The WHL season is barely underway, but there’s already plenty to keep an eye on.

For NHL teams, it’s another chance to see how their prospects are coming along. For the 2027 draft class, it’s the beginning of a long season with plenty of opportunities to make a name for themselves. And somewhere in between, there’s a whole lot of hockey to sort through.

October is always an interesting time to watch prospects. The sample sizes are small, players are still finding their footing, and a good weekend can send people scrambling to update their opinions. It’s far too early to draw any major conclusions, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things worth talking about.

Let’s take a look at some of the names on my radar.

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The NHL Investments

Mathis Preston | Vancouver Giants (50th overall) | Anaheim Ducks

Mathis Preston had a bit of everything thrown at him last season. Injuries and a midseason change of scenery made for a stop-start year, but he still managed 44 points in 46 regular-season games before adding 16 points in 20 playoff contests. Anaheim took him 50th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, betting on the offensive ability that’s been evident throughout his junior career.

There’s some real skill here. Preston has quick hands, can make plays in tight spaces, and has the ability to get himself into dangerous areas. He’s not just a shoot-first player, either. He can spot a passing lane and make something happen when the defence starts to collapse around him.

Consistency is the next challenge. The offensive flashes are there, but Preston needs to find ways to make them a regular part of his game rather than something that comes and goes. A full season in Vancouver should give him a chance to settle in, build some chemistry, and take on a bigger role.

The Ducks have an interesting offensive prospect on their hands. Now it’s about turning those flashes into something they can count on every night.

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Liam Ruck | Medicine Hat Tigers (22nd overall) | Pittsburgh Penguins

Forty-five goals and 104 points will get you noticed. Liam Ruck put up those numbers with Medicine Hat last season, earning himself a first-round selection by Pittsburgh in the process.

Ruck has a good feel for where scoring chances develop. He finds soft spots around the net, gets himself into shooting positions, and has the hands to finish when the puck finds him. There’s a reason he was able to score at that rate. He knows how to get to the right areas and make defenders pay when they lose track of him.

The obvious question is how that scoring touch translates as the competition gets tougher. Junior hockey will give you opportunities, but those same openings become harder to find as you move up the ladder. Ruck will need to keep finding ways to create separation, get inside defenders, and finish plays when he has less time and space to work with.

Still, 45 goals is 45 goals. There’s a natural scoring instinct here, and that’s not something you can teach overnight. Pittsburgh will be watching to see how he rounds out the rest of his game while continuing to do what he does best.

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Markus Ruck | Medicine Hat Tigers (39th overall) | Pittsburgh Penguins

If Liam was the finisher, Markus was often the one helping make it happen. The older twin by eight minutes, Markus led the WHL with 87 assists and finished the season with 108 points. Pittsburgh went back to Medicine Hat at 39th overall to grab another piece of the Tigers’ high-powered offence.

Markus is a playmaker who likes to be involved. He sees passing lanes, can move the puck through traffic, and has the hands to find teammates in dangerous areas. He doesn’t need to be the one finishing every play to have an impact. A lot of his value comes from recognizing what’s developing and getting the puck where it needs to go.

Naturally, the connection with Liam is going to attract attention. The two have plenty of familiarity, and that chemistry can make life difficult for opposing defences. But Markus’s development can’t depend on having his twin on the receiving end of every pass.

Can he create offence when that connection isn’t available? Can he find other options when defenders take away his first read? And can he continue to drive play against tougher matchups?

The assist total speaks for itself, but the next step is showing that his playmaking can translate regardless of who’s on his line. Pittsburgh has two different offensive weapons in the Rucks, and Markus’s ability to make the players around him better is a big part of what makes him intriguing.

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Brek Liske | Everett Silvertips (53rd overall) | Philadelphia Flyers

Brek Liske finished the season on a high note, helping Everett through its championship run before hearing his name called by Philadelphia at 53rd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He finished the regular season with 24 points in 52 games, then added another 17 in 18 playoff contests.

The offensive production is a nice bonus, but there’s more to his game than the points. Liske is a composed defenceman who can make plays under pressure and help get his team moving in the right direction. He’s comfortable making the first pass on a breakout, and when the space is there, he can carry the puck himself rather than force something that isn’t available.

He also shows a willingness to get involved defensively. Whether it’s battling along the boards, getting into shooting lanes, or putting himself in front of a shot, there’s a useful foundation to work with. His mobility helps him stay involved, and he doesn’t always need to rely on physical tools to get himself out of trouble.

The next step is seeing what he can do with more responsibility. Everett has a championship to defend, and Liske has an opportunity to establish himself as a bigger part of the team’s blue line.

Philadelphia doesn’t need him to become a completely different player. It needs him to keep building on what already works, become more consistent, and show that he can handle the game when the minutes and expectations increase.

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The 2027 Draft File

Brock Cripps | Prince Albert Raiders

Brock Cripps is an interesting defenceman to follow heading into the 2027 NHL Draft, particularly if you’re drawn to players who can move the puck and influence the game without needing to dominate the scoresheet.

He finished last season with 37 points in 62 regular-season games before putting up 21 points in 20 playoff contests. That’s a productive finish, and it helped get his name into the early draft conversation.

What interests me about Cripps is the potential for an offensive defenceman who can still handle his responsibilities away from the puck. His mobility gives him options, particularly in transition, where he can use his feet to create space, open passing lanes, and help his team get out of its own end.

Of course, there’s a difference between looking comfortable when things are going well and handling yourself when the game starts to get away from you.

That’s where Cripps has some work to do. How does he respond when the forecheck takes away his time and space? Can he use his feet and positioning to defend the rush without reaching or scrambling? And can he continue to make things happen offensively without getting caught trying to force a play?

Those are the details I’ll be watching this season. There’s plenty to like about a mobile defenceman who can contribute offensively, but the consistency of his decisions will go a long way toward determining how far that skill set takes him.

His playoff production gives him something to build on. Now he needs to show that he can bring the same level of impact over a full season, including the less glamorous shifts that don’t end up on the scoresheet.

Cripps has an opportunity to make himself a name in the 2027 class. The tools are worth watching, and this season should tell us a lot more about how they fit together.

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Brock England | Seattle Thunderbirds

Brock England enters the season with some valuable experience under his belt after being part of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Playing in that kind of tournament gives a young player a taste of the competition he’ll be facing as he moves through the draft process. The pace is high, the margins are small, and there’s not much room to hide when you’re going up against some of the best players in your age group.

But a strong international tournament is only one piece of the puzzle. England now has a full WHL season ahead of him, and that’s where the longer evaluation begins.

I’m interested to see how he handles the everyday grind. Can he make an impact when the offence isn’t coming easily? Does he find ways to help his line when he doesn’t have the puck? And can he bring the same level of detail to a midweek road game that he brings to a high-profile tournament?

Those things matter. Draft-eligible forwards don’t need to put on a show every shift, but the ones who consistently contribute tend to give scouts more to work with. Winning a battle, keeping a possession alive, creating room for a teammate, or making the right decision under pressure can all tell you something about a player’s game.

England has already had an opportunity to test himself against strong competition. Now it’s about carrying that experience into Seattle and showing what he can do over a full season.

There’s plenty of hockey left to play, and his development will be worth following as the 2027 draft picture starts to come together.

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Final Thoughts: The Season Is Just Getting Started

It’s October. Nobody needs to have everything figured out just yet.

For the drafted group, this season is about continuing to develop and showing NHL organizations what they’ve got. Preston has an opportunity to make his offensive skill more consistent in Vancouver, while Liam and Markus Ruck bring different strengths to Pittsburgh’s prospect pool. Liske, meanwhile, will look to build on a strong playoff run and earn a bigger role with Everett.

Cripps and England have a different set of goals. They’re trying to turn early interest into a stronger case for the 2027 NHL Draft, and they’ve got a full season to do it. There’s no need to force the conversation in October. Consistent performances and steady development will do more for their draft stock than a couple of big nights.

There’s still plenty we don’t know, opinions are going to change, and some of the players who end up making the biggest impression might not be the ones getting all the attention right now.

For now, it’s about watching, taking notes, and seeing who starts to separate themselves as the season rolls along.