2026 Team Board Mock Draft pick #15

[Hasbro]

Back by popular demand (one Dm anyway)

A series of 1 day polls for the forthcoming draft. Picks will be decided by vote.

Please only vote in the poll if you think Ketchup on a Saltine is pizza.

Links to the individual threads on the player names.

Mother thread on prospects board


1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

2. Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

3. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

4 . Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

5. Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)

6. Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgardens (SHL)

7. Alberts Smits, LHD, Jukurit (Liiga)

8. Keaton Verheoff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)

9. Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL)

10. Malte Gustafsson, LHD, HV71 (SHL)

11. Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

12. Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

13. Wyatt Cullen, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

14. Alexander Command, C, Orebro (U20 Nationell)

15.

 

[kimzey59]

Belchetz
Pretty clearly the BPA here and we could certainly use the size up front.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Belchetz
Pretty clearly the BPA here and we could certainly use the size up front.

no brainer. I agree. Thought Novotny otherwise, but you can't pass up the upside.

 

[sfvega]

Command at 14? Those wiley jerks.

 

[Beauterham]

Have to go with Belchetz, the BPA.

 

[Mike Liut]

is Belchetz falling to 15 even a real possibility?

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I'll be the outlier, I prefer Novotny's all around game more here.

 

[stl76]

Novotny and Klepov would be fine picks IMO. I’m still higher on Suvanto than most as well. I haven’t seen him play much but Belchetz seems like the consensus BPA at this point.

Bummer Command and Cullen went the last 2 picks, oh well.

 

[STL fan in MN]

is Belchetz falling to 15 even a real possibility?

Absolutely. He’s big, physical, has nice hands and a nice shot but he’s also a bit lumbering and doesn’t really make many plays. He would add size and we need that but he’s also a LW and I just don’t like his chances to become a top-6 winger.

Klepov has a lot more going for him IMO. I’d take a home run swing on someone like Klepov, Bleyl, Lin or maybe Hermansson.

 

[sfvega]

Went Klepov. Worst case scenario, really.

 

[Mike Liut]

Absolutely. He’s big, physical, has nice hands and a nice shot but he’s also a bit lumbering and doesn’t really make many plays. He would add size and we need that but he’s also a LW and I just don’t like his chances to become a top-6 winger.

Klepov has a lot more going for him IMO. I’d take a home run swing on someone like Klepov, Bleyl, Lin or maybe Hermansson.

Can you think of a good comp for Belchetz?

 

[kimzey59]

Can you think of a good comp for Belchetz?

JVR before the foot injury.

 

[Mike Liut]

JVR before the foot injury.

I was thinking Maroon with better hands

 

[kimzey59]

I was thinking Maroon with better hands

He's more Brouwer than Maroon.
Belchetz has pretty good straight line speed, he just turns like a barge.

 

[ExJbeck]

I think a decent case can be made for any of Klepov, Belchetz and Lin here. Both have high upside. Really unfortunate Belchetz got injured. A good playoff performance could have had him truly pushing top 10 depending on what he showed. I think Klepov's shot accuracy is top top tier. I believe he can score at the next level. It's the B game you worry about with him, similar to Kyrou. If a team feels they will be able to put him in the right environment then you have a player with potential to score more goals then anyone else in the class. Overall, I still go Lin because of organizational need. I feel like Lin has reputation of being an offensive guy, but I see a really solid two defender that could eventually even be a top line guy. I'm not particularly sold that Mailloux should be penciled in the top 4. He is still raw and was blessed to be playing with Broberg imo.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Can you think of a good comp for Belchetz?

JVR on the high end. Michael Rasmussen or LW version of Bjugstad is more of what I see.

 

[Mike Liut]

For some reason John LeClair comes to mind for Belchetz

 

[LogosBlue]

For some reason John LeClair comes to mind for Belchetz

That's who i see with Belchetz. Lots of skill to go with that size. Will he develop to become that???? Whoever picks him will hope so. Lots of potential with him and Klepov. I would be happy with either @ 15

 

[kimzey59]

For some reason John LeClair comes to mind for Belchetz

I don't see that level of physicality in Belchetz.
LeClair was a nasty SOB in his day.

 

[Brian39]

Happy to take Belchetz here. I think he can contribute to the middle 6 of the future even if he falls short of his target development. There are much worse things than turning a #15 into a 3rd line LW who brings size to a forward group that isn't overly big. And I do think he has a higher upside than that.

If we're not trading either of the 11th or 15th, I'd be more than pleased to come out of the draft with Lawrence and Belchetz. It isn't my perfect scenario, but it would be far from my least favorite.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Happy to take Belchetz here. I think he can contribute to the middle 6 of the future even if he falls short of his target development. There are much worse things than turning a #15 into a 3rd line LW who brings size to a forward group that isn't overly big. And I do think he has a higher upside than that.

If we're not trading either of the 11th or 15th, I'd be more than pleased to come out of the draft with Lawrence and Belchetz. It isn't my perfect scenario, but it would be far from my least favorite.

Lots of these guys just project much higher than 3rd line LW though…

Wouldn’t like leaving that much talent on the table.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Lots of these guys just project much higher than 3rd line LW though…

Wouldn’t like leaving that much talent on the table.

I think Belchetz projects higher. He can can play complementary role with top players even if he doesn’t pop. You want him in top 6.

 

[LGB]

I think Belchetz projects higher. He can can play complementary role with top players even if he doesn’t pop. You want him in top 6.

How would you compare Belchetz and Dagenais? For me skating is a big separator between these two players.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

Oof this is a rough outcome….

 

[sfvega]

I compared Belchetz to JVR a while back in the draft thread and I still think that's his most likely outcome. Skilled big dude who can shoot the puck or park his big ass in front of the net. Those guys are always a pain in the butt to play against. I don't think he'll ever be a great player (neither was JVR), but he'll be a useful player for a long time.