Who Should NHL Teams Avoid Drafting

The 2026 NHL Draft is heating up—and teams are already drafting their “Do Not Draft” list. Gavin McKenna, projected first overall, faces skepticism over his size and inside-game ability. Caleb Malhotra, a high-scoring center, raises red flags about NHL translation—and family ties to the Canucks’ new coach. Keaton Verhoeff’s size is a plus, but skating and decision-making questions make him a risky top-16 pick. Ryan Lin’s offensive flair as a defenseman is enticing, but his size and development concerns loom. Ryan Roobroeck, a power forward, sparks debate with his pace and engagement—making him a polarizing, boom-or-bust prospect. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2627fd2fec4d3bd8