Will the San Jose Sharks draft a forward?<\/p>\n
Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg have oft been the top-two rated<\/a> players in the 2026 NHL Draft. Cam Robinson\u2019s recent scouts poll<\/a> of NHL scouts rated winger McKenna, center Caleb Malhotra, and winger Stenberg as the top-three players, respectively.<\/p>\n At the Combine, McKenna, Stenberg, and Malhotra took the stage to talk about their draft seasons and future NHL careers.<\/p>\n Gavin McKenna<\/p>\n McKenna, on choosing to play NCAA hockey in his draft year:<\/p>\n It was a good season. I think, in college, the guys are bigger and stronger and faster; and the game itself is just a little different than junior. It\u2019s more straightforward hockey. So I found out early on that things weren\u2019t just going to happen easy. I think once I got to World Juniors, I kind of got my confidence back and figured out the game a little bit more. Started working harder off the ice and on the ice, and getting in the dirty areas a little bit more, and I think that\u2019s why I started producing more.<\/p>\n McKenna & Verhoeff were asked about potential of playing w\/ Celebrini on #SJSharks<\/a>.<\/p>\n McKenna: “He’s a special talent, he’s one of those players who’s generational, so if me or Keaton got the opportunity to play beside him, I think we both be pretty honored.”<\/p>\n Verhoeff: “The type\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n McKenna, on if he\u2019s talked to previous first-overall picks for advice:<\/p>\n Earlier in the year, I talked with Connor [Bedard] a little bit to ask for some advice. We\u2019ve gone through some similar things and stuff with the media, the pressure. So he\u2019s always a brain I like to kind of go to. Being a Western Canadian boy, I think we both know what it\u2019s like, and he\u2019s helped me, he\u2019s always been open to advice, he\u2019s always given it to me, and he just tells me to trust the process and just stay confident. Obviously, sometimes it\u2019s hard, but I think hockey\u2019s a big confidence game, and I think when guys are confident, that\u2019s when they\u2019re at their best.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ivar Stenberg<\/p>\n Stenberg, on his play at the World Championships:<\/p>\n Pretty good. some games bad and some good. I\u2019m happy with some games, and sad because we didn\u2019t end up a medalist. But, fun experience.<\/p>\n Stenberg, on where he will play next year:<\/p>\n I want to play over here. I want to play in the best league in the world.<\/p>\n Stenberg, on his greatest strength:<\/p>\n My hockey IQ, for sure, that\u2019s one thing that\u2019s pretty good, something that will help me.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Caleb Malhotra<\/p>\n Malhotra, on the role his father played in his hockey career:<\/p>\n Huge role. He\u2019s the reason I started playing hockey, just being around it all the time, learning from him, watching him. [I] kind of remember him playing, and then when he was coaching. [I learned] so much from him, teaching me small details that most guys don\u2019t get to learn. So, it\u2019s a massive privilege to get to learn from him.<\/p>\n Caleb Malhotra on his dad potentially coaching him: <\/p>\n “We’re both pretty professional so I think it would be cool. Very special. We’d be able to handle that.” pic.twitter.com\/W4LNxQKRW8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Craziest Combine question so far?<\/p>\n Malhotra says a team asked him, if he was on a desert island and had no water, if the person next to him had a water bottle, would he kill him?<\/p>\n Reid says the Canadiens made him toss a puck into a bucket\u2026but at the distance of his choice pic.twitter.com\/lA9Ayp3qCN<\/a><\/p>\n