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

[Vancouver_2010]

The Trump/America/MAGA pearl clutching is just so tedious at this point. We have so many of our own problems in this country....

Either way, the only thing that genuinely worries me about American players is if they're going to bolt or no. I'm that sense I'm gunshy on Reid, and for good reason. It's like how we used to view Russians (ie. Never knowing if they're committed and if they're a waste of a pick).

We can trade Reid quinn Hughes style.

 

[WTG]

His position on Verhoeff is disturbing.

You have to give Harvey and the scouting staff the benefit of the doubt when evaluating defensemen.

Coming out of the pandemic this scouting staff has picked 9 defenseman and 4 of them have already played NHL games. During that time every single 3 round and up defenseman has played NHL games except for Mynio who is tracking like he might be call up material as early as next year (draft +4). That's a really good hit rate for defensemen.

If Harvey and the scouting staffs okays Verhoeff at #3, I will give him a long leash to see how it turns out. They clearly know things others don't given their record.

 

[VanJack]

You have to give Harvey and the scouting staff the benefit of the doubt when evaluating defensemen.

Coming out of the pandemic this scouting staff has picked 9 defenseman and 4 of them have already played NHL games. During that time every single 3 round and up defenseman has played NHL games except for Mynio who is tracking like he might be call up material as early as next year (draft +4). That's a really good hit rate for defensemen.

If Harvey and the scouting staffs okays Verhoeff at #3, I will give him a long leash to see how it turns out. They clearly know things others don't given their record.

All good points. And I'd go a step further in saying that the entire Canucks scouting staff deserves the benefit of the doubt at this point.

Some of their later round picks have proven to be real draft steals in the second day of the entry draft. It's just too bad the Canucks have flushed so many first, second and third round picks over the years on either useless veterans or expensive contract dumps.

In hindsight, with the benefit of more picks between 2020 and 2025, I think their record would be even better. So I'm OK with whomever they pick at #3. They've earned some more rope in my mind.

 

[Bgav]

Pags (I know, I know) “I do not expect the Canucks to draft Caleb Malhotra”

 

[WTG]

Verhoeff reminds me a lot of Bouchard... big shot, bad decision making.
But don't get me wrong, Bouchard is great at the things he's great at; he just needs a super solid partner to bail him out on the regular as soon as the play goes the other way.
Carels and Verhoeff would probably make a good pairing.

If Verhoeff projects to be Bouchard you would take him 1st overall IMO. For all his faults Bouchard is still a top 10 D-man in the league in his worst year. He's also insanely productive in the playoffs (I get he's playing with McDavid and Draisaitl), but he has the second highest PPG as a defenseman after Bobby Orr.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Pags (I know, I know) “I do not expect the Canucks to draft Caleb Malhotra”

Dang

Hopefully Stenberg falls then

 

[StreetHawk]

The Trump/America/MAGA pearl clutching is just so tedious at this point. We have so many of our own problems in this country....

Either way, the only thing that genuinely worries me about American players is if they're going to bolt or no. I'm that sense I'm gunshy on Reid, and for good reason. It's like how we used to view Russians (ie. Never knowing if they're committed and if they're a waste of a pick).

Basic premise for any player holds per CBA rules. 7 RFA years is what teams are permitted to hold a player for. So, anything beyond those years, it's up to player and team to want a long term agreement into UFA years.

I mean, we just saw Larkin, a Michigan native ask out after 3 years of his max term deal in Detroit. Eventually, players will not sit through consistent losing.

Ultimately, since the player is the commodity, if they are not happy, they end up dogging like ala Quinn, PLD in Columbus and will get moved. There is no holding onto the player because there is a contract.

End of the day, you do you best to do a deep dive into these kids, but you just never know how things will unfold in 8-10 years.

 

[Bgav]

Dang

Hopefully Stenberg falls then

I think it’s gonna be Stenberg or Reid. Just depends on who falls

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

You have to give Harvey and the scouting staff the benefit of the doubt when evaluating defensemen.

Coming out of the pandemic this scouting staff has picked 9 defenseman and 4 of them have already played NHL games. During that time every single 3 round and up defenseman has played NHL games except for Mynio who is tracking like he might be call up material as early as next year (draft +4). That's a really good hit rate for defensemen.

If Harvey and the scouting staffs okays Verhoeff at #3, I will give him a long leash to see how it turns out. They clearly know things others don't given their record.

Meh.

Sure. Regarding dmen, they have had a very good hit rate but dmen arent they only positional players to be selected.

He's been a director of amateur scouting since the 2020 Draft.

2020 - gets a pass since earliest pick was 3rd round
2021 - hardly any picks other than a 2nd which they pissed away on Klimovich
2022 - Lekk/DPetey/Kud - props for DPetey and Kud. Lekk has 1 year left before he's a bust IMO
2023 - Willander/Brz/Mynio/Mueller - Willander is looking great (but so has Benson). Brz traded for Lindholm. Mynio has shown flashes and Mueller is nice but bottom 6 guy. Best draft to date
2024 - Patterson and Romani the best of the bunch. Maybe Patterson could be a bottom 6 guy
2025 - Cootes. Medvedev did not look good Chiarot might be the best of the rest. Not great

Overall work, understanding limited picks, has been very mediocre.

I understand the positivity around how they have drafted (and the further development) of dmen, but Cootes is the only forward worth anything at the moment.

And after seeing Verhoeff play in the latter half of the year, I don't understand how anyone could have him ranked higher than a Reid or Carels, let alone a Smits or Rudolph. It's purely because he's 6'4 and RHD.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I think it’s gonna be Stenberg or Reid. Just depends on who falls

As much as I believe Manny is the right coach, passing on the player cause of the coach feels like a mistake.

And I have Malhotra #2 ahead of those guys so I believe in the player. C's like that are corner stones of your franchise. Letting him drop to Calgary would be a football punt to the nuts

Atleast Stenberg and Reid are good too

 

[Icebreakers]

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

I think Stenberg is a Canuck as long as he makes it to 3.

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

I think Stenberg is a Canuck as long as he makes it to 3.

That won't happen. You know SJ are taking Stenberg.

 

[WTG]

Does he have sources in Vancouver?

 

[Icebreakers]

Does he have sources in Vancouver?

Id say Pagnotta is pretty reliable. He broke the Samoskevich trade before it even became official and called Brady leaving months ago.

 

[racerjoe]

Id say Pagnotta is pretty reliable. He broke the Samoskevich trade before it even became official and called Brady leaving months ago.

I disagree… he throws a ton of shit at the wall… of course some sticks.

 

[Knight53]

Getting like 90% of the fanbase attached to Caleb Malhotra only for them to hire his dad and now have to pass on him lol

Think it goes like this

TOR - McKenna
SJ - Stenberg
VAN - Reid
CHI - Malhotra
NYR - Carels

Just pray to god that caveman Todd Harvey doesn’t get his way and they pick Verhoeff. Would be the 2016 draft all over again.

 

[Vector]

That Pagnotta bit has been posted 10 times in this thread now.

 

[Icebreakers]

American captains on Canadian teams have been so bad.

Blake Wheeler in WPG - Fail - stripped of captaincy.
Q Hughes in VAN - Fail - Didnt want to be there
B Tkachuk in OTT - Fail - Caused drama on team and didnt want to be there
A Matthews in TOR - Fail. - No show in playoffs, always taking most money and shortest term.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I still think SJ takes a Dman. Reid makes way too much sense. Like Malhotra he's just as valuable an asset as Stenberg given the premium position, Dmen are just harder to be sure about alot of the time.

What if they shock everyone and take Carels, then both Reid/Stenberg are there for us? I think I'd still go Stenberg.

 

[Icebreakers]

I still think SJ takes a Dman. Reid makes way too much sense. Like Malhotra he's just as valuable an asset as Stenberg given the premium position, Dmen are just harder to be sure about alot of the time.

What if they shock everyone and take Carels, then both Reid/Stenberg are there for us? I think I'd still go Stenberg.

I dont think Carels is on the table for them. They need a RHD and a PP QB.

If we dont take Malhotra it will likely go

1 - McKenna
2 - Reid
3 - Stenberg
4 - Malhotra - I think they may want Bedard/Frondell/Nazar at least two of them to go to the wing. They also have some PTSD in taking dman high in Levshunov and Korchinski not really panning out so far.
5 - Carels

 

[Jay26]

Basic premise for any player holds per CBA rules. 7 RFA years is what teams are permitted to hold a player for. So, anything beyond those years, it's up to player and team to want a long term agreement into UFA years.

I mean, we just saw Larkin, a Michigan native ask out after 3 years of his max term deal in Detroit. Eventually, players will not sit through consistent losing.

Ultimately, since the player is the commodity, if they are not happy, they end up dogging like ala Quinn, PLD in Columbus and will get moved. There is no holding onto the player because there is a contract.

End of the day, you do you best to do a deep dive into these kids, but you just never know how things will unfold in 8-10 years.

Fair. Building a winner is the single best guarantee I suppose.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

My guess is Reid

Stanberg would be pick at 2nd

 

[Jay26]

I still think SJ takes a Dman. Reid makes way too much sense. Like Malhotra he's just as valuable an asset as Stenberg given the premium position, Dmen are just harder to be sure about alot of the time.

What if they shock everyone and take Carels, then both Reid/Stenberg are there for us? I think I'd still go Stenberg.

I think that's how it's going to go too. Reid or one of the other D-men would compliment their core perfectly. Stenberg should be there for us and he's probably the wise pick. I want Malhotra a lot but for reasons already widely discussed, it may just not be the best idea. Beyond the father son dynamic with Manny, one can't help making the comparison to someone like Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Barrett Hayton in the same draft. How much is Malhotra's position inflating his status in this draft?

 

[BoHorvat 53]

I disagree… he throws a ton of shit at the wall… of course some sticks.

It's a pretty strong take to come out and say outright that we're not taking Caleb. Other stuff is speculation, but when everyone is saying we're taking Caleb, and to say we're not is pretty strong.