2026 NHL Draft

[Gm0ney]

A big part of players making those strides comes down to work ethic. Scheif had quite a few warts when we drafted him but he's worked on a lot of them. Still has a few but no player is going to be perfect. But he's got the work ethic to improve and made huge strides. Cristal looks to have a similar mindset. Everything I've read about the twins suggests they are the same but there is no way to really know without talking to them so hopefully the Jets at least interviewed them. Once in a generation we get a set of twins to come through the NHL and the Rucks are easily the 2nd best set we have ever seen,

Still waiting for a set of triplets that comes through and makes an entire line. Granted their parents might go broke trying to get them into the NHL.

Identical twins are rare, but not outrageously rare. 1 in 250 births. Identical triplets are about 1 in 1,000,000. About 350,000 babies are born in Canada each year, so you'd expect one set of identical triplets every 3 years...there's a 50% chance that they're female, which further reduces their odds of making the NHL. Canada isn't the only country supplying the NHL with talent, but it is still the source of 40% of players.

Anyway, you will likely be waiting a very long time for triplets...I think we could expect to see a set of identical triplets make the NHL once every 50,000 to 120,000 years.

 

[Daximus]

I think Cam's Consensus is more meaningful than consolidated rankings.View attachment 1253659

I still have to question anyone that has Smits above Rudolph and Verhoeff. I think he's a tier below personally. Granted I've seen the other two live and have only watched iso of Smits.

 

[Daximus]

Daxon Rudolph still hasn't committed to the NCAA yet?

If you are the interview process, and a player wants to make it to the show immediately, would it carry any weight for the Jets to have a player in TC in his draft year at this point? As part of the integration process.

If Salomonsson misses the start of TC and the season would it be beneficial to have a player who could do the 9 game trial and come back at the end of the junior season, or do you want a player coming out of college for the playoffs?

So far Bjorck, Rudolph, Belchetz have the best chance of starting with the Jets immediately in that 8 spot.

Rudolph committed to Denver.

 

[Daximus]

Damn that's quite a raid of the WHL.
There goes my plan.

New norm. Basically every CHL player is going NCAA at this point. Better get used to it.

 

[Daximus]

Identical twins are rare, but not outrageously rare. 1 in 250 births. Identical triplets are about 1 in 1,000,000. About 350,000 babies are born in Canada each year, so you'd expect one set of identical triplets every 3 years...there's a 50% chance that they're female, which further reduces their odds of making the NHL. Canada isn't the only country supplying the NHL with talent, but it is still the source of 40% of players.

Anyway, you will likely be waiting a very long time for triplets...I think we could expect to see a set of identical triplets make the NHL once every 50,000 to 120,000 years.

 

[Daximus]

Unless the Jets somehow manage to draft McKenna or Stenberg, I wouldn't count on whomever they draft this year to make any meaningful impact next year, whether they start in the NHL or not.

Yeah with the vast majority of prospects heading the NCAA route unless we draft a Euro there is a good chance we won't see our prospects turn pro for at least another year maybe 2 or 3. If they go 4 they go straight to UFA so it's a sketchy system now.

 

[Gil Fisher]

I still have to question anyone that has Smits above Rudolph and Verhoeff. I think he's a tier below personally. Granted I've seen the other two live and have only watched iso of Smits.

But you have to acknowledge that you're the outlier on Smits.

 

[Daximus]

But you have to acknowledge that you're the outlier on Smits.

Seems like it. Not sure what everyone see's but they see something.

 

[Buffdog]

Seems like it. Not sure what everyone see's but they see something.

We disagree on Lawrence and the Rucks, but I'm with you on Smits

 

[Daximus]

We disagree on Lawrence and the Rucks, but I'm with you on Smits

Smits is my 7th ranked Dman. Lawrence is my 4th ranked C.

There's just so many better dmen in the class. I have Lin and Bleyl ranked above him as well. He just screams 5/6 dman to me.

 

[voyageur]

New norm. Basically every CHL player is going NCAA at this point. Better get used to it.

Changes the landscape. Verhoeff is still 17 with a year of NCAA hockey under his belt.

 

[Daximus]

Here's my top 64 so far for anyone wondering.

Top 64 2026 NHL Draft Rankings

 

[Daximus]

Changes the landscape. Verhoeff is still 17 with a year of NCAA hockey under his belt.

Yeah 3 more seasons and he's 20 and a UFA,

 

[Eyeseeing]

This happened to me except the sport was curling.

That’s all curlers

 

[Classic16]

Unless the Jets somehow manage to draft McKenna or Stenberg, I wouldn't count on whomever they draft this year to make any meaningful impact next year, whether they start in the NHL or not.

Negative nancy here. A guy spliiting time on the 3rd pair or 3/4 line player still could be meaningful for us. Nobody is expecting a Selanne rookie season.

 

[Daximus]

Negative nancy here. A guy spliiting time on the 3rd pair or 3/4 line player still could be meaningful for us. Nobody is expecting a Selanne rookie season.

I'd say outside of McKenna, Stenberg and you could maybe make a case for Smits and Bjorck almost no one else in this class is ready for NHL next year. And even then almost all of them could use at least another development year if not 2.

 

[Buffdog]

I'd say outside of McKenna, Stenberg and you could maybe make a case for Smits and Bjorck almost no one else in this class is ready for NHL next year. And even then almost all of them could use at least another development year if not 2.

Even those guys... "playing against men" is great, but the NHL is an entirely different beast (especially Smits, who played vs vaslty inferior opposition last season)

Seems like the board has taken a "sooner is better" approach for kids playing in the NHL. Sometimes is causes more harm than good

 

[tbcwpg]

Negative nancy here. A guy spliiting time on the 3rd pair or 3/4 line player still could be meaningful for us. Nobody is expecting a Selanne rookie season.

I'm not saying they'd be bad or a net negative player, but I don't think they'd help spark some immediate turnaround from the team either. I'd also think that given the glut of younger forwards who are waiver eligible, a forward isn't likely to even be on the team, and a defenceman would likely be 3rd pairing. Which is fine. I just don't think the team should be looking at it as a "who can help sooner than later" question.

 

[Sam old son]

Seems like it. Not sure what everyone see's but they see something.

I'd take Verhoeff and Rudolph before Smits.

My opinion cannot be trusted though.

 

[10Ducky10]

Identical twins are rare, but not outrageously rare. 1 in 250 births. Identical triplets are about 1 in 1,000,000. About 350,000 babies are born in Canada each year, so you'd expect one set of identical triplets every 3 years...there's a 50% chance that they're female, which further reduces their odds of making the NHL. Canada isn't the only country supplying the NHL with talent, but it is still the source of 40% of players.

Anyway, you will likely be waiting a very long time for triplets...I think we could expect to see a set of identical triplets make the NHL once every 50,000 to 120,000 years.

I dated a twin once.
My buddy asked me how I could tell them apart.
I said, "Her brother has a beard."

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

Even those guys... "playing against men" is great, but the NHL is an entirely different beast (especially Smits, who played vs vaslty inferior opposition last season)

Seems like the board has taken a "sooner is better" approach for kids playing in the NHL. Sometimes is causes more harm than good

For some players that might be the case, like I don't think Stenberg for example would benefit from another season in the SHL and you could even make the argument for Bjorck as well though less so than Stenberg for sure.

If we do draft Bjorck and he destroys training camp and pre season which I imagine he will then I don't see a reason not to give him a roster spot.

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

Smits and Verhoeff are my favorite D. I think the gap between them and the rest of the D is significant.

It blows my mind what SMits has done against higher competition is virtually ignored.