Landon DuPont of Everett is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Big deal, right? Not so fast. Existing teams are simultaneously bracing for an expansion draft after the 2026-27 season. This means they'll be forced to expose two forwards and one defenseman, just like with Vegas and Seattle, according to Nytimes. So, while GMs are drooling over 2027 draft talent, they're also staring down the barrel of losing valuable roster players. It's a brutal choice: protect future stars or keep current stability. A high-stakes gamble, with no easy answers.
The 2027-28 NHL season? It's going to be a bloodbath of roster reshuffling. New franchises will get a competitive edge, while established teams face immediate challenges. This isn't minor tinkering; it's a fundamental shift in how teams build. Management's foresight will be put to the ultimate test.
1. Landon DuPont (Projected No. 1 Pick)
Best for: Teams seeking a franchise-altering defenseman
Landon DuPont is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. He put up 73 points (18 goals, 55 assists) in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26, tying for fourth among WHL defensemen, according to Rink Royalty. This isn't just good; it's historic. DuPont is only the second player and first defender ever granted exceptional status to compete in the WHL at 15. That screams generational talent.
Strengths: Elite offensive production from the blue line, exceptional status at a young age, top overall pick projection. | Limitations: As a defenseman, his immediate NHL impact might take longer than a forward. | Draft Capital: Requires the highest draft pick, meaning a costly trade for lottery positioning.
2. Alexis Joseph (Top Prospect)
Best for: Teams needing a future No. 1 center
Alexis Joseph, a 6-foot-5 center, put up 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 54 regular-season games for Saint John in the QMJHL, according to Rink Royalty. He’s a legitimate candidate for a future No. 1 center in the NHL, projected as high as No. 2 in 2027. That kind of size and skill down the middle is rare.
Strengths: Size, scoring, playmaking, foundational center potential. | Limitations: Must translate QMJHL success to the NHL. | Draft Capital: High lottery pick, likely top-3.
3. Expansion Draft Selection Rules
Best for: The new expansion franchise
The expansion team isn't starting from scratch. They must select at least 14 forwards, nine defenders, and three goalies. Twenty of those players must be under contract for the 2027-28 season, according to Nytimes. Plus, their total contracts must hit 60% to 100% of the 2026-27 salary cap. This isn't some minor league startup; the new team will be competitive from day one, built to contend, not just exist.
Strengths: Ensures a competitive, structured roster from day one, clear selection framework. | Limitations: No drafted players can be bought out in Year 1, limiting immediate roster flexibility. | Protection Cost: Existing teams will lose valuable players, impacting depth.
4. Expansion Draft Protection Rules
Best for: Teams with strong prospect pipelines
Teams get two options for protection: seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie, or any eight skaters and a goalie. But here's the kicker: they must expose two forwards, one defenseman (with specific playing time and contract criteria for 2027-28), and one goaltender, according to Nytimes. The good news? First- and second-year pros, plus players with career-ending injuries, are exempt. This setup means GMs have to play chess, not checkers. You save your young guns, but you're forced to sacrifice a proven veteran, or trade him for pennies on the dollar.
Strengths: Protects key core players and new prospects, exempts early-career talent. | Limitations: Forces exposure of established, valuable players, creating difficult roster decisions. | Protection Cost: Teams must make tough choices, potentially trading assets to avoid losing them for nothing.
5. 2027 NHL Draft Lottery Rules
Best for: Bottom-tier teams with a chance to jump spots
Forget blatant tanking. Only the top 11 teams are even eligible for the 1st pick in the lottery, and a team can only jump ten spots, according to Tankathon. Plus, you only get to improve your position via the Lottery twice in a five-year period, starting with 2022. The league wants to keep things competitive, but it still gives the bottom feeders a shot at a game-changer.
Strengths: Mechanism for non-playoff teams to improve draft position, limits long-term tanking. | Limitations: Caps jump spots, reducing major leaps. | Draft Capital: Dictates probability of securing top prospects like DuPont or Joseph.
6. Dimian Zhilkin (Prospect)
Best for: Teams needing a high-scoring forward
Dimian Zhilkin racked up 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games for Saginaw in the OHL, according to Rink Royalty. That kind of offensive output in a major junior league screams scoring potential. He's a pure scorer.
Strengths: Consistent point production, goal-scoring, high-level junior experience. | Limitations: Needs to prove his game translates professionally. | Draft Capital: Likely a high first-round pick, possibly outside the top-5.
7. Nazar Privalov (Prospect)
Best for: Teams looking for a power forward with skill
Nazar Privalov is a beast: 6-foot-4, 225-pound winger with above-average speed and playmaking for his size. He’s highlighted as a top prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft, according to Rink Royalty. That combination of power and finesse is exactly what teams crave.
Strengths: Elite size, strength, speed, playmaking, strong physical presence. | Limitations: Detailed stats are less available than other top prospects. | Draft Capital: Projected first-round pick, likely mid-to-late first round.
8. First Round Picks 1-8 (General)
Best for: Any team aiming for top-tier talent
The first eight picks of the 2027 NHL mock draft, according to Lines, cover the most anticipated prospects. These aren't just players; they're potential franchise cornerstones. If you're picking here, you're getting a shot at a game-changer.
Strengths: Access to the highest-rated talent pool, potential for a generational player. | Limitations: Requires a high draft position, usually means a struggling previous season. | Draft Capital: Extremely high value, often traded for multiple future assets or proven NHL players.
Understanding the 2027 Expansion Draft Rules
Let's break down the expansion draft rules. This isn't just bureaucratic jargon; it's the blueprint for how your favorite team might get gutted, or how a new one rises from the ashes.
| Rule Type | Details | Impact on Existing Teams | Impact on Expansion Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Exemption | First- and second-year professionals, and players with potentially career-ending injuries, are exempt from the expansion draft. | Protects recent high draft picks and young talent, but forces exposure of more established players. | Cannot select the newest, unproven talent, but benefits from the exposure of veterans. |
| Player Exposure | Teams must expose two forwards and one defenseman who meet specific playing time and contract criteria for the 2027-28 season, along with one goaltender. | Creates strategic dilemmas, forcing teams to choose between exposing valuable players or trading them for future assets. | Guarantees a core of proven, NHL-ready talent for the new franchise. |
| Selection Quotas | The expansion team must select at least 14 forwards, nine defenders, and three goalies. | Limits the number of players an existing team can lose from specific positions, but ensures diversity in losses. | Ensures a balanced roster across all positions, avoiding a top-heavy or positionally weak initial lineup. |
| Contract Requirements | Twenty of the selected players must be under contract for the 2027-28 season. The aggregate of player contracts must fall between 60% and 100% of the 2026-27 salary cap. | Forces teams to consider contract status when deciding protection, influencing trade decisions. | Provides immediate roster stability and allows the team to be competitive within the league's salary structure from day one. |
Strategic Implications for NHL Teams
The exemption for first- and second-year pros? That means teams with deep prospect pipelines are laughing. They can accelerate rebuilds, prioritizing young, protected talent over established veterans. It's a seismic shift in value, according to Nytimes.
Meanwhile, the 2027 expansion franchise won't be a pushover. With teams forced to expose two forwards and one defenseman, the expansion franchise will have a strong foundation.and one defenseman, the new squad will immediately field a competitive roster, bypassing those usual growing pains. They're built to win now, not in five years.
This whole mess—a stacked draft class led by DuPont and an expansion draft—creates an unprecedented buyer's market for picks. Established teams will trade valuable, unprotected assets just to secure future, exempt talent. GMs have a choice: keep a veteran for one more year and lose him for nothing, or cash in for a draft pick? The smart money is on the latter.
So, come 2027-28, expect chaos. New franchises will likely hit the ground running, while established teams will be left picking up the pieces, all while a new generation of talent tries to make its mark.
