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

[LickTheEnvelope]

top 7 defenders:

Good overview.

They have:

1. Carels
2. Verhoeff
3. Reid
4. Gustafsson
5. Rudolph
6. Smits
7. Lin

I also like that they have a scout that explains the Verhoeff bet and correctly does the "He is not like Ekblad at all... way more dynamic" point. Correctly note he's a 4-5 year bet.

Point on Reid is his development curve seemed flat over the year, other than his shot improved.

They loved Gastafsson's D-side and Rudolph's offensive side.

They have Smits as a "mean K'Andre Miller" but they believe his powerplay ability is limited to a 2nd unit shooter.

They think Lin is incredibly smart but will always be a smaller d-man who takes a lot of hits.

I don't totally agree but a better overview than most.

 

[Icebreakers]

I think he’s viewed as a potential PP1 player and a good one. If that’s not the projection, then I agree you don’t take him at 3. I think the general sense is that he is though.



You don’t need to sell me on Malhotra, i’d take him at 3 all day long.



We are at year 0 of this rebuild. We need everything. I don’t like the idea of bypassing talent for roster construction. We don’t even know if Buium is an NHL capable PP general and even if he is, I think they can co-exist given they play opposite sides.

If we think Malhotra or Bjork is the better NHL projection, then great, but I’m don’t support passing on Reid if we think he projects better.

I mean I agree with your logic.

However you cannot ignore current roster construction and pieces. Of course we don't know if Buium will be a PP1 guy but you need to assume he will be that guy until he doesn't. It's like if I draft Gavin McKenna #1 in this draft, I'm assuming he's going to be the #1LW moving forward, I'm not gonna take another #1 winger next draft if the C/D are the same tier prospect. It's also funny that people think Reid may bump Buium for that spot. I mean anything is possible but Buium pre draft is more dynamic than Reid is and his post draft development has been terrific. Anything can happen, but if Reid overlaps Buium then something seriously went wrong. If they went in the same draft Reid would be a tier below Buium.

I just view them all in the same tier. If you have Reid in a tier above Bjork and Malhotra then yeah take him. I just don't agree with that assessment.

Our 2nd best forward prospect is Riley Patterson. Our 24th pick isn't going to likely be a core piece either. You need competition in our forward group. Our forward prospect pool is non existent right now. It's to the point Todd Harvey is talking about Chiarot, Dervin and Mueller like he found gold. I don't want to hear those names.

 

[just22]

Ultimate troll job.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

I think its down to Reid Vs Verheoff for the Canucks for the #3 pick just based on the most recent reports.
Verheoff apparently has a lot of supporters in terms of our scouts in the room. Harvey supposedly really likes him too.

Who knows though , it might be all smoke screen to try and force SJ to take Verheoff at #2 to kill any ideas that they can take Stenberg at #2 and still have Verheoff available at #9.


The Dman i really really want is Carels. Smooth skater, physical and mean, extremely young for this draft class. Just turned 18 yesterday. 9 months younger than Stenberg.

He reminds me of a mix of Jay Boumeester and Dion Phanuef.


@24 I want a home run swing on a guy like Mathis Preston. He can be the next Nylander/Barzal or he can be the next Drouin/Duclair. Thats why its a home run swing.


Also if we can get another 1st round pick in the teens, Alex Command is the guy.. He is an Joel EK clone.

I would love Verhoeff but would be surprised. IMO he has the highest ceiling of any of the d-men in the draft,

 

[CanaFan]

I mean I agree with your logic.

However you cannot ignore current roster construction and pieces. Of course we don't know if Buium will be a PP1 guy but you need to assume he will be that guy until he doesn't. It's like if I draft Gavin McKenna #1 in this draft, I'm assuming he's going to be the #1LW moving forward, I'm not gonna take another #1 winger next draft if the C/D are the same tier prospect.

I just view them all in the same tier. If you have Reid in a tier above Bjork and Malhotra then yeah take him. I just don't agree with that assessment.

Our 2nd best forward prospect is Riley Patterson. Our 24th pick isn't going to likely be a core piece either. You need competition in our forward group. Our forward prospect pool is non existent right now. It's to the point Todd Harvey is talking about Chiarot, Dervin and Mueller like he found gold. I don't want to hear those names.

Ya, look my view is take the guy who think projects the best and worry about roster construction later. So much of what will eventually be the next core isn’t here yet, so we have nearly 100% blue sky in terms of what we draft. In 4-5 years, I’ll agree you need to start being more careful in what positions and player types you draft so that the ultimate core is not un-balanced.

We are just way too far out from that right now.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Ya, look my view is take the guy who think projects the best and worry about roster construction later. So much of what will eventually be the next core isn’t here yet, so we have nearly 100% blue sky in terms of what we draft. In 4-5 years, I’ll agree you need to start being more careful in what positions and player types you draft so that the ultimate core is not un-balanced.

We are just way too far out from that right now.

This I also agree with, though I do get worried by some wanting to take offensive swings at every pick not the top pick. There are some interesting bets to make but we do need to be drafting some meat and potatoes depth as well and often larger guys (up front and on d) take longer to develop. Especially the very young ones.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

Good overview.

They have:

1. Carels
2. Verhoeff
3. Reid
4. Gustafsson
5. Rudolph
6. Smits
7. Lin

I also like that they have a scout that explains the Verhoeff bet and correctly does the "He is not like Ekblad at all... way more dynamic" point. Correctly note he's a 4-5 year bet.

Point on Reid is his development curve seemed flat over the year, other than his shot improved.

They loved Gastafsson's D-side and Rudolph's offensive side.

They have Smits as a "mean K'Andre Miller" but they believe his powerplay ability is limited to a 2nd unit shooter.

They think Lin is incredibly smart but will always be a smaller d-man who takes a lot of hits.

I don't totally agree but a better overview than most.

What do you not agree on im just curious

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Ya, look my view is take the guy who think projects the best and worry about roster construction later. So much of what will eventually be the next core isn’t here yet, so we have nearly 100% blue sky in terms of what we draft. In 4-5 years, I’ll agree you need to start being more careful in what positions and player types you draft so that the ultimate core is not un-balanced.

We are just way too far out from that right now.

Agreed. We are only in year one in this protracted rebuild, and clutching pearls about whether we draft a D or a forward is kind of pointless.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

What do you not agree on im just curious

I believe Smits has a higher upside, Carels I have below.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

I believe Smits has a higher upside, Carels I have below.

Yeah thats the thing about Carels he's so polished does he have another gear atheltically or is this kinda of his upside? Someone whos such a hard worker its hard to tell if theyll just keep getting better if theyve polished out. Could be just be that steady #2. Smits is the one player ive barely seen just a few clips so nothing worth a comment

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

If it’s down to Verheoff and Reid. I really don’t care about the American thing pick Reid.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I'd rather the debate be Carels vs Reid. Carels would be a great complement to Buium on the left side.

That said, maybe Bjorck should be the guy if they rule out Malhotra. D are alot riskier.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

I’m at the point if Stenberg is gone we just draft Malhotra and the Center position. He has size and leadership, he’s also Canadian and has been on a great development curve. Reid and MAGA scares me with all these Americans turning the NHL into the NBA and I’m good with Carels or Verhoeff, I just think Malhotra is the right play and we can either be in the DuPont sweepstakes next year or draft a franchise Center and be set up the middle with Malhotra and Cootes as 2nd and 3rd line Centers.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Yeah thats the thing about Carels he's so polished does he have another gear atheltically or is this kinda of his upside? Someone whos such a hard worker its hard to tell if theyll just keep getting better if theyve polished out. Could be just be that steady #2. Smits is the one player ive barely seen just a few clips so nothing worth a comment

Smits played at every level this year and the thing is when he played u20 in Finland he dummied guys. He had 6 goals and 10 points in 5 games and was just light-years ahead of the u20s.

He is about the meanest of the D in the draft and is among the best skaters.

As the scouts note there are some that think he isnt polished enough to be on a #1 PP but I think he is more adaptable than he gets credit for. I mean the guy played solid minutes in the olympics and was able to hold guys like Draisatl in check at age 18.

 

[iceburg]

I'm out on Reid among D-men. And it's not the American thing (ok, maybe just a little). The physicality and all around game of Carels, the size, youth and upside of Verhoeff, win me over.

 

[Donuts]

Agree with other posters here. If stenberg off the board,

I'll go with Verhoeff (give him the best trainers to fix his skating issue)

Or Carels ( best all around dman)

Carels - Dupont ( we'll get him )
Buium- willander

Or
Buium - Verhoeff
______ - Willander

Of course malhotra or reid is good too

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

I think they're going to take Malhotra and deal with the circus later.

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

I'm out on Reid among D-men. And it's not the American thing (ok, maybe just a little). The physicality and all around game of Carels, the size, youth and upside of Verhoeff, win me over.

He's not even on another level compared to someone like Carels.

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

If it’s down to Verheoff and Reid. I really don’t care about the American thing pick Reid.

Can't take the risk on Verhoeff at 3 when there are other options. That simple