2026 NHL Draft

[2Fingers]

I really appreciate UW's posts, but I have to read them slowly at least five times to fully comprehend. I know I'm a bit slow, but it's a lot to digest.

I thought it was just me

But some good comments.

[Ronning's Ghost]

They're going to have to beef up moving forward. How about that Rossi/Garland/holander line they threw over the boards! How do they fit skates on those huge feet?

This is a consideration on which I actually agreed with (what I inferred to be) Benning's team construction approach:

draft for talent, hire size & toughness in free agency.

It makes sense because talent is more expensive than size and toughness, and harder to acquire through trade.

[Nuckertuzzi]

Good to see.you.

Well said.

You too, bud! Miss it around here, but def good to know us geezers are still kicking around.

[Nuckertuzzi]

As for the wasted picks you listed, you can cut and paste and post it on any teams message board ...

Absolutely, every team in the league has busts. We just happen to have the most in the League. And that's a fact jack.

Time to post is a challenge for me these days but this is a hot topic, and really drafting/prospects are the only thing I care about now with this team (pretty sure I'm not alone). More to expand on later...

[rikster]

On Juolevi, it seems the pick was both positionally driven and lowest perceived floor. That's why not McAvoy, not Sergeychev. Now, the scouts were wrong about Juolevi's floor, seemingly collectively, though injuries may have played a role. This only goes to show that no matter the question you are asking (ceiling, BPA, safest), scouting and projection is inexact.

We will never know if he was a bad pick or just a player with tons of bad luck which started almost from the day he was drafted when he had to have back surgery followed by a number of knee surgeries followed by hip issues and possibly another back surgery....

Has there been another player who had as many serious injuries as Juolevi did at a critical time in his development who went on to have a productive career in the NHL?

[Cousin Strawberry]

Wine not Ryan Johnson

Why not? Is he a lush?

Or..

STFU Ryan Johnson you whiner

[Meds]

Yeah you can't fuck up top 10 picks. Vancouver was 2/5 under Elmer.

So apparently you actually can fuck them up.

[Picker of Cherries]

Scorching just updated his mock draft and generally said it’s quite a weak year for centres, with maybe only four projected to be top six centres right now and only Lawrence looking like a top line centre. The way he was talking, it seemed like his projections would be:

1C
Lawerence 6’0 185
2Cs
Suvonko 6’3 209
Hextall 6’0 185
Morozov 6’3 205
3Cs
Sorensson 5’11 181
Malhotra 6’2 185
Stuart 5’10 174

There will be more than four good centres out of the 2026 draft, but it will be a crap shoot to find them. It would probably be wise for the Canucks to draft out of this draft’s strength which seems very deep at defence and wingers, even though centre is the position that the Canucks would most like help at. It isn’t likely there is a much better centre than Cootes available to the Canucks in this coming draft.

As far as trading UFAs if first rounders are offered, it might be wise to get first rounders from the 2027 draft in return as it seems much more likely the Canucks could find a number one centre in that draft.

Here is what ChatGPT said comparing centres in the next two drafts:

While the 2026 NHL Draft is currently defined by elite wingers and a high-end defensive class, the 2027 NHL Draft is shaping up to be a goldmine for teams desperate for "franchise-altering" size and skill at the center position.

If you are looking for that classic 6'3"+ number-one center, 2027 is much more likely to deliver than 2026.

2026 Draft: The "Hybrid" & Defensive Class

The 2026 draft is top-heavy with talent, but many of the elite offensive players are wingers (like Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg) or high-end defensemen. The center pool is deep, but it lacks the "sure-thing" Tier 1 locks found in other years.

The Top Option: Tynan Lawrence (Muskegon, USHL) is widely considered the undisputed top center. He is a high-motor, high-IQ playmaker, but at roughly 6'0", he is more of a skill-and-pace center than a physical force.

The "Rising Star": Caleb Malhotra (Brantford, OHL) is gaining significant steam. He’s seen as a reliable, pro-style two-way center who could climb into the top 5.

The Project Bigs: Ryan Roobroeck (6'4") and Maddox Dagenais (6'4") offer the size GMs crave, but scouts are still watching to see if their skating and consistency match their frames.

Key Names: Tynan Lawrence, Caleb Malhotra, Viggo Björck, Ryan Roobroeck.

2027 Draft: The Return of the "Mega-Center"

The 2027 class is already being hyped for its high-end center prospects who combine massive frames with elite production. Early looks suggest 2027 will be much stronger for "Top Line" center potential.

The Physical Freak: Alexis Joseph (Saint John, QMJHL). At 6'5" and 200+ lbs as a 16-year-old, Joseph is the current crown jewel of the center class. He has elite hands and mobility for his size, drawing early (and heavy) comparisons to top-tier power centers.

The Pure Scorer: Nazar Privalov (Krasnaya Armiya, MHL). Another massive frame (6'4"), Privalov is a "goal-driving" center with a release that scouts are already calling elite.

The American Pipeline: Carter Meyer (USNTDP) is the early standout for the U.S. program, known for high-end playmaking and a high floor as a future top-six pivot.

Key Names: Alexis Joseph, Nazar Privalov, Carter Meyer, Jaxon Jacobson.

Comparison

2026 Draft
Center Depth Moderate; many "middle-six" projections.
Top-End Size Rare (Roobroeck is the outlier).
Draft Identity "The Year of the D-man" and McKenna.
Play Style Speed, transition, and high-IQ play.

2027 Draft
High; several projected "Franchise" pivots.
Abundant (Joseph and Privalov are giants).
"The Year of the Big Center" and Landon DuPont.
Power, reach, and dominant offensive zone play.

The "DuPont" Factor

It’s worth noting that while 2027 has better centers, the #1 overall pick is currently a battle between Alexis Joseph and Landon DuPont. DuPont (the first WHL defenseman granted exceptional status) is a generational defensive talent, which might actually push these elite centers down to the 2nd or 3rd picks—a dream scenario for teams needing a 1C.

[Cornuck]

Thanks CP - good analysis, and I guess our dreams of the big, dominant centre are coming true this year (unless it's via trade).

I'm good with the BPA theory, too.

[Chef Boi RD]

Thanks CP, love this!

Curious do the Canucks do another Swedish brothers act and draft Wilson Bjorks brother - Viggo? If he’s available at our Minny pick I say we do. He’s a centre

It’s pretty clear now that we ain’t drafting top 5. The positives from the Hughes trade and Demko’s return has something to say about that. We are probably looking at drafting between 8th and 14th realistically. Best player available

[donlever]

...not even mid point in the season...Demko could blow out a groin at any time and Lankinen can then take us to the promised land of top 5 picks.

[Ronning's Ghost]

As far as trading UFAs if first rounders are offered, it might be wise to get first rounders from the 2027 draft in return as it seems much more likely the Canucks could find a number one centre in that draft.

The other advantage of that approach is that I have always suspected that there is a psychological advantage in trading for a draft pick in the more distant future. The price of 2026 draft pick trade trade will be felt very soon by management and the fan base, and will seem too dear. But a 2027 draft pick ? I might not even still be GM by that time -- much easier to part with.

I'm good with the BPA theory, too.

Best player available

"Best" in the sense of highest floor, highest ceiling, highest likely trade value, or some other sense ?

If BPA is to be construed as "not by organizational need by position", then I can agree, but I still want to know what posters think is "best" if the 3 values I suggested -- or any others you might esteem -- diverge.

[UWSaint]

Has there been another player who had as many serious injuries as Juolevi did at a critical time in his development who went on to have a productive career in the NHL?

This is a good point -- there are legions of prospects who never got off the ground because of injuries during key post-draft developmental years.

Best current players that I can think of that had some relatively serious injury problems after their drafts and have made a good NHL career are Gabe Vilardi and Mikael Backlund. But these guys are exceptions, not the rule.

[Cornuck]

I'm good with the BPA theory, too.

"Best" in the sense of highest floor, highest ceiling, highest likely trade value, or some other sense ?

If BPA is to be construed as "not by organizational need by position", then I can agree, but I still want to know what posters think is "best" if the 3 values I suggested -- or any others you might esteem -- diverge.

I've always considered BPA as "highest floor, highest ceiling" independent of a team's needs.

[Ronning's Ghost]

...not even mid point in the season...Demko could blow out a groin at any time and Lankinen can then take us to the promised land of top 5 picks.

Or -- as long as we're thinking happy thoughts -- Demko could put together six healthy weeks of 9.36 SV%, and some team could offer the Canucks such a desirable trade package for him that the ownership/management group can't refuse.