Scout’s Analysis: Top prospects to watch at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

The 2027 NHL scouting calendar is set to begin next week with the annual Hlinka Gretzky Cup being contested in Edmonton. The event is the official beginning of the season for 2027 draft-eligible prospects and provides the players an opportunity to make an early, positive impression on scouts and managers from all the teams in the league.

I will be attending the event alongside my Sportsnet colleague Sam Cosentino, and I’m looking forward to getting an early read on the progress the players have made since their seasons concluded last spring.

Here are some of the top prospects for next year’s NHL Draft that are scheduled to suit up for their country at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

TEAM CANADA

Landon DuPont | Defenceman | Shoots: Right

Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) |6 foot, 190 pounds

DuPont is the early favourite to be selected first overall next June. He’s a complete player who has the skill and commitment to be deployed in all situations. He produced 18 goals and 55 assists in 63 regular season games playing for Everett in the WHL last year, and added five goals and 18 assists in 18 playoff games.

DuPont’s most elite element is what he provides offensively. He drives play and he’s a first-unit power-play quarterback, but he doesn’t cut corners defensively. He averaged nearly 24 minutes of ice time per game with the Silvertips, including 2:17 per game on the penalty kill.

He ended the year with an incredible plus-79 rating (regular season and playoffs combined).

DuPont, like several prospects from the CHL, has decided to further his development at the NCAA level this season. He’s enrolled at the University of Michigan this fall and positioned to challenge himself by competing in one of the deepest conferences in all of the NCAA — the Big Ten.

Alexis Joseph | Centre | Shoots: Left

Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | 6-foot-5, 201 pounds

Joseph is a hulking centreman who’s coming off a season that saw him produce 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 regular-season games. The former first-overall selection in the QMJHL Draft has experience playing for Team Canada at the U17 and U18 levels and provides a combination of shooting and passing ability. He moves well for a big man and uses his length to extend plays in traffic and shield pucks from opponents.

Joseph could end up being selected in the top five of next year’s NHL Draft. He averaged over 19 minutes per game last season with the Sea Dogs. Although his defensive detail is, at times, a work in progress, he was deployed in all situations in Saint John.

Joseph’s physical presence and offensive upside stand out at this stage of his development.

Brock England | Forward | Shoots: Left

Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | 5-foot-11, 174 pounds

England is a quick-strike forward who, while slightly undersized, doesn’t shy away from extending plays in traffic. He’s a threat off the rush who possesses a quick release. England doesn’t require a lot of time and space to score goals or distribute to teammates.

He produced 21 goals and 30 assists in 64 games last year.

England’s offensive hockey sense stands out for me and projects him as a potential first-round draft candidate. He averaged over 16 minutes per game with the Thunderbirds last season. The bulk of his ice time will always come at even strength and the power play, but England is also capable of killing penalties.

He’s a competitive player who doesn’t cut corners with his overall approach to the game in all three zones.

Brock England on the rush with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. (Brian Liesse/WHL)

TEAM SWEDEN

Milan Sundstrom | Centre | Shoots: Left

Modo (J20) | 6-foot-4, 196 pounds

Sweden continues to produce some of the top prospects for the NHL, and Sundstrom is next in line as the torchbearer. His combination of size and skill projects Sundstrom as a top-six NHL forward. At the J18/J20 levels combined, he produced 22 goals and 35 assists in 31 games.

What impresses me most about Sundstrom is his overall detail. He generally positions himself above the play when his group doesn’t have possession, tracks back to kill plays in the neutral zone and wins key defensive zone face-offs. The fact Sundstrom provides more than just offence is intriguing, especially at his size.

TEAM SWITZERLAND

Jonah Neuenschwander | Forward | Shoots: Left

EHC Biel-Bienne | 6-foot-3, 187 pounds

Neuenschwander is Switzerland’s best player and one of Europe’s top draft-eligible prospects. Every time I watch Neuenschwander, I come away impressed with his consistency and impact. He’s another prospect with fantastic size and skill.

He moves very well in open ice and he’s agile in small areas.

Neuenschwander has already competed at the U21 and pro level in Switzerland, as well as the U16, U17 and U18 levels internationally. He’s an offensive weapon with top-six NHL upside. Neuenschwander produced 11 goals and 14 assists in 18 regular season games at the J21 level and followed up with six goals and 13 assists in nine playoff games.

At the pro level, playing for EHC Bien in Switzerland’s National League, he contributed an impressive five goals and seven assists in 32 regular season games as an underage prospect.

TEAM FINLAND

Luca Santala | Forward | Shoots: Right

London Knights (OHL) | 6-foot-2, 176 pounds

Santala has committed to play in the OHL for the London Knights this season. He’s an elusive play driver who plays the game fast and leans more toward a goal scorer than a natural distributor. Santala has experience at the J18 and J20 levels in Finland.

He contributed 11 goals and eight assists in 14 international games last year, representing Finland at the U18 level. Santala has the ability to play both centre and the wing. His defensive detail can vary, but his ability to change the flow of the game with his speed and offence wins out at this stage of his development.

TEAM GERMANY

Max Calce | Centre | Shoots: Left

Adler Mannheim (DEL) | 5-foot-11, 192 pounds

Calce is a top prospect from Europe and Germany’s best player overall. He stood out for me at last year’s U18 world championship in Slovakia with his relentless compete and skill. He’s a play-driving forward who creates off the rush and battles for possession in the trenches.

He produced 18 goals and 15 assists in 26 total games at the J20 level in Germany last year. Calce tracks back defensively and has the hockey sense to be deployed in a variety of roles. He’s the kind of prospect that scouts have to pay close attention to.

Calce isn’t supported with the same amount of skill as other rosters in this tournament. For example, his offensive numbers would likely look a lot more intriguing if he were suiting up for Canada.