2027 NHL Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 1-16

The 2027 NHL Entry Draft is headlined by Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon DuPont. Find out who got Landon DuPont.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: August 25, 2025.

1. San Jose Sharks: Landon DuPont, D, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
   
   
   San Jose continues to stack their blue line with defenseman. Landon DuPont was drafted first overall by the Everett Silvertips in the 2024 WHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Getting Landon DuPont to pair with Sam Dickinson on the top line after getting a guy like Ryan Lin in the 2026 NHL Draft to be your number three defenseman will take the San Jose Sharks very far. This allows for Simon Wang to be your number four defenseman down the road rather than having to rush Wang into a top line role. San Jose should have enough pieces to push for a playoff spot by 2028 at the earliest and by 2030 at the latest. If they get a few good defensive free agents you could start contending in 2027 with DuPont versus having to wait until 2028.
   
   
   
   Landon DuPont has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Landon DuPont is a plug and play first line defenseman. DuPont didn't always skate straight whether it was moving forwards or backwards and I also saw him holding his hockey stick with one hand versus two. Landon DuPont has traits you covet, but there are some minor areas in his game he can tweak to get better just in terms of his technique. These aren't weaknesses as much as they are areas of improvement moving forward.
   
   
   
   The 5-11 179 lb Landon DuPont had 17 goals, 43 assists, 60 points, 26 penalty minutes, and a +31 +/- ratio in 64 WHL games as a rookie in 2024-2025. Landon DuPont had 5 goals, 10 assists, and 15 points in 10 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs after leading the Everett Silvertips to the best regular season record.
   
   
   
   Scott Niedermayer was the first defenseman to record over 50 points as a 16-year-old. Landon DuPont became the first defenseman to record over 50 points as a 15-year-old with two more years of draft eligibility. Dennis Williams took a head coaching job with the Bowling Green hockey team last year prior to the Everett Silvertips drafting DuPont first overall. North Dakota, Penn State, Omaha, Denver, and Bowling Green are the current top five colleges to land Landon DuPont in 2026 and something tells me Landon DuPont will enroll at Bowling Green next Fall.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
   
   
2. Philadelphia Flyers: Rocco Pelosi, C, USNTDP (USHL)
   
   
   Landon DuPont has the highest ceiling of any player in the 2027 NHL Draft. There are two players with higher floors than DuPont. Those two players are centers Rocco Pelosi and Alexis Joseph. The United States National Team Developmental Program took Rocco Pelosi in the 2025 USHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Rocco Pelosi has a higher ceiling than Alexis Joseph and his production is more consistent at this point with Pelosi entering the United States National Team Developmental Program while Alexis Joseph goes to the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
   
   
   
   Rocco Pelosi has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy. He's got the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ and vision to succeed in the NHL. He likes to have steak in his free time. I already saw one of his interviews as Rocco Pelosi interviewed well on Steel Flyers.
   
   
   
   The 5-10 165 lb Rocco Pelosi had 87 goals, 83 assists, and 170 points in 64 games with Mount St. Charles Academy Under 14 AAA Team in 2023-2024. Rocco Pelosi had 65 goals, 75 assists, and 140 points in 60 games with the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA Team as Rocco Pelosi complete the trio of Braiden Scuderi, Rocco Pelosi, and Stephen Cover.
   
   
   
   Rocco Pelosi isn't the only big-time star on the United States National Team Developmental Program in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Cannon Thobdeau had 5 goals in one game becoming the first player since Ivan Demidov in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to accomplish this and will compete with Mikey Berchild last years first round pick from the United States National Team Developmental Program for the second line center role. Trevor Daley Jr. will probably be the fourth line center on the USNTDP with him being the son of former Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley. Mikey Berchild had to carry the USNTDP last year as a top pick, but couldn't play under pressure. I think the United States National Team Deveopmental Program will dominate this upcoming season and Rocco Pelosi will probably end up being their first line center unless Mikey Berchild beats him out for that job in camp.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
   
   
   
   
3. Boston Bruins: Alexis Joseph, C, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
   
   
   Alexis Joseph has the best floor among the trio of top prospects in the 2027 NHL Draft if we look at him Landon DuPont, Rocco Pelosi, and Alexis Joseph meaning he is the most NHL ready of that trio. Joseph is also the tallest of the trio at 6-4 with both DuPont and Pelosi at under 6-0. With size becoming more important in the NHL, this could be a big selling point for Joseph to go first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft if he dominates in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after being drafted first overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2025 QMJHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 15, Joseph has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the QMJHL. He's going to quarterback the power play while also playing a penalty killer role. He can play a 200 foot game as well and is just a very complete player.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 198 lb Alexis Joseph has already added 6 lbs of muscle since the 2025 QMJHL Draft. Alexis Joseph had 25 goals, 28 assists, and 53 points in 39 games with College Esther-Blondin Phenix in 2023-2024. Alexis Joseph had 23 goals, 33 assists, and 56 points with College Esther-Blondin Phenix in 2024-2025.
   
   
   
   Alexis Joseph will be a first line center on the Saint John Sea Dogs right out the gate next season. Right now, Alexis Joseph is projected to go third overall in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft behind Landon DuPont the first pick in the 2024 WHL Draft and Rocco Pelosi who was drafted by the United States National Team Developmental Program in the 2025 USHL Draft. Alexis Joseph has the highest overall rating of those three in NHL25 with Joseph at an 81 overall, Pelosi at an 80 overall, and Landon DuPont at a 77 overall when picking in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft, but DuPont and Pelosi have higher ceilings in terms of potential along with better production on film as well.
   
   
   
   He has the best size among the top 3 prospects, but whether he can have an uptick in point production from 53 to 56 points will determine his draft status. If he can get anywhere from 80-100 points he could go number one in 2027, but if he ends up with only 60-70 points in two QMJHL seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs, you are probably looking at him going third overall behind DuPont and Pelosi.
   
   
   
   Alexis Joseph has the traits you covet just like DuPont and Pelosi. I do not believe he goes first overall unless his production is in the 80-100 point range during his draft year leading up to the 2027 NHL Draft. He should go in the top 3 as long as he meets team expectiations in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs. Alexis Joseph is looking at colleges for 2026 as Omaha, Cornell, Massachusetts, Maine, and Northeastern are the finalists for Joseph at this point.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)
   
   
4. Minnesota Wild: James Scantlebury, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
   
   
   It is difficult to project which team in the Central Division will be dead last in 2027. Dallas and Colorado can be eliminated from this conversation immediately. Utah and Chicago could have playoff rosters by 2027. Winnipeg is too good to finish that poorly even if I dislike their blue line outside of Morrissey and Pionk. St. Louis has a well rounded roster, but not an All Star caliber player to put them over the top. Nashville had the best 2025 NHL Draft. This leaves Minnesota as the team that could take a step back if they let their All Star left winger Kirill Kaprizov walk in the 2026 NHL Free Agency Period. That is the only reason I put Minnesota at 4 in this way too early 2027 NHL Mock Draft.
   
   
   
   The Chicago Steel drafted James Scantlebury second overall in the 2025 USHL Draft. James Scantlebury was also a first round pick in the 2025 QMJHL Draft with James Scantlebury actually being ranked higher than Alexis Joseph at one point in the draft process leading up to the 2025 QMJHL Draft before signing a USHL tender to play for the Chicago Steel.
   
   
   
   James Scantlebury has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy. He's got the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ and vision to succeed in the USHL. He's a strong balanced skater. Quite the competitor. He dominated in the AAA showcase. His floor is Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings with his ceiling being Nate MacKinnon with James Scantlebury taking the exact same career path as Macklin Celebrini with a year on the Chicago Steel and possibly a year with Boston University as well.
   
   
   
   The 5-9 165 lb James Scantlebury was born in Montreal, Quebec. However he came to the United State to play hockey as James Scantlebury had 64 goals, 66 assists, and 130 points against kids his own age in 2023-2024. James Scantlebury had 35 goals, 65 assists, and 100 points in 56 games with the Bishop Kerney Selects Under 16 AAA team in Rochester, New York playing against kids a year older than him. This made James Scantlebury eligible for both the 2025 USHL Draft and the 2025 QMJHL Draft as a duel citizen. James Scantlebury opted for the USHL route signing a tender with the Chicago Steel.
   
   
   
   Outside of Landon DuPont, James Scantlebury was the only player in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft that has had the words special player attached to him by most media members right now. However after looking at Rocco Pelosi, Alexis Joseph, and James Scantlebury more closely, I would make the case that Scantlebury is fourth right now in the 2027 NHL Draft even though he could be in the conversation to go third, second, or possibly even first if he can outperform the trio of DuPont, Pelosi, and Joseph that headlines the 2027 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Macklin Celebrini had 46 goals, 40 assists, and 86 points with the Chicago Steel when he won USHL Rookie Of The Year. If Scantlebury matches or surpasses that point total that Celebrini set with the Steel he will get drafted in the top 5 even if he happens to be slightly undersized. The fact that people are using special to describe James Scantlebury should speak volumes. The Chicago Steel had two centers drafted in the top 5 in Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini. I think James Scantlebury has a good chance to become that third center drafted in the top 5 that played for the Chicago Steel and he's the final guy that I can say is a sure first first line player two years out with so little tape on players in the 2027 NHL Draft. Giving Minnesota a center tandem of James Scantlebury and Marco Rossi makes this offense very lethal at center on the top two lines.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo Hockey (Elitserien)
   
   
   
   
5. Buffalo Sabres: Sergei Skvortsov, LW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
   
   
   Sergei Skvortsov played on the first line as a 15-year-old in Russia. When is the last time a Russian did that. Yeah he played on the Torrpedo Nizhny Novgorod Under 18 Team versus the MHL team, VHL team, or the KHL team. Still to crack the top line that early in his junior hockey league career in Russia is impressive. The last player that cracked a top line that early was Alexander Ovechkin. I compared lots of Russians like Ivan Miroshnichenko, Matvei Michkov, and Ivan Provorov hoping to find the next Ovechkin or Kucherov, but the only Russian that played on a top line at the age of 15 outside of Ovechkin is Sergei Skvortsov which should say something. It is also the biggest reason why I gave Sergei the final spot in my top 5 as Ovechkin is 1/1 people just need to appreciate that Russia has a guy who may be the mentally toughest left winger since Ovechkin 23 years later.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Sergei Skvortsov has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the NHL. He's a special teams ace at left winger on top of that.
   
   
   
   The 6-1 165 lb Sergei Skvortsov had 24 goals, 28 assists, 52 points, 10 penalty minutes, anda +34 +/- ratio in 25 games with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod's Under 18 team which is their team ranked right below their MHL, VHL, and KHL affiliates as their first line left winger in 2024-2025. Sergei Skvortsov had 8 goals, 6 assists, 14 points, and a +11 +/- ratio in 10 playoff games with Torpedo Nizny Novgorod's Under 18 Team in the 2025 Playoffs. Sergei Skvortsov was so dominant that he will go straight to the MHL as a 16 year old and if he keeps this up he should play in the KHL before he gets drafted in 2027.
   
   
   
   Sergei Skvortsov can compliment Zach Benson on the second line, but he can also push Benson to be a better first line player if Benson does not take a leap in terms of point production in a few years. Also by 2027, Tynan Lawrence may be ready for the NHL. With Tynan Lawrence and Sergei Skvortsov, Buffalo may have their two most lethal chess pieces at forward since drafting Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhardt. Buffalo Sabres fans just need to hope Kevyn Adams keeps this core together by staying patient.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
   
   
6. Washington Capitals: Jonah Neuenschwander, C, EHC Biel (National League A)
   
   
   Jonah Neuenschwander is the younger brother of 2025 fourth round pick Elijah Neuenschwander. Jonah Neuenschwander has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger with his versatility. Jonah Neuenschwander may know up to six different languages too. In Switzerland German, French, Italian, and Romanish are the four defaut languages. Jonah probably knows those four plus English. He sounded like he was speaking mandarin in one of his recent post game interviews which is why I speculated on the possibility of Jonah Neuenschwander knowing as many as six languages. If my theory on Jonah knowing up to six languages is correct, then Jonah Neuenschwander might be the best athlete at mental processing since Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott who got his masters degree at Mississippi State in three years.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Jonah Neuenschwander has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the NHL. He's a special teams ace at center winger on top of that. Jonah Neuenschwander is currently the sixth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 183 lb Jonah Neuenschwander had 15 goals, 16 assists, and 31 points playing on a top line on the EHC Biel Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Jonah Neuenschwander had 0 goals, 3 assists, and 3 points in 15 games in the National League A in 2024-2025.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
   
   
   
   
7. Nashville Predators: Max Penkin, C, Adler Mannheim (DEL)
   
   
   Max Penkin can join some guys like Steven Stamkos, Brady Martin, and Fyodor Svechkov to form a deadly center tandem in Nashville. Max Penkin had an article titled Max Power in this years recent Hockey News NHL Draft guide. NHL Scouts in Germany are saying his competitive edge and compete level is better than Connor Bedard who was drafted first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023 with Max Penkin replacing an eventual 2027 UFA Ryan O'Reilly. Nashville was only one of two teams to get an A+ on every single pick in rounds 1-7 of the 2025 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Max Penkin has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the NHL. He's a special teams ace at center on top of that. Max Penkin is currently the seventh player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft, but with Nashville's stability at center Max Penkin probably won't be rushed into a top line role. As long as Steven Stamkos and Brady Martin remain on this roster you can start Max Pelkin on the third line and ease him into a bigger role behind Martin on the top 6 on the second line.
   
   
   
   The 5-11 176 lb Max Penkin had 22 goals, 28 assists, and 50 points in 41 games with Adler Mannheim's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Max Penkin had 8 goals, 6 assists, and 14 points in 11 playoff games. Max Penkin did well enough to get promoted to Adler Mannheim's main roster against where hewill play against the best men in Germany for the next two seasons.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
   
   
8. Anaheim Ducks: Dorian Eklund Aspe, C, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
   
   
   Anaheim has Leo Carlsson their 2023 first round pick drafted second overall as their first line center, Mason McTavish their 2021 first round pick was drafted third overall in that draft and is a RFA that should sign an extension before camp with the Ducks having $20 milion in cap space, Ryan Strome is the third line center under contract until 2027 and Ryan Poeling the fourth line center enters 2025 in a contract year. Anaheim can replace Rya Poeling with Roger McQueen and Anaheim can also draft a center like Dorian Eklund Aspe to replace Ryan Strome since I do not see Anaheim extending Ryan Strome when his contract is up. Dorian Eklund Aspe has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. He's also the top prospect from Sweden in the 2027 NHL Draft following in the foot steps of other centers on Djurgradens IF like Anton Frondell and Viggo Bjorck.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Dorian Eklund Aspe has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the NHL. He's a special teams ace at center winger on top of that. Dorian Eklund Aspe is currently the eighth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 185 lb Dorian Eklund Aspe had 6 goals, 12 assists, and 18 points 16 games on the Djurgardeens Under 18 Team in 2024-2025. He may be ahead of Anton Frondell in terms of development, but his 18 points are fewer than the 32 points Frondell had on the Djurgardens Under 18 Team in his plus 2 year back in 2022-2023, but Dorian Eklund Aspland played on the top line while Anton Frondell played on the second line where the competition wasn't as difficult. I want to see what Dorian Eklund Aspe does when he gets promoted to the Djurgardens Under 20 Team and then eventually the Djurgardens IF main roster in the SHL.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
   
   
   
   
9. Winnipeg Jets: Timothy Kazda, LW, Chicago Steel (USHL)
   
   
   Winnipeg will need another left winger to compliment Colby Barlow their 2023 first round pick if Kyle Conner leaves the Winnipeg Jets after this season. Timothy Kazda is the best player at this spot as Timothy Kazda was born in Slovakia. He moved to the United States and spent the last three years at the Seacoast Performance Academy in New Hampshire and will join James Scantlebury on the Chicago Steel this season as the top line winger complimenting Scantlebury at center.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Timothy Kazda has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Timothy Kazda is currently the ninth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   The 6-1 190 lb Timothy Kazda had 45 goals, 23 assists, and 68 points in 43 games with the Seacoast Performance Academy Under 14 AAA Team in 2022-2023. Timothy Kazda had 53 goals, 33 assists, and 86 points in 67 games with the Seacoast Performance Academy Under 15 AAA Team in 2023-2024. Timothy Kazda had 38 goals, 36 assists, and 74 points in 36 games with the Seacoast Performance Academy Under 16 AAA Team in 2024-2025.
   
   
   
   Timothy Kazda played 6 games with the Chicago Steel late in the year last year. He has two more seasons with the Chicago Steel as Scantlebury and Kazda both look like top 10 picks in 2027. Scantlebury is going to Boston University in 2027 while Kazda is going to Boston College in 2027.
   
   
   2026 Draft Pick: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
   
   
10. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nazar Privalov, C, CSKA Moscow (KHL)
    
    
    The Tampa Bay Lightning traded two first round picks to the Seattle Kraken as Seattle took Mathis Preston with the 2026 first round pick that the Lightning traded away in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Their 2027 first round pick is top 10 protected, and since this is a way too early 2027 NHL Mock Draft, I do have the Tampa Bay Lightning picking in the top 10 and keeping this pick in this mock draft.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay has all four centers Brayden Point their 2014 third round pick and first line center, Anthony Cirelli their 2015 third round pick and second line center, Nick Paul their third line center, and Yanni Gourde their fourth line center all under contract until 2029. The best player on the board at 10 is a center named Nazar Privalov, so that center will get to stay in Russia and develop after they get drafted until Nick Paul the Tampa Bay Lightning's third line center becomes a UFA in 2029.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Nazar Privalov has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, power play ability, and penalty killing to succeed in the NHL. He's a special teams ace at center on top of that. Nazar Privalov is currently the tenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft, but with Tampa Bay's stability at center Max Penkin probably won't be rushed into a top line role since Brayden Point is under contract until 2030 while Anthony Cirelli is under contract until 2031. Tampa Bay may end up keeping those two or at least Brayden Point until he retires while Privalov starts out in a third line role like Anton Lundell did with the Florida Panthers.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 205 lb Nazar Privalov had 25 goals, 40 assists, and 65 points in 32 games with the CSKA Moscow Under 16 Team as their first line center in 2024-2025. CSKA Moscow's Under 16 Team won their league in large part due to Nazar Privalov. Nazar Privalov was also the team captain of Russia's Under 16 Team captain posting 10 goals, 5 assists, and 15 points in 9 games with Russia's Under 16 International Team in 2024-2025. Nazar Privalov could be 6-5 weighting around 215 to 220 lbs by the time he's draft eligible in 2027.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Mathis Preston, RW, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
    
    
    
    
11. Calgary Flames: Eli McKamey, RW, Victoria Royals (WHL)
    
    
    Calgary drafts a right winger for the future. Eli McKamey has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger, but his best position is right winger. Eli McKamey was a fifteenth round pick in the USHL Draft and a second round pick in the WHL Draft by the Victoria Royals. Eli McKamey turned down both teams to play for the Penticon Vees in the BCHL, but with the Penticon Vees making the jump to the WHL as an expansion team, Eli McKamey will be contractually obligated to play for the Victoria Royals starting this Fall.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Eli McKamey has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He's a guy with the floor of a third line forward and the ceiling of a first line forward on the top line. Eli McKamey is currently the eleventh player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft as he played on the Penticon Vees top line.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 172 lb Eli McKamey had 15 goals, 16 assists, and 31 points in 52 BCHL games with the Penicon Vees in 2024-2025. Eli McKamey had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 9 games during the 2025 BCHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Eli McKamey might be a second line right winger on the Victoria Royals this year since he showcased the production of a second or third line forward despite playing on the Penticon Vees top line in the BCHL. He's going to North Dakota next year in 2026. If Calgary drafts Eli McKamey he could play any of the three forward roles, but I'd imagine he would start out on the third line and work his way up the Calgary Flames lineup as early as 2028 and as late as 2030.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
    
    
12. New York Islanders: Carter Esler, G, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
    
    
    New York will be loaded on the blue line with Matthew Schaefer and Kashawn Aitcheson both of the defensemen drafted in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on this blue line in 2027 with Alexander Romanov, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, and Scott Mayfield all under contract until 2029. I mocked Daxon Rudolph to the New York Islanders in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft, but he might not make the New York Islanders until 2029 NHL Trade Deadline when Adam Pelech is in a contract year.
    
    
    
    New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin had two years with strong save percentages when he became the New York Islanders starting goalie in 2020 leading the New York Islanders to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in the Covid-19 NHL Seasons where the Islanders lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning in both seasons. Ilya Sorokin's save percentage has declined each of the past four seasons and if that trend continues leading up to 2027 with the emergence of Schaefer as well as Aitcheson, New York will have to draft a new starting goalie for the future now that Sorokin is 30 entering 2025.
    
    
    
    Carter Esler is the top goalie in the 2027 NHL Draft as the Spokane Chiefs drafted Carter Esler twenty second overall with the final first round pick in the 2023 WHL Draft. The New York Islanders may end up drafting a goalie like Carter Esler as either a successor to Ilya Sorokin or potential replacement to Ilya Sorokin whose contract expires in 2031.
    
    
    
    I have seen Carter Esler listed as high as sixth overall in some preliminary player rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft. He was the only goalie listed in the Daily Faceoff top 20 prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft article that Steve Ellis posted. Steve, please reach out to me by messaging the Draft Utopia X handle or by email if you would like me to link your article.
    
    
    
    Carter Esler posted a 2.73 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in 19 starts with the Okotoks Oilers Under 15 AAA Team in the AEHL in 2021-2022 in his first year as a starting goalie. Carter Esler had a 2.26 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 8 games during the 2022 AEHL Playoffs. Carter Esler had a 2.98 goals against average and a .925 save percentage in 21 starts with the Okotoks Oilers Under 15 AAA Team in the AEHL in 2022-2023. Carter Esler had a 2.56 goals against average and a .936 save percentage in 9 games during the 2023 AEHL Playoffs. Carter Esler also went 3-0-0 with a 0.34 goals against average and a .987 save percentage recording 2 shutouts in 3 starts during the 2023 Alberta Cup.
    
    
    
    Carter Esler has elite athleticism for a goalie. He's got a lot of experience too with 40 games of experience as a starter over two years. He's also got experience in 17 playoff games in the AEHL as well as 3 starts in the 2023 Alberta Cup giving him 20 total playoff games as a starting goalie if you take his Alberta Cup information into consideration. Carter Esler could easily be a first round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft if he develops in Spokane and there's also good chance he will be the first goalie off of the board in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. He's really calm and he's a winner. He's driven he's focused.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 165 lb Carter Esler has grown 3 inches and added 33 lbs of muscle since he was drafted in the first round of the 2023 WHL Draft. Carter Esler posted a 3.23 goals against average, a .894 save percentage, and a 10-6-1 record in 17 starts playing 18 games as the Spokane Chiefs backup goalie in 2024-2025. Carter Esler played 2 games in the 2025 WHL Playoffs posting a 5.25 goals against average, a .794 save percetnage, and went 0-1 in his first WHL Playoff start.
    
    
    
    Carter Esler has the athleticism and work ethic you want in an NHL goalie, but he's also very. He was very dominant in the AEHL prior to the 2023 WHL Draft, but struggled in his rookie season in the WHL. He also helped Canada beat the United States back in the Under 17 World Challenge Smeifinals posting a .906 save percentage in that tournament, so his tape is encouraging enough to warrant a first round pick since he is money when he gets his glove on the puck.
    
    
    
    The rest of his game outside of his glove, athleticism, and work ethic in the weight room does need to continue to improve as this goalie probably has the best glove save I've seen from a goalie since Jake Oettinger's freshman year at Boston University. There isn't any shift by shift game film on Carter Esler, but there was one five minute highlight of him versus the Kamloops Blazers where his glove save continued to be his secret weapon as Esler made a save on a two on one breakaway that the Kamloops Blazers had. Even though his WHL stats aren't great yet, you see flashes of potential with Esler showing he can make a big glove save on a 2-on-1 breakaway as Esler went 28/30 on saves in a 5-2 win against the Kamloops Blazers. Esler is raw, but the upside to be an NHL starting goalie is there.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
    
    
    
    
13. Montreal Canadiens: Michal Hartl, C, HC Kometa Brno (Extraliga)
    
    
    Nick Suzuki Montreal's first line center is under contract until 2030 and I believe Montreal will try to keep him for the duration of his NHL career if they can. Michael Hage could end up replacing Kirby Dach as Montreal's 2024 first round pick as the second line center. Alex Newhook is a 2027 RFA as well as a guy who rotates between the second and third line center roles on the Montreal Canadiens. Jake Evans is the fourth line center and is under contract until 2029 with Colin Fitzgerald, the center I mocked to Montreal in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft probably replacing Evans in 2029. The center I'm mocking to Montreal would be a project and would either replace Nick Suzuki or Alex Newhook more likely Newhook starting in 2030. That center is Michal Hartl the best prospect from the Czech Republic in the 2027 NHL Draft as Michael Hartl has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Michal Hartl has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Michal Hartl is currently the twelfth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 183 lb Michal Hartl had 33 goals, 29 assists, 62 points, and a +33 +/- ratio in 37 games with HC Kometa Brno's Under 17 Team in 2024-2025. Michal Hartl had 6 goals, 3 asssists, and 9 points in 5 playoff games with HC Kometa Brno's Under 17 Team. Michal Hartl had 2 goals, 6 assists, and 8 points in 8 games with HC Kometa Brno's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Michal Hartl had 2 goals, 0 assists, and 2 points in 4 playoff games with the HC Kometa Brno Under 20 Team.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Colin Fitzgerald, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
    
    
14. St. Louis Blues: Jere Inkinen, C, JYP (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The St. Louis Blues can draft the best player on the board as this is a well rounded team with stability at all three positions forward, defensemen, and goalie like the Dallas Stars or Edmonton Oilers, but also a team that doesn't appear to have any All Star caliber players that put them over the top like the Oilers with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nugent-Hopkins or Stars with Rantanen, Heiskanen, Robertson, and Oettinger. St. Louis has Robert Thomas as their first line center, Brayden Schenn is the second line center under contract until 2028. Pius Suter is their third line center under contract until 2027 and Oskar Sundqvist is in a contract year with Dalibor Dvorsky their 2023 first round pick drafted in the top 10 probably taking over for Sundqvist next season or this season if Sundqvist gets injured. If St. Louis drafts another center, that guy could take over for Pius Suter right out of the gate or they could go back to their country develop for another year and compete for a roster spot in 2028 when Brayden Schenn becomes a UFA. The second of those two scenarios feels more likely.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Jere Inkinen has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jere Inkinen is currently the thirteenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft, but with the stability the St. Louis Blues have at center with Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn in a contract year, and Daliber Dvorsky potentially moving up from the fourth to third line in 2027, St. Louis will have flexibility to either play Jere Inkinen on the fourth line right out of the gate or they can bring him back to Finland in Brayden Schenn's contract year letting him develop for one more year in Finland before competing for a roster spot on the St. Louis Blues in 2028.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 159 lb Jere Inkinen had 29 goals, 47 assists, 76 points, and 38 penalty minutes in 38 games as the top line center on the JYP Under 16 Team in 2023-2024. Jere Inkinen had 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 38 games with the JYP Under 18 team in 2024-2025. Jere Inkinen also had 3 goals, 1 assist, and 4 points in 12 playoff games. Jere Inkinen has a shot to crack JYP's Under 20 Team this Spring and could crack JYP's main roster against men in Liiga, Finland's professional hockey league by his NHL draft year with the trajectory he is currently on.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Joe Iginla, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
    
    
    
    
15. New York Rangers: Paul Sintschnig, RW, Villacher SV (ICEHL)
    
    
    The Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers were the three Eastern Conference teams competing for the last two wild card spots. The New York Rangers were the odd team out in this early 2027 NHL Mock Draft. New York Rangers get a right winger to replace Kappo Kakko here. Paul Sintschnig is a right winger from Austria and this guy is a beast. He's Austria's best player since top 10 pick Marco Rossi the former Ottawa 67's center back in 2020. Unlike Rossi, Paul Sintschnig stayed in the country of Austria and stayed loyal to Austria.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Paul Sintschnig has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Paul Sintschnig is currently the fourteenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft. New York can try to mold him into a top line right winger with Alexis Lafreniere at left winger if Artemi Panarin leaves.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 165 lb Paul Sintschnig had 24 goals, 17 assists, and 41 points in 24 games with the Villacher SV Under 20 Team as the first line right winger in 2024-2025. Paul Sintschnig will play on Villacher SV's main roster in the ICEHL which is the professional hockey league in Austria.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
    
    
16. Vegas Golden Knights: Malik L'Italien, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
    
    
    In this 2027 NHL Mock Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks ended up beating out the Vegas Golden Knights for the final wild card spot. Vegas lost their best defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a career ending injury. Noah Hanifin is a guy I liked as a number three defenseman on a second line. He showed he could compliment Pietrangelo well, but I'm not sold on Hanifin as a number one defenseman and ultimately that is why I feel like the Vegas Golden Knights are in a similar spot as the Pittsburgh Penguins with an aging roster
    
    
    
    Vegas drafts the best defenseman on the board. Malik L'Italien was drafted third overall by the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2025 QMJHL Draft as Malik L'Italien was considered the second best player in the 2025 QMJHL Draft after Alexis Joseph. Cam Russell has been the Halifax Mooseheads GM since 2008 with Russell as Russell actually was a minority owner of the Halifax Mooseheads since their inception into the QMJHL when he was a former defenseman on the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche with the Halifax Mooseheads producing seven first round picks and two number one overall selections under Russell dating back to 2013.
    
    
    
    Halifax Mooseheads GM Cam Russell called Malik L'Italien and Cam Minella the two best defenseman in the 2025 QMJHL Draft. The irony is Halifax ended up getting both defenseman drafting Malik L'Italien in the first round and Cam Minella in the second round of the 2025 QMJHL Draft. Paulo Gualberto Jr. the Halifax Mooseheads 2025 third round pick is a center. Oleg Kulebyakin the Halifax Mooseheads first round pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft is a right winger from Russia. Jayden Nappon, Malik L'Italien's childhood best friend was also drafted by the Halifax Mooseheads in the fifth round as a left winger with Nappon being an alternate captain on a hockey team that Malik L'Italien was the captain of as he entered middle school. All five of these rookies are kicking ass in Halifax Moosheads camp and everyone outside of Nappon is a lock to make the opening night roster. That should show you how good Cam Russell did at reloading this Halifax Mooseheads team with their number one defenseman Carlos Handel a 2025 sixth round pick still on the roster too. I believe Malik L'Italien will play with Carlos Handel on the top line with these rookies performing well enough to push veterans for jobs according to a Halifax Mooseheads insider. Halifax is in a position to get their second QMJHL Cup after playing in the President's Cup three times under Cam Russell in 2013 when they won the Memorial Cup with Nate MacKinnon, 2019, and 2023.
    
    
    
    There was a report that Malik L'Italian bullied and hazed a former teammate. I do not know the full details of that. That, along with the fact that no defenseman outside of Landon DuPont are guaranteed top line roles could drive down the value of defensemen in the 2027 NHL Draft. Malik L'Italian is already pushing veterans for a first line spot and sounds very confident in Halifax Moosheads camp though. Malik L'Italien is quite a bit taller than Landon DuPont and something tells me he will end up complimenting Carlos Handel on the top line sooner rather than later.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Malik L'Italien has grown an inch since being drafted into the QMJHL. I don't know what line Malik L'Italien will play on yet, but his floor feels like the number four defenseman on the second line with his ceiling being the number two defenseman next to Carlos Handel on the first line. He could be the fifteenth different player with first line potential and possibly the only other defenseman outside of Landon DuPont with experience on a top line two years out. Drafting Malik L'Italien gives the Vegas Golden Knights a number one defenseman that the team can build around in the future.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)