5 NHL Draft Prospects for the Canadiens to Watch

The 2027 NHL Entry Draft is already generating plenty of attention, especially with hype beginning to build around some of the top names in the class. For the Montreal Canadiens, however, the interesting part of the draft will extend well beyond the players expected to go at the very top.

Names such as Landon DuPont and Alexis Joseph will understandably receive plenty of attention throughout the season. But there are several other prospects worth following, who could fit different needs in Montreal’s prospect pool. Here are five 2027 draft-eligible players Canadiens fans should keep an eye on this season.

James Scantlebury

James Scantlebury is certainly making an early impression in his first Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season. Playing with the Quebec Remparts, Scantlebury opened the campaign with five goals and seven points through his first four games. It is an extremely small sample size, but that type of production immediately makes a young forward worth monitoring.

The biggest question surrounding Scantlebury will likely be his size. At around 5-foot-10, he does not have the physical profile that automatically attracts NHL teams, meaning his skill, skating and offensive production will need to stand out.

For the Canadiens, who have shown a willingness to draft skill regardless of size when they believe the talent is there, Scantlebury could become an intriguing name. There is a long season ahead, but if he continues producing in Quebec, his draft stock could rise quickly.

Malik L’Italien

If the Canadiens are looking for size instead, Malik L’Italien brings plenty of it. The Halifax Mooseheads defenseman stands 6-foot-4 and weighs around 197 pounds, giving him an NHL-calibre frame before his draft season has even really developed.

More importantly, L’Italien has already demonstrated that there is some offence to his game. He recorded 24 points last season with Halifax, giving him a solid foundation heading into an important year.

Big defensemen who can move the puck and contribute offensively will always attract attention at the draft. Montreal has assembled plenty of talent on the blue line in recent years, but organizations can never have too many promising defensemen.

L’Italien’s combination of size and production makes him one of the more interesting QMJHL names for Canadiens fans to follow.

Jaxon Jacobson

Jaxon Jacobson may not have overwhelming size at 5-foot-11, but his offensive numbers are difficult to ignore.

Jacobson recorded an impressive 85 points in 63 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings last season in the Western Hockey League. Producing well over a point per game at that age immediately puts him among the more intriguing offensive players available in 2027.

The Canadiens have repeatedly targeted players with high offensive ceilings in recent drafts, and Jacobson certainly fits that description. His draft season will be about proving that last year’s production was only the beginning. If he can take another significant step offensively while rounding out the rest of his game, Jacobson could become one of the more recognizable names in the 2027 class.

Boston Tait

Boston Tait is another defenseman who could become an interesting option for Montreal. At 6-foot-2, Tait already possesses good size for a young blueliner, but his development throughout the season will ultimately determine how high he climbs on draft boards.

Defensemen can be particularly difficult to project this far away from the draft because their roles and physical development can change considerably in a short period of time. That is exactly why Tait is a player worth keeping on the radar rather than making any major conclusions about right now. Montreal’s prospect pool has changed considerably over the past several years, and adding another young defenseman with size and upside could remain attractive depending on how the organization looks next June.

Luca Santala

Finally, Luca Santala is another prospect Canadiens fans should become familiar with ahead of the 2027 draft. Santala may not receive the same early attention as some of the biggest names in the class, but that is part of what makes following a draft class this early so interesting. Every year, several players dramatically improve their stock during their draft season.

For Montreal, Santala is another name worth tracking as scouts get a larger sample of his development and determine where he fits within a potentially deep 2027 class. It will be interesting to see how he adapts in his first year in North America.

Canadiens Have Plenty to Monitor

There is still far too much hockey remaining to know exactly where Scantlebury, L’Italien, Jacobson, Tait and Santala will eventually be selected. That is also what makes the 2027 class so interesting.

DuPont, Joseph and the other premier prospects will dominate headlines, but Montreal’s scouting staff will be watching considerably more than just the potential top picks. By the time the 2027 NHL Draft arrives, some of them could be firmly on Montreal’s radar.