theman wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:27 am
Count me in with the taking McKenna if the Canucks are able. Debate really is, if 2 OA, who should the Canucks take?
This too is the question for me. #1 has always been, and will be McKenna.
I think Verhoff is the go to #2. I just see him as a bigger swing (though maybe the bigger miss?). The Swede will be great, but we need Superstar in this draft if we are to move the needle a bit faster.
Any of those three (or Lawrence) will be good peices. 2027 top 3 draft pick would be another.
I also agree we need to take Verhoeff if we miss McKenna.
Canadian content.
Stenberg would be a worthy consolation prize as well however.
As much as Topper hates it we need to keep losing.
Let's not lose site of the fact that we will be picking (as stats show currently) 3 times in the first 33 choices (similar to the Nedved draft where we failed) and we need all these to turn into NHL bodies.
With a top 5 pick I will always be a preferring a forward first before a D man, I feel that a forward can have bigger impact on a team than a D man. This is always assuming things are equal of course, all players have pros/cons.
Pick 10-20 it really become more of a gamble and unless someone drops down to you, I would still pick a forward.
Pick 20+ BPA
Goalies would not be touched until they are late 2nd or beyond.
This is again assuming all things are equal, if Canucks get 1OA, I would go F. If the consensus was a defender and he was going to be a generational player then yes I would take him.
Crazy that Makar didn't go 1st overall. Don't know if they didn't scout enough or they were too heavily biased against the Alberta Junior League? Also, he had an outstanding final season at UMass.
Once again, we get screwed by the HGs and have to settle for the Milk Carton Kid.
"Look, I'm just a bitter old man, ok! "
- Anonymous
Carl Yagro wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:41 pm
Crazy that Makar didn't go 1st overall. Don't know if they didn't scout enough or they were too heavily biased against the Alberta Junior League? Also, he had an outstanding final season at UMass.
Once again, we get screwed by the HGs and have to settle for the Milk Carton Kid.
Well, to be fair, if we picked higher than we did we could’ve been lucky enough to take Nolan Patrick.
Some “insiders” are saying that the Canucks have Stenberg over McKenna. Hope it is just smoke and mirrors. While I would be fine with the Canucks ending up with Stenberg, picking him at 2 or 3, take the Canadian.
Carl Yagro wrote: ↑Fri Feb 27, 2026 10:24 am
It wouldn't surprise me one bit from these fucking guys...
Especially after Rutherford chummed the waters with 'we want more Canadians' earlier this week.
That dude just cant keep his gob shut.
Can’t believe these guys still have their hands on the wheel after blowing .3.
I don’t pretend to have any great insight into this draft, but I think Stenberg is absolutely the real deal and is a better player than the typical #1 overall pick. And I think that’s better than Verhoff, though I expect all 3 to be very good NHL players.
I lean McKenna first overall, but it is nice to know that if the Canucks finish at the bottom, they are getting a high quality player no matter what. I mean, if they don’t overthink it.
Carl Yagro wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:41 pm
Crazy that Makar didn't go 1st overall. Don't know if they didn't scout enough or they were too heavily biased against the Alberta Junior League? Also, he had an outstanding final season at UMass.
Once again, we get screwed by the HGs and have to settle for the Milk Carton Kid.
Size, projection questions harder coming from AJHL, Heiskanen higher floor. (And imo he’s a top 10 defender in the league).
Carl Yagro wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:41 pm
Crazy that Makar didn't go 1st overall. Don't know if they didn't scout enough or they were too heavily biased against the Alberta Junior League? Also, he had an outstanding final season at UMass.
Once again, we get screwed by the HGs and have to settle for the Milk Carton Kid.
Size, projection questions harder coming from AJHL, Heiskanen higher floor. (And imo he’s a top 10 defender in the league).
With the new rules regarding CHL players being able to commit to NCAA programs, I can imagine the Jr A leagues suffering as a result. Used to be good players played in Jr A vice CHL in order to maintain their NCAA eligibility. Not the case anymore. Otherwise, I think we would see more scouts in those leagues. I doubt you'll see that kind of mistake happening again. Credit Colorado for picking him in light of the lower-quality competition Makar faced in the AJHL compared to others in his draft cohort.
I agree that as good as Makar is, Heiskanen is not chopped liver either.
theman wrote: ↑Fri Feb 27, 2026 9:28 am
Some “insiders” are saying that the Canucks have Stenberg over McKenna. Hope it is just smoke and mirrors. While I would be fine with the Canucks ending up with Stenberg, picking him at 2 or 3, take the Canadian.
If these guys are still in their positions and they can draft Gavin McKenna, but they step over him to take the Swede, that'll be about it for me. There's not enough time left.
" 
