DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Cooper Dennis

  • Weekly 2027 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The 2027 season is underway for prospects in Europe and across North American junior hockey. The American college season is starting up soon. That means NHL teams and fans can start to get a read on prospects to keep an eye on as the season progresses. This weekly column will highlight three of the top performers eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. The first edition of the 2027 Three Stars features two projected top ten picks getting a hot start to their draft years and a first overall pick in the OHL establishing himself on a new team.

    Here are the first draft eligible three stars for the 2027 season:

    Dima Zhilkin | RW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    After posting 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games in his pre-draft season, slick winger Dima Zhilkin established himself as an early player to watch for the 2027 class. The Toronto, ON native hasn’t wasted any time getting to work, two weekends into the OHL season. Zhilkin has eight points (four goals, four assists) in four games to start the campaign.

    The 2027-28 University of Michigan picked up three points (one goal, two assists) in a pair of games to continue his dominant start on the score sheet. In game one, Zhilkin parked himself near the front of the Niagara Ice Dogs and stripped the puck away from a defender. He proceeded to flip the puck over the outstretched goalkeeper for his fourth goal of the season.

    After showing off his slick stick work in the first game, it was his vision and play-making that stood out against the Windsor Spitfires. With the game tied at one early in the second period, Zhilkin fed the puck down low and picked up a secondary assist after the rebound was shovelled in.

    The projected 10th overall pick on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2027 Draft preview added another helper later in the game. Subsequently, after a pass in the face-off circle, Zhilkin waited for a lane and fed the puck to the front for a tap-in.

    Carter Meyer | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

    American centre Carter Meyer could’ve stayed with the United States National Development Program for his draft season, but the 2009-born pivot opted to take his talents to Quebec. The 17-year-old joined his older brother Freddy, a member of the 2025-26 Remparts, in the Quebec capital. The early returns suggest it was a smart move. The Winchester, MA, native has seven points (one goal, six assists) in four games.

    Meyer opened his weekend with a big outing against Shawinigan. Breaking in on an odd-man rush with St. Louis Blues prospect Maddox Dagenais, Meyer slipped it over to the 2026 first-round pick for a tap-in goal.

    The former Three Rivers School prep star helped facilitate great puck movement on the power play to pick up a secondary assist as the Remparts took a 3-0 lead. Just four minutes later, Meyer completed the assist hat trick. He fed Dagenais for a one-timer that bounced out for teammate Nathan Quinn. The 2025 Philadelphia Flyers sixth-round pick sent it back to Dagenais, who wired it to the top shelf.

    Meyer was held off the score sheet in Quebec’s 5-4 overtime win but still found ways to contribute. The projected seventh overall pick on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2027 Draft Preview finished second in ice-time among forwards for the Remparts in the contest. He won seven of nine face-offs, had three hits, and had a pair of takeaways.

    Kaden McGregor | C | Brantford Bulldogs

    Kaden McGregor had a solid first year in the Ontario Hockey League after being the first overall pick by the Peterborough Petes in 2025. The Braeside, ON native had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 39 games in his rookie campaign. An off-season trade sent Cooper Dennis to the Lift-lock City in exchange for the former Ottawa Valley Titans star.

    McGregor has quickly acclimated himself with the rebuilt Bulldogs. The January 2009-born centre has six points (three goals, three assists) in five games for the undefeated squad.

    Opening the week against his former team, McGregor helped seal the deal with a marker in the third period. With teammate Adam Nemec in on the fore-check, McGregor settled into some open ice in the slot. The loose puck squirted right to him, and he wired a quick snap shot past the unsuspecting Peterborough goalie.

    Despite an offensive domination by the Bulldogs of the Kingston Frontenacs by a score of 10-4, McGregor was held pointless. He still managed to fire three shots on goal and had six takeaways.

    The 2025 Ontario high school silver medallist had his biggest showing of the weekend on Sunday with three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-3 win over the Oshawa Generals. McGregor picked up a secondary assist in the second period for his first point of the evening. Later in the frame, he scored the first of his two markers. On the power play, McGregor took a pass at the point before walking a few steps in. He then wired a wrist shot up and over the goalie’s glove. Shortly afterwards, McGregor doubled up. After finding some open ice in front of the Generals’ goal, he waited patiently for a pass and then quickly redirected the feed over the goalie.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Playoff races across the hockey world continued to intensify this week, offering draft-eligible prospects another opportunity to separate themselves through timely production and impactful performances. With each round raising the stakes, consistency and the ability to deliver in key moments remain critical factors in shaping the 2026 NHL Draft landscape.

    This week’s three stars feature a top OHL center continuing to drive one of the league’s most dangerous contenders, a high-scoring WHL defenseman leading from the back end, and a Slovakian pivot finding ways to contribute as his club pushes deeper into the postseason.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of April 6 to April 13.

    Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    Brantford Bulldogs center Caleb Malhotra continues to be a driving force behind one of the OHL’s top contenders. The Toronto native sits fifth in playoff scoring with 13 points (eight goals, five assists), making him the only draft-eligible player among the league’s top five scorers this postseason. A finalist for the OHL Rookie of the Year award after posting 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in the regular season, Malhotra continues to solidify his standing as one of the premier centers in the 2026 draft class.

    The fourth-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings remained productive as Brantford opened its second-round series against the North Bay Battalion. He wasted little time making an impact in Game 1, scoring a power-play goal just over two minutes into the contest by capitalizing on a rebound. Later in the period, he added a primary assist, feathering a pass to Cooper Dennis for a clean finish, before striking again by intercepting a clearing attempt and wiring the puck into the back of the net.

    Malhotra stayed active in Game 2, delivering another timely play late in the opening period. With under 10 seconds remaining, he forced a turnover on the forecheck and flipped a backhand on goal that found its way through the goaltender to beat the buzzer.

    While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 3, Malhotra continued to play a key role in a tightly contested matchup. He logged significant minutes, including extended ice time in double overtime, as the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game late before eventually securing a 3-0 series lead.

    Daxon Rudolph | RHD | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

    Daxon Rudolph’s emergence as one of the top offensive defensemen in the 2026 class has continued into the postseason. The Lacombe, Alberta native leads all WHL blueliners in playoff scoring with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through seven games, building on a dominant regular season in which he paced draft-eligible CHL defensemen in production.

    The 6-foot-2, 203-pound defender played a central role in Prince Albert’s strong start to its series against the Saskatoon Blades. In Game 1, Rudolph extended his team’s lead early, stepping in from the point and beating the goaltender with a well-placed wrist shot. He added a second-period assist with a precise stretch pass that sprung Brandon Gorzynski for a clean finish before picking up another helper on the power play in a 6-1 victory.

    Rudolph followed that performance with another impactful showing in Game 2. Activating off the rush to create a numerical advantage, he directed a shot toward the net that resulted in a rebound goal, helping the Raiders secure a 3-0 win and take early control of the series.

    Tomas Chrenko | C | HK Nitra (Slovakia)

    Tomas Chrenko has continued to build on an impressive draft year that has included strong international and professional experience. The Slovakian center recorded eight points (five goals, three assists) in five games at the 2026 World Junior Championship, showcasing his ability to produce against top competition. He also contributed 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 44 games in Slovakia’s top professional league during the regular season.

    Skating for his hometown club HK Nitra in the postseason, Chrenko has found ways to contribute despite limited ice time. After recording four assists in a seven-game second-round series win, he began to make a greater impact in the semifinals against Poprad.

    In Game 3, Chrenko helped open the scoring by creating a two-on-one opportunity, recovering a loose puck and setting up a teammate for a clean finish. He followed that up with a key contribution in a comeback effort, driving play off the forecheck before feeding a teammate for a one-timer that gave Nitra the lead in an eventual 5-4 victory.

    Chrenko remained involved in Game 5, helping his team respond after an early deficit. Carrying the puck into the offensive zone, he evaded pressure and waited for support before setting up a teammate at the doorstep to tie the game. Nitra went on to rally for a 4-2 win, continuing its push deeper into the postseason.

    Chrenko’s ability to contribute in different situations and against older competition continues to underline his value as an intriguing option in the 2026 draft.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The playoffs for prospects across the hockey world are now underway, marking a critical stretch where players can separate themselves from the rest of the draft class with standout performances in high-pressure games. This week’s draft-eligible three stars feature a Swedish center on fire in his junior club’s postseason after his pro season ended; a Western Hockey League (WHL) defender who piled up goals in the regular season and continues to do so in the playoffs; and a dynamic Ontario Hockey League (OHL) center who continues to drive one of the most dangerous teams in Canadian major junior hockey.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of March 23 to 30.

    Viggo Björck | C | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

    Swedish center Viggo Björck wrapped up his first full professional season with respectable totals for an 18-year-old with a March birthday. While his stat line — 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 42 SHL games — doesn’t jump off the page, the Stockholm native was a force at the World Junior Championships, recording nine points (three goals, six assists) for the gold medal-winning squad. Björck also earned increased ice time as the season progressed and was playing a top-line role by the playoffs.

    Despite producing at a point-per-game pace in Djurgårdens’ three-game first-round series against Malmö, Björck and his team were eliminated. That allowed the eighth-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings to join the club’s U20 team, which remained in the playoff hunt. The 5-foot-10 center made an immediate impact in the quarterfinals, helping the team advance to the semifinals.

    In Game 1, Björck recorded a power-play assist midway through the second period as Djurgårdens cruised to a 3-0 win. In Game 2, the IFK Täby product added a secondary assist on the opening goal before sealing a 4-1 victory with an empty-net tally. With a chance to clinch the series in Game 3, Björck delivered his best performance.

    The 2025 U-18 IIHF World Championship silver medalist opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game with a deft backhand finish. He added an assist in the second period as his team built a 3-1 lead, then capped off the win with a power-play one-timer into a nearly empty net. Despite appearing in just three games, Björck leads the league in postseason points per game.

    Daxon Rudolph | RHD | Prince Albert Raiders

    Daxon Rudolph’s calling card in his draft season has been his goal-scoring ability. The WHL sophomore led Canadian major junior defensemen eligible for the draft with 28 goals—eight more than Carson Carels of the Prince George Cougars. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound blueliner also added 50 assists, finishing second in CHL scoring among draft-eligible players behind Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats.

    The 10th-ranked skater on the Draft Prospects Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings has carried that production into the postseason, facing the Red Deer Rebels in the opening round.

    In Game 1, Rudolph helped facilitate strong puck movement on the power play, earning a secondary assist on a goal by Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes. Early in the second period, Rudolph jumped into the play, initially firing a shot for a potential tip before circling the net and burying the rebound into a nearly empty net. The goal stood as the game-winner in a 4-1 victory.

    Rudolph stayed hot in Game 2 as the Raiders defended home ice. After a scoreless first period, he helped spark the offense in the second, holding the line to keep a play alive before setting up Ben Harvey for a goal.

    Later in the period, while killing a penalty, Cootes intercepted a pass and spotted Rudolph streaking through the neutral zone. The defender took the pass in stride and wired a wrist shot over the goaltender’s glove. He later added another power-play assist, bringing his total to five points through two games.

    Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    Caleb Malhotra played a key role in helping the Brantford Bulldogs finish atop the OHL standings this season. He ranked second on the team in scoring behind Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien, posting 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists). That total also placed him second among draft-eligible OHL players, trailing only Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Kelpov. The son of longtime NHLer and current AHL coach Manny Malhotra has firmly established himself as one of the top centers in the 2026 draft class.

    Malhotra has carried that momentum into the playoffs, recording four points through two games in the opening round.

    In Game 1, the former Chilliwack Chief extended his team’s lead to 3-0 in the second period, capitalizing on a rebound during a power play. He struck again later in the frame, picking off a clearing attempt and wiring a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle to make it 5-2. The Bulldogs went on to win 6-2.

    Malhotra remained a difference-maker in Game 2. On an early power play, Marek Vanacker recovered a broken play and found Malhotra alone at the backdoor for an easy tap-in to open the scoring. Later, with under five minutes remaining in the second period, Malhotra led the rush and threaded a pass across the zone to Cooper Dennis, who quickly set up a teammate in front to restore the lead. The Bulldogs added an empty-net goal late to secure a 2-0 series advantage.