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The best young player in NHL 27 is Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini, already a 95-overall star in his early twenties after a 115-point breakout. Behind him, the game’s brightest under-23 talents — Connor Bedard, Matthew Schaefer, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov — are the players to build a Franchise around.
Here are the best young players in NHL 27, why they stand out, and who to prioritise for a long-term rebuild.
Best young players in NHL 27
Eight of the top under-23 talents to target in NHL 27’s Franchise and Be A Pro modes.
| Player | Team & position | Why they stand out |
|---|---|---|
| Macklin Celebrini | Sharks · C | Already a 95-overall star with few weaknesses |
| Connor Bedard | Blackhawks · C | Elite playmaker and the face of a rebuild |
| Matthew Schaefer | Islanders · D | A franchise defenceman with huge upside |
| Lane Hutson | Canadiens · D | A dynamic, puck-moving blue-liner |
| Ivan Demidov | Canadiens · RW | Skilled winger with top-line potential |
| Wyatt Johnston | Stars · C | A proven young two-way centre |
| Leo Carlsson | Ducks · C | A big, skilled centre still rising fast |
| Dylan Guenther | Mammoth · RW | A natural goal-scorer with prime years ahead |
How we picked them
For a Franchise rebuild you want youth, upside and a rating that’s only going to climb — so we focused on the league’s best under-23 players, blending their in-game overalls with real-world trajectory. Macklin Celebrini is the clear number one: he’s already a 95-overall centre with elite skating, difficult puck plays and a shot that scores from range. Behind him sit the generational names — Connor Bedard, defenceman Matthew Schaefer, puck-mover Lane Hutson and winger Ivan Demidov — all with the ceiling to become franchise cornerstones over a long save.
The top young stars explained
Four young players to build your NHL 27 Franchise around.
#1 young
Top talent
Top young D
Breakout pick
More sports-sim picks? See our best NHL 27 players, best FC 27 wonderkids and best NBA 2K27 rookies guides.
Best for Franchise mode
Who to target depending on the hole in your roster.
| You need… | Target |
|---|---|
| A franchise centre | Macklin Celebrini or Connor Bedard |
| A top-pair defenceman | Matthew Schaefer or Lane Hutson |
| A scoring winger | Ivan Demidov or Dylan Guenther |
| A safe, proven young star | Wyatt Johnston |
NHL 27 young players FAQ
NHL ratings and player development change through the season and between patches. We refresh this guide as EA’s roster updates land.
