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Michael Charlton - Draft Prospects Hockey2026-09-30

Michael’s Monthly: September

Calce is by far the largest jump in my rankings. He’s had an incredibly hot start. With good skating, IQ and tenacity, Calce doesn’t quit when he steps on the ice. He steals pucks on the forecheck and creates scoring chances out of thin air. His early highlight pack speaks for itself as does his production. He has entered my top 10 but will need to be consistent to get in the top 5 by June.

Ben Novosyolok - Draft Prospects Hockey2026-09-26

2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Max Calce (C)

Max Calce #9 C – June 11, 2009 – Mannheim, Germany – 5’11” / 181lbs – Left Handed – Adler Mannheim (DEL) Max Calce is an extremely well-rounded two-way center whose maturity, Hockey IQ and overall reliability provide him with an exceptionally high floor. At just 17 years old, he has already shown that he can hold his own as a regular player in the DEL, including against established professional competition. Calce skates well, protects the puck effectively and consistently makes intelligent decisions with possession. His passing is arguably his standout offensive attribute, with the vision and awareness to identify difficult lanes and create scoring opportunities for teammates. He also demonstrates strong offensive instincts away from the puck, recognizing developing plays and finding advantageous positions around the net. Defensively, Calce is responsible and positionally sound, with a good stick and the physical maturity to compete against grown men despite his age. The challenge with projecting Calce is that his game currently lacks an obvious elite trait that would suggest significant star-level upside. His skating, IQ, passing and defensive play are all strong, but none consistently separates him from other high-level prospects, while his faceoff performance remains an area for improvement. He was relatively quiet against Munich, although the quality of the opposition and their ability to limit top players provides important context. Conversely, his goal against Nuremberg showed that he possesses the speed, puck handling and intelligence to identify and exploit mistakes from experienced professional defenders. Calce’s combination of two-way intelligence, passing ability, skating and physical maturity gives him a very high floor, particularly given his ability to already function in the DEL at 17. His ultimate ceiling is less certain, however, as he will need one or more of his existing tools to develop into a genuine high-end strength if he is going to progress beyond a complementary NHL role.

Parker McLean - Draft Prospects Hockey2026-08-31

2027 NHL Draft Rankings: DuPont, Neuenschwander, and Privalov Lead Round 1

15 – Max Calce (5’11” | 181lbs | C | Adler Mannheim | Germany) Heralded as the future of German hockey, Max Calce is the most exciting German prospect since the back-to-back draft classes of Tim Stützle and Moritz Seider. Having already participated in two U18 World Championships and Hlinka Gretzky Cups as an underager, along with being a late injury scratch from last year’s World Junior squad, Calce has shown he can consistently elevate his game against older competition. As he transitions into a full-time DEL role after splitting time in the DNL U20, we’ll get a clear look at how his game translates against men. Calce brings a versatile toolkit anchored by a defence-first mindset. He brings a strong first step and poses a real threat in the offensive zone thanks to his crafty hands, sharp edge work, and dependable finishing ability. He is a key player to watch this season and will have a massive opportunity to elevate his draft stock at the World Juniors in December with Germany.

Blain Potvin - Draft Prospects Hockey2026-08-13

The Elite Showcase: Scouting the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Max Calce, C The Tape: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) The Analysis: Calce was the heart and soul of the German squad. Playing a relentless, 200-foot style, he constantly forced turnovers through sheer work ethic and heavy backchecking. He didn’t get a ton of offensive support, but his ability to win defensive-zone faceoffs and clear the front of his net against massive opposing forwards showed immense character and a projectable pro floor.

Season	Type	League	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	NHLe
2026-27	Regular	DEL	Adler Mannheim	12	3	2	5	2	2	0.42
2025-26	Regular	GER-DNL	Jungadler Mannheim U20	17	12	11	23				20.0
2024-25	Regular	DNL U20	JUNGADLER MANNHEIM U20	41	22	28	50
2023-24	Regular	GERMANY U17	JUNGADLER MANNHEIM U17	34	29	26	55

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Current season

Michael’s Monthly: September

2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Max Calce (C)

2027 NHL Draft Rankings: DuPont, Neuenschwander, and Privalov Lead Round 1

The Elite Showcase: Scouting the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup