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

[DonnyNucker]

Just gotta laugh that in a year where we have the 3rd pick, the top 2 picks are slam dunks, and our choice is between our coach's son or an American defenceman who follows Trump on Instagram. Lol

only if you don't know a damn thing about value and how this (or every draft) will play out. Stenberg isn't going top 3. I am not even sure Chicago will select him. Centres and D have far more value than non elite wingers. A lot of the Stenberg Stans are going to look quite foolish next Friday.

 

[pitseleh]

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.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I wonder about Carels. He ticks a lot of classic hockey man boxes this team loves - mean, big, humble, etc. They didn't interview him at the combine but they easily could have met up with him when the Cougars came through town to play the Giants.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Drafting Malhotra at 3 and packaging together the next 3 picks to slide in to the top 15 and pick Lawrence is a dream scenario.

Being year 1 in to the rebuild and having Cootes, Caleb and Tynan up front and Zeev and Willy on the back end is insane.

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

 

[lawrence]

I wonder about Carels. He ticks a lot of classic hockey man boxes this team loves - mean, big, humble, etc. They didn't interview him at the combine but they easily could have met up with him when the Cougars came through town to play the Giants.

We did interview him.

 

[Bitz and Bites]

We did interview him.

I think he was interviewed but wasn’t taken to dinner which was possibly some sort of subterfuge. Management and scouts have to have strongly considered Carels at 3 (unless they know something about him that nobody else seems to) and especially now that it seems they might pass on Malholtra and he could be the best asset available and checks a ton of boxes.

 

[lawrence]

I think he was interviewed but wasn’t taken to dinner which was possibly some sort of subterfuge. Management and scouts have to have strongly considered Carels at 3 (unless they know something about him that nobody else seems to) and especially now that it seems they might pass on Malholtra and he could be the best asset available and checks a ton of boxes.

Where did the pass on malhotra suddenly come from ?

 

[Baby Buium]

I think he was interviewed but wasn’t taken to dinner which was possibly some sort of subterfuge. Management and scouts have to have strongly considered Carels at 3 (unless they know something about him that nobody else seems to) and especially now that it seems they might pass on Malholtra and he could be the best asset available and checks a ton of boxes.

Maybe they took him to brunch instead!

 

[Rowlet]

Where did the pass on malhotra suddenly come from ?

Cam Robinson saying that he's gotten push back from Canucks sources regarding their drafting Malhotra

 

[lawrence]

I wonder about Carels. He ticks a lot of classic hockey man boxes this team loves - mean, big, humble, etc. They didn't interview him at the combine but they easily could have met up with him when the Cougars came through town to play the Giants.

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 really like Carels. I hope he considered. At least over Reid. Reid’s UFA year is 27 years old. These eastern America kids feel ewww yuck when it comes to western Canada.

Todd Harvey’s recent interview he said it took them 2 hours to come up their top 3.

Some major debating went on

 

[Bitz and Bites]

Maybe they took him to brunch instead!

Or a movie

 

[ATypicalCanadian]

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.

Whoever it ends up being taken at #3 this will give us a good idea of how good the Twins/Johnson are at keeping other teams guessing and their ability to put up a smokescreen on their true intentions. Perhaps to be considered more so impressive given what was reported throughout the year under previous management if the Caleb Malhotra stuff ends up as a smokescreen of sorts.

I think Robinson has been the only one to start saying the father/son dynamic could make people a bit 'queasy' while others seem convinced Caleb Malhotra is the choice and have for awhile now.

San Jose under Grier had people second guessing last year for a bit last year between Misa, and even a bit of Desnoyers rumors mixed in. They're doing the same this year as well.

 

[lawrence]

Maybe they took him to brunch instead!

It was mentioned some teams didn’t do any dinners.

Those teams won’t be drafting anyone

 

[lawrence]

Cam Robinson saying that he's gotten push back from Canucks sources regarding their drafting Malhotra

Well that’s not good. As in they want less info leaked to media type of not good. Unless it’s a diversion