While the 2027 NHL Draft is more than a year and a half away, it’s not too early for TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button to look ahead to the players already making noise.

Button has Saint John Sea Dogs centre Alexis Joseph, USNTDP U17 centre Carter Meyer and Everett Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont as his clear-cut top three, followed by seven players who have caught his eye so far this season.

At No. 1 for Button is Joseph, who was the first-overall pick in this year’s QMJHL draft. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 201 pounds, the 16-year-old has five goals and 10 points in 12 games this season.

“He’s a dominant, skilled player with every attribute you want in a No. 1, elite centre,” said Button of Joseph. “In every regard, he’s elite. His thinking, skill level, competitiveness and difference making.”

The last QMJHL player to go first overall in the NHL Draft was forward Alexis Lafrenière in 2020 to the New York Rangers.

Button has Meyer at No. 2, who is skating with the USNTDP’s U17 squad this season. The 6-foot forward has seven goals and 16 points in 16 games.

“This guy has a motor that revs at high RPMs and a skill set that matches,” said Button. “He’s by you, through you, over you. He’s a hard, hard player to contain.”

DuPont comes in at No. 3 and has had a head start on his junior career after earning exceptional status to enter the Western Hockey League as a 15-year-old last season.

In 2024-25 as a rookie with Everett, he had 17 goals and 60 points in 64 games, earning CHL and WHL Rookie of the Year honours and was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team. He skated at the U17s last year for Canada Red, earning silver.

He also helped Canada to a bronze medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August and has six assists in 10 games to start his second WHL season.

“I think Landon DuPont is an excellent player,” said Button.

Here are the other seven players Button has identified as top prospects for 2027.

Charlie Murata, Forward, Flint Firebirds

Murata, the eighth-overall pick in this year’s OHL Draft, is skating in his first season with the Flint Firebirds.

The Toronto, Ont., native has one goal and six points in 10 games to start his junior career as the Firebirds are off to a 9-6-1 start.

“Charlie is a really skilled, smart offensive leader,” said Button. “Plays at real high pace.”

Brock England, Forward, Seattle Thunderbirds

While the Thunderbirds are 6-7-1 through their first 14 games this season, England, the 11th-overall pick by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2024 WHL Draft, is off to a good start as a rookie.

The 16-year-old from Red Deer, Alta., has six goals and 11 points in 12 games this season. He debuted in three games with Seattle last year where he had three points.

“Elite skater,” said Button of England. “Speed, quickness, threatening, just backs up defenders and threatens with that speed in a significant way. Really, really dynamic.”

Luca Santala, Centre, Kiekko-Espoo U18

Santala has had a productive start to the 2025-26 season with eight goals and 16 points in 10 games in Finland playing for Espoo’s U18 team this year.

The 16-year-old forward has also skated in seven games with the U20 team, scoring two goals with one assist.

“He’s that well-rounded, two-way centre that does everything in the game,” said Button. “Defensively, offensively, runs the power play, kills penalties, controls the middle of the ice, makes plays, shoots the puck.”

Milan Sundstrom, Forward, MoDo Hockey U18

Sundstrom is off to a hot start this season playing with MoDo’s U18 squad, scoring five goals with 21 points in nine games.

“He’s a big pivot who is really smart,” said Button. “He’s that player that just knows already how to play a really well-rounded game. Little bit raw in terms of his physical development.

“[One of] those players that just grab you because they’re so attentive to detail and they’re so understanding of how the game unfolds in all its forms, whether it be in the tight areas, in the speed and the high pace of the game. They just know how to play.”

Jonah Neuenschwander, Forward, EHC Biel-Bienne

Neuenschwander is 6-foot-3 and 183 pounds at 16 and is playing in Switzerland with EHC Biel Bienne’s U21 squad, where he has six goals and 16 points in 15 games.

He has also made eight appearances with the big club, recording one assist.

“He is a big, strong, powerful, skilled forward,” said Button. “When we talk about still being in the ‘pony stages’ and you see how good his skills are and how assertive he can be, his abilities are evident and as the strings are pulled tighter in his game and his physical maturity, he’s got a chance to be a really strong player.”

Neuenschwander skated in the World Juniors last year as a 15-year-old with Switzerland and is expected to be on the team once again at this year’s tournament in Minnesota.

Nazar Privalov, Forward, Krasnaya Armiya Moskova

Privalov is another player off to a blistering start this season, scoring 17 goals in 17 games this season in the MHL.

“Really good goal scorer,” said Button of Privalov. “A driving force goal scorer. Kind of plays with the mindset of stop me if you can.”

The 6-foot-4, 205- pound winger was named MHL Rookie of the Month in September and October.

Petr Tomek, Centre, HC Energie Karlovy Vary

Tomek is already skating in the pros this season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary in Czechia. The 17-year-old has eight goals and one assist in 20 games this season.

“He’s playing in the Czech ExtraLiga and doing really well,” said Button.