- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
A group of Canadian Hockey League players has opened the season with performances that could elevate standing for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Goaltender Esler of Spokane has guided his club to a 7-0 record after posting 24 wins and five shutouts last year. The six-foot netminder has represented Canada at the Youth Olympic Games, U-17 World Hockey Challenge and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, though evaluators question whether his frame will limit his draft position despite strong positional play and athleticism.
Among forwards, Scantlebury of the Remparts has collected 19 points in 10 games and is tracking toward a 120-point season as a QMJHL rookie. The Montreal native previously notched 39 points in the USHL and has drawn notice for his skating, physical board play and two-way maturity.
Zhilkin of the Spirit ranks fourth on DFO's latest draft board while producing at a two-point-per-game pace. The University of Michigan commit, who recorded 75 points and 100 penalty minutes last year, is projected to score 74 goals and 136 points. One evaluator asked, "If you're not on the Zhilkin bandwagon, what's wrong with you?"
Surkan of Brandon is on pace for 80-plus points, while Buchman of the Bulldogs contributes strong defensive play with nearly a point per game. Multiple listed players are expected to appear at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in December.
Source: Daily Faceoff - Thu Oct 22, 10:30 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).