2026 NHL Draft

[Picker of Cherries]

Belchetz Is the monster the Canucks need.

[Aaronp18]

This draft is huge for the Canucks and we need a top 3 imo.

The other thing that pops out when I look at those projections is the amount of western kids available and projected as high picks.

Can we please figure this out a pick a few of those kids from out west!?!

[donlever]

A bone of contention AP.

Western Leaguers and some Canadians overall ffs...

[Carl Yagro]

Damn, peeps are just crawling out of the woodworks... nice to see some old faces.

Yeah, acquire picks (for once) and keep them all for uh, picking.

[Cousin Strawberry]

The pimp daddy Mack pick of the litter is another swede though lol

[Aaronp18]

2 of the top 3 projected picks are Western boys even if you think the first OA will be the Swede.

If we can snag another in the top 10 could make for a make draft for us!

Even if we don’t there’s some great picks to be had from out west later in the first or early second.

Anyways, if the kids are there I really hope we take them. Tired of the missed drafts from our backyard.

[Carl Yagro]

Here's my thing with winning the lottery (if we end up winning it) and picking in the top 3...

Don't play it safe. I would go for the pure, RAW upside and base it on scouting for more than just a short tournament like the WJC.

Think of the teams that went safe and skipped over a pure talent like Cale Makar for example.

The two Canadians are who intrigues me most, McKenna and Verhoeff. They might not be as NHL ready as Stenberg, but I just feel like they might have the higher potential, become bigger difference-makers in 2-3 years.

Just a gut feeling.

[donlever]

I've been saying Verhoeff would be my pick for some time.

He ticks a lot of boxes.

Kid could be dominant.

Are McKenna & Stenberg going to dominate?

[Cousin Strawberry]

Fair point Hank.

I see alot of Kucherov or Pat Kane in Stenbergs game though. And his game hasn't been elite only at this tourney either, he's lighting up the SEL as well. The kid will be special I'm sure of it

[Cousin Strawberry]

The worry about Verhouf is he's not a physical type of defender, more of a puck mover/offensive minded. When you're that big but play a soft style, warning lights go off for me if you're betting the hope of the entire city on making the right choice

[donlever]

He is still a baby.

With some more size, 6'6" 235 lbs., maybe he develops a little snarl.

He has a pretty full toolbox.....if he pans out a RSD like that is a rarity....

[Carl Yagro]

All good points.

I haven't seen enough of Verhoeff to say he doesn't have any edge to him at all. That he's more Owen Power than say, Shea Weber. I'm not going to make comparisons to Pronger.

The biggest worry is if the tankard can hold up... and if the itchy-bum baldies will do the right thing... that is selling off UFAs, maybe a vet (or two) to arm ourselves with some currency get draft hauls in these next two years.

It'll be a game-changer for this franchise if nobody does anything stupid and the HGs finally give us a break.

[Aaronp18]

We need to tank and tank hard.

Shelf Demko or move him, trade any asset at all. Get picks or really good young prospects.

I’m sure everyone has seen the stats on the number of teams who have won a cup without a top 3 pick! Time for us to add one to the roster.

[Meds]

Fair point Hank.

I see alot of Kucherov or Pat Kane in Stenbergs game though. And his game hasn't been elite only at this tourney either, he's lighting up the SEL as well. The kid will be special I'm sure of it

Petey lit up the SHL as a rookie too. Just sayin'.....

[Hockey Widow]

Fair point Hank.

I see alot of Kucherov or Pat Kane in Stenbergs game though. And his game hasn't been elite only at this tourney either, he's lighting up the SEL as well. The kid will be special I'm sure of it

Petey lit up the SHL as a rookie too. Just sayin'.....

And he is an 80-100 point player. Overpaid yes by today's standards but not in 3 years.