Locked On NHL Prospects

In a massive move, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Leo Carlsson to a monster 5x18 contract (that the Ducks matched after the recording). We react to the shifting NHL landscape that this presents and the tug of war going on in the Ducks' front office over the decision over matching or letting Leo go. We finish by discussing other remaining offer sheet candidates, highlighted by Connor Bedard and Ada...

What were our reactions to the Day 2 picks of the NHL Draft? From heavy hitters to upside swings, numerous teams came out with value. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What whispers were heard on the draft floor and what's to come from Columbus with both Werenski and Marchenko forcing their ways out? Kareem discusses his experience at the draft in Buffalo, including some tidbits of information from scouts and executives. Next, we discuss big fish on the trade board, as Jason Robertson was nearly dealt on top of the CBJ duo. Finally, we peek at the free agent mar...

Beyond simply owning the first and second picks respectively, Toronto and San Jose made the very most of each of their picks. We break down the Leafs' excellent haul of mobile two-way defencemen with puck-moving upside. The Sharks for their part, overhauled their RD depth with Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin in the first round. Finally, we present some of the steals of the draft and our favourite swi...

What were our reactions to the top 10 picks of the NHL Draft? From Stenberg at 2 to Daxon Rudolph raising eyebrows at 4, the excitement was constant! How did you find the top 10? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the 2026 NHL Draft just one day away, we zero in on the San Jose Sharks to discuss their options with the 2nd and newly-acquired 9th overall selections. The debate between Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid at #2 has raged for weeks now, and the Eklund trade certainly tips the balance in the winger's favour, but don't underestimate the potential to add two pieces like Reid and Ethan Belchetz at tho...

In perhaps the single most insane day for transactions in the past decade (or more) we saw young elite talents shipped all over the place and multiple Top 10 picks dealt. From hockey trades like Kyrou for McMichael & 16th to jaw-dropping overpays like Bowen Byram fetching 4th overall + this was a day for the ages in the NHL. How would you grade the trades and which shocked you the most? Hosted by...

Following up the first 26 picks of our Final Mock Draft which aged poorly due to trades, we look at picks 27 through 50 as the value continues into the second round. From the Ruck twins landing in Vancouver to some swings on big boys littering the second round, there's a lot of potential for fun storylines. Let us know what you'd do differently! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ad...

In an unfortunate series of events, our final mock of the year is tarnished by one of the craziest days of trades in NHL history, seeing multiple top 10 picks change hands. We break down the, slightly aged, top 26 picks in this show, ranging from the likes of Caleb Malhotra going to Chicago with a pick they no longer own to a big run on potential 3C's in the 10-20 range. We hope you still enjoy th...

Brady Tkachuk has been traded to the Florida Panthers to team up with his brother, Matthew, while the Senators get a boatload of flexible assets in return. While the lack of a roster player coming back the other way stings, expect Ottawa to make moves for immediate help with at least one of the three acquired first-round selections. Picks 9 and 25 this year, alongside a 2029 1st and a 2030 second...

With the 2026 NHL Draft moving ever closer and the 17th overall selection on the horizon, the coming 10 days will prove fascinating for the LA Kings' future. An organization with a typical preference for drafting hard-nosed players who won't back down to the physical challenges of competing in the Western Conference may have to put those desires aside to swing hard on upside in a range of the draf...

The blueline class in the 2026 NHL Draft is hyped up for a reason, with potential top pair pieces available, like Carels, Reid, and Verhoeff. As we begin to unveil our final rankings this week, we present our top 10 defencemen, all of whom are clear 1st round talents in our eyes. From the shifty undersized dynamos Xavier Villeneuve and Tommy Bleyl to the hulking Maksim Sokolovskii and Malte Gustaf...

The 2026 NHL Draft is notoriously open even amongst the class's top talents, with a dozen names with at least a chance of hearing their names selected inside the top 5. While we get the sense that McKenna is the guy for Toronto at 1, it's wide open after that, and we expect a surprise fall from somebody, whether it be the high-flying Ivar Stenberg outside the top 3 or one of the hyped defencemen s...

If you're looking for a swing on high-end details, dual-threat skill, and clear top-six upside, Nikita Klepov could be a steal of a pick in the back half of the first round. From an impressive power play toolkit to defensive details mature beyond his years, few players outside the top 10 possess his blend of NHL upside and floor. He's a high-likelihood NHLer and could eventually hit a Nikolaj Ehle...

With the 2026 NHL Draft moving ever closer and the 6th overall selection on the horizon, the coming weeks will prove vital for the Calgary Flames' future. With 7 selections among the first 70 picks, calling the Flames loaded for draft capital would be an understatement. Alongside Locked On Flames host Ryan G., we break down the best options at sixth overall -- highlighted by Viggo Björck and Carso...

If you're looking for a swing on high-end checking ability, a heavy shot, and clear top-six upside, Adam Novotny is a gem in the 10-20 range on draft day. From impressive stick details to blistering speed and overwhelming physicality, he embodies a bunch of the elements that teams are desperate to add leading up to the NHL Playoffs. He's a high-likelihood NHLer and could eventually hit an Adrien K...

The final Elite Prospects rankings for the 2026 Draft have dropped and we discuss various risers & fallers throughout the top 32. While the top 5 doesn't diverge much from consensus, the 6 to 15 range sees some big swings, including Wyatt Cullen at 6. We focus mostly on the top-32, but you're welcome to check out the full list at Elite Prospects. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.a...

If you're looking for a home run swing outside the top fifteen on elite mobility and plenty of puck-moving and power play upside, Tommy Bleyl is right up your alley. One of the biggest risers of the season gets fans out of their seats every single night and while he will need to bulk up physically to hang at the pro level, a couple seasons in college with Michigan State should go a long way. Would...

After putting together a mock draft based on needs the other week, we return with the inverse, running with hot takes and unhinged swings. From the Leafs going Ivar Stenberg to McKenna falling to Chicago and Caleb Malhotra joining his dad in Vancouver, this mock has a whole lot of potentially interesting storylines. Unlike other mocks where we aim to predict as many picks as possible, this time ar...

If you're looking for a home run swing outside the top five on elite skill at forward, Wyatt Cullen may be the most exciting option. The winger is one of the youngest players in the draft class, drove the offense with dominant creativity with the NTDP and an 8-inch growth spurt in the past two years gives him plenty of physical runway. Not dissimilar to Beckett Sennecke in 2024, Cullen is the draf...

While the Montreal Canadiens bowed out in the Conference Finals, the rebuild is officially over and they're only a few key pieces away from true contention. We break down their playoff performances, ask what the front office will have learned through this playoff run, and list potential targets to fill the crucial second line centre vacancy and build out the lineup to get heavier and more possessi...

In our May Rankings, we've got some big tiers with lots of potential for rises and falls on draft day, and believe that Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Carson Carels have separated themselves as the top 3 talents in the class. From Viggo Björck at 6 to Wyatt Cullen at 10 and the Ruck twins at 11 and 17 respectively, we take some bullish swings on upside and trajectory. Let us know what you think...

After a grinding Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams will fall in love with Oliver Suvanto, the hulking two-way centre who may be the draft's second most NHL-ready player. While not the flashiest on-puck forward, Suvanto drives the middle, dominates the net-front, and offers support in transition and the defensive zone mature beyond his years. In a class lacking quantity in first-round centremen, don't be...

In a bit of a delayed upload, we break down NHL central scouting's final rankings for the 2026 draft class, featuring some hot takes and a lot of big boys. From the top 10 in both Europe and North America to some depth gems, we try to present a variety of interesting cases from the rankings on this show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...

While not as flashy as the top tier of defencemen in the 2026 NHL Draft, Ryan Lin's high degree of intelligence, mobility, and defensive physicality could make him a slam-dunk pick in the teens. He's more of a facilitator than a creator and we'd love to see his pass selection and vision in the breakout improve in the coming years, but there's a real foundation for a Ryan Spurgeon-esque impact some...