B/R's Initial 2027 NHL Mock Draft Top 10

Happy first 2027 NHL Mock Draft! In the grand tradition of getting to the party early, we're not tackling the entire round just yet—we're looking at a potential top 10.

We want to focus on those early underperforming teams and give their fans a glimpse of what might be ahead if things don't improve.

(We're rooting for you to get wins instead of high picks, we promise.)

Some meaningless stats for you before we dive in: fully half the players in this mock Top 10 are centers. We weren't joking when we said it's a center-heavy top pool this year. There are also two players named Brock. Yes, both of them come from the WHL.

Other than the center situation, there's a pretty healthy mix all around this season, at least here at the beginning—a nice scramble of different leagues, good balance of guys playing in North America and playing overseas. Nothing feels like it's leaning too heavily in one direction right now. Obviously we've got an entire season ahead of us, so stay tuned.

No prizes for guessing who the first overall pick is—it's a gimme—but stick around beyond that. The rest of these guys are twisted up like an unsolved Rubik's Cube.

1. Vancouver Canucks: Landon DuPont, D, Michigan (NCAA)

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We're kicking things off from a very familiar place. Difficult though it may be for Vancouver Canucks fans to believe that they'll win the draft lottery, our mocks—especially this early—go by standings, so right now, you're up. 

Good news for you, though, Canucks fans: Landon DuPont is the real deal. And that's a relief for a team still keenly feeling the loss of the kind of talent Quinn Hughes brought to the ice each night. While this draft year is another that is largely potential-based, rather than having a gaggle of true game-changers, DuPont is the standout who could make an impact sooner than later. He would be an excellent acquisition.

It's not even close—right now—in terms of the gap from pick one to pick two. DuPont took the CHL-to-NCAA path we're going to see more and more, and from the moment he stepped onto the ice for the Wolverines he's made it clear that he is the guy to beat this year. He's eating heavy minutes, running the top power-play, and currently scoring at a point-per-game pace. Not sure he could've chosen a better development environment in which to prove he's ready to go first overall.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Nazar Privalov, LW, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

We know that the Chicago Blackhawks don't shy away from drafting Russian players, and with multiple potential high picks out of the KHL this season, CSKA Moscow forward Nazar Privalov feels like a tailor-made fit. He's a tank of a player—Privalov is 6'4" and 227 pounds—and, in a trend that is becoming all the more common, he pairs that size with highly effective offensive skill. 

Privalov brings a powerful attacking style that the Blackhawks are not only going to like, but that they are going to need moving forward. He's more direct than deceptive when it comes to creating. Don't mistake that for him not being a playmaker, though; if we were comparing individual skills, his puck handling would rank higher than his hockey sense, so while he's not going to be the most creative or flashy guy on the ice, he's still going to create effectively. Whether that translates consistently to the pro level yet is another matter; right now he has 2 goals and no assists in 17 KHL games.

Just keep in mind that he's 17 until next May when you read those stats.

3. Philadelphia Flyers: Sergei Skvortsov, LW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Another KHL (and MHL) product is next up on our list, as we have the Philadelphia Flyers drafting Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Chaika Nizhny Novgorod winger Sergei Skvortsov.

Unlike Privalov, who has spent the majority of the season with his KHL club, Skvortsov has split the season pretty evenly so far—nine games in the KHL and eight in the MHL at the time of writing—and has a goal and an assist in the KHL, with eight points (three goals, five assists) in the MHL.  

Skvortsov is a very different player from Privalov. Where Privalov is heavy power, Skvortsov is slippery dynamism. Why not throw another forward of this type in with the barrel of young players in Philadelphia, where he would join Matvei Michkov, another one of the only five KHL players to score their first KHL goal before turning 18?

So many of the Flyers' young forwards are complementary player types. Don't misunderstand—this is no slight to them, and winning takes all types. But Skvortsov feels like he would fill a speedy, elusive, play-driving niche that they don't have enough of.

4. Los Angeles Kings: Jonah Neuenschwander, C, EHC Biel-Bienne (Swiss NL)

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We've hit our first center on the list. There are four more to come.

Swiss forward Jonah Neuenschwander currently plays for EHC Biel-Bienne of the Swiss National League. He's not new to the league, though—he debuted as a 15-year-old, then played 32 games last season at age 16. Professional hockey is something he's used to, and professional hockey is used to him; he's a key part of Biel-Bienne's team at this point. That kind of experience gives a player a certain leg up when it comes to making the transition to North American pro hockey. 

So why should the Kings want Neuenschwander? Pro experience isn't enough to draft someone. But you know what is? True two-way ability bolstered by elite hockey sense. Neuenschwander processes the game at a very high level; he's not the manipulative type, but he doesn't need to be to succeed—right now. We'd like to see more of that creativity in playmaking as his game develops further. Regardless, he's trustworthy in just about any situation.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins: Carter Meyer, C, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

The Pittsburgh Penguins rebuild rollercoaster continues, and right now they're in this fifth overall spot. Fortunately, there are a plethora of players available that suit the ethos of the rebuild general manager Kyle Dubas and co. are working toward. First up? Another NTDP product who has moved to different pastures—not the NCAA this time, but the QMJHL. 

Carter Meyer is not the first USNTDP player in recent memory to flee the program for a CHL league, and he won't be the last. It's something USA Hockey needs to get a handle on. For Meyer, his time with the Quebec Remparts is already proving fruitful both in offensive production and in the development needed to prepare him for the big leagues. It also affords him the opportunity to chase a Memorial Cup with his brother Freddy.

After a season spent playing 41 games with the program's U17 team, and a further 29 with the U18s, Meyer is currently sitting at 17 points in 15 games with the Remparts, including 5 goals. It's not the numbers to watch, though. Meyer has good vision, is a speedy rush skater, and plays hard; consistency is what we'll want to see from him across this season.

6. Winnipeg Jets: Milan Sundström, C, Modo Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)

For the most part, Swedish center Milan Sundstrom is currently ranked in the bottom half of the top 10 across the board. Whether that holds remains to be seen, but for the purposes of this mock, it feels logical to have him selected by the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets are a team whose prospect pool needs to get deeper; the recent waiving of center Brad Lambert underlines the fact that many of their past draft picks haven't panned out as planned.  

Sundstrom brings traits to the table that the Jets will find quite appealing (though someone should remind them that they actually have to develop their prospects, too). Immediate standouts include top-notch hockey sense and phenomenal passing ability. He's a solid two-way guy, able to process the game at a higher level than many opponents, and playing against seasoned pros will help him sharpen that further.

He's spent time with MoDo Hockey's U20 team and their Allsvenskan team this season, primarily playing with the top club (15 games versus 5 with the U20s).

7. Columbus Blue Jackets: Alexis Joseph, C, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

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Saint John Sea Dogs center Alexis Joseph is one of those players who could equally either go around the pick 10 range or push into the top three, and there's just no way for us to know which one it's going to be right now.

What we do know is that in this mock, he's available when the Columbus Blue Jackets pick at seventh overall, and he feels like a player who will grab their attention.

Joseph was the first overall pick in his QMJHL draft year, and just about everyone has their eye on him right now thanks to the significant impression he made at last week's QMJHL Top Prospects Game in Gatineau. His play for Team Lafleur was an excellent microcosm of why any team might want to draft him: scoring goals, directing the flow of play, showcasing physicality, and most importantly, showing scouts that he remembered how to play with pace. 

He's dropped a bit on some pundits' radars due to concerns about his motor and whether he's going to consistently play with any real urgency; now everyone will be watching to see if he transfers that pace to his regular-season play. He's only at a point-per-game pace right now, with 14 in 14; for a top prospect's QMJHL draft season teams are going to want to see a higher scoring pace than that. But his size and innate skill are deeply appealing if he uses them well.

8. Calgary Flames: Brock Cripps, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

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Brief break from the run of centers—let's look at another defenseman. The Calgary Flames have made a habit of drafting highly skilled defensemen in recent years; however, they've also seen several of those defensemen either graduate to the professional leagues or make it clear they'll be ready to do so soon. So why not add another?

Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Brock Cripps has the benefit of being in their metaphorical, if not literal, backyard. Though he's undersized at 5'11" and 170 pounds, his play is anything but undersized; at one point recently he logged over 27 minutes in a game, and even when he's not playing that much he's still playing significant time. And that includes on both special teams. He's manipulative, he's slippery, he's an incredible puck handler. What's not to like? He's currently sitting at 19 points in 16 games, with all of those but one being assists, if you want a sense of how he's contributing offensively.

Feels like a pretty solid choice for the Flames, especially when you consider no one is getting an immediate gamebreaker at 8th this year. Swing for that dynamic right-shot defender.

9. San Jose Sharks: Brock England, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

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Yes, it's the second player in a row named Brock. It's the WHL. Don't act surprised.

For this mock the method was the best combination of "best player available" and "fits with the current organizational pool", and Brock England is no different. The Seattle Thunderbirds center stands out first and foremost because of his excellent skating; he's quite fast, and he combines that with an agility that allows him to delay or change direction when needed and has an impressive explosiveness. With that speed and high-tempo pace being a priority for the Sharks, England feels as though he'll fit right in with the current young corps.

He brings an excellent layer of offense as well, having learned quickly how to use that skating to make opponents' lives miserable. His 21 goals last season were the most goals by a Thunderbirds 16-year-old since Patrick Marleau scored 32 in 1995-96. Right now he's at 13 points in 14 games; it would not be surprising to see that points pace continue to rise. Things we'll be watching for from him this season include consistency and added physicality.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Dima Zhilkin, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

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The easiest way to explain this pick is that Dima Zhilkin just feels like the rational next step in Anaheim Ducks first round drafting after guys like Nikita Klepov and Roger McQueen. 

He's also a really talented player, obviously. Zhilkin is a phenomenal points producer, he's a quick processor even under pressure, and he's consistent—in all areas of the ice. You could quibble about his size if you really want to nitpick, but some measurements on a height chart aren't going to change the way that he plays. He doesn't care that you're bigger; he's going to outwork you and sometimes even push you off pucks. His hockey sense is magnificent, his pace is fantastic, and he's a pain in the butt in an incredibly fun way.

He should be gone by pick 10, and if he plays this way across a full season, he very likely will. He certainly won't be around at 10th on our board. But we have to play around with different outcomes in these mocks, and should the teams ahead of them take other routes, it's a no-brainer for the Ducks to select him.