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

[Star Platinum]

It’s just the keyboard warriors in here that like to user slurs and defend rapists because they think it makes them edgy that throw around “smurf” genuinely.

This was totally unnecessary.

 

[TheBeard]

Is someone having a predraft meltdown?

 

[SJS1991]

Is someone having a predraft meltdown?

People have been having a month long predraft meltdown based on some of these threads.

 

[Surfer Dude]

New video out from HockeyProspect explaining their differences in HP rankings versus what you can see online. They like to remind people there is no consensus especially in this draft class and in the video they first discuss Lawrence, Command (both are just outside their top 32), then talk about Pugachyov, Shcherbakov (both are very high on their list at #11 and #14), and end with Shilov, Nordmark, and Preston (who they are not high on).

Pugachyov and Shcherbakov are two players that could be available for us at pick #27. Pugachyov profiles like a "Russian Tom Wilson", kid is a freight train and freak athlete that lays the body like no one else. They feel he has top 6 upside and will thrive in a playoff hockey atmosphere. Many see him as a depth option but they state he has better hands and playmaking rates than Lawrence, also in a 200 shot sample he hit more posts than any other prospect they did the same test for which could speak to his poor puck luck possibly masking his scoring potential. They feel like he has a unicorn type profile that NHL teams will covet.

For Shcherbakov they believe he looks more like 6'4/6'5 instead of the 6'3 that is posted, we should find out the measurements at the Dan Milstein Russian camp. They were big fans of Simashev and watched him very closely in his draft year (ranked him #5), and they see some overlap with him with the size, frame, skating and there were some MHL games where Shcherbakov looked more impressive than Simashev did in his draft year. High end skater that is not physically mature at all. He has good hands, better shot and passer and shows more secondary offense than Simashev but not as physically mean and not as good of a defender. They liked what they saw in the MHL games and would project him top 10, but the VHL games is where things got murky and they lowered the ranking a bit. They do believe he is smarter than Smits even offensively speaking showing quite a bit of interesting base instincts that can be molded correctly, they do not think Smits is an offensively intelligent player.

hmmm HP scouts are pretty good. maybe i'd do that move down with Chicago from 2OA to 4OA to get extra 2nds per our spy, Cups for Sharks to pick up these Russians. They seem to always fall due to Russian factors, sunburn etc lol. They feel like CAR type of picks. Chicago has way so many picks in this draft they need to consolidate.
Villaneuve might fall too.
Could even use the extra 2nds to move up from 27 back to 20 with Buf again also lol.

 

[Palaeontologists]

1) You do know the definition of “derogatory”, right?

2) If someone in the real world called you smurf you are actually entitled to hit them. It’s just the keyboard warriors in here that like to user slurs and defend rapists because they think it makes them edgy that throw around “smurf” genuinely.

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'm just quoting you babe.

 

[Patty Ice]

I'm just quoting you babe.

 

[weastern bias]

"Smurf" is a slur now?

They're gonna need wholesale edits to the fan wiki. . .

 

[Yummyshark]

People have been having a month long predraft meltdown based on some of these threads.

I've mostly stopped commenting in these predraft threads for this reason haha. Can't wait until draft day then we can all move on!

 

[SJS1991]

I've mostly stopped commenting in these predraft threads for this reason haha. Can't wait until draft day then we can all move on!

It’s just boring. When we got the 2OA it was great… again who cares. I will literally be excited with any of the 4 know dinner invites (Stenberg, Reid, Verhoeff or Carels).

These are champagne problems. Either they add to a crazy forward group or add to the backend that needs it.

Trying to doom about the select is just nervous energy.

Just enjoy that once again SJ is getting a top prospect.

 

[WSS11]

1) You do know the definition of “derogatory”, right?

2) If someone in the real world called you smurf you are actually entitled to hit them. It’s just the keyboard warriors in here that like to user slurs and defend rapists because they think it makes them edgy that throw around “smurf” genuinely.

Yeah.. I’m not sure what world you live in but you’re not entitled to hit someone if they call you a name…especially something as mild as “Smurf”.

 

[Smok3d]

Yeah.. I’m not sure what world you live in but you’re not entitled to hit someone if they call you a name…especially something as mild as “Smurf”.

 

[tiburon12]

"Smurf" is a slur now?

They're gonna need wholesale edits to the fan wiki. . .

If it is, wouldn't "giant" and "ogre" be slurs too?

 

[coooldude]

New video out from HockeyProspect explaining their differences in HP rankings versus what you can see online. They like to remind people there is no consensus especially in this draft class and in the video they first discuss Lawrence, Command (both are just outside their top 32), then talk about Pugachyov, Shcherbakov (both are very high on their list at #11 and #14), and end with Shilov, Nordmark, and Preston (who they are not high on).

Pugachyov and Shcherbakov are two players that could be available for us at pick #27. Pugachyov profiles like a "Russian Tom Wilson", kid is a freight train and freak athlete that lays the body like no one else. They feel he has top 6 upside and will thrive in a playoff hockey atmosphere. Many see him as a depth option but they state he has better hands and playmaking rates than Lawrence, also in a 200 shot sample he hit more posts than any other prospect they did the same test for which could speak to his poor puck luck possibly masking his scoring potential. They feel like he has a unicorn type profile that NHL teams will covet.

For Shcherbakov they believe he looks more like 6'4/6'5 instead of the 6'3 that is posted, we should find out the measurements at the Dan Milstein Russian camp. They were big fans of Simashev and watched him very closely in his draft year (ranked him #5), and they see some overlap with him with the size, frame, skating and there were some MHL games where Shcherbakov looked more impressive than Simashev did in his draft year. High end skater that is not physically mature at all. He has good hands, better shot and passer and shows more secondary offense than Simashev but not as physically mean and not as good of a defender. They liked what they saw in the MHL games and would project him top 10, but the VHL games is where things got murky and they lowered the ranking a bit. They do believe he is smarter than Smits even offensively speaking showing quite a bit of interesting base instincts that can be molded correctly, they do not think Smits is an offensively intelligent player.

Really appreciate the write up. Draft conversation ensues in between all of us devolving into Lord of the flies.

I feel like I'm down for any of the Russians (Gleb, Soko, Shcherbakov) at 27 if we keep it. They all have flavors of draft fallers with some intriguing upside. Shades of Cherny.

 

[SanJoseRedditor]

Yeah.. I’m not sure what world you live in but you’re not entitled to hit someone if they call you a name…especially something as mild as “Smurf”.

Yeah we can't use that "S" word here. We call them "sub 6-foot" hockey players.

 

[Patty Ice]

Yeah we can't use that "S" word here. We call them "sub 6-foot" hockey players.

Has vertically challenged been outlawed yet?

I think it's ok as long as it's empowering like "short king" so "smurf lord" should be acceptable.

 

[TheBeard]

"Smurf" is a slur now?

They're gonna need wholesale edits to the fan wiki. . .

Just don’t say Smurf with a hard R

 

[Star Platinum]

I've mostly stopped commenting in these predraft threads for this reason haha. Can't wait until draft day then we can all move on!

I'll be glad to get to next Friday. I just want to know who the choice is and move on.

 

[coooldude]

I'll be glad to get to next Friday. I just want to know who the choice is and move on.

Move on... To re litigating the past and 1000/20 hindsight! Wooooooo!

 

[Star Platinum]

Move on... To re litigating the past and 1000/20 hindsight! Wooooooo!

I wouldn't mind reopening the debate on why we signed Phillip Sinn

 

[sharski]

I'll be glad to get to next Friday. I just want to know who the choice is and move on.

We've all spent so much energy going nuts ever since they won the #2 pick that no matter what happens, I think the day after the draft we'll all be hung over and nobody is gonna post shit until like 5pm Saturday

 

[Surfer Dude]

We've all spent so much energy going nuts ever since they won the #2 pick that no matter what happens, I think the day after the draft we'll all be hung over any nobody is gonna post shit until like 5pm Saturday

this board is way more psychotic than anything on chicago board considering sharks won the draft...

 

[JackSkellington]

I wouldn't mind reopening the debate on why we signed Phillip Sinn

Because obviously we’re going Stenberg

 

[Star Platinum]

New video out from HockeyProspect explaining their differences in HP rankings versus what you can see online. They like to remind people there is no consensus especially in this draft class and in the video they first discuss Lawrence, Command (both are just outside their top 32), then talk about Pugachyov, Shcherbakov (both are very high on their list at #11 and #14), and end with Shilov, Nordmark, and Preston (who they are not high on).

Pugachyov and Shcherbakov are two players that could be available for us at pick #27. Pugachyov profiles like a "Russian Tom Wilson", kid is a freight train and freak athlete that lays the body like no one else. They feel he has top 6 upside and will thrive in a playoff hockey atmosphere. Many see him as a depth option but they state he has better hands and playmaking rates than Lawrence, also in a 200 shot sample he hit more posts than any other prospect they did the same test for which could speak to his poor puck luck possibly masking his scoring potential. They feel like he has a unicorn type profile that NHL teams will covet.

For Shcherbakov they believe he looks more like 6'4/6'5 instead of the 6'3 that is posted, we should find out the measurements at the Dan Milstein Russian camp. They were big fans of Simashev and watched him very closely in his draft year (ranked him #5), and they see some overlap with him with the size, frame, skating and there were some MHL games where Shcherbakov looked more impressive than Simashev did in his draft year. High end skater that is not physically mature at all. He has good hands, better shot and passer and shows more secondary offense than Simashev but not as physically mean and not as good of a defender. They liked what they saw in the MHL games and would project him top 10, but the VHL games is where things got murky and they lowered the ranking a bit. They do believe he is smarter than Smits even offensively speaking showing quite a bit of interesting base instincts that can be molded correctly, they do not think Smits is an offensively intelligent player.

If people wonder why I think Pronman is a hack, consider that he put out a list this year where he had Tynan Lawrence as the #1 pick with not even 5% of justification that these guys gave for why he's not even in the first round.

That was the real clickbait.

 

[tiburon12]

Saw a tweet about Asky + #2 for Hellebuyck.... If that was on the table it would give Grier a lot to think about

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

In the little I've watched him, I'd say his puck protection and his relentlessness of trying to get to the middle of the ice are his two best attributes.

I agree. Two strong attributes to have. Despite his size, he is far from a perimeter player. One of the reasons I prefer him over McKenna