The Periferal [Not Dead] Official 2026 NHL Draft Thread (June 26-27)

[Sparksrus3]

It’s time for the Cup to come to Long Island ….. Enough being a playoff bubble contender pretender .

LGI !!!!!!

 

[SRBisles]

Only bad part about winning last year’s lottery is now we can only get ONE of McKenna or DuPont under the new rules

In all seriousness, looks to be a lot of quality RHD in this class- our weakest position by far organizationally. Might be a good chance to snag Schaefer’s future partner.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

The latter half of 2000's birthdays is scary

 

[Konk]

Only bad part about winning last year’s lottery is now we can only get ONE of McKenna or DuPont under the new rules

In all seriousness, looks to be a lot of quality RHD in this class- our weakest position by far organizationally. Might be a good chance to snag Schaefer’s future partner.

You don't draft on need because you dont want to miss out on better talent and also you don't know what your needs will be in 2-5 years anyway.

That said.... I love Jack Hextall and want the Islanders to pick this kid with one of the 1sts if they can. All around stud center with really good playmaking, defense, tenacious puck pursuit, and IQ. Smart, skilled, physical, good all-around game. He's 6', but frail and physically still a boy basically so he has runway I believe. But man is he sneaky smart with and without the puck.

 

[boredmale]

Thankfully this draft looks RHD deep. I know in general draft BPA but we really need a RHD, we also could use a RW and if one is available we need a top line Center. Right hand shots is also an area of need.

 

[Konk]

Thankfully this draft looks RHD deep. I know in general draft BPA but we really need a RHD, we also could use a RW and if one is available we need a top line Center. Right hand shots is also an area of need.

There's plenty of RHD in both of the next classes. Neither of which will be ready for several years, and as you point out we need everything except a #1 LHD at this point.

BPA all the way, no exceptions.

 

[boredmale]

There's plenty of RHD in both of the next classes. Neither of which will be ready for several years, and as you point out we need everything except a #1 LHD at this point.

BPA all the way, no exceptions.

I would argue we pretty solid at LW as well unless you get like a potential star first line LW. All thing being equal or close though I try stay away from left wings and LHD

I get BPA but once you get outside the top 10 it becomes you usually have a group of 5-10 players who you group together with minimal differences in how and where you rate them, after that you have another group of 5-15 and so on. So yeah if you still on the first group when we pick and the only thing left is a LHD or LW I guess you go with that but if you still have a few guys left then lefties get put to that bottom of that group

 

[SI90]

Taking out Verhoeff because he’s likely going top 2-3, I have my eyes on Chase Reid or Daxon Rudolph. Would be amazing to find a potential long term running mate to Schaefer on the right side.

 

[Konk]

I would argue we pretty solid at LW as well unless you get like a potential star first line LW. All thing being equal or close though I try stay away from left wings and LHD

I get BPA but once you get outside the top 10 it becomes you usually have a group of 5-10 players who you group together with minimal differences in how and where you rate them, after that you have another group of 5-15 and so on. So yeah if you still on the first group when we pick and the only thing left is a LHD or LW I guess you go with that but if you still have a few guys left then lefties get put to that bottom of that group

I disagree completely.

Within each group, you’ll naturally develop a ranking, identifying which players you believe have greater skill, potential, or hockey IQ compared to others. For example, if your draft philosophy values speed over size, you may encounter a scenario where a 6’5” defenseman struggles with skating while a smaller forward better aligns with your strategy. In that case, the forward may rank higher within the group, while the defenseman would be lower. Selecting the defenseman simply because of positional need doesn’t seem like a sound approach.

A player’s listed position isn’t always fixed. For example, someone who plays left wing in juniors might perform better on their offside in the pros, especially when paired with a center of the opposite hand. In that scenario, a player like Eiserman, although he was drafted as a left wing, could ultimately be more effective as a right wing. If you've stopped drafting left wings because you thought you had too many and missed out on a better player as a result, then what?

 

[Throttle]

The only way the Isles end up with a top 5 pick is if Sorokin gets injured. Otherwise, they should be on the playoff radar.

It would be rich for PIT to bottom out and lose the lotto to … PHI.

 

[Konk]

The only way the Isles end up with a top 5 pick is if Sorokin gets injured. Otherwise, they should be on the playoff radar.

It would be rich for PIT to bottom out and lose the lotto to … PHI.

They could win the lottery again and jump into the top 5 from the teens like Utah did.

 

[seafoam]

Bedard / J. Hughes 2.0???

 

[Konk]

Only bad part about winning last year’s lottery is now we can only get ONE of McKenna or DuPont under the new rules

In all seriousness, looks to be a lot of quality RHD in this class- our weakest position by far organizationally. Might be a good chance to snag Schaefer’s future partner.

The rule is you can only win the lottery twice in a 5 year period. Not that you can't pick first more than twice.

Also, regarding McKenna -- he isn't a generational player, but he is a Bedard-level talent and sure-fire 1st overall in this draft. Verhoeff is not going to pass him just because of his shot.

While I love Lawrence and see him as a sure thing in the NHL, he is an obvious top talent. If we don't pick that high, I really like Jack Hextall as well. I think he's a sure bet to be a top 6 C in the NHL. He's got a lot of Brady Martin in his game, with more playmaking and a higher IQ. Really intelligent all-around player.

 

[SRBisles]

The rule is you can only win the lottery twice in a 5 year period. Not that you can't pick first more than twice.

Am I missing something or is that not the same thing

 

[Konk]

Am I missing something or is that not the same thing

Sorry, I should have phrased that differently. A team can't move up more than twice, but they can still pick 1st overall more than twice in a five year span

-----

What the official NHL / Board of Governors say

When the NHL introduced the revised lottery rules in 2021 (effective starting with the 2022 draft), they included a provision:

> “No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period.”

 

[SI90]

If we don’t pick top5 im looking at a long term partner for a Schaefer.

Chase Reid and Daxon Rudolph are my favorites. Ryan Lin is @Konk guy and has a ton of offensive upside.

Verhoeff would be a dream by that means we’re picking top2

 

[seafoam]

Tynan Lawrence please, Barzal aint the guy and Horvat is a solid 2C but not the the future.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Our guys will be getting plenty of looks at Verhoeff this year too playing with Sam Laurila in North Dakota

 

[WangMustGo]

We need a Barkov/Kopitar esque player so bad. A big 2 way center that is a PPG player. They are so rare, but I hope we get a top 3 pick and there is a player like that available.

 

[Konk]

We need a Barkov/Kopitar esque player so bad. A big 2 way center that is a PPG player. They are so rare, but I hope we get a top 3 pick and there is a player like that available.

The big 2-way centers aren't on the Barkov/Kopitar level this year. Tynan Lawrence is that level of talent, but he's only 6'.

Next year is a different story. Alexis Joseph is 6-4, buttery smooth and super talented. He will challenge Dupont for 1st overall, legitimately.

Then you have Nazar Privalov who is a 6-4, 200 lb and also a projected top 5 pick.

Then there's Sammy Nelson, Milan Sundstrom, and other big talented centers that already look like top 10-15 picks.

With that said, I really love Lawrence's game and I have no doubt he's going to be a good one.

 

[WangMustGo]

The big 2-way centers aren't on the Barkov/Kopitar level this year. Tynan Lawrence is that level of talent, but he's only 6'.

Next year is a different story. Alexis Joseph is 6-4, buttery smooth and super talented. He will challenge Dupont for 1st overall, legitimately.

Then you have Nazar Privalov who is a 6-4, 200 lb and also a projected top 5 pick.

Then there's Sammy Nelson, Milan Sundstrom, and other big talented centers that already look like top 10-15 picks.

With that said, I really love Lawrence's game and I have no doubt he's going to be a good one.

Finding a center like that is incredibly difficult, but if Darche can find one over the next couple of years this team will be set for years to come.

 

[blinkman360]

Two games in and the McKenna/Verhoeff dream is alive and well.

 

[SI90]

Two games in and the McKenna/Verhoeff dream is alive and well.

The game is controlled by the backend and elite defenseman are harder to find. If McKenna is seen as a legit superstar 100pt guy you take him but could you imagine having Schaefer and Verhoeff together?! 2 potential franchise Caliber defenseman who are basically the same age and can play together for 10-15 years health permitted? That’s a wet dream!

FWIW I don’t think we finish as a bottom 5 team. We’d have to have lottery luck again to get another top3 pick.

 

[Zeeker]

The game is controlled by the backend and elite defenseman are harder to find. If McKenna is seen as a legit superstar 100pt guy you take him but could you imagine having Schaefer and Verhoeff together?! 2 potential franchise Caliber defenseman who are basically the same age and can play together for 10-15 years health permitted? That’s a wet dream!

FWIW I don’t think we finish as a bottom 5 team. We’d have to have lottery luck again to get another top3 pick.

It seems there have already started to be some rumblings from McKenna’s first few NCAA games that he won’t be the next Anointed One

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Hot start for this thread