2027 NHL Draft: Top prospects who stood out at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
The 2027 NHL Draft season is finally in full swing.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is the first major draft prospect showcase on the hockey calendar, pitting eight of the top teams against each other each August. This year, it took place in Edmonton, Alberta, with Canada taking home gold after beating USA 8-1 on Sunday.
Many notes were taken during the summer hockey affair. Like any tournament, you have to take it for what it is – a small sample of the bigger season-long picture. The Hlinka Gretzky is a fun tournament, but it’s still a summer showcase, and the non-refined hockey can reflect that. Even though it’s a short tournament, it’s a tough schedule, starting with three games in three days. Even for young athletes, it’s a tough ask. So let’s keep the hot takes to a minimum, OK?
Today, we’re going to look at 10 2027 NHL Draft prospects who stood out in a big way in Edmonton. Shoutout to Liam Pue and Maddox Schultz, who found themselves at the top of the scoring charts despite being 2028-born prospects. You have to think Canada will be interested in bringing them back to the World Junior training camp in a few months… right?
Anyways, let’s do this:
Jaakko Wycisk, RW (Canada)
Wycisk finished first among draft eligibles with 10 points in five games. He was primarily a set-up guy for Kayden Stroeder and Ben Veitch, but it felt like nobody could handle him. Wycisk isn’t a big guy, but he’s so mature for his age, using his body to win battles and get the puck down the ice. Wysick also has a powerful shot, and while he hasn’t been able to use it a lot of this tournament, it feels like his playmaking was really a bright spot in Edmonton. Wycisk was one of my favorite AAA players during the 2024-25 season because he had such an intimidating, all-around offensive game. After registering 43 points as a rookie for Guelph, look for him to be one of the OHL’s top forwards this year as the Storm hosts the Memorial Cup.
Kayden Stroeder, C (Canada)
The Pue/Maddox/Warren line received the most love, but Stroeder was just as good for the Canadians. He had a goal and two assists in this one to build off his two-goal game on Tuesday. These short-burst tournaments can be difficult, even for young, star talents. But Stroeder has gotten better with every passing game, clearly showing he loves playing in Edmonton – home of his Oil Kings. I’m going to continue keeping a close eye on him. The Edmonton Oil Kings forward had a point in each of his three round-robin games, increasing his point total with every showing. He also looked good on the power play, both as a set-up guy and a shooter. If any Canadian boosted their stock in Edmonton, it was Stroeder, who showed how outstanding of a skater he can be. He’s a bit undersized, but I think he’ll make up for that by the way he gets around the ice and his willingness to shoot from anywhere. I could see him going in the first round.
Lukáš Kachlíř, RHD (Czechia)
Kachlíř was excellent, as expected. He had two goals in the opener against USA and had another three assists against Germany the day after. He fell flat against Finland with one of the quieter performances I’ve seen from him in his career, but he still moved the puck well. At 5-foot-8, there’s a lot playing against Kachlíř here. He needs to be truly dominant with the puck to avoid size concerns in the NHL. But at the junior level, he can be absolutely unstoppable at times, and was easily one of the most impactful defenders in Edmonton. I can’t wait to keep watching him this season.
Maxmilian Mareš, C (Czechia)
Mares was an absolute madman at points for Czechia. He scored a nice goal, snagged a pair of assists, created a net-front screen on another and threw his body around consistently in the one game against Germany. From there, he looked dominant physically while continously creating high-quality chances. Mares is a force of a human 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 Mares – Czechia’s No. 1 center – 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.
Lenni Kokkonen, RHD (Finland)
Finland’s success in Edmonton was more about a balanced team effort and less about one or two guys really standing out. Kokkonen, though, was excellent, as expected. The offensive defender had three points in two round-robin games and then was one of the top standouts during the semifinals. Kokkonen has a strong, 6-foot-2 frame and isn’t afraid to throw the body against older competition like he does back home. Kokkonen is always looking for the right pass and is capable of making smart decisions under pressure. I think we’re talking about a first-round pick who will play earn tons of power-play time internationally over the course of his national team career. This was a strong showing, even after missing the second game of the tourney.
Jakub Husár, G (Slovakia)
Husár was left out to dry basically all of last year, so it was nice to see him have some actual support this time around. And he made it count, with excellent showings against Sweden and Switzerland. He even went for a goalie goal in the final minutes against Switzerland, was absolutely hilarious. The 6-foot-2 goalie doesn’t have many foundational flaws in his game. Husár is quick, has an excellent glove hand and does a great job of sending shots to the corner. He can still struggle with tracking shots through traffic, but his raw athleticism allows him to make up for it more often than not. Husár has stolen his fair share of tight games over the past few years, internationally and domesitcally. Scouts have noticed; some consider him one of the top goalies for the draft already.
Tomáš Selič, RW (Slovakia)
Selič had one of the most dominant efforts in recent Hlinka Gretzky history, registering a whopping four goals and six points in a 6-2 win over Switzerland to help Slovakia qualify for the medal round. That, mixed with an impressive two-point effort against the Swedes, was enough to push him to the top of the round-robin scoring charts. Selič was extremely impressive at the U-18s last spring and should factor into Slovakia’s push to chase another medal at that event next April. Selič was excellent in the Czech U-20 league last season and should earn some more time with Brno’s top-division team in 2026-27. This tournament was a perfect appetizer of what’s to come for a player hoping to go early in 2027.
Jonah Neuenschwander, C (Switzerland)
I’m still not as high on Neuenschwander as others; I’m not convinced he’s a true top-end prospect while still wondering if he’s good because he’s good, or good because the rest of his Swiss teammates haven’t caught up yet. That being said, he’s one of the more intriguing prospects and I enjoy watching him. It’s hard to ignore the appeal; he’s a big, strong forward who doesn’t lose many battles and continues to improve his playmaking game. Neuenschwander didn’t have an explosive tournament offensively by any means, but he was easily Switzerland’s best two-way player and one of the few play-drivers capable of making something happen. I’m excited to get another closer look at the World Juniors.
Gavin Burcar, C (USA)
Burcar made a huge first impression, scoring a hat-trick against the Czechs on the opening day. The Villa Park, California native had just one point the rest of the preliminary round (a goal against Germany), but bounced back with a four-point effort against Slovakia in the playoffs. Burcar put up just 17 points with Spokane last year but he’s playing some excellent hockey to kick off the year. I thought he was noticeable at the USA Hockey 17 Festval last month, even though he had just one point to show for. This tournament has been excellent for his draft stock because he has proven he shoot, create opportunities, win faceoffs and win physical battles. I’m excited to follow him closely this year.
Jake Prunty, RHD (USA)
Expectations were high for him after a strong season in the USHL, which also included a short run with the U.S. U-17 team. Prunty had four assists in the round robin and was generally one of USA’s most impactful defenders with the puck. I thought he didn’t make many mistakes under pressure and actually did a fair bit of play-driving. He’s set for full-time USNTDP duty this year, where the small puck-moving defenseman should eat quite a bit of ice time. His defensive game is pretty solid for a smaller blueliner, and I like how he moves the puck. Defenders who process plays and move the puck like he does will get interest from scouts.
Other notables: Landon DuPont, D (Canada); Camryn Warren, LW (Canada); Max Calce, C (Germany); Patrik Rychlik, C (Slovakia); ; Milan Sundström, C (Sweden); Alessandro Domenichelli, RW (Switzerland); Ethan Sung, RW (USA); Gerry DiCunzolo, LW (USA)
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