2026 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup: Stock Up, Stock Down and an Early Look at the 2027 NHL Draft

The 2026 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup is officially in the books, and Canada is back on top.

After settling for bronze last summer, Canada put together a dominant week in Edmonton, finishing the tournament undefeated before dismantling the United States 8-1 in the gold-medal game. Landon DuPont recorded four points in the final, while Canada received contributions throughout its lineup.

For the hockey world, however, the gold medal was only part of the story.

For NHL scouts, the more important development was the first major best-on-best (sort of) look at the 2027 NHL Draft class.

The Hlinka isn’t the draft. It isn’t even close to being the final word on these players. Some of the best 2027 prospects weren’t in Edmonton, including Jaxon Jacobson, Nazar Privalov, Dima Zhilkin and Sammy Nelson. But it is an important measuring stick.

Players who dominated against their peers in the CHL, USHL or European leagues suddenly had to do it against the best players from around the world.

Some passed that test with flying colors. Others left scouts wanting more. And a few players who weren’t necessarily at the center of the pre-tournament conversation forced their way into it.

Here is my biggest takeaway from Edmonton.

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Landon DuPont is still No. 1. If anything, the tournament made the argument stronger.

DuPont entered Edmonton as the overwhelming early favorite to be selected first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft. He had already produced 73 points in 63 WHL games, helped Everett win the WHL championship and played a major role in the Silvertips’ run to the Memorial Cup final.

The question wasn’t whether he was talented. It was whether he could look like a franchise defenseman against the best players available. He did. DuPont’s ability to control the game from the back end was remarkable. He doesn’t simply move the puck well; he dictates where the puck is going. His skating allows him to escape pressure; his vision allows him to identify passing lanes before they open and his confidence allows him to attack when most young defensemen would simply make the safe play.

If anything, the gap between DuPont and everyone else may have grown.

Brock England Was My Biggest Canadian Riser

There are players who have a good tournament. Then there are players who force you to rethink where they belong on your draft list. Brock England falls into the second category. The Seattle Thunderbirds forward entered Edmonton as an interesting 2027 prospect, but he left as one of the biggest Canadian winners of the tournament.

England opened Canada’s tournament with two goals against Switzerland and continued to be a dangerous offensive player throughout the week. He then scored twice in the gold-medal game against the United States.

That’s the type of performance that gets scouts’ attention. But the goals aren’t what impressed me most. It was how he generated them.

England plays with pace. He attacks space aggressively, gets to dangerous areas and has the confidence to shoot when opportunities present themselves. He isn’t simply a perimeter player looking for the perfect passing lane. He wants to attack.

And at 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, he isn’t physically overwhelming opponents. He’s creating problems with his skill and competitiveness. That makes him particularly interesting. England was one of the players I came away from Edmonton wanting to watch much more closely this season.

Alexis Joseph: The Tournament Was Good — But I’m Not Moving Him Up Yet

This is where I may differ from some of the early reaction. Alexis Joseph entered the tournament as one of the biggest names in the 2027 draft class. The 6-foot-5 Saint John Sea Dogs center produced 60 points in 54 games as an OHL rookie and had already established himself as one of the most physically intriguing players in the draft.

There were moments in Edmonton when the tools were obvious. The size. The puck protection. The reach. The ability to make plays through traffic.

But I don’t think the Hlinka was enough to move Joseph ahead of the players already established around him. And that’s not necessarily a criticism. He’s still an excellent prospect.

But this is a player whose next step will be extremely important. Can he become more consistently involved? Can he impose himself physically without relying solely on his size? Can he drive offense shift after shift? Those are the questions I’m watching this season.

He needs to demonstrate that the skill underneath that massive frame is good enough to make him a legitimate franchise-level player. The potential is there. The Hlinka simply didn’t answer every question.

Jaakko Wycisk Deserves More Attention This may be my biggest “I want to see more” player coming out of the tournament. Wycisk wasn’t one of the names dominating early 2027 draft discussions. He should be now.

The Guelph Storm forward had 43 points in 60 games as an OHL rookie after being selected second overall in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. That production wasn’t overwhelming. His Hlinka performance was a different story.

Wycisk looked comfortable playing at a faster pace and showed the ability to make plays under pressure. He has good size at 6-foot-1, can distribute the puck and has enough offensive skill to make defenders respect him.

What particularly stood out was his ability to keep plays alive. He doesn’t have to be the player who makes the first play. He can be the player who makes the second or third play that eventually turns possession into a scoring chance. That’s an important quality.

Now comes the difficult part. He has to carry this into Guelph. If Wycisk takes a significant step offensively in his second OHL season, his name could climb very quickly.

The Biggest International Question: Luca Santala

Finland’s bronze medal was one of the more impressive team stories of the tournament. Luca Santala was a big reason why. The Finnish forward entered the tournament with plenty of attention and continued to demonstrate why he belongs in the first-round conversation.

Santala has the kind of offensive instincts that immediately stand out. He sees plays develop. He gets into scoring areas. He has a dangerous release. And he doesn’t need much time to turn possession into a scoring chance.

What I particularly liked was his ability to create offense without needing to dominate the puck for long stretches. That’s an important distinction.

Some junior stars need the puck on their stick constantly. Santala can hurt you with it — and without it. That makes him an intriguing NHL projection.

Brock Cripps Quietly Had a Very Good Tournament

Everyone talks about DuPont. Understandably. But Cripps deserves more attention. The Prince Albert Raiders defenseman is considerably smaller than DuPont, yet he brings a different element to the position.

Cripps is mobile, aggressive and extremely comfortable with the puck. He’s willing to join the rush and has the skating ability to recover when the play goes the other way.

The question is obvious. Can he overcome his size? At approximately 5-foot-10, he’s going to have to convince NHL scouts that his skating, intelligence and puck-moving ability are special enough to compensate.

The Hlinka helped his case. He wasn’t overwhelmed. And that matters.

Jonah Neuenschwander Remains One of the Most Intriguing Players in the Class

Switzerland wasn’t expected to win the tournament. But the Swiss gave scouts plenty to watch. Neuenschwander is one of those players.

The 6-foot-3 forward already had considerable experience against older competition in Switzerland, including 47 National League games. That’s an unusual development path for a draft-eligible player.

His size immediately catches your eye. Then the skill does. Neuenschwander has the potential to become the type of power forward NHL teams desperately want — a player who can protect the puck, drive the middle of the ice and create offense while using his size.

He’s not quite in the DuPont/Joseph tier for me yet. But he’s firmly in the first-round conversation.

Sweden was one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament. The Swedes finished seventh after losing to Switzerland in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. That doesn’t mean the Swedish draft class is suddenly bad. Far from it.

Milan Sundström remains a fascinating prospect, while defenseman Douglas Johnsson brings an intriguing combination of skating and puck-moving ability.

But the tournament did expose some questions. Sundström didn’t dominate the way some expected. And Sweden’s inability to consistently control games against the stronger teams was noticeable.

That matters because these tournaments are often about separating “good prospect” from “special prospect.” Sweden didn’t have many players make that jump.

Czechia also came out of Edmonton disappointed. The Czechs showed flashes but struggled to put together a complete tournament.

Lukas Kachlir remains an interesting defenseman because of his skating and puck skills, but his size will continue to be a major part of the scouting conversation.

But he didn’t make the type of jump that some were hoping for. That doesn’t mean his draft stock collapsed. It simply means the 2026-27 season becomes even more important.

The 2027 NHL Draft: My Post-Hlinka Top 20

This is where things get interesting. I’m not treating the Hlinka as a standalone ranking exercise. Players who weren’t in Edmonton still matter enormously. In fact, some of the players near the top of my list weren’t even at the tournament.

So, after combining what we knew coming in with what we learned in Edmonton, here is my very early post-Hlinka Top 20:

1. Landon DuPont — D — Canada

The safest bet at the top of the draft right now. Elite skating, hockey sense, puck skills and offensive creativity from the back end.

2. Nazar Privalov — F — Russia

The biggest challenge to DuPont for the No. 1 spot. A massive, skilled forward who scored 30 goals in 51 MHL games last season.

3. Alexis Joseph — C — Canada

The size and skill combination is simply too enticing. His sophomore season in Saint John could determine whether he challenges for No. 1 or settles into the top five.

4. Jaxon Jacobson — C — Canada

One of the most gifted offensive players in the class. His 85 points and 60 assists in Brandon last season are impossible to ignore.

5. Jonah Neuenschwander — F — Switzerland

Size, experience and offensive upside. One of the most intriguing European players in the class.

6. Carter Meyer — C — USA

A relentless two-way center who combines intelligence, physicality and offensive ability. His next step will be fascinating.

7. Dima Zhilkin — RW — Canada

One of the most dangerous pure shooters in the class. His 36 goals and 75 points with Saginaw demonstrate the offensive ceiling.

8. Sammy Nelson — F — USA

An extremely intelligent offensive player who consistently generates scoring chances. He’ll get a major opportunity at Notre Dame.

9. Milan Sundström — C — Sweden

The son of former NHLer Niklas Sundström brings size, skill and playmaking ability. His European development path makes him particularly interesting.

10. Brock England — F — Canada

This is where I have England after Edmonton. I wouldn’t be surprised if he climbs considerably higher during the season.

11. Brock Cripps — D — Canada

The size will keep him from being a consensus top-10 player for now, but the skating and puck-moving ability are legitimate.

12. Luca Santala — F — Finland

One of the European forwards who could make a serious climb during the season.

13. Nolan Fitzhenry — F — Canada

A player I expect to receive much more attention as the season progresses.

14. Douglas Johnsson — D — Sweden

Excellent mobility and puck skills. A potential riser if the physical side continues to develop.

15. Petr Tomek — C — Czechia

Already playing against professionals in Czechia. That experience is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

16. Jaakko Wycisk — F — Canada

This is probably the biggest adjustment I’m making after Edmonton. I want to see what he does with a bigger role in Guelph.

17. Andrei Pustovoy — F — Russia

A name that shouldn’t get lost simply because he wasn’t in Edmonton.

18. Max Calce — C — Germany

The German forward has the kind of international/professional experience that could make him a very interesting draft-day option.

19. Dorian Eklund Aspe — F — Sweden

Big winger with intriguing offensive tools. The next step is consistency.

20. Sergei Skvortsov — F — Russia

A productive Russian forward who could become one of the more interesting European risers.

This is an intentionally early ranking, not a consensus ranking. There is plenty of room for movement between now and June.

The 2028 Draft Was Also Put on Notice

Perhaps the funniest part of the entire tournament was that some of the biggest stars weren’t even eligible for the 2027 draft. Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue are both 2028-eligible. And both looked completely comfortable playing against players a year older.

Schultz, in particular, generated a tremendous amount of buzz throughout the tournament. He was repeatedly noticeable because of his skating, hands and ability to create plays at speed. Pue was equally intriguing. That is an important reminder for scouts.

The Hlinka isn’t simply about identifying next year’s first-round picks. It’s about identifying the next wave. And the 2028 group already looks extremely interesting.