Medicine Hat Tigers lead WHL in 2027 NHL draft prospects

The Medicine Hat Tigers lead all Western Hockey League clubs with six players on NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2027 NHL Draft, the WHL said in a news release Monday.

Forward Noah Davidson of the Tigers earned an 'A' rating, which NHL Central Scouting uses to identify first-round candidates. Davidson, a centre listed at six foot two and 215 pounds, was born Nov. 1, 2008.

Defenceman Luke Warrener also represents Medicine Hat on the list, earning a 'C' rating, which projects a player as a fourth- or fifth-round candidate. The Tigers' full complement of six includes a 'B'-rated player identified in the release only by the surname Shaeffer — the player's first name was not included in published records — along with two players carrying 'W' ratings and one on the list under injury-viewing provisions.

Altogether, 54 WHL-developed players were named to the list, the Canadian Hockey League said in a separate release Monday. Five of those earned 'A' ratings: defenceman Brock Cripps of the Prince Albert Raiders, Davidson, forward Brock England of the Seattle Thunderbirds, forward Kayden Stroeder of the Edmonton Oil Kings, and defenceman Landon DuPont, who won a WHL Championship with the Everett Silvertips in 2026.

The Swift Current Broncos' Carter Moen received a 'C' rating. Moen, a left wing born Feb. 24, 2009, carries notable hockey lineage: his father Travis played more than 800 regular season and playoff games across 12 NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, according to a 2024 WHL prospects draft release. Moen is serving as an alternate captain for Swift Current in 2026-27, the Broncos announced in a Sept. 18 leadership release.

Across the full CHL, 176 players developed in the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League appeared on the list, representing 71.3 per cent of the 247 North American prospects ranked by NHL Central Scouting, the CHL said. Nineteen of those players received 'A' ratings, accounting for 95 per cent of the 20 'A'-rated North American skaters.

The Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans each placed five players on the list, behind Medicine Hat's six. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Everett Silvertips each had four.

At the 2026 NHL Draft, 106 CHL-developed players were selected, making up 47.5 per cent of all picks, including 16 first-round selections. The CHL said it has produced at least 10 first-round picks in 58 consecutive NHL Drafts dating to 1969.

NHL Central Scouting's final rankings ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft are expected to be released closer to the draft.