Re: 2026 NHL Draft
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 6:28 am
Thanks rats! Nice to see you as well
Good point - and I don't see them winning the div. over the Avs, - and though they have a great defense now, there is a bit of lack of forward depth and injuries might prevent them from getting out of the 1st rd. At this point, it is hard not to see a Dallas/Minny 1st rd. match up - honestly, I can't see Dallas going down in that one.dbr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 15, 2025 9:42 pmFYI the Minny pick could be as high as 17. If they don’t win their division and don’t reach the Conference finals it’s likely between there and mid-20s, so as much as I hate having to root for any other former NW division team… Go Avs.JelloPuddingPop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 15, 2025 7:13 amMinny is currently 4th in the league - and just added Hughes. That pick will be in the 30's or high 20's if the loss of Rossi/Zeev B. hurt their depth too much.
Losing in the 1st or 2nd round doesn't affect draft position either, so if they beat Dallas* and lose to Colorado (assuming standings are the same as now) they'd be in the group of non-SC finalists, non-Conference finalists, non-division winners in the draft order - probably among the last of them so early/mid 20s, but still.JelloPuddingPop wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:16 amGood point - and I don't see them winning the div. over the Avs, - and though they have a great defense now, there is a bit of lack of forward depth and injuries might prevent them from getting out of the 1st rd. At this point, it is hard not to see a Dallas/Minny 1st rd. match up - honestly, I can't see Dallas going down in that one.
Thanks for the learning dbr - much appreciated. So if, as you suggest - they hit an early/mid 20's pick, and then go on to win big during the lottery (full 10 spots), Van *might* be drafting right at 10th-15th or around there.dbr wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:26 amLosing in the 1st or 2nd round doesn't affect draft position either, so if they beat Dallas* and lose to Colorado (assuming standings are the same as now) they'd be in the group of non-SC finalists, non-Conference finalists, non-division winners in the draft order - probably among the last of them so early/mid 20s, but still.JelloPuddingPop wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:16 amGood point - and I don't see them winning the div. over the Avs, - and though they have a great defense now, there is a bit of lack of forward depth and injuries might prevent them from getting out of the 1st rd. At this point, it is hard not to see a Dallas/Minny 1st rd. match up - honestly, I can't see Dallas going down in that one.
*(although the way Rantanen is going I'm not sure Hughes would survive this series)
Which is the frustrating part of this "non-rebuild" re-build.Carl Yagro wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:58 am You unearth a 2nd round gem like 1C Sebastian Aho and you're set for a decade plus. You don't even need PPG for consistent playoffs year after year.
D&D were talking to Craig Button a few minutes ago on their show, and they were talking about bouncing back next seasondbr wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:21 am If they flip that pick for an older player (and it's not an obvious step up in terms of asset management, like a Cutter Gauthier-caliber prospect forcing a trade or something) then this is officially a retool and not a rebuild IMO.
Which would be deeply disappointing if I felt like I had any right to expect this franchise to consistently do the right thing.