SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – NHL Central Scouting released their preliminary rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft on Monday afternoon, and six current or future Stampede players are listed. Pavel Martinu, Ryland Rooney, and Stampede-signed Cole Swanson are each listed with a 'C' rating, while Gavin Clark, Vojtech Švancar, and Ilya Nikitins have been given a 'W' rating on the October rankings.
In the preliminary rankings players are listed as either A-, B-, C- or W-ranked skaters. A-ranked skaters are players that are viewed as potential first-round candidates, B-ranked skaters are players who are viewed as potential second- or- third-round candidates, C-ranked skaters are players who are viewed as potential fourth- or fifth-round candidates, and W-ranked skaters are players viewed as potential sixth- or seventh-round candidates.
Pavel Martinu attended rookie camp with the San Jose Sharks as an invitee in September and was acquired by the Stampede in late-June. The 6'4.75 forward out of Pilzen, Czechia has picked up one goal and seven assists in 14 games with the Herd this season after finishing the 2025-26 season with eight goals and nine assists in 53 games for the Sioux City Musketeers. Martinu is committed to the University of New Hampshire for the 2027-28 season.
Ryland Rooney, a trade acquisition via the Chicago Steel in early June. Rooney began his USHL career as a tender signing with the Des Moines Buccaneers, where he picked up eight goals and five assists in 29 games before being traded to the Steel mid-season, adding five goals and four assist in 27 games to end the year. The Wisconsin commit currently has two goals and seven assists in fourteen games with the Stampede. Early in August, Rooney, who hails from Dellwood, MN, won a silver medal with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky cup alongside fellow Stampede forward and 2027 NHL Draft eligible Ethan Sung.
Set to join the Stampede for the 2027-28 season, Cole Swanson is playing with the high school hockey in the UMHSEHL and USHS-MN (Hibbing/Chisholm High). Swanson signed with the Stampede in mid-August and is committed to the Western Michigan University for the 2028-29 season.
Newport Beach native Gavin Clark has appeared in 11 games for the Herd this season, picking up three goals and three assists along the way. The Merrimack commit has proven he is willing to stand up for teammates and has shown glimpses of his scoring touch.
Off to a hot start to the season, Vojtech Švancar has found himself a point-per-game player, with eight goals and five assists through 13 games played and has certainly been turning some heads early.
Ilya Nikitins has been making a name for himself in net for the Stampede, despite appearing in just four games so far this season. His 2-2 record doesn't reflect how reliable he's been in the blue paint for the Herd. The Merrimack commit out of Jurmala is absolutely one to be watching as we continue deeper into his draft year.
The 2027 NHL Draft is slated for June 25 and 26 at a venue to be determined.
