2027 NHL Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 17-32

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

17. Philadelphia Flyers: Petr Tomek, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Extraliga)
    
    
    Philadelphia owns Toronto's 2027 first round pick. Philadelphia will have Sean Couturier, Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, and if they end up drafting someone like Rocco Pelosi at center they will have four quality centers. Petr Tomek could be a bottom six center on the third or fourth line down the road, but he would get additional time to develop.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Petr Tomek 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. Petr Tomek is currently the sixteenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft. Philadelphia can ease Petr Tomek into the lineup with all the depth and stability they have at center.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 152 lb Petr Tomek had 17 goals, 26 assists, and 43 points with HC Energie Karlovy Vary's Under 17 Team in 23 games in 2024-2025. Petr Tomek had 2 goals, 5 assists, and 7 points in 13 games with HC Energie Karlovy Vary's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Landon Nycz, D, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
    
    
18. Chicago Blackhawks: Timurs Malisevs, LW, Lulea HF (Elitserien)
    
    
    Chicago gets a top line winger to pair with Connor Bedard. Timurs Malisevs has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger even though left winger is his main position. He can develop for two years in Sweden while Ryan Donato plays out the final two years of his contract.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Timurs Maisevs 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. Timurs Malisevs is currently the seventeenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 161 lb Timurs Malisevs had 18 goals, 18 assists, and 36 points in 18 games on the Lulea HF Under 16 Team in 2024-2025. Timurs Malisevs had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in 5 games with the Lulea HF Under 18 Team in 2024-2025.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Keaton Verahoeff, D, North Dakota
    
    
    
    
19. Carolina Hurricanes: Ognjen Martinovic, LW, Budapest Jegkorong Academia (Erste Liga)
    
    
    Carolina will have Nikolaj Ehlers, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov on their top line for quite some time. Carolina could draft a left winger that is groomed to replace Taylor Hall on the second line. Ognjen Martinovic is from Serbia.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Ognjen Martinovic 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. Ognjen Martinovic is currently the eighteenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft. Ognjen Martinovic has experience on a top line, but his production needs to improve.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 179 lb Ognjen Martinovic had 4 goals, 9 assists, and 13 points in 27 games with the Budapest Jegkorong Academia Under 18 Team in 2024-2025. Ognjen Martinovic needs to improve his production this year to stay in the first round conversation.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
    
    
20. Edmonton Oilers: Eric Tu, G, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
    
    
    Edmonton drafts a goalie. Calvin Pickard and and Stuart Skinner are UFA's in 2026. If Edmonton fails to win a Stanley Cup by 2027, they might draft their future goalie even if Pickard or Skinner returns on a team friendly deal as a stop gap.
    
    
    
    Eric Tu has a shutout unlike Carter Esler. Eric Tu also does a better job using his blocker pad and got the Calgary Hitmen to a penalty shootout against the Medicine Hat Tigers. He stopped the first shooter on the Medicine Hat Tigers before Gavin McKenna scored on him. Esler does have the better goals against average and save percentage, but Esler and Tu should be the top two goalies off the board in the 2027 NHL Draft with both potentially getting drafted in the first round.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 201 lb Eric Tu had a 3.50 goals against average, a .877 save percentage, 1 shutout, and a 7-5-3 record in 15 starts playing 16 games for the Calgary Hitmen in 2024-2025. Eric Tu also played 1 period in the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    
    
21. Ottawa Senators: Daniil Yermolov, C, CSKA Moscow (KHL)
    
    
    Ottawa was stripped of their 2026 first round pick. Ottawa will get to pick again though in the first round of the 2027 NHL Draft. Daniil Yermolov has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger. He is mainly a center that can line up situationally at winger.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Daniil Yermolov 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. Daniil Yermolov scored a power play goal on film and is an outstanding penalty killer despite slightly undersized. Daniil Yermolov is currently the nineteenth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft. Ottawa has stability at center with Tim Stuztle their 2020 first round pick drafted third overall on the first line, Dylan Cozens on the second line, and Shane Pinto on the third line. Daniil Yermolov would be the fourth line center or he can develop in Russia until Dylan Cozens becomes a UFA in 2030.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 163 lb Daniil Yermolov had 32 goals, 21 assists, and 53 points in 31 games with the CSKA Moscow Under 16 Team in 2024-2025. He should be playing tougher competition and if he can maintain his top line role against that level of competition it will go a long way to solidifying his first round status.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: None
    
    
22. Seattle Kraken: Landon Horiachka, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
    
    
    Seattle got Braidy Wassilyn and right winger Mathis Preston with Tampa Bay's first round pick in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft with Wassilyn being a Jaden Schwartz replacement and Preston being a Jordan Eberle replacement. Landon Horiachka would be a Kaapo Kakko replacement if Seattle doesn't extend Kakko whose a UFA in 2028. One right winger with first line potential still on the board is Landon Horiachka.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Landon Horiachka 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. Landon Horiachka is currently the twentieth player in the 2027 NHL Draft with experience on a first line in the 2027 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 187 lb Landon Horiachka had 13 goals, 19 assists, and 32 points in 28 games with the Sherwood Park Kings Under 18 Team in the AEHL in 2024-2025. Landon Horiachka was the Vancouver Giants third round pick in the 2024 WHL Draft and only played 4 games with the Vancouver Giants spending most of his time developing on the Sherwood Park Kings in the AEHL.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Braidy Wassilyn, LW, Boston University
    
    
    
    
23. Columbus Blue Jackets: Jaxon Jacobson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
    
    
    Columbus has a pretty stacked roster for their NHL lineup and a prospect pool that is loaded for the most part. Arseni Ilyin the player I mocked to Columbus in 2026 gives you a fourth line left winger at worst and at best is a replacement to Boone Jenner. Luca Del Bel Belluz and Cayden Lindstrom can replace Charlie Coyle and Isac Lundestrom as the centers on the back six when their contracts expire. Jacob Christiansen could replace Erik Gudbranson as a third line defenseman in 2026 before Jackson Smith the Columbus Blue Jackets fourteenth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft arrives at defenseman in 2027. Columbus also drafted two goalies that could be ready by 2027, but something tells me Columbus will try to retain Elvis Merzlikins at goalie on a bridge deal until their 2025 first round pick Pyotr Andreyanov signs as Andreyanov signed a contract extension that keeps him in Russia until 2030 which is why I believe Merzlikins gets a bridge deal until then and Zach Werenski their number one defenseman whose a 2028 UFA is probably getting extended after being a Norris Trophy finalist. This gives Columbus the luxury to draft the best player available or they can draft for need and get either a center, right winger, or defenseman.
    
    
    
    Jaxon Jacobson has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. The Brandon Wheat Kings drafted Jaxon Jacobson fifth overall in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Jaxon Jacobson 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. Jaxon Jacobson has the floor of a third line forward the ceiling of a first line forward. Jaxon Jacobson played on the first line as a 15 year old in 2024 when his teammate Roger McQueen was injured. Jaxon Jacobson is the twenty first player in the 2027 NHL Draft with first line potential.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 176 lb Jaxon Jacobson had 4 goals, 2 assists, and 6 points in 7 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2023-2024. Jaxon Jacobson had 15 goals, 29 assists, and 44 points in 51 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2024-2025. Jaxon Jacobson had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 5 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Arseni Ilyin, LW, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)
    
    
24. Utah Mammoth: Diego Gutierez, D, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Utah will be pretty deep at left winger with Tij Iginla and Adam Nemec playing behind Clayton Kellery. They will also be four deep at center with Cooley, Caleb Desnoyers, Barrett Hayton, and Jack McBain. Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka give you two good right wingers on the top 6. Utah will be looking at a fourth line left winger, a third line right winger, and a defenseman to replace UFA John Marino Dmitry Simashev, Maveric Lamoureux, and Max Psenicka your 2025 second round pick are in the prospect pool as Utah will probably promote Simashev in 2026, Lamoureux to replace Marino in 2027 and Psenicka would replace Maata, Durzi, or Schmidt in 2028 when those three become UFA's. Utah drafts another defender here with the third defenseman finally off the board with Diego Gutierez being the third five star recruit at defenseman for college hockey teams along with Landon DuPont and Malik L'Italien.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Diego Gutierez had 8 goals, 35 assists, 43 points, and 26 penalty minutes in 48 games with the Shattuck St. Mary's Under 16 Team. Diego Gutierez will play for the USNTDP the next two seasons before enrolling at Notre Dame in 2027. With a dominant freshman season Diego Gutierez could make the jump to the NHL after his freshman season at Notre Dame. He could also stay all four years at Notre Dame and develop before signing a rookie contract in 2031 when Mikhail Sergachev becomes a UFA.
    
    
    
    There's no tape on Diego Gutierez, but he's a five star recruit at defenseman like Landon DuPOnt and Malik L'Italien my top two defenseman in my 2027 NHL Mock Draft. He could arrive on the NHL team that drafts him in 2028 after his freshman year at Notre Dame, but he could also develop in the NCAA until the end of his senior season in 2031 now that NHL teams own a players draft rights until they are 22 instead of 20 if a team wants to attempt to groom Gutierez into a top line defenseman versus a second or third line pairing.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Adam Nemec, LW, HK Nitra (Tipos)
    
    
    
    
25. Colorado Avalanche: Stephen Cover, RW, Madison Capitols (USHL)
    
    
    New York took a right winger with Colorado's 2026 first round pick from the Brock Nelson trae in my 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Colorado has one chance to extend their cup window in 2027. First they have to re-sign Cale Makar. This would give you Gabriel Landeskog, Nate MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews with everyone except your first line right winger Mikko Rantanen on Colorado's first line at forward and defense from their 2022 Stanley Cup winning team. Colorado basically has to draft a first line right winger here hoping they get similar value that the Dallas Stars got with Wyatt Johnston back in 2021 to keep that cup window alive. Even if they do that, Colorado will have to deal with teams like the Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth, and Chicago Blackhawks gunning them down for points when the 2027 NHL Season arrives.
    
    
    
    Stephen Cover was teammates with Rocco Pelosi at Mount St. Charles Academy being the first line right winger that complimented Rocco Pelosi. Stephen Cover was drafted eleventh overall by the Madison Capitols in the 2025 USHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 170 lb Stephen Cover had 45 goals, 60 assists, and 105 points in 64 games iwht the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 14 AAA Team in 2023-2024. Stephen Cover had 46 goals, 68 assists, and 114 points in 61 games with teh Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA Team in 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    Stephen Cover has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ and vision to succeed in the USHL. Stephen Cover gives the Madison Capitols a game changer at right winger. He's versatile enough to play center or right winger.
    
    
    
    Stephen Cover is a big game player. He shined in the playoffs for the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA Team. He plays a North South Game. He's got good size and strength. He's honest, competitive, hard working and he's versatile. He battles for pucks. May not get an assist, but sets up the big play. He's strong and has a willingness to battle. Stephen Cover got invited to the Madison Capitols camp last year. The Madison Capitols won the National Championship in High School hockey thanks to the Mount St. Charles Academy trio of Braiden Scuderi, Rocco Pelosi, and Stephen Cover.
    
    
    
    Stephen Cover models his game after former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars right winger Joe Pavelski. He even got to meet Pavelski when Mount St. Charles Academy won the National Championship for High School hockey. Joe Pavelski also had the versatility to play both center and right winger despite right winger being his main position. He likes pasta, chicken parmasean, and spaghetti. Stephen Cover wants to bring the Clarke Cup to Madison. He was the only first round pick that mentioned winning the Clarke Cup as a team goal, so that stood out in a big way.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Nils Bartholdsson, RW, Rogle BK (Elitserien)
    
    
26. Los Angeles Kings: Simon Belhorsky, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL)
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings first line forward tandem of Andrei Kuzmenko at left winger, Anze Kopitar at center, and Arian Kempe at right winger are all UFA's in 2026. Even if the Los Angeles Kings hit on their 2026 first round pick, they won't have enough bodies to make it out of the second round even if they manage to avoid the Edmonton Oilers. Drew Doughty will also be a UFA in 2027. While the Los Angeles Kings are built to win short-term over the next 1-2 years, their cup window closed a while ago, and this is a team that could be heading towards a rebuild by 2028 or 2029.
    
    
    
    I gave Los Angeles a left winger in my 2027 NHL Mock Draft. Simon Belhorsky makes a lot of sense here with some believing he has the best shot of any player in the entire 2027 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 161 lb Simon Belhorsky had 3 goals, 4 assists, and 10 games with HC Bili Tygri Liberec's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Simon Belhorsky will play for the Guelph Storm in the OHL this season.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
    
    
    
    
27. New Jersey Devils: Trevor Daley Jr., LW, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    New Jersey may make the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, but New Jersey could end up losing their starting goalie to Free Agency. If that happens, I have a hard time seeing the New Jersey Devils make it that far once again in 2027. Drafting a left winger to replace Ondrej Palat makes the most sense here. Trevor Daley Jr. is the son of former Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley. Trevor Daley Jr. has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. Left winger and center are his two most natural roles though.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 192 lb Trevor Daley Jr. had 32 goals, 55 assists, and 87 points in 41 games with the Florida Alliance North 15 Over AAA Team last year in 2024-2025. He was so dominant that he got an invite to play for the United States National Team Developmental Program. He can play center behind Nico Hischier if he's extended and Jack Hughes once Dawson Mercer becomes a UFA, but he can also be used as a potential replacement to Ondrej Palat at left winger.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
    
    
28. Boston Bruins: Braiden Scuderi, LW, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
    
    
    Boston gets another left winger for depth with the Florida Panthers first round pick thanks to the Brad Marchand trade that can play on the second or third line. Braiden Scuderi was drafted fifth overall by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the 2025 USHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-7 154 lb Braiden Scuderi is the first player among the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA trio of forwards. Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA team had Braiden Scuderi as the first line left winger, Rocco Pelosi as their first line center, and Stephen Cover as their first line right winger. All three of these forwards had over 100 points for the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA team in 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    Braiden Scuderi had 59 goals, 78 assists, and 137 points in 64 games on the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 14 AAA team in 2023-2024. Braiden Scuderi had 47 goals, 80 assists, and 127 points in 61 games on the Mount St. Charles Academy Under 15 AAA team in 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 15, Braiden Scuderi 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 USHL. Braiden Scuderi models his game after former Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau with similar size, skating, and skill as the late Gaudreau.
    
    
    
    Braiden Scuderi proccesses the game pretty quickly. He's small, but pretty balanced. He looked like a man among boys a Nationals. He looked like he had something to prove. Tried out for the United States National Team Developmental Program, but didn't make the team. He's been described by scouts as a gamer.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Adam Valentini, C, Michigan
    
    
    
    
29. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kaden McGregor, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
    
    
    All of Pittsburgh's centers will be UFA's in 2027 and Evgeni Malkin will be a 2026 UFA, but I'm under the assumption Pittsburgh brings him back just like they would bring back Crosby. Thomas Novak and Blake Lizotte both feel expendable though. Having a top line of Gavin McKenna at left winger, Sidney Crosby at center, and Bryan Rust at right winger could get Pittsburgh very far. Even if McKenna has a historical rookie season and does enough to help Crosby return to the Eastern Conference Finals the same way Lemeiux helped Jagr in 2000-2001, I don't think it will be enough for Pittsburgh to capture the Eastern Conference because I do not believe Pittsburgh has the goalie that can get them back to a Stanley Cup Finals. Drafting the best center on the board to play behind Crosby, Malkin, and Rutger McGroady makes the most sense here as that guy could compliment McGroady on the top 6 when Crosby and Malkin retire. Kaden McGregor who was drafted first overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2025 OHL Draft is still on the board at 29.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 168 lb Kaden McGregor had 38 goals, 44 assists, and 82 points in 29 games with the Ottawa Valley Titans Under 16 AAA Team as their team captain. Kaden McGregor had 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points in 9 games of the HEO league helping the Ottawa Valley Titans win that league. Kaden McGregor also had 3 goals, 8 assists, and 11 points in 5 games during the 2025 OHL Cup.
    
    
    
    Kaden McGregor 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 OHL. Kaden McGregor would have a chance to go in the top 5 of the NHL Draft in most draft cycles, but this draft is so loaded with International stars that he falls to the back end of the first round as a result.
    
    
    
    I'm also not sure what line McGregor plays on as Colin Fitzgerald the center projected to be a first round pick for the Peterborough Petes in the 2026 NHL Draft was a third line center last year. McGregor could be on the third line, second line or first line at center.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
    
    
30. Vancouver Canucks: Brock Cripps, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
    
    
    Vancouver has a pretty complete roster when everyone is fully healthy plus their AHL team in Abbotsford won the 2025 Calder Cup which is why they could get to a Western Conference Finals if they keep their core in tact once the Edmonton Oilers slip up. Quinn Hughes is a 2027 UFA, so Vancouver drafts a defenseman for insurance just in case. Brock Cripps was drafted second overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2024 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 154 lb Brock Cripps played 4 games as a second line defenseman on the Prince Albert Raiders. Brock Cripps had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in those 4 games with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2024-2025. He should be a regular with the Prince Albert Raiders this upcoming season.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Simon Katolicky, LW, Tappara (SM Liiga)
    
    
    
    
31. Detroit Red Wings: Thaddeus McMahon, D, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
    
    
    Detroit goes on a miraculous run to the Stanley Cup Finals winning the Eastern Conference their first year back in the playoffs. Detroit drafts another defenseman to compliment Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Theaddeus McMahonw was drafted first overall by the Omaha Lancers in the 2025 USHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 161 lb Thaddeus McMahon had 8 goals, 54 assists, 62 points, 94 penalty minutes, and a +39 +/- ratio in 60 games with the Chicago Mission Under 15 AAA Bantam Team. Thaddeus McMahon has exceptional production for a defenseman.
    
    
    
    Thaddeus McMahon 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 able to make quick reeads at top speed to facilitate zone entries for his teams. He loves to join on offense. He can push past forwards on both ends as far as offense and defense goes. He will crush his opponents on the boards. He reminds me of Zayne Parekh who Calgary took ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. I believe Thaddeus McMahon will be picked in the first round of the 2027 NHL Entry Draft if he turns the Omaha Lancers around in the USHL. He's a talented two way defenseman. He can run your power play, but he was second on the Chicago Mission Under 15 AAA Bantam Team in penalty minutes. He blocks shots well. Has traits to be a elite top end two-way defensemen. Skates well moves the puck well. He plays heavier than his size playing like someone who is 190 lbs despite being 160 lbs.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Mikey Berchild, C, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
32. Dallas Stars: Max Deslisle, C, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
    
    
    Carolina picked with the Dallas Stars 2026 first round pick. Dallas has enough cap space to bring back both Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley regardless of whether Dallas has 27 million or 43 million to spend on Free Agents in 2026. Dallas can also pay Jamie Benn, Nils Lundqvist, and Maverick Bourque $1 million a year to come back in 2026 while staying under the cap. Dallas finally captures a Stanley Cup with their core of players under GM Jim Nill as I have Dallas defeating Detroit to win the 2027 Stanley Cup Finals in this early 2027 NHL Mock Draft.
    
    
    
    Dallas drafts a center here to groom for the future. Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and Radek Faksa are all under contract until 2028. Dallas can draft a center and let him develop for a year before giving him an opportunity as a fourth line center. They can also let the player they draft develop for two years if they want him in a top 9 role on one of the first three lines at center when Matt Duchene's contract is up. Max Deslisle was drafted fifth overall in the 2025 OHL Draft. His family ties with his older brother, dad, and grandfather all being tied to the Owen Sound Attack is one big reason why Jim Nill and his scouting department may roll the dice on Max Deslisle.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 161 lb Max Deslisle had 41 goals, 67 assists, and 108 points in 64 games with the Toronto Titans Under 16 AAA. His older brother and father played for the Owen Sound Attack and his grandfather coached the Owen Sound Attack. Max Deslisle had 2 goals, 4 assists, and 6 points in 6 games during the 2025 OHL Cup.
    
    
    
    Max Deslisle 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 OHL. Max Deslisle has a chance to be a top 10 pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft, but he could also get pushed down to the end of the first round or even the second round due to how much international star power is in the 2027 NHL Draft.
    
    
    2026 Draft Pick: Tomas Chrenko, C, HK Nitra (Tipos)