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

[themelkman]

check klepov for sunburn

Sadly he says in the interview no sunburn but confirms he's met with the sharks a couple times

 

[Tw1ster]

Will be a pretty solid turn of events if we end up with both Stenberg and Verhoeff

 

[sampler]

The more I think about Stenberg, the more I think he could be really special.

When Bedard got drafted, everyone annointed him the second coming of Mcdavid. The hype was enormous! He was quite exciting and clearly had electric skills, a ridiculus shot, silky hands, crazy quickness... but his defensive play was atrocious. His effort was inconsistent. He was light years from having a complete NHL game and it showed in his massive minuses. He did not transform Chicago, and still hasnt after three seasons. Hes a great player, but in a totally different tier from Celebrini.

Celebrini, by contrast, came into the league with way less fanfare. Yes, he was very highly rated and the clear #1OA, but the hype was half of Bedard's. I would argue their pure skill is similar (bedard likely has even better hands), but what Celebrini excels in better than any 19 year old since Crosby is his complete game. His defensive compete, his back check, his work ethic, his details, his leadership, and his personality set him head and shoulders above Bedard (and nearly eveyone else).

I kinda see Stenberg is a similar fashion to Celebrini. From what I've read and seen, he is reknown not just for his skills, but for his work ethic, defensive acumen, and maturity. McKenna reminds much more of Bedard. Incredible individual skills, 129+ pt seasons in Juniors, but much less refined defensively, much more immature on and off the ice. I get the feeling that Stenberg is a franchise changing winger, the likely Calder winner, and the kind of player that leads to championships. Not just the vision and skill, but the defensive fight, the effort, the compete.

I think I would take him #1 over McKenna. I don't want grier to trade that pick unless its for a Dahlin-type.

 

[Zarzh]

From Sheng he figured out the other two mystery dinner dates! Edit: wait maybe not this could just be regular interviews, my bad.

“Speaking of the Combine, SJHN was able to confirm on Thursday that the San Jose Sharks interviewed Oliver Suvanto and Ilia Morozov there.

Meanwhile, Nikita Klepov, who was not at the Combine, said that he had spoken with the Sharks a couple times, including at the Gold Star camp in Florida last week. The Gold Star camp, agent Dan Milstein’s brainchild, is a pre-Draft showcase mostly for Russian prospects.”

Stenberg, Rudolph Would Be Excited To Join Sharks (+)

BUFFALO — The San Jose Sharks have three first-round picks today…we’ll see if that’s the case tomorrow. But as of Thursday morning, the Sharks have the No. 2, 9, and 27 picks in the 2026 Draft. Ivar Stenberg appears to be headed to San Jose at No. 2, despite GM Mike Grier’s parrying. “Everything...

sanjosehockeynow.com

Klepov is the last player you'd want them to target. Soft and awkward skating.

At least they targeted 2 guys who would have been there at 20 but not 27.

 

[sampler]

For #9, I'm OK with Rudolph, but I would hope Grier can find a way to get Voerhoff instead, or even better to trade up for Reid. It feels like #27 and/or Bystedt should be enough to get there.

Ill be at the watch party tomorrow... anyone else going?

 

[the dangler]

I'm going. maybe eating there too. anyone have a fave?

 

[STL Shark]

"Stenberg on potentially going to #SJSharks at No. 2: "I would be happy to go there, for sure. [They] have something good going on. It would be a dream." On playing with Celebrini: "That would be pretty fun. He's one of the best in the world," Peng wrote on X.

Sharks zero in on Ivar Stenberg ahead of 2026 NHL Draft to complement Macklin Celebrini

Has a draft prospect ever talked publicly ill of a potential team drafting him in the social media age?

 

[STL Shark]

For #9, I'm OK with Rudolph, but I would hope Grier can find a way to get Voerhoff instead, or even better to trade up for Reid. It feels like #27 and/or Bystedt should be enough to get there.

Ill be at the watch party tomorrow... anyone else going?

I don't see Rudolph there at 9 to be honest. Think he is going to be like Parekh and Yakemchuk were where someone is going to see RHD with point totals and draft him ahead of Smits. I'd gander that our decision at 9 (should we pick there) is more between Smits and Gustafsson.

 

[SanJoseRedditor]

Has a draft prospect ever talked publicly ill of a potential team drafting him in the social media age?

Michkov maybe?

Also, was Adam Fox's draft year considered "social media" age?

 

[sampler]

I don't see Rudolph there at 9 to be honest. Think he is going to be like Parekh and Yakemchuk were where someone is going to see RHD with point totals and draft him ahead of Smits. I'd gander that our decision at 9 (should we pick there) is more between Smits and Gustafsson.

That could happen, and if would the nightmare scenario for Grier. Of course, Smits is a pretty nice consolation prize, but he's definitely not the target. All the more reason to try to get up to 4 or 6 and ensure Ried or Voerhoff (unless Buf goes Reid, and NYR goes Voerhoff)....

 

[67 others]

The more I think about Stenberg, the more I think he could be really special.

When Bedard got drafted, everyone annointed him the second coming of Mcdavid. The hype was enormous! He was quite exciting and clearly had electric skills, a ridiculus shot, silky hands, crazy quickness... but his defensive play was atrocious. His effort was inconsistent. He was light years from having a complete NHL game and it showed in his massive minuses. He did not transform Chicago, and still hasnt after three seasons. Hes a great player, but in a totally different tier from Celebrini.

Celebrini, by contrast, came into the league with way less fanfare. Yes, he was very highly rated and the clear #1OA, but the hype was half of Bedard's. I would argue their pure skill is similar (bedard likely has even better hands), but what Celebrini excels in better than any 19 year old since Crosby is his complete game. His defensive compete, his back check, his work ethic, his details, his leadership, and his personality set him head and shoulders above Bedard (and nearly eveyone else).

I kinda see Stenberg is a similar fashion to Celebrini. From what I've read and seen, he is reknown not just for his skills, but for his work ethic, defensive acumen, and maturity. McKenna reminds much more of Bedard. Incredible individual skills, 129+ pt seasons in Juniors, but much less refined defensively, much more immature on and off the ice. I get the feeling that Stenberg is a franchise changing winger, the likely Calder winner, and the kind of player that leads to championships. Not just the vision and skill, but the defensive fight, the effort, the compete.

I think I would take him #1 over McKenna. I don't want grier to trade that pick unless its for a Dahlin-type.

"The more I think about Stenberg"

Bruh. You've done nothing but post about him for 4 weeks now. You couldn't possibly be thinking of him more

 

[Hodge]

f*** it 4 way trade

To SJ
Jason Robertson (8x15M extension)

To DAL
Dylan Larkin
Collin Graf
16OA

To STL
2OA

To DET
11OA
15OA
Mavrik Bourque

 

[sharks_dynasty]

f*** it 4 way trade

To SJ
Jason Robertson (8x15M extension)

To DAL
Dylan Larkin
Collin Graf
16OA

To STL
2OA

To DET
11OA
15OA
Mavrik Bourque

But why?

 

[Erep]

Just offer sheet Robo, I think 4 first over 5 years is less than 2oa and Graf.

 

[Hodge]

But why?

Robertson is better than even the most optimistic projections of Stenberg's ceiling, in his prime now and young enough that he should be a high end first liner for the entire Celebrini window

Dallas doesn't want to pay him more than Rantanen but they're not going to want to trade him purely for futures so they get Larkin and Graf to help now

St. Louis gets Stenberg to pair with his brother

Detroit probably isn't getting a better offer for Larkin given his limited list of acceptable teams

 

[themelkman]

Just offer sheet Robo, I think 4 first over 5 years is less than 2oa and Graf.

No thanks. 4 firsts is way too much

 

[sharks_dynasty]

Wouldn’t we want a cost controlled winger like Stenburg over the next few years rather than adding a $15M/year winger right before we hand Macklin his next big contract?

 

[STL Shark]

Michkov maybe?

Also, was Adam Fox's draft year considered "social media" age?

I don't think Fox as a 2nd round pick was doing pre draft interviews saying hell no I am not going here without leverage.

Also, Michkov was just silent through the process with stuff leaking after.

 

[STL Shark]

f*** it 4 way trade

To SJ
Jason Robertson (8x15M extension)

To DAL
Dylan Larkin
Collin Graf
16OA

To STL
2OA

To DET
11OA
15OA
Mavrik Bourque

So we expect Robertson to take the SJ version of the same offer he turned down from Seattle? With more taxes?

 

[Erep]

No thanks. 4 firsts is way too much

My point is more that 4 firsts are less than 2oa and Graf, especially because you do get 1 free use protection in those 5 years.

Just consider Stl has 11, 15, 16, and 29. I think those are roughly around where the Sharks will be picking the next several years. Would you trade that for 2oa and Graf?

 

[Hodge]

So we expect Robertson to take the SJ version of the same offer he turned down from Seattle? With more taxes?

Do we know he turned down an offer from Seattle? If so fine give him 16.5M or whatever makes up the tax difference

Surely he would rather play on Celebrini and Smith's line than for the Kraken

 

[Palaeontologists]

Do we know he turned down an offer from Seattle? If so fine give him 16.5M or whatever makes up the tax difference

Surely he would rather play on Celebrini and Smith's line than for the Kraken

If robo gets 16.5 mil then Mack will probably demand 20 mil. A third of the cap spent on two players

 

[STL Shark]

Do we know he turned down an offer from Seattle? If so fine give him 16.5M or whatever makes up the tax difference

Surely he would rather play on Celebrini and Smith's line than for the Kraken

I just think he's a premadonna and don't really want to deal with the player/agent attitude. Guessing the reason he was left off Team USA is his all about me attitude that is playing out in this contract drama.

 

[Pavelski2112]

f*** it 4 way trade

To SJ
Jason Robertson (8x15M extension)

To DAL
Dylan Larkin
Collin Graf
16OA

To STL
2OA

To DET
11OA
15OA
Mavrik Bourque

This team really needs defense, man

 

[Hodge]

If robo gets 16.5 mil then Mack will probably demand 20 mil. A third of the cap spent on two players

Macklin is gonna get something around that anyway especially if it's for more than 5 years