theathleticuk
The top of next years NHL Draft is exciting.
My top three ranked prospects in 2027 would all have been in the conversation, and some would have been ranked over, any of the top prospects in the 2026 draft, although theres a notable drop off following Nazar Privalov at No.
3.
While a lot of these observations will change significantly in the next 12 months, its fair to note 2027 early on looks like a forward-heavy draft.
Following Landon DuPont, the next defenseman doesnt appear until the 14th pick.
The draft order is based on team future odds for the 2026-27 season.
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Calgary Flames: Landon DuPont, RHD, Everett (WHL) DuPont, an exceptional status WHL player, is an exceptional NHL prospect as well.
Hes a high-end skater with the edge work, first few steps and top speed to clearly move at an NHL pace.
He has excellent stick skills, makes a ton of difficult plays with the puck and is dangerous whenever hes around the play.
He also has a great shot from the point.
DuPont is a competitive defenseman, but hes undersized by NHL standards and despite his great feet, whether hell be able to match up with good players will be a minor question.
He still has the potential to be a star because he checks every other box with emphasis.
DuPont committed to play his draft year at Michigan.
2.
Vancouver Canucks: Alexis Joseph, C, Saint John (QMJHL) Joseph is a prototypical top prospect.
6-foot-5 centers with high-end skill who can skate are very rare, and its why hes reminded some scouts of Evgeni Malkin, although hes not quite that level of talent.
He makes highly difficult plays at a fast pace and sees the ice at a high level.
Joseph is a big, hardworking center who can play both ways and gets to the net to score.
Hes a potential No.
1 center in the NHL.
3.
Chicago Blackhawks: Nazar Privalov, LW, CSKA (MHL) Privalov is an extremely athletic and skilled winger.
He has clear NHL speed and excellent hands, showing the transition skills to be a premier play-driver at the next level.
Hes very creative as a handler and passer, showing the instincts to create chances off the rush and from the perimeter.
Privalov is talented, but its his motor that defines him.
Hes a big, mean, punishing forward who embraces the physical parts of the game.
He projects as an impact power winger in the NHL.
According to a league source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, he has signed a four-year deal with CSKA, which starts this season.
4.
Seattle Kraken: Milan Sundstrom, C, MoDo (Sweden Jr.) Sundstrom, the son of former NHL player Niklas Sundstrom, is the clear best player in his Swedish age group.
A 6-foot-2 center with excellent hands and vision, its easy to see him running an NHL power play and racking up points.
His pace and energy level arent the best, though, and how his game translates to the pros is a minor question.
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Nashville Predators: Jonah Neuenschwander, C, Biel-Bienne (NL) One of the best Swiss prospects since Nico Hischier, Neuenschwander has already shown well versus men as a 16-year-old following a significant growth spurt.
Hes now a tall, fast, highly skilled center who projects to be a points producer at higher levels.
Is he the most dynamic or hardest center Ive ever seen? No, and figuring out his level of offense is something Im on the fence about.
6.
St.
Louis Blues: Sammy Nelson, C, U.S.
NTDP (USHL) Nelson is a 6-foot-3 right-shot center who has been a leader for his U.S.
NTDP age group.
Hes a strong skater with a direct style of play who can play at an NHL speed.
He has good hands and vision, although hes not a super creative type who projects as a major pro scorer.
Hes detailed, works hard and has two-way center potential.
7.
Detroit Red Wings: Gunnar Conboy, C, Green Bay (USHL) Conboy had a great first season in junior.
Hes a tall center whos highly athletic and physical, showing a brand of hockey that will excite evaluators.
The pure skill and offense in his game are minor questions, but as of now, he looks good enough to be a significant NHL prospect.
8.
New York Rangers: Timothy Kazda, RW, Chicago (USHL) Kazda is a very talented winger who scored a lot this season between the USHL and an MVP performance at the U18 worlds.
His stick skills and offensive sense are high-end, and he projects to continue to score as he advances levels due to having good pace in his game.
His physicality isnt the best, but he competes OK enough that its not a major issue.
9.
Winnipeg Jets: Dima Zhilkin, RW, Saginaw (OHL) Zhilkin is an undersized winger, but he projects to be a play driver at the next level.
Hes very talented with excellent stick skills, speed and the ability to make difficult plays.
His game is driven, though, by his compete level.
Hes a tenacious forward who is physical, wins a lot of battles and plays both ways.
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New York Islanders: Noah Davidson, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL) Davidson has all the looks of a future top-six NHL forward.
Hes a tall, fast, highly skilled winger.
Hes a reliable player off the puck who competes well and wins battles while also having a lot of offense.
He has a great shot, makes difficult plays with the puck and creates chances in a way that will translate up levels.
11.
Boston Bruins: Tomas Selic, LW, Brno (Czech Jr.) Selic is a highly promising big winger who has the speed and hands to create a lot of controlled entries at the pro level.
Hes very creative with the puck, showing good vision to execute difficult plays and doing so with pace.
He plays hard enough to score at the net and uses his size to win battles.
12.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sergei Skvortsov, RW, Torpedo (MHL) Skvortsov has one of the best sticks in his age group.
Hes a very slick and creative winger who makes a lot of plays.
Hes a good skater who can play with the required tempo for the NHL.
Hes not super hard to play against, but the offense in his game is legit.
13.
Philadelphia Flyers: Carter Meyer, C, U.S.
NTDP (USHL) Meyer is the top-line center for the USA 2009 group.
Hes a well-rounded, highly competitive center.
Hes a physical, hard forward who gets to the net to create chances.
He has very good hands and moves well, too.
His playmaking is good enough, but he doesnt project as a top-tier point producer.
14.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Douglas Johnsson, RHD, Skelleftea (Sweden Jr.) Johnsson is a very skilled and intelligent puck-moving defenseman.
He shows great poise moving pucks and running a power play.
Hes not the biggest defender, but hes highly mobile and competitive and is trusted by coaches at the junior level.
Whether he can make stops as a pro is to be determined.
15.
Los Angeles Kings: Petr Tomek, LW, Karlovy Vary (Czechia) Tomek had a great season, making a difference for his team in the top Czech pro league, including nine points in 13 playoff games.
His skill level and offensive sense are excellent, showing the puck game to be a threat versus men.
Hes undersized, but he works hard, wins battles versus bigger players and has enough interior offense.
His skating is good enough, but there are some mechanical issues that will likely get picked at because hes a smaller winger.
16.
Ottawa Senators: Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL) Gordon-Carroll was quite good for a top WHL team in Medicine Hat.
His talent jumps off the page, with elite stick skills and ability to make defenders miss.
Hes a good skater who attacks defenses with a pro tempo.
Gordon-Carroll isnt that big, but he gets to the middle and works hard off the puck.
He has a lot of pro potential.
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San Jose Sharks: Roberts Naudins, LW, Shattuck St.
Marys (U.S.
High School) Naudins talent is obvious.
Hes a massive winger at nearly 6-foot-6 who moves and handles the puck like an NHL player.
He can generate a ton of controlled entries and scoring chances.
Is he an elite puck play type? Thats what he will have to prove in the WHL next season, but he has all the traits to be a very high NHL pick with a strong season.
18.
Boston Bruins (from Toronto): Andrei Pustovoy, RW, Lokomotiv (MHL) Pustovoy was among the best players in the Russian junior league last season.
Hes a tall, fast, highly skilled winger with great offensive sense and scoring ability.
He can make highly difficult plays at full speed.
His effort level is about average, but it shouldnt be an issue at the next level.
19.
Utah Mammoth: Brock Cripps, RHD, Prince Albert (WHL) Cripps is one of the more purely talented players in his age group.
Hes a very shifty skater with the speed and edge work to play at the next level.
Hes highly creative and intelligent with the puck and is great at making opponents miss and making plays.
Hes an undersized defenseman, though, whose ability to make stops will be questioned by scouts.
20.
Anaheim Ducks: Filip Kovalcik, LHD, Drummondville (QMJHL) Kovalcik looked promising between his play in the Q and numerous appearances internationally for Slovakia.
Hes a strong-skating defenseman who competes well and makes a lot of stops.
He has good hands and first-pass skill from the back end.
He doesnt stand out at any one thing, but does enough well to have a legit pro projection.
21.
Buffalo Sabres: Jamie Glance, RW, U.S.
NTDP (USHL) Glance is a smaller winger, but hes very talented with clear offensive traits for the next level.
Hes super skilled and creative with the puck, making difficult plays with high frequency and showing the ability to run a power play well.
Hes a good enough skater, not a blazer, but he moves well and has pace in his game.
Whether he has enough jam will be a minor issue for scouts as they project him to the NHL.
22.
New Jersey Devils: Yevgeni Yakunin, C, Spartak (MHL) Yakunin is a big center with good foot speed and the ability to drive play as he advances levels due to his combination of quickness and skill.
Hes not a high-end playmaker, but he sees the ice well enough and has two-way center potential.
He signed a five-year pro contract with Spartak.
23.
Montreal Canadiens: David Huk, C, Linkoping (Sweden Jr.) Huk checks a lot of boxes for NHL teams.
Hes a good-sized right-shot center with the speed, hands and hockey sense for the next level, showing hes a player who can drive play and create a bunch of scoring chances.
Hes not that hard to play against, but he works hard enough.
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Washington Capitals: Luca Santala, C, Kiekko-Espoo (Finland Jr.) Santala is the top Finnish prospect for this season.
Hes a talented center, with the athleticism, skill and vision to have significant pro potential.
Santala can create offense off the rush and from the perimeter.
He has great skill running a power play.
His effort level is just OK, but its good enough to play in the middle potentially in the NHL.
25.
Dallas Stars: Jaakko Wycisk, C, Guelph (OHL) Wycisk is a toolsy right-shot center.
Hes a good skater who can play with pace.
Hes not the greatest playmaker youll ever see, but hes quite skilled and has legit offense in his game.
Hes detailed off the puck and has a solid compete level.
26.
Minnesota Wild: Diego Gutierrez, RHD, U.S.
NTDP (USHL) Gutierrez is a tall right-shot defenseman who was the top blueliner for his USA age group.
He skates and moves the puck well, and in his best games, he displays significant NHL potential.
His game lacks physicality, though, and being a tad more consistent will be key for him going into his draft season.
27.
Seattle Kraken (from Tampa Bay): Oskars Luks, RHD, Jukurit (Finland Jr.) Luks physical tools are very intriguing.
Hes a huge defenseman at 6-foot-5 who moves OK for his size and has decent puck skills.
He has a lot of development work ahead of him, and well see how he does as he advances levels against better players in Finland, but the pro potential is clearly there.
28.
Chicago Blackhawks (from Edmonton): Vladimir Shtyrkhunov, RHD, CSKA (MHL) Shtyrkhunov was quite good this season in Russia between his play in junior and with the national team.
He makes a lot happen with the puck due to his great combination of speed and skill.
Hes one of the better skaters in his age group who will clearly be able to attack at an NHL tempo.
He closes on checks well and projects as a two-way player against pros.
The offense in his game is good, but is it elite? That will be the question in his draft season.
29.
Calgary Flames (from Vegas): Brock England, LW, Seattle (WHL) England is a smooth, powerful skater who has a lot of pace to his game.
He possesses good hands and creativity with the puck.
Hes not an elite playmaker, but he makes enough happen with the puck to be dangerous.
Hes played some center, but likely projects as a pro winger.
Hes good enough off the puck, but at 5-foot-11, ideally he adds some more jam to his game.
30.
Toronto Maple Leafs (from Colorado): Jaxon Jacobson, C, Brandon (WHL) Jacobson was one of the better forwards in the WHL last season as a driving force for Brandons offense.
He has excellent quickness, hands and vision.
He can run a power play very well and has the brain to make tough plays from the perimeter.
The perimeter, however, is where he plays a bit too much, and for a smaller forward, that will be a question on his pro projection.
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Carolina Hurricanes: Nolan Fitzhenry, LW, U.S.
NTDP (USHL) Fitzhenry is a very talented offensive player.
He has the high-end skill and offensive mind to make difficult plays with consistency.
Hes an excellent passer and projects to run a pro power play with how he can move the puck.
He skates well enough, although for his size hes not a blazer.
He does get to the inside to score.
32.
Chicago Blackhawks (from Florida): Felix Timraz-Westin, G, Vaxjo (Sweden Jr.) Timraz-Westin is quite athletic for a goaltender his size and has the potential to take over a game.
Hes been somewhat inconsistent in his time so far in junior, but the talent is there if he puts it together in his draft season to be a high pick.