Prospect Info: The 2026 NHL Draft First Round Thread - Part 5

[Andy Dufresne]

Was listening to Cam Robinson on his Called Up podcast and he mentioned he’s gotten pushback on his reports about the Canucks and Malhotra. Mentioned Allvin really liked Reid, Harvey really likes Verhoeff, and there’s even a chance the Canucks go with Carels.

It’s the time of year for obfuscation but thought it was interesting.

I think it's about time someone points just how NOT like Bob Mckenzie this is. Cam's list was sold by some here as the new Bob's list, meanwhile we haven't heard a peep in 30+ years who Bob ever talked to or what teams they worked for. That guy is semi-retired, inventing new kinds of margaritas, has access to social media....and still nothing. Cam oth, clearly has no vault.

 

[Mike Pecarino]

Really is going to be interesting. Years prior we would’ve already had a good idea on who we’d be drafting 1-2 weeks away from the draft.

I imagine there are two finalized lists based on - 1. If SJ picks Reid. 2. If SJ picks Stenberg. Thrown into all that - listening to trade back offers or proposing trade back offers and thrown on top of that who might be available at where they could maybe trade back to.

I hope this group will be up to the challenge of being able to think on their feet, and quickly and soundly after the SJ pick.

I’m reminded here of the Mike Tyson quote - “everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face.”

 

[Mike Pecarino]

I think it's about time someone points just how NOT like Bob Mckenzie this is. Cam's list was sold by some here as the new Bob's list, meanwhile we haven't heard a peep in 30+ years who Bob ever talked to or what teams they worked for. That guy is semi-retired, inventing new kinds of margaritas, has access to social media....and still nothing. Cam oth, clearly has no vault.

Well said, been waiting for someone to call Robinson out like this. He’s a grifter IMO, and some here have been shooting his koolaid like tequila shots at a one week all inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, no questions asked.

 

[Hodgy]

Was listening to Cam Robinson on his Called Up podcast and he mentioned he’s gotten pushback on his reports about the Canucks and Malhotra. Mentioned Allvin really liked Reid, Harvey really likes Verhoeff, and there’s even a chance the Canucks go with Carels.

It’s the time of year for obfuscation but thought it was interesting.

In the Harvey interview with Faber it seemed pretty clear the Canucks scouts are still fiercely debating the top five.

 

[theguardianII]

The rookies should be weighing the options.

Like creating a new culture starts at the top, being aggressive shows a drive to succeed. Vegas has that.

How can the lose a trade for a top pick now? Even if they over pay with the rebuild having a timeline longer than just next year and a goal to have many players in the same age group with the savings of having entry level contracts over millions to use AND being new to the job the market will give them a year or so before creating negativity and calling for heads to fall they should be uber aggressive.

From experience of seeing father/son duel coach/player it causes all kinds of issues and not just with those two. The room.

Other players will be uncomfortable no matter what is said by them while calm but what d they really feel when the son, the star, is in the room? It is just another distraction and resentment can build up.

Father and son at dinner, "so what's happening in the room?" "Nothing", "every thing is cool?", " yep, nothing"
OR
"so what happening in the room?" "they hate those changes you made" "Really, Who complains the most?" "Uhmmm"

A lot of the market was upset with the "room" so is it a good idea to create a room where other players might/will feel uncomfortable saying what they really feel because the coaches son is there?

Father and son cannot talk about the team after hours forever, it is their jobs and every parent knows it is hardest to get your kid to listen, just about every adult knows just how much they don't know once their kids become teenagers or most do.

IMO if they really were going to draft for position, and the way they are doing it now saying what has been trotted out, Cootes doesn't have a chance on this team. Either Manny puts him, Cootes, forward so he doesn't look like he is showing favouritism or if he doesn't there is the question of "what if"

The entertainment sports shows are drooling with the hope of drafting Caleb as the star draft pick, the stories leap off the topic page because of the internal family dynamic that is an add on to every other created story.

How many father son coach and player stories have been successful in the league? Pretty much any league? Minor hockey, okay and then there are sometimes issues. This isn't minor hockey, the father can control who gets the big icetime, the big paycheck, the PP time. He coaches with an axe over his neck, what will home be like, how will the significant other feel, will the son still keep quiet about his team mates, will he talk about his teammates, offer up ideas, how much influence will the son have in the room, are all players able to ignore the family ties, .......

IMO this would not have been a problem IF they had retained Foote for another year or two. They are two more AHL championship coaches now, are the any worse than Manny? Better? Is Manny just the feel good decision, the easy decision to placate the masses?

Next year the team loses still and it will be too many rookies, or 2nd year players, injuries or bad coaching like it was this year? Will ANY entertainment show say anything negative about the Canucks while there is a hope that officials of the team will go on some of the shows?

 

[Mike Pecarino]

If we draft Caleb boy ole boy the stories we have to look forward to regarding Cootes and Caleb and is dad favouring Caleb over Cootes? But more importantly how will Cootes deal with it, if Caleb is getting more rope from Dad? Very interesting.

 

[theguardianII]

IMO they shouldn't just settle for whatever.

They should make a really big effort to move some of the vets for improved draft picks.

Most of the younger prospects in the league that are any good will not be traded so that leaves the draft.

Does it matter really if the team, management, over pay to get another top 6 pick or more 1rst's for next year right now during a "patient" rebuild, the the "patient" part being letting the players grow into a playoff team.

"Fast" but "Slow", fast is acquiring and slow in expectations. Major junior teams can evaluate players in weeks, a couple of years should be easy.

 

[Kill Vector]

Yes and dont forget about Kurd on the left. As much as I like Carels i think it's Verheoff if its a dman and its either Stenberg or Bjorck as a forward. With Carels and Lawrence as dark horses

Canucks perspective
Stenberg
Verhoeff/Bjorck
Carels/Lawrence

We’re not taking Bjork or Lawrence 3rd.

 

[theguardianII]

If we draft Caleb boy ole boy the stories we have to look forward to regarding Cootes and Caleb and is dad favouring Caleb over Cootes? But more importantly how will Cootes deal with it, if Caleb is getting more rope from Dad? Very interesting.

The entertainment media ignores everything they have been saying since Cootes was drafted about him in their effort to influence the Sedins, who admittedly want to make them happy.

They have centers already, Cootes, a rookie high pick that was touted as being a captain, Raty who has become a FO artist and did very well at the Worlds, EP40, lousy at FO's, over paid but not horrible at the defensive side of the game, not great but, Blueger if they keep him, hard worker every shift and decent in the room, and who says they can't move a winger to center? Rossi, is he just dead weight? Karlsson, Sasson who took the odd shift at center? Chytil, I hope he stays away and regains his health, when traded there was a big concern in New York that his career was done due to concussions then and he has had atleast two more with the Canucks, even Rutherford stated he didn't know how to feel about him playing again but HEY these guys are rookies and can make rookie mistakes so add Chytil to the mix.

Then there is the four in Abby, are they not good enough? Then why are they there? Alriksson Aman? Riley? Recently acquired Safonov and the other unsigned centers,

They have more center prospects than defence prospects

 

[Mike Pecarino]

We’re not taking Bjork or Lawrence 3rd.

Only in a trade back scenario involving our 3rd (Bjorck) or if Lawrence falls to 24th this could happen. Otherwise I agree. I see Bjorck getting picked somewhere between 5 and 10 and Lawrence between 10 and 15.

 

[BOBBY9]

Dude... no. The next 2 years the 1st roubd centers are so much better.

So draft them too. You can never have too many many C. It’s like having trade capital everybody wants.

 

[ginner classic]

The Q is shit though, that's kind of the issue here. It's a lower quality league.

Bleyl putting up 100 points next year doesn't mean a whole lot.

I dont think it's shit and I don't think teams or players should myopically focus on point progression as a develeopment outcome. If playing in the Q helps him round out areas of weakness with less pressure, then why not do it? There is no single linear development model for players. Some guys need more time at certain phases.

 

[CanaFan]

The entertainment media ignores everything they have been saying since Cootes was drafted about him in their effort to influence the Sedins, who admittedly want to make them happy.

They have centers already, Cootes, a rookie high pick that was touted as being a captain, Raty who has become a FO artist and did very well at the Worlds, EP40, lousy at FO's, over paid but not horrible at the defensive side of the game, not great but, Blueger if they keep him, hard worker every shift and decent in the room, and who says they can't move a winger to center? Rossi, is he just dead weight? Karlsson, Sasson who took the odd shift at center? Chytil, I hope he stays away and regains his health, when traded there was a big concern in New York that his career was done due to concussions then and he has had atleast two more with the Canucks, even Rutherford stated he didn't know how to feel about him playing again but HEY these guys are rookies and can make rookie mistakes so add Chytil to the mix.

Then there is the four in Abby, are they not good enough? Then why are they there? Alriksson Aman? Riley? Recently acquired Safonov and the other unsigned centers,

They have more center prospects than defence prospects

Well I’m convinced. This team is absolutely overflowing with talented centres. Are we sure the rebuild isn’t finished already?

 

[VanJack]

So draft them too. You can never have too many many C. It’s like having trade capital everybody wants.

You can never have 'too many centers' .....or too many top-four, right (or left) shot d-men; or too many number one goalies; or too many naturally gifted, scoring wingers.

And fortunately for all teams drafting in the top-five you can take your pick in this year's draft.

It's kind of hilarious really that people are dissing McKenna and Stenberg--because they're 'wingers' So what if they're both dynamic scorers--they are after all dreaded 'wingers'.

Stenberg in particular, is reliably described as one of the most dynamic young players ever to come out of Swedish hockey. And that list includes some pretty special names like Sundin, the Sedins and Peter Forsberg.

So if either Stenberg or McKenna were to 'fall' to the Canucks---it would be a 'winger win' for Vancouver. The only thing that really matters in the draft is 'talent'.

 

[CanaFan]

If we draft Caleb boy ole boy the stories we have to look forward to regarding Cootes and Caleb and is dad favouring Caleb over Cootes? But more importantly how will Cootes deal with it, if Caleb is getting more rope from Dad? Very interesting.

I personally see Cootes throwing a hissy fit and asking for a trade if he sees that Caleb got 45 seconds more ice time than he did.

 

[Mike Pecarino]

I personally see Cootes throwing a hissy fit and asking for a trade if he sees that Caleb got 45 seconds more ice time than he did.

Can’t argue against the possibility of a disgruntled employee becoming of Cootes. Not saying it will happen but the chances of him thinking that son Caleb may be getting home schooled by dad behind the scenes at the family Sunday dinners to get a leg up on the competition is real whether you like it or not.

Again it may not happen but the media nut jobs may plant that seed turning it into a distraction

 

[Baby Buium]

The entertainment media ignores everything they have been saying since Cootes was drafted about him in their effort to influence the Sedins, who admittedly want to make them happy.

They have centers already, Cootes, a rookie high pick that was touted as being a captain, Raty who has become a FO artist and did very well at the Worlds, EP40, lousy at FO's, over paid but not horrible at the defensive side of the game, not great but, Blueger if they keep him, hard worker every shift and decent in the room, and who says they can't move a winger to center? Rossi, is he just dead weight? Karlsson, Sasson who took the odd shift at center? Chytil, I hope he stays away and regains his health, when traded there was a big concern in New York that his career was done due to concussions then and he has had atleast two more with the Canucks, even Rutherford stated he didn't know how to feel about him playing again but HEY these guys are rookies and can make rookie mistakes so add Chytil to the mix.

Then there is the four in Abby, are they not good enough? Then why are they there? Alriksson Aman? Riley? Recently acquired Safonov and the other unsigned centers,

They have more center prospects than defence prospects

Let's say you have two piles. $20 in loonies and another with $300 dollars in hundred dollar bills. I let you pick a pile to keep.

By your logic you're saying you pick the $20 pile of loonies because it has more individual pieces then the pile of hundreds.

This is essentially what you're arguing.

 

[CanaFan]

Can’t argue against the possibility of a disgruntled employee becoming of Cootes. Not saying it will happen but the chances of him thinking that son Caleb may be getting home schooled by dad behind the scenes at the family Sunday dinners to get a leg up on the competition is real whether you like it or not.

Again it may not happen but the media nut jobs may plant that seed turning it into a distraction

So you’re saying we should trade Cootes then?

 

[kcunac]

I’m still for Stenberg if he’s there. I think he’d play next year on EP40’s wing, doing all the hard work, supporting a turnaround year for EP. He’s never had anything close to a Stenberg quality player on his wing.

I’d be ok with Malhotra or Reid mostly because of the value of their position.

Anything else would be a disappointment

 

[Mike Pecarino]

So you’re saying we should trade Cootes then?

Chill some CF, im hungover and not fit for your forum guerilla warfare. All the Pec is saying is DND Caleb may be of the wiser all to avoid any potential nonsense curated by the ether regions (the media) of the team’s sacred family domain. We’ve been subject to silliness since hell knows when. I need tikitty boo for awhile in the ‘all is well’ department.

 

[ChilliBilly]

My draft preference is

McKenna
Stenberg
Maholtra
Carels
Reid.

Perfectly happy to trade down. For a decent package. But still be in the top 10.

Something like Kraken 7OA 28OA and 38OA. Even throw in a sweetener like 78OA to give them back a pick. (Don't think they would want to do this unless they really want Reid.

But wait until we see what SJ does, cuz if Stenberg is there jump at it.

 

[sting101]

Yes it's not like Pettersson has ever had Miller Boeser Horvat Debrusk or Kuzmenko to play with and Hughes behind him to move the puck up ice. Need that 19yr old to get him going doing all the hard work??

The last thing we should be doing is prioritizing anyone from the older core group vs what's best for the long term projection of our rebuild

Draft Malhotra if available. Build through the middle and don't pass up the opportunity to have a future "C" that has more at stake than just getting rich and scoring pts to do so. The Dad Coach thing is a complete non issue as a top3 drafted player is vastly more important to the long term future of our team than a rookie head coach. If it looks like an issue you simply move on from Manny and let him pursue a better situation for the good of all others involved

I find it alarming that people still have Verhoeff in their top5-6 picks given the last 6 months. I would suggest you haven't watched him play much or have a huge amount of faith that his struggles moving up levels and flaws will suddenly disappear as he goes up another 2 levels. I'm sure he will play and have some sort of impact if he can clean up some things and time is on his side but a Jiricek/Bogosian player looks just as likely as a top pair. I would be more horrified than the Gudbranson or Juolevi decisions at #3 and after finishing dead last

 

[CanaFan]

Chill some CF, im hungover and not fit for your forum guerilla warfare. All the Pec is saying is DND Caleb may be of the wiser all to avoid any potential nonsense curated by the ether regions (the media) of the team’s sacred family domain. We’ve been subject to silliness since hell knows when. I need tikitty boo for awhile in the ‘all is well’ department.

Hey, I have no concerns with Cootes or Malhotra, I’m of the belief that both are high character people who will compete for their ice time and not act like whiny, spoiled brats at the first sign of adversity. These are highly lauded professionals and not snotty 9 year olds at 8 rinks.

But now you’ve got me worried that maybe Cootes is Cody Hodgson 2.0, in which case maybe we should unload him to keep things “tickety boo” for us both.

 

[sting101]

My top3 if we had anyone available to us is Malhotra McKenna Reid and that's with Malhotra at #3 on my top40.

I really feel we need to start solidifying the C ice position and would much rather the on and off ice stability that a local character kid would bring collectively to the next core than just pure skill/scoring with the potential for off ice drama

 

[Bleach Clean]

Was listening to Cam Robinson on his Called Up podcast and he mentioned he’s gotten pushback on his reports about the Canucks and Malhotra. Mentioned Allvin really liked Reid, Harvey really likes Verhoeff, and there’s even a chance the Canucks go with Carels.

It’s the time of year for obfuscation but thought it was interesting.

Cam stated something similar in his FloHockey mock. Something about sensing both sides were 'queezy' or awkward around each other. Caleb wasn't available for interview either, like the other prospects were to them.

I hope it's obfuscation. Up until this point, most commenters outside the organization had them taking Malhotra.