Top 10 huge NHL prospects to watch in 2026-27

Sep 4, 2026, 08:44 EDT

Top 10 huge NHL prospects to watch in 2026-27

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Yesterday, we looked at five of the top “small” prospects in the NHL.

Unsurprisingly, teams prefer players of a bit more size, which is why we see a lot more taken in the draft each year. When in doubt, especially when the draft crop is small, you might as well take a chance on a total freak of nature and hope it pans out. No team sticks to that motto more than Utah. Coincidentally, five players from the team nicknamed the “Mammoth” make this list, with a few more just missing out.

There was a time when teams would draft players solely based off their size and hope they could be a enforcers or shutdown defensemen. Those expectations are evolving in a big way, though. With scouts wanting bigger players to play with more speed and skill. Honestly, we might be seeing one of the more fascinating crops of power forwards in recent memory right now.

Today, we’re looking at 10 players standing 6-foot-5 or taller who deserve your attention. Of the group, Ilya Protas, Sebastian Cossa and Dmitri Simashev look destined for full-time NHL duty, while a couple others should see some big-game action at some point.

1. Ilya Protas, LW, 20 (Washington Capitals)

OK, it’s kind of funny that the Caps have both the best “big” prospect, and one of the best smaller ones in Andrew Cristall. Shoutout to the Capitals’ scouting staff for hitting big at both ends of the ruler. Protas had 29 goals and 66 points in 69 games with Hershey last year to lead all AHL rookies. That helped Protas earn a promotion to Washington, where he had four points in four games alongside older brother Aliaksei Protas. Ilya’s offensive dominance has been a treat to watch, making him one of the best prospects in the game today. He’s so talented, and you can’t go wrong with a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame. Protas’ skating has taken nice strides forward, too; he’s no longer flat-footed against mid-tier players. Look for Protas to be a difference-maker immediately for the Capitals, likely in a bottom-six scoring role to start.

2. Sebastian Cossa, G, 23 (Utah Mammoth)

The Mammoth capitalized on Detroit’s logjam in net to acquire Cossa this summer, and it might pan out. At 6-foot-6, Cossa has obvious size while combining fluid crease movement with an exceptionally quick glove hand. His recent statistical output in Grand Rapids was strong – recording 26 wins and five shutouts – but masked a second-half regression that saw him lose the Calder Cup playoff net to Michal Postava. Still, the body of work suggests Cossa can handle NHL duty, and he’ll get a chance behind Karel Vejlemka this year. It wouldn’t be surprising if Cossa ended up owning the starter’s crease by the end of the year – he’s so competitive and has all the technical elements teams love in a bigger goalie.

3. Ethan Belchetz, LW, 18 (Utah Mammoth)

At 6-foot-5, many OHLers considered Belchetz to be the toughest forward to contain over the past two years. I call him the Chaos Conductor – at his best, he can clobber you physically before ripping a shot past a goaltender. Belchetz has never lacked confidence, and he plays with so much power, which allows him to win battles where his average skating isn’t enough. Some scouts worry that he doesn’t have any high-end traits beyond his size. Hopefully that showing at the WJSS helps him go full blast into the new season with MSU.

4. Malte Gustafsson, LHD, 18 (New York Islanders)

Gustafsson was one of the most fascinating players down the stretch last season. Gustafsson is a 6-foot-4 defender who played well in the SHL, despite having little to show for it on the scoresheet. His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. I also feel like he showed a bit more flash with the puck near the end of the year than we all first thought he could, especially at the U-18s. Match that with the fact that he’s one of the most competitive defenders you’ll find, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him wiggle his way into a third-pair role immediately once he gets to North America.

5. Dmitri Simashev, LHD, 21 (Utah Mammoth)

Simashev played a third of his season in Utah, and while he didn’t have much to show for it, numerically, it was still a solid campaign altogether. Simashev is a big, 6-foot-5 defender who uses his size to dominate the defensive zone without getting himself in trouble. The Russian youngster can move the puck, land big hits and play on the penalty kill. His 35-point campaign in the AHL was incredible given he only had 16 points in 137 KHL games. Simashev clearly seemed a lot more confident with the puck, and there aren’t many glaring flaws in his game right now. I expect him to start the year as a third-pair defenseman, but I can see him pushing his way to the top pair before the season’s over.

6. Anton Silayev, LHD, 20 (New Jersey Devils)

Silayev is set to embark on his first year in North America and is bound to get some NHL games under his belt, too. The 6-foot-7 defenseman does an excellent job of forcing opponents to the perimeter before absolutely obliterating them. His offensive game has been mostly non-existent since his draft year, but his game is more about using his mobility to take space away. Think: Nikita Zadorov, but if he skated better. That’s what you’re getting from Silayev. It’s crazy to think about how high the hype was for Silayev at one point in 2024 after watching him absolutely dominate KHL competition as a rookie. I don’t expect him to be a top-pairing defenseman by any means, but he’s one mean dude who’ll be an absolute menace once he gets to the big leagues. I was hoping to see if he could build around some of the offensive stylings that intrigued scouts initially, but those never came around. That’s the only real reason I’ve dropped him, but he’s still going to be an excellent NHLer.

7. Michael Hrabal, G, 21 (Utah Mammoth)

Hrabal was one of the best goaltenders in college last year, posting a 19-9-1 record with four shutouts and a .937 save percentage. He also made his AHL debut, going 3-1-1 down the stretch, with the highlight actually being a 44-save loss to Colorado. He looks ready for full-time starter duty in Tucson, and I have no doubt he’ll get a few NHL starts, too. The 6-foot-7 goaltender has the size teams crave, and it feels like his once-problematic glove hand has really improved over time. Hrabal has been forced to steal his fair share of games throughout his career, and it’s only a matter of time until he’s gunning for Utah’s starter gig.

8. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 20 (New Jersey Devils)

It’s easy to look at Yegorov’s stat dip this past year and feel a bit concerned. But Boston University wasn’t good, and Yegorov was left to do a lot of heavy lifting more often than not. The 6-foot-5 goaltender is quite aggressive with his angles, but he also has lightning-quick reflexes and gives opponents little to work with. He never lets a bad goal bother him because he’s one of the most mentally strong goalies you’ll find. It feels like his movements are more refined than they were when he first made the jump to college, and his glove hand has only gotten better with time. Yegorov will spend another year at BU before potentially turning pro and chasing a job in Utica in 2027-28. I see a future NHL starter here.

9. Daniil But, LW, 21 (Utah Mammoth)

Like Simashev, But got his first taste of NHL action last year. The 6-foot-5 winger had seven points in 29 games, while also putting up excellent numbers in the AHL. He’s such a fascinating prospect, obviously because of his size, but he also knows how to combine that with a high-end offensive skill set to make himself an absolute force. When he’s at full speed, nobody can slow him down. There were points where it felt like But’s decision-making needed a bit of work against NHL competition, but it’s still very early in his career. I like his play along the boards, and he’s getting better at using the middle of the ice as well. I don’t think it’ll be long until he’s a middle-six NHLer.

10. Dean Letourneau, C/RW, 20 (Boston Bruins)

Letourneau needed a massive sophomore NCAA campaign last year, and he delivered in a massive way. As a freshman, he failed to score and had just three assists. As a sophomore, he exploded for 22 goals and 39 points in 36 games, finishing second on the team in scoring – only behind Hagens. Boston College struggled to generate quality, consistent scoring chances, but Letourneau really helped pick up the slack there. At 6-foot-7 and 229 pounds, Letourneau is an absolute beast, and he’s finally figuring out how to use that frame to his advantage at the next level. I’m excited to see how he continues to evolve his two-way power-forward play style in his third (and probably final) year of college.

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