2027 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Who’s boosting their stock the most right now?

Oct 16, 2026, 09:00 EDT

2027 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Who’s boosting their stock the most right now?

Last week, we published our first in-season NHL Draft rankings ahead of the 2027 selection process.

The list included 40 players, with Landon DuPont understandably holding the top spot. The early season Draft rankings don’t typically give us the most accurate picture of what’s going to happen in June – so much will change.

For example, there were many who thought Caleb Malhotra was projected way too high at 27 when we put him in our top 40 list last September. He ultimately went third, while a few players listed above him weren’t even taken until later on Day 2. That’s what makes the draft year so fascinating. You’re looking for trends, improvements, and anything that can help build one of the most accurate lists available.

Today, as we bring back the NHL Draft Prospect Roundup series, we’re looking at five players who weren’t included in the top 40 earlier this month but have still earned a lot of praise from scouts:

Noah Laus, LW (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)

Ryan Kaczynski and Trevor Daley Jr. both deserve some serious love for their offensive exploits. But Laus has been one of the OHL’s more impactful all-around forwards so far. The mid-sized 17-year-old has five goals and nine points through eight games while sharing the team scoring lead with Kaczynski (while averaging a goal per game through nearly a month of play). Laus is the one guy making things happen consistently; he’s always looking for his linemates in high-danger scoring situations and seems to rarely get beat.

There aren’t many high-end traits in Laus’ game. Instead, he’s well-rounded in that he always works hard to retrieve pucks, hits hard and possesses a good shot. I think he’s just an OK skater at best, but it’s not something that’s probably going to hold him back too much in the NHL. I think we’re talking about a player who has the hockey sense and work ethic to be a bottom-six energy guy who can push himself up the lineup every now and then in more of a playmaking role. As it stands, I think Laus could be a second-round pick.

Maxmilian Mareš, C (Rimouski Océanic, QMJHL)

Mareš was an absolute madman with Czechia’s Hlinka Gretzky squad. He looked dominant physically while continuously creating high-quality chances. Mareš has since carried that hot play over to Rimouski, where he’s tracking for more than 70 points in his first year playing in North America. He had a two-point QMJHL debut, followed that up with a handful of multi-point efforts, and has been one of the Océanic’s top players during their losses, too.

Mareš is a physical force already at 6-foot-6, but he moves exceptionally well, too. Most bigger players struggle to find their way at a young age, but you can tell Mareš – Czechia’s No. 1 center in August – is as competitive as they come and isn’t afraid of anyone. Big forwards are all the rage these days, and Mareš obviously fits the bill. For now, I want to see his skating improve, but his raw base is intriguing.

Oliver Sundberg, RW (Djurgårdens, Sweden U-20)

Sundberg was Djurgårdens’ top U-18 player last year and has been a standout with the U-20 team, too. He’s been battling with Hampus Zirath and Viktor Hedlund for the scoring lead, but it’s been Sundberg’s quick shot and nifty hands that have been fascinating to watch. Sundberg was one of Sweden’s better players at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well – a rare bright spot in an otherwise lackluster effort from Tre Kronor.

Sundberg is one of the flashier players in the Swedish junior league, but he is also a hard worker. His two-way game has come a long way over the past year or so, allowing him to become more engaged defensively. Sundberg finds open space as well as anyone in this draft class, and he’s got the footwork to make sure he’s always in a scoring lane. I could see Sundberg becoming a late first-round pick at this rate.

Odin Vauhkonen, LHD (Victoria Royals, WHL)

Vauhkonen looks like a legitimate top-64 pick to me. The Harvard University commit had 23 points a year ago with Victoria, but he’s tracking for 90 this year as one of the WHL’s most dangerous defenders. He’s playing north of 20 minutes a night while seeing some power-play time, too. Vauhkonen has points in every game this season, which is bonkers. The Newport Beach, Calif., native isn’t huge by any means, but he’s physically strong and defends well. Vauhkonen doesn’t let more skilled wingers get to him; he’s typically in the right spot at the right time.

Overall, I think Vauhkonen’s biggest weakness is his skating; it feels like he struggles going backward, but he has some decent speed to work with. Scouts have noticed that he’s more of a passive defender than an aggressive one; a 180 in that regard would go a long way in ensuring he’s taken in the first two rounds. Vauhkonen has the puck skills and all-around capabilities to make some noise. With some refinement, I could see him becoming a second-pairing NHLer.

Easton Walos, C (Sarnia Sting, OHL)

Walos was born a few months after the 2026 NHL Draft cutoff, so expectations were higher for the Hartland, Wisc., native. He had 25 goals and 48 points in Sarnia a year ago, but he’s on track for over 50 goals and 90 points this season. He’s already up to five two-point performances this year, with three of those being multi-goal efforts. And the best part? Walos’ defensive game is already miles better than it was a year ago. For the most part, we’re talking about a forward who loves having the puck and is willing to put the effort in to get it in his possession.

On the flip side, Walos’ lack of physicality is something scouts are worried about. He can struggle to win individual battles, leaving him on the outside looking in. He’s a decent skater with a solid shot, so he’s got that down pat. But if he’s going to be a top-75 pick in 2027, we’ll need to see a bit more intensity and puck-handling ability. At the very least, I could see him emerging as a defensive-minded forward in the NHL, but he’ll have to evolve his physical tools to make that happen.

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