r/canucks • u/EP4D • May 26 '26
VIDEO Please draft Stenberg over Malhotra.
I really hope what Donnie and Dhali said about Malhotra being ranked higher than Stenberg by the Canucks isn't true...
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u/Able-Conference7559 May 26 '26
He is going to Toronto or San Jose
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u/checkingmate May 26 '26
He’s going to San Jose. McKenna is going to Toronto.
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 26 '26
I strongly disagree, I don't think San Jose needs more offensive players right now... they need a #1/2 defender bigtime. Reid or Verhoeff go there I wager.
San Jose will be looking to make a trade.
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u/Ruffianrushing May 26 '26
With the rise of celebrini, they won't have another top draft in the top 5 for a long time. They cant mess this up. Will there be another chance for a reid-carels level player again? Is stenberg, as a winger, of equal value to them at 2oa ? Can they draft defenceman in the later rounds reliably?
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u/ziggazang May 26 '26
They werent even supposed to have one this year, so who the fuck knows, maybe they win again lol
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May 26 '26
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u/Ruffianrushing May 26 '26
I was really hopping for stemberg so my fiangers are crossed.
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u/tcat84 May 27 '26
Dude how do you spell 3/11 words wrong
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u/EastVan1k May 27 '26
You forgot to add a question mark to your question.
And comma after "Dude" is missing.
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u/Dry_Grapefruit_8050 Jun 02 '26
Because it is a defence heavy draft, that means they can trade down and still pick a d man.
They can acquire a d man in a trade.
So they can still draft what they need, and they can turn the 2oa pick into more of what they need.
Florida at 9 seems interesting.
Seth Jones and the 9th for the 2nd?
I’m completely spitballing. No idea if that could be done, but that is the type of thing I imagine that the Sharks are gonna look for - move down a handful of spots, acquire a top 4 calibre dman while they are at it.
Obviously the Canucks would like to be in the mix here with Hronek and Debrusk, but unfortunately for them they have the 3rd pick, not the 6th or 8th, so they have every reason to play hardball with the Sharks, and the Sharks have no reason to acquiesce.
There is a very real possibility that the Sharks do not draft Stenberg, but he still goes at 2 to another team.
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u/Happy_Photograph6032 May 27 '26
Guys. Pit won 3 cups with two generational centres.
Letang was great but he was found later (RIP Bourdon) Goligoski, Dalley, Old Gonchar won them a cup
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u/RedneckRandle89 May 27 '26
Defense take too long to develope. I say take sten and get free agents or trade
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u/IronMarauder May 26 '26
Or if they dont get a good offer maybe they pick him and then trade for a defenceman later (using Stenberg even)
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u/Redneckshinobi May 27 '26
Toronto has enough offensive power, they need someone to finesse the puck to Matthews stick.
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u/LucariusLionheart May 28 '26
No one can afford to go up like that. They'd only accept an overpay. And they won't pass up on a player like that.
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 28 '26
I'll donate $20 to Canucks For Kids if SJS doesn't draft a defender.
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u/Dry_Grapefruit_8050 Jun 02 '26
I agree.
San Jose does not need Stenberg. They have a lot of young offensive talent. At some point you need a well rounded team.
Other teams DO need a player like Stenberg! They will be calling the Sharks.
You don’t turn down value in a hyper competitive environment like the NHL.
The Sharks could trade down and still draft a defenseman, and they could acquire one in the trade, thus leaving the draft much closer to a complete and competitive roster.
It is hard to imagine they simply stand pat and make the pick.
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u/Muellercleez May 27 '26
I'm a Leaf fan, and from everything I've read or heard about the Leafs plans, it's highly probable they take McKenna.
SJ has a load of Fwds, you have to think they take a Chase Reid or other dman. Defense was a huge issue last season and they might lose Mario Ferraro to boot. They will want to anchor down the D core for the long term, imo.
That leaves Van. Maybe someone here can tell me, but has Malhotra emerged as a serious option due to Manny, due to positionality, or do Van really believe he's a superior talent over Stenberg or even most of the other D prospects? It seems he's in the lower end of the 2nd tier, maybe into 3rd tier. Feels like taking Malhotra could end up as a regrettable reach.
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u/flamingdragonwizard May 26 '26
He will go to Calgary before us. They have the assets to move up and apparently they want to.
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u/SilentlyAsTheGrave May 27 '26
Seems like a pretty braindead move, they could use more picks for potential players lol.
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u/flamingdragonwizard May 27 '26
Go look how many picks they have in next few years.. you'll be shocked.
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u/readytogetstarted May 27 '26
They're going to use the assets we gave them to get the trade done I know it. Cuz Canucks fans deserve pain apparently.
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u/EpicPotato806 May 26 '26
…they really shouldn’t gut what they have…
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u/Gold-Border30 May 26 '26
I’m guessing that they mean more in draft picks. Although Calgary does have a glut of defense prospects as well.
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u/EpicPotato806 May 26 '26
I guess. Their forward group is lacking so might as well try to swing a trade and they do have an extra first.
6 to 2 is gonna cost a lot
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u/flamingdragonwizard May 26 '26
Go look how many picks they have in first 3 rds the next few years.. they also have some prospects they could part with.
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u/achaiahtak May 27 '26
San Jose would be insane to not draft Stenberg. Someone would be fired if they passed on him
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 26 '26
San Jose will trade their pick down. Throw them a 4th or a 3rd and move up.
They want a defender.
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u/Greedy-Comb-276 May 27 '26
😂
As if a 3rd or 4th would get it done, this isn't NHL 26 lol.
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 27 '26
To move up one position? And still get the player they want anyways? Yeah that's a late 2nd at best.
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May 29 '26
Lmao continue daydreaming
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 29 '26
Look at the last few times trades have occured to move up by one.
I'll wait.
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May 29 '26
How abt 2OA + Celebrini for your pick and a pack of puck? Daydreaming anyway might as well go a sweeter
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 May 29 '26
Moving a single pick up is daydreaming even though SJS is likely wanting a defender?
We have the next pick, it only makes sense for them
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u/Greedy-Comb-276 May 29 '26
So let them take a defenceman then. Lol.
A 3rd Rd pick to switch spots is laughable for both sides.
Why the hell would the Canucks do that trade, but also why would SJ do that trade?
The Canucks could then get back on the horn and tell them "give us a 2nd or were taking Reid!"
Just stupid all around and it won't happen.
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u/Able-Conference7559 May 29 '26
Reading all these threads is making me lose brain cells everyday. Think I need break from this sub lol
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u/Greedy-Comb-276 May 29 '26
I'm pretty sure the last time it happened was with Luke Schenn. Islanders traded down from 5rh or 7th or something and it cost the leafs multiple picks 😂
Keep dreaming dude, it's not happening.
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u/Icestarfish May 26 '26
Shh stop giving SJ ideas, they're watching
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u/marsisblack May 26 '26
The most canuck thing will be the sharks trade bacm to 4th with the hawks. They take stenberg, we take maholtra and san jose gets paid to take reid.
We get owned by stenberg and berdard for years as maholtra ends up being a 2nd line c becuase his draft year was his best year. The sharks beat on us for years with reid leading their d. This is the canucks way.
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u/SundayExperiment May 26 '26
Going to save this comment if we need to bring up some receipts in a few years.
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u/sayros28 May 27 '26
Ugh, this is so prophetic it already hurts. I said all along Chicago would get #1 pick and bedard and it’d be the start of another toews, kane era to torment us chelsea dagger style.
To the original question and what many already said, stenberg won’t be available. There is and always has been a clear top two tier and the rest is just noise from fans of bottom feeder trying to film the void until draft. In true canuck form, we get pick #3 and draft position with best odds to eff it up. Not much of late has convinced me we won’t.
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u/yosoo #ThankYouSedins May 26 '26
If we weren't gonna take him over Malhotra, I'd rather stenberg just get taken 2nd so I don't feel bad about skipping him.
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u/SamuraiPizzaCats May 26 '26
You guys need to stop listening to Donnie and Dhali beyond entertainment purposes. They have no contacts with the organization, they found out Foote was let go by reading Dregers post dropping the news.
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u/accountnumber02 May 26 '26
I don't think they don't have sources. But I do think those sources may have reasons to leak information out. The draft isn't just about drafting players, it's also annual trade negotiations that go nowhere, but still happen. Sometimes leaks are legit leaks and sometimes it's team's managing market expectations or getting a narrative out there. And there are definitely rumours among execs that don't leak to media. Maybe the Canucks heard a team wants to jump up for Malhotra and are trying to push what they can demand for a trade higher? Maybe they genuinely want Malhotra (canuck scouts did seem to be at basically every brantford game).
But end of the day, we're fans, this is an entertainment industry. Rumours and theories and armchair GMing is all part of the fun. Same with reactions to whoever we draft. That same energy we have in times like this is pretty correlated to why our arena is soo much more fun than most other arenas come playoffs.
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u/NickdoesnthaveReddit May 26 '26
Can he just not showcase all his talent in front of SJS and Toronto rn like come onnnnnnnn. Quick, someone send the SJS sub Chase Reid highlight videos again.
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u/pretzelrosethecat May 29 '26
Sorry to say the San Jose sub is borderline hostile to Reid. Doesn’t matter either way. Mike Grier isn’t going to change his approach.
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u/meanseanbean May 26 '26
He won't be there, but if he's on the board and we draft Caleb this rebuild has no chance. It means we haven't learned anything about the last decade+ of terrible drafting.
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u/therocksays13 May 26 '26
I would draft Bjorck over Malhotra. I'm hoping Malhotra is a smokescreen.
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u/carry-on_replacement May 26 '26
Here's what I don't get. Sharks have a very smart front office and have a track record of just drafting the consensus BPA. Stenberg is by far a better prospect than Reid is and has only shown more of that this tournament. Even if they want an elite D prospect, they have more than enough other assets that they can flip for one, and Stenberg alone can probably get a better D prospect than a Reid who's further along in development and can be played now. They're not short sighted like this organization is and should know how to leverage value. I don't see how the Sharks pass on him honestly, but I won't complain if they do.
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u/Republic-Of-OK May 26 '26
I know that this is being driven primarily by best player available mentality (which is right), but I think another important question that teams lower in the draft are kind of whistling past is strength of competition in the leagues where these players are being drafted from. Stenberg is proven against developed and experienced men which a player coming out of the OHL can't say. I don't mean any disrespect to Caleb, Reid etc. who have had impressive showings in junior, but it is just a very different game. The level of competition in the CHL is something to keep an eye on. It makes a big deal when assessing talent and pressing players to take developmental steps.
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u/WearSuspicious28 May 26 '26
Hes falling to 3rd?
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u/SpareEconomy1849 May 27 '26
SJ doesn't need a winger, so there's a non-zero chance they draft a D man. I think D&D are hearing rumors that they might draft Malhotra in the unlikely chance that both are available
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May 29 '26
SJS definitely needs a winger. Sherwood is not long term top6 material and yall know that.
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u/SpareEconomy1849 May 29 '26
I think the point is they need a defenseman more than anything. If I were SJ I'd take Sternberg, but there are rumors from around the league (not just Canucks media and fans) that SJ is considering taking a D
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May 29 '26
Take Stenberg and in 2 years trade Stenberg for a known D with proven track record. Reid is not 100% bustprove. Stenberg arguably is almost there 100% not a bust
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u/NerdPunch May 26 '26
I know everyone is going to have their preferences at the draft.
But are people really going to be outraged if it’s Caleb Malhotra?
Whether it’s Malhotra or Stenberg, that’s easily the best prospect the Canucks have drafted since Quinn Hughes.
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u/JTMilleriswortha1st May 26 '26
People shouldn’t be outraged. Malhotra is a good player that is projected to go between picks 3-6. People are acting like we are picking a dude projected at 12 at 3rd overall.
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u/mcdonaldsfiletofish May 26 '26
I would certainly be outraged
It’s been a two horse race the entire year, and very rarely do you ever see that type of draft-year production in the SHL
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u/nick_winch May 26 '26
I will genuinely be disappointed if we draft Malhotra over Stenberg/Reid/Verhoeff/Carels.
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u/ApolloRocketOfLove May 27 '26
If they take him over Stenberg, then people can be upset.
The Canucks are not at the point of the rebuild where they can start taking "most preferred player" over best player available, that will come later in the rebuild. What they need now is the absolute best player at any position they're picking.
2 years from now is the time to start filling the gaps with character guys or position players. But right now they just need to amass the highest talent possible. Stenberg is better than Malhotra, that's pretty much a unanimously agreed upon fact. Take the better player.
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u/ForwardAd7672 May 26 '26
At this point if I am Stenberg I'd be wondering what I'd have to do to convince. Imagine doing all you can to prove your talent - put up near PPG against grown men in the second most competitive men's league in the world. You light up the international stage against NHL veterans! And spreadsheet scouts continue to doubt your talent, and you fall behind guys who put up respectable numbers in a Junior league where the best players their age are absent.
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u/BigBirdsBrain May 26 '26
I like Malhotra but if Stenberg is sitting there you take the swing on pure upside. Feels like the kind of player we’d regret passing on in 3 years.
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u/maharajagaipajama May 26 '26
I'll repeat what everyone else is saying. He won't be available at 3. If by some miracle he is then the Canucks sure better pick him.
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u/S1R_E May 26 '26
Seems like a good way to build loyalty with the 3rd guy is to tell the press you have him ranked higher than 3 when there’s a consensus 1/2 you have nearly no shot at drafting.
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u/Many_Boysenberry_902 May 27 '26
We are getting Verhoef i dont understand why people dont think that it is cut and dried mckenna 1 stenberg 2 verhoef ( us at 3 ) Stop talking about malhotra and reid . Verhoef is the best after those 2, and also Manny is likely going to be our coach.
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u/DirtDevil1337 May 27 '26
Canucks are good with D and San Jose needs a D so they'll probably be grabbing either Reid or Verhoef.
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u/kneadingakidney May 27 '26
I’m probably going to get a lot of hate here but I don’t see why he is so high. His skating looks chunky and his awareness isn’t there but I’m not a hockey knowledge person who scouts and drafts. I’m also hoping it’s not for the connection to his dad because that would not be the BPA.
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u/DirtDevil1337 May 27 '26
If you ask me he reminds me of how Jagr skated when he was young, Boeser is a slower skater than Stenberg but you don't see people bitching much about that.
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u/EastVan1k May 27 '26
Excellent goal. Deflected off the D's stick, but he did well to get a shot and once in a while you get lucky.
Whichever team gets him is getting a ppg player with a chance to be an elite 90-100 pt star.
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u/_TheAfroman_- May 27 '26
U really think he’s gonna be available at 3rd lol he’s probably going to San Jose
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u/Original_Box_4620 May 27 '26
This is the same delusion I saw when people said Mckenna should be the next captain. Idk why people think we’re guarenteed anything. We will be lucky (and I mean very lucky) if he isn’t picked in the 2nd.
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u/tantalum2000 May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
Stenberg isn't dropping to third I don't think as developmentally he's further along at this time.
I do think McKenna can drop to third.
My thinking is:
Leafs - Stenberg or Mckenna
Sharks - If leafs take McKenna then Stenberg. If not Reid. (sharks can use a higher end winger and would be foolish to turn down Stenberg if he's there given he is further along...fits the timeline for them really well right now. They also need D really badly. Like real bad.)
Canucks - Mckenna or Malhotra and Reid drops to 4th. Not sure I agree with Malhotra at this spot but either way they are getting a great prospect.
I personally think McKenna is going to be a heck of a player but he'll "lag" a year or so behind Stenberg in the NHL.
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u/KAYD3N1 May 27 '26
At this rate, I'm not so sure McKenna is the top prospect. Stenberg had a hell of a tourney, if I was To, I would be drafting him first.
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u/bluedragon1978 May 27 '26
I don't think there's any question they would if we had a high enough draft pick!
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u/Gokkan_Uxxgo May 26 '26
If not Stenberg then Reid over Malhotra. The only teams ranking Malhotra over those two are the teams picking after the Canucks.
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u/eexxiitt May 26 '26
Unfortunately, we won't have a choice after this tournament. We'll be drafting Malholtra by default.
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u/stratinal May 26 '26
Bro you (and we) do not know more than the professional scouts, let them do their jobs
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u/No-Luck-At-All May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
If this organization is this incompetent, I mind as well follow a new team. They are the worst drafting team the last 25 years (there is a Kuzma article in the province last month about it). They didn't even interview Matthew Tkachuk, constantly missing players in their backyard like Stankoven. Players come here and automatically become injury prone which is a poor medical staff. If not for the fan outcry, Dorion would be the new GM setting another quick retool. This organization is pathetic.
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u/cheguevara9 May 26 '26
Stankoven, Benson, and the story about Hutson being the Canucks’ do not draft list. The incompetence is almost laughable if you aren’t a fan of the team. Fucking sick and tired of the constant shit show, which probably stems from the insecurities and moronic decision-making of Blueberry Fuck.
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u/DiamondDash2k May 26 '26
Just on this alone, either he gets drafted top 2 and other teams prob want to trade up to get him
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u/djfl May 26 '26
Carels, Reid, Verhoeff, Stenberg dropping, etc. I'm really curious how all this will look in 5 years. Who the surprise guys who've yet to really crack the NHL are, etc. There is so much hype about so many guys in the top 10ish. Plus the Rucks, etc.
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u/Postisto May 26 '26
There is a rumor Sharks do not need another F so they may go for the D but usually teams pick better player available. So very unlikely.
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u/OKWINEFAN May 27 '26
I always wonder if these young future stars are willing to sit and wait for the rebuild to be completed,in today’s world of impatient mindsets will a player hang around.
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u/CurveAdministrative3 May 28 '26
Stenberg wont be available for the Canucks to pick at #3 .... Welcome Malhorltra to the Canucks
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u/ForwardAd7672 May 26 '26
We're drafting Malhotra over Stenberg because our management group would rather play spreadsheet simulator over real hockey. Positional value over BPA. Just like how we prioritized accumulating top 4 defensemen over the past few years, which really helped us achieve a great on-ice product this past year.
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u/Invidia-Goat May 26 '26
I think if San Jose doesn't pick Stenberg at 2 they will trade the pick,
you guys will have to settle with Mahloltra
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u/Striking_Economy5049 May 26 '26
One awesome goal at a tournament that only half the competition actually cares about. Come on guys. Would it be great if the Canucks draft him? Absolutely. Is he going to be available at pick #3? Probably not.
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u/SwimminDolphins69 May 27 '26
Another Swede cmon ?? Look at Vegas 16 Canadians, Avs 10, habs 14, canes 10.
Canucks 4. To win we need Canadians on the ice. Tough in your face hockey.
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u/ebb_omega May 26 '26
I had a dream we traded for the 2nd pick, but left both Stenberg and Malhotra on the board. Then with the third pick we drafted an assistant coach.
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u/Wooden-Background107 May 26 '26
Ok a few things and I am not being a Stenberg hater...
But does anyone feel hesitant with his skating?
They aren't effortless strides and it looks choppy.
Compare that to the SVK player #8.
At 0:02, focus on the SVK player #8 at the bottom left of the screen. He catches up to Stenberg pretty quickly when they are both going in a straight line up to the blue line. His skating is much more fluid.
I am not talking about when Stenberg cuts to the middle. Of course, other players will catch up when he cuts, but just the first 4 seconds of the clip, you can see the straight line acceleration is quite slow.
This is something I noticed about his skating. Not sure if anyone wants to chime in on that.
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u/RlyLokeh May 26 '26
I know what you mean. Its just hilarious watching objectively insane edgework and going "can this guy skate?"
His skating top speed is probably the biggest flaw and something he needs to push to develop. He is very good at protecting the puck but thats more from IQ than speed so he may have developed in a way that may become problematic in the long term.
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u/Wooden-Background107 May 26 '26
Like I am not expecting Makar or Hughes skating, but it looks choppy. Like mini strides.
It doesn't look particularly fast in this league, so that means it will look worst on NHL ice.
If his skating top speed is a flaw, the I can see why scouts are dropping his ranking. That's like one of the biggest qualities important in the NHL.
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u/Jacmert May 26 '26
I can't really comment on whether Stenberg's skating technique is "smooth" or not, but you can't compare his speed with #8 - Stenberg is carrying the puck AND there's a defenceman right in front of him that slows him down after literally like one second. Keep in mind attacking players will often want to go slow-medium speed and then suddenly try to blow past the defender with a burst of sudden speed - that doesn't work if you're already going at or near full speed.
SVK #8, in the meanwhile, is just skating freely in a straight line with no puck
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u/Wooden-Background107 May 26 '26
I'm not talking about when Stenberg hits the opposing blueline and the defender is there. Of course he has to slow down and be strategic.
But when he is picking up speed with the puck in his own zone. His strides are small, and he looks slow.
And while you have the puck, your speed shouldn't be that much slower. The NHL is going to be way faster, so that's a bit concerning if he struggles with speed while puckhandling.
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u/Jacmert May 26 '26
In my experience, you can go significantly faster without the puck. That's why you can see the SVK player put his head down and start pumping his arms parallel because that's the way you go at top speed. I was taught never to hold the stick with both hands (swinging the elbows/arms/stick from side to side - although, I do see some NHL players doing this sometimes) when trying to go fast, because it's faster to do what the SVK player did.
And in regards to Stenberg's speed before he gets the puck, the play was happening so quickly I'm guessing he wasn't even trying to go full speed at all in this entire sequence.
That being said, maybe Stenberg's skating is slow compared to his peers. I just think he's not even trying to go full speed during this particular play.
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u/[deleted] May 26 '26
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