rank the top 10 draft prospects for 2026

[Zizzle1297]

Just because you are big doesnt mean your good what we need. Torpo is a big guy but cant seem to score and is pretty soft. Havent seen Belchetz play but hopefully he has a motor like walker that isnt afraid to make a hit.

[crookedfeeder]

Just because you are big doesnt mean your good what we need. Torpo is a big guy but cant seem to score and is pretty soft. Havent seen Belchetz play but hopefully he has a motor like walker that isnt afraid to make a hit.

Torpedo isn't soft. he lacks skill, but....

[Nublues69]

Gavin McKenna: LW, Penn State University (NCAA)
Keaton Verhoeff: RHD, University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Ivar Stenberg: LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)
Tynan Lawrence: C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Mathis Preston: Forward, Spokane (WHL)
Ethan Belchetz: LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ryan Lin: RHD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Xavier Villeneuve: LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Chase Reid: RHD, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Viggo Björck: C/W, Djurgårdens (J20)

Perusing the scouting reports, the top 6 there (McKenna through Belchetz) all sound like potential franchise players. But the others are not slouches either. McKenna is McKenna, Stenberg is a beast, and Verhoeff would fill a major hole for us at RHD. I laughed at one report for Ethan Belchetz which called him "ginormous". Those big guys often take time to develop in the NHL. Not sure if we have patience at this point to let someone mature for 3-5 years in the NHL before they bust out, but he sounds impressive.

I just checked and Belchetz is 6'5", 227lbs at 17 years old omg

Logan brown was a big boy that didnt pan out.

[Pierre McGuire]

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ethan ... es-ohl-chl

[kimzey59]

Gavin McKenna: LW, Penn State University (NCAA)
Keaton Verhoeff: RHD, University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Ivar Stenberg: LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)
Tynan Lawrence: C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Mathis Preston: Forward, Spokane (WHL)
Ethan Belchetz: LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ryan Lin: RHD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Xavier Villeneuve: LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Chase Reid: RHD, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Viggo Björck: C/W, Djurgårdens (J20)

Perusing the scouting reports, the top 6 there (McKenna through Belchetz) all sound like potential franchise players. But the others are not slouches either. McKenna is McKenna, Stenberg is a beast, and Verhoeff would fill a major hole for us at RHD. I laughed at one report for Ethan Belchetz which called him "ginormous". Those big guys often take time to develop in the NHL. Not sure if we have patience at this point to let someone mature for 3-5 years in the NHL before they bust out, but he sounds impressive.

I just checked and Belchetz is 6'5", 227lbs at 17 years old omg

This size at this age worries me to be honest. Is he great, or just a man’s body playing against boys. One day the other “boys” become men too and pass him up?

Thoughts?

I share that concern to an extent.
I don’t see him as a real Power Forward type. The physical game is forced at times.


That said, he has the size, skill and speed to project comfortably as a Rantanen type. The kid is going to score goals at the NHL level. I just don’t think he combines that with a Tkachuk type mean streak. Still a heck of a prospect and easily worth a top 5 pick, IMO.

[PregnantNun]

He doesn't read like a guy a big guy who dominates solely because he's big. FWIW, he's described as a good skater with impressive stick handling. We'll learn more about him this year in the OHL when he plays against some tougher competition. So far he has 29 points in 25 games. He's the same weight as Tom Wilson and Brady Tkachuk, but 2" taller than Tom and 1" taller than Brady.

I miss living in Detroit. I used to be able to watch these guys play. You should have seen Tom Wilson play for the OHL Plymouth Whalers. He was a lunatic And Belchetz plays right across the river in Windsor. How I'd love to go watch him play and give you guys my scouting reports. But alas, I live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean now. I digress.

[a smell of green grass]

Keaton Verhoeff is the pick IMO

[Younghopp1991]

Keaton Verhoeff is the pick IMO

If we had the #2 pick and we went with verhoeff i would be extremely disappointed

[MrPostman01]

Belchetz. tries to copy Brady's game. Lindros comparisons. too bad he's not a center.

Also the last couple of Windsor games that I watched he was playing center because of other Windsor injuries but he will be a winger in the NHL and an old fashioned throwback. He’s big, he’s talented and he’s mean and the Blues should do everything in their power to get him.

100%. He’s the type of guy we lack in the system.

[MrPostman01]

Belchetz. tries to copy Brady's game. Lindros comparisons. too bad he's not a center.

Also the last couple of Windsor games that I watched he was playing center because of other Windsor injuries but he will be a winger in the NHL and an old fashioned throwback. He’s big, he’s talented and he’s mean and the Blues should do everything in their power to get him.

100%. He’s the type of guy we lack in the system.

Yeppers we need a Goliath out there unfraid to pot goals.

[a smell of green grass]

Keaton Verhoeff is the pick IMO

If we had the #2 pick and we went with verhoeff i would be extremely disappointed

Hmmm. We shall see what impact Verhoeff brings to the NHL.

[juan good eye]

Gavin McKenna: LW, Penn State University (NCAA)
Keaton Verhoeff: RHD, University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Ivar Stenberg: LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL)
Tynan Lawrence: C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Mathis Preston: Forward, Spokane (WHL)
Ethan Belchetz: LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ryan Lin: RHD, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Xavier Villeneuve: LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Chase Reid: RHD, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Viggo Björck: C/W, Djurgårdens (J20)

My current top 5 if picking for the Blues

1. Tynan Lawrence C
2. Ivar Stenberg LW/RW
3. Keaton Verhoeff RHD
4. Ethan Belchetz LW
5. Gavin McKenna LW

Just missed: Chase Reid RHD

[Pierre McGuire]

I believe Carels is gonna rocket up to the top 5 . He’s the dman to keep an eye on

[Army's Mom]

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ethan ... es-ohl-chl

The article mentioned him having a high hockey IQ - Im with others here who would like the Blues to do a better job drafting/developing for this.

How do you feel about his IQ?

[Pierre McGuire]

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ethan ... es-ohl-chl

The article mentioned him having a high hockey IQ - Im with others here who would like the Blues to do a better job drafting/developing for this.

How do you feel about his IQ?

Smart player who will score goals and punish people at the NHL level

[Younghopp1991]

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ethan ... es-ohl-chl

The article mentioned him having a high hockey IQ - Im with others here who would like the Blues to do a better job drafting/developing for this.

How do you feel about his IQ?

Smart player who will score goals and punish people at the NHL level

Im going to try and catch his game on tv sunday to see him for myself. Id be real happy with him first or stenberg. We need a high motor and compete from our skill guys. The man can stick handle like a boss too.