2026 Team Board Mock Draft

[Surfer Dude]

If they draft Reid like in Mock. I think they should go with a shut down guy next to him in the future on LD. Then I'd put Sam as in the 3D to spread the wealth on the pairings with a steady shut down type like Piipa then Muk/LSW on 3rd pairing instead with Pohlkamp from our projected pool.

But ultimately, my choice is Dagenais. I think he's got 2/3C upside who was dominant when his motor revs up physically at 6'3. Can fit as wing in top 6 imo or be a good defensive 3C.

Still thinking but this is my list
1) If F, Dagenais and Roebroeck
2) If D, Piipa then Hakannson, Soko

F: Dagenais, Roobroek, Morozov, Rogowski, Novotny, Mutryn in that order of preference
Preferring big centers who can stick at centers or convert to W if needed. Roobroek the only one with no motor but i think worth the risk/reward to turn around and get a guy once projected in top 10. Just no smurfs. Rogowski is 6'6, imagine him in front of net on PP to create chaos one day. Skates better than ppl think imo. Hoping he might be a Protas type. Morozov held his own as a 17 yo C in NCAA.

RHD: Piippa, Bleyl
Piipa came in a 6'2 and he's 17 yo in a Finn pro league already. He got 16 min TOI with heavy PK minutes. That's very impressive imo. Issue is pts but he doesn't get PP time. Physical with good IQ. He'd be a good complement to Sam or Muk. His strength is poise, retrievals in a pro league with more upside imo. Still see his value as a steady defensive type even if less sexy. Gotta build up that RD pipeline with more options. Edit: actually i was wrong, Piip was used on PP as puck carrier. I just really like the way he skates and make decisions on exits as a 17yo in pro league. I really don't like Bleyel's decision to not go to college and stay in CHL.

LHD: Hakannson/Soko, Villaneuve
Looking for a young shut down guy who can potentially play next to Reid. Prefer Hakannson, then Soko since he's already in pro, super physcial against grown men with puck skills and offense to be reliable at young age already. Soko skates well but he's got longer way to go than Hak. Villaneuve is unlikely to be picked here. He's got hip injury also that's been lingering. I wish they had a pick later to take a flyer on him tho. I am tempted by Soko and he's better than Wang but we've got LSW, Cags etc also.

 

[BaybayShark]

Morozov

 

[the dangler]

we need to do a post-iihf poll now

 

[jMoneyBrah]

I like a bunch of guys that are still available. I’d be pretty happy about any of Klepov, Mutryn, Morozov, Bleyl, Sokolovskii - I’d probably see if Seattle is willing to trade-up.

20 for 25+38

 

[ThePlanet]

In order of my own interest, players who will potentially be available at 20oa:

Sokolovskii; Suvanto; Bleyl; Command; Dagenais; Shcherbakov; Mutryn; Novatny; Morozov; Håkansson; Piiparinen; Pugachyov

 

[NiWa]

@Hasbro please add Sokolovski as an option when you do the Sharks at #20 poll.

 

[Sturminator]

Klepov, Novotny or Dagenais.

 

[Patty Ice]

@Hasbro please add Sokolovski as an option when you do the Sharks at #20 poll.

Mutryn as well

@Hasbro

 

[emptyNedder]

I like a bunch of guys that are still available. I’d be pretty happy about any of Klepov, Mutryn, Morozov, Bleyl, Sokolovskii - I’d probably see if Seattle is willing to trade-up.

20 for 25+38

This is my thought. Another option is Calgary for 30 and 35 or 36. This creates two shots a getting one D and one F.

My preferences in order for D would be: Alalauri, MacBeath, Hakansson.
F who might be availabe at 35-38: Hextall, Mathis, Aaram-Olsen.

As stated previously, I don't think any of the D at 20 will be "can't pass." My thoughts are it would be harder to pass Command (though he is higher on most recent lists) or Ignatavicius at 20.

 

[matt trick]

If you can get up to 14/15 and grab Gus, Belchetz, Hemming, Lawrence, or Command that’s awfully intriguing.

Bleyl, Lin, and Villeneuve all potentially there. If we were to take Verhoeff/Carels, I’d be intriguing by pairing them with a boom/bust PMD (or Spurgeon type in Lin’s case). Generally think sub 6’0 dmen are likely to bust, but if you get a Hutson, Karlsson, Montour, Letang, Boyle, or Fox with a random mid-1st it’s transformative.

I would not pair Reid with one of those guys though.

 

[emptyNedder]

Don't know where to find additional information from the combine, but fascinated by Alalauri.

He weighed in at 215 or 221 (Fanatics or Hockey Writers)--up at least a dozen pounds. Some of it is bound to be extra weight, but Alalauri tested almost identical to Bleyl on Left/Right agility, had excellent 10m sprint, and isokinetic squat--which if I understand is based on body weight. Also, his wingspan is .2 inches less than Verhoeff.

I have only seen some clips/highlights, but he is consistently called an above-average skater and excellent in transition.

Based on size and strength, his floor seems a good penalty killer who can fight for position. For me his ceiling is a 3/4 who would be a handful at both blue lines and could handle PP2.

The issue is that he almost surely won't be avaialbe at 62.

 

[Grinner]

This is my thought. Another option is Calgary for 30 and 35 or 36. This creates two shots a getting one D and one F.

My preferences in order for D would be: Alalauri, MacBeath, Hakansson.
F who might be availabe at 35-38: Hextall, Mathis, Aaram-Olsen.

As stated previously, I don't think any of the D at 20 will be "can't pass." My thoughts are it would be harder to pass Command (though he is higher on most recent lists) or Ignatavicius at 20.

MacBeath in the early 2nd would be good
Although we'd be drafting another LD

 

[coooldude]

Don't know where to find additional information from the combine, but fascinated by Alalauri.

He weighed in at 215 or 221 (Fanatics or Hockey Writers)--up at least a dozen pounds. Some of it is bound to be extra weight, but Alalauri tested almost identical to Bleyl on Left/Right agility, had excellent 10m sprint, and isokinetic squat--which if I understand is based on body weight. Also, his wingspan is .2 inches less than Verhoeff.

I have only seen some clips/highlights, but he is consistently called an above-average skater and excellent in transition.

Based on size and strength, his floor seems a good penalty killer who can fight for position. For me his ceiling is a 3/4 who would be a handful at both blue lines and could handle PP2.

The issue is that he almost surely won't be avaialbe at 62.

The rumor was he was quite overweight. But maybe if he could get his shit together he'd have explosive potential. He's a second rounder on most public boards. I was intrigued before but don't have enough context to know how to interpret the combine results.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Looks like Utah is going Morozov, which suits me fine.

Klepov if you wanna shoot for the sky, Novotny is you think this team still needs a hard-nosed grinding middle-six winger. Wouldn’t hate Dagenais if we feel like the center position still needs adding, and I know Ignativicius is Keegan’s guy. All in all, I think forward is the way to go if we keep #20.

I just don’t think there’s a point in drafting Bleyl or Villeneuve if we already got Reid. Those guys are great options if you still need an offensive specialist, so if we went Smits or Carels I would advocate for one of them.

 

[NiWa]

Looks like Utah is going Morozov, which suits me fine.

Klepov if you wanna shoot for the sky, Novotny is you think this team still needs a hard-nosed grinding middle-six winger. Wouldn’t hate Dagenais if we feel like the center position still needs adding, and I know Ignativicius is Keegan’s guy. All in all, I think forward is the way to go if we keep #20.

I just don’t think there’s a point in drafting Bleyl or Villeneuve if we already got Reid. Those guys are great options if you still need an offensive specialist, so if we went Smits or Carels I would advocate for one of them.

Very valid on the D's.
Could you see any of the more all-around / stay-at-home D's or do you think there's just no good value match at #20?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Looks like Utah is going Morozov, which suits me fine.

Klepov if you wanna shoot for the sky, Novotny is you think this team still needs a hard-nosed grinding middle-six winger. Wouldn’t hate Dagenais if we feel like the center position still needs adding, and I know Ignativicius is Keegan’s guy. All in all, I think forward is the way to go if we keep #20.

I just don’t think there’s a point in drafting Bleyl or Villeneuve if we already got Reid. Those guys are great options if you still need an offensive specialist, so if we went Smits or Carels I would advocate for one of them.

Villeneuve I agree with you but not Bleyl. Bleyl can still be a useful trade piece even if Reid is going to be the guy.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Very valid on the D's.
Could you see any of the more all-around / stay-at-home D's or do you think there's just no good value match at #20?

I don’t see any, but I also haven’t really watched past the ~15th overall range, so maybe there’s someone in there I’m overlooking.

Villeneuve I agree with you but not Bleyl. Bleyl can still be a useful trade piece even if Reid is going to be the guy.

Stongly disagree. Bleyl is useless if you aren’t having him run your PP1. And undersized D have zero trade value until they prove it in the NHL.

 

[emptyNedder]

Very valid on the D's.
Could you see any of the more all-around / stay-at-home D's or do you think there's just no good value match at #20?

Basically you are describing Faber, who was ranked 44 by Central Scouting for NA skaters and anywhere from 37 (EP) to 113 (McKeens). Elite Prospects stated: "He's a great skater who uses weight shifts well while gliding to avoid getting knocked over on the rush. There are some defenders who defend the blue line violently; others are more calculated. Faber suffocates the opposition, guiding them with his stick to the outside and enveloping them."

At the risk of repeating myself, here how EP describes my two favorite D options:

"Alalauri’s skating forms the foundation of his projection. Employing textbook form, he blends projectable mechanics and a notable amount of natural explosiveness. His non-committal footwork makes him one of the very best rush defenders.:

"MacBeath’s mobility advantages jump out immediately when you turn on the tape. Already an explosive skater, possessing depth, full extensions, and powerful crossovers, he separates easily and possesses fluidity that is a sight to behold."

Trading 20 to get a shot at both of these guys seems like the optimal use of that pick.