RD Keaton Verhoeff - North Dakota, NCAA (2026 Draft) | Page 16 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

RD Keaton Verhoeff - North Dakota, NCAA (2026 Draft)

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He’s getting the Brady Tkachuk treatment. His numbers aren't eye popping so the arm chair scouting community won’t be high on him. He’s a very good player though. And when he plays his peers he looks really good.
He made the right call to move up in competition. Draft position matters very little. Won't impact him financially unlike the NFL where it is millions of dollars difference to go from #3 to like #7 Overall. He'd get the same ELC as #3 or #7 pick.
 
I by no means an expert on this draft class but since my islanders have been eliminated I was looking at guys who we might be able to get if we somehow luckily get the ping pong balls to go our way(which would give us based on standings anywhere from 3-5th pick). This guy and Chase Reid are my 2 favs for those spots, although I might slightly lean towards Reid. We desperately need a RHD prospect, or current system has a bunch of 30+ old guys and no real prospects otherwise in our system
Imagine winning two years in a row? Has that ever happened?
 
Rangers...

But they also drafted Lafreniere and Kakko... so I guess they didn't win.
Beat me to it. In all reality I don't expect Islanders will win but it can be fun imagining they do till the lottery happens. lol
 
How can you possibly make that statement and say he didn’t develop lol, he likely developed a lot more than the guys who played it nice and easy in Juniors. He was literally one of the youngest players in the NCAA.


I watched nearly every UND game.

Unlike McKenna at PSU, Verhoeff was made to play a very responsible 2-way game at UND. His attention to details and situational awareness grew leaps and bounds from the beginning of the year.

Verhoeff may not have the sexy stats of guys blowing up kids in the CHL, but he plays a very pro-style game already.
I expect his stats will skyrocket next year as he'll likely be UND's #1 dman.
 
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I’m curious where you think he stalled in his development?
To me he didn't improve any of his skillsets even with the supposed extra time to focus on it. Skating didn't become more explosive, footwork stayed the same, shot didn't tick up, puck skills the same. Defensively he played more structured but was that him or just the NCAA. Now unlike the other top dmen he had to adjust to a new league so give him some credit there but if he took another step like all the other top dmen did he'd be challenging, if not the favourite to go #1 this year. Hopefully next year he can take that step. He's still in the top 8 players in this class and a safe bet to be a great top 4 dman he has just put doubts in my head if he has true #1 d upside. Super safe just might not have the all around impact as the others.
 
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Looking forward to him taking charge of the U18 team. I'd guess he's the Captain.
If he looks dominant at U18s, his stock is going back up. I know it's 1 tournament, but he had a poor season. If the decision making and ability to drive a power play look good, it will give teams more comfort he can do it later in his development.
 
He’s getting the Brady Tkachuk treatment. His numbers aren't eye popping so the arm chair scouting community won’t be high on him. He’s a very good player though. And when he plays his peers he looks really good.

Not eye popping? The kid at 17 has more points than the next 2 NCAA players in the draft combined (Lawrence and Hemming) and they are both forwards.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills with Verhoeff. Guy is probably a top 10 D man of the last 15 drafts and everyone is worried about his slightly slow acceleration or odd bad pinch.
 
Not eye popping? The kid at 17 has more points than the next 2 NCAA players in the draft combined (Lawrence and Hemming) and they are both forwards.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills with Verhoeff. Guy is probably a top 10 D man of the last 15 drafts and everyone is worried about his slightly slow acceleration or odd bad pinch.
The big negaive hes got heavy boots- first couple steps might be big trouble top 4 dmen.
 
Not eye popping? The kid at 17 has more points than the next 2 NCAA players in the draft combined (Lawrence and Hemming) and they are both forwards.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills with Verhoeff. Guy is probably a top 10 D man of the last 15 drafts and everyone is worried about his slightly slow acceleration or odd bad pinch.
it's not eye popping and the 2 forwards both played half a year. Noah Hanifin produced at a slightly better rate his draft year in college
 
Not eye popping? The kid at 17 has more points than the next 2 NCAA players in the draft combined (Lawrence and Hemming) and they are both forwards.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills with Verhoeff. Guy is probably a top 10 D man of the last 15 drafts and everyone is worried about his slightly slow acceleration or odd bad pinch.
Yes, you are taking crazy pills if you think that he is one of the top 10 D in the past 15 drafts, unless I am misunderstanding what you are saying.
Most scouts don't think he is the top Dman in this draft, and many don't think he is in the top 2 or 3.
 
Yes, you are taking crazy pills if you think that he is one of the top 10 D in the past 15 drafts, unless I am misunderstanding what you are saying.
Most scouts don't think he is the top Dman in this draft, and many don't think he is in the top 2 or 3.

They be on crack. Dude has D-1 and Draft years up there with Ekblad, Pietrangelo, Werenski, McAvoy, etc. Right in line with Adam Fox production, except he's 6'4, 205 lbs+ and he's still 17...
 
They be on crack. Dude has D-1 and Draft years up there with Ekblad, Pietrangelo, Werenski, McAvoy, etc. Right in line with Adam Fox production, except he's 6'4, 205 lbs+ and he's still 17...
Although ekblad isn’t Cale Makar with the scoring he’s a very good top pairing d man for most teams when he’s healthy. I think this is his best potential outcome and Verhoeff is one of the safest picks in the draft. Won’t be surprised if he goes as high as #3. Guys like Reid, Carels, Smits may have a higher ceiling but not sure any of them are as safe of a pick as Verhoeff
 
Although ekblad isn’t Cale Makar with the scoring he’s a very good top pairing d man for most teams when he’s healthy. I think this is his best potential outcome and Verhoeff is one of the safest picks in the draft. Won’t be surprised if he goes as high as #3. Guys like Reid, Carels, Smits may have a higher ceiling but not sure any of them are as safe of a pick as Verhoeff

Disagree on the safe part.

Unless if you mean safe as in he will be an NHL player.

His two most concerning issues is skating (mobility) and defensive IQ. he got exposed towards the end of the season there. I get it hes young but he wasnt ready for that. But if your defensive IQ is subpar, and your mobility cant cover up for it then hes got a long ways to go.
 
ive never been a huge fan of him. I always thought his absolute ceiling was an Aaron Ekblad type. Still a great, top pair dman but not someone I would be jumping up and down for in the top 3-5 of a draft.

And to end the year he was really poor the last 10 games of his college season and has been a non factor at the u18s.
 
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ive never been a huge fan of him. I always thought his absolute ceiling was an Aaron Ekblad type. Still a great, top pair dman but not someone I would be jumping up and down for in the top 3-5 of a draft.

And to end the year he was really poor the last 10 games of his college season and has been a non factor at the u18s.

Hopefully other teams agree with you and Islanders can get him 13th. lol
 
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