Early 2027 NHL Draft Rankings

By Jesse Ambrock

June 10, 2026 · 1,180 words

Even this far from the 2027 NHL Draft a clear top tier has already separated itself on the combination of current production and projectable tools. The board is headed by an exceptional-status right-shot defenseman, a massive center already producing at a high level in the QMJHL, and a powerful Russian forward whose frame and scoring touch stand out in the MHL. Below that group the class carries the usual early volatility, with several high-production juniors and a handful of advanced Europeans who could climb or slide depending on how their D-0 seasons unfold.

The evaluation follows the same logic applied to the 2020–2024 classes: production is weighed against the strength of competition and the player’s role within it, with extra credit for driving play in stronger leagues and against older opponents. Tools that are likely to survive against NHL pace and physicality — skating, size at premium positions, hockey sense, and compete — receive additional emphasis. International results and usage against men provide further context where available.

The Clear Top Tier

Landon DuPont already looks like the best bet in the class to become a true No. 1 NHL defenseman. The right-shot blueliner posted 18 goals and 55 assists for 73 points in 63 WHL games in his D-1 season for Everett, an exceptional rate for a defenseman at that age. He logged heavy minutes in all situations and showed the ability to drive play from the back end rather than simply benefiting from stronger forwards. His combination of size, right-shot profile, and offensive impact at the junior level gives him the kind of cornerstone value teams rarely find this early. The Silvertips won the 2026 WHL Championship (Ed Chynoweth Cup), with DuPont contributing 5 goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 18 playoff games.

Alexis Joseph sits right behind him as the top center prospect and the most projectable big-bodied middle-of-the-ice forward available. Listed at 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds, he produced 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 54 QMJHL games for Saint John while already drawing comparisons to the best forward prospects the league has seen out of that circuit in recent years. The size, scoring touch, and heavy all-situations usage point to legitimate top-six center potential once he adds strength and refines his game against better competition.

Nazar Privalov leads the strong Russian contingent and ranks as the third clear standout. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward has already shown scoring touch and play-driving ability for CSKA’s MHL program, and early expert evaluations treat him as a legitimate first-overall candidate on the strength of his frame and skill package. For teams that value big, skilled forwards who can play the middle or the wing, he represents high-upside territory even at this distance.

High-Upside Forwards and Defensemen

Jaxon Jacobson has posted the most dangerous raw production among D-1 centers in major junior, with 25 goals and 60 assists for 85 points in 63 WHL games for Brandon. That kind of output at the center position in a strong league, paired with his offensive profile, places him just behind the top three as a player whose ceiling at the NHL level could justify an early selection.

Sammy Nelson has emerged as the leading U.S. NTDP forward in early evaluations. He tallied 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 59 games for the U18 team, combined with his role as a central play-driver, giving him a balanced scoring and playmaking projection that fits a top-six NHL path.

On the blue line, Levi Harper and Kohyn Eshkawkogan both posted strong offensive numbers in the OHL for their age group. Harper recorded 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points in 68 games for Saginaw, while Eshkawkogan posted 8 goals and 45 assists for 53 points in 68 games for Ottawa. Both profiles suggest top-four, and potentially top-pair, potential if their defensive games continue to develop alongside the offense.

The Next Layer of Centers and Skilled Forwards

Carter Meyer has shown a physically assertive game with solid production for the U.S. NTDP U17 side, posting 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 41 games while accumulating significant penalty minutes. The combination of scoring touch, engagement, and center responsibility gives him middle-six upside with room to grow.

Milan Sundström has already produced at a high per-game rate against older competition in Sweden’s U20 Nationell league for MoDo, with 12 goals and 8 assists in just 12 games. That early translation against men makes him one of the more advanced European forwards in the class.

Brock England put together a strong D-1 season as a WHL center for Seattle, recording 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 64 games. His size and usage in a good league point to a realistic middle-six or high-end third-line projection.

Jamie Glance and Nolan Fitzhenry have both shown consistent production for the U.S. NTDP teams. Glance posted 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points in 55 U18 games, while Fitzhenry recorded 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 51 U17 games. Both carry clear middle-six forward projections with the usual developmental variables attached.

Additional Defensive and European Profiles

Dominick Byrtus has already played up an age group in Czechia’s U20 league for Třinec and contributed from the blue line. Brock Cripps produced 6 goals and 31 assists for 37 points in 62 WHL games for Prince Albert, signaling puck-moving upside. Max Calce put up strong per-game numbers in Germany’s DNL U20 for Jungadler Mannheim. Ryerson Edgar contributed 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 64 OHL games for Niagara. Dorian Eklund Aspe drove production for Djurgården’s U18 side in Sweden. Semyon Gerasimov showed finishing ability with 20 goals in 42 MHL games. Brock Chitaroni added 10 goals and 14 assists in 60 OHL games for Ottawa. Bosse Meijer posted 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 31 U20 Nationell games for Frölunda.

These players sit in the 11–20 range because their current production and context support NHL projection while still leaving room for significant movement once they play full draft-year seasons against better competition.

Notable Names Outside the Current Top 20

Rocco Pelosi, Sergei Skvortsov, Jonah Neuenschwander, and Timothy Kazda are among the prospects already appearing on early lists but carrying smaller or less dominant samples relative to the group above. Their omission from the top 20 at this stage reflects the limited information available rather than any firm judgment on their eventual upside. Several of them could enter the top 20 quickly with stronger performances in their D-0 seasons.

This early in the cycle the ordering remains highly volatile. Production at the D-1 stage is a useful signal when it occurs in good leagues and against older competition, but teams evaluating this class will ultimately be betting on tools, compete, and development trajectories that have not yet been fully tested. The top three stand out clearly on current evidence; the rest of the board will continue to shift as these players take on bigger roles and face better competition in the coming year.