Jamie Glance Is a Sleeper Top Prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft – The Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

The 2026-27 season is nearly upon us. Though it’s a bit too early to make any final judgments on the top prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft, many of them have shown encouraging signs in their action to this point.

One of those prospects is right-shot winger Jamie Glance, who now plays for the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Saint John Sea Dogs with fellow draft-eligible forward Alexis Joseph. In 2025-26, the 17-year-old made a strong impression on the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP), and now looks to take the next step.

Let’s dive into one of Glance’s better games from last season, looking at the on-ice results, some highlights, and breaking down what he does well and areas for improvement.

Jamie Glance Shot Chart vs. Muskegon (March 28, 2026)

In terms of on-ice results at 5-on-5, this wasn’t Glance’s most prolific outing of the season. But he did do well overall, as the goals against were far from his fault, and he was productive offensively. Here’s his shot chart from a March 28, 2026 visit to the United States Hockey League (USHL) Muskegon Lumberjacks.

By my tracking, Glance had a 50% split in all shot metrics. For shot attempts, it was 16-16. For unblocked shot attempts, it was 12-12. For shots, it was 8-8. Even for goals, it was 2-2.

For what it’s worth, neither of the two goals against were Glance’s fault. One was off a turnover from his defenseman, and another was off a 3-on-3 rush after a questionable shot from a teammate, both right after a man came out of the penalty box. Plus, his NTDP squad was outshot 40-28 in all situations.

Reviewing Glance’s Puck Touches & Performance vs. Muskegon

Below is a six-minute compilation showing most of Glance’s puck touches versus Muskegon (No. 17 in white). He recorded two goals, including the overtime winner, a primary assist, seven shots, and a plus-1 rating across all situations. As mentioned, his shot and goal splits were all 50% at 5-on-5.

Despite allowing two goals, Glance displayed a well-rounded game. He engaged in puck battles, had a couple of steals, showed strong two-way anticipation, was a transitional threat, made some solid reads in the offensive zone, and put up plenty of shots.

Sub-6-foot energy types such as Glance sometimes get dinged on draft day for having a “low ceiling.” I’ll go into more detail on that topic in the next section, but the soon-to-be 18-year-old isn’t lacking skill. While he’s not Wyatt Cullen, his former teammate at the program, he has offensive upside. The 2026-27 campaign is an opportunity for him to show that upside.

What Glance Does Well & What He Needs to Work On

I outlined it briefly, but I’m a fan of Glance’s for his multifaceted game. He steals pucks, anticipates the play, can skate, is involved physically, shows promise in all three zones, and has NHL-caliber skill. All eyes will be on Joseph, his Sea Dogs teammate, in 2026-27, but I think there’s a strong chance that Glance has the better season.

That’s not to say Glance is perfect. As dynamic and well-rounded as he can be, there will be more “skilled” players available in the 2027 class. Of course, he’s not a finished product, either. By the time he honors his commitment to Boston University in 2027-28, he’ll need to have shown some growth.

But the ceiling here has me excited for what’s ahead. Though he’s not a one-to-one comparable, Zach Benson has emerged as one of the best players in a generational 2023 NHL Draft. Before the 21-year-old was selected by the Buffalo Sabres at 13^th overall, The Hockey Writers noted the following strengths in his game: hockey IQ, competitiveness, edgework, passing, puck-handling, and defensive commitment.

These types of prospects have higher ceilings than they’re given credit for, in my opinion. It’s a big ask for Glance to reach Benson levels, to be sure, but there’s a non-zero chance he becomes that kind of player: a top-six nuisance in all three zones.

As of writing, Glance enters the 2026-27 season ranked in the 20s by most outlets. He has the potential to become a name that everyone knows when all is said and done.