2027 NHL Draft: 20 players you need to know
It’s July. The 2025 NHL Draft is over, free agency has already seen its biggest wave so far, and it’s time to wind down.
Or… is it?
After looking at the top 2026 NHL Draft prospects, it’s time for an early look at the 2027 class. This isn’t a draft ranking by any means. Heck, there are plenty of other skilled prospects left off this list. But this is just a preliminary look at some of the top young talents in the game today.
The real draw here is Landon DuPont, the exceptional status whiz kid from the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. Despite being a defenseman, he just finished one of the most incredible seasons ever by an exceptional status player, scoring 17 goals and 60 points in 64 games. Again, he’s a defenseman. It’s incredible. Gavin McKenna is the headline star for the 2026 NHL Draft, but some people are even more excited for DuPont given what he’s capable of as a defenseman.
So much could change in the next two years. Some of these guys might not even get drafted. But here’s an early look at the top talent for the 2027 NHL Draft in alphabetical order (and if you care about the 2028 NHL Draft, Maddox Schultz is great):
Šimon Bělohorský, LW (Czechia)
Scouts loved Bělohorský at the Youth Olympic Games, even if he didn’t have much offense to show for. He’s a 6-foot-2 sniper who can be very dangerous with the puck and isn’t allowed to get physical, even against bigger competition. Some scouts think Bělohorský has one of the best shots in the 2027 NHL draft, so I’m excited to see where he takes his game.
Landon DuPont, RHD (Everett Silvertips)
DuPont is special. Period. Like most modern-day defenders, DuPont is incredible with the puck, moving quickly and decisively. He’s more creative than any defenseman we’ve seen in quite some time. With the extra space, DuPont can absolutely take over a power play, either firing a hard shot or using it to take defenders out of position before setting up someone else. But DuPont brings much more than just offense. He blocks shots, competes hard and has the speed to get back after a scoring chance to break up a play. For his age, scouts have described DuPont as physically and mentally mature, allowing him to stack up against almost everyone.
Kaden McGregor, C (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
The Ottawa Valley Titans were must-watch entertainment any time they participated in tournament action – mostly because of McGregor. He had 82 points during the regular season before torching goalies with 11 goals and 24 points in nine playoff games. He then made it to the OHL Cup all-star team after putting up 11 points in five games for one of the most impressive performances from a non-GTHLer in recent tournament memory. He’s not huge, but he plays with an edge, wins so many battles, and he has skill to burn. There’s a reason why the Petes wanted him at No. 1 at the OHL Draft.
Carter Esler, G (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
I had to put a goalie somewhere on this list. At 5-foot-11, Esler is obviously much smaller than you’d want to see, but he grew about two inches based on publicly available measurements over the past year. Esler was great at both the Youth Olympic Games and the U-17 World Challenge, and he has an opportunity to earn a lot more playing time in Spokane this coming season. I love his athleticism and his commitment to never giving up on a play. If he doesn’t grow any further, he’ll have a tough time. But as a late 2008-born prospect, he has a bit more runway.
Diego Gutierrez, RHD (USNTDP)
Gutierrez seems built for the modern-day NHL game. He has a decent frame at 6-foot-1, but he also skates so well and loves to rush the puck. Against his age group, opponents struggled to break through the middle of the ice because Gutierrez’s gap control gave them little to work with. He’s also a great passer, too. I think Gutierrez has the skill to rush the puck even more than he does, and I expect him to do a lot of play-driving from the point.
Michal Hartl, C (HC Kometa Brno, Czechia U-20)
Nobody was more prominent offensively than Hartl was this year. The Czech forward had a whopping 34 points in 20 games with the U-16 team and had a point per game with the U-17 squad, as well. He then parlayed that into a successful eight-game stretch in the top Czech junior league, where he yet again had a point-per-game effort. All this kid does is produce – I can’t wait to see him take another step as a full-timer in Czech U-20 competition.
Jaxon Jacobson, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)
He might be small at 5-foot-9, but his size hasn’t been an issue yet because he has some real muscle. He had an impressive 44-point rookie season in Brandon, which wasn’t surprising given how dominant he was at the U-18 level. He’s often the best player on the ice, using high-end dynamism to win most 1-on-1 battles. He can sometimes get a bit too fancy and kill a play on his own, but I’m glad he’s fearless enough to try some of the skilled plays he does.
Alexis Joseph, C (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL)
Joseph was the big prize this year in the QMJHL Draft – literally. He’s 6-foot-4, so he’s already so physically advanced for his age. He carries the puck exceptionally well, and he might be one of the smarter prospects I’ve seen enter the Q in quite some time. There just isn’t a glaring flaw in his game right now. Joseph is so tough to contain, and I have full belief that he’ll continue in major junior.
Malik L’Italien, LHD (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)
Scouts were really intrigued by L’Italien this year. He’s a tremendous skater, and is already extremely physical for his size. It helps that he’s 6-foot-3 and willing to lay anyone on the ice out. L’Italien hasn’t officially signed in the Q for next year (the USHL’s Chicago Steel also drafted him), but he has all the hallmarks of a franchise defender for the Mooseheads.
Eli McKamey, C (Victoria Royals, WHL)
The Royals might have lost Cole Reschny, but McKamey should give them at least some of the offense back next year. He had a decent year with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, but the WHL is going to be a whole different story. The Univ. of North Dakota commit blends speed, skill and hockey sense to win games. McKamey needs to add some more muscle, but I have no doubt he’ll be a threat every single night in Victoria next year.
Bosse Meijer, C (Frolunda, Sweden U-20)
Meijer had a nice showing at the U-17s, helping out as more of a secondary scoring threat for the Swedes. He loves to shoot the puck and can dance around defenders with some quick hands. While he isn’t the most skilled, he does a good job of out-thinking opponents on the rush, and he’s got the footwork to make some serious damage.
Charlie Murata, C (Flint Firebirds, OHL)
Murata was one of the premier scoring threats in the GTHL this year, notching 50 goals and 97 points on a stacked Don Mills Flyers team. He rarely had two bad games in a row. He also plays with so much pace, speed and hockey IQ. He was one of the slipperier prospects in the OHL Draft class – defensemen couldn’t figure out how to slow him down when he played with momentum.
Jonah Neuenschwander, LW (EHC Biel-Bienne, NL)
Part of me wonders if Neuenschwander is a legit talent or if he’s just simply much bigger than everyone else. I’m leaning somewhere in the middle. I loved him in international competition this year, and it’s wild that he played so many games in the top Swiss league at 15 years old. At 6-foot-3, he’s obviously massive for his age. But he skates well, has a great shot and has good two-way commitment.
Rocco Pelosi, C (USNTDP)
Pelosi put an absolute beating on his opponents this year. The younger brother of Boston Bruins prospect Chris Pelosi, Rocco commands attention every time he hits the ice. He does a great job of playing through the middle of the ice and beating guys with speed. Pelosi’s shot release is so deadly, and he’s no slouch as a passer, either. He was a standout at just about every showcase event last year and I’m excited to see if he can continue producing once he heads to the USNTDP.
Nazar Privalov, LW (CSKA Moskva, Russia U-16)
Privalov is a machine. He’s already 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds – at 16 – and can absolutely annihilate you with his punishing play. But he also is a high-end playmaker who plays with a ton of pace, something that is far from a given for a bigger forward. He likes to get in the way and create havoc, but he also has the skill to back it up.
Luca Santala, RW (Kiekko-Espoo, Finland U-18)
Every time I watched Santala play this year, he scored. That wasn’t rare, though – he scored 16 goals and 29 points in 16 games with the Finnish U-16 team. He was also one of the most productive players in the Finnish U-18 league, setting him up to eventually make his mark in the U-20 league this coming season. Santala is skilled, speedy and always looking for an open scoring lane.
James Scantlebury, C (Chicago Steel, USHL)
Scantlebury was drafted ninth overall by the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, but he elected to sign with the Steel instead after spending the past two years dominating the prep school ranks. Scantlebury moves well, and has some of the best playmaking in the 2027 draft class. Scouts wish he’d simplify his game at points – he can use his linemates a bit more. But in terms of pure, raw talent, Scantlebury is as good as they come right now.
Sergei Skvortsov, LW (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Russia U-18)
The premier Russian prospect, Skvortsov turned heads with a great showing at the Gold Star Showcase in Toronto late last month. He’s a powerful skater who never stops moving, and he has some of the best hands you’ll find in this draft class. His numbers were fantastic against Russian U-18 competition – I’m excited to see him rip up the MHL.
Milan Sundström, C (Modo, Sweden U-18)
Milan is the son of former NHLer Niklas Sundström, and you can see the hockey sense clearly carried over. While I don’t think Milan is particularly skilled by any means, he’ll beat you with his play reads, great passing ability and his tendency to find scoring lanes where others won’t. Sweden has always done a good job of developing quality two-way centers and Sundström is the next one up. The Swedes don’t have a super high-end talent for 2027, but Sundström is near the top, for sure.
Camryn Warren, C (North Bay Battalion, OHL)
I was fortunate to watch Warren play up close from the penalty box at the Whitby Silver Stick tournament in November – that allowed me to appreciate how skilled he truly is. The Battalion prospect is a tremendous playmaker with a great shot, and he does an excellent job of blowing past bigger defenders to create scoring chances. As long as he continues to grow, he’s well-positioned for a stellar career.
Other notables: Trevor Daley Jr., LW (USNTDP); Nolan Fitzhenry, C (USNTDP); Oliver Ozogany, LW (Tri-City Storm, USHL); Alexander Sementsov, LW (Barrie Colts, OHL); Jaakko Wycisk, RW (Guelph Storm, OHL);
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