The WHL has become a league to watch this season for 2027 NHL Draft eligibles, but the NHL draftees who remain have also been lighting the league on fire. The league currently has three teams in the CHL Top-10 rankings: Spokane Chiefs (2nd), Victoria Royals (7th), and Red Deer Rebels (10th), but teams like the Vancouver Giants are knocking on the door.
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Drafted Prospects Leading the Way
Beckett Hamilton | Red Deer Rebels | 2026 Round 3, 74th Overall, Colorado Avalanche
The highest-scoring NHL prospect in the WHL so far is Hamilton, who is experiencing an offensive breakout after being seen as more of a two-way, do-it-all forward in the pre-draft process. He still has those qualities, but he’s showing more upside this season, while also being the team’s leader with the C on his chest.
The Rebels’ captain is also making those around him better, as undrafted forward Poul Anderson is leading the WHL in scoring, with four more points than his teammate in two extra games. Whether he can sustain a 1.59-point-per-game pace is one thing, but anywhere near that will have the Avalanche feeling very good about their third-round selection.
Carter Sanderson | Calgary Hitmen | 2025 Round 6, 169th Overall, Pittsburgh Penguins
Kyle Dubas might’ve pulled off a heist with this selection in the 2025 draft. The American had just 34 points in 54 games in the USHL last season, so he found a fresh start in the CHL, where he quickly became the Hitmen’s captain in his first training camp and now leads the team with 26 points in 16 games.
His most impressive skill is his goal-scoring, which has him averaging a goal per game early in the year. It’ll be a one-and-done for Sanderson, as he plans to attend the University of North Dakota next season, but that program will only increase his chances of being a standout pick for the Penguins in a few years.
Chase Harrington | Spokane Chiefs | 2026 Round 2, 36th Overall, Calgary Flames
Harrington sits third in the league in points per game with 1.71, with 24 points in 14 games. The forward hasn’t averaged over a point-per-game pace in any of his first three seasons, but the edge he found last season has carried into his fourth year. He is now on pace for 29 goals, 86 assists, and 148 penalty minutes.
The Flames will look forward to one day getting his offensive upside into the lineup, but his additional penalty minutes and hit totals are especially intriguing for perspective fantasy owners or dynasty managers. He’ll be a fan favorite in the Flames’ new arena.
Brayden Klimpke | Saskatoon Blades | 2026 Round 4, 117th overall, Montreal Canadiens
The current point-per-game leader among drafted defensemen is Klimpke, with 19 points in 16 games. He is also a member of next year’s class for UND and another rising prospect in the Canadiens’ development system.
The points don’t tell the full story, and this breakout year doesn’t necessarily point to a future stalwart on Montreal’s blueline, but it’s hard to bet against that team’s ability to draft and develop players.
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2027 NHL Draft Eligibles
Brock Cripps | Prince Albert Raiders
Some doubters questioned Cripps heading into this season, but the defenseman has answered some of them with an offensive breakout and added defensive responsibility. Some questions remain about his long-term upside, and a solid first two months doesn’t mean much, but it’s hard to deny that in a weak defensive class, he should be the next one off the board after Landon Dupont goes early.
Offense has been a calling card for Cripps throughout his minor hockey career, and showing it again in the WHL after a slow start last season could offer a glimpse of him as an offensive contributor in the NHL one day.
Kayden Stroeder | Edmonton Oil Kings
Stroeder’s early draft ranking is more of a late first-rounder, but his pace of 81 points after just 32 points last season could move him up some draft boards. Stroeder had a strong start to his draft year with 9 points at the Ivan Hlinka, and he has carried that over to his second season in the WHL.
The other parts of Stroeder’s game are still up for debate, but there’s no doubt he can run and gun with the best in this class, and he has high-scoring upside if he can work on the other things well enough to get opportunities.
Brock England | Seattle Thunderbirds
England had a ton of expectations thrown on him after a great showing at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, which may have contributed to the negative reaction he faced after an inconsistent start to the season. He shone early with a point-per-game pace, but a tough stretch through October sent some doubters his way.
England bounced back with back-to-back two-point nights to end the month, and he continues to generate opportunities despite lower production. One thing to monitor is his five goals on 73 shots, which suggests he may be dealing with some bad shooting luck despite getting a ton of chances.
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Final Thoughts
The 2026-27 WHL season has been a great encapsulation of where the CHL is going under the new landscape with NCAA hockey. The 2027 draft eligibles are getting a chance to develop while playing big roles as some of the top drafted prospects leave early for college, but it hasn’t diminished the quality of play. As the CHL gets younger, it could become a great landing spot for draft-eligible players worldwide, and we’re already seeing that pay off this season across the three leagues.
The Spokane Chiefs are looking like the team to beat thus far, but the high-scoring Vancouver Giants, led by Mathis Preston, are going to be a team to watch as the season goes on. The team’s defense and goaltending haven’t been up to par, but they are a franchise that isn’t afraid to address needs in a big way; it wouldn’t be shocking to see them look like the front-runners by the time the trade deadline passes.
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Nate Duffett