2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

If SJ is going to move Misa, that’s what it would take.

I genuinely think it makes the sharks better moving forward. Much more likely that Misa is underutilized with all of the top end forwards they've got. Could be a great deal for both teams

[Enoch Root]

So let's say the Flames are drafting 3rd, and McKenna and Stenberg are gone.

They have a choice to draft a C (Laurence, Bjorck, Malhotra) or Verhoeff. SJS has already stated they would trade Misa for Verhoeff. If you're the Flames, do you take Verhoeff and flip him for Misa, or take one of the available Cs, or take Verhoeff and keep him?

[Tbull8]

I think Misa and Lawrence are very similar levels, Bjorck and Malholtra a slight tier below. I would do the Misa trade and bank on the chemistry between him and Parekh moving forward

[dammage79]

Wow, I clearly don't know enough Tynan "freaking" Lawrence if other posters are putting him in direct Competition with Micheal Misa.

Although to be fair.... I've had Bjorck blinders on all year. Bjorck to me is the Flames elixer if they cannot land McKenna.

[YourMother]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So let's say the Flames are drafting 3rd, and McKenna and Stenberg are gone.

They have a choice to draft a C (Laurence, Bjorck, Malhotra) or Verhoeff. SJS has already stated they would trade Misa for Verhoeff. If you're the Flames, do you take Verhoeff and flip him for Misa, or take one of the available Cs, or take Verhoeff and keep him?

In my opinion that would be perfect.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So let's say the Flames are drafting 3rd, and McKenna and Stenberg are gone.

They have a choice to draft a C (Laurence, Bjorck, Malhotra) or Verhoeff. SJS has already stated they would trade Misa for Verhoeff. If you're the Flames, do you take Verhoeff and flip him for Misa, or take one of the available Cs, or take Verhoeff and keep him?

With Luke Misa suddenly turning his season around, maybe I would consider drafting Verhoeff and trading him to SJ for his younger brother, and then drafting the Ruck twins this draft as well. Boy would it make John Abbott comletely tongue-tied doing the play-by-play, and Kelly Hrudey would completely shut-down!


In all seriousness, I would probably trade Verhoeff for Misa, but I still have a slight worry about drafting defencemen so high, even if they look fantastic. That's just me, however.

I am not sure that San Jose would really want to (or the Flames would either). Misa is looking like the 2nd line center of San Jose, as I believe Smith is often playing alongside Celebrini right now, IIRC? Misa is playing on the 3rd line playing more sheltered, with Wennberg being the place holder on the 2nd line taking more tougher minutes.


I don't see it happening by either team, but i would probably do a Verhoeff - Misa trade.

[Calgary4LIfe]

This intrusive popped into my head yesterday.


If at the deadline, the Flames are 2nd last and the Canucks last, with Demko still out, but ~ 5 points or so from one another. One way to flip the script would be to waive Cooley.


Vancouver would have to pick up Cooley as he has been an excellent goalie. That single move would probably make the Flames lose another 2 games by having to play Prosvetov or Say at that point in the season, and the Cooley could probably steal 2 games or so.


But yeah, that's what the draft lottery is for - stopping teams from making idiotic moves like this.

[Muta]

If Cooley has aspirations of being a #1 goalie, he's certainly proving he could potentially be that. Other teams are probably noticing. Unless the Flames trade Wolf (re: they likely won't), we should look at Cooley as an asset for a potential move down the line. He is absolutely found money.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Muta

If Cooley has aspirations of being a #1 goalie, he's certainly proving he could potentially be that. Other teams are probably noticing. Unless the Flames trade Wolf (re: they likely won't), we should look at Cooley as an asset for a potential move down the line. He is absolutely found money.

100% agree! I love the 2-year extension. It gives him time to prove himself, and I think the Flames can make a Markstrom-like trade down the road if the lack of starting goaltenders continues in the NHL. He will be 31 by then, which is still young for a goalie. Hopefully he turns into a high-value trade chip.

[Sandman]

Draft Verhoeff, and trade Mews or one of our other higher-end prospects for a C. Draft a #1 center in 2027.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Verhoeff, and trade Mews or one of our other higher-end prospects for a C. Draft a #1 center in 2027.

If Mews could get us a C I think Conroy would’ve pulled the trigger already. But I like your line of thinking. Hard to say what tier of C he could get for Mews (or Brz)

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

If Mews could get us a C I think Conroy would’ve pulled the trigger already. But I like your line of thinking. Hard to say what tier of C he could get for Mews (or Brz)

I think he could easily get a young 2C.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I think he could easily get a young 2C.

I think you would need to package him with a bigger piece
And he needs to show he can come back from the knee injury

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Muta

If Cooley has aspirations of being a #1 goalie, he's certainly proving he could potentially be that. Other teams are probably noticing. Unless the Flames trade Wolf (re: they likely won't), we should look at Cooley as an asset for a potential move down the line. He is absolutely found money.

I'd wait for this year and next year to play out to determine which goalie is on the better trajectory and go from there.

I would not be making those calls based on the limited sample size from both players.

Sophomore slumps are a thing.. as are backups with eye-popping numbers.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I'd wait for this year and next year to play out to determine which goalie is on the better trajectory and go from there.

I would not be making those calls based on the limited sample size from both players.

Sophomore slumps are a thing.. as are backups with eye-popping numbers.

If the right offer comes along, you have to consider it. That's been Conroy's MO as well.