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

[leeroggy]

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.

Verhoeff and Schaefer would be similar to Pronger-Macinnis
Two #1's anchoring separate lines
Either one on the ice for 45 minutes or more
That's the dream scenario to me, not paired together.

 

[SI90]

Verhoeff and Schaefer would be similar to Pronger-Macinnis
Two #1's anchoring separate lines
Either one on the ice for 45 minutes or more
That's the dream scenario to me, not paired together.

Agreed. Would be unreal

 

[BelovedIsles]

If this team is destined for a last-place finish (again, still a longggg ways to go), the idea of Schaef and McKenna as both franchise players is tantalizing; they play the game so similarly.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

At this point, where is the "cut" line of upper tier prospects vs. "the rest"

In other words, where is the absolute lowest you'd want to pick in this deep draft?

 

[TeamKidd]

im curious how the top of the 2025 draft is looking so far? there was a hot debate about Schaefer or Misa or even Frondell? Hows that lookin now?

 

[Islesfan22]

If this team is destined for a last-place finish (again, still a longggg ways to go), the idea of Schaef and McKenna as both franchise players is tantalizing; they play the game so similarly.

To win the Stanley Cup you need to have a couple of franchise players. Islanders have not had a franchise player since the 80s. The closest thing since then would be Palffy and Tavares. Now with Schaefer they may have finally found a franchise player but you need at least another one if you’re going to compete for the Stanley Cup. Barzal is not that guy. Very good hockey player but his lack of goal scoring ability is the main reason why he’s not a top tier player. Maybe the islanders got lucky with Eiserman we will see as his shot and goal scoring ability looks to be top tier. Watching him at BU this season he looks faster then last season and stronger on the puck. He has some pretty good chemistry with Hutson and Ritchie. Hopefully we will see that Barzal and Schaefer.

 

[JRD76]

im curious how the top of the 2025 draft is looking so far? there was a hot debate about Schaefer or Misa or even Frondell? Hows that lookin now?

Frondel is playing well in the SHL and Misa hasn't played a game yet. That to me seems like they're giving him the 9 game look? They want to spread out his 9 games?

 

[leeroggy]

To win the Stanley Cup you need to have a couple of franchise players. Islanders have not had a franchise player since the 80s. The closest thing since then would be Palffy and Tavares. Now with Schaefer they may have finally found a franchise player but you need at least another one if you’re going to compete for the Stanley Cup. Barzal is not that guy. Very good hockey player but his lack of goal scoring ability is the main reason why he’s not a top tier player. Maybe the islanders got lucky with Eiserman we will see as his shot and goal scoring ability looks to be top tier. Watching him at BU this season he looks faster then last season and stronger on the puck. He has some pretty good chemistry with Hutson and Ritchie. Hopefully we will see that Barzal and Schaefer.

Schaefer is amazing . . . Frondell will also be a stud.

 

[icelander25]

At this point, where is the "cut" line of upper tier prospects vs. "the rest"

In other words, where is the absolute lowest you'd want to pick in this deep draft?

I’ve heard around the 8-10 mark, but this is a deeper draft so who knows. As far as consensus, I’d say (in no particular order) McKenna, Verhoeff, Stenberg, Roobroeck, Belchetz, Lawrence, Preston, Lin, Rudolph, Bjorck, and Reid make up that group. Some will fall out and others will rise into that group, but I think it’s pretty safe to assume that 7-8 of these guys will be top 10 picks next year.

Personally, I don’t think we’ll get a top 5 pick next year, but top 10 is realistic so I’m eyeing Lin (has been playing amazing but size might drop him out of top 5), Rudolph, or Reid. Seems like a great spot to need a RHD while also not reaching too much but we’ll see how it plays out.

 

[leeroggy]

Another thing for Verhoeff is he doesn't turn 18 until basically the 2026 draft. And he's already listed at 6'4", 215 lbs at this age.

1G/1A in the 2 games at North Dakota

If it isn't Gavin, this is someone who you do not pass up if he can be drafted.

 

[Wanderson]

Ivar Stenberg is killing it in the SHL. He will be a very nice consolation prize if we miss out on McKenna!

 

[scott99]

If this team is destined for a last-place finish (again, still a longggg ways to go), the idea of Schaef and McKenna as both franchise players is tantalizing; they play the game so similarly.

And they have good chemistry.

 

[SRBisles]

Hoping we somehow end up with Carels and Rudolph just so we can put them together and call it the Christmas pair.

 

[leeroggy]

Hoping we somehow end up with Carels and Rudolph just so we can put them together and call it the Christmas pair.

You need help

 

[Konk]

Hoping we somehow end up with Carels and Rudolph just so we can put them together and call it the Christmas pair.

This is the type of draft strategy I came here to read! Rudolph was obvious, but Carels never occurred to me.

 

[JRD76]

Anyone have any info on this Shilov kid? 19 points in 10 games in the Q. From Russia but played for the L.I. Gulls last year. 6'1 182lb center.

 

[SI90]

Anyone have any info on this Shilov kid? 19 points in 10 games in the Q. From Russia but played for the L.I. Gulls last year. 6'1 182lb center.

He’s a mid-late first rounder for me. Most people have him as a 2nd/3rd rounder right now.
He’s an exciting player and I’m looking forward to him going to BU next year so I could see more of him in college.

 

[eoin92]

Was at the Penn State game last night. Not particularly impressed with Gavin McKenna. He did not stand out, at all. If I didn’t know who he was and that he was wearing 72, I wouldn’t have noticed him. He had a couple of bad turnovers where he was trying to force a pass that wasn’t there. Didn’t control play at all, doesn’t appear to be a purported “generational talent”. This is my first time ever seeing him. Maybe a bad game, idk. Penn state still won.

 

[periferal]

One thing I'm confident in...That Colorado pick is going to be in the upper 20's at best.

 

[seafoam]

One thing I'm confident in...That Colorado pick is going to be in the upper 20's at best.

I would not disappointed with that, this feels like a deeper draft. Just as an example, 6'3" Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits is having a nice season against men in the top Finnish league and is still considered anywhere from a 10-50 pick.

There are diamonds in the rough if your homework is done.

 

[scott99]

He’s a mid-late first rounder for me. Most people have him as a 2nd/3rd rounder right now.
He’s an exciting player and I’m looking forward to him going to BU next year so I could see more of him in college.

The Isles could really use a future #1 center in the draft. Their center prospects are all #2 line or #3 line centers. Need that stud first line center of the future.

 

[scott99]

One guy I’m looking at is center Tynan Lawrence, from Muskegon of the USHL. Great speed and an excellent offensive mind. Definitely a 1st line center type. Committed to BU for 26-27. I doubt he’ll get to play with Eiserman though, I’d be shocked if Eiserman plays a 3rd year at BU.

 

[blinkman360]

One thing I'm confident in...That Colorado pick is going to be in the upper 20's at best.

Isn't that pick protected anyway? But yeah, I think we all kind of accepted that was going to be 25-32 when that trade was made. Still should be a solid B to B+ prospect though, and will let us continue adding quality depth. Something our system has lacked for a long time.

 

[blinkman360]

The Isles could really use a future #1 center in the draft. Their center prospects are all #2 line or #3 line centers. Need that stud first line center of the future.

All we really need right now is for one of them to develop into a 2C, tbh. Barzal and Horvat will both be around for a while. They're both locked up until 2031. Horvat is only 30 while Barzy is 28. I think what we need even more than a future 1C is just an elite forward of any kind. The type of player teams have to gameplan around. Even better, the type of player that scares opposing teams. If we can get that kind of guy, I could gaf about what position he plays.

 

[seabass45]

Isn't that pick protected anyway? But yeah, I think we all kind of accepted that was going to be 25-32 when that trade was made. Still should be a solid B to B+ prospect though, and will let us continue adding quality depth. Something our system has lacked for a long time.

Top ten protected. Given where Colorado is, basically protection if they falter and somehow miss the playoffs and win the lottery on top of that. I actually thought they might have a setback to some degree, between an aging Brock as their 2C, and then Brock getting injured. Got a couple of guys playing out of their mind right now, one of them being... Scott Wedgewood? Not sure how this will hold up.