LOL! That was my first thought.
- HawkintheD

This article got me thinking:

https://nhlrumors.com/nhl...ll-guerin-guy/2025/07/24/

If Rossi wasn't a Guerin type of player, why would he draft him? Also, teams need all different types of players in order to win in the PO's. From what I can tell, it doesn't look like they have many internal options to replace him (outside of maybe Eriksson Ek). It's just really surprising that they don't seem to have use for a young, drafted player who has proven to be able to produce in the league.

This article got me thinking:

https://nhlrumors.com/nhl...ll-guerin-guy/2025/07/24/

If Rossi wasn't a Guerin type of player, why would he draft him? Also, teams need all different types of players in order to win in the PO's. From what I can tell, it doesn't look like they have many internal options to replace him (outside of maybe Eriksson Ek). It's just really surprising that they don't seem to have use for a young, drafted player who has proven to be able to produce in the league.
- Chunk

That’s a good question. I believe that Guerin is looking for more size up the middle, aren’t all teams? Per the article, he doesn’t seem to like his playoff game. He’s a good player, however the Hawks are already undersized up the middle. Now, Boldy to play with Bedard I would take.

So much for Kaprizov, onto the next possible free agent

So much for Kaprizov, onto the next possible free agent
- BetweenTheDots

Did he re-sign or something? Not seeing anything about him anywhere yet. He's quite literally the only - potentially - pending free agent that is absolutely worth giving every available dollar you have to overspend on in quite some time.

So much for Kaprizov, onto the next possible free agent
- BetweenTheDots

There is no mention of it on their website

Did he re-sign or something? Not seeing anything about him anywhere yet. He's quite literally the only - potentially - pending free agent that is absolutely worth giving every available dollar you have to overspend on in quite some time.
- TommyHawk

Yea the article i was reading made it sound like it was a done deal, fooled once again, (frank)ing internet

That’s a good question. I believe that Guerin is looking for more size up the middle, aren’t all teams? Per the article, he doesn’t seem to like his playoff game. He’s a good player, however the Hawks are already undersized up the middle. Now, Boldy to play with Bedard I would take.
- Angotti

It may be his plan too, but it sounds like he's just chasing Florida's plan.

Off Topic:
RIP Hulk Hogan

List of expiring draft pick rights: https://puckpedia.com/new...-rights-set-expire-aug-15

Anybody on this list worth signing?

List of expiring draft pick rights: https://puckpedia.com/new...-rights-set-expire-aug-15

Anybody on this list worth signing?
- 333inthe3rd

Dominic James? Not really from my basic understanding of who these guys are.

Off Topic:
RIP Hulk Hogan
- 35Tony0

Very entertaining guy, sad.

List of expiring draft pick rights: https://puckpedia.com/new...-rights-set-expire-aug-15

Anybody on this list worth signing?
- 333inthe3rd

I woudl think the other Jack Hughes would be worth it. Believe he played with Moore and Nazar on the US National teams?

#51 overall pick.


Detroit not signing Red Savage seems like a big miss from the marketing side

Dominic James? Not really from my basic understanding of who these guys are.
- Chunk

Think the story was he knows there's not a path for him here. Fairly productive NCAA guy, think he missed most of the year before with injury right?

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2026

List of expiring draft pick rights: https://puckpedia.com/new...-rights-set-expire-aug-15

Anybody on this list worth signing?
- 333inthe3rd

just dominic james

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2026
- wiz1901

So using these preliminary rankings, here are some players to watch by league/team:

NCAA - 2026 DRAFT PROSPECT WATCH:

Wiz Last First Team League Height Weight Pos Shot

77 Kuehne Lincoln Arizona State NCAA 6' 2" 201 RD R

32 Mutryn Casey Boston College NCAA 6' 2" 190 RW R
63 Berzkalns Rudolfs Boston College NCAA 6' 4" 203 LW L
102 Croskery Callum Boston College NCAA 6' 0" 174 LD L

8 Lawrence Tynan Boston U NCAA 6' 0" 168 C L
17 Wassilyn Braidy Boston U NCAA 5' 11" 194 LW L
41 Schairer Luke Boston U NCAA 6' 2" 187 RD R
58 Shilov Yegor Boston U NCAA 6' 1" 163 C L

66 Vlasov Alexei Connecticut NCAA 5' 9" 161 LW R

12 Berchild Mikey Denver NCAA 5' 9" 172 LW L

50 Jardine Evan Harvard NCAA 6' 0" 179 LW L

92 Morozov Ilya Miami (OH) NCAA 6' 3" 196 C L

37 Hurlbert J.P. Michigan NCAA 5' 11" 176 RW R

29 Reid Chase Michigan State NCAA 6' 2" 185 RD R
44 Hextall Jack Michigan State NCAA 6' 0" 183 C R
64 Klepov Nikita Michigan State NCAA 5' 11" 161 LW L

6 Verhoeff Keaton North Dakota NCAA 6' 4" 212 RD R
38 Williams Cooper North Dakota NCAA 6' 0" 150 LW L

53 Trottier Parker Notre Dame NCAA 6' 0" 170 LW L

1 McKenna Gavin Penn State NCAA 6' 0" 165 LW L
28 Mbuyi Pierce Penn State NCAA 5' 10" 154 LW L

71 Zajic Lucas Wisconsin NCAA 5' 10" 174 RW R

SWEDEN - 2026 DRAFT PROSPECT WATCH:

Wiz Last First Team League Height Weight Pos Shot

4 Björck Viggo Djurgårdens IF J20 J20 Nationell 5' 9" 172 C R
20 Nordmark Marcus Djurgårdens IF J20 J20 Nationell 6' 1" 183 RW L

3 Stenberg Ivar Frölunda HC J20 J20 Nationell 6' 0" 181 LW L
52 Brøngel-Larsson Axel Frölunda HC J20 J20 Nationell 6' 1" 187 LD L

40 Gustafsson Malte HV71 J20 J20 Nationell 6' 4" 190 LD L

22 Holmertz Oscar Linköping HC J20 J20 Nationell 6' 0" 183 C L

26 Håkansson William Luleå HF J20 J20 Nationell 6' 4" 207 LD L
69 Josbrant Måns Luleå HF J20 J20 Nationell 5' 10" 172 LW L

14 Aaram-Olsen Niklas Örebro HK J20 J20 Nationell 6' 0" 183 LW L
16 Hermansson Elton Örebro HK J20 J20 Nationell 6' 1" 181 RW R
47 Elofsson Axel Orebro J20 J20 Nationell 5' 10" 163 RD R

39 Dravecký Vladimír Rögle BK J20 J20 Nationell 6' 0" 187 RD R
104 Bartholdsson Nils Rögle BK J20 J20 Nationell 5' 9" 165 RW R

91 Palme Ola Växjö Lakers HC J20 J20 Nationell 6' 0" 181 LD L

OHL - 2026 DRAFT PROSPECT WATCH:

Wiz Last First Team League Height Weight Pos Shot

78 Royston Wesley Erie Otters OHL 6' 3" 174 RW R

85 Flugins Karlis Flint Firebirds OHL 5' 11" 185 RW R

68 Mclean Alex Guelph Storm OHL 5' 10" 174 LW L
74 Singh Rylan Guelph Storm OHL 5' 11" 187 RD R
75 Stevens Carter Guelph Storm OHL 6' 1" 183 C R

27 Valentini Adam Kitchener OHL 5' 11" 185 LW L

2 Roobroeck Ryan Niagara IceDogs OHL 6' 4" 190 C L
86 Galiyanov Ivan Niagara IceDogs OHL 5' 10" 174 LW L

43 Vaughan Parker North Bay OHL 6' 1" 190 RW R

87 Zurawski Cole Owen Sound Attack OHL 6' 0" 181 RW R

19 Fitzgerald Colin Peterborough Petes OHL 6' 2" 194 C R

25 Di Iorio Alessandro Sarnia Sting OHL 6' 1" 176 RW R
34 Edwards Beckham Sarnia Sting OHL 6' 1" 170 C L
NR Brown Ryan Sarnia Sting OHL 5' 11" 172 LW L

54 Smith Brady Soo Greyhounds OHL 6' 0" 181 RW R

5 Belchetz Ethan Windsor Spitfires OHL 6' 5" 227 LW L

NR Nyman Zachary Brampton Steelheads OHL 5' 9" 165 LD L

QMJHL - 2026 DRAFT PROSPECT WATCH:

Wiz Last First Team League Height Weight Pos Shot

103 Bélanger Louis-François Acadie-Bathurst Titan QMJHL 5' 8" 163 C L

23 Villeneuve Xavier Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 5' 10" 150 LD L

100 Ricard Émile Chicoutimi Sagueneens QMJHL 6' 0" 172 LW L

33 Dagenais Maddox Québec Remparts QMJHL 6' 2" 181 C L

15 Steiner Lars Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL 5' 11" 181 RW R

67 Rozzi Dylan Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 5' 11" 152 LW L
82 Yared William Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 6' 2" 190 C R

84 McKinnon Noah Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 5' 9" 174 RD R

NR Rousseau Thomas Sherbrooke Phoenix QMJHL 5' 10" 165 RW R

76 Cossette-Ayotte Benjamin Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 6' 1" 172 RD R

WHL - 2026 DRAFT PROSPECT WATCH:

Wiz Last First Team League Height Weight Pos Shot

48 Iginla Joe Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 5' 10" 165 RW R

59 Liske Brek Everett Silvertips WHL 6' 1" 187 RD R

89 Edmonstone Logan Kamloops Blazers WHL 5' 11" 170 G L

80 Ruck Markus Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 5' 11" 168 LW L
98 Ruck Liam Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 5' 11" 176 RW R

10 Rudolph Daxon Prince Albert Raiders WHL 6' 1" 194 RD R
56 Boychuk Riley Prince Albert Raiders WHL 5' 9" 161 RW R
83 Meunier Ty Prince Albert Raiders WHL 5' 8" 159 LW L

13 Carels Carson Prince George Cougars WHL 6' 1" 174 LD L

90 Maze Julien Regina Pats WHL 5' 8" 165 LW L

7 Preston Mathis Spokane Chiefs WHL 5' 11" 168 RW R
36 Harrington Chase Spokane Chiefs WHL 6' 0" 196 LW L

57 Kosick Noah Swift Current WHL 5' 10" 150 C L

70 Pavao Cruz Tri-City Americans WHL 5' 11" 194 RW R

9 Lin Ryan Vancouver Giants WHL 5' 11" 172 RD R
93 Olson Brett Vancouver Giants WHL 6' 1" 185 C R

94 Joudrey Caelan Wenatchee Wild WHL 6' 4" 172 RW R

You put in a lot of good work Totem, Thank you

Also, good call on using wiz's rankings as he puts in a lot of hard work too

Think the story was he knows there's not a path for him here. Fairly productive NCAA guy, think he missed most of the year before with injury right?
- vabeachbear

Yeah, KD was asked about him and he was kinda surprised that James didn't think he had a good opportunity on the Hawks. I understand where he coming from though. There may not be a ton of vets in front of him, but there are loads of prospects that he'll have to compete with, and the Hawks seem to have about 6 guys who could be bottom 6 centers.

Yes, he was injured for a lot of the prior year.

Wow. Thanks Totem. Considering there were only about 30 players drafted under 6' in this last draft, it appears there are more players under that magical number in this draft.

Wow. Thanks Totem. Considering there were only about 30 players drafted under 6' in this last draft, it appears there are more players under that magical number in this draft.
- Chunk

Yeah, athough this is my FIRST initial mock list, the undersized prospects are kinda bunched together at a point.

But you are correct if you are thinking a few shorter undersized kids off the board in the first, but...
Kids grow after 17, right?


Who would have thought SO many big kids leap-frogged intot that first round of 2025?.

And I thank you Totem also, because I was trying to get the "committed to the University of _________ "on the kids, but you list will aid me in finishing that part.
MOST will not be on their college tams until 2026-27.


This first 2026 Mock draft of mine is a pretty off the cuff person idea of who is "good' and can go early.

Now I maybe tweak it but then wait until the season(s) begin to watch.

And I don't know how high some of these not so large kids end up hearing their name, but I just know that the samller guys in my first can play.
Some like Stenberg, take the body to the opposition.
and it is difficult to undervalue Viggio Bjork, and even the smaller mialmen on the backline.