2026 NHL DRAFT Thread

[CutOnDime97]

 

[Strawberry Fields]

I initially misread this as the Flyers are trading Toronto's 1st for Scott Laughton

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

Did they JUST update this? Holy shit...

Why do we need ANYMORE PROJECTS?

Also, why the f*** are we picking long term projects in the first f***ing round? So f***ing stupid.

Can't teach size, though!

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I initially misread this as the Flyers are trading Toronto's 1st for Scott Laughton

buckle in...

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

View attachment 1251865
Like clockwork lol

F***ing Bleyl again. F*** my life.

 

[Rebels57]

F***ing Bleyl again. F*** my life.

Bleyl is one of those names where at some point in the families history, someone should have done a legal name change to something that doesn't sound like an onomatopoeia for vomiting.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Bleyl is one of those names where at some point in the families history, someone should have done a legal name change to something that doesn't sound like an onomatopoeia for vomiting.

I think the only reason the Flyers draft him is that he's 6 foot and not an inch less. But even then, this whole team is so f***ing stupid. We're one of the slowest teams in the NHL and drafting someone that is massive project is such a f***ing joke.
Chara wasn't even picked until the 3rd round (late 2nd round today), and he's a f***ing fluke. Stop picking size for the sake of f***ing size in the early rounds.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I think the only reason the Flyers draft him is that he's 6 foot and not an inch less. But even then, this whole team is so f***ing stupid. We're one of the slowest teams in the NHL and drafting someone that is massive project is such a f***ing joke.
Chara wasn't even picked until the 3rd round (late 2nd round today), and he's a f***ing fluke. Stop picking size for the sake of f***ing size in the early rounds.

#buckle in..

 

[pit]

I think the only reason the Flyers draft him is that he's 6 foot and not an inch less. But even then, this whole team is so f***ing stupid. We're one of the slowest teams in the NHL and drafting someone that is massive project is such a f***ing joke.
Chara wasn't even picked until the 3rd round (late 2nd round today), and he's a f***ing fluke. Stop picking size for the sake of f***ing size in the early rounds.

Bleyl is 6 foot and 165. His lack of size is actually considered a knock by many. His mobility is considered a huge asset. I would actually be surprised if the Flyers drafted him because he doesn't fit their mold at all.

 

[Magua]

Not a guy I’d watched yet for whatever reason, but silly me, if he led the u18s in points, that’s a Flahr special. Brief watch, he’s definitely more interesting than a lot of the back half 1st guys. He feels like an upgraded version of Dagenais. So many bland watches, but his skill pops and the physical tools feel above average (wish he had just a little extra gear, maybe it comes). There’s a transition creator in there. The thinking feels a bit iffy, will vary, that’s probably the swing trait. I liked his half wall PP ability. Not wildly gesticulating over him, but I would entertain someone ranking him near the top 10 in this shit class.

I watched another Command game as a refresher…..still a cromulent snoozefest. Pretty please don’t take another floor is ceiling player. There are so many.

 

[BigToe]

Not a guy I’d watched yet for whatever reason, but silly me, if he led the u18s in points, that’s a Flahr special. Brief watch, he’s definitely more interesting than a lot of the back half 1st guys. He feels like an upgraded version of Dagenais. So many bland watches, but his skill pops and the physical tools feel above average (wish he had just a little extra gear, maybe it comes). There’s a transition creator in there. The thinking feels a bit iffy, will vary, that’s probably the swing trait. I liked his half wall PP ability. Not wildly gesticulating over him, but I would entertain someone ranking him near the top 10 in this shit class.

I watched another Command game as a refresher…..still a cromulent snoozefest. Pretty please don’t take another floor is ceiling player. There are so many.

They also talked to Villeneuve

Hermansson felt like a normal 10-20 type to me. Good amount of guys I'd take before him in that range though.

 

[Magua]

They also talked to Villeneuve

Hermansson felt like a normal 10-20 type to me. Good amount of guys I'd take before him in that range though.

I would agree. But this isn’t a normal class, and the Flyers aren’t even drafting 10-20. A good amount of guys? Villeneuve, Cullen, Lawrence, Hemming, Bleyl…..? Hafele and Svensk aren’t going anywhere near there, so am I missing names that would slot in between? Preston? He presents his own problems. Like I said, I’m not gaga over Hermansson necessarily, but there’s real scoring skill there, and that’s going to separate him from most of the likely names.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

A lot of Caps fans seem convinced they're taking Hermansson with one of their firsts, the theory being they (the team) saw a lot of him since he played with Gastrin. Of course, that would depend on whether the team actually likes him.

They also talked to Villeneuve

You'll have your chance to (virtually) add him to the Flyers. The annual team board mock draft is going on- as in, the one where that one poster polls each team's board when their pick is up, not the one exclusive to our board- and Bleyl is pretty handily winning the vote for SJ at #20 with pretty scant options left otherwise.

 

[BigToe]

I would agree. But this isn’t a normal class, and the Flyers aren’t even drafting 10-20. A good amount of guys? Villeneuve, Cullen, Lawrence, Hemming, Bleyl…..? Hafele and Svensk aren’t going anywhere near there, so am I missing names that would slot in between? Preston? He presents his own problems. Like I said, I’m not gaga over Hermansson necessarily, but there’s real scoring skill there, and that’s going to separate him from most of the likely names.

Don't care where guys are actually going. Cullen, Lawrence, Hemming, Roobroeck, Svensk, Villeneuve, Preston, Klepov, Hafele, Galvas. I'd take Hermansson over Bleyl though.

 

[Magua]

Don't care where guys are actually going. Cullen, Lawrence, Hemming, Roobroeck, Svensk, Villeneuve, Preston, Klepov, Hafele, Galvas. I'd take Hermansson over Bleyl though.

0% chance I would rank Klepov over Hermansson. I just think Klepov looks like a future flatliner. Like I said, Preston presents his own motor + IQ + efficacy issues. Roobroeck too. Those two aren’t strong ranks for me, but I get why they separate from the sludge (Morozov, Command, Suvanto, Novotny, Hextall etc.)

Where I stand right now is that Cullen/Lawrence look like the best forwards to me. I’d be aggressive on them. Villeneuve exists in his own tier; I don’t know how to compare Bleyl to the forwards because I haven’t seen enough to feel certain. Those two are I think the world of Galvas but he’s just not going to go in the 1st. Hemming and Hermansson feel like a similar tier, but I think Hemming is smarter (now, is there a slight skill gap the other way?).

The rest just aren’t going to do it for me. A few others I don’t mind, a meh shrug, I just know they’re not upside bets.

 

[Adtar02]

0% chance I would rank Klepov over Hermansson. I just think Klepov looks like a future flatliner. Like I said, Preston presents his own motor + IQ + efficacy issues. Roobroeck too. Those two aren’t strong ranks for me, but I get why they separate from the sludge (Morozov, Command, Suvanto, Novotny, Hextall etc.)

Where I stand right now is that Cullen/Lawrence look like the best forwards to me. I’d be aggressive on them. Villeneuve exists in his own tier; I don’t know how to compare Bleyl to the forwards because I haven’t seen enough to feel certain. Those two are I think the world of Galvas but he’s just not going to go in the 1st. Hemming and Hermansson feel like a similar tier, but I think Hemming is smarter (now, is there a slight skill gap the other way?).

The rest just aren’t going to do it for me. A few others I don’t mind, a meh shrug, I just know they’re not upside bets.

can we start look for players that have Giroux draft profiles.

 

[Magua]

can we start look for players that have Giroux draft profiles.

20 year old draft. They don’t exist anymore because teams have gotten less dumb (sounds more accurate than “smarter”) with amateur scouting as a whole. Giroux would be a top 5-10 pick today with that profile.

Steals in this day and age come in one of these varieties: correctable/overrated skating flaw, very young for the class (with a likely massive D+1/2), sub 6ft defensemen, and just complete non-1st round outliers. Elite skill, solid skating, non-abnormal size forward torching a league? You’re going high. Hell, Giroux was a Q rookie. A guy like Keller is a Giroux draft day comparable closer to today.

It’s harder now. I feel like Cullen is the closest guy in this 1st to having high variance upside. Barely eligible for this class, had a massive growth spurt, gives me elite puck skill wiggly vibes. Lawrence isn’t far behind and a similar profile, although I think he’s a tick less skilled but higher motor. Villeneuve gets a mention, so I don’t get stabbed. I think Galvas might be that once in a blue moon outlier.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

Regarding the Giroux draft, I've seen it reported that the Flyers' top preference with their pick was either Bobby Sanguinetti (the most common telling) or Trevor Lewis, so even when drafting their best forward of this century, they kind of stumbled ass backwards into success.

 

[renberg]

They don’t exist anymore because teams have gotten less dumb (sounds more accurate than “smarter”) with amateur scouting as a whole.

Then there is the Flyers and Flahr. This organization ties itself to certain prerequisites when drafting, size and strength, and then goes out to prove to the League that being stupid is still en vogue. Only when a quality player falls into their lap do they make a “smart” choice. Rarely has an organization obtained less quality with a high quantity of draft choices than the Flyers.

 

[Fight4yourRight]

Regarding the Giroux draft, I've seen it reported that the Flyers' top preference with their pick was either Bobby Sanguinetti (the most common telling) or Trevor Lewis, so even when drafting their best forward of this century, they kind of stumbled ass backwards into success.

It adds up, and also explains why Clarke fumbled the Giroux call.

 

[pit]

2026 NHL Draft Final Top 32 Prospects Ranking - HockeyProspect.com

HockeyProspect.com is proud to release our Final Top 32 Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft, the culmination of a full season of live viewings, video analysis and

hockeyprospect.com

This year’s class features one of the more interesting groups we have evaluated in recent years. Leading our final rankings is Djurgardens forward Viggo Bjorck, whose combination of offensive creativity, pace, and play-driving ability were just a few traits that helped earn him the top spot. Brantford center Caleb Malhotra checks in at No. 2 after having an outstanding season highlighted by his complete two-way game and consistent impact in all situations.

 

[Magua]

Forget the rankings near the top, they don’t have Lawrence or Villeneuve in the top 32? But Sokolovskii is at 20. Even Mutryn snuck in.

I’ll never forget them ranking Ratcliffe at like 8 and Robertson 40. They’ve always had their types.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I don’t have Villeneuve ranked personally.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I don’t have Villeneuve ranked personally.

You don't have anyone ranked until we see a list, sir.

 

[FLYguy3911]

You don't have anyone ranked until we see a list, sir.

I got approximately 10 days to create a formula to arbitrarily rank players I’ve never really seen. I thrive under the pressure.