2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

[Informed Vladimir Dravecky hype]

FWIW, I thought Dravecky looked better than Jiricek early on.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Not attitude but suitably arrogant is what I have heard.

I can forgive some arrogance. Especially when everything and everyone in your physical environment has been constantly telling you you're the best player etc..

[Tbull8]

Pretty sure any player that makes it to the NHL has some level of arrogance to them. They've likely been the best player on their team since they were 8 years old.

[Roof-Daddy]

Quiet confidence can look like arrogance.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Quiet confidence can look like arrogance.

Suitably. Suitably. Like appropriate. Matching the level of competence.

I don't want wallflower meek losers like all of us.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.2nd: The Kitchener Rangers are currently 5th-overall in the OHL, even though their win % of .719 is third-best, and they have scored the 6th-most goals (178 in 48 games) in the league. The Rangers made some big moves before the January 9th OHL trade deadline in an effort to bolster their lineup for the playoffs, bringing in C Sam O'Reilly, F Gabriel Chiarot, F Dylan Edwards, and D Jared Woolley in separate deals, while jettisoning D Jacob Xu, and D Jakub Chromiak. They were also elevated by the return of D Matthew Andonovski from the AHL, who was their Captain last year. Since the deadline, LD Alexander Bilecki (6'2",181lbs) has posted 7 points in 9 games, to give him a total of 23 points in 47 games to date, which prorates to 33 in 67. While he has mostly been used on the third-pairing this season, he has seen a big increase in ice-time and responsibility in January, with the departure of Xu and Chromiak, forcing Central Scouting to change his "C"-rating from their Preliminary Rankings to a "B", which indicates a possible 2nd, or 3rd-round pick. He is also #38 for North American Skaters.

Bilecki is a formidable defender, and one of the best transitional defensemen available in this draft-class. He plies a solid, mistake-free puck-moving game, devoid of much dynamism or flash, and wields intelligence in all three zones. A second-round pick of the Rangers, he has his own-zone game down pat, displaying proficiency in derailing rushes with his quick feet, tight gaps, and active stick, while disrupting the cycle with sound positioning, keen awareness, and a noticeable physical edge. He defends his net vigorously, breaks up plays, intercepts passes, and blocks lanes against the cycle; he has been tasked with PK duties, and performs well in those situations. Bilecki makes a high number of recoveries, and shows a lofty panic threshold when outmaneuvering (or outrunning) pressure in retrievals, while scanning for an exit pass. He moves the puck quickly and efficiently in breakouts with remarkable confidence and poise, and is a huge part of the Rangers' transition, tilting the ice in his team's favor by pass, or by carry. Bilecki is a quick and agile skater, with the puck-protection and handling skill to rush the puck through exit and entry, while evading defenders' efforts to stop him with quick changes of pace and direction, mixed with a bit of deception. In the offensive zone, he exhibits top-tier instincts, and uses his smooth edges well to walk the line in search of open lanes for his cannon of a shot, or to pry open passing seams. He will not only join the rush, but he will lead it, and will activate into the play off the line when he sees an opprtunity. Bilecki is only now getting a real chance to flex his offensive muscle with increased ice-time, but I think his presence in the lineup made it possible to trade Xu and Chromiak. All in all, he's an incredibly well-rounded blueliner with emerging offensive flair. Look for him in the 2nd, or 3rd-round.

Sounds like a Yes.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

FWIW, I thought Dravecky looked better than Jiricek early on.

I think you’re right. Dravecky was a first-rounder on more than a few lists too early in the season.

[Fan69]

Hey Sandman whats your read on Wyatt Cullen?

[Teroy]

My suggestions:
Ivan Stenberg
Tynan Lawrence/Caleb Malhotra
Ryan Roobroeck
Alfssandro Di lorio
Alex Elofsson
Landon Amrhein
Evan Jardine
Eddy Doyle
Parker Trottier
Joe Iginla

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Hey Sandman whats your read on Wyatt Cullen?

Here's my write-up:

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.20th: There aren't many gems coming out of the NTDP this year for the 2026 Draft, but the top one- at least according to Central Scouting- is LW Wyatt Cullen (5'11.25",174lbs), who they have rated as the 23rd-best North American Skater. That's quite a feat, considering that he's been limited to just 15 games total so far this season due to injuries, but his cause had a huge boost with his stellar performance in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. In that event, he finished in a four-way tie for 1st in scoring, with 3 points in two games, and scored the game-winner in the first tilt. The son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen had an excellent 2024-25 season, where he put up 31 points in 55 games with the NTDP, and impressively- 17 of those points came in 33 games against USHL competition. He was also named Player of the Game in the All-American Game, which is a contest between two teams made up of draft-eligibles from the USHL and NTDP, where he put up 2 goals and an assist for the losing team. In the 18 months prior to returning to the NTDP lineup from his injury earlier this campaign, some claimed that he had grown from 5'6" to his present height- which must have been difficult for him to navigate. There are also plenty of rumors that he now measures 6'1". Another big selling point is that Cullen is one of the youngest players available in this draft-class, with a Sept.8th birthday.

Cullen may not be the biggest guy, or the most physical, or even the fastest, but he is scrappy and intense enough to win more than his fair share of puck battles, and he is fearless in going to the hard areas of the ice. He is a high-motor, pace-pushing winger who drives play with his dynamic skill, competitiveness, and determination. He might be more quick than outright fast, and his mechanics aren't perfect, but he can beat defenders with deft footwork on his smooth edges, displaying the ability to sidestep contact with quick changes of pace and direction. If all else fails, he is still hard to stop, with his ability to play through contact, spin off of hits, and bounce off of attackers like a pinball. He owns fast hands to handle brilliantly while in full-flight, or weave through traffic, and has a deep arsenal of deception tactics that make opponents miss their check. Cullen has all the skills needed to be a top goal-scorer, including soft mitts, a good shot with a paralyzing release, and the ability to get open in unoccupied pockets of space, but he is primarily known for how he makes his teammates better with his high-end playmaking acumen. With elite vision and sublime instincts, he drives the offense and provides his teammates with advantages by finding them in areas of high-danger; he can pull off difficult passes through small spaces in traffic with near-perfect weight and placement, tape-to-tape. Cullen understands how to draw pressure in order to open space, and also uses cut-backs, changes in his angles, as well as delays to buy time. Even without an intimidating physical element in his game, he manages to be an effective forechecker, applying immense pressure on puck-carriers with his intensity and pace, and is often able to create turnovers to re-start the cycle. Cullen is usually well-positioned in the defensive zone, and he remains hard-working and energetic, but he doesn't seem as willing to get his nose dirty in his own-zone, as he is in the other end of the ice- he often lets his teammates do the heavy-lifting in regaining pucks. He isn't horrible in this area, but his awareness and engagement are a bit deficient in comparison to the other two-thirds of the ice. Don't be surprised if he is taken with a late-first this summer.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's my write-up:

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.20th: There aren't many gems coming out of the NTDP this year for the 2026 Draft, but the top one- at least according to Central Scouting- is LW Wyatt Cullen (5'11.25",174lbs), who they have rated as the 23rd-best North American Skater. That's quite a feat, considering that he's been limited to just 15 games total so far this season due to injuries, but his cause had a huge boost with his stellar performance in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. In that event, he finished in a four-way tie for 1st in scoring, with 3 points in two games, and scored the game-winner in the first tilt. The son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen had an excellent 2024-25 season, where he put up 31 points in 55 games with the NTDP, and impressively- 17 of those points came in 33 games against USHL competition. He was also named Player of the Game in the All-American Game, which is a contest between two teams made up of draft-eligibles from the USHL and NTDP, where he put up 2 goals and an assist for the losing team. In the 18 months prior to returning to the NTDP lineup from his injury earlier this campaign, some claimed that he had grown from 5'6" to his present height- which must have been difficult for him to navigate. There are also plenty of rumors that he now measures 6'1". Another big selling point is that Cullen is one of the youngest players available in this draft-class, with a Sept.8th birthday.

Cullen may not be the biggest guy, or the most physical, or even the fastest, but he is scrappy and intense enough to win more than his fair share of puck battles, and he is fearless in going to the hard areas of the ice. He is a high-motor, pace-pushing winger who drives play with his dynamic skill, competitiveness, and determination. He might be more quick than outright fast, and his mechanics aren't perfect, but he can beat defenders with deft footwork on his smooth edges, displaying the ability to sidestep contact with quick changes of pace and direction. If all else fails, he is still hard to stop, with his ability to play through contact, spin off of hits, and bounce off of attackers like a pinball. He owns fast hands to handle brilliantly while in full-flight, or weave through traffic, and has a deep arsenal of deception tactics that make opponents miss their check. Cullen has all the skills needed to be a top goal-scorer, including soft mitts, a good shot with a paralyzing release, and the ability to get open in unoccupied pockets of space, but he is primarily known for how he makes his teammates better with his high-end playmaking acumen. With elite vision and sublime instincts, he drives the offense and provides his teammates with advantages by finding them in areas of high-danger; he can pull off difficult passes through small spaces in traffic with near-perfect weight and placement, tape-to-tape. Cullen understands how to draw pressure in order to open space, and also uses cut-backs, changes in his angles, as well as delays to buy time. Even without an intimidating physical element in his game, he manages to be an effective forechecker, applying immense pressure on puck-carriers with his intensity and pace, and is often able to create turnovers to re-start the cycle. Cullen is usually well-positioned in the defensive zone, and he remains hard-working and energetic, but he doesn't seem as willing to get his nose dirty in his own-zone, as he is in the other end of the ice- he often lets his teammates do the heavy-lifting in regaining pucks. He isn't horrible in this area, but his awareness and engagement are a bit deficient in comparison to the other two-thirds of the ice. Don't be surprised if he is taken with a late-first this summer.

Appreciate good sir. Damn shame he is a lw.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.3rd: A player who gets criminally underrated is LW Evan Jardine (6'0",179lbs), who plies his trade for the 1st-place Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, posting 38 points (17 goals) in 34 games- which ranks 14th in league scoring. Those numbers put him on pace for 60 points in 54 games, with 27 goals and a lofty 92 PIM. Tempering projections is the fact that he's an older player, with an October 23rd birthday, but his 2024-25 production of 44 points in 62 games (tied for 36th in USHL scoring) negates those concerns a bit. Prospects from the USHL aren't getting the respect they used to in previous years it seems, possibly because some perceive that the talent has been a little watered-down this season, and it shows a bit in Jardine's case, as he's the #115 North American Skater in Central Scouting's Mid-Term List. He has put up 14 points in his last 6 tilts, but that's mostly because he piled up 10 points in 2 games against a very weak NTDP squad; before that, he was below a ppg, and had produced 18 points in his previous 20. Jardine was a standout in December's World Junior "A" Challenge for Team USA, where he led the tournament in points, with 7 assists (no goals) in 5 games, en route to a Gold Medal. He will be attending Ohio State next season.

Jardine lacks size and strength, and his deficient footspeed limits him a bit right now, but he is never outworked, moves through contact while maintaining possession, and plays a hard-nosed physical game with a reliable two-way conscience. Apparently, Jardine was just 5'4" at age 15, and is still getting used to being 8 inches taller. Even with a need to get stronger, he launches himself into puck-battles, and plays with competitiveness and snarl. Jardine may not be fleet of foot yet either, but he flashes solid agility with his maneuverability in escaping pressure, and he still plays with pace; I believe some of his mobility issues will be fixed as he gets stronger and further developed physically. Where he is underrated is in his playmaking and passing, as well as his staunch off-puck habits; he is always in perfect position to support his teammates, and can complete smart passes in traffic while under duress- his high-end IQ and hockey sense are sometimes unfairly overlooked. While he's not a true play-driver, his passing skill is up there with the best in this draft-class, showing soft-touch in his feeds with the exact weight needed to his teammates' wheelhouse through small seams in traffic, with a proficiency in working give-and-go sequences to make extra space. He knows how to use deception as a tool to get a little separation from checkers, but he can connect with his mark between feet with slip passes, over sticks with saucers, and through triangles with backhands; he pulls off difficult passes at times that few others could. Though he leans into his passing, Jardine finds good scoring scoring positions in coverage, and also has a dangerous, deceptive shot, and the quick hands to beat goalies in-tight; he is used heavily in the bumper position on the PP. In the other end of the rink, Jardine brings his high-motor, compete, and snarl to his checking duties, sporting fairly good details and awareness in the defensive zone. Going forward, he will need to get bigger, and a whole lot stronger to handle the rigors of pro hockey, but his speed and explosiveness also need a bit of work. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

That doesn't matter, if he produces offense at superstar levels he can do it any way he likes.

It does matter though. That stuff works against kids, will it work at the NHL level? That’s what separates the good players from the great players. How many top guys in the league would you say are perimeter players?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.3rd: A player to watch is RW Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, and it will be very interesting to see where he's taken in the draft. In 2024-25, his stats were 27 goals and 3 assists in 38 games- yup, you read that right. This season, JLH has amassed 9 goals and 7 assists, for 16 points in 9 U20 games (to go with 33 PIM), which earned him 2 games in the SHL (no points), but he hasn't played since Oct.18th. He was a background piece for Team Sweden in last Summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and failed to pick up a point in 5 games, but came home with a Silver Medal. He is #31 for European Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, which is impressive, considering his small sample size of games this season, and the fact that he's older than most first-time draft-eligibles, with an October 24th, 2007 birthday.

Clearly, this is a player who LOVES to score goals, and is able to tally them up in bunches. His highlights (and I recommend watching them) make him look like a 6'2",175lb Pavel Bure- they mostly consist of him either deking out a player or two for a 1-on-1 shot at the goalie, an end-to-end rush for a dangerous opportunity, or beating an opposing defenseman wide to go in alone on goal. He is highly aggressive, and always attacks with blistering speed and pace to force opposing defensemen back on their heels- he is highly effective off-the rush. JLH is an electrifying skater, and he owns hands that are quick enough to keep up, with a laser shot on a deceptive release, and the moves to beat goalies in-tight; his wrister is hard and heavy, displaying the ability to fire off the catch, or shoot with precision while on the fly. He also owns a bomb of a one-timer. He possesses a goal-scorer's instincts in finding unoccupied space around the net, and doesn't hesitate to attack the middle, or drive the net. JLH is a skilled stickhandler with solid protection skills who keeps control of the puck through contact, and can turn would-be checkers inside-out with his dazzling array of one-on-one moves and deception when flying up the ice. The problem is, most of his points come from highly individualistic plays, he doesn't show much playmaking skill, and offers virtually nothing when he doesn't have possession of the puck; this makes scouts highly doubtful that his style will translate, but I wonder if he could be molded to play the right way. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder (though he takes some selfish, undisciplined penalties) and there is a physical game there in flashes, but he too often passes up the forecheck, doesn't do much to make things difficult for opposing teams, and isn't very interested in defense- but he shows glimpses here and there of being able to do all of the above, plus he can drive play. There's no disputing his overflowing toolkit, his impressive physical profile, or the skills he brings, but he might be a long-term project. Look for him in the middle-rounds.