Prospect Info: 2018 NHL Draft

[Marky9er]

Jack Hughes?

He is 2019 eligible.

Quinn but I can wait for 2019 to take a Hughes.

 

[DanStewart]

Here is from the FC draft guide on the 2018 talent. I have some of my DRW targets bolded.

PRELIMINARY TOP 100 RANKING FOR 2018 NHL DRAFT
1). D RASMUS DAHLIN, FROLUNDA (SHL), 6-1, 165
2). RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-2, 190
3). LW FILIP ZADINA, PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 190
4). C JOSEPH VELENO, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
5). D JARED MCISAAC, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-2, 210
6). C BRADY TKACHUK, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-2, 200
7). D BODE WILDE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-2, 195
8). D RYAN MERKLEY, GUELPH (OHL), 5-11, 170
9). D QUINTON HUGHES, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 5-9, 170
10). LW ANDERSON MACDONALD, SHERBROOKE (QMJHL), 6-2, 205
11). C OLIVER WAHLSTROM, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-1, 200
12). D TY SMITH, SPOKANE (WHL), 5-11, 170
13). C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
14). D ADAM BOQVIST, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 170
15). C JACK MCBAIN, TORONTO JR. CANADIENS (OJHL), 6-3, 185
16). C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV, IRBIS KAZAN (MHL), 5-11, 180
17). D JETT WOO, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 200
18). D EVAN BOUCHARD, LONDON (OHL), 6-2, 185
19). C RYAN MCLEOD, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-2, 190
20). LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV, KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA (MHL), 6-4, 200
21). C AKIL THOMAS, NIAGARA (OHL), 5-11, 165
22). C JAKE WISE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 185
23). D XAVIER BOUCHARD, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 6-2, 175
24). C TY DELLANDREA, FLINT (OHL), 6-1, 180
25). C ISAC LUNDESTROM, LULEA (SHL), 6-0, 180
26). LW GRIGORI DENISENKO, LOKO YAROSLAVL (MHL), 5-11, 155
27). LW PHILIPP KURASHEV, QUEBEC (QMJHL), 6-1, 185
28). D GIOVANNI VALLATI, KITCHENER (OHL), 6-1, 185
29). D K’ANDRE MILLER, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 195
30). D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 205
31). G JAKUB SKAREK, DUKLA JIHLAVA (CZECH 2), 6-1, 165
32). RW JESSE YLONEN, BLUES U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-0, 160
33). D JONATHAN TYCHONICK, PENTICTON (BCHL), 5-11, 165
34). C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI, ASSAT U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-2, 175
35). LW JOEL FARABEE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 155
36). D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV, RED DEER (WHL), 6-3, 190
37). RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV, BARRIE (OHL), 6-1, 190
38). D RASMUS SANDIN, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 180
39). G JACOB INGHAM, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-3, 180
40). LW DAVID LEVINE, SUDBURY (OHL), 5-10, 170
41). C ALLAN MCSHANE, ERIE (OHL), 5-11, 185
42). D CALEN ADDISON, LETHBRIDGE (WHL), 5-9, 170
43). RW VITALI KRAVTSOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-2, 170
44). RW NANDO EGGENBERGER, HC DAVOS (NLA), 6-2, 185
45). C CARL WASSENIUS, AIK J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195
46). C MIKHAIL BITSADZE, DYNAMO BALASHIKHA (VHL), 5-10, 165
47). LW JACHYM KONDELIK, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-6, 210
48). D JACOB SEMIK, DUBUQUE (USHL), 6-0, 160
49). RW NIKLAS NORDGREN, HIFK J20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 5-9, 170
50). D ZACK MALIK, VITKOVICE U20 (CZECH U20), 6-2, 165
51). C PATRICK GILES, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-4, 185
52). C LUKAS WERNBLOM, MODO (ALLSVENSKAN), 5-9, 160
53). C NATHAN DUNKLEY, KINGSTON (OHL), 5-11, 185
54). C LUKA BURZAN, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 180
55). LW TYLER WEISS, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 155
56). D NICOLAS BEAUDIN, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 5-10, 160
57). D DANILA GALENYUK, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-1, 190
58). C MILOS ROMAN, HC FRYDEK-MISTEK (CZECH2), 5-11, 195
59). RW RILEY SUTTER, EVERETT (WHL), 6-2, 200
60). G ALEXIS GRAVEL, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-3, 190
61). C JAXON NELSON, SIOUX FALLS (USHL), 6-3, 195
62). D NOAH DOBSON, ACADIE-BATHURST (QMJHL), 6-2, 165
63). RW GAVIN HAIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 180
64). D OWEN LALONDE, SUDBURY (OHL), 6-1, 175
65). LW YEGOR SOKOLOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-3, 195
66). G OLIVIER RODRIGUE, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 6-1, 155
67). RW MARTIN KAUT, HC DYNAMO PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 175
68). C MATHIAS EMILIO PETTERSEN, OMAHA (USHL), 5-10, 165
69). C CONNOR ROBERTS, HAMILTON (OHL), 6-3, 215
70). LW GABRIEL FORTIER, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 5-9, 165
71). D LIBOR ZABRANSKY, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 6-2, 180
72). C FILIP HALLANDER, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 180
73). D MARTIN FEHERVARY, MALMO J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 175
74). C TOMAS KOBLIZEK, CHOMUTOV U18 (CZECH U18), 6-2, 180
75). D DENNIS BUSBY, FLINT (OHL), 5-10, 180
76). C MATTHEW STRUTHERS, OWEN SOUND (OHL), 6-2, 190
77). D TY EMBERSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-0, 190
78). RW ETHAN MANDERVILLE, KANATA (CCHL), 6-3, 185
79). C BLAKE MCLAUGHLIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 165
80). D SEAN COMRIE, SPRUCE GROVE (AJHL), 5-11, 165
81). D ADAM SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-5, 220
82). LW CARL JAKOBSSON, FARJESTAD J18 (J18 ELIT), 6-1, 165
83). RW JAKUB LAUKO, PIRATI CHOMUTOV (CZECH), 6-1, 175
84). C OSCAR BACK, FARJESTAD J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 190
85). D ADAM GINNING, LINKOPING (SHL), 6-3, 190
86). LW KIRILL MARCHENKO, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-2, 185
87). C LIAM FOUDY, LONDON (OHL), 6-1, 170
88). D SANTERI SALMELA, KOOKOO (LIIGA), 6-1, 180
89). LW ADAM LISKA, BRATISLAVA U20 (SLOVAKIA U20), 6-0, 180
90). D AUSTIN CHORNEY, CHILLIWACK (BCHL), 6-1, 210
91). LW JOHN GRUDEN, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 160
92). C COLE FONSTAD, PRINCE ALBERT (WHL), 5-10, 160
93). G KEVIN MANDOLESE, CAPE BRETON (QMJHL), 6-3, 170
94). D FILIP KRAL, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 5-11, 165
95). C DAMIEN GIROUX, SAGINAW (OHL), 5-9, 170
96). C DAVID GUSTAFSSON, HV71 J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-1, 190
97). D NICO GROSS, EVZ ACADEMY (NLB), 6-0, 185
98). G JUSTUS ANNUNEN, KARPAT U18 (JR. B SM-SARJA), 6-3, 200
99). C DOMINIK BOKK, KOLNER EC U19 (DNL), 5-11, 160
100). C JACOB OLOFSSON, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195

TOP 40 PROFILES

#1 D RASMUS DAHLIN
FROLUNDA, SHL, 6-1, 165
A creative and shifty, puck rushing blue liner…confident player with the puck on his stick…loves to be the catalyst of play…a deceptive, exceptionally smooth skater that can change direction in a hurry and push opponents back on their heels…quick first stride and solid power…edge work allows him to cut quickly creating time and space…just as effective in passing the puck as he is rushing it…stickhandling is smooth…makes smart decisions offensively and joins the rush at the right times…willing to drive down deep into the offensive zone to sustain pressure or when he senses an opportunity…has a hard and accurate slap shot…puts wrist shots where they can be deflected or generate rebounds…defensively he's solid with good reads and smart positioning…uses his stick to force players wide and angling players off…poised with high quality vision...has elite hockey IQ processing the play at a quick rate…top pairing NHL franchise defining upside.

#2 RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV
MUSKEGON, USHL, 6-2, 190
An electrifying, dangerous, offensive winger…confident shoot first mentality…explosive skater with plenty of horse power underneath the hood…smooth and powerful stride as a larger player, but has the quickness and foot speed of a much smaller player…solid offensive smarts and understanding of position…possesses edge of your seat puck skills…unpredictable…can dangle around or power through opponents on his way to the net…uses his size and wingspan well to protect the puck…a scoring threat anywhere in the offensive zone due to his lightning quick release and hard, accurate shot…can be a real beast along the wall…strong in puck pursuit and on the forecheck…willing to physically lean on opponents to gain position…goes to the gritty areas and thrives in traffic…wants the puck on his stick…brother of Detroit Red Wings 2015 first-round pick Evgeni…NHL All-Star top line goal scorer potential.

#3 LW FILIP ZADINA
PARDUBICE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 6-1, 190
A dangerous goal-scorer in the making…is a strong and balanced skater…makes plays with his feet and hands…able to dangle with the puck through defenders in the tightest areas of the ice and create chances out of nothing…has an offensively creative mind and imagination…sets his team mates up with smart passes…very good hockey-sense…has an absolutely lethal shot, great release…gets himself into excellent position to get his shots off….likes to come down the wing with speed and cut to the middle for a chance as he gets the goalie moving and opening up holes...possesses a nifty backhand that he needs very little time and space to deposit top shelf when around the crease…slides into board battles undetected to find and scoop up pucks…very sneaky player who always seems to end up in a scoring position with the puck...great poise with the puck and calm under pressure…offensive dynamo…going to be a top-end player at the NHL level.

#4 C JOSEPH VELENO
SAINT JOHN, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
An offensively smart, creative, centre…explosive skater…quick feet, powerful stride and impressive agility…very athletic…has solid Hockey IQ, impressive vision and playmaking ability…finds seams quickly and is able to create offense for both himself and his line mates…can stickhandle the puck in a phone-booth and dance around the offensive zone with strong puck skills...great in tight and able to come out of scrums and corners with the puck…a decent shot, accurate but needs to improved its velocity…will always end up around the net for scoring opportunities and completes every shift…disruptive and effective in the offensive zone at net front causing havoc…a highly aggressive player….gets in hard on the forecheck…not a physical guy but can land some extremely heavy hits and loves to use his size to his advantage…defensively he competes and supports the defenseman…will give his body to block shots…very skilled, but plays a complete game and does all the little things well…a potential top line two-way NHL centre.

#5 D JARED MCISAAC
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-2, 210
A smooth skating two-way blue liner…focuses on keeping his end clean first and foremost before adding to the offensive play…effortless skater with agility and balance…a long flawless stride…cuts and transitions are fluid…incredible hockey sense, thinks the game at a very high level, and makes great decisions with the puck on his stick…keeps things simple, but can add a bit of flair where he sees an opportunity…pin-point breakout passes…really controls the puck well at high speeds and will skate it end-to-end when he gets room to rush the puck up ice…possesses a real cannon of a shot from the point…plays opposing puck carriers aggressively and stands up attackers at the blue line…keeps a close gap pushing opponents to the outside and applies good pressure to force mistakes…plays with a mean streak in the corners and around his own crease…works hard…confident and mature…a calming, safe, two-way defender that has top pairing NHL upside.

#6 C BRADY TKACHUK
USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 200
A gritty, power forward with offensive skills…the BU recruit is a powerful, balanced, skater who generates solid straight-line speed but lacks initial footspeed and overall fluidity…tenacious physically and will lay the body when he has chances, although there is some youthfulness there as he gets drawn into making the big open ice hit…relentless on the cycle…effective below the faceoff circles…always competing and playing with healthy intensity…likes to shoot the puck from anywhere and gets really good velocity behind his shots…has a nose around the net and hands in tight make him a constant threat to punch pucks into the net…takes the body, blocks shots and gets into passing lanes…thinks the game well…natural leader and future captain material who demonstrates that leadership quality through his work ethic and team first approach…brother to Matthew, Calgary Flames forward, and son to Keith, one of the best goal scoring power forwards to ever play in the NHL…has some solid power forward upside at the NHL level.

#7 D BODE WILDE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-2, 195
Big, two-way difference maker on the back-end…a big kid that is also a real solid skater...transitions smoothly…passes the puck with authority and accurately…has a booming slap shot from the point that he can unleash in a hurry…a real catalyst on the power play…shows nice leadership skills and calm puck handling…generates time and space by using body positioning…uses his big frame to step into opponents and shut them down physically…closed the gap, seals off along the boards and eliminates time and space…not one to go looking for the big hit, but he is nasty in the corners and has more than enough strength to knock his opponents off the puck…employs an active stick and excellent anticipation to disrupt the attack…gets himself into lanes to close them off…poised and mature…a nice blend of size, mobility and strength…can do it all, and excels at both ends of the rink…has top pairing all-situational NHL upside.

#8 D RYAN MERKLEY
GUELPH, OHL, 5-11, 170
A high tempo, smart, offensive minded rearguard…shifty, with elite skating ability…smooth transitions from forwards to backwards…possesses explosive acceleration, and makes plays at top end speeds…isn’t afraid to lead the rush, and hold onto the puck in hopes of creating a play in the offensive zone…vision up the ice is absolute elite…impressive when quarterbacking the power play and doing a good job of making consistently accurate breakout passes…possesses a deceptive slap-pass to teammates in front of or around the net…has a knack for getting the puck to the net through traffic with a quick release and accuracy to his shot…his quick decision making and ability to read the play that really stand out…a good job of judging when to cover the front of the net or to go pressure the puck-carrier behind the net…good job of tracking offensive players across his zone and using his stick to close off their passing options and take away space…will need to hit the weight room and improve own zone play…very high ceiling but also some risk…has high end NHL upside generating offense from the backend.

#9 D QUINTON HUGHES
USNTDP U18, USHL, 5-9, 170
A small but highly skilled puck mover…a strong skater who possesses impressive four-way mobility…gets up to speed in just a couple short strides…transitions smoothly and keeps up with his opponents, even those who are shifty and the fleetest of foot…a constant puck rushing threat who makes impulse choices to join the rush when he sees open ice and has the quickness and soft mitts to remain in control of the puck at high speeds…confidently jumps off the line and lets his skillset go to work when getting looks at the net…shoots and passes with intent…ability to retrieve pucks under pressure and kick start the breakout is impressive…mobile little defender is skilled and speedy but still has to learn to manage his own zone better…possesses an active stick and smarts that he uses to strip pucks from unsuspecting opponents and then like a flash he is gone on offense…regularly gets outmuscled when physically defending…has the potential to become a solid puck rusher and power play specialist at the NHL level.

#10 LW ANDERSON MACDONALD
SHERBROOKE, QMJHL, 6-2, 205
A prototypical power forward with some natural goal-scoring ability…moves around the ice fairly well for a guy his size, generating good levels of speed even if he lacks that explosive first step right now…battles along the boards, and makes plays with his big frame…plays with a chip on his shoulder and physical edge, fighting for his space and standing up for teammates…not just brawn but also thinks the game at a high level…knows where to go to get scoring opportunities, and manoeuvres himself with power and determination into those prime scoring areas…grinds it out against all comers, and will battle hard to retrieve pucks…impressive ability to shield the puck…has a strong shot, with a quick release, gets a lot of power without having to wind up too much, with a ton of accuracy…has good on ice vision and has shown a willingness to play a two-way game…has the skill and size but will need consistent compete level to be a top end winger at the next level.

#11 C OLIVER WAHLSTROM
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-1, 200
A flashy puck wizard who creates offensive chances…can dance around the ice with the puck on a strong making filthy dekes…moves around the ice with an effortless yet powerful stride that generates plenty of speed…starts and stops on the puck…impressive lateral quickness for his size make him elusive…strong instincts and vision on the ice…makes some skilled passes that put his teammates in prime scoring opportunities…patient with the puck…loves to shoot it and has a rifle of a shot with tricky release…strong on his feet and willing to play in greasy areas…can be a load to handle when he gets moving…protects the puck well using his reach and body position…physical game is there in flashes…when he is engaged he is tenacious and viscous on the forecheck, and relentless in his puck pursuit…has some impressive offensive upside at the next level but needs to show he wants it.

#12 D TY SMITH
SPOKANE, WHL, 5-11, 170
A poised puck moving blue liner who dictates play…skating is efficient, smooth and generates impressive levels of speed…transitions from defense to offense quickly…looks to join the rush…excels with the puck on his stick…moves it smartly and quickly…patient and skilled running the point in the offensive zone, and has the ability to thread passes all over the ice…shot from the point has a quick release and not much of a windup, preferring to keep the puck low and on net rather than wind up for a slap shot…overall awareness is impressive…able to protect the puck from opposing players along the wall before making a play to an open teammate…harder to knock off the puck than his size would suggest…can play an effective shutdown role…not a physical guy but will use his body to separate the puck…his active stick is a presence in his own zone causing turnovers and closing lanes…coaches dream who will do whatever is needed to help the team…an elite two-way defender with top pairing upside.

#13 C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
A strong, well-rounded, two-way centre…good but not great skater, he needs to improve his first step…high motor, always keeps his feet moving…rarely caught out of position…provides a lot of grit, determination and skill…excellent ability to maintain puck control in high traffic areas…uses his strength, skilled hands and agility to be very difficult to defend…a threat to drive the net but can also go stretches of playing on the perimeter too much and being content to just dish the puck from the outside…thinks the game at a high level, and can put on a show with his nifty stick work and creativity…shoots the puck hard, and accurately…owns a deceptively quick release…strong awareness of when to support his defenders in loose puck battles and where to go… adept at tracking down pucks out of scrums…provides good pressure on the back check…displays a strong effort in his own zone as well as his ability to create scoring chances…a solid prospect that could be the complete package with high upside at the NHL level.

#14 D ADAM BOKVIST
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-10, 170
A confident, puck-moving blue liner…skates well with quick agile feet that generate solid levels of speed…solid on his edges…very efficient skater…keeps the game simple, and cuts out the extra overly creative pass by finding open team-mates in good position…moves the puck quickly and beautifully around the ice with crisp clean passes…can fire the puck accurately on the net with a quick release…adept at sneaking into open lanes for an opportunity…a steadying presence...plays the point well and has impressive ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone…very active stick at both ends, and uses it wisely to keep the pressure on the defence, helping hem them in their own zone or to disrupt the attack defending in his zone…very active feet, can contain his assignment with good agility and willing to get after the opposition with physical play…positions his body to box out opponents…his size is the obvious drawback…provides his team with a steady presence on the blue line, and thinks the game at a high level…a potential top four two-way rearguard at the NHL level.

#15 C JACK MCBAIN
TORONTO JR. CANADIENS, OJHL, 6-3, 185
A sizable and strong two-way pivot…he stands out for his vision on the ice, skill with the puck and strong work ethic…skating stride is slightly upright and rigid, but he utilizes long strides to generate above average straight-line speed…ability with the puck is far beyond his years; he’s patient enough to wait for a play to develop before distributing the puck but is comfortable finding the soft spots in defensive coverage and using his quick release to create a scoring chance as well…his shot is very good; ability to receive a pass in stride and fire a shot with good power and accuracy quickly…he takes care of his responsibilities in the defensive zone and positions himself well to make a play on loose pucks…he could stand to be more physical, but his ability to close his opponents off along the boards and use his long reach to block passing lanes is still an asset…a very committed and tireless worker, he makes a consistent effort to be an impact player on the ice…he could become a tremendous two-way player at the NHL level.

#16 C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV
IRBIS KAZAN, MHL, 5-11, 180
A crafty little playmaker that excels in many facets of the game all over the ice…an explosive, agile skater who can control the puck with ease even at top speed…good quickness, edge work and balance on his skates…very tough to knock off the puck for a smaller player…silky-smooth hands and shows above-average puck handling…shows great patience with the puck even when under pressure…possesses a dangerous wrist shot, can fire the puck with good accuracy and quickness…a tape-to-tape passer leading guys to open ice with precision dishes…carries the puck very calmly and is well aware of his line mates positions due to elite vision…strong in the faceoff circle…great hockey smarts…plays a strong game away from the puck constantly moving to find open ice and making himself available for passes…anticipates the flow of the game well…very patient, waiting for plays to develop around him…not quite as advanced in his own end, but he does a good job applying pressure and covering his man…a potential top six two-way centre at the next level.

#17 D JETT WOO
MOOSE JAW, WHL, 6-0, 200
A highly intelligent, mobile two-way defender…has great skating ability and an efficient stride…proficiently in any direction…has puck rushing ability because of his smarts, puck skills and elusive edge work…has a pro demeanor with the puck on his stick, never seems limited to just one option on a play…thinks at a high level and is a high end game manager…skilled with the puck on his stick, and will not shy away from carry it himself if an open outlet pass doesn’t present itself…constantly buzzing the offensive zone, using a series of agile moves and feigns with the puck to open up space…an opportunistic shooter that relied heavily on the wrist shot…has a quick whip on his shot and pass, showing zero hesitation once he gains a look at his target…has the skating to recover from calculated risks and get back quickly…always looking to foil an attack and will instinctively step up to do so…forces oncoming attackers to the outside lane…solid balance and strength…digs in his heels during physical confrontations…an exciting player to watch…plays big minutes…has top four two-way NHL upside.

#18 D EVAN BOUCHARD
LONDON, OHL, 6-2, 185
A smart, responsible defender…solid skater with a smooth, long stride…solid agility on his feet for his size…likes to rush the puck and get involved where he can offensively…willing to jump in and pinch to maintain offensive zone pressure at the right times…makes accurate reads of the play, and has the ability to dish the puck off to teammates in prime scoring areas…keeps his head up when carrying the puck tracking his options…has a knack for finding open lanes…has a hard, accurate shot, that he fires low to the ice, perfect for redirects…steady in his own end, anticipates the play developing around him well, and maintains good position between the puck and the net…utilizes his reach and body position well…doesn’t get caught flat footed often, and uses his solid positioning and awareness to effectively close off lanes, and limit scoring chances…makes the simple smart play to relieve pressure more often than not…not overly flashy, but can get creative when the time arises…a potential top four two-way blue liner.

#19 C RYAN MCLEOD
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-2, 190
A big forward with offensive skills who also has a good two-way drive…good skater…not the fastest north-south but quick, agile in short bursts and able to deceive opposition with quick changes of direction or pace….has decent hand-skill one-on-one and is able to dig pucks out of corners and get around opposing players with possession in tight spaces…protects it well with his body and likes to drive the net from the wing and does so by dropping his shoulder and leaning on defenders…a really tough player to stop when he uses his size and strength…dangerous in tight…illustrates good passing skill and the ability to set up line mates…great vision…has a decent shot that is most effective in and around the slot…has an endless motor and is hard to outwork…doesn't stop competing and he uses his strength to win space and possession of the puck…effective defensively, and works hard at both ends…knows what his responsibilities are and how to fulfill his duties in his own zone…has upside as a top six two-way NHL centre.

#20 LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV
KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA, MHL, 6-4, 200
A big, powerful, offensive minded winger…despite his immense size, he shows good mobility when carrying the puck and the ability to get up and down the ice…quite mobile on his skates and has powerful strides which he uses to hit top speed quickly…hard to defend along the boards because of his size, strength, mobility and reach…uses his big frame and protects the puck nicely in the corner before going directly to the net for a chance to bury the puck…has a dangerous shot with strong velocity and impressive release…sets up in proper areas to unleash his wicked one-timer…has the ability to make plays with the puck on his stick, and shows his instincts by delivering very quick passes…makes a nice cross-ice saucer pass right on his teammates tape…intriguing talent because his diversified skills have seen him play both point and net front presence on the power play effectively…a threat every time he’s on the ice… plays with an active stick, loving to clog up lanes using his long reach, and good hand eye coordination…a goal scoring winger with top six NHL upside.

#21 C AKIL THOMAS
NIAGARA, OHL, 5-11, 165
A quick, game-breaking offensive talent…skating ability is top-notch; the acceleration and top-end speed he can generate from his first few steps allows him to beat defenders around the edge and pounce on loose pucks…his ability to carry and control the puck at top speed is impressive…his puck control also can lead to some eye-popping moves, and he dominates one-on-one situations…for a smaller player, he’s also quite good at protecting the puck; his patience and vision with the puck is reminiscent of former IceDogs player Ho-Sang...intense and relentless around the net…a magnet on the puck…a very deadly shot with firecracker release…not currently strong enough to be a presence in board battles, but he’s not afraid to go after bigger players in the corner and initiate contact on the fore check either...he needs to be more dedicated in his own end, as he often springs the zone and hopes for a Hail Mary pass instead of coming down into his zone to support his defenders…has the potential to become the complete offensive package at the next level.

#22 C JAKE WISE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-10, 185
A confident offensive centre with strong distribution skills, creativity and vision…a very quick skater who possesses powerful acceleration and jersey flapping top speed…changes direction with quick turns creating havoc for defenders…lateral agility and balance is impressive…slick stickhandle who can simply dangle his way through traffic with exceptionally quick hands and feet…elusive and hard to contain…accurate wrist shot with firecracker release makes him dangerous anywhere around the slot…intelligent and thinks the game at a high level…reads the play and makes the right play with the puck and his positioning…is 100% a pass first player…a hard worker who does not coast…plays like he is six-foot-four which can be both a good and bad thing for a guy his size…not a pure defensive guy by any stretch but is coachable, willing to learn and already does many of the little things right…a guy who we feel will at worse case be a top six two-way contributor at the NHL level.

#23 D XAVIER BOUCHARD
BAIE-COMEAU, QMJHL, 6-2, 175
A puck mover who has good size and mobility…an excellent fundamentally sound skater who shows impressive all-around agility and decent levels of speed…exceptional at moving the puck up ice, and finding team-mates…a pass first player who sees the ice well and makes strong dishes to his teammates setting them up in good position…willing to pinch deep into the offensive zone in order to keep plays alive due to his quickness and smarts…he possesses a big shot, one that he can rip quickly and accurately but needs to use it more often…very active along the boards, and uses his body to close gaps and play tough along the wall…although blessed with good size he is not an overly physical player instead using smarts over brawn more often than not…thinks the game at a high level, and plays with an urgency and effectiveness that is critical to team’s success…does not have many holes in his game as he plays with intelligence and poise…has top four puck moving two-way NHL upside.

#24 C TY DELLANDREA
FLINT, OHL, 6-1, 180
A hard-working, gritty winger with a sniper shot…solid skating stride…balanced, quick and agile, and can take the puck wide, or battle through defenders…always keeps his feet moving…starts and stops well…works the boards hard winning battles…very good at controlling the puck while under pressure or fighting off checks…uses his speed and playmaking abilities to extend offensive possessions…willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, and mix it up in front of the net…competes at a very high level and brings a lot of sandpaper…can be extremely dangerous in the high slot with his ability to deflect pucks because of strong hand eye coordination and willingness to take the abuse around the net…excellent shot, with impressive accuracy…sees the net well, and finishes his shot attempts…offensive awareness lets him get into good position…aggressive and physical on the forecheck, but also does a good job at hustling back to his own zone…has all the tools to be a pro scoring winger at the NHL level.

#25 C ISAC LUNDESTROM
LULEA, SHL, 6-0, 180
A sound puck possession two-way center who flashes some offensive upside…an effortless skater who has high-end speed and explosiveness…gets in hard on the forecheck and uses speed to get to pucks…has the speed to win races with opponents…uses his soft hands and vision to be a dangerous playmaker setting up teammates quickly and accurately…poised with the puck and lets the play develop…plays heavier on the puck than his size would indicate…protects the puck well and also knows how to bury the puck…drives through defensive seems and will take the puck to the net…will shoot the puck from all sorts of angles and has a dangerous shot…solid defensively, comes back hard and has a good motor…good down-low and supports well on defense playing a fairly mature game…can make the head scratching play from time to time but has some good upside…has top six two-way NHL potential.

#26 LW GRIGORI DENISENKO
LOKO YAROSLAVL, MHL, 5-11, 160
A quick, creative, smart offensive winger…he skates hard, and fast, with an explosive ability to accelerate…has a smooth, almost effortless stride…good top speed and elusive with quick burst in all directions…is creative offensively, a natural goal scorer and is always looking to position himself for a perfect shooting spot…absolutely relentless in his pursuit of the puck…possesses a dangerous shot with velocity, a lightning quick release and does not hesitate to fire the puck when he has an open shooting lane…moves around the ice like a vet without the puck…drives hard to the net when a play is developing from the outside, to give his team-mates an open passing option, and is always thinking about puck retrieval, should his team turn it over, maintaining good zone position throughout his shift…possesses good vision and poise…although he tries to support his defense and play responsible, he kind of floats around in his own zone and needs to engage more actively…very mature, smart player for his age…has NHL upside as an offensive winger.

#27 LW/C PHILIPP KURASHEV
QUEBEC, QMJHL, 6-1, 185
A good all-around player who wants to get involved in the play any way he can…strong playmaking abilities with excellent creativity and vision…quickly finds open lanes to get through and when he has multiple options, he typically always tries to connect with a teammate rather than fire a shot on net himself…needs to shoot more as he has a dangerous release…his explosives first steps allowed him to reach his top speed quickly…gives his opposition fits as he is dangerous on zone entries with his quickness and creative puck skills…electrifying hands make him dangerous to score anywhere around the opponents net…can force pucks at times and create turnovers by trying to be too forkful with his passes…defensively, he can play a crucial role, follow his player tightly, and is engaged into puck battles deep in the zone…also provides an outlet for his defenseman to hit on the breakout…has to improve on his face-offs quite a bit if he wants to become an NHL centre…has top six upside at the NHL level.

#28 D GIOVANNI VALLATI
KITCHENER, OHL, 6-1, 185
An offensive minded puck rushing defenseman…not overly flashy but smooth and effective…possesses a fluid and mobile stride, has impressive lateral agility and first step quickness…a strong skater, more mobile than fast, with the ability to transitioning seamlessly…handles the puck with skill and quick hands…protects the puck along the wall or from fore-checking pressure…uses his feet and creativity to escape pressure and get himself out of trouble…moves the puck up ice quickly…makes quick passes to open teammates…has an intelligence and poise to adapt quickly to in-game situations…has a good seeing-eye shot from the point but could use it more often instead of deferring to pass…uses his strong stick exceptionally well to knock pucks loose, and give opposing forwards fits when attempting to enter the zone…not one to be overly physical but will use his body to separate the man from puck, block a shot or battle for loose pucks along the wall...reads and reacts to the play very well, and positions himself in the right spots to make a play…has some two-way upside at the NHL level.

#29 D K’ANDRE MILLER
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 195
A big, bruising, defensive-minded defenseman…solid mobility for his size and does not have any issues getting up and down the ice...can have some heavy boots when starting and stopping, defending against more agile attackers but handles them by being physical and using his length…communicates well with teammates and plays responsibly in his own zone…great awareness of his defensive zone and quick decision-making ability…does not hesitate to shoot the puck when he has a lane and his booming shot is his most dangerous offensive weapon…gets good velocity on one-timers…dishes powerful and accurate tape to tape passes…a confident puck carrier who does not shy away from carrying the puck up ice…at his best when he keeps it simple…a nasty customer around the net, and isn’t afraid to make opponents pay along the boards…physically intimidating…a solid defensive presence while still learning the position after switching to D from forward a couple season ago…has NHL middle-pairing, physical, defensive defenseman written all over him.

#30 D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 205
A monster sized blue liner who takes after his father, former NHLer Kjell Samuelsson…not a flashy offensive guy by any means but someone who just plays the game the right way with smarts and instincts…keeps his head up and always adapting to the play…has a decent stride that generates speed but could use more power and quicker feet…uses his vision and skilled puck handling to distribute the puck with crisp, accurate passes…powerful snap shot with a quick release and accuracy…physical and punishes his checks either along the wall of if they invade the crease…gets his frame into shooting lanes and blocks shots…great reach to defend, getting his stick on pucks, closing off lanes before the opposition can make an offensive play…committed to the University of Michigan where he will have plenty of time to rough off any edges to his game…a guy who could potentially do a bit of everything…has the size, strength and bloodlines to get scouts attention but also has two-way upside…has solid potential as a two-way top-four NHL defender.

#31 G JAKUB SKAREK
DUKLA JIHLAVA, CZECH2, 6-1, 165
A butterfly stopper who plays an active, fearless, game in the crease…looks bigger than his size indicates with the way he attacks the puck through solid angles play…aggressive, yet composed and knows when to pick his spots…very active playing the puck and sets up his team quickly on the breakout…makes things look easy but also willing to show his athletic sprawling, desperation saves when needed…battles hard in his crease and does not give up an inch when the play gets scrabbly around him…quickly gets down and closes off the bottom of the net…pushes hard off his edges to make outstanding post-to-post saves off opponents cross-ice passes…very flexible and uses every inch of his body to makes saves a la fellow countryman Dominik Hasek to keep his team in the game…reads the play and reacts to the play…has a quick set of hands and can close off net with either his glove or his blocker…finds pucks through traffic…has been impressive representing his country in international events…has the potential to become a NHL starter.

#32 C JESSE YLONEN
BLUES U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-0, 160
A slick skating, dynamic offensive minded forward…very smooth, fluid and explosive skater…he is agile, accelerates fast and has good top speed…is patience with the puck and waits for open lanes to set up scoring chances showing strong hockey IQ…balance and ability to angle his frame is a big asset in avoiding checks and maintaining possession…not afraid to go to the net and look for second chances but shies away from any kind of physical punishment…has stretches where he flies around on the exterior of the rink, avoiding checks, looking for holes to penetrate to the center of the ice before making a play…a very strong puck carrier and feels comfortable with the biscuit on his stick…possesses silk-smooth hands and can really dangle with the puck in and out of traffic…has great pass accuracy and distributes pucks in a timely and effective manner…he does need to bulk up and isn’t always effective in a physical style games but his speed and IQ is what sets him apart…has top six NHL offensive upside.

#33 D JONATHAN TYCHONICK
PENTICTON, BCHL, 5-11, 165
A two-way, intelligent defender…his skating checks off all facets you look for as he is fluid and mobile…generates good levels of speed and displays strong lateral quickness…impressive offensive instinct to his game and he sets up many potential chances thanks to his heads up reads that extend zone time and create opportunities…carries the puck with confidence…dishes timely and creative passes displaying impressive vision…has a shot that he places in position to generate rebound opportunities or a re-direct…knows when to pinch and when to hang back…a smart defender who actively guides the rushing opponent to the perimeter by cutting his man off towards the boards with his positioning and active stick…impressive spatial awareness; for instance knowingly staying out of the goaltenders sight line so that opponents can’t cut in and get a screened shot off…stands up physically despite a disadvantage in size, remaining confident in his ability to read plays and nullify chances with smart assessments…potentially an intelligent NHL two-way top four blue liner.

#34 C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI
ASSAT U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-2, 175
A strong two-way center that manages his own zone well and creates offensive chances…solid skater with good all-round mobility…not the fastest off the mark…will get faster as he adds leg strength…quick, skilled hands with the puck…a strong playmaker not only because he puts the puck on his teammates blade but more so because he possesses great puck poise and patience for the best option to present itself…he has a sneaky quick release for a guy with his size and puts his shots on target…protects the puck in traffic and in tight spaces…has a tendency to get a little too individualistic at times and needs to consistently use his teammates to maximise his effectiveness…works hard each and every shift…knows how to play without the puck…gets into shooting and passing lanes to close off opportunities…willing to play the body to separate the puck or battle along the wall…defensively responsible…has very strong instincts and gets to the proper areas to both capitalize on a scoring chance as well as to break up a play defensively…solid in the faceoff circle…still needs to fill out…has some solid upside as a big two-way center at the NHL level.

#35 LW JOEL FARABEE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-11, 160
A very high energy, big effort player with skill…he never stops moving his feet…has jersey flapping speed…has change of pace is impressive and allows him to stay elusive…possesses good puck control, and a willingness to take the puck to the net…has creative hands and can pull a skilled one-on-one move to gain space…moves the puck around the ice extremely well, connecting with good strong passes, and leads his line-mates effectively…not scares to shoot the puck…has a quick release but lacks velocity…keeps moving in the offensive zone, and that creates a lot of space and time for he and his team-mates and in doing so he generates a lot of offensive opportunities…he excels in all zones, providing his team with a tireless work ethic, strong defensive play, and some offensive flair…needs to has a low end of a strong third liner with speed who can PK or a high upside as a top six scorer who can contribute on special teams.

#36 D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV
RED DEER, WHL, 6-3, 190
A large and physical blue liner who plays a heavy game in his own zone…skating is solid; not the quickest player but moves well for his size…gets himself involved in the rush and is a guy who will carry the puck on the breakout if given the space…sees the available pass very quickly…simple with the puck, doesn't do anything overly creative…has a heavy shot…great at timing one timers and is able to get a bullet on net with a quick wrist shot as well…smooth edges and mobility to stay ahead of the rush and keep his man at a tight gap to hinder creativity…likes to use his body and step up on opponents…he makes good reads and doesn't get himself into too much trouble with his defensive decision-making…difficult to beat 1v1 and does a good job forcing players to the outside…hard to beat down-low and is able to take opposing players off the puck…loves the nasty side of the game and playing physical…a quality two-way defender who isn’t without flaw, but has top four NHL potential as someone who can make a solid pass but takes care of his end first and foremost.

#37 RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV
BARRIE, OHL, 6-1, 190
A skilled and flashy forward with good size…he moves well with a smooth stride that generates healthy speeds…has impressive elusiveness for a guy his size…agile and balanced on his feet…creates offensive chances by making moves to get to prime scoring areas before unleashing a dangerous shot…good snap on his shot and a release that can easily fool a goaltender…has some playmaking abilities as well with smooth passes and good vision but definitely leans towards the shot whenever the option is given…has a tendency to rest on his natural talent as he can coast when he should be covering his man on the backcheck or springing the zone instead of making sure the puck is in possession…not overly physical but does use his size to get to desired areas on the ice…will need to improve his two-way play, consistency and add some more strength…has electrifying offensive upside at the NHL level in a dynamic goal scorer role but also a fair amount of bust potential as well.

#38 D RASMUS SANDIN
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-11, 180
A talented two-way rearguard…a skilled puck handler who has the confidence to attempt long stretch passes up the middle of the ice or to skate it himself...his hands are an asset in corralling the puck off a hard pass or making a slick deke…although a decent skater with adequate speed, his edgework isn’t as crisp as it could be and it affects his moving laterally or changing directions…lowering his centre of gravity and using longer leg pushes in each stride could also increase his speed…he isn’t afraid to carry the puck through the neutral zone himself, and is shifty and creative with the puck on his stick…strong at fending off fore checkers in his own zone, as he can outwait physical contact and absorb a hit before skating the puck out of trouble or dishing it to a teammate…he has very good defensive awareness, particularly when switching checks or choosing when to pressure opponents below the goal line…not afraid to play the body or throw a check to close off an opponent along the boards…has some impressive potential as an NHL puck mover who can also be effective in his own zone.

#39 G JACOB INGHAM
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-3, 180
A big and athletic butterfly style puck stopper…oves well in his crease and has good telescoping ability…fills the net well with his natural size…not overly quick going laterally but will improve with added leg strength…quickness in his legs is strong…his big pads seal off the ice well…competitive and does not like to give up a gaol even if he player it correctly and is beaten by the “perfect shotâ€â€¦flashes the glove from time to time…plays his angels correctly and squares up nicely…tracks the puck well although he can lose it through heavy traffic…corrals his rebounds well or directs them to the corners…has the reflexes and a knack for making the second and even third scramble save…took over the top role in Mississauga at the seasons midway point when the incumbent starter was having some trouble, an impressive feat for a sixteen year old……has the size, confidence and style that get NHL excited for his potential at the next level.

#40 LW DAVID LEVINE
SUDBURY, OHL, 5-10, 175
An intellectual center who is creative and elusive…has a decent skating stride that generates healthy speed…needs to pick up his foot speed as his acceleration is slower…hopefully this will correct with more leg strength and effort to improve his stride efficiency…has skilled hands and can deke and dangle his way around the offensive zone…a playmaker with impressive vision who puts pucks in places where his teammates can make the best play possible…despite his smaller size he shows some aggressive play, is hard to knock off the puck and can protect it while he drives to the crease with a defender on his back…has an accurate shot but it currently lacks pop…does force things at times and causes turnovers by being too cute but you expect that as creative prospects develop…needs more muscle on his frame…still learning the game in all zones but does show strong effort and has improved over the past year in that aspect…don’t bet against this determined kid making the NHL as a top six playmaker.

 

[WaW]

David Levin

No thanks, lol.

 

[Frk It]

Winning the lottery would obviously be great, but there's a lot of good options in this draft.

Would be nice if we got Wilde, Merkley, or Wahlstrom. If any of you guys liked Makar, you should love Merkley.

Surprised to see Hughes ranked that high, but he was damn impressive at the WJC for USA. And I guess we did just see a 5'9" defenseman taken in the top 15 so it's not impossible.

 

[Oddbob]

Here is from the FC draft guide on the 2018 talent. I have some of my DRW targets bolded.

PRELIMINARY TOP 100 RANKING FOR 2018 NHL DRAFT
1). D RASMUS DAHLIN, FROLUNDA (SHL), 6-1, 165
2). RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-2, 190
3). LW FILIP ZADINA, PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 190
4). C JOSEPH VELENO, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
5). D JARED MCISAAC, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-2, 210
6). C BRADY TKACHUK, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-2, 200
7). D BODE WILDE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-2, 195
8). D RYAN MERKLEY, GUELPH (OHL), 5-11, 170
9). D QUINTON HUGHES, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 5-9, 170
10). LW ANDERSON MACDONALD, SHERBROOKE (QMJHL), 6-2, 205
11). C OLIVER WAHLSTROM, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-1, 200
12). D TY SMITH, SPOKANE (WHL), 5-11, 170
13). C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
14). D ADAM BOQVIST, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 170
15). C JACK MCBAIN, TORONTO JR. CANADIENS (OJHL), 6-3, 185
16). C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV, IRBIS KAZAN (MHL), 5-11, 180
17). D JETT WOO, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 200
18). D EVAN BOUCHARD, LONDON (OHL), 6-2, 185
19). C RYAN MCLEOD, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-2, 190
20). LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV, KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA (MHL), 6-4, 200
21). C AKIL THOMAS, NIAGARA (OHL), 5-11, 165
22). C JAKE WISE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 185
23). D XAVIER BOUCHARD, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 6-2, 175
24). C TY DELLANDREA, FLINT (OHL), 6-1, 180
25). C ISAC LUNDESTROM, LULEA (SHL), 6-0, 180
26). LW GRIGORI DENISENKO, LOKO YAROSLAVL (MHL), 5-11, 155
27). LW PHILIPP KURASHEV, QUEBEC (QMJHL), 6-1, 185
28). D GIOVANNI VALLATI, KITCHENER (OHL), 6-1, 185
29). D K’ANDRE MILLER, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 195
30). D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 205
31). G JAKUB SKAREK, DUKLA JIHLAVA (CZECH 2), 6-1, 165
32). RW JESSE YLONEN, BLUES U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-0, 160
33). D JONATHAN TYCHONICK, PENTICTON (BCHL), 5-11, 165
34). C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI, ASSAT U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-2, 175
35). LW JOEL FARABEE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 155
36). D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV, RED DEER (WHL), 6-3, 190
37). RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV, BARRIE (OHL), 6-1, 190
38). D RASMUS SANDIN, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 180
39). G JACOB INGHAM, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-3, 180
40). LW DAVID LEVINE, SUDBURY (OHL), 5-10, 170
41). C ALLAN MCSHANE, ERIE (OHL), 5-11, 185
42). D CALEN ADDISON, LETHBRIDGE (WHL), 5-9, 170
43). RW VITALI KRAVTSOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-2, 170
44). RW NANDO EGGENBERGER, HC DAVOS (NLA), 6-2, 185
45). C CARL WASSENIUS, AIK J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195
46). C MIKHAIL BITSADZE, DYNAMO BALASHIKHA (VHL), 5-10, 165
47). LW JACHYM KONDELIK, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-6, 210
48). D JACOB SEMIK, DUBUQUE (USHL), 6-0, 160
49). RW NIKLAS NORDGREN, HIFK J20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 5-9, 170
50). D ZACK MALIK, VITKOVICE U20 (CZECH U20), 6-2, 165
51). C PATRICK GILES, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-4, 185
52). C LUKAS WERNBLOM, MODO (ALLSVENSKAN), 5-9, 160
53). C NATHAN DUNKLEY, KINGSTON (OHL), 5-11, 185
54). C LUKA BURZAN, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 180
55). LW TYLER WEISS, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 155
56). D NICOLAS BEAUDIN, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 5-10, 160
57). D DANILA GALENYUK, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-1, 190
58). C MILOS ROMAN, HC FRYDEK-MISTEK (CZECH2), 5-11, 195
59). RW RILEY SUTTER, EVERETT (WHL), 6-2, 200
60). G ALEXIS GRAVEL, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-3, 190
61). C JAXON NELSON, SIOUX FALLS (USHL), 6-3, 195
62). D NOAH DOBSON, ACADIE-BATHURST (QMJHL), 6-2, 165
63). RW GAVIN HAIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 180
64). D OWEN LALONDE, SUDBURY (OHL), 6-1, 175
65). LW YEGOR SOKOLOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-3, 195
66). G OLIVIER RODRIGUE, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 6-1, 155
67). RW MARTIN KAUT, HC DYNAMO PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 175
68). C MATHIAS EMILIO PETTERSEN, OMAHA (USHL), 5-10, 165
69). C CONNOR ROBERTS, HAMILTON (OHL), 6-3, 215
70). LW GABRIEL FORTIER, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 5-9, 165
71). D LIBOR ZABRANSKY, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 6-2, 180
72). C FILIP HALLANDER, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 180
73). D MARTIN FEHERVARY, MALMO J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 175
74). C TOMAS KOBLIZEK, CHOMUTOV U18 (CZECH U18), 6-2, 180
75). D DENNIS BUSBY, FLINT (OHL), 5-10, 180
76). C MATTHEW STRUTHERS, OWEN SOUND (OHL), 6-2, 190
77). D TY EMBERSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-0, 190
78). RW ETHAN MANDERVILLE, KANATA (CCHL), 6-3, 185
79). C BLAKE MCLAUGHLIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 165
80). D SEAN COMRIE, SPRUCE GROVE (AJHL), 5-11, 165
81). D ADAM SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-5, 220
82). LW CARL JAKOBSSON, FARJESTAD J18 (J18 ELIT), 6-1, 165
83). RW JAKUB LAUKO, PIRATI CHOMUTOV (CZECH), 6-1, 175
84). C OSCAR BACK, FARJESTAD J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 190
85). D ADAM GINNING, LINKOPING (SHL), 6-3, 190
86). LW KIRILL MARCHENKO, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-2, 185
87). C LIAM FOUDY, LONDON (OHL), 6-1, 170
88). D SANTERI SALMELA, KOOKOO (LIIGA), 6-1, 180
89). LW ADAM LISKA, BRATISLAVA U20 (SLOVAKIA U20), 6-0, 180
90). D AUSTIN CHORNEY, CHILLIWACK (BCHL), 6-1, 210
91). LW JOHN GRUDEN, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 160
92). C COLE FONSTAD, PRINCE ALBERT (WHL), 5-10, 160
93). G KEVIN MANDOLESE, CAPE BRETON (QMJHL), 6-3, 170
94). D FILIP KRAL, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 5-11, 165
95). C DAMIEN GIROUX, SAGINAW (OHL), 5-9, 170
96). C DAVID GUSTAFSSON, HV71 J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-1, 190
97). D NICO GROSS, EVZ ACADEMY (NLB), 6-0, 185
98). G JUSTUS ANNUNEN, KARPAT U18 (JR. B SM-SARJA), 6-3, 200
99). C DOMINIK BOKK, KOLNER EC U19 (DNL), 5-11, 160
100). C JACOB OLOFSSON, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195

TOP 40 PROFILES

#1 D RASMUS DAHLIN
FROLUNDA, SHL, 6-1, 165
A creative and shifty, puck rushing blue liner…confident player with the puck on his stick…loves to be the catalyst of play…a deceptive, exceptionally smooth skater that can change direction in a hurry and push opponents back on their heels…quick first stride and solid power…edge work allows him to cut quickly creating time and space…just as effective in passing the puck as he is rushing it…stickhandling is smooth…makes smart decisions offensively and joins the rush at the right times…willing to drive down deep into the offensive zone to sustain pressure or when he senses an opportunity…has a hard and accurate slap shot…puts wrist shots where they can be deflected or generate rebounds…defensively he's solid with good reads and smart positioning…uses his stick to force players wide and angling players off…poised with high quality vision...has elite hockey IQ processing the play at a quick rate…top pairing NHL franchise defining upside.

#2 RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV
MUSKEGON, USHL, 6-2, 190
An electrifying, dangerous, offensive winger…confident shoot first mentality…explosive skater with plenty of horse power underneath the hood…smooth and powerful stride as a larger player, but has the quickness and foot speed of a much smaller player…solid offensive smarts and understanding of position…possesses edge of your seat puck skills…unpredictable…can dangle around or power through opponents on his way to the net…uses his size and wingspan well to protect the puck…a scoring threat anywhere in the offensive zone due to his lightning quick release and hard, accurate shot…can be a real beast along the wall…strong in puck pursuit and on the forecheck…willing to physically lean on opponents to gain position…goes to the gritty areas and thrives in traffic…wants the puck on his stick…brother of Detroit Red Wings 2015 first-round pick Evgeni…NHL All-Star top line goal scorer potential.

#3 LW FILIP ZADINA
PARDUBICE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 6-1, 190
A dangerous goal-scorer in the making…is a strong and balanced skater…makes plays with his feet and hands…able to dangle with the puck through defenders in the tightest areas of the ice and create chances out of nothing…has an offensively creative mind and imagination…sets his team mates up with smart passes…very good hockey-sense…has an absolutely lethal shot, great release…gets himself into excellent position to get his shots off….likes to come down the wing with speed and cut to the middle for a chance as he gets the goalie moving and opening up holes...possesses a nifty backhand that he needs very little time and space to deposit top shelf when around the crease…slides into board battles undetected to find and scoop up pucks…very sneaky player who always seems to end up in a scoring position with the puck...great poise with the puck and calm under pressure…offensive dynamo…going to be a top-end player at the NHL level.

#4 C JOSEPH VELENO
SAINT JOHN, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
An offensively smart, creative, centre…explosive skater…quick feet, powerful stride and impressive agility…very athletic…has solid Hockey IQ, impressive vision and playmaking ability…finds seams quickly and is able to create offense for both himself and his line mates…can stickhandle the puck in a phone-booth and dance around the offensive zone with strong puck skills...great in tight and able to come out of scrums and corners with the puck…a decent shot, accurate but needs to improved its velocity…will always end up around the net for scoring opportunities and completes every shift…disruptive and effective in the offensive zone at net front causing havoc…a highly aggressive player….gets in hard on the forecheck…not a physical guy but can land some extremely heavy hits and loves to use his size to his advantage…defensively he competes and supports the defenseman…will give his body to block shots…very skilled, but plays a complete game and does all the little things well…a potential top line two-way NHL centre.

#5 D JARED MCISAAC
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-2, 210
A smooth skating two-way blue liner…focuses on keeping his end clean first and foremost before adding to the offensive play…effortless skater with agility and balance…a long flawless stride…cuts and transitions are fluid…incredible hockey sense, thinks the game at a very high level, and makes great decisions with the puck on his stick…keeps things simple, but can add a bit of flair where he sees an opportunity…pin-point breakout passes…really controls the puck well at high speeds and will skate it end-to-end when he gets room to rush the puck up ice…possesses a real cannon of a shot from the point…plays opposing puck carriers aggressively and stands up attackers at the blue line…keeps a close gap pushing opponents to the outside and applies good pressure to force mistakes…plays with a mean streak in the corners and around his own crease…works hard…confident and mature…a calming, safe, two-way defender that has top pairing NHL upside.

#6 C BRADY TKACHUK
USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 200
A gritty, power forward with offensive skills…the BU recruit is a powerful, balanced, skater who generates solid straight-line speed but lacks initial footspeed and overall fluidity…tenacious physically and will lay the body when he has chances, although there is some youthfulness there as he gets drawn into making the big open ice hit…relentless on the cycle…effective below the faceoff circles…always competing and playing with healthy intensity…likes to shoot the puck from anywhere and gets really good velocity behind his shots…has a nose around the net and hands in tight make him a constant threat to punch pucks into the net…takes the body, blocks shots and gets into passing lanes…thinks the game well…natural leader and future captain material who demonstrates that leadership quality through his work ethic and team first approach…brother to Matthew, Calgary Flames forward, and son to Keith, one of the best goal scoring power forwards to ever play in the NHL…has some solid power forward upside at the NHL level.

#7 D BODE WILDE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-2, 195
Big, two-way difference maker on the back-end…a big kid that is also a real solid skater...transitions smoothly…passes the puck with authority and accurately…has a booming slap shot from the point that he can unleash in a hurry…a real catalyst on the power play…shows nice leadership skills and calm puck handling…generates time and space by using body positioning…uses his big frame to step into opponents and shut them down physically…closed the gap, seals off along the boards and eliminates time and space…not one to go looking for the big hit, but he is nasty in the corners and has more than enough strength to knock his opponents off the puck…employs an active stick and excellent anticipation to disrupt the attack…gets himself into lanes to close them off…poised and mature…a nice blend of size, mobility and strength…can do it all, and excels at both ends of the rink…has top pairing all-situational NHL upside.

#8 D RYAN MERKLEY
GUELPH, OHL, 5-11, 170
A high tempo, smart, offensive minded rearguard…shifty, with elite skating ability…smooth transitions from forwards to backwards…possesses explosive acceleration, and makes plays at top end speeds…isn’t afraid to lead the rush, and hold onto the puck in hopes of creating a play in the offensive zone…vision up the ice is absolute elite…impressive when quarterbacking the power play and doing a good job of making consistently accurate breakout passes…possesses a deceptive slap-pass to teammates in front of or around the net…has a knack for getting the puck to the net through traffic with a quick release and accuracy to his shot…his quick decision making and ability to read the play that really stand out…a good job of judging when to cover the front of the net or to go pressure the puck-carrier behind the net…good job of tracking offensive players across his zone and using his stick to close off their passing options and take away space…will need to hit the weight room and improve own zone play…very high ceiling but also some risk…has high end NHL upside generating offense from the backend.

#9 D QUINTON HUGHES
USNTDP U18, USHL, 5-9, 170
A small but highly skilled puck mover…a strong skater who possesses impressive four-way mobility…gets up to speed in just a couple short strides…transitions smoothly and keeps up with his opponents, even those who are shifty and the fleetest of foot…a constant puck rushing threat who makes impulse choices to join the rush when he sees open ice and has the quickness and soft mitts to remain in control of the puck at high speeds…confidently jumps off the line and lets his skillset go to work when getting looks at the net…shoots and passes with intent…ability to retrieve pucks under pressure and kick start the breakout is impressive…mobile little defender is skilled and speedy but still has to learn to manage his own zone better…possesses an active stick and smarts that he uses to strip pucks from unsuspecting opponents and then like a flash he is gone on offense…regularly gets outmuscled when physically defending…has the potential to become a solid puck rusher and power play specialist at the NHL level.

#10 LW ANDERSON MACDONALD
SHERBROOKE, QMJHL, 6-2, 205
A prototypical power forward with some natural goal-scoring ability…moves around the ice fairly well for a guy his size, generating good levels of speed even if he lacks that explosive first step right now…battles along the boards, and makes plays with his big frame…plays with a chip on his shoulder and physical edge, fighting for his space and standing up for teammates…not just brawn but also thinks the game at a high level…knows where to go to get scoring opportunities, and manoeuvres himself with power and determination into those prime scoring areas…grinds it out against all comers, and will battle hard to retrieve pucks…impressive ability to shield the puck…has a strong shot, with a quick release, gets a lot of power without having to wind up too much, with a ton of accuracy…has good on ice vision and has shown a willingness to play a two-way game…has the skill and size but will need consistent compete level to be a top end winger at the next level.

#11 C OLIVER WAHLSTROM
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-1, 200
A flashy puck wizard who creates offensive chances…can dance around the ice with the puck on a strong making filthy dekes…moves around the ice with an effortless yet powerful stride that generates plenty of speed…starts and stops on the puck…impressive lateral quickness for his size make him elusive…strong instincts and vision on the ice…makes some skilled passes that put his teammates in prime scoring opportunities…patient with the puck…loves to shoot it and has a rifle of a shot with tricky release…strong on his feet and willing to play in greasy areas…can be a load to handle when he gets moving…protects the puck well using his reach and body position…physical game is there in flashes…when he is engaged he is tenacious and viscous on the forecheck, and relentless in his puck pursuit…has some impressive offensive upside at the next level but needs to show he wants it.

#12 D TY SMITH
SPOKANE, WHL, 5-11, 170
A poised puck moving blue liner who dictates play…skating is efficient, smooth and generates impressive levels of speed…transitions from defense to offense quickly…looks to join the rush…excels with the puck on his stick…moves it smartly and quickly…patient and skilled running the point in the offensive zone, and has the ability to thread passes all over the ice…shot from the point has a quick release and not much of a windup, preferring to keep the puck low and on net rather than wind up for a slap shot…overall awareness is impressive…able to protect the puck from opposing players along the wall before making a play to an open teammate…harder to knock off the puck than his size would suggest…can play an effective shutdown role…not a physical guy but will use his body to separate the puck…his active stick is a presence in his own zone causing turnovers and closing lanes…coaches dream who will do whatever is needed to help the team…an elite two-way defender with top pairing upside.

#13 C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
A strong, well-rounded, two-way centre…good but not great skater, he needs to improve his first step…high motor, always keeps his feet moving…rarely caught out of position…provides a lot of grit, determination and skill…excellent ability to maintain puck control in high traffic areas…uses his strength, skilled hands and agility to be very difficult to defend…a threat to drive the net but can also go stretches of playing on the perimeter too much and being content to just dish the puck from the outside…thinks the game at a high level, and can put on a show with his nifty stick work and creativity…shoots the puck hard, and accurately…owns a deceptively quick release…strong awareness of when to support his defenders in loose puck battles and where to go… adept at tracking down pucks out of scrums…provides good pressure on the back check…displays a strong effort in his own zone as well as his ability to create scoring chances…a solid prospect that could be the complete package with high upside at the NHL level.

#14 D ADAM BOKVIST
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-10, 170
A confident, puck-moving blue liner…skates well with quick agile feet that generate solid levels of speed…solid on his edges…very efficient skater…keeps the game simple, and cuts out the extra overly creative pass by finding open team-mates in good position…moves the puck quickly and beautifully around the ice with crisp clean passes…can fire the puck accurately on the net with a quick release…adept at sneaking into open lanes for an opportunity…a steadying presence...plays the point well and has impressive ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone…very active stick at both ends, and uses it wisely to keep the pressure on the defence, helping hem them in their own zone or to disrupt the attack defending in his zone…very active feet, can contain his assignment with good agility and willing to get after the opposition with physical play…positions his body to box out opponents…his size is the obvious drawback…provides his team with a steady presence on the blue line, and thinks the game at a high level…a potential top four two-way rearguard at the NHL level.

#15 C JACK MCBAIN
TORONTO JR. CANADIENS, OJHL, 6-3, 185
A sizable and strong two-way pivot…he stands out for his vision on the ice, skill with the puck and strong work ethic…skating stride is slightly upright and rigid, but he utilizes long strides to generate above average straight-line speed…ability with the puck is far beyond his years; he’s patient enough to wait for a play to develop before distributing the puck but is comfortable finding the soft spots in defensive coverage and using his quick release to create a scoring chance as well…his shot is very good; ability to receive a pass in stride and fire a shot with good power and accuracy quickly…he takes care of his responsibilities in the defensive zone and positions himself well to make a play on loose pucks…he could stand to be more physical, but his ability to close his opponents off along the boards and use his long reach to block passing lanes is still an asset…a very committed and tireless worker, he makes a consistent effort to be an impact player on the ice…he could become a tremendous two-way player at the NHL level.

#16 C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV
IRBIS KAZAN, MHL, 5-11, 180
A crafty little playmaker that excels in many facets of the game all over the ice…an explosive, agile skater who can control the puck with ease even at top speed…good quickness, edge work and balance on his skates…very tough to knock off the puck for a smaller player…silky-smooth hands and shows above-average puck handling…shows great patience with the puck even when under pressure…possesses a dangerous wrist shot, can fire the puck with good accuracy and quickness…a tape-to-tape passer leading guys to open ice with precision dishes…carries the puck very calmly and is well aware of his line mates positions due to elite vision…strong in the faceoff circle…great hockey smarts…plays a strong game away from the puck constantly moving to find open ice and making himself available for passes…anticipates the flow of the game well…very patient, waiting for plays to develop around him…not quite as advanced in his own end, but he does a good job applying pressure and covering his man…a potential top six two-way centre at the next level.

#17 D JETT WOO
MOOSE JAW, WHL, 6-0, 200
A highly intelligent, mobile two-way defender…has great skating ability and an efficient stride…proficiently in any direction…has puck rushing ability because of his smarts, puck skills and elusive edge work…has a pro demeanor with the puck on his stick, never seems limited to just one option on a play…thinks at a high level and is a high end game manager…skilled with the puck on his stick, and will not shy away from carry it himself if an open outlet pass doesn’t present itself…constantly buzzing the offensive zone, using a series of agile moves and feigns with the puck to open up space…an opportunistic shooter that relied heavily on the wrist shot…has a quick whip on his shot and pass, showing zero hesitation once he gains a look at his target…has the skating to recover from calculated risks and get back quickly…always looking to foil an attack and will instinctively step up to do so…forces oncoming attackers to the outside lane…solid balance and strength…digs in his heels during physical confrontations…an exciting player to watch…plays big minutes…has top four two-way NHL upside.

#18 D EVAN BOUCHARD
LONDON, OHL, 6-2, 185
A smart, responsible defender…solid skater with a smooth, long stride…solid agility on his feet for his size…likes to rush the puck and get involved where he can offensively…willing to jump in and pinch to maintain offensive zone pressure at the right times…makes accurate reads of the play, and has the ability to dish the puck off to teammates in prime scoring areas…keeps his head up when carrying the puck tracking his options…has a knack for finding open lanes…has a hard, accurate shot, that he fires low to the ice, perfect for redirects…steady in his own end, anticipates the play developing around him well, and maintains good position between the puck and the net…utilizes his reach and body position well…doesn’t get caught flat footed often, and uses his solid positioning and awareness to effectively close off lanes, and limit scoring chances…makes the simple smart play to relieve pressure more often than not…not overly flashy, but can get creative when the time arises…a potential top four two-way blue liner.

#19 C RYAN MCLEOD
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-2, 190
A big forward with offensive skills who also has a good two-way drive…good skater…not the fastest north-south but quick, agile in short bursts and able to deceive opposition with quick changes of direction or pace….has decent hand-skill one-on-one and is able to dig pucks out of corners and get around opposing players with possession in tight spaces…protects it well with his body and likes to drive the net from the wing and does so by dropping his shoulder and leaning on defenders…a really tough player to stop when he uses his size and strength…dangerous in tight…illustrates good passing skill and the ability to set up line mates…great vision…has a decent shot that is most effective in and around the slot…has an endless motor and is hard to outwork…doesn't stop competing and he uses his strength to win space and possession of the puck…effective defensively, and works hard at both ends…knows what his responsibilities are and how to fulfill his duties in his own zone…has upside as a top six two-way NHL centre.

#20 LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV
KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA, MHL, 6-4, 200
A big, powerful, offensive minded winger…despite his immense size, he shows good mobility when carrying the puck and the ability to get up and down the ice…quite mobile on his skates and has powerful strides which he uses to hit top speed quickly…hard to defend along the boards because of his size, strength, mobility and reach…uses his big frame and protects the puck nicely in the corner before going directly to the net for a chance to bury the puck…has a dangerous shot with strong velocity and impressive release…sets up in proper areas to unleash his wicked one-timer…has the ability to make plays with the puck on his stick, and shows his instincts by delivering very quick passes…makes a nice cross-ice saucer pass right on his teammates tape…intriguing talent because his diversified skills have seen him play both point and net front presence on the power play effectively…a threat every time he’s on the ice… plays with an active stick, loving to clog up lanes using his long reach, and good hand eye coordination…a goal scoring winger with top six NHL upside.

#21 C AKIL THOMAS
NIAGARA, OHL, 5-11, 165
A quick, game-breaking offensive talent…skating ability is top-notch; the acceleration and top-end speed he can generate from his first few steps allows him to beat defenders around the edge and pounce on loose pucks…his ability to carry and control the puck at top speed is impressive…his puck control also can lead to some eye-popping moves, and he dominates one-on-one situations…for a smaller player, he’s also quite good at protecting the puck; his patience and vision with the puck is reminiscent of former IceDogs player Ho-Sang...intense and relentless around the net…a magnet on the puck…a very deadly shot with firecracker release…not currently strong enough to be a presence in board battles, but he’s not afraid to go after bigger players in the corner and initiate contact on the fore check either...he needs to be more dedicated in his own end, as he often springs the zone and hopes for a Hail Mary pass instead of coming down into his zone to support his defenders…has the potential to become the complete offensive package at the next level.

#22 C JAKE WISE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-10, 185
A confident offensive centre with strong distribution skills, creativity and vision…a very quick skater who possesses powerful acceleration and jersey flapping top speed…changes direction with quick turns creating havoc for defenders…lateral agility and balance is impressive…slick stickhandle who can simply dangle his way through traffic with exceptionally quick hands and feet…elusive and hard to contain…accurate wrist shot with firecracker release makes him dangerous anywhere around the slot…intelligent and thinks the game at a high level…reads the play and makes the right play with the puck and his positioning…is 100% a pass first player…a hard worker who does not coast…plays like he is six-foot-four which can be both a good and bad thing for a guy his size…not a pure defensive guy by any stretch but is coachable, willing to learn and already does many of the little things right…a guy who we feel will at worse case be a top six two-way contributor at the NHL level.

#23 D XAVIER BOUCHARD
BAIE-COMEAU, QMJHL, 6-2, 175
A puck mover who has good size and mobility…an excellent fundamentally sound skater who shows impressive all-around agility and decent levels of speed…exceptional at moving the puck up ice, and finding team-mates…a pass first player who sees the ice well and makes strong dishes to his teammates setting them up in good position…willing to pinch deep into the offensive zone in order to keep plays alive due to his quickness and smarts…he possesses a big shot, one that he can rip quickly and accurately but needs to use it more often…very active along the boards, and uses his body to close gaps and play tough along the wall…although blessed with good size he is not an overly physical player instead using smarts over brawn more often than not…thinks the game at a high level, and plays with an urgency and effectiveness that is critical to team’s success…does not have many holes in his game as he plays with intelligence and poise…has top four puck moving two-way NHL upside.

#24 C TY DELLANDREA
FLINT, OHL, 6-1, 180
A hard-working, gritty winger with a sniper shot…solid skating stride…balanced, quick and agile, and can take the puck wide, or battle through defenders…always keeps his feet moving…starts and stops well…works the boards hard winning battles…very good at controlling the puck while under pressure or fighting off checks…uses his speed and playmaking abilities to extend offensive possessions…willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, and mix it up in front of the net…competes at a very high level and brings a lot of sandpaper…can be extremely dangerous in the high slot with his ability to deflect pucks because of strong hand eye coordination and willingness to take the abuse around the net…excellent shot, with impressive accuracy…sees the net well, and finishes his shot attempts…offensive awareness lets him get into good position…aggressive and physical on the forecheck, but also does a good job at hustling back to his own zone…has all the tools to be a pro scoring winger at the NHL level.

#25 C ISAC LUNDESTROM
LULEA, SHL, 6-0, 180
A sound puck possession two-way center who flashes some offensive upside…an effortless skater who has high-end speed and explosiveness…gets in hard on the forecheck and uses speed to get to pucks…has the speed to win races with opponents…uses his soft hands and vision to be a dangerous playmaker setting up teammates quickly and accurately…poised with the puck and lets the play develop…plays heavier on the puck than his size would indicate…protects the puck well and also knows how to bury the puck…drives through defensive seems and will take the puck to the net…will shoot the puck from all sorts of angles and has a dangerous shot…solid defensively, comes back hard and has a good motor…good down-low and supports well on defense playing a fairly mature game…can make the head scratching play from time to time but has some good upside…has top six two-way NHL potential.

#26 LW GRIGORI DENISENKO
LOKO YAROSLAVL, MHL, 5-11, 160
A quick, creative, smart offensive winger…he skates hard, and fast, with an explosive ability to accelerate…has a smooth, almost effortless stride…good top speed and elusive with quick burst in all directions…is creative offensively, a natural goal scorer and is always looking to position himself for a perfect shooting spot…absolutely relentless in his pursuit of the puck…possesses a dangerous shot with velocity, a lightning quick release and does not hesitate to fire the puck when he has an open shooting lane…moves around the ice like a vet without the puck…drives hard to the net when a play is developing from the outside, to give his team-mates an open passing option, and is always thinking about puck retrieval, should his team turn it over, maintaining good zone position throughout his shift…possesses good vision and poise…although he tries to support his defense and play responsible, he kind of floats around in his own zone and needs to engage more actively…very mature, smart player for his age…has NHL upside as an offensive winger.

#27 LW/C PHILIPP KURASHEV
QUEBEC, QMJHL, 6-1, 185
A good all-around player who wants to get involved in the play any way he can…strong playmaking abilities with excellent creativity and vision…quickly finds open lanes to get through and when he has multiple options, he typically always tries to connect with a teammate rather than fire a shot on net himself…needs to shoot more as he has a dangerous release…his explosives first steps allowed him to reach his top speed quickly…gives his opposition fits as he is dangerous on zone entries with his quickness and creative puck skills…electrifying hands make him dangerous to score anywhere around the opponents net…can force pucks at times and create turnovers by trying to be too forkful with his passes…defensively, he can play a crucial role, follow his player tightly, and is engaged into puck battles deep in the zone…also provides an outlet for his defenseman to hit on the breakout…has to improve on his face-offs quite a bit if he wants to become an NHL centre…has top six upside at the NHL level.

#28 D GIOVANNI VALLATI
KITCHENER, OHL, 6-1, 185
An offensive minded puck rushing defenseman…not overly flashy but smooth and effective…possesses a fluid and mobile stride, has impressive lateral agility and first step quickness…a strong skater, more mobile than fast, with the ability to transitioning seamlessly…handles the puck with skill and quick hands…protects the puck along the wall or from fore-checking pressure…uses his feet and creativity to escape pressure and get himself out of trouble…moves the puck up ice quickly…makes quick passes to open teammates…has an intelligence and poise to adapt quickly to in-game situations…has a good seeing-eye shot from the point but could use it more often instead of deferring to pass…uses his strong stick exceptionally well to knock pucks loose, and give opposing forwards fits when attempting to enter the zone…not one to be overly physical but will use his body to separate the man from puck, block a shot or battle for loose pucks along the wall...reads and reacts to the play very well, and positions himself in the right spots to make a play…has some two-way upside at the NHL level.

#29 D K’ANDRE MILLER
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 195
A big, bruising, defensive-minded defenseman…solid mobility for his size and does not have any issues getting up and down the ice...can have some heavy boots when starting and stopping, defending against more agile attackers but handles them by being physical and using his length…communicates well with teammates and plays responsibly in his own zone…great awareness of his defensive zone and quick decision-making ability…does not hesitate to shoot the puck when he has a lane and his booming shot is his most dangerous offensive weapon…gets good velocity on one-timers…dishes powerful and accurate tape to tape passes…a confident puck carrier who does not shy away from carrying the puck up ice…at his best when he keeps it simple…a nasty customer around the net, and isn’t afraid to make opponents pay along the boards…physically intimidating…a solid defensive presence while still learning the position after switching to D from forward a couple season ago…has NHL middle-pairing, physical, defensive defenseman written all over him.

#30 D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 205
A monster sized blue liner who takes after his father, former NHLer Kjell Samuelsson…not a flashy offensive guy by any means but someone who just plays the game the right way with smarts and instincts…keeps his head up and always adapting to the play…has a decent stride that generates speed but could use more power and quicker feet…uses his vision and skilled puck handling to distribute the puck with crisp, accurate passes…powerful snap shot with a quick release and accuracy…physical and punishes his checks either along the wall of if they invade the crease…gets his frame into shooting lanes and blocks shots…great reach to defend, getting his stick on pucks, closing off lanes before the opposition can make an offensive play…committed to the University of Michigan where he will have plenty of time to rough off any edges to his game…a guy who could potentially do a bit of everything…has the size, strength and bloodlines to get scouts attention but also has two-way upside…has solid potential as a two-way top-four NHL defender.

#31 G JAKUB SKAREK
DUKLA JIHLAVA, CZECH2, 6-1, 165
A butterfly stopper who plays an active, fearless, game in the crease…looks bigger than his size indicates with the way he attacks the puck through solid angles play…aggressive, yet composed and knows when to pick his spots…very active playing the puck and sets up his team quickly on the breakout…makes things look easy but also willing to show his athletic sprawling, desperation saves when needed…battles hard in his crease and does not give up an inch when the play gets scrabbly around him…quickly gets down and closes off the bottom of the net…pushes hard off his edges to make outstanding post-to-post saves off opponents cross-ice passes…very flexible and uses every inch of his body to makes saves a la fellow countryman Dominik Hasek to keep his team in the game…reads the play and reacts to the play…has a quick set of hands and can close off net with either his glove or his blocker…finds pucks through traffic…has been impressive representing his country in international events…has the potential to become a NHL starter.

#32 C JESSE YLONEN
BLUES U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-0, 160
A slick skating, dynamic offensive minded forward…very smooth, fluid and explosive skater…he is agile, accelerates fast and has good top speed…is patience with the puck and waits for open lanes to set up scoring chances showing strong hockey IQ…balance and ability to angle his frame is a big asset in avoiding checks and maintaining possession…not afraid to go to the net and look for second chances but shies away from any kind of physical punishment…has stretches where he flies around on the exterior of the rink, avoiding checks, looking for holes to penetrate to the center of the ice before making a play…a very strong puck carrier and feels comfortable with the biscuit on his stick…possesses silk-smooth hands and can really dangle with the puck in and out of traffic…has great pass accuracy and distributes pucks in a timely and effective manner…he does need to bulk up and isn’t always effective in a physical style games but his speed and IQ is what sets him apart…has top six NHL offensive upside.

#33 D JONATHAN TYCHONICK
PENTICTON, BCHL, 5-11, 165
A two-way, intelligent defender…his skating checks off all facets you look for as he is fluid and mobile…generates good levels of speed and displays strong lateral quickness…impressive offensive instinct to his game and he sets up many potential chances thanks to his heads up reads that extend zone time and create opportunities…carries the puck with confidence…dishes timely and creative passes displaying impressive vision…has a shot that he places in position to generate rebound opportunities or a re-direct…knows when to pinch and when to hang back…a smart defender who actively guides the rushing opponent to the perimeter by cutting his man off towards the boards with his positioning and active stick…impressive spatial awareness; for instance knowingly staying out of the goaltenders sight line so that opponents can’t cut in and get a screened shot off…stands up physically despite a disadvantage in size, remaining confident in his ability to read plays and nullify chances with smart assessments…potentially an intelligent NHL two-way top four blue liner.

#34 C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI
ASSAT U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-2, 175
A strong two-way center that manages his own zone well and creates offensive chances…solid skater with good all-round mobility…not the fastest off the mark…will get faster as he adds leg strength…quick, skilled hands with the puck…a strong playmaker not only because he puts the puck on his teammates blade but more so because he possesses great puck poise and patience for the best option to present itself…he has a sneaky quick release for a guy with his size and puts his shots on target…protects the puck in traffic and in tight spaces…has a tendency to get a little too individualistic at times and needs to consistently use his teammates to maximise his effectiveness…works hard each and every shift…knows how to play without the puck…gets into shooting and passing lanes to close off opportunities…willing to play the body to separate the puck or battle along the wall…defensively responsible…has very strong instincts and gets to the proper areas to both capitalize on a scoring chance as well as to break up a play defensively…solid in the faceoff circle…still needs to fill out…has some solid upside as a big two-way center at the NHL level.

#35 LW JOEL FARABEE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-11, 160
A very high energy, big effort player with skill…he never stops moving his feet…has jersey flapping speed…has change of pace is impressive and allows him to stay elusive…possesses good puck control, and a willingness to take the puck to the net…has creative hands and can pull a skilled one-on-one move to gain space…moves the puck around the ice extremely well, connecting with good strong passes, and leads his line-mates effectively…not scares to shoot the puck…has a quick release but lacks velocity…keeps moving in the offensive zone, and that creates a lot of space and time for he and his team-mates and in doing so he generates a lot of offensive opportunities…he excels in all zones, providing his team with a tireless work ethic, strong defensive play, and some offensive flair…needs to has a low end of a strong third liner with speed who can PK or a high upside as a top six scorer who can contribute on special teams.

#36 D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV
RED DEER, WHL, 6-3, 190
A large and physical blue liner who plays a heavy game in his own zone…skating is solid; not the quickest player but moves well for his size…gets himself involved in the rush and is a guy who will carry the puck on the breakout if given the space…sees the available pass very quickly…simple with the puck, doesn't do anything overly creative…has a heavy shot…great at timing one timers and is able to get a bullet on net with a quick wrist shot as well…smooth edges and mobility to stay ahead of the rush and keep his man at a tight gap to hinder creativity…likes to use his body and step up on opponents…he makes good reads and doesn't get himself into too much trouble with his defensive decision-making…difficult to beat 1v1 and does a good job forcing players to the outside…hard to beat down-low and is able to take opposing players off the puck…loves the nasty side of the game and playing physical…a quality two-way defender who isn’t without flaw, but has top four NHL potential as someone who can make a solid pass but takes care of his end first and foremost.

#37 RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV
BARRIE, OHL, 6-1, 190
A skilled and flashy forward with good size…he moves well with a smooth stride that generates healthy speeds…has impressive elusiveness for a guy his size…agile and balanced on his feet…creates offensive chances by making moves to get to prime scoring areas before unleashing a dangerous shot…good snap on his shot and a release that can easily fool a goaltender…has some playmaking abilities as well with smooth passes and good vision but definitely leans towards the shot whenever the option is given…has a tendency to rest on his natural talent as he can coast when he should be covering his man on the backcheck or springing the zone instead of making sure the puck is in possession…not overly physical but does use his size to get to desired areas on the ice…will need to improve his two-way play, consistency and add some more strength…has electrifying offensive upside at the NHL level in a dynamic goal scorer role but also a fair amount of bust potential as well.

#38 D RASMUS SANDIN
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-11, 180
A talented two-way rearguard…a skilled puck handler who has the confidence to attempt long stretch passes up the middle of the ice or to skate it himself...his hands are an asset in corralling the puck off a hard pass or making a slick deke…although a decent skater with adequate speed, his edgework isn’t as crisp as it could be and it affects his moving laterally or changing directions…lowering his centre of gravity and using longer leg pushes in each stride could also increase his speed…he isn’t afraid to carry the puck through the neutral zone himself, and is shifty and creative with the puck on his stick…strong at fending off fore checkers in his own zone, as he can outwait physical contact and absorb a hit before skating the puck out of trouble or dishing it to a teammate…he has very good defensive awareness, particularly when switching checks or choosing when to pressure opponents below the goal line…not afraid to play the body or throw a check to close off an opponent along the boards…has some impressive potential as an NHL puck mover who can also be effective in his own zone.

#39 G JACOB INGHAM
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-3, 180
A big and athletic butterfly style puck stopper…moves well in his crease and has good telescoping ability…fills the net well with his naturl size…not overly quick going laterally but will improve with added leg strength…quickness in his legs is strong…his big pads seal off the ice well…competitive and does not like to give up a gaol even if he player it correctly and is beaten by the “perfect shotâ€â€¦flashes the glove from time to time…plays his angels correctly and squares up nicely…tracks the puck well although he can lose it through heavy traffic…corrals his rebounds well or directs them to the corners…has the reflexes and a knack for making the second and even third scramble save…took over the top role in Mississauga at the seasons midway point when the incumbent starter was having some trouble, an impressive feat for a sixteen year old……has the size, confidence and style that get NHL excited for his potential at the next level.

#40 LW DAVID LEVINE
SUDBURY, OHL, 5-10, 175
An intellectual center who is creative and elusive…has a decent skating stride that generates healthy speed…needs to pick up his foot speed as his acceleration is slower…hopefully this will correct with more leg strength and effort to improve his stride efficiency…has skilled hands and can deke and dangle his way around the offensive zone…a playmaker with impressive vision who puts pucks in places where his teammates can make the best play possible…despite his smaller size he shows some aggressive play, is hard to knock off the puck and can protect it while he drives to the crease with a defender on his back…has an accurate shot but it currently lacks pop…does force things at times and causes turnovers by being too cute but you expect that as creative prospects develop…needs more muscle on his frame…still learning the game in all zones but does show strong effort and has improved over the past year in that aspect…don’t bet against this determined kid making the NHL as a top six playmaker.

Thank you, for posting this. It is hard finding info, about upcoming drafts, I find.

 

[Oddbob]

Can anyone tell me, how highly rated Dahlin and Svechnikov are, as far as, are they, Generational, Franchise, or lower,etc.? What about the others just below them also?

 

[HisNoodliness]

Can anyone tell me, how highly rated Dahlin and Svechnikov are, as far as, are they, Generational, Franchise, or lower,etc.? What about the others just below them also?

I think they'll both be franchise players. Tossing around a term like generational is too tough at this stage IMO. I would not be surprised in Svechnikov leads the league in points more than once or Dahlin get more than one Norris. They could be insanely good.

 

[JK2K]

What did you mean by DRW Targets. Thanks.

 

[Wingsfan 4 life]

I'll get back to you in like April or May. Every draft has players who rise or fall during the year prior. Even if they stay the same, scouting and personal perceptions can change in the course of a year.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

It's looking like a nice draft for Sweden and Russia, not quite as good for Finland at least at the top. But obviously things can and will change during the next 12 months. Should be some good opportunities for some skilled Euros if they wish to go that route.

Advances are advances and they change several times before draft day.
Guys like Kotkaniemi,Ylönen and Kupari are all Finland's top prospects next years draft so at least one ( Kotkaniemi) could go 1st round.
But all those three are potential the first two rounds candidates.

Then there's Santeri Salmela, Peetro Seppälä, Niklas Nordgren, Arttu Nevasaari, Justus Annunen, Oskar Autio, Lenni Killinen, Samuel Salonen who can get drafted.
Also some undrafted guys example Emil Oksanen, Linus Nyman, Sami Moilanen for this years draft ( 2017) can go later rounds.

So Finland's 2018 NHL draft isn't necessarily so bad as advances looks now.

 

[PelagicJoe]

I will say this next draft already looks better than the weakness that was the 2017 draft.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Yes it does. Hoping for more picks...Holland.

 

[Henkka]

Can anyone tell me, how highly rated Dahlin and Svechnikov are, as far as, are they, Generational, Franchise, or lower,etc.? What about the others just below them also?

Dahlin could be player he haven't witnessed like ever. Just game-changer, highly-offensive defenceman which does things no one has done before. Connor McDavid of defence, if I could describe. Creative scoring chance machine. Kind of like Erik Karlsson, but just does everything faster and roams more in offensive zone. Dalhlin is kind of a "product" what Pittsburgh Penguins represents at the moment. High-tempo hockey.

I think Dahlin is as highly touted as Victor Hedman and Drew Doughty from 2009 and 2008 drafts.

***

Svechnikov has gotter compared to Malkin, but I think he is more of a goal-scorer than Malkin who profiles as a playmaker. Andrei reminds me somehow of Marian Hossa, with a little bit better scoring touch. And that's.... just crazy.

 

[Beltv]

Dahlin could be player he haven't witnessed like ever. Just game-changer, highly-offensive defenceman which does things no one has done before. Connor McDavid of defence, if I could describe. Creative scoring chance machine. Kind of like Erik Karlsson, but just does everything faster and roams more in offensive zone. Dalhlin is kind of a "product" what Pittsburgh Penguins represents at the moment. High-tempo hockey.

I think Dahlin is as highly touted as Victor Hedman and Drew Doughty from 2009 and 2008 drafts.

***

Svechnikov has gotter compared to Malkin, but I think he is more of a goal-scorer than Malkin who profiles as a playmaker. Andrei reminds me somehow of Marian Hossa, with a little bit better scoring touch. And that's.... just crazy.

How is Dahlin's play in the defensive zone?

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Here is from the FC draft guide on the 2018 talent. I have some of my DRW targets bolded.

PRELIMINARY TOP 100 RANKING FOR 2018 NHL DRAFT
1). D RASMUS DAHLIN, FROLUNDA (SHL), 6-1, 165
2). RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-2, 190
3). LW FILIP ZADINA, PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 190
4). C JOSEPH VELENO, SAINT JOHN (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
5). D JARED MCISAAC, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-2, 210
6). C BRADY TKACHUK, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-2, 200
7). D BODE WILDE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-2, 195
8). D RYAN MERKLEY, GUELPH (OHL), 5-11, 170
9). D QUINTON HUGHES, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 5-9, 170
10). LW ANDERSON MACDONALD, SHERBROOKE (QMJHL), 6-2, 205
11). C OLIVER WAHLSTROM, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-1, 200
12). D TY SMITH, SPOKANE (WHL), 5-11, 170
13). C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-1, 180
14). D ADAM BOQVIST, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 170
15). C JACK MCBAIN, TORONTO JR. CANADIENS (OJHL), 6-3, 185
16). C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV, IRBIS KAZAN (MHL), 5-11, 180
17). D JETT WOO, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 200
18). D EVAN BOUCHARD, LONDON (OHL), 6-2, 185
19). C RYAN MCLEOD, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-2, 190
20). LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV, KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA (MHL), 6-4, 200
21). C AKIL THOMAS, NIAGARA (OHL), 5-11, 165
22). C JAKE WISE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 185
23). D XAVIER BOUCHARD, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 6-2, 175
24). C TY DELLANDREA, FLINT (OHL), 6-1, 180
25). C ISAC LUNDESTROM, LULEA (SHL), 6-0, 180
26). LW GRIGORI DENISENKO, LOKO YAROSLAVL (MHL), 5-11, 155
27). LW PHILIPP KURASHEV, QUEBEC (QMJHL), 6-1, 185
28). D GIOVANNI VALLATI, KITCHENER (OHL), 6-1, 185
29). D KÂ’ANDRE MILLER, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 195
30). D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-3, 205
31). G JAKUB SKAREK, DUKLA JIHLAVA (CZECH 2), 6-1, 165
32). RW JESSE YLONEN, BLUES U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-0, 160
33). D JONATHAN TYCHONICK, PENTICTON (BCHL), 5-11, 165
34). C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI, ASSAT U20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 6-2, 175
35). LW JOEL FARABEE, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 155
36). D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV, RED DEER (WHL), 6-3, 190
37). RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV, BARRIE (OHL), 6-1, 190
38). D RASMUS SANDIN, BRYNAS J20 (SUPERELIT), 5-11, 180
39). G JACOB INGHAM, MISSISSAUGA (OHL), 6-3, 180
40). LW DAVID LEVINE, SUDBURY (OHL), 5-10, 170
41). C ALLAN MCSHANE, ERIE (OHL), 5-11, 185
42). D CALEN ADDISON, LETHBRIDGE (WHL), 5-9, 170
43). RW VITALI KRAVTSOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-2, 170
44). RW NANDO EGGENBERGER, HC DAVOS (NLA), 6-2, 185
45). C CARL WASSENIUS, AIK J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195
46). C MIKHAIL BITSADZE, DYNAMO BALASHIKHA (VHL), 5-10, 165
47). LW JACHYM KONDELIK, MUSKEGON (USHL), 6-6, 210
48). D JACOB SEMIK, DUBUQUE (USHL), 6-0, 160
49). RW NIKLAS NORDGREN, HIFK J20 (JR. A SM-LIIGA), 5-9, 170
50). D ZACK MALIK, VITKOVICE U20 (CZECH U20), 6-2, 165
51). C PATRICK GILES, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-4, 185
52). C LUKAS WERNBLOM, MODO (ALLSVENSKAN), 5-9, 160
53). C NATHAN DUNKLEY, KINGSTON (OHL), 5-11, 185
54). C LUKA BURZAN, MOOSE JAW (WHL), 6-0, 180
55). LW TYLER WEISS, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-10, 155
56). D NICOLAS BEAUDIN, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 5-10, 160
57). D DANILA GALENYUK, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-1, 190
58). C MILOS ROMAN, HC FRYDEK-MISTEK (CZECH2), 5-11, 195
59). RW RILEY SUTTER, EVERETT (WHL), 6-2, 200
60). G ALEXIS GRAVEL, HALIFAX (QMJHL), 6-3, 190
61). C JAXON NELSON, SIOUX FALLS (USHL), 6-3, 195
62). D NOAH DOBSON, ACADIE-BATHURST (QMJHL), 6-2, 165
63). RW GAVIN HAIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 180
64). D OWEN LALONDE, SUDBURY (OHL), 6-1, 175
65). LW YEGOR SOKOLOV, BELYE MEDVEDI CHELYABINSK (MHL), 6-3, 195
66). G OLIVIER RODRIGUE, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL), 6-1, 155
67). RW MARTIN KAUT, HC DYNAMO PARDUBICE (CZECH), 6-1, 175
68). C MATHIAS EMILIO PETTERSEN, OMAHA (USHL), 5-10, 165
69). C CONNOR ROBERTS, HAMILTON (OHL), 6-3, 215
70). LW GABRIEL FORTIER, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL), 5-9, 165
71). D LIBOR ZABRANSKY, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 6-2, 180
72). C FILIP HALLANDER, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 180
73). D MARTIN FEHERVARY, MALMO J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-0, 175
74). C TOMAS KOBLIZEK, CHOMUTOV U18 (CZECH U18), 6-2, 180
75). D DENNIS BUSBY, FLINT (OHL), 5-10, 180
76). C MATTHEW STRUTHERS, OWEN SOUND (OHL), 6-2, 190
77). D TY EMBERSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-0, 190
78). RW ETHAN MANDERVILLE, KANATA (CCHL), 6-3, 185
79). C BLAKE MCLAUGHLIN, GRAND RAPIDS HS (USHS), 5-11, 165
80). D SEAN COMRIE, SPRUCE GROVE (AJHL), 5-11, 165
81). D ADAM SAMUELSSON, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 6-5, 220
82). LW CARL JAKOBSSON, FARJESTAD J18 (J18 ELIT), 6-1, 165
83). RW JAKUB LAUKO, PIRATI CHOMUTOV (CZECH), 6-1, 175
84). C OSCAR BACK, FARJESTAD J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 190
85). D ADAM GINNING, LINKOPING (SHL), 6-3, 190
86). LW KIRILL MARCHENKO, MAMONTY YUGRY (MHL), 6-2, 185
87). C LIAM FOUDY, LONDON (OHL), 6-1, 170
88). D SANTERI SALMELA, KOOKOO (LIIGA), 6-1, 180
89). LW ADAM LISKA, BRATISLAVA U20 (SLOVAKIA U20), 6-0, 180
90). D AUSTIN CHORNEY, CHILLIWACK (BCHL), 6-1, 210
91). LW JOHN GRUDEN, USNTDP U17 (USHL), 5-11, 160
92). C COLE FONSTAD, PRINCE ALBERT (WHL), 5-10, 160
93). G KEVIN MANDOLESE, CAPE BRETON (QMJHL), 6-3, 170
94). D FILIP KRAL, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECH), 5-11, 165
95). C DAMIEN GIROUX, SAGINAW (OHL), 5-9, 170
96). C DAVID GUSTAFSSON, HV71 J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-1, 190
97). D NICO GROSS, EVZ ACADEMY (NLB), 6-0, 185
98). G JUSTUS ANNUNEN, KARPAT U18 (JR. B SM-SARJA), 6-3, 200
99). C DOMINIK BOKK, KOLNER EC U19 (DNL), 5-11, 160
100). C JACOB OLOFSSON, TIMRA J20 (SUPERELIT), 6-2, 195

TOP 40 PROFILES

#1 D RASMUS DAHLIN
FROLUNDA, SHL, 6-1, 165
A creative and shifty, puck rushing blue linerÂ…confident player with the puck on his stickÂ…loves to be the catalyst of playÂ…a deceptive, exceptionally smooth skater that can change direction in a hurry and push opponents back on their heelsÂ…quick first stride and solid powerÂ…edge work allows him to cut quickly creating time and spaceÂ…just as effective in passing the puck as he is rushing itÂ…stickhandling is smoothÂ…makes smart decisions offensively and joins the rush at the right timesÂ…willing to drive down deep into the offensive zone to sustain pressure or when he senses an opportunityÂ…has a hard and accurate slap shotÂ…puts wrist shots where they can be deflected or generate reboundsÂ…defensively he's solid with good reads and smart positioningÂ…uses his stick to force players wide and angling players offÂ…poised with high quality vision...has elite hockey IQ processing the play at a quick rateÂ…top pairing NHL franchise defining upside.

#2 RW ANDREI SVECHNIKOV
MUSKEGON, USHL, 6-2, 190
An electrifying, dangerous, offensive wingerÂ…confident shoot first mentalityÂ…explosive skater with plenty of horse power underneath the hoodÂ…smooth and powerful stride as a larger player, but has the quickness and foot speed of a much smaller playerÂ…solid offensive smarts and understanding of positionÂ…possesses edge of your seat puck skillsÂ…unpredictableÂ…can dangle around or power through opponents on his way to the netÂ…uses his size and wingspan well to protect the puckÂ…a scoring threat anywhere in the offensive zone due to his lightning quick release and hard, accurate shotÂ…can be a real beast along the wallÂ…strong in puck pursuit and on the forecheckÂ…willing to physically lean on opponents to gain positionÂ…goes to the gritty areas and thrives in trafficÂ…wants the puck on his stickÂ…brother of Detroit Red Wings 2015 first-round pick EvgeniÂ…NHL All-Star top line goal scorer potential.

#3 LW FILIP ZADINA
PARDUBICE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 6-1, 190
A dangerous goal-scorer in the makingÂ…is a strong and balanced skaterÂ…makes plays with his feet and handsÂ…able to dangle with the puck through defenders in the tightest areas of the ice and create chances out of nothingÂ…has an offensively creative mind and imaginationÂ…sets his team mates up with smart passesÂ…very good hockey-senseÂ…has an absolutely lethal shot, great releaseÂ…gets himself into excellent position to get his shots offÂ….likes to come down the wing with speed and cut to the middle for a chance as he gets the goalie moving and opening up holes...possesses a nifty backhand that he needs very little time and space to deposit top shelf when around the creaseÂ…slides into board battles undetected to find and scoop up pucksÂ…very sneaky player who always seems to end up in a scoring position with the puck...great poise with the puck and calm under pressureÂ…offensive dynamoÂ…going to be a top-end player at the NHL level.

#4 C JOSEPH VELENO
SAINT JOHN, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
An offensively smart, creative, centreÂ…explosive skaterÂ…quick feet, powerful stride and impressive agilityÂ…very athleticÂ…has solid Hockey IQ, impressive vision and playmaking abilityÂ…finds seams quickly and is able to create offense for both himself and his line matesÂ…can stickhandle the puck in a phone-booth and dance around the offensive zone with strong puck skills...great in tight and able to come out of scrums and corners with the puckÂ…a decent shot, accurate but needs to improved its velocityÂ…will always end up around the net for scoring opportunities and completes every shiftÂ…disruptive and effective in the offensive zone at net front causing havocÂ…a highly aggressive playerÂ….gets in hard on the forecheckÂ…not a physical guy but can land some extremely heavy hits and loves to use his size to his advantageÂ…defensively he competes and supports the defensemanÂ…will give his body to block shotsÂ…very skilled, but plays a complete game and does all the little things wellÂ…a potential top line two-way NHL centre.

#5 D JARED MCISAAC
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-2, 210
A smooth skating two-way blue linerÂ…focuses on keeping his end clean first and foremost before adding to the offensive playÂ…effortless skater with agility and balanceÂ…a long flawless strideÂ…cuts and transitions are fluidÂ…incredible hockey sense, thinks the game at a very high level, and makes great decisions with the puck on his stickÂ…keeps things simple, but can add a bit of flair where he sees an opportunityÂ…pin-point breakout passesÂ…really controls the puck well at high speeds and will skate it end-to-end when he gets room to rush the puck up iceÂ…possesses a real cannon of a shot from the pointÂ…plays opposing puck carriers aggressively and stands up attackers at the blue lineÂ…keeps a close gap pushing opponents to the outside and applies good pressure to force mistakesÂ…plays with a mean streak in the corners and around his own creaseÂ…works hardÂ…confident and matureÂ…a calming, safe, two-way defender that has top pairing NHL upside.

#6 C BRADY TKACHUK
USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 200
A gritty, power forward with offensive skillsÂ…the BU recruit is a powerful, balanced, skater who generates solid straight-line speed but lacks initial footspeed and overall fluidityÂ…tenacious physically and will lay the body when he has chances, although there is some youthfulness there as he gets drawn into making the big open ice hitÂ…relentless on the cycleÂ…effective below the faceoff circlesÂ…always competing and playing with healthy intensityÂ…likes to shoot the puck from anywhere and gets really good velocity behind his shotsÂ…has a nose around the net and hands in tight make him a constant threat to punch pucks into the netÂ…takes the body, blocks shots and gets into passing lanesÂ…thinks the game wellÂ…natural leader and future captain material who demonstrates that leadership quality through his work ethic and team first approachÂ…brother to Matthew, Calgary Flames forward, and son to Keith, one of the best goal scoring power forwards to ever play in the NHLÂ…has some solid power forward upside at the NHL level.

#7 D BODE WILDE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-2, 195
Big, two-way difference maker on the back-endÂ…a big kid that is also a real solid skater...transitions smoothlyÂ…passes the puck with authority and accuratelyÂ…has a booming slap shot from the point that he can unleash in a hurryÂ…a real catalyst on the power playÂ…shows nice leadership skills and calm puck handlingÂ…generates time and space by using body positioningÂ…uses his big frame to step into opponents and shut them down physicallyÂ…closed the gap, seals off along the boards and eliminates time and spaceÂ…not one to go looking for the big hit, but he is nasty in the corners and has more than enough strength to knock his opponents off the puckÂ…employs an active stick and excellent anticipation to disrupt the attackÂ…gets himself into lanes to close them offÂ…poised and matureÂ…a nice blend of size, mobility and strengthÂ…can do it all, and excels at both ends of the rinkÂ…has top pairing all-situational NHL upside.

#8 D RYAN MERKLEY
GUELPH, OHL, 5-11, 170
A high tempo, smart, offensive minded rearguardÂ…shifty, with elite skating abilityÂ…smooth transitions from forwards to backwardsÂ…possesses explosive acceleration, and makes plays at top end speedsÂ…isnÂ’t afraid to lead the rush, and hold onto the puck in hopes of creating a play in the offensive zoneÂ…vision up the ice is absolute eliteÂ…impressive when quarterbacking the power play and doing a good job of making consistently accurate breakout passesÂ…possesses a deceptive slap-pass to teammates in front of or around the netÂ…has a knack for getting the puck to the net through traffic with a quick release and accuracy to his shotÂ…his quick decision making and ability to read the play that really stand outÂ…a good job of judging when to cover the front of the net or to go pressure the puck-carrier behind the netÂ…good job of tracking offensive players across his zone and using his stick to close off their passing options and take away spaceÂ…will need to hit the weight room and improve own zone playÂ…very high ceiling but also some riskÂ…has high end NHL upside generating offense from the backend.

#9 D QUINTON HUGHES
USNTDP U18, USHL, 5-9, 170
A small but highly skilled puck moverÂ…a strong skater who possesses impressive four-way mobilityÂ…gets up to speed in just a couple short stridesÂ…transitions smoothly and keeps up with his opponents, even those who are shifty and the fleetest of footÂ…a constant puck rushing threat who makes impulse choices to join the rush when he sees open ice and has the quickness and soft mitts to remain in control of the puck at high speedsÂ…confidently jumps off the line and lets his skillset go to work when getting looks at the netÂ…shoots and passes with intentÂ…ability to retrieve pucks under pressure and kick start the breakout is impressiveÂ…mobile little defender is skilled and speedy but still has to learn to manage his own zone betterÂ…possesses an active stick and smarts that he uses to strip pucks from unsuspecting opponents and then like a flash he is gone on offenseÂ…regularly gets outmuscled when physically defendingÂ…has the potential to become a solid puck rusher and power play specialist at the NHL level.

#10 LW ANDERSON MACDONALD
SHERBROOKE, QMJHL, 6-2, 205
A prototypical power forward with some natural goal-scoring abilityÂ…moves around the ice fairly well for a guy his size, generating good levels of speed even if he lacks that explosive first step right nowÂ…battles along the boards, and makes plays with his big frameÂ…plays with a chip on his shoulder and physical edge, fighting for his space and standing up for teammatesÂ…not just brawn but also thinks the game at a high levelÂ…knows where to go to get scoring opportunities, and manoeuvres himself with power and determination into those prime scoring areasÂ…grinds it out against all comers, and will battle hard to retrieve pucksÂ…impressive ability to shield the puckÂ…has a strong shot, with a quick release, gets a lot of power without having to wind up too much, with a ton of accuracyÂ…has good on ice vision and has shown a willingness to play a two-way gameÂ…has the skill and size but will need consistent compete level to be a top end winger at the next level.

#11 C OLIVER WAHLSTROM
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-1, 200
A flashy puck wizard who creates offensive chancesÂ…can dance around the ice with the puck on a strong making filthy dekesÂ…moves around the ice with an effortless yet powerful stride that generates plenty of speedÂ…starts and stops on the puckÂ…impressive lateral quickness for his size make him elusiveÂ…strong instincts and vision on the iceÂ…makes some skilled passes that put his teammates in prime scoring opportunitiesÂ…patient with the puckÂ…loves to shoot it and has a rifle of a shot with tricky releaseÂ…strong on his feet and willing to play in greasy areasÂ…can be a load to handle when he gets movingÂ…protects the puck well using his reach and body positionÂ…physical game is there in flashesÂ…when he is engaged he is tenacious and viscous on the forecheck, and relentless in his puck pursuitÂ…has some impressive offensive upside at the next level but needs to show he wants it.

#12 D TY SMITH
SPOKANE, WHL, 5-11, 170
A poised puck moving blue liner who dictates playÂ…skating is efficient, smooth and generates impressive levels of speedÂ…transitions from defense to offense quicklyÂ…looks to join the rushÂ…excels with the puck on his stickÂ…moves it smartly and quicklyÂ…patient and skilled running the point in the offensive zone, and has the ability to thread passes all over the iceÂ…shot from the point has a quick release and not much of a windup, preferring to keep the puck low and on net rather than wind up for a slap shotÂ…overall awareness is impressiveÂ…able to protect the puck from opposing players along the wall before making a play to an open teammateÂ…harder to knock off the puck than his size would suggestÂ…can play an effective shutdown roleÂ…not a physical guy but will use his body to separate the puckÂ…his active stick is a presence in his own zone causing turnovers and closing lanesÂ…coaches dream who will do whatever is needed to help the teamÂ…an elite two-way defender with top pairing upside.

#13 C BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX
HALIFAX, QMJHL, 6-1, 180
A strong, well-rounded, two-way centreÂ…good but not great skater, he needs to improve his first stepÂ…high motor, always keeps his feet movingÂ…rarely caught out of positionÂ…provides a lot of grit, determination and skillÂ…excellent ability to maintain puck control in high traffic areasÂ…uses his strength, skilled hands and agility to be very difficult to defendÂ…a threat to drive the net but can also go stretches of playing on the perimeter too much and being content to just dish the puck from the outsideÂ…thinks the game at a high level, and can put on a show with his nifty stick work and creativityÂ…shoots the puck hard, and accuratelyÂ…owns a deceptively quick releaseÂ…strong awareness of when to support his defenders in loose puck battles and where to goÂ… adept at tracking down pucks out of scrumsÂ…provides good pressure on the back checkÂ…displays a strong effort in his own zone as well as his ability to create scoring chancesÂ…a solid prospect that could be the complete package with high upside at the NHL level.

#14 D ADAM BOKVIST
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-10, 170
A confident, puck-moving blue linerÂ…skates well with quick agile feet that generate solid levels of speedÂ…solid on his edgesÂ…very efficient skaterÂ…keeps the game simple, and cuts out the extra overly creative pass by finding open team-mates in good positionÂ…moves the puck quickly and beautifully around the ice with crisp clean passesÂ…can fire the puck accurately on the net with a quick releaseÂ…adept at sneaking into open lanes for an opportunityÂ…a steadying presence...plays the point well and has impressive ability to keep the puck in the offensive zoneÂ…very active stick at both ends, and uses it wisely to keep the pressure on the defence, helping hem them in their own zone or to disrupt the attack defending in his zoneÂ…very active feet, can contain his assignment with good agility and willing to get after the opposition with physical playÂ…positions his body to box out opponentsÂ…his size is the obvious drawbackÂ…provides his team with a steady presence on the blue line, and thinks the game at a high levelÂ…a potential top four two-way rearguard at the NHL level.

#15 C JACK MCBAIN
TORONTO JR. CANADIENS, OJHL, 6-3, 185
A sizable and strong two-way pivotÂ…he stands out for his vision on the ice, skill with the puck and strong work ethicÂ…skating stride is slightly upright and rigid, but he utilizes long strides to generate above average straight-line speedÂ…ability with the puck is far beyond his years; heÂ’s patient enough to wait for a play to develop before distributing the puck but is comfortable finding the soft spots in defensive coverage and using his quick release to create a scoring chance as wellÂ…his shot is very good; ability to receive a pass in stride and fire a shot with good power and accuracy quicklyÂ…he takes care of his responsibilities in the defensive zone and positions himself well to make a play on loose pucksÂ…he could stand to be more physical, but his ability to close his opponents off along the boards and use his long reach to block passing lanes is still an assetÂ…a very committed and tireless worker, he makes a consistent effort to be an impact player on the iceÂ…he could become a tremendous two-way player at the NHL level.

#16 C ALEXANDER KHOVANOV
IRBIS KAZAN, MHL, 5-11, 180
A crafty little playmaker that excels in many facets of the game all over the iceÂ…an explosive, agile skater who can control the puck with ease even at top speedÂ…good quickness, edge work and balance on his skatesÂ…very tough to knock off the puck for a smaller playerÂ…silky-smooth hands and shows above-average puck handlingÂ…shows great patience with the puck even when under pressureÂ…possesses a dangerous wrist shot, can fire the puck with good accuracy and quicknessÂ…a tape-to-tape passer leading guys to open ice with precision dishesÂ…carries the puck very calmly and is well aware of his line mates positions due to elite visionÂ…strong in the faceoff circleÂ…great hockey smartsÂ…plays a strong game away from the puck constantly moving to find open ice and making himself available for passesÂ…anticipates the flow of the game wellÂ…very patient, waiting for plays to develop around himÂ…not quite as advanced in his own end, but he does a good job applying pressure and covering his manÂ…a potential top six two-way centre at the next level.

#17 D JETT WOO
MOOSE JAW, WHL, 6-0, 200
A highly intelligent, mobile two-way defenderÂ…has great skating ability and an efficient strideÂ…proficiently in any directionÂ…has puck rushing ability because of his smarts, puck skills and elusive edge workÂ…has a pro demeanor with the puck on his stick, never seems limited to just one option on a playÂ…thinks at a high level and is a high end game managerÂ…skilled with the puck on his stick, and will not shy away from carry it himself if an open outlet pass doesnÂ’t present itselfÂ…constantly buzzing the offensive zone, using a series of agile moves and feigns with the puck to open up spaceÂ…an opportunistic shooter that relied heavily on the wrist shotÂ…has a quick whip on his shot and pass, showing zero hesitation once he gains a look at his targetÂ…has the skating to recover from calculated risks and get back quicklyÂ…always looking to foil an attack and will instinctively step up to do soÂ…forces oncoming attackers to the outside laneÂ…solid balance and strengthÂ…digs in his heels during physical confrontationsÂ…an exciting player to watchÂ…plays big minutesÂ…has top four two-way NHL upside.

#18 D EVAN BOUCHARD
LONDON, OHL, 6-2, 185
A smart, responsible defenderÂ…solid skater with a smooth, long strideÂ…solid agility on his feet for his sizeÂ…likes to rush the puck and get involved where he can offensivelyÂ…willing to jump in and pinch to maintain offensive zone pressure at the right timesÂ…makes accurate reads of the play, and has the ability to dish the puck off to teammates in prime scoring areasÂ…keeps his head up when carrying the puck tracking his optionsÂ…has a knack for finding open lanesÂ…has a hard, accurate shot, that he fires low to the ice, perfect for redirectsÂ…steady in his own end, anticipates the play developing around him well, and maintains good position between the puck and the netÂ…utilizes his reach and body position wellÂ…doesnÂ’t get caught flat footed often, and uses his solid positioning and awareness to effectively close off lanes, and limit scoring chancesÂ…makes the simple smart play to relieve pressure more often than notÂ…not overly flashy, but can get creative when the time arisesÂ…a potential top four two-way blue liner.

#19 C RYAN MCLEOD
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-2, 190
A big forward with offensive skills who also has a good two-way driveÂ…good skaterÂ…not the fastest north-south but quick, agile in short bursts and able to deceive opposition with quick changes of direction or paceÂ….has decent hand-skill one-on-one and is able to dig pucks out of corners and get around opposing players with possession in tight spacesÂ…protects it well with his body and likes to drive the net from the wing and does so by dropping his shoulder and leaning on defendersÂ…a really tough player to stop when he uses his size and strengthÂ…dangerous in tightÂ…illustrates good passing skill and the ability to set up line matesÂ…great visionÂ…has a decent shot that is most effective in and around the slotÂ…has an endless motor and is hard to outworkÂ…doesn't stop competing and he uses his strength to win space and possession of the puckÂ…effective defensively, and works hard at both endsÂ…knows what his responsibilities are and how to fulfill his duties in his own zoneÂ…has upside as a top six two-way NHL centre.

#20 LW VLADISLAV KOTKOV
KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA, MHL, 6-4, 200
A big, powerful, offensive minded wingerÂ…despite his immense size, he shows good mobility when carrying the puck and the ability to get up and down the iceÂ…quite mobile on his skates and has powerful strides which he uses to hit top speed quicklyÂ…hard to defend along the boards because of his size, strength, mobility and reachÂ…uses his big frame and protects the puck nicely in the corner before going directly to the net for a chance to bury the puckÂ…has a dangerous shot with strong velocity and impressive releaseÂ…sets up in proper areas to unleash his wicked one-timerÂ…has the ability to make plays with the puck on his stick, and shows his instincts by delivering very quick passesÂ…makes a nice cross-ice saucer pass right on his teammates tapeÂ…intriguing talent because his diversified skills have seen him play both point and net front presence on the power play effectivelyÂ…a threat every time heÂ’s on the iceÂ… plays with an active stick, loving to clog up lanes using his long reach, and good hand eye coordinationÂ…a goal scoring winger with top six NHL upside.

#21 C AKIL THOMAS
NIAGARA, OHL, 5-11, 165
A quick, game-breaking offensive talentÂ…skating ability is top-notch; the acceleration and top-end speed he can generate from his first few steps allows him to beat defenders around the edge and pounce on loose pucksÂ…his ability to carry and control the puck at top speed is impressiveÂ…his puck control also can lead to some eye-popping moves, and he dominates one-on-one situationsÂ…for a smaller player, heÂ’s also quite good at protecting the puck; his patience and vision with the puck is reminiscent of former IceDogs player Ho-Sang...intense and relentless around the netÂ…a magnet on the puckÂ…a very deadly shot with firecracker releaseÂ…not currently strong enough to be a presence in board battles, but heÂ’s not afraid to go after bigger players in the corner and initiate contact on the fore check either...he needs to be more dedicated in his own end, as he often springs the zone and hopes for a Hail Mary pass instead of coming down into his zone to support his defendersÂ…has the potential to become the complete offensive package at the next level.

#22 C JAKE WISE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-10, 185
A confident offensive centre with strong distribution skills, creativity and visionÂ…a very quick skater who possesses powerful acceleration and jersey flapping top speedÂ…changes direction with quick turns creating havoc for defendersÂ…lateral agility and balance is impressiveÂ…slick stickhandle who can simply dangle his way through traffic with exceptionally quick hands and feetÂ…elusive and hard to containÂ…accurate wrist shot with firecracker release makes him dangerous anywhere around the slotÂ…intelligent and thinks the game at a high levelÂ…reads the play and makes the right play with the puck and his positioningÂ…is 100% a pass first playerÂ…a hard worker who does not coastÂ…plays like he is six-foot-four which can be both a good and bad thing for a guy his sizeÂ…not a pure defensive guy by any stretch but is coachable, willing to learn and already does many of the little things rightÂ…a guy who we feel will at worse case be a top six two-way contributor at the NHL level.

#23 D XAVIER BOUCHARD
BAIE-COMEAU, QMJHL, 6-2, 175
A puck mover who has good size and mobilityÂ…an excellent fundamentally sound skater who shows impressive all-around agility and decent levels of speedÂ…exceptional at moving the puck up ice, and finding team-matesÂ…a pass first player who sees the ice well and makes strong dishes to his teammates setting them up in good positionÂ…willing to pinch deep into the offensive zone in order to keep plays alive due to his quickness and smartsÂ…he possesses a big shot, one that he can rip quickly and accurately but needs to use it more oftenÂ…very active along the boards, and uses his body to close gaps and play tough along the wallÂ…although blessed with good size he is not an overly physical player instead using smarts over brawn more often than notÂ…thinks the game at a high level, and plays with an urgency and effectiveness that is critical to teamÂ’s successÂ…does not have many holes in his game as he plays with intelligence and poiseÂ…has top four puck moving two-way NHL upside.

#24 C TY DELLANDREA
FLINT, OHL, 6-1, 180
A hard-working, gritty winger with a sniper shotÂ…solid skating strideÂ…balanced, quick and agile, and can take the puck wide, or battle through defendersÂ…always keeps his feet movingÂ…starts and stops wellÂ…works the boards hard winning battlesÂ…very good at controlling the puck while under pressure or fighting off checksÂ…uses his speed and playmaking abilities to extend offensive possessionsÂ…willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, and mix it up in front of the netÂ…competes at a very high level and brings a lot of sandpaperÂ…can be extremely dangerous in the high slot with his ability to deflect pucks because of strong hand eye coordination and willingness to take the abuse around the netÂ…excellent shot, with impressive accuracyÂ…sees the net well, and finishes his shot attemptsÂ…offensive awareness lets him get into good positionÂ…aggressive and physical on the forecheck, but also does a good job at hustling back to his own zoneÂ…has all the tools to be a pro scoring winger at the NHL level.

#25 C ISAC LUNDESTROM
LULEA, SHL, 6-0, 180
A sound puck possession two-way center who flashes some offensive upsideÂ…an effortless skater who has high-end speed and explosivenessÂ…gets in hard on the forecheck and uses speed to get to pucksÂ…has the speed to win races with opponentsÂ…uses his soft hands and vision to be a dangerous playmaker setting up teammates quickly and accuratelyÂ…poised with the puck and lets the play developÂ…plays heavier on the puck than his size would indicateÂ…protects the puck well and also knows how to bury the puckÂ…drives through defensive seems and will take the puck to the netÂ…will shoot the puck from all sorts of angles and has a dangerous shotÂ…solid defensively, comes back hard and has a good motorÂ…good down-low and supports well on defense playing a fairly mature gameÂ…can make the head scratching play from time to time but has some good upsideÂ…has top six two-way NHL potential.

#26 LW GRIGORI DENISENKO
LOKO YAROSLAVL, MHL, 5-11, 160
A quick, creative, smart offensive wingerÂ…he skates hard, and fast, with an explosive ability to accelerateÂ…has a smooth, almost effortless strideÂ…good top speed and elusive with quick burst in all directionsÂ…is creative offensively, a natural goal scorer and is always looking to position himself for a perfect shooting spotÂ…absolutely relentless in his pursuit of the puckÂ…possesses a dangerous shot with velocity, a lightning quick release and does not hesitate to fire the puck when he has an open shooting laneÂ…moves around the ice like a vet without the puckÂ…drives hard to the net when a play is developing from the outside, to give his team-mates an open passing option, and is always thinking about puck retrieval, should his team turn it over, maintaining good zone position throughout his shiftÂ…possesses good vision and poiseÂ…although he tries to support his defense and play responsible, he kind of floats around in his own zone and needs to engage more activelyÂ…very mature, smart player for his ageÂ…has NHL upside as an offensive winger.

#27 LW/C PHILIPP KURASHEV
QUEBEC, QMJHL, 6-1, 185
A good all-around player who wants to get involved in the play any way he canÂ…strong playmaking abilities with excellent creativity and visionÂ…quickly finds open lanes to get through and when he has multiple options, he typically always tries to connect with a teammate rather than fire a shot on net himselfÂ…needs to shoot more as he has a dangerous releaseÂ…his explosives first steps allowed him to reach his top speed quicklyÂ…gives his opposition fits as he is dangerous on zone entries with his quickness and creative puck skillsÂ…electrifying hands make him dangerous to score anywhere around the opponents netÂ…can force pucks at times and create turnovers by trying to be too forkful with his passesÂ…defensively, he can play a crucial role, follow his player tightly, and is engaged into puck battles deep in the zoneÂ…also provides an outlet for his defenseman to hit on the breakoutÂ…has to improve on his face-offs quite a bit if he wants to become an NHL centreÂ…has top six upside at the NHL level.

#28 D GIOVANNI VALLATI
KITCHENER, OHL, 6-1, 185
An offensive minded puck rushing defensemanÂ…not overly flashy but smooth and effectiveÂ…possesses a fluid and mobile stride, has impressive lateral agility and first step quicknessÂ…a strong skater, more mobile than fast, with the ability to transitioning seamlesslyÂ…handles the puck with skill and quick handsÂ…protects the puck along the wall or from fore-checking pressureÂ…uses his feet and creativity to escape pressure and get himself out of troubleÂ…moves the puck up ice quicklyÂ…makes quick passes to open teammatesÂ…has an intelligence and poise to adapt quickly to in-game situationsÂ…has a good seeing-eye shot from the point but could use it more often instead of deferring to passÂ…uses his strong stick exceptionally well to knock pucks loose, and give opposing forwards fits when attempting to enter the zoneÂ…not one to be overly physical but will use his body to separate the man from puck, block a shot or battle for loose pucks along the wall...reads and reacts to the play very well, and positions himself in the right spots to make a playÂ…has some two-way upside at the NHL level.

#29 D KÂ’ANDRE MILLER
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 195
A big, bruising, defensive-minded defensemanÂ…solid mobility for his size and does not have any issues getting up and down the ice...can have some heavy boots when starting and stopping, defending against more agile attackers but handles them by being physical and using his lengthÂ…communicates well with teammates and plays responsibly in his own zoneÂ…great awareness of his defensive zone and quick decision-making abilityÂ…does not hesitate to shoot the puck when he has a lane and his booming shot is his most dangerous offensive weaponÂ…gets good velocity on one-timersÂ…dishes powerful and accurate tape to tape passesÂ…a confident puck carrier who does not shy away from carrying the puck up iceÂ…at his best when he keeps it simpleÂ…a nasty customer around the net, and isnÂ’t afraid to make opponents pay along the boardsÂ…physically intimidatingÂ…a solid defensive presence while still learning the position after switching to D from forward a couple season agoÂ…has NHL middle-pairing, physical, defensive defenseman written all over him.

#30 D MATTIAS SAMUELSSON
USNTDP U17, USHL, 6-3, 205
A monster sized blue liner who takes after his father, former NHLer Kjell SamuelssonÂ…not a flashy offensive guy by any means but someone who just plays the game the right way with smarts and instinctsÂ…keeps his head up and always adapting to the playÂ…has a decent stride that generates speed but could use more power and quicker feetÂ…uses his vision and skilled puck handling to distribute the puck with crisp, accurate passesÂ…powerful snap shot with a quick release and accuracyÂ…physical and punishes his checks either along the wall of if they invade the creaseÂ…gets his frame into shooting lanes and blocks shotsÂ…great reach to defend, getting his stick on pucks, closing off lanes before the opposition can make an offensive playÂ…committed to the University of Michigan where he will have plenty of time to rough off any edges to his gameÂ…a guy who could potentially do a bit of everythingÂ…has the size, strength and bloodlines to get scouts attention but also has two-way upsideÂ…has solid potential as a two-way top-four NHL defender.

#31 G JAKUB SKAREK
DUKLA JIHLAVA, CZECH2, 6-1, 165
A butterfly stopper who plays an active, fearless, game in the creaseÂ…looks bigger than his size indicates with the way he attacks the puck through solid angles playÂ…aggressive, yet composed and knows when to pick his spotsÂ…very active playing the puck and sets up his team quickly on the breakoutÂ…makes things look easy but also willing to show his athletic sprawling, desperation saves when neededÂ…battles hard in his crease and does not give up an inch when the play gets scrabbly around himÂ…quickly gets down and closes off the bottom of the netÂ…pushes hard off his edges to make outstanding post-to-post saves off opponents cross-ice passesÂ…very flexible and uses every inch of his body to makes saves a la fellow countryman Dominik Hasek to keep his team in the gameÂ…reads the play and reacts to the playÂ…has a quick set of hands and can close off net with either his glove or his blockerÂ…finds pucks through trafficÂ…has been impressive representing his country in international eventsÂ…has the potential to become a NHL starter.

#32 C JESSE YLONEN
BLUES U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-0, 160
A slick skating, dynamic offensive minded forwardÂ…very smooth, fluid and explosive skaterÂ…he is agile, accelerates fast and has good top speedÂ…is patience with the puck and waits for open lanes to set up scoring chances showing strong hockey IQÂ…balance and ability to angle his frame is a big asset in avoiding checks and maintaining possessionÂ…not afraid to go to the net and look for second chances but shies away from any kind of physical punishmentÂ…has stretches where he flies around on the exterior of the rink, avoiding checks, looking for holes to penetrate to the center of the ice before making a playÂ…a very strong puck carrier and feels comfortable with the biscuit on his stickÂ…possesses silk-smooth hands and can really dangle with the puck in and out of trafficÂ…has great pass accuracy and distributes pucks in a timely and effective mannerÂ…he does need to bulk up and isnÂ’t always effective in a physical style games but his speed and IQ is what sets him apartÂ…has top six NHL offensive upside.

#33 D JONATHAN TYCHONICK
PENTICTON, BCHL, 5-11, 165
A two-way, intelligent defenderÂ…his skating checks off all facets you look for as he is fluid and mobileÂ…generates good levels of speed and displays strong lateral quicknessÂ…impressive offensive instinct to his game and he sets up many potential chances thanks to his heads up reads that extend zone time and create opportunitiesÂ…carries the puck with confidenceÂ…dishes timely and creative passes displaying impressive visionÂ…has a shot that he places in position to generate rebound opportunities or a re-directÂ…knows when to pinch and when to hang backÂ…a smart defender who actively guides the rushing opponent to the perimeter by cutting his man off towards the boards with his positioning and active stickÂ…impressive spatial awareness; for instance knowingly staying out of the goaltenders sight line so that opponents canÂ’t cut in and get a screened shot offÂ…stands up physically despite a disadvantage in size, remaining confident in his ability to read plays and nullify chances with smart assessmentsÂ…potentially an intelligent NHL two-way top four blue liner.

#34 C JESPERI KOTKANIEMI
ASSAT U20, JR. A SM-LIIGA, 6-2, 175
A strong two-way center that manages his own zone well and creates offensive chancesÂ…solid skater with good all-round mobilityÂ…not the fastest off the markÂ…will get faster as he adds leg strengthÂ…quick, skilled hands with the puckÂ…a strong playmaker not only because he puts the puck on his teammates blade but more so because he possesses great puck poise and patience for the best option to present itselfÂ…he has a sneaky quick release for a guy with his size and puts his shots on targetÂ…protects the puck in traffic and in tight spacesÂ…has a tendency to get a little too individualistic at times and needs to consistently use his teammates to maximise his effectivenessÂ…works hard each and every shiftÂ…knows how to play without the puckÂ…gets into shooting and passing lanes to close off opportunitiesÂ…willing to play the body to separate the puck or battle along the wallÂ…defensively responsibleÂ…has very strong instincts and gets to the proper areas to both capitalize on a scoring chance as well as to break up a play defensivelyÂ…solid in the faceoff circleÂ…still needs to fill outÂ…has some solid upside as a big two-way center at the NHL level.

#35 LW JOEL FARABEE
USNTDP U17, USHL, 5-11, 160
A very high energy, big effort player with skillÂ…he never stops moving his feetÂ…has jersey flapping speedÂ…has change of pace is impressive and allows him to stay elusiveÂ…possesses good puck control, and a willingness to take the puck to the netÂ…has creative hands and can pull a skilled one-on-one move to gain spaceÂ…moves the puck around the ice extremely well, connecting with good strong passes, and leads his line-mates effectivelyÂ…not scares to shoot the puckÂ…has a quick release but lacks velocityÂ…keeps moving in the offensive zone, and that creates a lot of space and time for he and his team-mates and in doing so he generates a lot of offensive opportunitiesÂ…he excels in all zones, providing his team with a tireless work ethic, strong defensive play, and some offensive flairÂ…needs to has a low end of a strong third liner with speed who can PK or a high upside as a top six scorer who can contribute on special teams.

#36 D ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV
RED DEER, WHL, 6-3, 190
A large and physical blue liner who plays a heavy game in his own zoneÂ…skating is solid; not the quickest player but moves well for his sizeÂ…gets himself involved in the rush and is a guy who will carry the puck on the breakout if given the spaceÂ…sees the available pass very quicklyÂ…simple with the puck, doesn't do anything overly creativeÂ…has a heavy shotÂ…great at timing one timers and is able to get a bullet on net with a quick wrist shot as wellÂ…smooth edges and mobility to stay ahead of the rush and keep his man at a tight gap to hinder creativityÂ…likes to use his body and step up on opponentsÂ…he makes good reads and doesn't get himself into too much trouble with his defensive decision-makingÂ…difficult to beat 1v1 and does a good job forcing players to the outsideÂ…hard to beat down-low and is able to take opposing players off the puckÂ…loves the nasty side of the game and playing physicalÂ…a quality two-way defender who isnÂ’t without flaw, but has top four NHL potential as someone who can make a solid pass but takes care of his end first and foremost.

#37 RW KIRILL NIZHNIKOV
BARRIE, OHL, 6-1, 190
A skilled and flashy forward with good sizeÂ…he moves well with a smooth stride that generates healthy speedsÂ…has impressive elusiveness for a guy his sizeÂ…agile and balanced on his feetÂ…creates offensive chances by making moves to get to prime scoring areas before unleashing a dangerous shotÂ…good snap on his shot and a release that can easily fool a goaltenderÂ…has some playmaking abilities as well with smooth passes and good vision but definitely leans towards the shot whenever the option is givenÂ…has a tendency to rest on his natural talent as he can coast when he should be covering his man on the backcheck or springing the zone instead of making sure the puck is in possessionÂ…not overly physical but does use his size to get to desired areas on the iceÂ…will need to improve his two-way play, consistency and add some more strengthÂ…has electrifying offensive upside at the NHL level in a dynamic goal scorer role but alo a fair amount of bust potential as well.

#38 D RASMUS SANDIN
BRYNAS J20, SUPERELIT, 5-11, 180
A talented two-way rearguardÂ…a skilled puck handler who has the confidence to attempt long stretch passes up the middle of the ice or to skate it himself...his hands are an asset in corralling the puck off a hard pass or making a slick dekeÂ…although a decent skater with adequate speed, his edgework isnÂ’t as crisp as it could be and it affects his moving laterally or changing directionsÂ…lowering his centre of gravity and using longer leg pushes in each stride could also increase his speedÂ…he isnÂ’t afraid to carry the puck through the neutral zone himself, and is shifty and creative with the puck on his stickÂ…strong at fending off fore checkers in his own zone, as he can outwait physical contact and absorb a hit before skating the puck out of trouble or dishing it to a teammateÂ…he has very good defensive awareness, particularly when switching checks or choosing when to pressure opponents below the goal lineÂ…not afraid to play the body or throw a check to close off an opponent along the boardsÂ…has some impressive potential as an NHL puck mover who can also be effective in his own zone.

#39 G JACOB INGHAM
MISSISSAUGA, OHL, 6-3, 180
A big and athletic butterfly style puck stopperÂ…moves well in his crease and has good telescoping abilityÂ…fills the net well with his natural sizeÂ…not overly quick going laterally but will improve with added leg strengthÂ…quickness in his legs is strongÂ…his big pads seal off the ice wellÂ…competitive and does not like to give up a gaol even if he player it correctly and is beaten by the “perfect shotÂâ€Ã‚…flashes the glove from time to timeÂ…plays his angels correctly and squares up nicelyÂ…tracks the puck well although he can lose it through heavy trafficÂ…corrals his rebounds well or directs them to the cornersÂ…has the reflexes and a knack for making the second and even third scramble saveÂ…took over the top role in Mississauga at the seasons midway point when the incumbent starter was having some trouble, an impressive feat for a sixteen year oldÂ…Â…has the size, confidence and style that get NHL excited for his potential at the next level.

#40 LW DAVID LEVINE
SUDBURY, OHL, 5-10, 175
An intellectual center who is creative and elusiveÂ…has a decent skating stride that generates healthy speedÂ…needs to pick up his foot speed as his acceleration is slowerÂ…hopefully this will correct with more leg strength and effort to improve his stride efficiencyÂ…has skilled hands and can deke and dangle his way around the offensive zoneÂ…a playmaker with impressive vision who puts pucks in places where his teammates can make the best play possibleÂ…despite his smaller size he shows some aggressive play, is hard to knock off the puck and can protect it while he drives to the crease with a defender on his backÂ…has an accurate shot but it currently lacks popÂ…does force things at times and causes turnovers by being too cute but you expect that as creative prospects developÂ…needs more muscle on his frameÂ…still learning the game in all zones but does show strong effort and has improved over the past year in that aspectÂ…donÂ’t bet against this determined kid making the NHL as a top six playmaker.

What's wrong with Veleno?

 

[Henkka]

Could we have some limit for those quotes...?

 

[Reddwit]

Could we have some limit for those quotes...?

Sweet Jesus, please! This is a nightmare on mobile.

 

[Marky9er]

What's wrong with Veleno?

I watched him a little in the Memorial Cup. Just as I was thinking he didn't stand out he made an outstanding pass/really nice play. Definitely one to watch in the next 50 weeks. He would probably be one of the best realistic for the non lottery win situation. McIsaac has a very sunny write up in that article, he's one to watch for me. Merkley as well.

 

[Frk It]

I watched him a little in the Memorial Cup. Just as I was thinking he didn't stand out he made an outstanding pass/really nice play. Definitely one to watch in the next 50 weeks. He would probably be one of the best realistic for the non lottery win situation. McIsaac has a very sunny write up in that article, he's one to watch for me. Merkley as well.

Wahlstrom looked great to me at the WJC for a -1 guy.

That FC write-up of him makes him sound like a surefire HOF'er, lol.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Could we have some limit for those quotes...?

I just wanna know how it didn't take up a full page by itself

 

[Ezekial]

Could we have some limit for those quotes...?

Yes! Please edit those quotes guys!

 

[Marky9er]

Wahlstrom looked great to me at the WJC for a -1 guy.

That FC write-up of him makes him sound like a surefire HOF'er, lol.

That's a funny one. A filthy dancing, puck wizard with an effortless yet powerful stride. Will go to the greasy areas, BUT!....he "needs to show he wants it". Tragic to think he's indifferent to success. These definitely need a grain of salt. He's another interesting prospect for sure, looking forward to the next draft.

 

[Orthodox Caveman]

Give me Dahlin or Give me Death

 

[Flowah]

Dahlin could be player he haven't witnessed like ever. Just game-changer, highly-offensive defenceman which does things no one has done before. Connor McDavid of defence, if I could describe. Creative scoring chance machine. Kind of like Erik Karlsson, but just does everything faster and roams more in offensive zone. Dalhlin is kind of a "product" what Pittsburgh Penguins represents at the moment. High-tempo hockey.

I think Dahlin is as highly touted as Victor Hedman and Drew Doughty from 2009 and 2008 drafts.

***

Svechnikov has gotter compared to Malkin, but I think he is more of a goal-scorer than Malkin who profiles as a playmaker. Andrei reminds me somehow of Marian Hossa, with a little bit better scoring touch. And that's.... just crazy.

Mouthwatering.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Or just #fallingfordahlin

This team really chose the wrong year to **** the bed

What? We drafted 9th... in a year where we **** the bed.

If the 2018 draft was this year... we wouldn't be in line to get any of the top guys.

We'd be bemoaning the fact that Dahlin, little Svech, Merkley, etc. all went to other teams and we had to take a second tier guy.