12 Players with NAHL ties on NHL Central Scouting Watch List

Following yet another successful NAHL Showcase, the North American Hockey League (NAHL) is excited to share that 12 players with connections to the NAHL have been acknowledged in the NHL Preliminary Central Scouting Rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft. Four active players in the league have been recognized as candidates, along with eight former athletes. The list is a compilation of draft-eligible prospects from major development leagues across North American and Europe. It will be regularly updated throughout the season as scouts assess players.

The NHL Preliminary Central Scouting Rankings consists of a ‘Prospects to Watch’ list for 2027 draft-eligible players. Players on the preliminary list with A ratings are viewed as potential first-round picks. Those rated B are seen as possible choices for the second or third rounds, while players with C ratings may be selected in the fourth or fifth rounds. Players marked with W are considered "watch" candidates for potential sixth or seventh-round picks, and first-time draft-eligible players labeled as "work in progress" have limited scouting history and playing time.

Current Players:

Kristers Plepis, G, Shreveport Mudbugs: Leading NAHL goaltenders with 10 wins in the blue paint, Plepis has made his mark in his debut season in the League of Opportunity. The ‘08 Latvian spotlighted a 2.62 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage in his 11 games played for the South Division club. Plepis recorded nine consecutive wins in net, only falling once so far this season. The 6-foot-5 netminder registered his first NAHL shutout on Oct. 16 against the Corpus Christi IceRays with a 20-save performance.

Alex Woller, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs: The 6-foot-5 netminder from Fairbanks, Alaska, is in his first season of playing junior hockey with his hometown team. The 17-year-old has played between the pipes in four contests, posting a 1.48 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. The ‘09 goaltender ranks third overall in both categories amongst NAHL netminders. In addition to his impressive numbers in the blue paint, Woller has recorded a 22-save shutout for the Ice Dogs in his second game played this season. 

Yegor Batsokin, G, Corpus Christi IceRays: Standing as one of the tallest netminders in the NAHL, Batsokin recently wrapped up playing his fourth game between the pipes for the IceRays. Batsokin is a 6-foot-7 goaltender from Russia. So far this season, the 17-year-old has recorded a 1.50 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. The ‘09 goaltender has recorded three victories this season, while featuring some of the best numbers in net across the NAHL. Batsokin was recognized with a “C rating” on the 2027 NHL Central Scouting Watch List.

Dylan McFadyen, G, Idaho Falls Spud Kings: The ‘08 netminder from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, McFadyen is a first-year player in the NAHL. The 6-foot-5 goaltender has played in the crease in nine games, posting a .932 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average. His best performance so far this season came against the Billings Cattle Punchers on Oct. 18, 2026. He turned aside 46 out of 48 shots on net to secure the win for the Spud Kings.

Former Players:

Henry Steele, D, Wisconsin Windigo (Lincoln Stars/USHL): The 5-foot-10 blueliner played his rookie season of junior hockey with the Wisconsin Windigo during the 2025-26 season. He recorded 17 points in his 52 games played in the regular season. Steele found twine once while producing 16 helpers for the Midwest Division club. In the postseason, the ‘09 blueliner recorded two assists and a +6 rating in his 10 playoff games. His work on the ice earned him the distinction as a Top Prospect on the Selects Blue team at the 2026 Top Prospects Tournament. Steele helped the Selects Blue roster defeat the USNTDP program during day two of the annual event. During the inaugural 2025 NAHL Futures Draft, the '09 skater was a first-round draft pick for the Wisconsin Windigo.

Iļja Ņikitins, G, Philadelphia Rebels (Sioux Falls Stampede/USHL): Hailing from Latvia, Nikitins spent his debut year of junior hockey with the Rebels during the 2025-26 season. The ‘08 netminder played in 40 games between the pipes for the East Division club, recording a 2.85 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. One of his best single-game performances was in shutout fashion against the Danbury Hat Tricks last season. Nikitins turned aside all 31 shots to secure the win in the blue paint. 

Andrei Nikolaev, G, New Jersey Titans (Victoriaville Tigres/QMJHL): The ‘09 netminder who secured a commitment to Boston University as a Titan last season, Nikolaev, was recognized with a “B rating” on the 2027 NHL Central Scouting Watch List. Last season, the 6-foot-4 goaltender played in 22 games between the pipes for the Titans. He recorded 12 wins in net, registering a 2.53 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. In that stint with the Titans, he recorded three shutouts for the East Division club. His work in the crease was recognized with league recognition. He earned the November Goaltender of the Month title and was named an East Division Star of the Week once. The Moscow, Russia, native was drafted in the inaugural NAHL Futures Draft by New Jersey. He was selected in the first round by the Titans with the 21st overall pick in the draft.

Parker Stockseth, G, Danbury Hat Tricks (Sherbrooke Phoenix/QMJHL)

Joseph Erickson, F, Wisconsin Windigo (Chicago Steel/USHL)

Gavin Sattler, F, St. Cloud Norsemen (Team MPLS Magazine/UMHSEHL)

Bennett Byers, G, Maryland Black Bears (Everett Silvertips/WHL)

Pavel Martinu, F, Johnstown Tomahawks (Sioux Falls Stampede/USHL)