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

[Gecklund]

Ek

I meant undersized scorer, rather than undersized center specifically, but Turcoette, Rossi, and Eklund (‘drafted as a C’)come to mind. Michkov as well, but he’s a head case whereas Bjork seems like a player’s player. We don’t know where Catton will end up, but he also was a really highly rated undersized C. Other that Rossi I think all of them are an inch or two taller as well.

On the flip side, Benson and Jarvis come to mind as well.

I think Bjork will be a really good player- similar to Benson, perhaps he can stay at C, however, I’d rather gamble on big mobile dmen with size

Eklund was drafted as a C because DWjr was not the brightest

 

[matt trick]

Ek

Eklund was drafted as a C because DWjr was not the brightest

Accurate

 

[Grinner]

Ek

Eklund was drafted as a C because DWjr was not the brightest

But it was a no brainer

 

[Bizz]

Oh fun now the Sens fans have entered the… let’s trade with SJ for 2OA chat.

It can’t be Friday fast enough.

unless they are talking Sanderson for 2OA they can sod off.

 

[themelkman]

Good blog post comparing the prospects in this draft class to the last three years.

BLUE BULLET 2026 NHL ENTRY DRAFT FINAL RANKINGS

Welcome to the Blue Bullet 2026 NHL Entry Draft Rankings.

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I am starting to come around to the idea that Reid might be in a tier of his own at the top in this draft if McKenna and Stenberg didn’t exist.

Also notable the article puts Stenberg in the same tier as Celebrini and Bedard. Reid in the same tier as Misa

 

[SJS1991]

Guess the 5 and who are the serious ones…

 

[vortexx]

Guess the 5 and who are the serious ones…

Probably the obvious teams picking high in the draft. There has been smoke around all of Chicago, NYR, Calgary, Seattle wanting to move up/make moves with their pick. I guess the 5th team would be Vancouver. In terms of the serious ones it’s most likely Chicago and maybe the Rangers.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[LadyStanley]

And the 7th rounder had a better career than the 6th rounder.

 

[SJS1991]

“who are maybe a little bit further along in the line than an 18-year-old that could step in and do the same thing“

Tipping the pick maybe? 18 year old that could step in?

 

[coooldude]

“who are maybe a little bit further along in the line than an 18-year-old that could step in and do the same thing“

Tipping the pick maybe? 18 year old that could step in?

He tipped the pick!

Or

This is exactly what someone would say if they wanted you to think he tipped the pick and was trying to induce trade offers!!!

 

[themelkman]

He tipped the pick!

Or

This is exactly what someone would say if they wanted you to think he tipped the pick and was trying to induce trade offers!!!

Or maybe it's both true and baiting a trade.
I like Griers style and I believe him when he says he will take BPA if no better offer comes in

 

[Jargon]

Or maybe 18 year old is the rough age of a newly drafted prospect……

 

[Hodge]

Or maybe 18 year old is the rough age of a newly drafted prospect……

"that could step in"

The only place Reid and Carels are stepping into anytime soon is a dorm room

 

[Jargon]

"that could step in"

The only place Reid and Carels are stepping into anytime soon is a dorm room

Listen, maybe he’s talking about Stenburg but to me it really reads like an example he’s giving. To trade that pick I’d need a young guy who is maybe farther along than what I can get with the #2 pick in a sort of theoretical situation. I don’t think he’s specifically talking about who he’s picking. I have no way of knowing, it’s just not how it sounds to me.

 

[STL Shark]

Listen, maybe he’s talking about Stenburg but to me it really reads like an example he’s giving. To trade that pick I’d need a young guy who is maybe farther along than what I can get with the #2 pick in a sort of theoretical situation. I don’t think he’s specifically talking about who he’s picking. I have no way of knowing, it’s just not how it sounds to me.

But we can at least rule out drafting an overage player 2nd overall.

 

[SJSharksfan4life]

Grier says, “move off of second overall.”

 

[Erep]

“who are maybe a little bit further along in the line than an 18-year-old that could step in and do the same thing“

Tipping the pick maybe? 18 year old that could step in?

I think he is saying the opposite (if we are going to fully interpreter on his sentence.)

He is saying: if he trades it, it is for someone who can step in, unlike the 18 year old they would draft, implying that the 18 year old will not be NHL ready.

My guess is, he intended for there to be a comma after 18-year-old.

 

[Star Platinum]

He tipped the pick!

Or

This is exactly what someone would say if they wanted you to think he tipped the pick and was trying to induce trade offers!!!

 

[Sharksrule04]

I think he is saying the opposite (if we are going to fully interpreter on his sentence.)

He is saying: if he trades it, it is for someone who can step in, unlike the 18 year old they would draft, implying that the 18 year old will not be NHL ready.

My guess is, he intended for there to be a comma after 18-year-old.

Not at all how I read it. He is saying that to move number two it has to be an equally young player who can jump in and produce now and for the future, otherwise they might as well take the 18 year old who can jump in and produce (aka Stenberg).

 

[hohosaregood]

So something like Stenberg, Gustafsson, and idk Nordmark? Just go full team sweden?

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[ChompChomp]

What's crazy is how people talk about the Sharks 2024 draft as being a huge gamechanger like Dallas 2017 draft...and now, maybe (unless more deals happen, which could be), we will be talking about Sharks 2024 AND 2026 drafts being huge gamechanger drafts for the Sharks. (Maybe 2025 as well with Misa and Ravensbergen) Incredible.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[LilLeeroy]

I think if none of the D are there at 9 you have to take Bjorck just from a value standpoint. Although with his production I do think someone will take him earlier and one of Verhoeff/Carels/Smits/Rudolph will be there.

And there is always at least one surprise near the top so I have to imagine a D will be there unless the Malhotra smoke is completely made up.