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Five 2027 NHL draft prospects Calgary Flames fans should watch for

Flame for Thought · Jul 21, 2026 16:54 · 5 min read

Five 2027 NHL Draft Prospects Calgary Flames Fans Should Watch For — Jan 30, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy during interview after the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The 2027 NHL Draft class is seemingly loaded, so which prospects should Calgary Flames fans keep a close eye on?

The 2026 NHL Draft has come and gone, and in the duo of Carson Carels and Jack Hextall, the Calgary Flames added two potential keys to the future of their organization in the first round.

While Hextall is a good addition, the Flames are clearly still searching for their top centre of the future to add to a young core group that also includes Cole Reschny, Cullen Potter and Ethan Wyttenbach. Thankfully for the Flames, the 2027 NHL Draft is set to be one of the most stacked centre groups in recent NHL history, and with the defensive core already locked in, this could be a monumental event in the history of the organization.

There's still just under 12 months until the 2027 NHL Draft, but for Flames fans looking to take in hockey outside of what will be a rough campaign for the Flames, these are five prospects to keep a very, very close eye on.

5. Petr Tomek, C - HC Energie Karlovy Vary

Beyond the top four players on our list, there are several that Flames fans should be keeping an eye on, but after immense production at just 16-years-old, Czechia forward Petr Tomek may be the best of the rest. However, he's much smaller than the rest of these prospects at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, but he more than makes up for all of that in the skill department.

This past season, Tomek notched 13 goals and 20 points across 51 games at the highest level in Czechia for HC Energie Karlovy Vary while also putting up 6 points in 7 games at the U18 World Juniors. In 2026/27, he's set for more action at the top level in Czechia and will get a shot at the U20 World Juniors, and if he develops physically over the next 12 months, he could be a great pickup if the Flames fall out of the top 3-4 picks in 2027, although they'd be taking a risk on his size.

4. Jaxon Jacobson, C - Brandon Wheat Kings

The Calgary Flames have shown a particular love to the Western Hockey League in recent years, and after Carson Carels of the Prince George Cougars was their top pick this year, don't be shocked to see Jaxon Jacobson of the Brandon Wheat Kings garner attention ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft. At 5-foot-10, 183 pounds, Jacobson has some growing to do, but in two seasons with the Wheat Kings, he's done nothing but improve and dominate.

As a 15-year-old, Jacobson posted 44 points in 51 games played, and last year he took a major leap forward, tallying 25 goals and 85 points in 63 games, and as he continues to grow, so should the output. Jacobson already has elite level skills, with the IQ and the poise to match, and while he may never be the best centre in hte National Hockey League, he has the ability to be a 1C at the next level, something these Flames desperately need.

3. Milan Sundstrom, C - MoDo Hockey U20

The Calgary Flames have had plenty of success in targeting Swedish prospects in the NHL Draft, and with 2027/28 potentially set to be Mikael Backlund's final season in Calgary, there's no better way for him to go out than by mentoring their next big star in Milan Sundstrom. While the next two players on this list are locks to go top-three, Sundstrom's value is not yet set in stone, as some have him as the No. 4 player on the board, while others see him more in the 5-8 range.

Whatever the case, Sundstrom has all the tools to be a great NHLer, and even though he's 6-foot-3, 196 pounds, the belief is that he still has plenty of growing to do ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft. Unfortunately, injuries played a role in Sundstrom playing just 12 games for MoDo Jr. last year, but in those 12 games, he completely dominated, posting 12 goals and 20 points in that time, with another 8 points in 5 playoff games.

2026/27 will be as important for Sundstrom as any potential top prospect in the 2027 NHL Draft, and if he can stay healthy and continue dominating at this level, he'd be a prize worthy of what's going to be a very ugly Flames season.

2. Alexis Joseph, C - Saint Johns Sea Dogs

Clearly, the Flames biggest priority in 2027 is adding a top-line centre, and if they end up picking at No. 3 or below, Quebec native Alexis Joseph would be the perfect name to fall into their lap. Like other top prospects, Joseph boasts elite size at 6-foot-5, 201 pounds at 17-years-old, with the QMJHL prospect already drawing comparisons to the likes of Evgeni Malkin and Quinton Byfield.

With the Saint Johns Sea Dogs this past season, Joseph posted 24 goals and 60 points in 54 games played, and as he develops into their top line centre, he will be even more dangerous moving forward, especially if he can find a role for Team Canada at the World Juniors. He's seen as a bit more of a project than others at this point in time, with the skills at this point being very raw, but with another year under his belt, he could be NHL ready sooner than expected.

1. Nazar Privalov, C/LW - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva

While Landon DuPont is considered the top prospect heading into the 2027 NHL Draft, that could change rather quickly, with Nazar Privalov being the perfect fit as the top star of the Calgary Flames rebuild. Firstly, he has the ability to play both centre and left-wing, and on top of that, he stands at 6-foot-4, 227 pounds at just 17-years-old, and if he continues to grow, that's the type of size that teams in the NHL crave.

Privalov also has the skill to go along with that, and while he can use his size to dominate opponents, the playmaking skill and goalscoring touch is among the best of any recent NHL prospect. In 2025/26, Privalov tallied 30 goals and 49 points in 51 MHL games played, and this year, the hope is that he can take a leap forward and continue improving his playmaking skill.

Of course things can change between now and June 2027, but in Privalov, there's potentially the next big Russian star, and with Matvei Gridin already lined up as a Flames top-line player, adding his fellow countryman to partner him gives the Flames the makings of an elite rebuild.