Michigan landed commitments from two of the best late-2008 birthdates in the 2027 NHL draft. With so many commitments flying in for the Wolverines, how do these two fit in, and what do they bring to Michigan's lineup in 2027?
The University of Michigan continues to dominate the recruiting trail this past weekend with the announcement of Saginaw Spirit captain Dima Zhilkin and Medicine Hat Tigers standout Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll.
Zhilkin is a projected lottery pick, and for some, he’s a top-ten lock. Gordon-Carroll, on the other hand, floats around the late first to early second.
Gordon-Carroll was born in late 2008, so his draft year was pushed to 2027; the same goes for Zhilkin. The two players are coming off very impressive seasons in the CHL.
Zhilkin was third in points on the Spirit with 75 and second in goals with 36. He was also a standout at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Canada, where he posted five goals and seven points in five games. Zhilkin has a ton of talent, and it doesn’t stop there. He has a pro mentality and has shown that he will do whatever the team needs in order to win. He’s a hound on the puck and will never back down from players who are much bigger than him.
Gordon-Carroll was a part of a very good Tigers team last season, but he only played 41 games. In those games, he put up 12 goals and 37 points. He was also a very important piece in Medicine Hat’s playoff run, where in 15 games he had five goals and 12 points. His offensive tools are very solid, but he plays a hard style of game and is responsible in his own zone, and can be a player that the Wolverines could use in all situations.
These two players are just a small example of Michigan’s dominance on the recruiting trail, and with the amount of talent the program continues to bring in, they’ll be looked at as national title favourites for the foreseeable future.
