2027 NHL Draft Prospect Kane Barch To Leave NTDP

Another pillar has fallen for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s 2009-born class. After losing their top player, Carter Meyer, the NTDP will also relinquish high-octane winger Kane Barch. The University of Michigan commit is set to join the OHL’s London Knights per Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek.

Barch had a quiet performance in his first, and only, year with the NTDP. He scored just 10 points in 36 USHL games, though did rank third on the team with 60 penalty minutes. Barch was recruited as a fluid, high-skill, and high-tempo play-driver with a physical edge. Against junior-level competition, his ability to blow by opponents was muted, leaving Barch’s 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame as his hallmark trait.

Despite a down year, it’s hard to deny that Barch doesn’t have strong scoring upside. He was routinely the top scorer of his youth hockey club, under the coaching of his father Krys Barch, who played eight years and 381 games in the NHL. The elder Barch also served as a development coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 2014 to 2020 and has since stepped back to support youth hockey in Huron-Perth, Ontario.

The younger Barch will find a setting where he can thrive with a move to London. The perennial OHL superteam has made good on their reputation this summer, recruiting multiple heavyweights including star 2027 NHL Draft prospect Luca Santala. The Knights will face a challenge in fitting six new forward additions into the lineup – a chore that could leave Barch flirting with middle-six minutes. Even then, the chance to show he can pop in a high-end offense will be great opportunity for the 2027 Draft-eligible Barch. A glimmer of scoring upside could be enough to convince pro teams to draft him early, on the back of a physical frame that could be further molded.

Barch is not committed to the Michigan Wolverines until the 2028-29 season. That could set the young winger up for a pair of seasons with the London Knights – unless he opts to advance his move to college.

Barch becomes the fifth NTDP player to request an early end to his two-year contract. He joins Meyer, Alexander Milojevic, Trevor Daley Jr., and Beck Thoreson. Multiple other NTDP players are also considering, or have requested, a release from the club per sources available to Pro Hockey Rumors. The exodus will create opportunity for other junior-age players in America, with the NTDP already adding two high school players and high-value 2027 Draft-eligible defenseman Jake Prunty.