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NHL Draft 2026

So as of right now we have a top 6 of Matthews, Nylander, McKenna, Knies, Cowan, Tavares.

The bottom 6 is a dogs breakfast of Domi, Joshua, And then the glut of Marlies who didn't really get an opportunity under Berube

 
herman said:
Which is why I’m leaning Stenberg. Sundin and Thommie Bergman will know if it’s worth the gamble.
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Or, hear me out, Leafs are starting a new chapter, Sharks have their franchise cornerstone in Celebrini and want to build around him. Nylander or Matthews for the #2 Pick plus a young defense prospect, the other one for a top pairing guy and the Leafs take Mckenna and Stenberg.
 
Well now.

To me the best part of this miracle — and it is a miracle — is that it instantly restores a sense of fun and excitement to being a Leafs fan. Payoff for a season of the most brutal, unwatchable, unlikable hockey I have ever seen.

And it almost guarantees a Berube departure unless he can convince SunChay that he will install a whole new playstyle, because they aren't going to parlay a lottery win for the ages into another season of dump and chase rope-a-dope.

The Matsvibe has landed.
 
herman said:
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What? So 3+ minutes in this guy, who's been pumping Stenberg the whole video, says "while he may not be a superstar in the NHL, he will be a very valuable guy" ... and early on says the McKenna's skill set is very very very rare and he could score a ton in the league fairly quickly.

What's the debate?
 
ZBBM said:
What? So 3+ minutes in this guy, who's been pumping Stenberg the whole video, says "while he may not be a superstar in the NHL, he will be a very valuable guy" ... and early on says the McKenna's skill set is very very very rare and he could score a ton in the league fairly quickly.

What's the debate?
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Glass cannon semi-perimeter playmaker (basically worse than Nylander defense) with nasty offensive ceiling vs a more direct Marner that likes to attack the middle (who has been putting up Sedin numbers in his draft year against pro men)? And they can both shoot but not enough.

I like both and it’d be hard to go truly wrong with either. But neither are Matthews, Celebrini level so expectations should be tempered.
 
herman said:
Glass cannon semi-perimeter playmaker (basically worse than Nylander defense) with nasty offensive ceiling vs a more direct Marner that likes to attack the middle (who has been putting up Sedin numbers in his draft year against pro men)? And they can both shoot but not enough.

I like both and it’d be hard to go truly wrong with either. But neither are Matthews, Celebrini level so expectations should be tempered.
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Thanks herman. I don't follow the prospects but from what I've read so far tonight McKenna seems like he'd have the most immediate impact over the 2-year Matthews window.

Then again some are saying this opens the door to trading either Matthews or Nylander for a boatload return. That directly contradicts what Chayks said yesterday, though.
 
herman said:
Glass cannon semi-perimeter playmaker (basically worse than Nylander defense) with nasty offensive ceiling vs a more direct Marner that likes to attack the middle (who has been putting up Sedin numbers in his draft year against pro men)? And they can both shoot but not enough.

I like both and it’d be hard to go truly wrong with either. But neither are Matthews, Celebrini level so expectations should be tempered.
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Are either Marner level?
 
ZBBM said:
Thanks herman. I don't follow the prospects but from what I've read so far tonight McKenna seems like he'd have the most immediate impact over the 2-year Matthews window.

Then again some are saying this opens the door to trading either Matthews or Nylander for a boatload return. That directly contradicts what Chayks said yesterday, though.
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I've heard the exact opposite. Mike Johnson on TSN said that Stenberg is the most ready but McKenna will be the better player down the road. I def wouldn't drop below 5th if they decide to move it.
 
Guilt Trip said:
I've heard the exact opposite. Mike Johnson on TSN said that Stenberg is the most ready but McKenna will be the better player down the road. I def wouldn't drop below 5th if they decide to move it.
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OK — like I said, I don't know anything.

But ... hey! We ARE HAVING FUN AGAIN. Debating positives, not trying to suppress our gag reflex. Hooray for us!
 
Guilt Trip said:
Yes. McKenna has the highest ceiling for skill level. Comparable to Panarin/Kane type player. Not overly concerned with his defensive shortcomings. D can be taught, it just takes a willingness to do it.
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So a bunch of good forwards.

Who’s gonna get them the puck from the Leafs’ zone?
 
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Remember 10 years ago Matthew’s was the consensus number 1 pick but there was loads of debate and op-eds arguing to got for Laine instead.

Let’s not do all that again.
 
This is an older discussion from before the season started, and I think you could see some of the issues play out at the WJC.

There are a range of possibilities for every prospect coming in as they are unfinished products. Kucherov ceiling, but some (highly productive) Max Domi flags on the profile and he will have to be carefully curated and managed.

Stenberg is more the Matthews player if you’re looking at reliability and off-puck skills and team elevating hockey sense to go along with the on-puck skillset.

Conversely
It’s good that he adjusted and improved his team game and outputs for the back half, which shows he’s coachable.
 
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Yeh, all I really mean is not to get too cute. We’ve lucked out to get the 1st overall pick, never mind not lose the 5th pick. Let’s not get overly smart annd extravagant about it.
 
Arn said:
Yeh, all I really mean is not to get too cute. We’ve lucked out to get the 1st overall pick, never mind not lose the 5th pick. Let’s not get overly smart annd extravagant about it.
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I agree with that for sure. Take whoever the scouting team likes most and build around that. No need to try to finesse something else (trade to Van with cap dumps for EP40+3rdOA anyone?)

Huge overload of LWs (the most common player type), but that means we can readily move some out for other pieces (defense).
 
Kin said:
Or, hear me out, Leafs are starting a new chapter, Sharks have their franchise cornerstone in Celebrini and want to build around him. Nylander or Matthews for the #2 Pick plus a young defense prospect, the other one for a top pairing guy and the Leafs take Mckenna and Stenberg.
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I’ve been seeing the Sharks are willing to drop out of 2OA because they really want a defenseman (and they’re shopping for veteran defense as well).

But if we are pushed into rebuilding, then trading Marleau-pilled Matthews for 2OA + Dickinson + some later picks would work for me and the Leafs draft Stenberg and Malhotra.
 
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