CC Draft Watch Party 2026 Friday June 26 @ 4 pm PDT

[Megaterio Llamas]

Well, I do like the Novotny pick.

Did some research and posted about that pick in the lever thread Megs.

Cool, thanks Donny. I missed that somehow.

I'm going to sound like a GM here, but I expected him to go in the 15-20 range.


**just read your summary Donny, thanks again.

[dbr]

To me, this draft is either the first of many in a rebuild (in which case it’s a fairly low stakes affair, we just want to stock the cupboards) or the first opportunity to execute a hasty retool (in which case who really cares who we pick it’s not going to work out anyways).

At #3 I don’t think there was a clear choice and taking a center with a big frame and a great head on his shoulders - who is off to college next year and unlikely to move the needle on this team for at least a couple years - is a fine choice.

Personally, in the lead up to the draft I thought we should trade down - if we got St Louis top three 1sts we could have come away last night with Novotny, Tynan Lawrence, and then let’s say Maddox Dagenais and Ethan Belchetz, that’s a big addition to the prospect pool - but Malhotra will almost certainly be an NHLer and a good soldier and we need a ton of those.

I’m pleased with the Novotny pick and intrigued by the Rogowski pick, don’t really know enough about the rest to have an opinion on ‘em.

Anyway, hopefully management can accumulate some extra 1sts and 2nds for the next draft and we’re right back here next year with a clear shot at a defenseman or center with franchise potential.

[Megaterio Llamas]