2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

One is not like the other, Lindstrom is being outplayed by four 2025 draft picks on his own team.

Fair enough, I havent had time to really follow along with much progression outside of the the Flames prospects from the various threads. Feel free to sub in equivilently tiered forward prospects that you think Parekh would be valued at. The main point im trying to say is that drafting a defensemen 3rd overall doesnt handcuff us with an overload of RD because we can pivot. I think there are existing "untouchable" forward prospects that Parekh would be a fair offer for because he would also be a rare commodity.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I like Stenberg but I truly feel like McKenna is the exact kind of player that could turn Reschny into a totally viable #1 center and remove our need to draft one. They seem like completely complimentary players.

Ideally you'd want the Flames to draft a bonafide number one center without the winger pulling him up to that but point understood. Most teams have star players down the middle, or guys that step up when they win. O'Reily for the Blues, Kuznetsov for the Caps, etc

Gotta be honest Caleb Malholtra is really coming on strong and I'm starting to see star potential in him. Reminds me of Tij Iginla, where he's a late riser with a summer birthday who's pushing as the season progresses.

[Tbull8]

McKenna
Stenberg
Verhoeff
Lawrence
Bjorck
Malhotra

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think we should be penciling Mews in on this team, even long-term. There are still a lot of risk factors with a guy like him. A little undersized, and now the major knee injury on top of that. plus he's unsigned.

I'm the last person to burst any optimism bubble, but I don't think him in the pipeline should have any bearing on the Flames taking Verhoeff or not.

Couldn't agree more, especially for a guy like Mews, a 3rd round decent-to-okay prospect. Now if you have Parekh in the system, draft Keaton Verhoeff
and are in a position to draft Landon Dupont you might start to have those questions, but Henry Mews ain't the guy you worry about.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think we should be penciling Mews in on this team, even long-term. There are still a lot of risk factors with a guy like him. A little undersized, and now the major knee injury on top of that. plus he's unsigned.

I'm the last person to burst any optimism bubble, but I don't think him in the pipeline should have any bearing on the Flames taking Verhoeff or not.

The point wasn't about Mews at all. The point is that RD is the Flames' deepest position. And that being the case, I wouldn't use our first top 3 pick ever, to draft another RD, when we still have ZERO elite forwards.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

I dont think the Flames would go RD with the Vegas pick with a guy like Chrenko on the board still. Double down on 1st round centers

That would be fugly. Using the Vegas pick on a 2nd/3rd pairing d screams Matt pelech all over again.

Skill skill skill. Late first is a good spot in a deep draft to take a swing at a highly skilled f (hopefully a C) that may have fallen. Gonna get a good player with our pick, gives us leeway to swing for the fences with the Vegas pick.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The point wasn't about Mews at all. The point is that RD is the Flames' deepest position. And that being the case, I wouldn't use our first top 3 pick ever, to draft another RD, when we still have ZERO elite forwards.

We have zero elite blueliners too. Parekh's offensive potential is through the roof but he's not a complete guy like Verhoeff has the potential to be. Parekh was drafted 9th overall, the third blueliner taken for a reason. It's insanely too early to be drafting by position.

[TherapyforGlencross]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The point wasn't about Mews at all. The point is that RD is the Flames' deepest position. And that being the case, I wouldn't use our first top 3 pick ever, to draft another RD, when we still have ZERO elite forwards.

A possibility is if draft 3rd, i’d see if there’s any takers at 4th or 5th, trade down for an extra second, and draft Maholtra or Lawrence.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by BigThief

We have zero elite blueliners too. Parekh's offensive potential is through the roof but he's not a complete guy like Verhoeff has the potential to be. Parekh was drafted 9th overall, the third blueliner taken for a reason. It's insanely too early to be drafting by position.

Unless you have zero elite forwards

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Unless you have zero elite forwards

You're acting like we're flush at every position and this draft is our last piece.

[PepsiFree]

We’re 3-4 drafts away from the luxury of drafting by position, and even then it doesn’t ever seem to pan out when it’s a choice between anyone that isn’t a total toss up.