Who Would You Draft in the 2026 NHL Draft

[southernblues]

McKenna,Verhoeff, or Stenberg?

[Pierre McGuire]

McKenna
Belchetz
Stenberg

[John Cocktoastin]

McKenna. And I'm not sure it's that close.

He has an unbelievable combination of size, stickwork, vision, edgework, and shooting accuracy.

Things can change and draft position matters. But, today, McKenna all day long.

[a smell of green grass]

As of now, Verhoeff

But I'm waiting to see what cream comes to the top in the WJC.

[BleedingBleu]

McKenna
Belchetz
Stenberg

You have really sold me on Belchetz. I like the idea of a big mean cuss who just works the defense around while prominently asserting themselves in front of the net.

I could be wrong in this assessment, but he sounds like the embodiment of a Brady Tkachuk; which is a player we all appear to covet for this franchise

[PregnantNun]

McKenna,Verhoeff, or Stenberg?

1. Stenberg
2. Verhoeff
3. Belchetz
4. McKenna

As the other three have been increasing their draft stock, McKenna just isn't putting up the amazing numbers everyone expected at the NCAA level. It's even been noted that he frequently loses puck battles or *avoids* them altogether. Big time red flag for a #1 overall pick, especially for a team like the Blues who need to lose more puck battles like they need a hole in their heads.

[tfriede2]

McKenna. And I'm not sure it's that close.

He has an unbelievable combination of size, stickwork, vision, edgework, and shooting accuracy.

Things can change and draft position matters. But, today, McKenna all day long.

Don’t agree with size. Barely 6’0 and a stringbean. He’s also a perimeter player who lacks intensity at times. I’m not convinced about him yet.

[Pierre McGuire]

McKenna. And I'm not sure it's that close.

He has an unbelievable combination of size, stickwork, vision, edgework, and shooting accuracy.

Things can change and draft position matters. But, today, McKenna all day long.

Don’t agree with size. Barely 6’0 and a stringbean. He’s also a perimeter player who lacks intensity at times. I’m not convinced about him yet.

Yeah he’s not the biggest guy. Stenberg looks to be a little more of a solid build but the hype on McKenna has been going on for 3 years, I don’t see any team passing on him regardless of the tournament but Stenberg at least delivered the first strike today to give teams pause. We will see if McKenna can answer tonight…Canada has a lot of good players that want that spotlight so I’m interested to see if he makes it about him. I want to see a litte of that, but I want a good team game too.

[clemonsonroots]

McKenna. And I'm not sure it's that close.

He has an unbelievable combination of size, stickwork, vision, edgework, and shooting accuracy.

Things can change and draft position matters. But, today, McKenna all day long.

Don’t agree with size. Barely 6’0 and a stringbean. He’s also a perimeter player who lacks intensity at times. I’m not convinced about him yet.

I'm sure the other posters would love to see a Kyrou clone. Think of the highlights!

[John Cocktoastin]

McKenna. And I'm not sure it's that close.

He has an unbelievable combination of size, stickwork, vision, edgework, and shooting accuracy.

Things can change and draft position matters. But, today, McKenna all day long.

Don’t agree with size. Barely 6’0 and a stringbean. He’s also a perimeter player who lacks intensity at times. I’m not convinced about him yet.

Certainly projectable. He was 17 a week ago. 6 foot and still growing.

[kimzey59]

McKenna,Verhoeff, or Stenberg?

1- Lawrence
2- Stenberg
3- Belchetz
4- Verhoeff
5- McKenna

But we won't finish low enough to snag any of them. We're going to end up catching Seattle for the 2nd Wild Card spot and end up drafting 17th. Not sure who I like at that spot just yet(Morozov and Piparinen have my attention but they'll probably go a bit higher than where we'll end up; BPA may very well end up being another Winger).

[juan good eye]

1) Lawrence
2) Stenberg
3) Verhoeff

[TruBlueFan_1970]

1- Lawrence
2- Belchetz
3- Verhoeff

[Cahokanut]

This would be a great year to have a top three and one in the teens.

Top 15 is Very defensive heavy and deep. This draft is gonna play a lot of NHL games.

2-4. Sternberg. Lawrence.
6-10. Reid. Smits. Carol.
12-18. Malhotra. Nordmark

I think Reid goes top five. Maybe Belch falls out of five.

IMO Stenbreg goes first with a great tournament. And a average one from Gavin

[crookedfeeder]

I'd take Gavin McKenna.




On everyone's radar since 12yrs old.

[John Cocktoastin]

Gavin McKenna, the favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, had a hat trick for Canada, which stayed undefeated in Group B play at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

McKenna is the first Canada player with a hat trick since Connor Bedard and Dylan Guenther each had one against Germany in a preliminary round game at the 2023 World Juniors in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"Obviously, that's something you dream of as a kid," McKenna said of scoring hat trick on a national stage. "Felt pretty good, and it was a lot of fun."