Scout’s Analysis: Top prospects to observe at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

The 2027 NHL scouting calendar is ready to start subsequent week with the annual Hlinka Gretzky Cup being contested in Edmonton. The occasion is the official starting of the season for 2027 draft-eligible prospects and offers the gamers a chance to make an early, optimistic impression on scouts and managers from all of the groups within the league.

I can be attending the occasion alongside my Sportsnet colleague Sam Cosentino, and I’m wanting ahead to getting an early learn on the progress the gamers have made since their seasons concluded final spring.

Here are a few of the prime prospects for subsequent yr’s NHL Draft which are scheduled to go well with up for his or her nation on the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Landon DuPont | Defenceman | Shoots: Right
Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) |6 foot, 190 kilos

DuPont is the early favorite to be chosen first total subsequent June. He’s an entire participant who has the ability and dedication to be deployed in all conditions. He produced 18 objectives and 55 assists in 63 common season video games taking part in for Everett within the WHL final yr, and added 5 objectives and 18 assists in 18 playoff video games.

DuPont’s most elite ingredient is what he offers offensively. He drives play and he’s a first-unit power-play quarterback, however he doesn’t lower corners defensively. He averaged practically 24 minutes of ice time per sport with the Silvertips, together with 2:17 per sport on the penalty kill. He ended the yr with an unbelievable plus-79 ranking (common season and playoffs mixed).

DuPont, like a number of prospects from the CHL, has determined to additional his improvement on the NCAA degree this season. He’s enrolled on the University of Michigan this fall and positioned to problem himself by competing in one of many deepest conferences in the entire NCAA — the Big Ten.

Alexis Joseph | Centre | Shoots: Left
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | 6-foot-5, 201 kilos

Joseph is a hulking centreman who’s coming off a season that noticed him produce 24 objectives and 36 assists in 54 regular-season video games. The former first-overall choice within the QMJHL Draft has expertise taking part in for Team Canada on the U17 and U18 ranges and offers a mix of capturing and passing skill. He strikes effectively for a giant man and makes use of his size to increase performs in visitors and defend pucks from opponents. Joseph might find yourself being chosen within the prime 5 of subsequent yr’s NHL Draft. He averaged over 19 minutes per sport final season with the Sea Dogs. Although his defensive element is, at instances, a piece in progress, he was deployed in all conditions in Saint John. Joseph’s bodily presence and offensive upside stand out at this stage of his improvement.

Brock England | Forward | Shoots: Left
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | 5-foot-11, 174 kilos

England is a quick-strike ahead who, whereas barely undersized, doesn’t draw back from extending performs in visitors. He’s a risk off the push who possesses a fast launch. England doesn’t require a whole lot of time and area to attain objectives or distribute to teammates. He produced 21 objectives and 30 assists in 64 video games final yr.

England’s offensive hockey sense stands out for me and initiatives him as a possible first-round draft candidate. He averaged over 16 minutes per sport with the Thunderbirds final season. The bulk of his ice time will at all times come at even power and the ability play, however England can also be able to killing penalties. He’s a aggressive participant who doesn’t lower corners along with his total strategy to the sport in all three zones.

Milan Sundstrom | Centre | Shoots: Left
Modo (J20) | 6-foot-4, 196 kilos

Sweden continues to provide a few of the prime prospects for the NHL, and Sundstrom is subsequent in line because the torchbearer. His mixture of measurement and ability initiatives Sundstrom as a top-six NHL ahead. At the J18/J20 ranges mixed, he produced 22 objectives and 35 assists in 31 video games.

What impresses me most about Sundstrom is his total element. He usually positions himself above the play when his group doesn’t have possession, tracks again to kill performs within the impartial zone and wins key defensive zone face-offs. The truth Sundstrom offers extra than simply offence is intriguing, particularly at his measurement.

Jonah Neuenschwander | Forward | Shoots: Left
EHC Biel-Bienne | 6-foot-3, 187 kilos

Neuenschwander is Switzerland’s greatest participant and considered one of Europe’s prime draft-eligible prospects. Every time I watch Neuenschwander, I come away impressed along with his consistency and impression. He’s one other prospect with implausible measurement and ability. He strikes very effectively in open ice and he’s agile in small areas.

Neuenschwander has already competed on the U21 and professional degree in Switzerland, in addition to the U16, U17 and U18 ranges internationally. He’s an offensive weapon with top-six NHL upside. Neuenschwander produced 11 objectives and 14 assists in 18 common season video games on the J21 degree and adopted up with six objectives and 13 assists in 9 playoff video games. At the professional degree, taking part in for EHC Bien in Switzerland’s National League, he contributed a powerful 5 objectives and 7 assists in 32 common season video games as an underage prospect.

Luca Santala | Forward | Shoots: Right
London Knights (OHL) | 6-foot-2, 176 kilos

Santala has dedicated to play within the OHL for the London Knights this season. He’s an elusive play driver who performs the sport quick and leans extra towards a objective scorer than a pure distributor. Santala has expertise on the J18 and J20 ranges in Finland. He contributed 11 objectives and eight assists in 14 worldwide video games final yr, representing Finland on the U18 degree. Santala has the flexibility to play each centre and the wing. His defensive element can differ, however his skill to alter the movement of the sport along with his velocity and offence wins out at this stage of his improvement.

Max Calce | Centre | Shoots: Left
Adler Mannheim (DEL) | 5-foot-11, 192 kilos

Calce is a prime prospect from Europe and Germany’s greatest participant total. He stood out for me ultimately yr’s U18 world championship in Slovakia along with his relentless compete and ability. He’s a play-driving ahead who creates off the push and battles for possession within the trenches. He produced 18 objectives and 15 assists in 26 whole video games on the J20 degree in Germany final yr. Calce tracks again defensively and has the hockey sense to be deployed in quite a lot of roles. He’s the sort of prospect that scouts need to pay shut consideration to. Calce isn’t supported with the identical quantity of ability as different rosters on this event. For instance, his offensive numbers would seemingly look much more intriguing if he had been suiting up for Canada.