2026 NHL Draft Thread

[shutout]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...nuary-edition/

Cosentino's January ranking just released

1. Stenberg - LW
2. Verhoeff - D
3. McKenna - LW
4. Malhotra - C
5. Lawrence - C
6. Reid - D
7. Bjorck - RW
8. Carels - D
9. Belchetz - LW
10. Smits - D


Next C he has after Lawrence is Morozov @ 15.

I would have Lin and Rudolph ahead of Belchetz.
Belchetz is in that group of wingers (Hemming, Novotny) after the defensemen and centers.
I would actually have Morozov and Suvanto ahead of the group of wingers as well.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...nuary-edition/

Cosentino's January ranking just released

No. 28: Maddox Dagenais, C, 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

You can’t miss him size-wise, but if you do, he will let you know he’s there by finishing his checks. He doesn’t just hit the body, he works through the body and that trait can intimidate.

Is there more to Dagenais than just his size?
If so he would definitely be an intriguing option with the Vegas pick

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by shutout

Is there more to Dagenais than just his size?
If so he would definitely be an intriguing option with the Vegas pick

Worth drafting simply to have a dude who forechecks that we can call Mad Dog tbh.

[bigrangy]

I'm surprised that's the scouting report on Dagenais. I haven't watched him much but I definitely had more of an impression that he was actually not that physical. he has actual plus puck skill though, although he can't seem to turn it into production this year in the Q, although the Remparts are ass

I like him with a pick after 20. Big center with puck skills, always good to have those.

[1qqaaz]

I wonder if any teams will try to get both of the Ruck twins.

Markus Ruck has 55 points in 41 games. Liam Ruck has 58 points in 40 games.
Liam has slightly better production, is more of a goal scorer, and is heavier, but Markus is a more defensively responsible center/RW and is better at playmaking. Both have good vision.
They won the championship with Medicine Hat last year.

I can't tell the difference between them appearance-wise. They're both known for being hard to play against. At this point it seems like they might go in the early 2nd round. They definitely have chemistry with each other.

If the Flames did finish bottom 3, it could be possible to trade the Vegas pick down, then pick them 35/36 or so.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by shutout

Is there more to Dagenais than just his size?
If so he would definitely be an intriguing option with the Vegas pick

He's got some talent but he faded into the background at the Calgary CHL/USA game.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I wonder if any teams will try to get both of the Ruck twins.

Markus Ruck has 55 points in 41 games. Liam Ruck has 58 points in 40 games.
Liam has slightly better production, is more of a goal scorer, and is heavier, but Markus is a more defensively responsible center/RW and is better at playmaking. Both have good vision.
They won the championship with Medicine Hat last year.

I can't tell the difference between them appearance-wise. They're both known for being hard to play against. At this point it seems like they might go in the early 2nd round. They definitely have chemistry with each other.

If the Flames did finish bottom 3, it could be possible to trade the Vegas pick down, then pick them 35/36 or so.

Canucks fans already talking about drafting both as well. They have their 1st (likely top 3) plus the Wild (likely 24-32) then their own 2nd, but the Flames have their 3rd round pick, which will likely be pick 65-68, from the Zadorov trade.

That could be a decent pick to use on Markus, maybe a bit of a reach, but if you can get Liam in round 2 I would hope they take a run at that.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2011594173347201278

https://twitter.com/user/status/2011594399311077816

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by shutout

Is there more to Dagenais than just his size?
If so he would definitely be an intriguing option with the Vegas pick

Dagenais is a bit like Belchetz and Roobroeck, in that he can affect the game with physicality when he's on, but his intensity and engagement are very inconsistent. When he wants to, he can throw big hits, and will drop the shoulder to lean into defenders when cutting to the net or use his frame to win inside positioning, but most scouts want to see further development of his power game.

He was the first-overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft, but his offensive output so far in his junior career has been a bit disappointing thus far, and he can disappear at times. Quebec was 12th last season, but they are 9th (out of 18) right now. I still like the kid, and I would be fine with using our late-first to take him if our scouts saw fit, or one of our seconds, but he's pretty raw and has a ways to go, with some big potential. Scouts seem to agree that he looks more like a middle-six C in the show, with some even saying bottom-six.

At the CHL-USA Prospects Game, he was mostly invisible, but had a few flashes- he danced around a defender or a two a few times for a shot on goal, threw some big hits, and was pretty engaged defensively.

[AustinL_NHL]

Had Bedard decided to go the NCAA route for his draft year, I would bet - and especially based on his first two NHL seasons - that he would've also struggled against the older, bigger, tougher NCAA competition. Some players *cough* *Wyttenbach **cough* just adjust quicker than others.

If McKenna is currently in the WHL being on pace for 200+ points, it's not even a question.

I love Stenberg as a close #2 though

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.15th: The Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game took place today, with Team West (Captained by C Alessandro Di Iorio) getting the win over Team East (Captained by LW Adam Novotny), by a score of 4-3. Though the two stars of the contest were Novotny (with 2 goals, including the winner) for Team East, and RW Nikita Klepov (a goal and two assists) for Team West, RHC Adam Levac of the Peterborough Petes drew attention for picking up 1 assist, and dropping the gloves with RW Cole Zurawski. The Petes have enjoyed a massive resurgence this season, going from last-place in the league in 2024-25, to currently occupying the 8th-spot in the 20-team OHL. Levac (6'0",172lbs) was given a "C"-rating by Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings, and is at this time third in scoring for Peterborough, with 13 goals and 32 points (28 PIM) in 40 tilts, which prorates to 54 points in 68; he had a bit of a slow start to the season, with only 5 points in his first 11 games. He is younger than most in this draft-class, born on June 27th, 2008, and is currently ranked by CS as # 89 for North American Skaters.

Levac is fairly well-rounded, and carries a complete skillset, but he's not really dynamic or elite in any way- he's not the biggest, or the fastest, but he works hard, and plays hard, with the ability to push the pace of the game. If there's a trait of his that is distinctly above-average, it's his heart and his motor, which helps him to win battles against larger opponents, and pushes him to win races to loose pucks. Levac has flashed high-end playmaking vision in the past, with an ability to connect with teammates through traffic on difficult passes, but those flashes are slowly becoming more of regular occurrence; I could easily see him becoming a top player in the league over the next few seasons. I don't see his shot being anything too special (though he has a pretty good one-timer), but he's good around the net, and has soft enough hands to score in-tight; he is also proficient at making plays to the slot from below the goal-line, and shooting for rebounds as a playmaking tool. Levac plays a simple game, and any scouting report you read on him will tell you that he's a very straight-line player, but he's also scrappy and physical, and wins his share of 50/50 contests. He's also pretty good at faceoffs, currently sporting a 53.7% on the dot. Defensively, he doggedly pursues pucks, takes away time and space from attackers, protects the middle from incursions, and disrupts play with well-timed stick-lifts and pokes; his details and positioning are sound, but could use further refinement. Likewise, his puck-skills are usually more reliable than high-end, and he could afford to be more deceptive, but he wields solid puck-protection, and can pull off some dazzling one-on-one moves from time-to-time.

[sch19lks]

I’m gonna beat the Malhotra drum forever. I think he’s our guy

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He is their leading scorer and 3rd in the league, but is worth pointing out that a bunch of their team was at the world juniors (or hurt) so in point per game he's behind a few of them by a decent chunk

Yes I took that into account. But I don’t think he’s leeching points off those guys. Benak was at the WJC, but Vanacker and O’Brien were both cut by Team Canada.

If you watch him play, he takes the puck to the net, attacks the middle of the ice and creates his own offence. I think he’ll be a really good NHLer

[sureLoss]

Craig Button's midterm rankings.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/craig...op-defenceman/

Always controversy with his list. He has Chase Reid at #3 as the top d-man and Verhoeff at 6 is the 4th ranked d-man.

Bjorck is his top ranked C at 7.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Craig Button's midterm rankings.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/craig...op-defenceman/

Always controversy with his list. He has Chase Reid at #3 as the top d-man and Verhoeff at 6 is the 4th ranked d-man.

Bjorck is his top ranked C at 7.

He's not always wrong. Here's his final 2019 rankings with Cole Caufield (who went 15) and Matt Boldy (who went 12) in his top 5.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/draftcentre/c...ings-1.1317702

As an aside, it would really be nice if all the outlets that do draft coverage had an archive page somewhere to click through their draft ranking articles over the last couple of decades.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Yes I took that into account. But I don’t think he’s leeching points off those guys. Benak was at the WJC, but Vanacker and O’Brien were both cut by Team Canada.

If you watch him play, he takes the puck to the net, attacks the middle of the ice and creates his own offence. I think he’ll be a really good NHLer

Like so many NHLers' kids, his hockey IQ is elite.

This is why I am always biased towards kids of players - you grow up at the rink, watching NHLers practice, watching what the coaching staff is telling them everyday, and working on everyday. It is a MASSIVE advantage for them.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

As an aside, it would really be nice if all the outlets that do draft coverage had an archive page somewhere to click through their draft ranking articles over the last couple of decades.

I’m very surprised that elite prospects or whatever doesn’t have that as a subscirber feature or etc. i don’t think anyone keeps track of the old rankings.

[Royle9]

Smits and Carels just don't move the needle enough for me to have them in the top 5.
Very strange take imo, but what do I know!

[Enoch Root]

I agree with Button about Smits - he's a gamer, and he's going to be a player. I might be inclined to have Smits as my top Dman (followed by Verhoeff).

But he's missing Malhotra

Edit: LOL - perfectly timed after Royle's post!

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Smits and Carels just don't move the needle enough for me to have them in the top 5.
Very strange take imo, but what do I know!

Reid is a worse defender than Parekh, too.

BUT, I am not sure I really disagree with Button. I think Verhoeff's upside is limited personally, and Button is always going off of future potential not where he thinks people will be drafted.