2026 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, steveoath said:

Who's the forechecker with anger management issues in this draft? 

Hmm... idk yet. Stenberg and Belchetz forecheck well but I don't think either is the type of physical you're talking about. 

[LGR4GM]

Casey Mutryn, 6'3" RW is probably the most aggressive checking player with skill in this class. 

[sabremike]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

0%

The combined IQ of our owner, GM and scouts?

[Crusader1969]

17 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Sabres will draft top 10 again. I'll call my shot now. 

Not good enough.   We need top 3 

[LGR4GM]

Stenberg is on track to have the best SHL draft year this century. Daniel Sedin managed to put up 21g, 21a, for 42pts in 50games way back in 1998. No one has done anything like that since. If you look at ppg, only Nylander 20pts in 21 SHL games is close to Stenberg who has 22pts in 23games. If Stenberg were to maintain this pace and put up 49pts in 52 SHL games, he would be atop the 17 or 18yr old SHL player list by 7 more pts than Sedin and 10 more pts than #2 Naslund. 

What I am saying is that what Ivar Stenberg is currently doing as an 18yr old in the SHL is unprecedented. One more note, is that Stenberg plays for Frolunda, which is Dahlin's SHL team and he would have practiced with them last month. Also Stenberg currently leads Frolunda in points. That's pretty crazy that an 18yr old prospect leads an SHL team in points. Before you ask, defensively Stenberg is good, really good. 

Edited December 1 by LGR4GM

[DarthEbriate]

Stinkberg for Stenberg?

Or would that be the Penguins motto? Stinkburgh for Stenbergh?

[Flashsabre]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ranking-the-top-32-prospects-for-the-2026-nhl-draft/

[shrader]

Does McKenna’s stop drop a bit like this if he had continued to play against children in the WHL?

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ranking-the-top-32-prospects-for-the-2026-nhl-draft/

Verhoeff is getting lots of love 

3 minutes ago, shrader said:

Does McKenna’s stop drop a bit like this if he had continued to play against children in the WHL?

Probably not. Part of his drop is also the rising of Verhoeff who has the size and positional value that teams covet. That all said, if McKenna was putting up 40pts in his first 20 chl games, I think he'd have kept that top spot.

Scouts are really concerned about McKenna translating to the NHL and also winger is less valuable than C or D, especially RHD. McKenna has lots of great offensive ideas but can he bring his game more in line with the nhl style? You can't deke a 6'4" defender who can lean on you. Sure sometimes you can but most plays involve you in a battle on the wall and then bringing it into the center, McKenna needs better battle imo. 

[Flashsabre]

McKenna will be a hell of a player whether he goes first or second.

His biggest issue is he has a boy’s body and has moved up to a man’s league. 

[shrader]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

McKenna will be a hell of a player whether he goes first or second.

His biggest issue is he has a boy’s body and has moved up to a man’s league. 

I don’t doubt that one bit. It’s just interesting to see the shine come off a bit after making a move for the paycheck. That said, he still has plenty of time to get it back. 

[LGR4GM]

Tynan Lawrence is back and has had 5g 2a in the 3 games since his return. He also has +7. 

This is good because it provides a high end center prospect other than Malhotra or Silov. 

14 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ranking-the-top-32-prospects-for-the-2026-nhl-draft/

Malhotra at #5 IMPO is about 10 spots too high. He reminds me of some of the other high floor low ceiling centers I have looked at in the last few year. 

Edited December 2 by LGR4GM

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Tynan Lawrence is back and has had 5g 2a in the 3 games since his return. He also has +7. 

This is good because it provides a high end center prospect other than Malhotra or Silov. 

Malhotra at #5 IMPO is about 10 spots too high. He reminds me of some of the other high floor low ceiling centers I have looked at in the last few year. 

Offensive acumen doesn’t run strongly in the Mathilda bloodline. His dad was a solid defensive centre with strong leadership skills but his offensive game wasn’t strong even at the junior level.  I’m sure his son is stronger offensively but doesn’t sound strong enough for a top 10 pick

[Flashsabre]

Ruh Roh Lawrence looks facially very much like Cozens😁. Hopefully the hockey sense is much better.

[SabreFinn]

Ivar Stenberg has points in 10 straight SHL games.

[LGR4GM]

On 12/2/2025 at 1:28 PM, Flashsabre said:

Ruh Roh Lawrence looks facially very much like Cozens😁. Hopefully the hockey sense is much better.

 

47 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

Ivar Stenberg has points in 10 straight SHL games.

I'm not saying McKenna isn't 1st overall... but there's some contenders.

[LGR4GM]

Have we talked about Tynan Lawrence enough yet? Dude is healthy and make the USHL look like his own personal beer league. Lawrence has an August bday so he is very young for the class, in fact he is almost exactly 10 months younger than Stenberg. Lawrence right now is running at a 1.86ppg pace in the USHL which puts him in 1st by .19 and the 3rd place guy only has 1.35ppg. He's literally running that league after 7 games. (5th in the USHL in ppg is the Sabres Ryan Rucinski). 

He is a center, he has playmaking, is a natural checker, his skating his very very good. Really the only issue I have right now is that he needs a higher level of competition imo. That all said he has all the pro habits needed and I think when he goes to college next year (Boston Univ) he will integrate really well. 

He is currently listed as 6' 185lbs but again with an Aug bday, he might be 6'1" 190lbs at the combine. 

[LGR4GM]

I wouldn't but Pronman would

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6858899/2025/12/10/nhl-draft-2026-top-prospects-gavin-mckenna/