The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

[Preston]

I would imagine the scouting staff is gonna look a lot different next year, these are not John's guys.

 

[hockeylover]

View: https://x.com/firstiiner/status/2057852781935923451?s=46

Thanks I’ve been looking for this.

 

[fergy57]

View: https://youtu.be/IybGXgAEU8Q?si=M9OsLESDsfR-5I-O

 

[hockeylover]

I mean, the doc is only showing me one potential pick but holy fuck is this kid ever driven.

 

[Habsy]

Can our media get anything right?

Is this a serious question?

 

[Habsy]

To be fair, neither are Stenberg's. Stenberg is also old for the draft class (he'll be 19 by the start of the season), while Malhotra isn't quite 18 yet.

Fwiw, Stenberg was always the one I didn't get at the top of the draft. I don't see a reason to take him over Reid or Carels and there's a good argument for Malhotra to be taken before him based on age and position. Shit, there's an argument for Smits to to be in that conversation as well.

Stenberg will be very good. Don’t know about elite.

 

[Habsy]

Now, now, now, boys. Play nice. No biting.

Don’t interrupt the pillow fight please.

 

[MindzEye]

Stenberg will be very good. Don’t know about elite.

Based purely on his SHL offensive comparables and then the eye testy scouting reports, he's a 2 way Kevin Kiala that plays the right way. Which sounds like a really nice player but not one I would take at the top of the draft when there are 3-4 potential #1 defenders, a potential #1 centre and obviously McKenna.

 

[LeafOfFaith]

View: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1375588637664242/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e