2027 NHL Draft Predictions

The 2027 NHL Draft enters its evaluation season with a clear favorite for the first overall pick, but there is enough talent behind Landon DuPont to prevent the race from being treated as finished.

DuPont has already produced at a historic level for a young WHL defenseman, won a league championship with Everett and is moving to Michigan for the 2026 to 2027 season. That change in competition may provide the most important evidence of his draft year. Instead of continuing to dominate junior opponents, DuPont will now have to create offense, defend and manage the puck against older NCAA players.

Alexis Joseph offers the strongest positional challenge. A 6 foot 4 center with skating ability and offensive production gives NHL clubs the kind of premium player profile that can become extremely difficult to pass with the first selection. Dimian Zhilkin presents another route to the top through scoring, competitiveness and two way play. NHL Central Scouting has also identified Milan Sundstrom, Nazar Privalov and Max Calce among the notable prospects in the class.

DuPont is the current No. 1 prediction. Joseph is the most serious challenger, while Zhilkin has a realistic opportunity to become the highest rated forward if his offensive development continues.

The betting side requires more discipline. There is no verified 2027 NHL Draft market being used for this analysis, so there is no reason to force a futures wager before the prices exist. Establishing the prospect hierarchy now creates a better foundation for evaluating the No. 1 pick market once sportsbooks begin posting numbers.

The NHL betting hub provides the broader league context as the 2026 to 2027 season eventually determines which franchises move toward the draft lottery.

2027 NHL Draft Top Prospects

The early prospect board is led by DuPont, followed by a group of forwards whose draft stock could move substantially once their seasons begin.

*Outside of the USA hockey teams

DuPont starts with the strongest combination of production, skating and high level experience. Joseph holds second because franchise centers carry enormous draft value, while Zhilkin already has the scoring production and competitive profile required to close the gap. Sundstrom and Privalov are among the European prospects highlighted by NHL Central Scouting, while Nelson enters Notre Dame after an impressive run with the United States development program.

This ranking should be treated as an August board rather than a prediction of the exact draft order. Roles, college performance, international tournaments and physical development can change the hierarchy quickly.

Landon DuPont Leads the No. 1 Pick Race

DuPont enters the season with the résumé expected from a potential first overall selection.

The right shot defenseman produced 73 points with 18 goals and 55 assists in 63 regular season games for Everett last season. He then added 23 points in 18 playoff games as the Silvertips won the WHL championship and reached the Memorial Cup final. DuPont also recorded six points in four Memorial Cup games.

The production is impressive, but his NHL projection goes beyond points.

DuPont received exceptional status to play full time in the WHL as a 15 year old, becoming the first defenseman to receive that designation in the league. NHL Central Scouting has emphasized his skating, edge work, processing speed and ability to create plays from different areas of the ice. His development as a more physical defender has added another layer to a profile that was already driven by puck movement and offense.

Michigan becomes the next major test.

DuPont will face older competition in the NCAA and joins a Michigan roster expected to contain as many as 17 NHL drafted players, including five first round selections. That environment should provide a much clearer evaluation of how his skating, decision making and defensive positioning translate when the physical advantage moves toward the opposition.

A productive season at Michigan would make the No. 1 argument substantially stronger. If DuPont handles top assignments, produces on special teams and continues improving defensively, another prospect may need an exceptional season to pass him.

Alexis Joseph Has the Clearest Path to No. 1

Joseph is the player most capable of creating a legitimate debate at the top of the draft.

He produced 60 points with 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games for Saint John last season and won 50.1 percent of his faceoffs. At 6 foot 4 and 207 pounds, Joseph already has the size associated with an NHL center, but NHL evaluators have also highlighted his skating and ability to attack the middle of the ice.

That combination matters.

Large centers are valuable because they can potentially influence several parts of a game. A player who can transport the puck, create offense, defend through the middle and handle difficult matchups gives an organization a potential foundation for its top six.

Joseph does not need DuPont to struggle for the No. 1 race to tighten. He can create the argument himself by turning strong junior production into a dominant draft season.

The biggest checkpoint will be whether the offensive game reaches another level. Sixty points established Joseph as one of the top players in the class, but first overall consideration would become much stronger if he starts controlling games consistently rather than simply producing within them.

Position is also part of the discussion. If an NHL club views DuPont and Joseph as nearly equal talents, the opportunity to select a potential first line center could influence the final decision.

Dimian Zhilkin Could Become the Top Forward

Zhilkin has the strongest established scoring résumé among the players directly chasing DuPont.

The Saginaw winger recorded 36 goals and 75 points in 59 games last season while serving as captain. He also led Canada with seven points in five games at the 2026 IIHF World Under 18 Championship.

His size creates a different evaluation from Joseph. Zhilkin is listed at 5 foot 10 and 183 pounds, meaning the NHL projection depends more heavily on whether his skating, competitiveness and offensive skill consistently overcome larger defenders.

Early evidence is encouraging.

Zhilkin participated in Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase despite being younger than much of the roster. His ability to create plays under pressure and compete against larger opponents received positive attention during the event.

The path upward is straightforward. If Zhilkin produces another major scoring season while proving that his offense holds up against stronger competition, he can become the leading forward on the board.

The challenge is that passing DuPont requires more than scoring. Zhilkin would need to convince teams that his offensive ceiling outweighs the positional value and all around influence provided by an elite defenseman.

Milan Sundstrom Strengthens the European Prospect Group

Sundstrom gives the class another potential center near the top of the first round.

The 6 foot 2 Swedish forward produced 32 points in 16 games with MoDo's under 18 team and another 20 points in 12 games at the under 20 level. NHL European scouting has highlighted his combination of size, intelligence, scoring and playmaking.

The next question is competition level.

European prospects can sometimes produce lower raw point totals as they move into older leagues, even while their actual NHL projection improves. That makes Sundstrom's role and quality of competition more important than simply comparing his totals with CHL prospects.

If he receives more difficult assignments and continues creating offense, Sundstrom has the tools to move into the top three conversation.

His position also helps. Another center emerging as an elite prospect would place additional pressure on the DuPont versus forward debate at the top of the draft.

Sammy Nelson Could Become a Major Draft Riser

Nelson enters the season as one of the most interesting American prospects.

The right shot center produced 54 points with 27 goals and 27 assists in 58 games for the United States National Team Development Program under 18 team. He received an A rating on the preliminary NHL Central Scouting players to watch list and will play at Notre Dame.

Nelson missed eligibility for the 2026 draft by only four days, making him one of the older prospects in the 2027 class. Scouts will account for that age advantage when comparing his production with younger players, but it could also allow him to transition into college hockey more smoothly.

His appeal comes from a broad skill set rather than one elite statistical category. Size, speed, shooting and center responsibilities give him several ways to influence a game.

A significant NCAA role would push him rapidly upward. If Nelson proves he can create offense against college competition instead of functioning primarily as a responsible two way center, a top five position becomes realistic.

Nazar Privalov Brings Size and Goal Scoring

Privalov provides one of the more intriguing international profiles in the class.

The 6 foot 4 winger produced 26 points in nine games at the under 17 level before recording 49 points, including 30 goals, in 51 games during his first season in Russia's junior league system.

The combination of size and finishing immediately attracts attention.

The next stage of evaluation is determining how much offense Privalov can create independently. Large junior players can sometimes generate production through physical advantages that become less significant as the competition improves.

If his skating, puck handling and transition creation develop alongside the finishing ability, Privalov could move much closer to the front of the first round.

Max Calce Offers a Different Development Path

Calce represents another type of projection because he has already received experience against professional competition in Germany.

He scored two goals in 14 games for Mannheim and recorded four points in five games for Germany at the 2026 Under 18 World Championship while averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time.

Those numbers should not be compared directly with junior scoring totals.

Playing meaningful minutes against older professional players creates different challenges. The evaluation should focus more heavily on whether Calce can process pressure, defend effectively and create offense against stronger competition.

That experience could make him one of the more difficult prospects to rank through traditional statistics alone.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup Added Another Draft Checkpoint

Canada strengthened its position as the leading source of top prospects by winning the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Canada defeated the United States 8 to 1 in the championship game on August 8 after winning every preliminary round game and beating Finland in the semifinal.

DuPont was already considered the projected No. 1 selection entering the tournament. The event gave scouts another opportunity to evaluate how his game translated against elite players from his age group before his move to college hockey.

International tournaments are particularly useful because they concentrate talent. A player who may rarely face another top prospect during a normal junior schedule suddenly competes against several draft relevant opponents in the same week.

The Hlinka should not determine the draft order by itself, but it adds another layer of evidence before the regular season begins.

The 2027 World Juniors Could Reshape the Draft Board

The World Junior Championship will be one of the most important events of the draft season.

The tournament is scheduled for December 26, 2026 through January 5, 2027 in Edmonton and Red Deer. DuPont has identified making Canada's roster as one of his goals.

Playing in the World Juniors during a draft year can be particularly revealing because eligible prospects are often competing against players one or two years older.

Zhilkin has already been competing for consideration through Canada's summer evaluation process, while Nelson has been working toward a potential United States roster position.

A strong World Junior tournament would not automatically make somebody the No. 1 prospect, but it could substantially narrow the gap.

DuPont performing well against older international forwards would strengthen his position. Joseph producing as a center against the same competition would improve the alternative case. Zhilkin creating offense in a major role could establish him as the most dangerous challenger from the wing.

Team Need Will Matter More After the Lottery

Trying to match prospects with NHL organizations in August creates more uncertainty than useful information.

The 2026 to 2027 season has not begun, so the final standings, draft lottery participants and order are still unknown. Rather than assigning DuPont or Joseph to a specific franchise now, the better approach is to evaluate the players independently.

The NHL standings will become increasingly important once the season establishes which teams are likely to finish near the bottom of the league. The page currently tracks records, points and playoff position across the NHL.

Team fit becomes much more relevant after the lottery.

A franchise with several high end young defensemen could still take DuPont if it grades him clearly above every forward. If the grades are nearly equal, however, organizational depth could make Joseph or another center more attractive.

The NHL team directory provides the deeper team level path once prospect evaluations can be compared with actual organizational needs.

What Could Change the No. 1 Pick Race

DuPont does not need another prospect to fail in order to remain first. His draft position will largely depend on whether his own development continues.

The Michigan season is the first major variable. Strong NCAA production against older competition would answer one of the most important remaining questions surrounding his projection.

Joseph's development represents the second variable. A dominant season from a 6 foot 4 center could create exactly the type of positional debate that makes a No. 1 race tighten late in the process.

Zhilkin provides the offensive alternative. If his scoring continues rising and he produces against older international competition, scouts may have to determine whether his offensive ceiling warrants moving a winger above the centers and defensemen.

International results are another variable, particularly the World Juniors. One tournament should not outweigh an entire season, but strong performances against elite older competition can confirm development that scouts are already seeing at the club level.

2027 NHL Draft Betting Outlook

The responsible betting decision is currently to monitor the market.

No verified No. 1 overall market is being used for this article, so attaching a fictional price to DuPont, Joseph or Zhilkin would create false precision.

The prospect hierarchy still provides useful preparation.

DuPont should open as the favorite if his Michigan season begins well. The important betting question will not be whether he deserves to be favored. It will be whether his price implies a greater probability of going first than the actual evidence supports.

Joseph is the first alternative worth evaluating because his pathway does not require DuPont to collapse. A strong enough season could create a legitimate case for taking a franchise center instead.

Zhilkin becomes especially interesting if the market treats the race as a two player competition between DuPont and Joseph. A breakout offensive season could create value before the price fully adjusts.

The Bettors Handbook explains the importance of comparing a market price with implied probability rather than simply betting the outcome considered most likely.

Until actual prices are available, the correct designation is monitor.

2027 NHL Draft Predictions

DuPont remains the projected No. 1 pick.

The combination of 73 regular season points from defense, a WHL championship, Memorial Cup experience and a move into a stronger NCAA environment provides the best overall résumé in the class.

Joseph ranks second because the center position and physical profile create a credible route to first overall. His 60 point season already established the skill foundation, but the next step is showing that he can dominate consistently rather than simply project well.

Zhilkin ranks third after producing 75 points and captaining Saginaw. His scoring and competitiveness give him the strongest current argument among the wingers near the top of the board.

Sundstrom, Nelson and Privalov complete the early top six. Each has a different development path, which should make the class particularly fluid once regular season games begin.

DuPont has the advantage. The race behind him is much less settled.

2027 NHL Draft Final Verdict

Landon DuPont is the early prediction to become the first overall selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.

His production already separates him from most defensemen of the same age, and Michigan gives him an opportunity to prove that his puck movement, skating and defensive growth translate against older competition. Another strong season would make it increasingly difficult for an NHL team holding the first pick to look elsewhere.

Alexis Joseph is the most credible challenger. A large, mobile center with offensive upside can change the shape of a draft conversation quickly, particularly if his production takes another major step.

Dimian Zhilkin remains the strongest offensive alternative. His 36 goal season, leadership role and international experience create a pathway toward becoming the top forward in the class.

The most important events to watch are DuPont's transition to Michigan, Joseph's offensive development, Zhilkin's scoring progression and the 2027 World Juniors. Those are the points where preseason projections can turn into stronger NHL evidence.

There is no recommended draft wager yet because a verified market has not been established for this analysis. Once prices become available, DuPont should be judged against his implied probability rather than backed automatically because he leads the prospect rankings.

For now, the prediction is DuPont at No. 1, Joseph as the main challenger and Zhilkin as the player most capable of changing the forward hierarchy.

As the hockey season begins producing new evidence and betting opportunities, readers can continue following the current NHL picks and predictions.