MSU has at least 11 commits in the draft, including four who are expected on its roster for the upcoming season. Half of last year’s roster was drafted, including four first-rounders.

“Draft status is great,” said coach Adam Nightingale last season. “It's a great word, you've got to make sure it doesn't become an insult, too. Just because you were drafted in a certain spot doesn't mean you're entitled to being a good player… College hockey is really hard. You look at the number of games we play, essentially every game is like a playoff game.” 

Draft Prospects Expected on 2026-27 Roster

Chase Reid - D

Chase Reid has the highest projection of all the Spartan commits. 

The 6-foot-2 defenseman is an elite skater who can defend the zone, lead a rush and create offense. 

NHL Central Scouting ranked him the No. 2 North American Skater, and most mock drafts project him as the second overall pick by the San Jose Sharks.

He posted 48 points (18g-30a) in 45 games for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, good for a plus-27 rating. He also contributed five points in four games at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships. 

NHL Central Scouting calls Reid “a take-charge type of defenseman that dictates the game.” 

“He plays a ton of minutes in all situations,” the report continues. “A smooth skater with good edges and an effortless glide. He displays elite hockey sense and composure, with the ability to read and execute plays anywhere on the ice… No holes in his game, the complete package.” 

Reid will attend MSU in the fall as long as an NHL team does not assign him to play elsewhere. He is expected to spend just one year developing at MSU if he has a strong season, as former forward Porter Martone did.

Nikita Klepov - RW

While Reid is the offensive defenseman, Nikita Klepov is the offensive forward. 

The right wing has one of the best one-timer shots in his draft class and is the “go-to” guy on the power play, according to NHL Scouting Reports. He ranks No. 8 in North American Skaters.

Klepov is a playmaker and finisher, as he proved during last season with the Saginaw Spirit. Klepov put up 97 points (37g-60a) in the OHL, the best in the league, as a rookie. 

His performance earned him Rookie of the Year and OHL Top Scorer, which has only been done twice before. He also set a Saginaw record for most assists and points in a season by a rookie, which was previously 37 assists and 74 points. 

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler surveyed 65 top NHL prospects on who they think is the most talented (that they’ve played against), underrated and considered their competition in the draft. Reid voted for Klepov as most talented and underrated.

“He brings a different element to the game that I’ve never seen before,” Reid told The Athletic. “He can move side to side. His agility is unbelievable. He can stop and start so quickly. He’s got unbelievable IQ with the puck. And he can score goals.” 

Ethan Belchetz - LW

At 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs., Ethan Belchetz brings an undeniable physical presence.

The left wing ranks No. 9 in North American Skaters and put up 59 points (34g-25a) in 57 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL before a broken clavicle during practice ended his season in early March. 

The injury kept him out of games but not off the ice as he used the time to elevate his skating. Belchetz’s physicality is now paired with improved “footwork, agility and overall quickness,” according to NHL Central Scouting. 

“He is a player that is tough to handle down low and is a beast in front of the net,” the report says. “He has really good offensive hockey sense and can think the game with smart players. Good anticipation, good hands and a good shot to generate chances. Two-way game combined with work ethic gives him a very high ceiling.”

Jack Hextall - C

Center Jack Hextall is the all-around guy. 

Ranked No. 33 in North American Skaters, the 6-foot, 195 lb. center works hard across the ice with an ability to create. He has gotten better each year with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, tallying 58 points (20g-38a) in 39 games last season. 

Hextall helped the Phantoms to a first-place finish in the USHL, ranking 10th in assists and 15th in scoring across the league.

NHL Central Scouting says Hextall “plays a two-way game and is responsible in all three zones. He creates and finishes off scoring chances with his positioning and quick shot release.” 

Draft Prospects Expected in Future Seasons

Thomas Bleyl - D

Thomas Bleyl, a 5-foot-11 defenseman, is the highest-ranked prospect not set to arrive in the upcoming season.

The No. 17-ranked North American Skater is projected to go first round but will spend another season with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Bleyl posted 81 points (13g-68a) in 63 games last season — leading all players in assists as a rookie defenseman. He marked the most single-season points by a defenseman in Moncton history and held one of the best on-ice ratings in the QMJHL (plus-58). 

Bleyl’s skating is some of the best in the draft class, according to the NHL’s Scouting Report. His mobility allows him to move the puck quickly and set up offense, but he’s also difficult to beat in isolation.

Brooks Rogowski - C

Ranked No. 21 in North American Skaters, Brooks Rogowski embodies a power forward. The 6-foot-7, 235 lb. center provides a strong net-front presence and plays with detail: protecting down low, getting to the right spot and winning puck battles. 

He posted 42 points (15g-27a) in 46 games for the OHL’s Ottawa Generals last season, 19 points better than his rookie season despite playing 20 fewer games.  

Rogowski played all situations for the Generals and will spend the 2026-27 season developing with them. 

The Athletic mock draft projects the New York Rangers selecting Rogowski with their second pick of the first round, 26th overall, anticipating the Rangers choose a defenseman with their fifth overall pick. 

Jonas Kemps - D

Jonas Kemps, a 6-foot-6 defenseman, has the large frame and mobility that can help any team at the blueline. MSU already has three 6-foot-6 blueliners in sophomores Sean Barnhill, Cole Ward and Matt Lahey.

Kemps’ best quality is his mobility and how he uses it to disrupt opponents and facilitate offense. He is projected for the second or third round as the No. 67-ranked North American Skater. 

The defenseman competed for the Chicago Steel of the USHL last season, putting up nine points (2g-7a) in 57 games, along with a minus-7 on-ice rating. The Steel finished seventh in the Eastern Conference, which has eight teams total. 

Kemps signed with the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds in May under a scholarship and development agreement. He will spend at least the following season with the Thunderbirds.

Nicholas Bogas - D

Defenseman Nicholas Bogas dropped from No. 106 to No. 121 in the North American Skaters pool before NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, but is still a projected fourth- or fifth-round pick.

The 17-year old is a Michigan native and posted six points for the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 team, competing within the USHL and against other teams. 

He was plus-9 for non-league games and plus-3 when the NTDP competed in the USHL.

Dryden Allen - D

Dryden Allen finished a 24 point (3g-21a) season in 68 games with the Flint Firebirds of the USHL. He also tallied four points in eight playoff games. 

The 6-foot-1 defenseman is the No. 171 North American Skater, a slight improvement from the No. 189 spot he held before final rankings. He is a projected sixth- or seventh-round pick and is expected at MSU in the 2027-28 season.

Tyler Challenger - LW

A left winger, Tyler Challenger, is a potential player for MSU’s 2027-28 roster. 

Challenger started last season with the OHL's Erie Otters, where he posted two points in 23 games (minus-9) before Erie traded him to the Sarnia Sting. He added 16 points (10g-6a) to his season in 45 games with the Sting, holding a minus-13 rating. 

Challenger was not on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Prospect Rankings. He was named to the preliminary watch list as a potential sixth- or seventh-round pick in Oct. 2025. 

Brody George - C/W

Brody George played 30 games for the NTDP last season, notching seven points (1g-6a). 

George signed with the Saginaw Spirit to continue his development in the OHL prior to a potential arrival at MSU for the 2027-28 season. He was drafted to the OHL in 2025 and was expected to join Saginaw following his time at the NTDP. 

He made the NHL’s preliminary watch list as a potential sixth- or seventh-round pick but was not on the final rankings.