8 Undrafted NHL Prospects to Watch in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – NHL Prospects
In August and September, dozens of NHL prospects selected in the 2026 NHL Draft will get their first taste of NHL action through development camps, training camps, and, for the lucky few, some reps in pre-season. But for every prospect gearing up to compete for a job at an NHL camp, dozens are preparing to return to their junior club, hoping they can convince a pro team to take a chance on them.
Going undrafted is nothing new, and many will eventually make their way to the NHL. Sergei Bobrovsky, Ed Belfour, Mark Giordano, and Martin St. Louis were never selected, yet they outperformed many of the players taken instead. All it takes is one good year for a team to change their mind, so here are the top undrafted prospects to watch throughout the 2026-27 season.
Landon Amrhein
NHL Central Scouting: 68th (among NA skaters)
Last season, Landon Amrhein was one of several players to leave the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), joining the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Despite being a rookie, the 17-year-old often found himself on the top line alongside the Hitmen’s leading scorer, Kale Dach, where he put up 31 points in 64 games. The 6-foot-5 winger was praised for his skating, especially for his size, and his playmaking skills, but scouts were concerned about his hockey sense and lack of physicality despite his size, which led to him being passed over at the 2026 Draft.
Another concern against Amrhein was that his offensive game didn’t follow him up to Calgary, but there’s a good chance he takes a big step forward in 2026-27. He’s now one of the Hitmen’s top forwards after Dach’s departure, and with more confidence and comfort with the WHL, he should, at the very least, double his points from last season. If things go especially well, he could emerge as a similar player to Washington Capitals’ prospect Lynden Lakovic, a bigger forward who was similarly criticized for his lack of physicality.
Dayne Beuker
NHL Central Scouting: 76th (among NA skaters)
While Amrhein chose to leave the USNTDP, Dayne Beuker chose to stay, and he had a great season, finishing with 43 points in 62 games with the U18 team, 18 points in 25 games at the United States Hockey League (USHL) level, and five points in five games at the U18 World Juniors. But he was even more impressive without the puck, proving himself to be a great puck battler and a skilled 200-foot player. Unfortunately, his 5-foot-10 frame scared teams away despite the success of undersized players like Lane Hutson, Alex DeBrincat, Mats Zuccarello, and several others.
Beuker spent much of his childhood playing in Saskatchewan, leaving only in 2024-25 for the USNTDP. This season, he’ll return to the Canadian prairies, joining the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes after they selected him in the 2023 WHL Draft. On a team without a big star like Wyatt Cullen or Casey Mutryn, Beuker could break out as a top scorer with the Hurricanes. Joining him in Lethbridge is USNTDP teammate Logan Stuart, which could help him feel more comfortable with his new team and help Beuker thrive.
William Lacelle
NHL Central Scouting: 7th (among North American goalies)
Although more goalies were drafted in 2026 than in 20 years, William Lacelle wasn’t among them. The reason wasn’t poor performance, though, as he put up some of the best numbers in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 45 games split between the Rimouski Oceanic and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, he finished with a .917 save percentage (SV%), the fourth-best average in the league, while his 27 wins put him fifth. That made him a top prospect heading into the 2026 Draft. Unfortunately, teams seemed wary of drafting a 6-foot-1 goalie who is completely deaf in his left ear and 50% in his right.
This season, Lacelle can prove why he considers his hearing limitations his ‘superpower.’ Hockey Canada seems to agree, too, as they invited him to the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, where Canada’s goaltending coach, Dan De Palma, called Lacelle “special,” adding, “I think he’s a confident kid as a result of some of the challenges he’s had. William’s not here just for the experience. He wants to make the team, and he’s got a chance to make the team. We don’t look at any of that. That’s all put aside. He gets evaluated based on his performance, and he’s performed really well.”
Now Lacelle will take his talents to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where the starting job is wide open after Simon Latcoczy returned to Slovakia. Former Spokane Chief Dawson Cowan has the most experience, but only played 12 games last season, finishing with a .901 SV% and a 4-8 record. Will Craig has been with the university the longest, debuting in 2023-24, but still only has two appearances with the team. If Lacelle gets a good start, he could not only grab the starting job, but be a strong contender for Team Canada at the 2027 World Juniors. He’ll be fascinating to watch this season.
Harrison Boettiger
NHL Central Scouting: 10th (among North American goalies)
Another goalie who wasn’t selected, Harrison Boettiger had a strong rookie season with the Kelowna Rockets after leaving the USNTDP, posting a .911 SV% and a 25-10-5 record. When he was on his game, there were few better across the WHL. His 2.83 goals-against average was fifth among goalies with at least 40 games played, and of that group, only Joshua Ravensbergen had a better SV%. But scouts weren’t convinced by his lower moments last season, worst of which came in the playoffs, when he let in 14 goals in four games and was replaced by backup Josh Banini to finish the series against the Everett Silvertips.
Like Amrhein, Boettiger is set to return to the WHL this season, and after taking some bumps and bruises, he should be more consistent as a sophomore. He’ll be the uncontested starter in Kelowna, and although the Rockets are set to lose several veterans after loading up for the Memorial Cup, he’ll have the familiarity to stabilize a restructuring team. He also has a chance to be the starting goalie for the United States at the World Juniors this year, which could do a world of good for his draft stock.
Vsevolod Matveyev
NHL Central Scouting: 26th (among European skaters)
A highly-regarded defenceman heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, Vsevolod Matveyev wowed scouts with his incredible skating and mobility, as well as his responsible defensive game. Along with his 6-foot-2 frame and right-handed shot, he seemed like a perfect late-round selection. However, that didn’t pan out, likely due to his limited offensive skills. In 32 games last season in the MHL, he had 11 points, which is fine for a defensive defenceman, but there were times he wasn’t engaged enough defensively.
Thankfully for Matveyev, the MHL is a chaotic league, and a slow start can quickly be remedied by a big follow-up season. If he can find a bit more consistency on both ends of the ice and earn some extended looks in the KHL, that could be enough to change some minds at the next draft.
Jakub Frolo
NHL Central Scouting: 32nd (among European skaters)
Jakub Frolo entered the 2026 NHL Draft as a projected third-round pick thanks to his dynamic offensive ability. He finished twelfth in Finland’s U20 SM-sarja with 40 points in 37 games and added another nine points in eight playoff games. He was also an exceptional agitator, leading the league with 103 penalty minutes in the regular season and 47 in the playoffs.
Yet he also frequently crossed the line into undisciplined behaviour. McKeen’s Hockey scout Linc Zdancewicz called him the dirtiest player in Europe, and Simon St-Laurent wrote in Tout Sur le Hockey that he “committed vicious, suspension-worthy infractions on multiple occasions” throughout the season, including targeting the head, kneeing, and leaving the ice to throw a hit. He may be an undeniable offensive talent, but his tendency to lose his cool made him a potential liability.
If immaturity is the main issue why he didn’t get drafted, then Frolo will have an excellent chance to improve with the Rockets this season, who selected him 33rd overall in the 2026 Import Draft. As previously mentioned, Kelowna is set to lose a lot of talent up front, including NHL prospects Tij Iginla and Hiroki Gojsic. Frolo’s offensive awareness should be the perfect replacement for some of that scoring prowess, and with two former NHLers in Josh Gorges and Brandon McMillan and longtime WHL coach Don Hay serving as associate coaches, he’ll have plenty of guidance to help him grow on and off the ice.
Alexei Vlasov
NHL Central Scouting: 76th (among NA skaters)
Alexei Vlasov joined the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres last season, and he was an instant hit, leading the team with 44 goals as a rookie and finishing just two points behind the team leader, Yegor Shilov. On top of an excellent shot, he was fearless and willing to hit anyone in his way. Yet, despite having the fourth-most goals in the league, he went undrafted due to his below-average skating and limited playmaking skills, which limited his pro potential, and no one wanted to take that risk.
But everyone needs goal scorers, and if Vlasov can come back with another huge offensive season, he might be too good to ignore. There are a lot of factors on his side, too, as he’s expected to return to the Tigres, where he’ll reunite with Shilov and be joined by several other skilled veterans. Even if his skating improves marginally, he could easily be a 50-plus goal scorer this season.
JC Lemieux
NHL Central Scouting: 103rd (among NA skaters)
JC Lemieux was part of a massive trade package at the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Trade Deadline, where he left the Windsor Spitfires for the Sudbury Wolves. Before the trade, he had 10 goals and 18 points in 33 games, a solid improvement from his 19-point rookie season. In Sudbury, though, he was electric, putting up 10 goals and 25 points in 23 games, plus another three points in four playoff games. But, because he isn’t the strongest skater or play driver, he wasn’t drafted.
Getting passed over was tough on the teenager, but Lemieux is entering the 2026-27 season with a new perspective. “It kind of woke me up a little bit,” he said after the draft. “It made me just want to work harder next time.” That hard work is already paying off, as he was invited to the Ottawa Senators development camp and is set to join the Buffalo Sabres at their pre-season rookie tournament. After some NHL opportunities, he’ll return to the Wolves, where he’ll hopefully build on his constantly underrated 2025-26 breakout.
Honourable Mentions: Brady Wassilyn (London Knights, OHL), Julian Maze (Calgary Hitmen, WHL), Callum Croskery (Soo Greyhounds, OHL), Casper Juustovaara Karlsson (Lulea, SHL), Layne Gallacher (Guelph Storm, OHL), Jan Larys (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL)
Far From the End of the Road
Getting passed over at the draft is never fun, but it doesn’t mark the end of a player’s career. Late bloomers are becoming more common in the top rounds of the draft; in 2026, Matias Vanhanen and Liam Lefebvre were taken in the second round in their second year of eligibility, and Ethan MacKenzie was finally drafted in the third round after waiting two years to hear his name called. All it takes is a little extra work to keep pushing towards that goal of one playing in the NHL, and if the skill is there, then someone will notice. Just because it didn’t happen this year doesn’t mean anything.
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