2028 NHL Draft: Maddox Schultz among 15 players you need to know
People have barely moved on from the 2026 NHL Draft class… which means it’s a perfect time to get an early look at the next classes.
We zeroed in on 32 names worth keeping an eye on for 2027 on Thursday, with Landon DuPont leading the way. If DuPont ends up going first, he’d be the second player in a row to get selected at the top after going from the WHL to the NCAA.
And, who knows? Maybe 2028 will bring the same fate with Maddox Schultz. The Regina Pats forward is the early favorite to go first in 2028, just like former Pat Connor Bedard did in 2023.
So much could change in the next two years. Some of these guys might not even get drafted. But here’s an early look at the top talent for the 2028 NHL Draft in alphabetical order (and if you care about the 2029 NHL Draft, Madden Daneault is great):
Isak Alvudd, LW (HV71, Sweden U-18)
Alvudd had some highlight moments at a recent 4 Nations tournament in April, showcasing how dominant he can be with the puck. Scouts loved his game in the domestic junior leagues, where he bounced between the U-16 and U-18 squads for HV71. He was just as good playing against older competition as he was against his own age group, which is always a good sign. Alvudd is skilled, quick and always looking to steal the puck anytime he can.
Wilson Boumedienne, C (Fargo Force)
Boumedienne is the younger brother of Winnipeg Jets prospect Sascha Boumedienne and the son of former NHLer and current Swedish national team GM Josef Boumedienne. There’s a very good chance Wilson will go on to be the best of the three thanks to his raw skill and high-end offensive instincts. He put an absolute beating on the U-14 prep school ranks two years ago, registering 60 goals and 160 points in 58 games. He continued that hot play throughout 2025-26, seeing some U-18 team action while also obliterating opponents with the Swedish U-16 team.
Zaac Charbonneau, C (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
The Lumberjacks have a good one. Charbonneau scored more than a goal per game with Mount St. Charles’ 15U team this year and also put goalies on notice at both the 16U and 18U level. No matter what, it felt like he was an unstoppable goal-scoring force. He already has impressive size at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, allowing him to physically dominate his own age group. Some of the kids will catch up there – but what they won’t match is his hockey sense and two-way reliability, both of which look advanced for a 16-year-old. Charbonneau is Danny Briere’s nephew, so look for scouts to keep a close eye on him.
Kane Cloutier, C (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
Kane is the son of former NHLer Dan Cloutier, and we know teams love hockey bloodlines. He was recently selected first overall by Oshawa in the OHL Draft after putting up 58 points in 33 GTHL games, and another 11 points in four OHL Cup games. He’s a great skater who plays with pace, battles hard along the boards, and is equally effective as a shooter and a passer. I like how dynamic he is in the rush and how involved he is all over the ice.
Joey Cullen, LW (USNTDP)
Thought his brother, Wyatt, was good? Joey might be better. The forward has been one of the most productive players in his age group the past few years and was one of the top recruits for the USTNDP U-17 team this coming season. He plays with so much pace and is already bigger than his brother was at the same age. Cullen is so smart, is outstanding in a straight line and rarely gives the puck up without a fight.
Drew Daley, RHD (USNTDP)
Daley was one of Shattuck’s top players with the 18U team this past year, which is quite impressive given he was playing 14U hockey the year prior. He’s great with the puck, rarely making a mistake when dishing it out of his zone. Daley is quick, joins in on the rush and does a solid job of forcing opponents to the perimeter. Everything about his game screams “top-pairing defenseman” already – he tends to be where he needs to be more often than not. Good luck beating him in 1-on-1 situations.
Paavo Fugleberg, RW (TPS U-20)
Fugleberg caught everyone’s attention at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge and then upped the stakes with an impressive run at the U-18s back in the spring. Mix in some excellent numbers playing against older competition in the U-20 ranks, and it was hard to ignore Fugleberg every time he touched the puck. He’s so dynamic, smart and skilled and can beat just about anyone in 1-on-1 situations. Notably, I think he’s very reliable defensively already, which is rarely the case for a skilled forward his age.
Matyáš Michálek, LHD (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
Michálek was the first pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, so it feels safe to say he’ll be a General this coming season. And for Oshawa fans, that’s massive. The 6-foot-3 defender already appears to be one of the premier European defenders we’ve seen in recent memory, and was a star at the U-16, U-18 and even U-18 level for Czechia internationally this year. Michálek is a mature defender who doesn’t make many mistakes under pressure, and he can keep up fast guys with little issue. I love how hard he competes every single shift.
Maddox Schultz, C (Regina Pats, WHL)
Schultz is the top prize as of now. He bounced between U-18 AAA (30 goals and 60 points in 21 games) and the WHL (15 goals and 29 points in 34 games) in 2025-26, with his output in the Dub marking the best by a 15-year-old forward in the 2000s. It’s hard to jump between two levels and be consistent in both, but Schultz was a play-driver with Regina whenever he got called up to major junior. He’s so fast, strong, skilled and defensively responsible already. Schultz is the closest to becoming a legitimate star of the draft crop, and it’ll be fun to watch him play alongside Liam Pue over the next few years.
Liam Pue, RW (Regina Pats, WHL)
Schultz wasn’t the only one terrorizing opponents on Regina’s top line this year. Pue is an incredible playmaker, but he also has some of the best hands in the 2028 draft class, too. He does such a good job of getting himself out of trouble, while also drawing opponents toward him to get the puck out of danger.
Adrian Sgro, LHD (Sarnia Sting, OHL)
Sgro is an absolute joy to watch. He’s a physical beast, hitting everyone in sight, despite not being overly big. He’s a dynamic defender who can rush the puck up the ice with ease, without sacrificing his defensive positioning on the way back. Sgro is a strong skater, makes smart decisions under pressure and kills plays in his own zone with ease. It was fun watching him throughout the GTHL playoffs.
Louis-Oscar Holowaychuk, C (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
The first thing that stands out about Holowaychuk’s game is his hockey IQ. He’s a smart center who reads plays well while also using the middle of the ice in a way many younger players seem hesitant to do. While he doesn’t have to deal with a ton of big defenders at this age, Holowaychuk doesn’t seem fazed by stronger competition, and actually looked quite impressive as a result in his limited WHL action. I think he’ll be a high-scoring forward in the WHL before too long.
Milo Spelkvist, RW (Örebro HK, Sweden U-18)
I loved Spelkvist in the 4 Nations tournament back in April. He was electric with the puck, dominating open areas while showcasing a high level of skill. Spelkvist was a shot-generation machine throughout his Swedish U-18 season, often getting himself into the slot to get pucks on net. I like how confident Spelkvist is, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was one of the first prospects off the board in 2028.
Gordei Khotkov, LHD (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Recently selected by the Spirit, it’s easy to understand the appeal around Khotkov’s game. At 6-foot-4, he has the size teams crave already, and he’s quite mobile and skilled with the puck. He was productive at all Russian junior levels he participated in this year and was also one of the better puck-moving defenders with the U-16 national team.
Lionel Dedial, RW (GCK Lions, Switzerland U-21)
From a pure skill perspective, Dedial is one of the most talented Swiss players in recent memory. He put up absolutely bonkers numbers with the Swiss U16 team, scoring at about a goal-and-a-half-per-game pace. Dedial had well north of 50 points between the U18 and U21 levels this year and plays with a ton of muscle too. He’s a late 2010-born forward, so he might have the edge over some of the younger players in this class already.
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