Star forward prospect Carter Meyer will make his case for the 2027 NHL Draft in a new setting. He has been granted a release from the U.S. National Team Development Program per Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek. The news was first reported by Mikael Lalancette of Le Soleil de Quebec. With this update, Meyer will be free of the two-year contract typically required by the NTDP. His departure spurred a flow of departures from the 2009-born squad that has since included Trevor Daley Jr. and Broden McArthur.
Meyer will be a true rival for a top-10 pick next season. He brings all of the hallmarks of a projectable forward. His style flaunts plenty of skill – but never leans too heavily on talent to beat opponents. Instead, Meyer showed significant improvements to his physical game through his sole season with the NTDP. Where many U17 players spend the season honing their skating, Meyer was honing his versatility on the forecheck. The result was a player capable of beating opponents in multiple ways. Meyer won battles behind the net, stripped pucks in the circles, and controlled possession when he gained the puck. He turned those moments into effective scoring chances, whether from quick and hard wrist shots or cutting drives to the low-slot.
Confident improvements, on top of honed skill, helped Meyer lead the NTDP’s 2009 class in points (37) and penalty minutes (91) through 42 USHL games last season. He also chipped in 10 points through four games at the World U17 Hockey Challenge and joined the 2008 class at the World U18 Championship where he scored five points in as many games. Meyer, the son of 281-game NHL veteran Freddy Meyer, has shown a knack for scoring at every level of his hockey career so far.
Meyer’s mix of top-end skill and physical confidence has molded a prospect who could breakout in a new setting. He is expected to join the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, who drafted Meyer’s rights with the 17th-overall pick in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft. They’ll pay off on that decision one year later, adding another top forward to an already-strong bunch. Meyer will join St. Louis Blues draft pick Maddox Dagenais, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nathan Quinn, and fellow top 2027 prospect James Scantlebury. Meyer could be the X-factor among the bunch, bringing the snappy playmaking and confident play-driving to round out a team of bold talent. How he handles that role will go far in determining his chances to become just the third QMJHL player drafted in the top-10 since 2020.