Who Goes First?
Watch the board before draft prices arrive.
2027 NHL Draft Odds have not developed into a reliable, widely posted No. 1 overall betting market yet, so there is no active wager to recommend on October 27. The prediction remains much clearer than the odds: Landon DuPont is still the player to beat for the first overall selection.
NHL Central Scouting reinforced that position on October 26 when DuPont received an A rating on its preliminary Players to Watch list. Twenty-eight prospects received that first-round designation, but the preliminary list is not a numerical ranking and should not be treated like one.
Dima Zhilkin has created the most interesting early challenge. His explosive OHL start gives bettors a real name to monitor if first-overall prices eventually appear, but without verified NHL Draft odds there is no reason to manufacture a bet or assign hypothetical value.
2027 NHL Draft Odds and Predictions: Market Status
The most important betting takeaway is simple: wait for a real market. A first-overall pick future only becomes actionable when the price can be compared with the realistic probability that each prospect hears his name first.
DuPont would be the logical favorite if a market opened today. NHL.com continues to identify the Michigan defenseman as the projected No. 1 selection, and his transition to NCAA hockey has not weakened that status.
| Prospect | Current Draft Case | Betting View |
|---|---|---|
| Landon DuPont | Projected No. 1, A rating | Likely favorite when odds appear |
| Dima Zhilkin | A rating, elite OHL start | Top challenger to monitor |
| Carter Meyer | A rating, productive QMJHL start | Rising first-round candidate |
| Alexis Joseph | A rating, premium size at center | Lottery candidate to track |
Market checked: October 27, 2026. No sufficiently reliable, widely available 2027 first-overall betting price was found, so no odds are quoted as current.
Landon DuPont Still Leads the 2027 NHL Draft
Why DuPont Remains No. 1
DuPont entered the season as the consensus player to beat and has handled the jump to college hockey well. Through six Michigan games, the 17-year-old defenseman had six assists, 14 shots on goal and a plus-6 rating while averaging 18:13 of ice time.
Those numbers matter because he is playing against older, stronger NCAA competition rather than remaining in junior hockey. He is also the youngest player in NCAA men’s hockey this season, making a smooth early transition especially notable.
DuPont’s résumé was already unusual before arriving at Michigan. He produced 73 points in 63 WHL regular-season games for Everett in 2025-26 after becoming the first defenseman granted exceptional status to play in the WHL at age 15.
His draft appeal goes beyond points. Skating, puck movement and the ability to control transition give him the type of all-situations profile NHL teams normally demand before using the first pick on a defenseman.
What Could Knock DuPont Off No. 1?
The biggest threat is not one obvious flaw. It is the possibility that a forward produces such a dominant draft season that positional value starts to change the conversation.
DuPont is listed around 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, so evaluators will continue watching how effectively he defends bigger players and handles heavy forechecking over a full NCAA season.
The World Junior Championship could also influence public perception. A dominant international tournament from DuPont would strengthen his case, while a breakout performance from one of the leading forwards could narrow the gap.
Current prediction: DuPont remains the most likely No. 1 overall selection. The betting decision is different: without a posted price, there is nothing to bet yet.
ScoresAndStats Betting Takeaway: Landon DuPont remains our projected first overall pick, but a correct prediction is not automatically a good wager. Wait until a verified market establishes how aggressively bettors are being asked to price his advantage.
Dima Zhilkin Is the Fastest-Rising Challenger
Zhilkin has supplied the most eye-catching offensive start among the leading North American prospects. Through 13 OHL games, the Saginaw captain had 12 goals and 24 points while producing a point in every game.
That comes after a 75-point 2025-26 season, so the production is not appearing from nowhere. Zhilkin was already viewed as a potential first-round selection, but scoring at roughly two points per game creates a different question: can he push into the very top tier rather than simply the top ten?
He also received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting on October 26. The rating means first-round candidate, not projected second overall, but his early-season performance gives him stronger upward momentum than most of the class.
For bettors, Zhilkin becomes especially interesting if an eventual market prices DuPont extremely short. A challenger does not need to be more likely than the favorite to offer value; his odds simply need to underestimate the realistic chance that the race tightens over the next eight months.
Other 2027 NHL Draft Prospects to Watch
DuPont and Zhilkin currently offer the clearest No. 1 discussion, but the class is far from settled. NHL Central Scouting gave 28 prospects an A rating, leaving a broad group that can move considerably before the midseason rankings arrive.
| Prospect | Position | 2026-27 Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Landon DuPont | D | 6 assists in 6 NCAA games |
| Dima Zhilkin | RW | 12 goals, 24 points in 13 OHL games |
| Carter Meyer | C | 3 goals, 15 points in 13 QMJHL games |
| Alexis Joseph | C | 6 goals, 14 points in 14 QMJHL games |
Carter Meyer
Meyer has adapted quickly to the QMJHL with 15 points in his first 13 games for Quebec. Twelve of those points are assists, which fits his reputation as a creative center capable of distributing the puck rather than relying only on goal scoring.
He is not currently our main No. 1 challenger, but a productive first season in major junior keeps him in the group worth monitoring before the World Juniors and NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings.
Alexis Joseph
Joseph brings a different profile. The Saint John center stands around 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-5 and already combines that size with legitimate mobility and puck skill. He had 14 points through his first 14 QMJHL games this season after scoring 60 points as a rookie in 2025-26.
Centers with that combination of size and offensive potential tend to receive significant draft attention. His production has been solid rather than spectacular so far, making the next few months more important to his chances of entering the top-three conversation.
The International Group
Nazar Privalov, Sergei Skvortsov, Milan Sundstrom and Jonah Neuenschwander remain among the prominent international names in the class. All four offer enough skill or physical upside to matter in first-round discussions, but there is no reason to force them into a No. 1 prediction before a larger body of draft-season evidence develops.
2027 NHL Draft Lottery Odds Explained
NHL Draft lottery odds are different from betting odds on which player will go first. Lottery percentages determine which eligible NHL team receives the highest selections. A first-overall betting market prices which prospect will actually be selected with that pick.
The 2027 team-specific lottery percentages cannot be known yet because the 2026-27 regular season is still underway. Final standings determine the lottery seeds, and playoff results determine the later portion of the draft order.
Under the format used for the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, the team with the fewest points received an 18.5% share of the first lottery draw. Teams could move up a maximum of ten draft positions, meaning only the top 11 lottery seeds were capable of winning the No. 1 pick.
Those percentages should not simply be copied onto 2027 teams in October. The standings are far too early, trades can alter ownership of first-round selections and the League must confirm the final 2027 lottery field before exact probabilities become actionable.
When Should You Bet 2027 NHL Draft Odds?
The first useful checkpoint is when a legitimate first-overall market becomes available. At that point, the goal is not merely to predict DuPont correctly. It is to decide whether his quoted probability leaves any room for the rest of the field.
For example, a hypothetical -300 favorite would require a 75% winning probability to break even, while -500 would require 83.3%. Those are examples only, not current DuPont odds. The difference demonstrates why waiting for an actual price matters.
The next major evaluation windows include international tournaments, NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings and the second half of the NCAA and major junior seasons. One dominant month from Zhilkin or another challenger could materially change an early market.
There is also no need to bet simply because a market exists. If DuPont opens at a price that already assumes near-certainty, passing may be smarter than buying the favorite months before the draft.
Gavin McKenna, the 2026 No. 1 selection, has already moved into the NHL rookie conversation. Readers following his first professional season can also track the Calder Trophy odds and predictions.
Recent No. 1 Overall NHL Draft Picks
Recent draft history shows that a defenseman can absolutely hold the No. 1 spot through an entire draft cycle. Matthew Schaefer went first in 2025, while Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin also became first-overall defensemen in the previous decade.
| Draft | No. 1 Pick | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Gavin McKenna | LW |
| 2025 | Matthew Schaefer | D |
| 2024 | Macklin Celebrini | C |
| 2023 | Connor Bedard | C |
| 2022 | Juraj Slafkovsky | LW |
| 2021 | Owen Power | D |
If DuPont remains No. 1 through draft night, he would become the second defenseman selected first overall in three drafts. That possibility is another reason his NCAA season deserves more weight than simple point totals.
2027 NHL Draft Odds FAQs
Who is projected to go first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft?
Landon DuPont is the current projected No. 1 pick. The Michigan defenseman remains the leading prospect after receiving an A rating from NHL Central Scouting and recording six assists in his first six NCAA games.
Are 2027 NHL Draft first overall odds available yet?
No reliable widely posted first-overall betting market was found in the October 27, 2026 update, so ScoresAndStats is not quoting a current price or recommending a wager yet.
Who is Landon DuPont’s biggest challenger for the No. 1 pick?
Dima Zhilkin is the strongest early challenger based on current form. The Saginaw forward opened the OHL season with 24 points in 13 games and received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting.
What does an A rating from NHL Central Scouting mean?
An A rating identifies a prospect as a potential first-round selection. The preliminary Players to Watch list is not a numerical ranking, so an A rating does not indicate an exact projected draft position.
Are NHL Draft lottery odds the same as first overall pick betting odds?
No. Draft lottery odds are the percentages assigned to eligible NHL teams for the lottery draws. First overall pick betting odds price which prospect will actually be selected with the No. 1 pick.
When will the 2027 NHL Draft order be known?
The complete order cannot be known until the 2026-27 regular season, draft lottery and Stanley Cup Playoffs determine the relevant selections. Trades can also change which team owns individual draft picks.
Draft boards and futures markets can change quickly as prospects develop, injuries occur and scouting evaluations evolve. Even a strong No. 1 prediction can miss, so wait for a price you can justify and only risk money you are comfortable losing.