2026 NHL Draft

[Meds]

So it seems that Lawrence has moved up to 4th in some draft rankings... I know, late climber bias et al.

But still - if Van's lovely lady luck holds - and they end up drafting 3rd... With 1st, 2nd going McKenna, Verhoeff - would you skip the Swede, and go for the Centre?

No, I think centre's are moving up this draft simply due to the lack of them available.

There is always the cost of giving up on a great winger, with the Swede, but couldn't you argue that a player with a very high ceiling at a position of need, trumps a great player in the weakest, arguably most common trade position?

Good Centre > Great Winger?

Or do you just build a team with the best players you can, and hope they can make up for weaknesses in key positions? I can see that side too.

From what we're seeing from McKenna, I think that you would have to have a very good centre to pass on the former. It's one thing if a player climbs in the draft on merits of play and projected ceiling, quite another when their climb is simply driven by positional need. I've read nothing that suggests any of the centers projected to go in the first round are anything significantly more likely be an impactful top-6 than Cootes. I like what we've seen from Cootes, but I don't think I'm passing on McKenna for that level of player.

If we fall the traditional Canuck amount and McKenna is not available, then I'm taking Verhoeff if he's there.

[JelloPuddingPop]

So it seems that Lawrence has moved up to 4th in some draft rankings... I know, late climber bias et al.

But still - if Van's lovely lady luck holds - and they end up drafting 3rd... With 1st, 2nd going McKenna, Verhoeff - would you skip the Swede, and go for the Centre?

No, I think centre's are moving up this draft simply due to the lack of them available.

There is always the cost of giving up on a great winger, with the Swede, but couldn't you argue that a player with a very high ceiling at a position of need, trumps a great player in the weakest, arguably most common trade position?

Good Centre > Great Winger?

Or do you just build a team with the best players you can, and hope they can make up for weaknesses in key positions? I can see that side too.

From what we're seeing from McKenna, I think that you would have to have a very good centre to pass on the former. It's one thing if a player climbs in the draft on merits of play and projected ceiling, quite another when their climb is simply driven by positional need. I've read nothing that suggests any of the centers projected to go in the first round are anything significantly more likely be an impactful top-6 than Cootes. I like what we've seen from Cootes, but I don't think I'm passing on McKenna for that level of player.

If we fall the traditional Canuck amount and McKenna is not available, then I'm taking Verhoeff if he's there.

I assume, as you quoted my query - you simply missed a part of it - so I've put it in bold for you.

2nd try perhaps?

[Carl Yagro]

Seems like if that was the scenario, even Mëds would pick the Swede winger over the center... as would I.

But that would be an unlikely scenario, right? Haha... that would never happen.

...right

[Meds]

So it seems that Lawrence has moved up to 4th in some draft rankings... I know, late climber bias et al.

But still - if Van's lovely lady luck holds - and they end up drafting 3rd... With 1st, 2nd going McKenna, Verhoeff - would you skip the Swede, and go for the Centre?

No, I think centre's are moving up this draft simply due to the lack of them available.

There is always the cost of giving up on a great winger, with the Swede, but couldn't you argue that a player with a very high ceiling at a position of need, trumps a great player in the weakest, arguably most common trade position?

Good Centre > Great Winger?

Or do you just build a team with the best players you can, and hope they can make up for weaknesses in key positions? I can see that side too.

From what we're seeing from McKenna, I think that you would have to have a very good centre to pass on the former. It's one thing if a player climbs in the draft on merits of play and projected ceiling, quite another when their climb is simply driven by positional need. I've read nothing that suggests any of the centers projected to go in the first round are anything significantly more likely be an impactful top-6 than Cootes. I like what we've seen from Cootes, but I don't think I'm passing on McKenna for that level of player.

If we fall the traditional Canuck amount and McKenna is not available, then I'm taking Verhoeff if he's there.

I assume, as you quoted my query - you simply missed a part of it - so I've put it in bold for you.

2nd try perhaps?

Yep. Only read your latest reply on it.

[Meds]

Seems like if that was the scenario, even Mëds would pick the Swede winger over the center... as would I.

But that would be an unlikely scenario, right? Haha... that would never happen.

...right

It's a stretch.....Aside from his goals and assists, I didn't see anything head turning for me at the WJC from Stenberg. I tend not to put a ton of stock in WJC scoring numbers anymore.

Numbers in European leagues also don't move the needle for me. I prefer to roll the dice on players who played CHL and NCAA.

Also, hockeyDB has him listed at 5'8" 154???? That can't be right?

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=273059

[Carl Yagro]

Just a reminder how quickly fortunes can change with one high-caliber lottery pick...

SJ Sharks:

- 2023-2024 19W 54L 9OTL 47Pts (pre-Celebrini)

- 2024-2025 20W 50L 12OTL 52Pts

- 2025-2026 26W 21L 3OTL 55Pts

Once again, not comparing centers vs wingers, but the quality of the pick who can come in immediately and showcase near-generational offensive talent to lead the team.

While Celebrini showed immense talent, he obviously needed time to adjust to the NHL game defensively. Yes, minuses aren't true indicatives of defensive play, but still... -31. The team did not improve at all in his first year.

However, you see a completely different story from the player and team this season, already exceeding all of last year's stats.

Of course, it's not just one player making this difference, but still a valid point as to why you tank and buy lottery tickets during massive jackpot draws instead of staying with hybrid form of losing. What gives you better odds of pulling the franchise out of a decade-long nosedive? You can decide.

[Aaronp18]

Seems like if that was the scenario, even Mëds would pick the Swede winger over the center... as would I.

But that would be an unlikely scenario, right? Haha... that would never happen.

...right

It's a stretch.....Aside from his goals and assists, I didn't see anything head turning for me at the WJC from Stenberg. I tend not to put a ton of stock in WJC scoring numbers anymore.

Numbers in European leagues also don't move the needle for me. I prefer to roll the dice on players who played CHL and NCAA.

Also, hockeyDB has him listed at 5'8" 154???? That can't be right?

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=273059

Likely an old measurement, new EP sizing has him at 6' - 181lbs

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/6 ... r-stenberg

[JelloPuddingPop]

I agree, if picking 1st - Van should take McKenna, 2nd Verhoeff.

My big question is really - is there a big enough difference in talent between Stenberg and Lawrence to overcome the positional need?

I don't see Stenberg as the same ceiling as McKenna, Verhoeff - again, just from reading/seeing WJC - haven't seen him play other than that. I've seen McKenna, both in person, and in games. (He's kind of a big deal up here) and I trust Topper's scouting on players like Verhoeff.

**IF** they are both gone, then its either Stenberg, or off the map. I'm thinking, if scouts have Lawrence as high as 4th, maybe a positional draft might be best for our current situation.

[Meds]

I agree, if picking 1st - Van should take McKenna, 2nd Verhoeff.

My big question is really - is there a big enough difference in talent between Stenberg and Lawrence to overcome the positional need?

I don't see Stenberg as the same ceiling as McKenna, Verhoeff - again, just from reading/seeing WJC - haven't seen him play other than that. I've seen McKenna, both in person, and in games. (He's kind of a big deal up here) and I trust Topper's scouting on players like Verhoeff.

**IF** they are both gone, then its either Stenberg, or off the map. I'm thinking, if scouts have Lawrence as high as 4th, maybe a positional draft might be best for our current situation.

The stats and scouting reports I'm reading on the centers projected to go in the first round, I'm probably taking the chance on Stenberg and hoping that one of Rogowski, Dagenais, Shilov, Suvanto, or Morozov, are available to us with the Minnesota pick. None project as 1C's, but right now all I'm seeing is that even the highest projected center is going to be a poor man's 1C at best.

My one caution with Stenberg's ascent into the top spot in some of the rankings is that much of it talks about his 200 foot game. That's a good thing, no question, but it is also a teachable thing, and a 200 foot winger can just as easily end up on the 3rd line as the 1st line.....so do we burn our first top-3 pick in over 20 years on the next Jannik Hansen?

[2Fingers]

Nice to read about not just 1 1st round pick but 2 for the 2026 draft.

These discussions are very informative and I assume it goes on in even more detail in the Canucks office.

[JelloPuddingPop]

The stats and scouting reports I'm reading on the centers projected to go in the first round, I'm probably taking the chance on Stenberg and hoping that one of Rogowski, Dagenais, Shilov, Suvanto, or Morozov, are available to us with the Minnesota pick. None project as 1C's, but right now all I'm seeing is that even the highest projected center is going to be a poor man's 1C at best.

My one caution with Stenberg's ascent into the top spot in some of the rankings is that much of it talks about his 200 foot game. That's a good thing, no question, but it is also a teachable thing, and a 200 foot winger can just as easily end up on the 3rd line as the 1st line.....so do we burn our first top-3 pick in over 20 years on the next Jannik Hansen?

Its a tough one - as Lawrence is projected to go somewhere in the top 10, but scouting reports aren't SUPER favorable, saying he has "top 6 (in the lineup) potential). Not a great endorsement, but he is really young.

Stenberg has "good player, solid but not spectacular" written all over him. So if both have a similar floor, Stenberg perhaps having a slightly higher ceiling, but in a weak position... perhaps take the center? A good 3rd line center is way more important than a great 3rd line winger no?

Or perhaps you just swing for the fences, if 1st/2nd are taken - and trust your scouts to try to find the diamond in the rough? Pickup Rogowski and keep drafting for size. Go big bad Bruins style?

[Cornuck]

Pickup Rogowski and keep drafting for size. Go big bad Bruins style?

Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace?

[Ronning's Ghost]

Good Centre > Great Winger?

Or do you just build a team with the best players you can, and hope they can make up for weaknesses in key positions? I can see that side too.

I enjoy theoretical team composition questions.

I think part of the answer depends on the kind of team you want to build, and the style you want to play. I suspect that for some such builds, a Good Centre is more desirable than a Great Winger.

But I think that at the draft, a great winger is better than a good centre because the trade value of a Great Winger is a Good Centre +. I also suspect that, at a given draft position, it is also easier to spot a putative Great Winger who will reach his Great Winger potential than a putative Good Centre who will reach his Good Centre potential.

[2Fingers]

Pronman current ranking released today

Tier 1
Keaton Verhoff
Ivar Stenberg
Chase Reid
Gavin McKenna

Tier 2
Tynan Lawrence
Carson Carels
Caleb Malholtra
Alberts Smits
Ethan Belchetz

He then goes on to list several names for Tier 3

[Picker of Cherries]

Malhotra has moved up a lot. A couple months ago he looked like a high teens/low 20s pick. Now solidly in the top ten and may end up being the top centre taken since Lawrence hasn’t impressed much since recently joining the NCAA.