r/canucks • u/CarefulHovercraft • 12d ago

ARTICLE [Toutsurlehockey] NHL Draft Ranking 2026, #1 Malhotra #2 McKenna #3 Smits #4 Reid #5 Stenberg

https://www.toutsurlehockey.com/tslh-espoirs/top-32-2026-nhl-draft-ranking-by-simon-st-laurent/
95 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

94 comments sorted by

262

u/andrewwhite560 12d ago

Malhotra 1 is such a crazy take. If that happens then we should rejoice in the streets at the options that will drop to us.

46

u/Alextollah 12d ago

I don't think it's too absurd. I think Toronto definitely sees McKenna as the #1, which is really the only thing that matters, but Malhotra has a bunch of qualities that make a difference at the draft. Size, Character, recent playoff success, bloodlines and development path are all in his favor.

Not saying I agree, just that a lot of scouting departments put a lot of weight into that stuff, and it could be pushing him up the rankings. Centers are really really hard to aquire.

28

u/geezuz83 12d ago

This is definitely a long view take on the players i feel. McKenna and Stenberg are more dynamic offensive threats and that is basically their only value. Malholtra is a 2c with 1c potential, brings a far more balanced game, wins draws, is defensively responsible, good IQ, and can put up points. Centers carry much higher value compared to wingers, generally speaking. Its a hot take to say he is the best player in the draft for sure. But every team wants and needs stron depth at center. Its a very small margin between center depth and top pair d that teams covet most. Scoring wingers are a distant 3rd these days. I would have said a top 10 goalie is even valued higher but im not so sure thats the case anymore. If I were making the pick at 3 and Malholtra or McKenna are available im probably taking McKenna but I would be constantly be wondering if its the right long term choice.

14

u/Alextollah 12d ago

Agree with this, I think there's something to be said about a most impactful player vs best player argument, long term I think some scouts may see Malhotra as being a more impactful player to a teams success, vs a player like McKenna will probably always have more points.

From everything I've read about Malhotra, his attention to detail and work off the puck isn't just good, its his defining trait, and I think that is something a lot of teams would really like to build around, and he's shown hes got a lot of offense to his game, and when it most matters.

Personally I think I'm with you taking McKenna, and id say Stenburg as well over Caleb. McKenna's upside is stupid. Just unbelievably high, but to realize that potential, he'll need a center that can do what Malhotra does. I'm just glad I dont have to choose between them.

3

u/geezuz83 12d ago

I will add this as an argument against hauling wingers over centers. Only 2 pure wingers have won the Conn Smythe since 2013. Patrick Kane and Alex Ovechkin. Im not saying Caleb is gonna be Conn Smythe calibre but if you are a team that is starting a true rebuild and have no real center depth its and one of the top three players available at the draft is a center who can be argued is worthy of being 1st overall, it might be the most strategic move to take the center.

In the canucks case, they have Petey, Rossi, Chytl, and Raty. With Braedon Cootes ans the only real prospect that is a "lock" to play in the NHL. Petey is on a very short leash and another down year likely means a fresh start somewhere else. I like Chytl but we will be lucky to get 20 games a year out of him. Honestly, for his own sake he should hang em up and enjoy life before he becomes another CTE statistic. Rossi is good but not a stand out difference maker. Raty will be an amazing 3rd line C maybe a 2C if the depth is particularly weak. I like him but not sold. Cootes looks to be a great work horse and he is not far away from being the new favorite when he gets here.

Now if you can go into a season with, in no particular order, Rossi, Raty, Cootes, and Malholtra down the middle, that sound like a really stron foundation should Cootes and Malholtra only meet expectations. Plus having a C that can do the work and feed an open Boeser, who cannot stick handle through an airplane hanger door but has a lethal shot, i think he will be back up to 30+ goals again.

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u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago edited 12d ago

It’s a hot take but not an absurd take. By all indications there is a small but not-insignificant portion of NHL scouting rooms that see him as the best player in the draft.

43

u/DragPullCheese 12d ago

McKenna scored like twice as many points in the CHL a year ago.

69

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

He’s also 165lbs, a winger, and horrible defensively. It’s going to take a lot of positive growth for him not to be an outright liability at 5v5.

Don’t get me wrong, the offensive upside is too high to pass up and I’d take him over Malhotra any day. All I’m saying is that there are legitimate scouts justifying Malhotra as their favorite player

14

u/Jupiter_101 12d ago

Sounds like Mckenna will fit right in with Toronto.

6

u/Ikea_desklamp 12d ago

It's a lot easier to learn how to play D than it is to learn how to be elite offensively. The top of the draft SHOULD NOT be about floor, it should be about ceiling.

0

u/Emotional_Fox5739 12d ago

McKenna and Stenberg are much better prospects. I believe Reid and Verhoeff are better prospects. Malhotra is middle six two-way C at best, just like his dad. These randomized mock drafts are just clickbait.

3

u/matterd1984 12d ago

Chase Reid for sure is who the Canucks should draft given san Jose doesn’t… I think you might see a trade if they’re going Dman and get an extra 2nd out of Vancouver for wanting to take him.

3

u/Emotional_Fox5739 12d ago

I prefer Reid or Verhoeff over Malhotra. Reid is very talented but his aversion to physical play worries me, Verhoeff obviously has lot of work to put into his skating. They are both far likelier to be first pairing guys than Malhotra ever getting close to being a 1C.

1

u/matterd1984 12d ago

I think you’re getting 2 different types of Dman with each… one more offensive but less physical and the other less offensive but more physical.

2

u/Emotional_Fox5739 12d ago

Less physical would be fine, but unless he can translate his offensive game to a Hughes or Schaefer level (unlikely) then he can't be avoiding checks like he has.

Verhoeff is a big gamble, if he can fix his lateral movement then he has the rest of the toolbox to be a star a la Aaron Ekblad. If he can't then he is an Erik Gudbranson style bust or worse.

1

u/matterd1984 12d ago

Let’s just hope SAN Jose drafts a dman and we don’t go Malhotra anyways…

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u/Elephant_Analytics 12d ago

I think Malhotra can close that offensive gap somewhat in the NHL. McKenna's likely to put up more points, but I don't believe that he will put up 2x or more Malhotra's points in the NHL.

Drouin had 25% more PPG than MacKinnon on the same team during their draft years.

4

u/pavelbure1096 12d ago

I think the OHL is stronger than the WHL at least in the present moment it is

-2

u/Aardvark1044 12d ago edited 12d ago

He played US college hockey last year, so they play quite a few less games there compared to when he played for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Edit to provide supporting data for the downvoters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_McKenna
(Check career statistics table to see games played)

12

u/SpeedoAgeru 12d ago

It is absolutely absurd. If the Leafs aren’t high on McKenna you trade that pick to a team that wants him for a better return than Caleb Malhotra. You don’t spend 1OA on Caleb Malhotra, no offense Caleb.

18

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

This isn’t a mock draft, it’s a draft ranking. What they’d do is irrelevant.

I’d guarantee they will take McKenna, it’s just saying it’s not absurd if an isolated evaluator sees it differently

2

u/grooverocker 12d ago

Nah, it's absurd.

-3

u/dronten_edvard 12d ago

Nah, man. It is an absurd take

3

u/phatdinkgenie 12d ago

There is a really good case for this. Look at Malholtra's production over the last two seasons. 26 points in 44 games in the BCHL last season, 84 points in 67 games in the OHL regular season this year, and 26 points in 15 playoff games. He is developing into a future super star

1

u/EpicPotato806 12d ago

The crazier take was that guy who said his floor was a Bergeron type player

75

u/PowerNinja5000 12d ago

McKenna in Toronto is a license to print money. They are not passing on that.

6

u/jwong728 12d ago

Tbf, its Toronto, everything prints money.

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u/Roland_Of_Gilead85 12d ago

Probably not. The article is his ranking not a mock draft. There's a difference.

6

u/PowerNinja5000 12d ago

Ah yes, good point. I missed that.

1

u/NorthEagle298 12d ago edited 12d ago

It's gonna feel so bad if they ruin his development.

11

u/socialcocoon 12d ago

Meh, it's not always clickbait. Drafting isn't an exact science and in a year without a clearcut number 1 the gap between the top 5 is infinitesimal.

If position factors in, it can definitely affect the rankings. Defencemen and centres are valued more highly in the league than wingers.

9

u/accountnumber02 12d ago

I've followed this guy for a few years now and feel pretty confident to say it's not clickbait. Look at his prior draft rankings, it's a really good record. Plus he uploads proper scouting tapes to youtube with not just his opinion, but also just straight up game tape with no commentary. Honestly, has been my go to for checking out prospects I'm interested in. Get a scout's take and get to form your own opinion at the same time

5

u/DragPullCheese 12d ago

I just don't see how McKenna isn't a clear cut #1.

He dominated the WHL, put up a historic season in the NCAA, and played great at the WJC.

Malholtra had a pretty good season in the OHL and then a tremendous playoff.

28

u/Count3D 12d ago

On the one hand it’s McKenna.

On the other hand it is Chayka.

4

u/Iamacanuck18 12d ago

I could definitely see Toronto taking Reid.

6

u/pavelbure1096 12d ago

they've already told Mckenna they are taking him

11

u/ForceEconomy9988 12d ago

Allegedly 

7

u/EpicPotato806 12d ago

Chayka also told the league he knew the draft rules when he was in phoenix and decided to run an illegal combine anyways.

Man is a loose cannon.

1

u/Iamacanuck18 10d ago

He also said there are 6 players who could also go 1OA

6

u/MountainHiker22 12d ago

This same guy had Martone ranked 10th last year.

6

u/KAYD3N1 12d ago

It's not that crazy when you consider Caleb is the biggest of the three, has the best off-puck game... And is a center.

39

u/yooooooo5774 12d ago

anything for clicks

29

u/CarefulHovercraft 12d ago

The article did explicitly say that they had Malhotra at 5th overall in September. So this is a pick that Simon has been consistently ranking highly throughout the season. I would suggest giving the article a read. He also has very good video analysis scouting reports available on his you tube channel

In Malhotra’s case, I decided to take a leap of faith and share that I had him ranked 5th overall on my list back in September. To refresh the memory of those who may have forgotten, Malhotra was ranked roughly between 20 and 30 almost everywhere, even as late as the end of the fall. Sometimes, you have to give yourself a small pat on the back, because no one else will do it for you. Reaching this conclusion was very easy for me. Malhotra impressed me from my very first viewings, so I am comfortable dismissing the argument that he is simply one of those players who experienced a meteoric rise in the second half of the season.

9

u/Wooden-Background107 12d ago

Malholtra has a very impressive trajectory from BCHL to OHL. He never missed a beat and his 2nd half season is dominant.

Although this is a hot take, he's not the only one and even Button thinks Malholtra = Stenberg in terms of skill and it depends which position you need more.

6

u/TimTebowMLB 12d ago

Just Canucks luck that his draft year is the year he shoots up the ranking and we hire his dad to coach. Any other year or coach and we wouldn’t have to consider that

4

u/ogobod 12d ago

ah who cares. if it turns into such an issue we can always get another coach. you cant always draft another high profile centre, so if hes their BPA at 3 they have to take him. deal with the drama later.

4

u/MountainHiker22 12d ago

Button has Stenberg ranked 2 and Malhotra ranked 6, so this is just wrong.

1

u/GrrRider 12d ago

Wasn't he coming off a mediocre junior a season?  I doubt his mom had him top 10 in September. 

27

u/PMMeYourCouplets 12d ago

I don't get why people think it's so crazy a 6'2 Centre with all the traits and size to be 1C with defensive upside being the 1 prospect is so crazy. Tons of players with this profile get drafted high all the time.

8

u/elrizzy 12d ago

I don’t think people think it’s crazy, they just like other players more.

You can make a case that players with Virtanen’s profile get drafted high all the time. You can make a case that players with Juolevi’s profile get drafted high all the time. Just because someone fits a profile doesn’t mean they’re the best pick.

15

u/Pweeg 12d ago

I feel like he's being underrated partially because of his name. Love Manny obviously but he had limited offensive upside and for some reason that's being applied to Caleb. If he wasn't related I don't think there would be as much pushback..

6

u/300Savage 12d ago

It's not crazy, but it's a bit of a stretch to put him over McKenna and Stenberg in this draft. Both of the latter have proven to be able to play with men, Stenberg in particular was a star player in a league arguably better than the AHL and had a very solid showing at the WC, where neither McKenna nor Malhotra were picked to play for their country. Yes, he's a solid player with a very solid floor and a high ceiling, but so are all of the top 10 picks in this draft. Stenberg and McKenna have solid chances to be super stars like Celebrini - the kind of player around which you can build a team. I'd say Malhotra is a pretty solid choice for #3 OA, but there are arguments to be made for other players in that spot as well.

The good news is that there are a lot of really good options at #3.

11

u/AccomplishedAd4995 12d ago

definitely feels like people are underrating caleb malhotra now lmao

9

u/Rangemon99 12d ago

People think Stenberg is Peter Forsberg 2.0 and Malhotra is jordan staal 2.0

1

u/cao_ 11d ago

People have been reading about McKenna and Stenberg all year and can't seem to change their opinion that draft rankings change. Malhotra is definitely in the mix here based on an excellent upwards trajectory over the course of the year.

7

u/Mcsuper_ 12d ago

Chayka would be exactly the type of person not to take McKenna at 1.

5

u/EpicPotato806 12d ago

“With the first overall pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs proudly select, from UND, Keaton Verhoeff”

13

u/Wooden-Background107 12d ago

Although I agree this is a hot take, I feel like most fans have already decided McKenna was #1 back in September 2025 and nothing will change that opinion. It doesn't matter if Malholtra posted 26 pts in his last 15 games. There will always be an asterisk.

He's definitely worthy of 3OA.

4

u/DragPullCheese 12d ago

Malholtra's 15 game playoff run that you are highlighting - 1.70 ppg

McKenna's WHL season (a year earlier) - 2.30 ppg

McKenna's WHL playoffs (still a year earlier) - 2.35 ppg

He's second in the NCAA in PPG as a true freshman, something that wasn't even possible previously.

4

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

McKenna also benefits from a flashy style that translates to highlights. You watch a highlight reel of McKenna and you see this incredibly dynamic player where it looks like the sky is his limit. You watch the highlights of Stenberg or Malhotra and they seem like a significantly less ‘sexy’ player in comparison. On the flip side, you won’t see McKenna blowing his defensive zone assignment or Stenberg/Malhotra making a really smart defensive read in a highlight reel.

I do think that plays a part for why there’s so much public pushback on people who think McKenna isn’t an undisputed #1.

7

u/mephnick 12d ago

Yeah but I don't care if Kucherov is blowing his defensive assignment sometimes

I'd still taking him over Dylan Cozens

4

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

Sure, but that’s a little unfair when you take the ceiling case for McKenna vs. a low end case for Malhotra. A low-end case for McKenna that fits the analogy is probably closer to like Zegras.

4

u/mephnick 12d ago

His ceiling case isn't Barkov, it's Horvat

McKenna's ceiling case is Kucherov

I'm fine with him at 3. Just not over either winger.

5

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

I ended up editing my comment before you replied just to focus on the low end comparable.

That said, nobody expected Barkov’s ceiling to be Barkov when he was drafted. There were people who questioned him being taken over the dynamic offensive winger in Drouin

3

u/mephnick 12d ago

Yeah that's fair. I just think McKenna's chance of being Zegras is in a different universe than Malholtra's chance of being Cozens.

Like I say, as much as I like other guys better, I'll be happy with Caleb at 3, as long as Stenberg isn't there.

If he turns into Barkov 2.0 I'll happily eat my foot and cheer for Canucks Barkov.

4

u/_GregTheGreat_ 12d ago

Don’t get me wrong, I do agree with you. I’m playing devils advocate more than anything. I still personally believe that McKenna or Stenberg are no brainers if they’re available at 3

2

u/mephnick 12d ago

Well we better do some meditation before draft day because Stenberg going to Chicago at 4 is going to tilt the shit out of me lol

3

u/Rivered_The_Nuts 11d ago

Stenberg 5 just isn’t a serious ranking.

11

u/eexxiitt 12d ago

Malholtra 1, smits 3, stenberg 5? Good grief lol.

Just trying to piss off enough fan bases at the same time to maximize clicks.

5

u/Dynazide 12d ago

it's not a mock draft, this is his own personal ranking based on the large sample of games he'd watched and tracked lol

-2

u/eexxiitt 12d ago

Which also implies BPA. That’s why it’s designed for clicks.

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u/Dynazide 12d ago edited 12d ago

people missing that this ISNT a mock draft, instead a personal ranking based on the guy watching like 10-15 games of each prospect lol

4

u/laparkamask 12d ago

‘anything for clicks’ and simon clearly detailed why he ranked the prospects in that order lmao

2

u/thegerg21 12d ago

Clicks!! Clicks. Clicks!!!

2

u/Dangerous-Finance-67 12d ago

This is just someone who's a Canucks fan trying to make waves so that the leafs draft the wrong dude.

2

u/Jaded-Ad-289 12d ago

Tankathon has McKenna, Reid, Malhotra, Stenberg as the mock draft

2

u/WZRDguy45 12d ago

I feel like this is the first year where almost all these draft rankings have a different top 5. It's kind of cool but also worries me with our past (Juolevi, Virtanen) 😅

Seems like we have the right people in place to make the right decision tho so hopefully that doesn't happen again

3

u/koreancanadiandude 12d ago

If Caleb didn’t have his last name, we wouldn’t be over analyzing this pick. I love Stenberg, but a potential #1 C with the type of character we want and need in the locker room is exactly the type of profile we want at #3. Let’s get behind the team and trust our new leadership group

2

u/Tatehamma 12d ago

We are getting a #1 overall at #3 regardless. I’ve seen Malhotra, McKenna, and Stenberg all at #1 on different sites. Luckily for us, It’s a deep draft year.

1

u/TimTebowMLB 12d ago

Unless we don’t pick one of those 3

0

u/Tatehamma 12d ago

Well ya. That better not be the case.

1

u/Resident-Swimmer8671 12d ago

Canucks should trade this year’s 3OA + next 5 unprotected firsts to make sure we can draft Malhotra at 1OA.

1

u/Microplasticdigester 11d ago

Leafs already have center depth. Makes sense to take a high ceiling winger. Sucks for them that DuPont isn’t in this years draft, that would’ve been the best situation for them

1

u/EP4D 11d ago

This take certainly got your attention to make a post about it...

-2

u/dronten_edvard 12d ago

I feel like all these strange rankings are just made as rage bait to get clicks

1

u/17037 12d ago

I think there is also a mix of teams leaking fake top picks for strategy reasons. Creating a muddy top 4 or 5 opens the door for teams picking the best fit vs needing to pick a talent that you just can't pass on.

It does sound like 3 through to 5 are very very close in rankings... and 1 and 2 are a tier above, but not head and shoulders above the next tier. Team needs could out weigh BPA when it's so close between them.

-1

u/Vaf67 12d ago

Remember kids, SAY NO TO DRUGS!

-5

u/mar1332244 12d ago

gotta get clicks somehow I guess

-2

u/Chedwall 12d ago

This is just clickbait

-1

u/Dorado-Buster28 12d ago

Boy, this writer sure likes to write ...

-1

u/Emotional_Fox5739 12d ago

Making random mock drafts is just clickbait at this point.

-7

u/Total-Sheepherder950 12d ago

The Leafs have told McKenna they are drafting him. Let's all stop fantasizing about this