and-go's, and connective passing with quick touches to move the puck along. I would give Markus the edge in passing skill, as well as creativity, but both can find their marks (most often it seems like each other) through the smallest seams in traffic. Markus has no fear in playing through contact to make a play, and isn't deterred by heavy traffic, but I don't think he's as willing to engage physically as his brother is, and I don't think he has the same battle level. Both are competitive in their own way, though.

As one can tell by the numbers, both are extremely good 200-foot players, and both work hard in the defensive zone. In Medicine Hat, they are both usually on the first-units of both sides of special teams, and they are reliable on the PK. They are well-rounded, and can be relied upon in any situation. Right now, Liam is at 19 goals and 51 points in 37 games- which is 5th in the WHL, and his plus/minus of +23 is tied for 14th. In 12 games since the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge (he put up 1a in 2 games), he has amassed 27 points, and a +12. Markus sits at 8 goals and 49 points in 37 games, which puts him in a tie for 8th in WHL scoring, and his +21 ranks 21st in the league. He has put up 22 points in the last 12 games. I wonder just how much he feeds off his brother...

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Definitely not directed at you. But awesome. But now i view your opinions as solid.

Directed at me?