2026 NHL Draft

[2Fingers]

Every year I create a data base of top picks and use ranking from 3-4 different people to create an average. Right now I am using ranking from Tank/Sportsnet/Pronman. Will be adding 1 to 2 more when they are released.

Top 10 ranking based upon the above are:

1 Gavin McKenna
2 Ivar Stenberg
3 Chase Reid
4 Keaton Verhoeff
5 Caleb Malhotra
6 Carson Carels
7 Alberts Smits
8 Daxon Rudolph
9 Viggo Björck
10 Tynan Lawrence

[donlever]

Interesting Reef.

Thanks for sharing that.

[UWSaint]

O'Connor....

As I've said before I've played with some of these guys in my past up at Hollyburn.

The skills these guys have amongst us peons that doesn't translate to a pro level (like taking a simple pass at speed in close quarters) is something to behold.

I played pick up once at 8 rinks (4 at the time) with Wayne Van Dorp.

I was late teens early 20's maybe and he had been playing pro but not made the league yet I don't think...

...anyway...the guy could dance circles and some of the guys out there were pretty decent (not pro level) players.

It always intrigued me...I get it....but still made me think....

It's totally crazy, isn't it? I remember playing pick up in the days I lived in DC, and in the summer there was a kid who'd show up a couple times a summer who was playing in D1 NCAA (Stephen Werner), who had been drafted in the 3rd or 4th round, and who was part of that 2004 USA World Junior championship team (and scored 5 goals in the tournament). (And this would have been the summer of '03 and '04). It was sick what he could do with his hands and how he lost no speed laterally how every pass in his feet got kicked to his stick. He made the former D3 college guys out there look like they were pee wees, but you know what? Never got a sniff at the NHL. Didn't even last long in the AHL before getting sent to the ECHL and then playing overseas. There's just another level on top....

I'm sure Drew O'Connor could flash hands better than any one else at a local fast pick up game. The kinds of games you get in the summer when those college aged kids still playing competitively are back in town. But when there's no margin for error, when the game is NHL fast, when every pass is NHL firm, when you are always about to get blown up, it is almost a different kind of skill to take and make passes. The Drew O'Connors and Jannik Hansens can have all sorts of talent and speed, but it is the softness of the hands and the quickness of decisions that separates the top 6 players from them.

[UWSaint]

Every year I create a data base of top picks and use ranking from 3-4 different people to create an average. Right now I am using ranking from Tank/Sportsnet/Pronman. Will be adding 1 to 2 more when they are released.

Top 10 ranking based upon the above are:

1 Gavin McKenna
2 Ivar Stenberg
3 Chase Reid
4 Keaton Verhoeff
5 Caleb Malhotra
6 Carson Carels
7 Alberts Smits
8 Daxon Rudolph
9 Viggo Björck
10 Tynan Lawrence

Seems to me that this is a draft where there's a lot of similarly tiered players, and it wouldn't suprise me if the draft order ends up deviating pretty significantly from the consensus. When there are 4 equally valued players in a "BPA" view, then organizational needs (and team interviews) are going to play huge in the tie breakers.

[2Fingers]

Agree UW, I would not be surprised to see the top 5 to be very different in what is projected and how teams pick.

Overall I am reading that 80% certain Toronto picks McKenna but a few have them picking a D as that may be something they need more.

[donlever]

I have posted previously on this and would not bet money but I could visualize the draft top 3 as:

Stenberg
Reid
McKenna

...in that order.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Cory Pronman (who has historically been quite accurate) has the top 3 as defenders 1-Reid, 2-Smits, 3-Verhoeff with McKenna at 4.

That would be wild

[donlever]

Interesting but I can not see us taking Verhoeff with Stenberg and McKenna sitting there.....

I can see the Leaves taking D though.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Interesting but I can not see us taking Verhoeff with Stenberg and McKenna sitting there.....

I can see the Leaves taking D though.

Oh the leaves will be taking D alright....just not on draft day

[Carl Yagro]

I can see the Leaves taking D though.

I hope they keep taking D and remain in the bottom forever.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Can't find his list except behind the athletic paywall but was listening to his take in an interview somewhere.

I'm starting to wonder if Reid will even be there at 3 and if he is then we really can't afford to not take him or there will be some serious regrets down the road

[donlever]

My guess is Sharks take Reid.

Whether the Leaves take D or not.



Which again leaves us the 2 forwards which would be sweet.

[Cousin Strawberry]

It's being compared to 2022 Shane Wright draft....as long as you don't end up with the Shane Wright you're good

[theman]

It's being compared to 2022 Shane Wright draft....as long as you don't end up with the Shane Wright you're good

Or Lekkerimaki

[donlever]

Shane Wright for EP rfn.

Shane Wright for Sushiboy rfn.