Can't not look at the mainstream sources any longer. I'm a draft junkie so here goes. This is my rankings. I have refrained from looking at any rankings since last year's draft, so these are my rankings, and not influenced whatsoever by mainstream media sources.
2017 NHL Draft Top 60
1. C – Nico Hischier – Halifax Mooseheads Absolutely love the way this kid plays. Does it all. Plays a mature two-way game and is a dynamic offensive catalyst.
2. D – Timothy Liljegren – Rogle BK J20 Missed start of season, but his offensive game picked right back up where it left off. Fluid skater and ultra-skilled puck mover.
3. C – Nolan Patrick – Brandon Wheat Kings Two-way pivot has been hampered by injuries, but has the skill and size NHL teams covet.
4. RW – Owen Tippett – Mississauga Steelheads Fantastic skating winger knows how to put the puck in the net.
5. C – Gabriel Vilardi – Windsor Spitfires Two-way forward will have steep hill to climb following appendectomy, but is a solid all-around contributor.
6. RW – Klim Kostin – Dynamo Moskva Powerful skater and skilled winger knows what to do in the offensive end.
7. LW – Eeli Tolvanen – Sioux City Musketeers Shooting winger can put the puck in from anywhere in the offensive zone and has a strong work ethic.
8. C – Casey Mittelstadt – Green Bay Gamblers Quick and agile center has fantastic hands and creates offense for himself and teammates.
9. D – Nicolas Hague – Mississauga Steelheads Towering defender has a bomb from the point and makes great reads in his own zone.
10. D – Juuso Valimaki –Tri-City Americans Blossoming two-way defender is a smooth skater and has his arrow pointed in the right direction.
11. C – Michael Rasmussen – Tri-City Americans Massive power forward earns his living on the doorstep, but has underrated vision.
12. LW – Maxime Comtois – Victoriville Tigres Two-way winger has been snake bitten at times, but teams covet players with his skillset.
13. LW – Kristian Vesalainen – Frolunda HC Big winger plays a powerful game and is as good a playmaker as he is a sniper.
14. C – Elias Pettersson – Timra IK Shifty center could really explode with added power to his game.
15. LW – Nikita Popugayev – Moose Jaw Warriors Massive kid is a strong skater and knows what to do with the puck on his stick.
16. C – Martin Necas – HC Kometa Brno Explosive skater is a skilled playmaking center.
17. C – Ryan Poehling – St. Cloud State University Two-way pivot plays a smart and determined game.
18. RW – Ivan Lodnia – Erie Otters Super skilled winger is quick and agile and a treat to watch.
19. D – Miro Heiskanen – HIFK Smooth skating defender is a skilled puckrusher and underrated defender.
20. RW – Mackenzie Entwistle – Hamilton Bulldogs Fast and powerful winger plays a hard working, relentless game.
21. D – Callan Foote – Kelowna Rockets Big and strong defender plays a smart defensive game and offensive game is developing.
22. C – Shane Bowers – Waterloo Blackhawks Shifty pivot is solid at both ends of the ice.
23. C – Scott Reedy – US NTDP University of Minnesota commit is a skilled physical prescence on the ice.
24. LW – Lias Andersson – HV 71 Solid all-around winger is smart and versatile.
25. C – Cody Glass – Portland Winterhawks Smart playmaking center doesn’t shy away from the physical game.
26. C – Joel Teasdale – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Tenacious forechecker is versatile and difficult to play against.
27. D – Artem Minulin – Swift Current Broncos Big and strong defender has shown offensive upside.
28. D – Urho Vaakanainen – JYP Solid all-around defender is calm, poised, and intelligent.
29. C – Josh Norris – US NTDP Playmaking center has fantastic hands and adds a physical element.
30. C – Nicholas Suzuki – Owen Sound Attack Two-way forward seems to be flying under the radar, but his ferocious play is opening eyes.
31. LW – Matthew Strome – Hamilton Bulldogs Big and lumbering power forward is a solid producer.
32. C – Alexander Chmelevski – Ottawa 67’s Has some special offensive skill, but lacks consistency.
33. C – Kailer Yamamoto – Spokane Chiefs Offensive catalyst will always have his doubters due to his stature.
34. C – Greg Meireles – Kitchener Rangers Energetic two-way forward is a skilled skater and hard-working battler.
35. D – Dmitri Samorukov – Guelph Storm Offensive defenseman was solid at Ivan Hlinka but has underwhelmed ever since.
36. C – Jesper Boqvist – Brynas IF J20 Slick skating center is a smart playmaker.
37. C – Adam Ruzicka – Sarnia Sting Big center has struggled on North American ice, but there is no denying the talent.
38. LW – Rickard Hugg – Leksands IF J20 Undersized winger is a strong two-way performer.
39. LW – Ostap Safin – HC Litomerice Big winger shows good two-way awareness and has a great shot.
40. D – Cale Fleury – Kootenay Ice Minute munching defender is a reliable and adept performer at both ends.
41. D – Max Gildon – US NTDP Very good defensive defenseman is a solid skater but struggles under pressure.
42. D – Erik Brannstrom – HV 71 J20 A treat to watch with the puck on his stick and uses superb mobility to cover up size deficiency.
43. C – Marcus Davidsson – Djurgardens IF Elusive skater is an offensive catalyst with good awareness.
44. LW – Ivan Chekhovich – Baie-Comeau Drakkar Skilled winger has solid hands and excellent vision.
45. RW – Lukas Elvenes – Rogle BK J20 Fast and agile winger boasts a fantastic shot.
46. C – Jake Leschyshyn – Regina Pats Skilled forward has been a consistent producer on Western powerhouse.
47. D – Jonathan Smart – Kelowna Rockets Smart and smooth skating defender is the next in line from the Kelowna Rocket defense factory.
48. D – David Farrance – US NTDP Offensive defender carries the play and is underrated in his own zone.
49. D – Mathieu Charlebois – Halifax Mooseheads Sturdy defender is smart and solid but needs to improve footwork.
50. LW – Pavel Koltygin – Drummondville Voltigeurs Aggressive attacking winger is a powerful skater.
51. C – Joni Ikonen – Frolunda HC J20 Waterbug-like on the ice buzzing around the puck and creating offense.
52. LW – Ivan Kozlov – Val d’Or Foreurs Strong and physical winger contributes consistently.
53. C – Antoine Morand – Acadie-Bathurst Titan Incredible work-ethic and skating ability define this diminutive forward.
54. D – Luke Martin – University of Michigan Rock solid defensive defenseman shows maturity beyond his years.
55. D – Jacob Paquette – Kingston Frontenacs Shutdown defender shows great mobility and solid defensive positioning.
56. LW – Denis Smirnov – Penn State University Overage winger has exploded onto the scene in the NCAA.
57. C – Austen Keating – Ottawa 67’s Doesn’t wow you with elite speed or skating ability but has that elite hockey sense that makes it seem like the puck is following him around the ice.
58. D – Markus Phillips – Owen Sound Attack Steady blueliner with exceptional leadership skills needs to find a way to chip in offensively with consistency.
59. LW – Samuel Bucek – Shawinigan Cataractes Makes absolutely breathtaking plays with immense physical gifts, but that gets overshadowed by lackluster effort without the puck.
60. RW – Kirill Slepets – Loko Yaroslavl Shooting winger has had a slow start to the season but has the hands and shot to turn season around.
It’s too early to try and figure out where the goalies fit into the rankings, but here are my top ten at this point. Really like this draft class of goaltenders, and think there could be a few late risers like Cayden Primeau, Luke Richardson, Benjamin Beck and Tomas Vomacka.
1. Jake Oettinger – Boston University
2. Michael DiPietro – Windsor Spitfires
3. Ian Scott – Prince Albert Raiders
4. Stuart Skinner – Lethbridge Hurricanes
5. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – HPK U20
6. Olle Eriksson Ek – Farjestad BK J20
7. Keith Petruzzelli – Muskegon Lumberjacks
8. Arvid Soderblum – Frolunda HC J20
9. Dayton Rasmussen – Tri-City Storm
10. Kaden Fulcher – Hamilton Bulldogs
