DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Hlinka Gretzky Cup

  • Weekly 2027 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Another week of hockey is in the books, and that means a new set of draft-eligible three stars. This edition features an undersized Czech defender trying to follow in the footsteps of some other highly drafted diminutive offensive producers, an Ontario Hockey League centre with NHL bloodlines, and, finally, a Western Hockey League pivot trying to prove his production at a summer showcase wasn’t a fluke.

    Here are the 2027 NHL Draft eligible three stars for the week of September 28 to October 5:

    Lukas Kachlir | RHD | Bílí Tygři Liberec / Czechia

    Czech defender Lukas Kachlir has started his draft year with a bang offensively. He has six points in 10 games. Those points include three goals and three assists across Czechia’s pro league and the U20 level. After getting a taste of pro hockey last season in 13 appearances, Kachlir has already gotten into eight pro games in 2026.

    This week the 5-foot-8, 150-pound defender opened with a trio of assists in a 5-3 loss for his team in U20. He joined the pro squad for three games and, despite low ice time, was able to make an impact.

    The offensive dynamo got his team on the board against HC Litvinov. With the game tied at one midway through the first, Kachlir walked in from the point to find a loose puck. He then wired a wrist shot up and over the goalie’s blocker side shoulder.

    Kachlir played just over 12 minutes in his second pro game of the week. He registered two shots in a 2-0 win.

    The Czechia native added another goal in his last game of the week. After taking a pass from his partner at the point, he walked into some open ice. Using the opposing defender as a screen, Kachlir fired a hard wrist shot into the top corner.

    Aleks Kulemin | C | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

    Kingston Frontenacs centre Aleks Kulemin is getting off to a great start in his draft year. With nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games, he is tied for second in points in the Ontario Hockey League among draft-eligible players.

    The son of former Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders winger Nikolai Kulemin is paving his way to his own NHL future. In two games this week, the 6-foot-2 pivot had four points in two contests.

    Kulemin helped the Frontenacs to open the scoring in his first game of the week against the Peterborough Petes. Using his big frame down low, Kulemin picked up the puck down below the opposing goal line. He fed Landon Wright, who found draft-eligible defender Matt Henderson wide open at the point. Henderson wired a wrist high and over the goalie to give Kulemin a secondary helper. The Woodbridge, ON native added another helper later in the first period. He won an offensive zone face-off straight to winger Robin Kuzma. Subsequently, the winger sent it to New York Rangers draft pick Andre Mondoux, who wired a wrist shot home.

    In a wild 8-6 defeat at the hands of the Erie Otters, Kulemin tickled twine twice. Midway through the first period Kulemin made his way to the front of the net. Following a shot from the point, the power forward tipped the puck past the Otters’ keeper for a 2-0 Kingston lead. In the second period with the game knotted at 4, Kulemin doubled up. Sneaking in behind the defense, he found a rebound in front of the net. He tapped the puck off his backhand to his forehand and chipped it over the goalie.

    Kayden Stroeder | C | Edmonton Oil Kings

    Kayden Stroeder’s impressive showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August with nine points (four goals, five assists) set the stage for him to have a big draft year. Despite starting slowly with just one goal and one assist for the Oil Kings through his first four games, the Saskatoon, SK, native broke out against the Regina Pats.

    The 2024 Western Hockey League fifth overall pick posted a hat trick in his team’s lone game of the weekend. The 6-foot, 165-pound centre got himself a breakaway in the second period. The Regina goalie was able to make the initial save and his backhand, but with a second effort, the Oil Kings forward slipped the puck in. Later in the frame with Edmonton on the power play, Stroeder went for a skate around the top of the offensive zone before whipping a wrist shot that went off the inside of the crossbar and out. About halfway through the third period with the Oil Kings on the power play, Stroeder brought down the hats at Rogers Place. Following up on a rebound from a point shot, the Hlinka Gretzky gold medallist in 2026 chipped the puck over the goalie’s glove.

  • Michael Tang vs Slovakia – Aug 7, 2026

    Michael Tang vs Slovakia – Aug 7, 2026

    Tang had about as impressive a performance as a goal scorer can have without actually scoring a goal. On one particularly impressive play, he beat a defender to the inside before driving the net and getting a shot on goal. He then attempted to bat his own rebound out of mid-air with a backhand, cross-body swing, but hit the post.

    On the power play, Tang beat a defender with a toe-drag at the face-off dot before releasing a powerful wrist shot that beat the goaltender high far side, sending the water bottle flying. The goal was ultimately called back for goaltender interference.

    This was by far Tang’s best game of the tournament. While his patience with the puck and ability to beat defenders with his hands allowed him to create offense, I would like to see him move his feet more when he has possession in the offensive zone. Adding more mobility could bring a more dynamic element to his cycle game.

  • Boston Tait (D) – 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report

    Boston Tait (D) – 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report

    Tait quietly played one of the most complete games on Canada’s blue line, impacting the game in all three zones.

    His puck movement was a constant throughout the game, helping Canada sustain its dominant performance by consistently moving the puck in the direction it needed to go.

    Rather than forcing difficult plays, he showed the poise to make the correct read, highlighted by a fantastic stretch pass that started the sequence leading to Camryn Warren’s goal.

    Offensively, Tait activated when the opportunity presented itself, but never at the expense of his defensive responsibilities.

    He looked most comfortable creating from the blue line, playing aggressively when needed to extend possessions before seamlessly recovering to his position.

    That balance allowed him to contribute offensively without leaving Canada vulnerable in transition.

    Tait consistently closed gaps and broke up plays through excellent stick and body positioning, including one sequence where he completely shut down an attacker one-on-one before immediately turning the play back up ice.

    Tait looked like your modern two-way, do-it-all defenceman, not shying away from any aspect of the game.

  • Joey Cullen (F) – 2028 NHL Draft Prospect Report

    Joey Cullen (F) – 2028 NHL Draft Prospect Report

    At just 16 years old, Joey Cullen was by far USA’s most talented forward, even in a high-intensity semifinal matchup.

    He always keeps his head up, scanning the ice for the right pass, and once he gets a good look, he has the elite hockey sense to know where everyone is and where they are going, allowing him to make plays before others can see them develop.

    He recorded a secondary assist on USA’s opening power-play goal. While he did not directly create the goal, he showed good poise with the puck, waiting until the right pass opened up. Though that was his last point, it was far from the last time he contributed offensively.

    Later in the game, Cullen beat one defender to the inside before taking another to the outside and ringing the puck off the post.

    On another play, he set up Gunnar Conboy with a completely open net, but Conboy missed. Cullen was also trusted to be a focal point of the American power play when he was on the ice.

    Another thing that impressed me was his ability to stay with plays even when they broke down. He was constantly able to recover and get to loose pucks before defenders.

  • Landon DuPont Dominates Beyond the Scoresheet

    Landon DuPont Dominates Beyond the Scoresheet

    Landon DuPont had a game that was indicative of his entire tournament, finishing with only one point despite being by far the most dominant player on the ice. Canada was in rough shape early, being outshot 10-1, but DuPont never let that get to him and continued making plays on every shift even while the players around him were struggling. Earning the C on his jersey, he dragged Canada back into the game with a slap shot from the high slot to tie it late in the first period.

    While he didn’t find the scoresheet again, DuPont remained dynamic in the offensive zone, whipping the puck around and controlling play. His second point of the night nearly came when he set up Maddox Schultz in the dying seconds of the first period, but time ran out. He didn’t receive a point on Malik L’Italien’s goal to give Canada a 3-2 lead either, but the play couldn’t have happened without him. DuPont caused havoc in the offensive zone, crashed the slot and drew all the attention away from L’Italien, giving him the time and space to score.