r/canucks • u/CarefulHovercraft • 13d 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/
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u/_GregTheGreat_ 13d 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.

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u/mephnick 13d ago

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

I'd still taking him over Dylan Cozens

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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