2026 NHL Draft: We won #2! Reid or Stenberg for the win; taking Verhoeff is a drafting sin!

[Patty Ice]

he's already hinting at a heel turn by saying fans haven't seen the "real me" yet

someone's going through a glass window this year and then we'll have a full blown "Shawn" Michael(s) Misa persona

"Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape! Did you see that?! What an act of cowardness!!" is still one of my favorite all time lines.

 

[SJS1991]

27OA now

 

[coooldude]

Moving up in the teens is the dumbest use of assets in the draft. Based on what we have this draft and next, it would basically take the rest of our 2026 draft picks to move up from 20 to 15 for what is likely the same tier of player. Terribad use of draft capital for likely no gain.

I think it would be way better if Grier moved down to say, 27 for a roster player who fills a need.


/ 🫩

 

[SJS1991]

At 27OA I feel like the defensemen are better value. Unless they really like a Mutryn etc.

 

[coooldude]

At 27OA I feel like the defensemen are better value. Unless they really like a Mutryn etc.

I think this means they're going for a Mutryn type. What D are good value there? Maybe Shcherbakov or Soko drop, but not as likely. However there will be a wealth of mediocre upside body bangers in the mold of Chucky.

This is super exciting. I also out loud having thought about it zero wonder whether this signals at all that they are leaning Stenberg. It probably doesn't as Kesselring slots into 2/3RD with Desi who I still think they re sign. Probably the draft decision is still independent of this but.... What if not!?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I think this means they're going for a Mutryn type. What D are good value there? Maybe Shcherbakov or Soko drop, but not as likely. However there will be a wealth of mediocre upside body bangers in the mold of Chucky.

This is super exciting. I also out loud having thought about it zero wonder whether this signals at all that they are leaning Stenberg. It probably doesn't as Kesselring slots into 2/3RD with Desi who I still think they re sign. Probably the draft decision is still independent of this but.... What if not!?

I wouldn't be surprised if they went with someone like Roobroeck if he's there at 27.

 

[SJS1991]

I think this means they're going for a Mutryn type. What D are good value there? Maybe Shcherbakov or Soko drop, but not as likely. However there will be a wealth of mediocre upside body bangers in the mold of Chucky.

This is super exciting. I also out loud having thought about it zero wonder whether this signals at all that they are leaning Stenberg. It probably doesn't as Kesselring slots into 2/3RD with Desi who I still think they re sign. Probably the draft decision is still independent of this but.... What if not!?

I think Shcherbakov, Soko, Goljer, Piip, Hakansson are all guys that can reasonably be there.

I don’t know if I feel great about the forwards, there are a lot of ruck, smaller types…. There is Mutryn, Roobroeck, etc.

It all depends on the swing they want to do.

 

[SoCalSharkzFan]

 

[coooldude]

I think Shcherbakov, Soko, Goljer, Piip, Hakansson are all guys that can reasonably be there.

I don’t know if I feel great about the forwards, there are a lot of ruck, smaller types…. There is Mutryn, Roobroeck, etc.

It all depends on the swing they want to do.

Based on how they draft (mobility on D, at least one standout NHL level trait; as opposed to good solid bets), here's my short list for potential targets at 27:

F: Hermansson (if Musty type faller), Rogowski, Pugachyov, Mutryn, Morozov (if he falls but BUF may have just traded up for him)

D: Soko if he falls, Shcherbakov (both big man skate good, but some flashes of puck ability and not too dumb)

Not list:
Goljer, Piip (not that big, no clear spikes)
Hakansson (more like a vanilla 2nd rounder)
Roobroeck: rumors he's just burned out on hockey because of his hardo dad, likely a deep faller
Nordmark: attitude issues (although this also would be a musty esque pick)
I just don't think Bleyl is their pick here if we have Cags in the building and bc of Kesselring and Desi are just missing a 1RD.
Villeneuve - nah

 

[Juxtaposer]

I’m down for Gleb.

 

[sharski]

in b4 shitstorm after some RHD prospect falls to 20 but gets taken before 27

 

[Surfer Dude]

in b4 shitstorm after some RHD prospect falls to 20 but gets taken before 27

imagine if Bleyl becomes a star RD...

 

[anthonyyy]

Didn't really want it at 20, but at 27, give me Gleb. Even if he doesn't pan out, the hits will be enormous and entertaining. Imagine Ozzy but in a much bigger frame.

 

[anthonyyy]

imagine if Bleyl becomes a star RD...

I wouldn't hate it if it's Carels/Bleyl. I don't think I'd want Reid/Bleyl though.

 

[Surfer Dude]

I wouldn't hate it if it's Carels/Bleyl. I don't think I'd want Reid/Bleyl though.

im kinda bullish on Kesselring. too early but if Grier sees he's a long term piece it really does open up 2OA to real BPA incl LD like Carels/Smits that i didn't focus on as much before. I think Smits can play next year in NHL. It also makes Sharks less predictable at 2OA pick to do this deal now and teams like Chicago that really want fwd may want to pony up more perhaps...

Orly - Kessy
Smits - Desh*
Dickie - Shaky

Pipeline
Cag/LSW/Wang - Poky

 

[Star Platinum]

in b4 shitstorm after some RHD prospect falls to 20 but gets taken before 27

 

[Star Platinum]

I think it would be way better if Grier moved down to say, 27 for a roster player who fills a need.


/ 🫩

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

I’m down for Gleb.

At 27, I’d run to the podium to take Pugachyov

 

[SjMilhouse]

in b4 shitstorm after some RHD prospect falls to 20 but gets taken before 27

With guarantees that whoever each poster specifically wanted was clearly who we'd have drafted there as well.

 

[SJS1991]

Based on how they draft (mobility on D, at least one standout NHL level trait; as opposed to good solid bets), here's my short list for potential targets at 27:

F: Hermansson (if Musty type faller), Rogowski, Pugachyov, Mutryn, Morozov (if he falls but BUF may have just traded up for him)

D: Soko if he falls, Shcherbakov (both big man skate good, but some flashes of puck ability and not too dumb)

Not list:
Goljer, Piip (not that big, no clear spikes)
Hakansson (more like a vanilla 2nd rounder)
Roobroeck: rumors he's just burned out on hockey because of his hardo dad, likely a deep faller
Nordmark: attitude issues (although this also would be a musty esque pick)
I just don't think Bleyl is their pick here if we have Cags in the building and bc of Kesselring and Desi are just missing a 1RD.
Villeneuve - nah

I wonder if Mans Gudmundsson is a dark horse for 27OA.

Everyone is saying like 15-50 or whatever is roughly the same. Mans has been in the second round mostly but I wonder if his world junior pushed him to borderline 1st rounder.

 

[NiWa]

I wonder if Mans Gudmundsson is a dark horse for 27OA.

Everyone is saying like 15-50 or whatever is roughly the same. Mans has been in the second round mostly but I wonder if his world junior pushed him to borderline 1st rounder.

Pronman is high on him, but the rest has him in late 2nd to 3rd.
If he gets a bump I think it's rather to middle of the 2nd.

 

[tiburon12]

I wonder if Mans Gudmundsson is a dark horse for 27OA.

Everyone is saying like 15-50 or whatever is roughly the same. Mans has been in the second round mostly but I wonder if his world junior pushed him to borderline 1st rounder.

That's the fakest sounding name of this draft. Prime candidate for a game of "Star Wars Character or Fringe NHLer"

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Sharksfan66]

So if we trade back from 2, we won't enter the draft with a single one of our own picks? I wonder how common that is.

Edit: missed the 7th rounder. 2 + 7th rounder for 4 + Rinzel?

 

[SJS1991]

That's the fakest sounding name of this draft. Prime candidate for a game of "Star Wars Character or Fringe NHLer"

Mans, Malte and LSW were like the 3 defensemen that sweden used in all the meaningful games and minutes at the world juniors. That 3 headed monster helped them win it all.

I think Mans might be a darkhorse, 6'-3" RHD... and again if all the prospects from 15-50 are roughly the same, I could see it.

I agree with @coooldude that this also just screams Soko too.

I also wonder if SJ would be a Simas Ignatavicius team. 27OA will either be a very safe projectable pick... or they are going to just swing wildly on talent.