2026 NHL Draft

[dbr]

I don't know this journalist and he has some off-the-wall takes in this article but this jumped out at me:

Simas Ignatavicius has caught a lot of attention. He is being eyed as a first-round hopeful - showing a really impressive mix between size and skill. Others doubt a Lithuanian will land in the first.

Gotta wonder how much the hockey world has learned since the 2005 draft - I'm not saying this kid is the next Anze Kopitar but a 6'3 center from a country not known for its hockey who tore up a youth league last year and is doing alright in the top Swiss league this year - and who might fall due to a pretty silly bias held by the old boys club - should be someone we're looking at in the late 20s or early 30s.

[BCExpat]

We've created a little bit of a gap between 31st and 32nd, four points behind Winnipeg and five behind Calgary.

We'll probably need it, tankathon has Calgary with the 4th-toughest schedule remaining and the Jets not far behind at #9 while we have a relatively easy run at #23.

Hopefully the Ducks get it together before we play them again (3 games remaining) and we can lose our head-to-heads with the Flames and Jets (3 of those remaining too) in regulation.

Also, you have to take into account that the Flames are definitely trading Andersson and probably Kadri as well. That should sink them to last place and at worst 2nd to last. Either way, they will either get McKenna or Stenberg - I would be happy with either on the Flames.

[Aaronp18]

Also, you have to take into account that the Flames are definitely trading Andersson and probably Kadri as well. That should sink them to last place and at worst 2nd to last. Either way, they will either get McKenna or Stenberg - I would be happy with either on the Flames.

I dunno, they're going to have to lose pretty hard to match the NYR pace of play.

[donlever]

Yeah....don't count the Hawks or Blues out of the race to the bottom either.

I'd be somewhat surprised if St. Louis didn't pump some vets out of town....

[Aaronp18]

Now that Demko is re-injured it's clearly a race to second worst.

[BCExpat]

Also, you have to take into account that the Flames are definitely trading Andersson and probably Kadri as well. That should sink them to last place and at worst 2nd to last. Either way, they will either get McKenna or Stenberg - I would be happy with either on the Flames.

I dunno, they're going to have to lose pretty hard to match the NYR pace of play.

Without Kadri and Andersson (and possibly Coleman), I'd be surprised if the Flames won another game this season.

[donlever]

Well....you do play us again.

[Megaterio Llamas]

So what are we doing for the lottery this year? Are we rioting win or lose, or only if we lose again?

Personally, I'm leaning win or lose...

[Meds]

So what are we doing for the lottery this year? Are we rioting win or lose, or only if we lose again?

Personally, I'm leaning win or lose...

Only if we win.

Gotta keep 'em guessing.

[Madcombinepilot]

So what are we doing for the lottery this year? Are we rioting win or lose, or only if we lose again?

Best question in the thread!

[Aaronp18]

I could envision a couple riot scenarios, both involving if the current management make the pick.

First, if for some reason if Pat and Jim go off the board when we have any one of the top 3 picks.

Second, and again if we are letting Pat and Jim stick around, is if we get the 1OA and Bettman comes to the mic and says “I have a trade to announce!”

[Meds]

I could envision a couple riot scenarios, both involving if the current management make the pick.

First, if for some reason if Pat and Jim go off the board when we have any one of the top 3 picks.

Second, and again if we are letting Pat and Jim stick around, is if we get the 1OA and Bettman comes to the mic and says “I have a trade to announce!”

I'll be fine with it so long as it's the 1st OA and EP40 to NYR for JT Miller.

[donlever]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT0-urpCfNM ... hkMTlvNWQy

[Cousin Strawberry]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT0-urpCfNM ... hkMTlvNWQy

He'd be my top pick. Unfortunately the most likely pick for us (if we finish last) is the 3rd... apparently.



I guess Verhoeff would be a good addition but it would be phenomenal to land a high energy, puck transporter like IS

[dbr]

Gavin McKenna might be turning a bit of a corner here, scored a hat trick last night and has five goals and eight points in his last three games (after putting up 19 in his first 18).

Not much point carving anything in stone until the end of the year but I'm sure whoever end ups holding 1st overall will be pretty glad if he makes their choice for them.