QMJHL fans will have plenty of reasons to look forward to the 2027 NHL Draft.
It’s always tough to say 11 months before the draft, but for some of the league’s top prospects for this upcoming NHL Draft will be at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, in Edmonton, from Monday through Saturday, August 8 in Edmonton.
Who should you keep an eye on during this U18 tournament, which will be broadcast on TSN and RDS? We suggest you five players to watch who are expected to turn heads during the upcoming QMJHL season.
The 2026–27 season will be dominated by Alexis Joseph. According to most experts, the Saint John Sea Dogs forward is set to become the third QMJHL player drafted in the top five of a draft since 2020, after Alexis Lafrenière (2020, 1st by the New York Rangers) and Caleb Desnoyers (2025, 4th by the Utah Mammoth).
Joseph will be one of Canada’s standout players, but there will also be players to watch from other countries. Some european players were notably selected during the Canadian Hockey League’s International Draft last June.
To participate in this tournament, players must be under 18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year. That explains, for example, why Sea Dogs forward Jamie Glance isn’t here, even though he’s a potential first-round pick next June.
Let’s not forget the prospects who are likely to be eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft. This is particularly true for the Newfoundland Regiment representatives, Quinn Norman (born December 22, 2009) and Benjamin Veitch (October 11, 2009), who will play for Canada.
Canada
1- Alexis Joseph, Forward, Saint John Sea Dogs
He’s likely the forward to watch throughout the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. On the Canadian team, along with Landon DuPont (WHL, Everett Silvertips), the Lachenaie native is the only player to have competed in the World U18 Championship. Ever since he was selected by the Sea Dogs in the 2025 QMJHL Draft, most scouts have ranked him among the Top 5 for the 2027 NHL Draft.
A 6-foot-4, 200-pound center will always be a coveted prospect for any team. With 60 points in 54 games, Joseph finished sixth in scoring among QMJHL rookies, but he was the top scorer among 16-year-olds. He had more than double the points of his closest competitor in that age group (Loïk Gariépy of the Victoriaville Tigres, 29 points in 58 games).
Not only is Joseph a imposing presence, but he can do just about anything on the ice. His defensive coverage is excellent, he delivers solid hits, and he brings a high level of intensity along the boards. Despite his young age, he was one of the best in the QMJHL at the faceoff circle in 2026–2027 (50.1%, 11th among those who took at least 100 faceoffs). He has a tremndous shot, and when it comes to creativity, fans saw what he can do on social media throughout the season.
2- Malik L’Italien, Defenceman, Halifax Mooseheads
Third overall pick in the 2025 QMJHL Draft, Malik L’Italien also earned his spot at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. His 24 points in 64 games with the Halifax Mooseheads ranked him third among QMJHL rookie defensemen in scoring, behind Tommy Bleyl (81 points) and Everett Baldwin (44 points). The Montreal native tallied up 10 of those points in the final 18 games of the season.
L’Italien is 6’3”, but he is also an excellent skater and his offensive game is impressive. He is excellent at reading the play in front of him, easily finding openings to carry the puck, and his shot is the reason he has stood out so much offensively. L’Italien can also make his presence felt physically.
3- Sam Berthiaume, goaltender, Cape Breton Eagles
The first goaltender selected in the 2025 QMJHL Draft (second round, 25th overall), Sam Berthiaume has the advantage of his size. Drafted at 6 feet 3 inches, he now stands at 6 feet 4 inches, and at 180 pounds, he should put on some muscle over the next few years.
Eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft, he notably helped the Truro Bearcats, in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, to win the title with a save percentage of .947 and a goals-against average of 1.71 during the play-offs. He quickly impressed Hockey Canada officials during the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup training camp, notably saving all 17 shots he faced in his first exhibition game against Sweden.
Berthiaume quickly catches the eye in goal with his athletic style. He is very quick on his feet, whilst maintaining good technique that allows him to move from post to post with ease. He’s also pretty good at challenging the shooters in front of him.
United States
4- Cameron Minella, defenceman, Halifax Mooseheads
A native of Connecticut, Cameron Minella will be one of the youngest players eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft – born on 29 August 2009. A smaller-framed defenceman standing at 5 feet 11 inches, he racked up nine points in 64 games during his first season with the Mooseheads.
Minella stands out for his IQ on the ice, both offensively and defensively. With the puck, he makes great passes on breakouts, but is also able to find openings and carry the puck. In his own zone, the American has a good stick. This allows him to compensate for his lack of physical strength by applying pressure quickly, and he can block shots.
Czechia
5- Maxmilian Mares, forward, Rimouski Océanic
Maxmilian Mares will be hard to miss when you’re watching the Czech team: he’s 6’6”! The Rimouski Océanic’s first-round pick, fifth overall in the 2026 CHL International Draft, scored 35 points in 47 games in the Czech Under-20 League with Bili Tygri Liberec. Only three players under the age of 17 have done better, including the Chicoutimi Saguenéens’ latest CHL International Draft pick Michal Hartl.
For such a imposing player, Mares skates very well, has good hands and is able to create scoring opportunities for himself because he can create space between himself and the opposition defenders. The Czech forward is also very physical: not only does he hits hard, but he likes to disturb his opponens. Rimouski supporters should appreciate his style of play.
Other QMJHL players at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup : Quinn Norman (NFL, Canada), Benjamin Veitch (NFL, Canada), Matyas Cancik (SNB, Czechia), Michal Hartl (CHI, Czechia), Adrien Rosa (GAT, Switzerland), Nikita Bloch (NFL, Germany), Oliver Ozogany (SNB, Slovakia), Paavo Fugleberg (MON, Finland)
