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

[coooldude]

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.

I would have thought so, but they didn't interview him at the combine, apparently, even though they interviewed 50-60 guys. Maybe this is 4D chess, but more likely they just don't have him on the radar for whatever reason.

 

[Star Platinum]

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

I wonder if he knows the current price on death sticks?

 

[Surfer Dude]

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.

agreed, i like Piipa, Haka, Soko along with the big forwards incl Dagenais you mentioned. We just need size everywhere at this point. Bleyl, Villaneuve could also be there. So many options. Might even use our late 2nd to try to move a few spot if they have a preferred guy falling. Loving how this draft is falling to us.

i hope they can squeeze out another D or future pick to move down from 2OA somehow for another D maybe from Van/Chi/NY.

If they want a player ready to play from draft, Smits is the most ready to play this year most likely and his upside is as good as any imo. Bring in vet stop gap on RD to balance the young group.

Orlov - Kess
Smits - Shak/TBD
Sam - Poky/TBD

They can also move off Orlov at TDL and bring up Cag/LSW if they pop.

 

[yamel]

Do any of you think the Sharks will draft Caleb Malhotra? If both Caleb and Misa develop into promising young centers they'll be valuable trade chips for a top defenseman.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Do any of you think the Sharks will draft Caleb Malhotra? If both Caleb and Misa develop into promising young centers they'll be valuable trade chips for a top defenseman.

Everything is possible, but honestly doesn't make sense when there is a pretty good crop of D-men available (biggest need) and Ivar Stenberg, if you go full on young offensive juggernaut. I think Malhotra would have been the pick if Sharks had their 1-2D drafted and drafted a winger last year.

EDIT: Also I don't believe MG wants to draft a player at 2nd overall to get a top defencemen, maybe he could trade the pick itself for the help. It's a bad reputation if you draft him and straight away trade him with all the draft festivities, interviews and promotional stuff

 

[SJS1991]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365909/2026/06/18/nhl-mock-draft-2026-seven-rounds/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.rFA.lXd2.89rYaJ0x_LSA

Stenberg. A majority of Pronman’s sources are convinced it will be Stenberg at 2OA.

 

[WSS11]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365909/2026/06/18/nhl-mock-draft-2026-seven-rounds/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.rFA.lXd2.89rYaJ0x_LSA

Stenberg. A majority of Pronman’s sources are convinced it will be Stenberg at 2OA.

Major cope going on over on the Chicago board. I want Reid but would love to rip their hearts out two years in a row. Entitled fanbase.

 

[sharski]

A handful of players would be a perfectly reasonable pick, but going Stenberg would be the most predictable and chip away at the mystique GMMG has going for him right now

Frondellmania was such a tease... If he ends up going Stenberg it completely becomes a fool me once shame on you fool me twice you're not gonna fool me again situation

Ngl I kind of want him to go something like Malhotra or Bjorck for the chaos

 

[mogambomoroo]

At 2nd overall it's simple = Don't chase greed, Chase Reid.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Major cope going on over on the Chicago board. I want Reid but would love to rip their hearts out two years in a row. Entitled fanbase.

I stopped over there briefly to see what the discussions about 4th overall looked like and man. They literally have spent four pages over the last 24 hours exclusively talking about the Sharks. They have a derogatory nickname for Grier. It’s getting borderline psycho.

 

[Saskatoon]

I stopped over there briefly to see what the discussions about 4th overall looked like and man. They literally have spent four pages over the last 24 hours exclusively talking about the Sharks. They have a derogatory nickname for Grier. It’s getting borderline psycho.

I think Celebrini turning into a better player than Bedard has them hating SJ for some reason

 

[WSS11]

I stopped over there briefly to see what the discussions about 4th overall looked like and man. They literally have spent four pages over the last 24 hours exclusively talking about the Sharks. They have a derogatory nickname for Grier. It’s getting borderline psycho.

Derogatory nickname? And yeah, they’re entering psycho territory

 

[mogambomoroo]

I think Celebrini turning into a better player than Bedard has them hating SJ for some reason

Jealousy because they got Bedard and previous regime was a dynasty, I really don't get it. I would change everything from this day to have 3 cups in teal and the joy they could've brought.

 

[zombie kopitar]

Stenberg's projected ceiling is Macklin-esque on the wing. What's Reid's projected ceiling?

 

[Emperor Joe Thornton]

Stenberg's projected ceiling is Macklin-esque on the wing. What's Reid's projected ceiling?

John Carlson is the name I've heard the most, with some saying Werenski

 

[Star Platinum]

Stenberg's projected ceiling is Macklin-esque on the wing. What's Reid's projected ceiling?

If anybody in this draft was perceived to have Celebrini's ceiling, there would be zero debate about taking that guy #1. Stenberg is not that guy.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Stenberg's projected ceiling is Macklin-esque on the wing. What's Reid's projected ceiling?

Who the f*** said Stenberg’s ceiling is Celebrini?? That’s psychotic.

 

[SJS1991]

Who the f*** said Stenberg’s ceiling is Celebrini?? That’s psychotic.

Scouching and others have said Stenberg “plays” the wing like how Celebrini played his draft year.

Basically this overall solid game. Does everything well but maybe nothing “pops” as elite. His elite-ness is because he is just good at everything.

Scouching also mentioned in his video Stenberg’s ceiling is not Celebrini… it’s just more of a way to frame the understanding of why Stenberg is viewed highly without being 6’-3” with show stopping talent.

 

[Shark Finn]

They have a derogatory nickname for Grier. It’s getting borderline psycho.

Yeah, this one really put me off.

 

[SoCalSharkzFan]

I don't think anyone said Stenberg's ceiling is Celebrini. Some scouts and advocates for drafting him say he's like Celebrini was as a prospect in that he's not elite at any one thing, but is above average or better at just about everything.

 

[Hodge]

Celebrini's shot and skating are elite. None of Stenbust's tools are on that level.

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

Celebrini's shot and skating are elite. None of Stenbust's tools are on that level.

His puck protection is.

 

[mogambomoroo]

I don't think anyone said Stenberg's ceiling is Celebrini. Some scouts and advocates for drafting him say he's like Celebrini was as a prospect in that he's not elite at any one thing, but is above average or better at just about everything.

Then shouldn't he go 1st overall, what am I missing?

 

[coooldude]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365909/2026/06/18/nhl-mock-draft-2026-seven-rounds/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.rFA.lXd2.89rYaJ0x_LSA

Stenberg. A majority of Pronman’s sources are convinced it will be Stenberg at 2OA.

This is exactly the kind of thing you'd want to happen if your plan was to induce a trade offer to move down 2 spots, and draft the D you wanted anyway. Grier and the team are working the same chaos playbook as last year. Love it.

 

[one2gamble]

Then shouldn't he go 1st overall, what am I missing?

the other guy is above average at almost everything but has elite elements to his game?