Thomas Drance

@EastVan808 @Sportsnet650 @Canuck_Faithful Most likely you’re right based on what I’m hearing, but my argument is that if your list deviates far enough from industry opinion that a rival will pay a premium for the opportunity to take the guy you’re willing to pass on, you should do that every time.

My 2 cents: If I was Vancouver, I wouldn't pay anything worth while to move up to 2nd. SJ wants a defenseman (as far as I'm concerned), so I'd call their bluff rather than trading up. Similarly, if I'm Chicago, I call Vancouver's bluff. As soon as Vancouver comes calling, you know they aren't picking Stenberg. That brings us to NYR and Calgary. If Malhotra is Vancouver's guy, how certain are they that he'll stil be available at 5 or 6? I'd say it's a coin flip at best. Considering all of that, I'd say Vancouver stays put at 3.

🗣️ The mistake would be not to monetize the opportunity. 👉 @thomasdrance makes the case for trading down if Stenberg is available at 3.

@KevinWa78504657 @Sportsnet650 Provided you trade down no lower than 6, then if someone takes Malhotra, you take Carels, Bjorck or Verhoeff (who have better profiles) and also have extra assets. You either get your guy and get paid, or get paid and net more overall value.

🗣️ For me I know it would have been a distraction... It's a big thing you definitely have to think about. 👉 @landonferraro compares what it would be like having Ray coaching him to Manny potentially coaching Caleb Malhotra.

What the #Canucks can learn from the NHL playoffs so far: 3 rebuilding lessons from the Conference Finalists: nytimes.com/athletic/73059… via @NYTimes

@8394Canucks @nytimes A+ 10/10 no notes

@ThomasDrance @nytimes 🙋 Anything can happen if you get in. Don't despair if you’re a bubble team; mortgage the future every year you think you can make the playoffs. Don't waste your time with a judicious and deliberate approach; get distracted by other teams’ success and methodology.

New post @TheAthleticNHL: Scouts project the top ten picks in the 2026 draft nytimes.com/athletic/72834…

@Ryanwatuzzu @jabo_vancouver using this logic you would have drafted Tij Iginla over Macklin Celebrini. You're picking hockey players not breeding horses.

@DoyleFergu44485 @jabo_vancouver statistical comp is probably thicker more complete Kevin Fiala, stylistic comp is probably something like smoother, quicker Brandon Hagel.

@ThomasDrance @jabo_vancouver Got any good winger comparables for Stenberg Drance? Seems like a tough one

Stenberg reminds me of no one because draft comparables are the greatest media created bullshit that means absolutely nothing. They are done to create chatter, and bravo, they do their job, but don't think for one second they mean anything.

@jabo_vancouver But it’s a fundamentally competitive and value based enterprise. Like generally what’s interesting isn’t “is this guy/team good at hockey” bc of course, they’re all absolute freakazoid talents, it’s will he be better than x other player/team? Can he be the best?

@ThomasDrance But why not analyze that player on their own merits and put that into context? What does Stenberg do well and why does that mean he will be a good NHL player? I find that far more interesting and compelling.

@jag676767 @CRgypsy31 It’s lost ground to the KHL/NLA/SHL for sure, but producing over a point per game @ tha level at 17 is still generally impressive.

@ThomasDrance @CRgypsy31 Liiga is a high end men's league? Lmao. It's garbage.

Stenberg’s draft profile reminds me of Kappo Kakko and Filip Zadina

@priored I’m not *that* low on him. He’s in range at 3 provided Stenberg is off the board.

@ThomasDrance We need to start a Dorian revolt against drafting Malhotra in this market. Canucks talk would be a great start. I'm serious, the Canucks are about to make a mistake of historic proportions. We need to make it known that we don't want to draft Caleb,especially if Stenberg is there

@priored @CRgypsy31 I also think Kakko is pretty good now, but obviously not a star.

@ThomasDrance @CRgypsy31 Zadina isn't remotely comparable. Kakko is a strange one,he is an exception as opposed to what is likely with Stenberg. Malhotras profile doesn't match ANY NHL star. Mark Schiefele is as close you get, although his D-2 and D-1 stats were double of Malhotra's

@DocZeyus @jabo_vancouver I should do the research, but I’m not aware on if it’s been done.

@ThomasDrance @jabo_vancouver Is there any kind of data on top picks that fall a bit Vs. Fast risers at the draft? Does one pan out any better on average than the other? Or I suppose another way to look at it, is the D -1 season the most important one to look at when projecting players?

I lean slightly towards Stenberg if available, but I see people on here saying that they will be angry if they take Malhotra and I don't see the reason. We don't need to live in a world where one is great and the other is a bust. What if they are both great? #Canucks

@Ryanwatuzzu @jabo_vancouver I don’t evaluate based on genetics. Lots of hall of of fame hockey dads with non-difference making (or non NHL level) sons, lots of lawyers kids who go on to be elite NHL players.

@ThomasDrance @jabo_vancouver Malhotra’s trajectory started a little later than Toews, had he been on this current path last year he’d likely have been on the U20 Canada team radar, albeit an extremely hard team to make for 17 year old. His genetic makeup alone - makes him too hard to pass on. A level genes

@pavelcapital @jabo_vancouver I think positional value is for the trade market and if you’re drafting for it you’re missing the forest for the trees, generally.

@ThomasDrance @jabo_vancouver That's fair when looking at his full season. I have a confident enough projection in Stenberg being a play-driving 70-80 pt guy that I am pretty clearly Stenberg>Malhotra. But positional value is real and I like Malhotra's upside.

@NavDosanjh1983 @jabo_vancouver I need to watch more Reid, bc his statistical profile screams landmine to me but a lot of scouts I trust love his game.

@ThomasDrance @jabo_vancouver Would u take a Chase Reid if still there and then trade Hronek to gather more assets?