Now that the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially in the rearview mirror for the Los Angeles Kings, it's time to start looking ahead early on at what could be another talented draft class in 2027.
The top of the draft board is already starting to take shape for the 2027 draft class, led by Everett defenseman Landon DuPont from the Western Hockey League, Russia's Nazar Privalov, and Saint John's Alexis Joseph. NHL.com has already identified DuPont as the likely No. 1 pick early on for the 2027 draft.
Plenty will be changing between now and draft night 2027. Prospects will rise and fall on draft boards throughout the upcoming 2026-27 season, while the NHL standings and draft lottery will ultimately determine which teams have a chance to select this draft class's premier talent.
Projecting all 32 picks in the first round of the 2027 NHL Draft
To determine this draft order, we used the projected first-round order from Tankathon for the 2027 NHL Draft. The order will change significantly through the upcoming 2026-27 season and following the 2027 NHL Draft lottery.
Here's a look at a way-too-early edition of the 2027 NHL Mock Draft a year out to project the first round and the lottery draft picks.
DuPont of the WHL is about as impressive as defenseman prospects come in the 2027 draft class. The incoming freshman talent with the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA this upcoming season, DuPont is widely viewed as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2027 draft class.
DuPont's skating ability, puck movement skills, and confident hockey IQ on the ice make him a complete modern-day defenseman who can dominate the game in all three zones. Outside of the question marks surrounding his size and physical stature, DuPont checks all the boxes of a potential star on the blue line at the NHL level.
Privalov was named the MHL Rookie of the Year this past season. The big 6-foot-4 and 225-pound winger is an imposing presence on the ice who combines physicality with his big frame with above-average speed and playmaking abilities for a power forward of his size.
Between his NHL-level skating skills and speed, offensive upside, and raw athletic traits, Privalov has the makings of a matchup nightmare in all three zones in the league in the future.
It's not very common to find 6-foot-5 centers with the high-level skill, skating ability, and instincts with the puck that Saint John QMJHL forward Alexis Joseph brings to the table. Joseph is lethal with the puck on his stick in transition, and he has a knack for finding the softer areas of the ice and exploiting opposing defenses in the zone offensively.
His size and two-way game make Joseph a clear candidate to be a future No. 1 center in the NHL.
Many scouts and media members consider Joseph to be projected to go as high as No. 2 in the 2027 draft in the first round.
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