2027 NHL Draft: 18 names to watch over the next year

Carter Meyer had 45 points in 41 games for the NTDP’s U17 team this past season. (Rena Laverty/USA Hockey)

There is no doubt that in the 2027 NHL Draft, a player from the region will be taken in the first round. That should be a point of pride for New England.

Yet there’s also considerable depth for the 2027 draft a year out.

Carter Meyer, the player ranked No. 1, is a potential top-five pick. But the four players ranked after him are already strong candidates to be picked somewhere in the top three rounds. If they exceed expectations, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them taken in the second round — or maybe even the first.

There are also several players near the end of our rankings with high upside. Big 2026-27 seasons would do them well for the draft.

Let’s dive into our first rankings of New England natives for the 2027 NHL Draft. These will likely change a lot over the next 10 months.