Ranking the Top 10 NCAA Men's Hockey Players at the Start of the 2026-27 Season

A new season of college hockey kicks off Friday night, but who has made the cut for our top players to watch this year?

With the NCAA becoming an increasingly attractive development route for players coming out of CHL major-junior hockey, college hockey has attracted more top-end talent than ever before.

NCAA rosters now feature players at vastly different stages of development: top-five NHL draft picks beginning their college careers at 18 alongside undrafted 23-year-olds still chasing a professional opportunity—and, in some cases, earning one.

Honorable mentions who just missed the cut but should still make noise this season include Tynan Lawrence (STL), Ethan Belchetz (UTA) and Ryan Lin (SJS).

Boston Bruins prospect and Boston College Eagles center Dean Letourneau has shown significant growth since he was drafted 25th overall in 2024. We expect him to take a further step this season.

Letourneau, drafted out of prep school, was already a good skater when he arrived in college. He was not merely a good skater for his size—he now stands 6'7" and weighs 229 pounds—but a legitimately good skater, period.

He combines that mobility with legitimate offensive skill. Although it took time for that skill to translate to the NCAA level, it became evident last season: Letourneau improved from three points in 36 games as a freshman to 39 points in 36 games last year.

Part of that improvement stemmed from increased opportunity—particularly on the power play, where he is especially effective. A larger factor, though, was Letourneau becoming more comfortable in the college environment and more confident in his own skill set.

He appears to be developing into a top prospect, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of step he takes this season.

9. Keaton Verhoeff, D, University of North Dakota

A 2026 draft pick, Keaton Verhoeff is going into his second season in the NCAA.

He was selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks from the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Verhoeff made an ambitious move from the WHL's Victoria Royals to North Dakota at age 17, entering an unfamiliar league for his draft-eligible season. The decision gave him an early NCAA test and could position him for a larger role—and a potential breakout—in 2026-27.

The defenseman combines excellent size and physicality with a high-end hockey IQ, tools he should be better positioned to maximize after adjusting to the college game.

His first season at North Dakota was promising, though he did not always look like the player who had stood out with the Victoria Royals a year earlier. At times, his highly regarded skating appeared stiff or clunky, and he occasionally misread plays that he may have handled more consistently in the WHL.

Verhoeff should be better equipped to avoid those growing pains this season after gaining a full year of NCAA experience. That year also included an underage appearance for Canada at the World Junior Championship, and he could be in line for a larger role at this winter's tournament.

Center Caleb Malhotra may be better known to some as the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 draft, or as retired NHLer (and current Vancouver Canucks head coach) Manny Malhotra's son.

But he is his own man, and his own player, and it is going to be so exciting to watch the college hockey audience witness his play week after week.

Malhotra is going to be a phenomenal NHL player—in the case of longevity and impact—which is why it's an excellent thing that he's taking time to develop and sand off the rough edges of his game in the NCAA first.

Last season saw Malhotra playing with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, where, going into the season, he was highly touted for his defensive play and detail game. He rose sharply up the draft boards across the season as he made it increasingly clear that he was also a scoring and playmaking threat.

You can trust him anywhere on the ice, and he's able to drive play thanks to his excellent hockey sense. All of this bodes well for his transition to the NCAA game.

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7. Max Plante, C, University of Minnesota Duluth

Max Plante, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, is the first recipient to return to NCAA hockey for the following season rather than turn professional since North Dakota's Ryan Duncan did so in 2007.

Plante's decision was not driven by a lack of professional options, though.

The Detroit Red Wings, who drafted him in the second round in 2024, would probably be delighted to have him either in their fold or playing with their AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Plante chose to return to the University of Minnesota Duluth because it gave him the opportunity to play with his brothers: Zam, a 2022 draft selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Victor, a 2026 selection of the Detroit Red Wings.

He has also been recently afforded another fascinating opportunity. Having spent the last two winters representing the USA at the World Junior Championships, in this first year of him aging out of the tournament he's been named to the roster for the US Collegiate Selects, a team that represents the USA and NCAA hockey at the Spengler Cup.

Winning another Hobey Baker isn't out of the question either.

6. Wyatt Cullen, F, University of Minnesota

Unlike his peers, Wyatt Cullen is listed simply as a forward. That is not because his position is unclear, but because he has played both center and wing and has the tools to contribute at either spot.

It will be interesting to see where he settles under Brett Larson at the University of Minnesota.

Cullen—the son of former NHLer Matt—was drafted out of the USNTDP this year at 10th overall by the Nashville Predators. His draft position was the product of a roller-coaster season that began with a torn hip flexor, contributed to by a significant growth spurt and leading to a slow start, and ended with scouts agreeing that he was one of the best offensive talents available last year.

He was one of the youngest players in the 2026 draft class as well, just turning 18 this September.

Cullen is a creative and dynamic offensive player, with elite intelligence and playmaking abilities. He needs to add a layer of physicality to his game and some more muscle to his frame, but college hockey happens to be the perfect place for both of those things.

5. Michael Hage, C, University of Michigan

Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage surprised everyone—including the Habs—when he decided to return to the University of Michigan for a third season.

That typically doesn't happen for top prospects drafted out of college hockey and Hage, a product of the development machine that is the Chicago Steel of the USHL, is definitely a top prospect.

When you take a moment and think about it, though, it makes sense. The Wolverines made it to the Frozen Four last year, and he had a taste of a potential championship only to have it taken away when they lost out on a finals berth. Going back for redemption is understandable.

Hage, a center, had 52 points in 39 games last season on top of 15 points in seven World Juniors games. We're likely going to see those offensive totals jump again (though he aged out of the WJC).

He's a fantastic puck-carrier, with terrific offensive instincts, and he understands how and when to create space for both himself and also his teammates through his playmaking. He's another one who definitely has Hobey Baker potential.

4. Carson Carels, D, University of North Dakota

Selected sixth overall in the 2026 draft by the Calgary Flames, Carson Carels is one of the players we are most excited to see in college hockey this season.

One of the hallmarks of his game is the fact that he likes to play mean, and does it well. That is going to serve him well in college hockey, which is often a more physical game than junior hockey.

Carels played with fellow North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at last year's World Junior Championships, where they helped Canada to a bronze medal. Expect to see both of them back this season and playing a more significant role, with several players from that roster aging out.

Carels comes to North Dakota from the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, and please don't make the mistake of thinking that hallmark meanness is the only thing that he brings to the team. He's equally terrific at both ends of the ice, showcasing terrific skating skills and landing sneaky passes to teammates as easily as he lands heavy hits on opponents.

3. Landon DuPont, D, University of Michigan

We've reached an exciting unknown (as far as how he'll fare in college hockey goes; he's very known overall) quantity: projected top 2027 draft pick Landon DuPont.

Well, current projected top pick; we've seen what can happen across a season, and the transition to college hockey can trip up even the best of players. But we're not particularly worried about DuPont.

He joins the Wolverines from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. He was a key piece of their WHL championship win and push for a Memorial Cup championship last season, and he will bring that intensity to the NCAA.

You may see detractors mention that he's 5'11", but ignore it. His play speaks for itself, as does his ability to absorb heavy and difficult minutes.

We've already provided an early scouting report but here's a quick rundown. DuPont is an excellent, speedy skater whose intelligence and creativity allow him to create and find teammates, and whose endless tenacity underpins it all.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the Wolverines use him on either the power play or the penalty kill, as he's been known to eat up minutes on both.

2. Chase Reid, D, Michigan State University

Defenseman Chase Reid was drafted seventh overall by the Seattle Kraken in June. Before that he was one of our top prospects for 2026.

His elite skill level is such that he could easily have been a top pick in another draft year—one without Gavin McKenna and with general managers less wary of selecting a somewhat slight player whose hockey intelligence surpasses that of nearly everyone else in his class.

Reid is incredibly offense-focused, but it's not to the detriment of his team or the rest of his game; it's in the way that the game moves through him when he is on the ice. He's able to control the flow and pace of the game when he has the puck, a true play driver and incredible puck carrier. His elite skating and hockey sense drive all of it.

He comes to the NCAA from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, where he was a greater than point-per-game player despite being limited by injury. His school of choice was Michigan State University, a place that has done an excellent job securing commitments from top NHL-drafted prospects and should be a team to watch this season.

1. Ethan Wyttenbach, LW/RW, Quinnipiac University

Winger Ethan Wyttenbach was selected in the fifth round in 2025 by the Calgary Flames and is our top NCAA player to watch this season.

Returning to Quinnipiac University after a freshman season where he blew everyone away with his growth from the season prior, he has showcased a significant amount of growth since being drafted.

He earned the 2026 Tim Taylor Award, given to the best freshman D1 hockey player each year, and led the nation in points with 59 (25 goals and 34 assists). He was also named ECAC rookie of the year.

Wyttenbach is already being discussed as an early Hobey Baker Award candidate. His exceptional hockey IQ was a major factor in his impressive offensive production as a freshman, and it would not be surprising to see him take another step forward statistically this season.

He excels at creating time, space and passing options for teammates and is a true play driver because of his ability to read the ice.

Add to that his heavy shot and endless tenacity, and you have a recipe for a player the Calgary Flames are chomping at the bit to sign when his college season ends next spring.