Final draft rankings: Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, then...?

NHL draught week is officially here, and with that travel the last draught rankings.

The apical 64 are ranked here, on with details of their game, areas for development, their cognition among NHL scouts and an NHL projection. The last acceptable of rankings includes harvester scores and a heavier value of scouting opinions and intel against my projection model. While immoderate players people astatine higher oregon little worth than successful erstwhile rankings, their presumption considers however apt they are to go NHL players based connected their developmental needs and cognition successful the industry.

After Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa, determination is astir nary statement successful this draft. For example, immoderate teams person players ranked successful the 20s that others bash not person connected their draught database astatine all. Part of this is related to the information that teams are valuing antithetic attributes -- beryllium it skill, grit, size, playoff performance, etc. -- and spot higher worth connected players who acceptable their organizational mantra. More than successful erstwhile years, immoderate players mightiness autumn successful the draught due to the fact that different subordinate is higher connected a circumstantial team's list. This could pb to teams trading up to drawback players they judge person fallen excessively acold to ignore.

The astir important happening to retrieve is that a player's occurrence oregon nonaccomplishment is not dictated by his draught slot, but who helium becomes successful the years that follow. It is existent that earlier draught picks get galore much chances than precocious ones careless of talent, but that doesn't mean immoderate gems won't beryllium recovered aboriginal successful the draft. In fact, fixed the tendency for size, truculence and hard accomplishment implicit high-end talent, it is just to suggest we mightiness spot much occurrence from draught selections extracurricular the archetypal circular than successful erstwhile years.

Here are the apical 64 prospects, on with immoderate players who merit honorable mention:

1. Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL)

The Erie Otters defender is projected to go a existent No. 1 cornerstone for years to come. A dynamic beingness astatine some ends of the ice, the 6-foot-2 blueliner skates with easiness and elite mobility to unopen down opponents successful each situations, portion creating discourtesy with prime modulation play.

Though an wounded astatine the IIHF World Junior Championships -- wherever helium was acceptable to play a cardinal relation arsenic a 17-year-old -- chopped his play to conscionable 26 games, Schaefer inactive logged implicit 25 minutes per contest, and consistently drove play successful his team's favor.

Executives and scouts presumption him arsenic a aboriginal elite NHL defenseman and a foundational portion for a championship-caliber roster. Schaefer's quality to power play from the bluish line, play pugnacious matchups, and tally a powerfulness play -- combined with the content successful his quality and enactment -- effect successful galore believing that Schaefer has the tools to go a top-10 defender successful the league, portion wearing a missive arsenic portion of a team's enactment group.

2. Michael Misa, F, Saginaw (OHL)

Granted exceptional presumption successful the OHL successful 2022, Misa delivered 1 of the astir singular goal-scoring seasons successful caller representation successful 2024-25, netting 62 goals successful conscionable 65 games. He projects to beryllium a top-line guardant susceptible of consistently exceeding 90 points per play successful the NHL.

Misa's violative instincts are elite. He processes the crippled astatine a precocious level and executes astatine apical speed. Scouts judge helium is NHL-ready and has the imaginable to go an elite top-line center. Away from the puck, Misa excels astatine uncovering brushed areas successful sum and has a flair for delivering successful clutch moments. His operation of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring quality makes him a changeless dual menace successful the violative zone.

His two-way crippled has taken a noticeable measurement guardant with improved backchecking, antiaircraft consciousness and committedness to a 200-foot game. Paired with his explosive velocity and violative firepower, Misa profiles arsenic a foundational player.

3. James Hagens, F, Boston College (NCAA)

Hagens is projected to beryllium a top-line center, oregon 1 of the NHL's champion second-line centers. He lacks the dynamism of Misa, opting for a highly cerebral and businesslike play style. He brings a bully enactment complaint with fantabulous velocity and passing quality that should spot him efficaciously thrust play astatine the NHL level. Scouts and executives are impressed with the nonrecreational details of his crippled (puck support, winning battles, antiaircraft puck play), and they judge it volition easiness the modulation to the NHL portion helium finds his violative gear.

Another play astatine Boston College to further make a much a dynamic violative cogwheel to go a top-line NHL halfway -- the 1 that had scouts impressed during his NTDP play (with 102 points) -- could beryllium the remedy. After playing connected 1 of assemblage hockey's apical lines with Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Hagens would present beryllium relied upon to thrust his ain line, make discourtesy done his ain playmaking and play a important matchup role.

Hagens has the imaginable to beryllium the implicit bundle successful the NHL. His knowing of spacing and quality to expect stands retired among his peers. He's smaller and slighter than different prospects, which worries immoderate teams, but there's a premix of Clayton Keller and Jack Hughes successful him successful presumption of modulation play and creativity.

4. Porter Martone, F, Brampton (OHL)

A big, cerebral forward, Martone is simply a dual-threat violative subordinate with quality to people connected his ain and facilitate. He projects to beryllium a second-line scoring winger who should spot apical power-play minutes.

His competitory quality volition marque him an effectual agitator arsenic helium learns to physically enforce himself connected opponents. He needs to hone the competitiveness and physicality to summation its effectiveness, but helium is precisely the benignant of subordinate teams covet due to the fact that of the unsocial operation of violative endowment and competitory fire.

Martone's quality to people and marque plays volition marque him a hard subordinate to support successful the NHL. There are concerns astir Martone's velocity and skating posture. His velocity has improved this season, but Martone needs to adhd explosiveness to his skating to deed his ceiling.

His unsocial operation of scoring ability, size and hard accomplishment marque him a precise charismatic prospect. While his astir assured projection is arsenic a top-six forward, Martone has a morganatic accidental to go a top-line winger if his skating improves.

5. Anton Frondell, F, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Frondell is simply a versatile two-way guardant that plays some halfway and close wing. His flexibility is charismatic to teams, though galore judge helium is astir apt to scope his imaginable arsenic a winger successful the NHL.

Frondell is coming disconnected 1 of the astir productive seasons by an under-18 subordinate successful Allsvenskan history, giving him a assured projection arsenic a first-line NHL forward. He's a cerebral player, who picks isolated defenders successful one-on-one situations and antiaircraft sum successful violative portion play. The details of Frondell's crippled are translatable, including fantabulous forechecking ability, willingness to onslaught the mediate of the crystal and high-end anticipation connected some sides of the puck.

He has shown play-driving capabilities against men successful the Allsvenskan, which has translated to the NHL for different prospects successful the past. He's projected to nutrient betwixt 75-85 points per season. His benignant of play translates good and has executives excited astir his quality to measurement successful the league successful the adjacent 18 months.

He impressed during the carnal investigating and interrogation portions of the scouting combine, leaving galore teams impressed. His two-way quality combined with large anticipation and a high-end changeable marque him 1 of the much breathtaking prospects successful the class.

6. Roger McQueen, F, Brandon (WHL)

Described arsenic "a unicorn" due to the fact that he's a 6-5 halfway who skates with the velocity and mobility that you would expect from a smaller player, McQueen has been a blistery taxable each season.

He profiles arsenic a prototypical modern-day powerfulness guardant who blends brushed accomplishment with physicality. Elite right-handed centers are uncommon successful the NHL, and McQueen's size and willingness to physically dictate play adds undeniable value. He has nonrecreational antiaircraft habits that are translatable to the NHL, and unsocial violative upside that is inactive processing fixed the nonaccomplishment of playing clip owed to wounded during his draught season.

McQueen dominates the rhythm game, creates discourtesy connected the unreserved and uses his carnal gifts to predominate the rhythm and support pucks. His projection arsenic an elite top-line halfway lacks confidence, owed to deficiency of playing clip from his backmost injury. Without the injury, we mightiness beryllium discussing McQueen adjacent the apical of this draught people due to the fact that his bundle of skating, accomplishment and carnal gifts are rare, and the benignant of toolbox of which executives dream.

He is simply a textbook lawsuit of high-risk, high-reward player; however, his show astatine the scouting harvester went on to proving his backmost wounded had healed completely. Playing against tougher competition, wherever McQueen volition beryllium forced to make his quality to support himself, the puck power and quality to make discourtesy against bigger bodies volition beryllium important. If developed without setback, helium could go a two-way unit successful the NHL for years to come.

7. Caleb Desnoyers, F, Moncton (QMJHL)

Desnoyers mightiness spell a batch higher than wherever I person him, due to the fact that helium could beryllium 1 of the champion two-way players successful the draft. Described arsenic a "coach's dream" due to the fact that of his quality to instrumentality an violative oregon checking duty and execute consistently. He makes smart, elemental plays, provides a carnal beingness connected the forecheck and mostly agitates and makes beingness hard connected defenders.

He projects to beryllium a prime second-line halfway with a decent accidental of becoming a first-line player. He's cerebral, with speedy hands and playmaking ability. He's not flashy, but he's consistently effectual and makes intelligent plays with the puck.

Executives emotion proceeding the connection "reliable" from scouts, and that connection is cleanable to picture Desnoyers. He's astatine his champion erstwhile he's successful pressure-packed games due to the fact that helium finds a mode to marque the indispensable plays to win. Many scouts judge helium volition beryllium a person successful the NHL, with coagulated play connected some sides of the puck, successful each situations.

As 1 scouting manager described "he's the benignant of subordinate you triumph with." Some person softly compared him to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews, who are lofty comparisons, to accidental the precise least.

8. Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Smith is simply a big, carnal defenseman with untapped violative quality and is the statement second-best defender successful the draught people down Schaefer.

He possesses each the qualities of a top-four matchup guy. He defends the unreserved well, closes gaps and steers the play successful transition, making him 1 of the champion neutral-zone, modulation defenders successful the class. Given the value of modulation defence successful a matchup role, Smith has a existent accidental to the feline coaches trust upon to play dense minutes against the champion players.

His blend of skating, size and poise with an violative crippled that progressed positively arsenic the play wore connected makes maine a believer that determination is much to give, and playing astatine Penn State adjacent play should assistance it along.

Smith stands 6-3, and executives emotion the simplicity of his game, speechmaking pressure, disrupting plays and making effectual passes to exit the zone. He lacks explosive skating, and the accordant creativity required to beryllium a prime violative contributor astatine the NHL level, but his reads are determination to beryllium a positive modulation subordinate and articulation the unreserved arsenic a enactment player.

Smith's improvement from present volition beryllium astir utilizing his fantabulous mobility to forestall unreserved discourtesy and becoming a much accordant violative menace with amended puck management. If Smith tin thrust play connected some sides of the puck successful modulation and go a power-play threat, there's a existent accidental helium becomes a No. 2 defender astatine the NHL level.

9. Jake O'Brien, F, Brantford (OHL)

Deceptive and incredibly smooth, O'Brien projects to beryllium a point-producing, top-six halfway with a accidental to go a top-line center. The right-handed pivot is 1 of the champion playmakers successful the draft, creating high-danger chances with regularity; for my money, helium is the champion axenic creator successful the draft.

He consistently manipulates defenders, distributes the puck connected the forehand and backhand and uses fakes that nonstop crook defenders and goalies into pretzels. The improvement volition travel from simplifying violative plays to destruct turnovers caused by holding the puck for excessively long.

O'Brien's changeable is going to beryllium a indispensable improvement country if his passing is to beryllium an elite menace successful the NHL. There is hazard here, due to the fact that he's slighter than different players disposable astatine the halfway position, but helium has country to capable retired implicit the adjacent fewer years. O'Brien's elite playmaking skills volition beryllium that overmuch much invaluable if helium tin adhd a velocity cogwheel and summation his shooting threat.

He's 2 oregon 3 years distant from playing an impactful relation successful the NHL, and patience could beryllium the cardinal to O'Brien reaching his top-line ceiling. If helium does, he's going to beryllium an elite power-play backmost and violative driver.

10. Victor Eklund, F, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Eklund projects arsenic a top-six guardant with a bully accidental of becoming a top-line contributor. There's a chiseled anticipation helium falls retired of the apical 10 this week, which would mean extreme worth for anyone who selects him. Despite concerns astir his size -- he's 5-11, 161 pounds -- Eklund's benignant of play is precise translatable to the NHL. He plays a batch bigger than his measurements suggest, and determination is country to adhd strength. Should helium grow, which has happened to different prospects successful the past, Eklund's projection becomes much assured arsenic a 70-point shaper with a high-end centrifugal and fantabulous forechecking capability.

Eklund is fantabulous successful modulation and attacks defenders with velocity and fearlessness, darting to the inside, and positioning his assemblage to triumph oregon support pucks. His smaller size has forced him to larn however to support the puck with fantabulous assemblage positioning. If helium develops a bigger, stronger frame, those skills volition marque him adjacent much hard to support successful the violative zone.

His off-puck play is mature, and volition rapidly gain the spot of NHL coaches. Eklund has the imaginable to beryllium a difference-maker successful a second-line role, and his blend of hard-nosed play with brushed accomplishment should construe much seamlessly than different players.

11. Carter Bear, F, Everett (WHL)

Bear is the benignant of subordinate that a squad looking for high-end instincts and playmaking covet. Before a season-ending wounded successful March, Bear was 1 of the CHL's astir unsafe violative players and a reliable antiaircraft forward. He's versatile, successful that helium plays halfway and the wing, and projects arsenic a 65- to 75-point, second-line player, astir apt connected the wing.

He's a prime playmaker utilizing antithetic passes to make advantages successful unsafe areas. His quality to manipulate defenders and make abstraction for teammates portion pulling sum towards him should construe good successful the NHL. He's got bully hands successful choky spaces, which marque him a menace astir the net, and is 1 of the champion violative facilitators successful the draught class.

On apical of his violative gifts, Bear's antiaircraft play makes him a prime two-way player. His instrumentality positioning allows him to disrupt passes, and he's a tenacious forechecker who tracks good connected the backcheck and finishes hits. His skating posture needs to beryllium much upright to let him to make a much explosive stride to instrumentality vantage of his violative skills successful transition, but the instincts and execution of plays already exist.

Bear is simply a bully premix of brushed and hard accomplishment with projectable traits connected some sides of the puck, and helium is the benignant of subordinate who should thrive successful a matchup relation portion contributing offensively.

12. Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL)

A 6-6, right-handed defenseman with decent mobility who plays successful each situations has scouts precise excited, and helium could beryllium the 2nd defenseman drafted connected Friday. He's precise hard to get around, routinely thwarting attackers successful their tracks and sidesplitting plays. He projects arsenic a top-four, shutdown defenseman due to the fact that of his fantabulous instrumentality work, mobility and modulation defense. Mrtka uses his mobility to flight pressure, activate successful the unreserved and marque prime passes to the mediate of the ice.

Mrtka should make into a beardown modulation defender, a reliable punishment slayer and businesslike puck mover. He shoots the puck hard and could go much of a scoring menace if helium tin prime his spots to get pucks through. While everything flowed done him successful Seattle, determination are well-placed concerns astir his deficiency of offense.

His size and physicality springiness him the tools to make into a minute-munching, shutdown defender if his mobility continues to progress. His precocious day gives him tons of improvement runway to refine his skating, violative playmaking, and physicality successful each areas of the ice.

13. Brady Martin, F, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

A Swiss Army weapon benignant of subordinate who volition beryllium astir effectual connected the helping due to the fact that of his beardown partition play, Martin projects arsenic a middle-six guardant susceptible of scoring 20 goals routinely, with upside arsenic a second-line forward.

He's a wrecking shot that volition bring worth successful each 3 zones, connected and disconnected the puck. Martin has scouts raving astir him aft an fantabulous show astatine the IIHF under-18 championship, with galore opining that helium could spell precise aboriginal successful the archetypal round. He's a workhorse without an disconnected switch, who brings a blend of physicality and hard skill. He's a nightmare to incorporate with his brute strength, and forces defenders into precarious positions with bully velocity and willingness to marque "winning" plays.

Martin finds ways to get progressive physically if helium doesn't person his "A" crippled offensively, and executives emotion that. If Martin's scoring doesn't translate, he'll beryllium a invaluable third-line pest.

Several teams mentioned however awesome Martin was during interviews astatine the combine. Combine an charismatic property with the hard-nosed style, and it forms a uncommon operation that is invaluable to galore scouts who judge he's the benignant of subordinate teams request to triumph successful the playoffs. Surely, his notation of Conn Smythe victor Sam Bennett arsenic a relation exemplary grabbed attention. He volition apt beryllium agelong gone by the aboriginal teens -- but that does not devalue the players who volition beryllium selected aft him.

14. Justin Carbonneau, F, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

Carbonneau possesses an violative toolbox that teams covet, including almighty skating and eye-popping creativity. He projects arsenic a second-line scoring guardant with important variance and is apt to extremity up arsenic a middle-six subordinate who thrives against secondary matchups. Carbonneau tin thrust discourtesy with his playmaking and shooting quality and plays a well-rounded violative crippled that includes playing done contact, fantabulous puckhandling skills and above-average skating.

As is the lawsuit with immoderate subordinate who person unthinkable upside, determination is inherent risk. He has a physically mature assemblage (6-1, 191 pounds), and volition request to set to the velocity of the nonrecreational game. He thrives erstwhile fixed clip and space, and his maturation volition travel from learning to simplify his violative play and marque amended decisions with the puck. There are tools to go a precise effectual powerfulness guardant successful the NHL who tin people 25 goals if helium adds a cerebral constituent to his game.

15. Lynden Lakovic, F, Moose Jaw (WHL)

The 6-4 near winger has translatable scoring ability, and fantabulous velocity for his size. With country to capable retired his frame, Lakovic is an charismatic prospect.

He attacks with linear crossovers utilizing his large framework to support the puck, and helium makes plays utilizing bully deception. He has the imaginable to beryllium a dual-threat winger astatine the NHL level if his passing translates the mode galore judge his shooting will. Lakovic projects to beryllium a middle-six winger with just assurance due to the fact that of his scoring ability, velocity and size, but determination is simply a accidental helium becomes a second-line scoring threat.

Lakovic's improvement volition travel connected the carnal side. While helium is supremely skilled, helium needs to thin connected defenders and unit his mode to mediate crystal to instrumentality vantage of his speedy hands and shot. If helium does, helium becomes a importantly much unsafe player, arsenic he'll beryllium a menace successful modulation and disconnected the cycle. That is surely a developable accomplishment that translates to immoderate level, and combined with prime violative instincts and skill, could spot Lakovic go a dual-threat, 65-point winger.

16. Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)

The 6-2 defender projects to go a second-pair blueliner that excels successful transition. He is 1 of the champion neutral-zone defenders and puck movers successful the draft, who steadily improved arsenic a existent freshman successful the NCAA. His puck retrievals, breakout passes and offensive-zone passes consistently enactment his squad successful much advantageous attacking positions. Being a right-handed defender with fantabulous mobility and an easy translatable crippled makes Hensler a precise charismatic imaginable successful this class.

The are concerns among NHL scouts related to Hensler's violative abilities and however helium mightiness fare successful the NHL. However, Hensler showed flashes successful the backmost fractional of the NCAA season, drafting defenders successful and making slick plays for high-danger scoring opportunities. He's improbable to go a 60-point defender, but 35-45 points arsenic a dependable modulation defender who plays a shutdown relation seems to beryllium the due projection.

His NHL-ready framework is simply a plus, and volition lone amended passim his collegiate career, which is apt to beryllium different 2 seasons.

17. Braeden Cootes, F, Seattle (WHL)

Cootes is apt to beryllium the archetypal halfway taken successful the backmost fractional of the archetypal circular and volition beryllium a people for teams looking for a two-way, high-motor center. He lacks explosive offense, but with immoderate improvement of his shooting mechanics, helium could go a 60-point, two-way center. Scouts emotion however consistently helium moves his feet passim his shifts, his thrust to play done the mediate of the crystal and his quality to make advantages for himself with his skating and vie level.

His quality to make abstraction for his teammates and determination the puck to advantageous areas of the crystal is highly translatable. He's proactive with his contact, moves the puck to the mediate of the crystal and is reliable connected some sides of the puck, successful each country of the ice.

A beardown skater and leader, his level is apt a third-line checking center, but the imaginable for him to go a two-way, second-line halfway should beryllium charismatic to teams who are consenting to stake connected violative development.

18. Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)

There's a batch to emotion astir Reid's crippled -- and a batch of varying opinions. Some scouts spot him arsenic a top-15 pick, others spot him arsenic a mid-20s pick, and it each hinges connected their content successful his violative game. Reid is simply a play operator from the backmost extremity with fantabulous puck-moving skills and fantabulous skating. He flashes high-end violative quality successful the signifier of setups and moving to find and make passing lanes to high-danger areas; however, his changeable volition request to go much of a menace to debar his organisation being neutralized successful the NHL.

In transition, he's 1 of the champion connected some sides of the puck. His creaseless puck retrievals -- wherever helium perpetually enarthrosis checks and scans to debar unit -- led to businesslike breakouts. When nether duress, helium uses elite edgework to flight and shingle pressure, pursuing with a speedy outlet walk to bushed the forecheck.

The statement content is that he's a middle-pairing, modulation defender who tin crook into a bona fide No. 3 if helium develops his discourtesy and grows an inch oregon two; presently he's listed astatine 5-11.

19. Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)

There's a precise existent accidental that Aitcheson is drafted adjacent the apical 10 fixed the benignant of crippled helium plays and the thirst among NHL teams for wound connected the backmost end.

His projection arsenic a No. 4/5 defender sees him beneath different players with higher upside. Aitcheson plays with each kinds of truculence and aggression, portion possessing an aura of assurance connected and disconnected the puck. He's got each the makings of being a implicit menace who plays pugnacious minutes arsenic a No. 4 defender.

Whether it is simply a preseason crippled oregon the playoffs, Aitcheson plays the aforesaid unsmooth style, and is unafraid of lowering the roar connected opponents. He needs to prime his spots amended to debar unnecessary penalties, but he's the benignant of subordinate that requires opponents to beryllium alert erstwhile he's connected the ice. Scouts spot him arsenic hard-nosed, two-way defender with important wound who tin beryllium a momentum-shifter with his carnal presence.

He needs improvement time, arsenic his skating and playmaking are precise raw, but the competitory attributes and his improvement curve this play are precise promising. Aitcheson's violative engagement developed arsenic the play progressed, rotating with his teammates, diving down towards the high-danger country and becoming much unsafe with unfastened ice.

He's apt 2 oregon 3 years distant from being acceptable to measurement in. But erstwhile helium does, he's precisely the benignant of defender each manager and GM privation connected their team.

20. Cole Reschny, F, Victoria (WHL)

The two-way halfway brings an fantabulous premix of hockey sense, playmaking and creativity to beryllium a middle-six contributor susceptible of consistently producing 60 points. He lacks elite skating, but his harvester results raised eyebrows -- tying Frondell for tops successful VO2 max. While that isn't indictive of NHL success, it shows a peculiar dedication to conditioning, and those successful NHL circles wage attraction to those results.

Reschny is smaller -- 5-10, 183 pounds -- and relies connected his cerebral attack and fantabulous passing abilities to make vantage each implicit the ice. He processes the crippled amended than galore successful the draught class, allowing him to negociate unit and enactment himself successful amended puck-protection positions.

Defensively, Reschny's instincts effect successful positionally dependable play, regularly playing supra the puck, disrupting passes, and communicating duty switches. He's got the imaginable to beryllium a large two-way complementary halfway that creates discourtesy without separating speed. His reads volition astir surely spot him play a penalty-killing relation and idiosyncratic who is relied upon erstwhile his squad is holding a lead.

21. Benjamin Kindel, F, Calgary (WHL)

Kindel is simply a scoring machine. Following a 60-point rookie run successful the WHL successful 2023-24, helium vaulted into elite presumption this season, finishing seventh successful wide scoring, and was fantabulous astatine adjacent strength.

Though undersized astatine 5-10, 176 pounds, Kindel blends pace, imaginativeness and prime instincts, and helium projects to beryllium a middle-six winger with two-way ability. Kindel's centrifugal is relentless, which makes up for his deficiency of speed, and enables him to weave done postulation and execute give-and-go's with ease. A dual-threat attacker, helium pairs an close changeable with unsafe passing ability. His elite hockey consciousness allows him to consistently outsmart opponents and acceptable teammates up with originative plays successful unsafe areas with clip and space, portion playing positionally dependable hockey disconnected the puck.

Defensively and connected the forecheck, Kindel leverages his intelligence, anticipation and effort to triumph battles contempt size disadvantages. He'll request to refine and amended his skating posture and puck control, portion adding different velocity cogwheel to win successful the NHL.

While the imaginable exists for Kindel to a top-six NHL player, helium is much apt to find himself successful the middle-six arsenic a complementary piece.

22. Cullen Potter, F, Arizona State (NCAA)

Potter is simply a dynamic skater who is the fastest straight-line skater successful the draught class, and his explosive mobility ranks among the draft's best. Making an uncommon leap from the NTDP's under-17 squad consecutive to NCAA play, Potter displayed elite acceleration and agility, effortlessly shifting from stride to crossover and cutting sharply done defenders. Initially reliant connected earthy skill, Potter often avoided carnal battles and forced "hope plays," limiting his effectiveness successful the archetypal fractional of the NCAA season.

Potter's improvement successful the 2nd fractional of the play elevated his crippled dramatically, and it was intolerable not to notice. He embraced antiaircraft responsibilities, improved his carnal play contempt his 5-10 frame, won puck battles and filled lanes connected the backcheck. Potter's positional play improved, and his off-puck play improved arsenic a result.

The added antiaircraft magnitude complements his violative talents, elevating his level to a bottom-six checker, portion his upside is precise precocious arsenic a top-six guardant due to the fact that of his steep improvement curve. Development of his modulation play and learning to usage his explosive skating and close changeable portion changing gears volition marque him a much unsafe violative threat.

23. Malcolm Spence, F, Erie (OHL)

Spence projects with assurance arsenic a high-energy, two-way winger suited perfectly for a Stanley Cup contender's 3rd line. He person a relentless motor, carnal tenacity, and nonrecreational antiaircraft habits. There are well-placed concerns that his crippled lacks a existent dynamic violative element, but the existent signifier of his crippled easy translates to NHL, with a higher level than different players successful this country of the class.

At his best, Spence is simply a disruptive force, ferocious connected the forecheck, relentless connected the partition and defensively reliable. He thrives alongside skilled teammates, creating abstraction done with his effort, and the quality to capitalize connected scoring opportunities successful unsafe areas of the ice. Scouts similar Spence's game-changing impact, particularity his forechecking, occurrence successful puck battles and quality to gully penalties.

His violative maturation plateaued this play and has tempered expectations astir his ceiling. His projection arsenic a third-line winger with a bottom-six level is related to that scoring plateau. If Spence tin asseverate carnal dominance, playmaking consistency and spot an uptick successful scoring, determination is simply a accidental helium becomes a secondary contributor successful the mediate six. Regardless, Spence's blend of competitiveness, nonrecreational details and antiaircraft reliability makes him a coagulated stake to go a cardinal commentary portion connected a contender who apt excels arsenic the crippled gets much physical.

24. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)

Ravensbergen is the clear-cut apical goaltender imaginable successful this draft. He projects a composed, assured demeanor, with a assured projection arsenic a starting NHL goaltender who tin grip a important workload.

At 6-foot-5, helium leverages size, elite anticipation and crisp lateral agility, consistently positioning himself perfectly to contradict shooters without unnecessary flash. He tracks the puck a level supra his peers, which allows him to confidently situation shooters and chopped angles effectively. He is peculiarly susceptible done the five-hole, which isn't atypical for ample goalies who hover sticks supra the ice. As helium develops and refines his technique, this weakness should beryllium corrected agelong earlier helium reaches the NHL.

A reliable backstop for Prince George, Ravensbergen's .901 prevention percent stands retired adjacent much erstwhile considering the high-danger chances helium regularly faced. His rebound power is good supra average, and helium has an above-average mitt hand. He regularly has his blocker angled well, enabling him to nonstop shots safely distant from danger.

It is apt that Ravensbergen becomes a platoon starter until his mid-20s, erstwhile helium is susceptible of go a full-time NHL starter who plays 60-65 games per season.

25. Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)

Fiddler is 1 of the draft's astir intriguing defenders with his blend of size (6-4), mobility and untapped upside.

With NHL household past (Vernon Fiddler is his father), helium performed good connected the planetary stage, leaving scouts and executives believing that his defensive-zone dominance and modulation accomplishment volition marque the NHL modulation easier. Fiddler's antiaircraft toolkit stands out. His mobility lends itself to choky spread control, balanced pivots and high-quality neutral-zone defense. Physically imposing, helium consistently disrupts opposing attacks, maintains beardown assemblage positioning, and proactively eliminates threats distant from the puck portion staying positionally sound.

Defense is his wide calling card, but Fiddler flashes creativity connected offense. He manipulates defenders with fakes, executes hard breakout passes nether pressure, and flashes high-end puck skills connected occasion.

To scope his ceiling of a second-pairing defenseman, Fiddler volition request to refine his reads, timing, and decision-making to bounds miscues with the puck. He'll apt necessitate patience implicit the adjacent fewer years, but with continued improvement successful spread control, consciousness and carnal engagement, helium profiles confidently arsenic a reliable second-pair shutdown defender susceptible of driving play successful transition.

26. Jack Nesbitt, F, Windsor (OHL)

Nesbitt is an intelligent, two-way halfway whose crippled is rooted successful competitiveness, antiaircraft reliability, and off-puck hockey IQ. He excels defensively by utilizing his 6-4 framework to interruption up plays with carnal engagement and astute instrumentality positioning to prime disconnected pucks. His hockey consciousness consistently places him successful beardown positions successful each 3 zones, allowing him to make turnovers and execute speedy passes to make unsafe chances disconnected those turnovers.

His violative upside hinges connected his skating, which is simply a concern. His stiff skating stride and deficiency of demonstrated flexibility astatine the harvester mightiness bounds however overmuch helium tin improve. Despite flashes of skill, helium struggles to maneuver past defenders, and his inconsistent puck handling nether unit often disrupts his playmaking.

Nesbitt showed betterment passim the season, leveraging his size offensively and initiating much interaction much consistently. If these improvements continue, and he's capable to amended his skating stride, helium projects confidently arsenic a dependable middle-six halfway who tin anchor a antiaircraft enactment and enactment skilled players higher up the lineup.

27. Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

One of the astir discussed and debated defenders successful the draft, Boumedienne projects arsenic a second-pair, two-way defender.

Already known arsenic a superb breakout passer with a dense slap changeable and beardown instrumentality play, Boumedienne's antiaircraft crippled evolved noticeably astatine Boston University. Buoyed by steadily improving his skating weaknesses, peculiarly his agility and borderline work, helium looked the portion of a modern shutdown defenseman, specifically successful transition. He developed greater stability, enabling much effectual spread power and quicker pivots. Proactive reads, beardown positioning, physicality and effectual disruption of passing lanes allowed his antiaircraft crippled to blossom.

While his violative crippled remains chiefly rush-based alternatively than successful the violative zone, Boumedienne's willingness to experimentation with fakes and deception improved his modulation interaction significantly. The volatility of his projection remains high, but Boumedienne's important in-season growth, antiaircraft reliability and refined skating connection realistic upside arsenic an effectual second-pair, two-way defender astatine the NHL level who tin nutrient secondary offense.

28. Ryker Lee, F, Madison (USHL)

One of the astir skilled and originative forwards successful the draft, and immoderate scouts person him ranked successful the precocious teens due to the fact that of their content successful his upside.

Lee is simply a dynamic violative subordinate who consistently cuts done antiaircraft sum with elite puckhandling and deceptive passes. His one-timer is 1 of the champion successful the draught class. With a afloat complement of high-end tools, Lee has a uncommon quality to make discourtesy successful choky quarters with constricted space, and helium stood retired amongst his USHL peers. He manipulates defenders and delivers elite passes nether pressure. He consistently makes translatable plays similar one-touch breakouts, fake receptions, and speedy releases successful scoring areas. As the play progressed, helium showed a willingness to forecheck, conflict and use unit defensively.

The glaring question is his skating. His stride is stiff and lacks explosiveness. Lee volition request large strides successful mobility to maximize his violative toolkit astatine the NHL level. That being said, if helium adds a measurement oregon 2 to brace with his skill, Lee has the accomplishment to go a creative, middle-six playmaker with top-six upside.

29. Jack Murtagh, F, USNTDP (USHL)

Murtagh emerged arsenic a versatile, energetic winger and cemented himself arsenic the NTDP's astir compelling imaginable successful a down year.

He plays a relentless benignant and possesses an explosive stride, thriving successful puck battles, consistently leveraging his straight-line velocity and physicality to powerfulness done opponents and make scoring chances. He owns a beardown changeable package, including an explosive one-timer, and Murtagh is arsenic unsafe disconnected the rush. Murtagh's improvement arsenic a playmaker elevated his banal successful the eyes of scouts. He regularly demonstrated above-average awareness, awesome passing accomplishment to get the puck to the astir unsafe areas of the ice. His quality to complement scoring with high-level organisation should proceed to make astatine the NCAA level astatine Boston University.

To unlock a wide NHL middle-six ceiling, Murtagh indispensable diversify his modulation approach, usage teammates much consistently and trust little exclusively connected earthy velocity and power. Even without dynamic creativity, his tenacious style, goal-scoring instincts and improved playmaking task safely to a third-line NHL powerfulness guardant role.

30. Bill Zonnon, F, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Zonnon is simply a relentless and detail-oriented two-way guardant who has carved retired a estimation arsenic 1 of the CHL's hardest-working players. With an 83-point breakout run successful his archetypal full-time play astatine center, Zonnon combined a high-end motor, earthy but effectual playmaking and relentless puck pursuit that allowed him to beryllium a play operator successful each 3 zones. He excels connected the forecheck, pressuring defenders into rushed decisions, winning battles and moving pucks to teammates successful scoring areas.

Offensively, helium makes bully reads nether pressure, threading pucks done choky lanes and consistently puts his squad successful advantageous positions. His quality to enactment defensively, facilitate transitions and physically enforce himself makes him perfect the benignant of guardant teams privation successful the playoffs.

His skating remains a limiting factor, and he'll request to amended his agility and posture to scope his violative ceiling. If Zonnon tin refine his stride and proceed to make his playmaking, helium projects arsenic a middle-six operator who blends tenacity and has the makings of a invaluable third-liner whom playoff teams covet.

31. Shane Vansaghi, F, Michigan State (NCAA)

A dependable riser arsenic the play progressed, Vansaghi is simply a tenacious powerfulness winger whose carnal dominance and competitory occurrence marque him 1 of the astir NHL-ready players successful the draft. Many nights, helium looked similar a antheral among boys with fantabulous forechecking, delivering punishing checks to defenders who were retrieving pucks, and bulldozing done interaction to found wrong position.

Offensively, Vansaghi showed flashes of morganatic upside, with bully puckhandling, a dense merchandise that caught goaltenders by surprise, and the quality to bushed defenders one-on-one. His net-front play and quality to triumph assemblage presumption successful choky areas shows that helium mightiness beryllium an effectual net-front subordinate astatine the NHL level if helium tin deflect pucks and sound rebounds home.

His skating lacks explosiveness and agility, and volition request important revamp which mightiness beryllium pugnacious fixed his carnal maturity. If helium tin marque improvements to his archetypal fewer steps, Vansaghi could germinate into a middle-six unit who complements accomplishment with relentless carnal play.

32. William Moore, F, USNTDP (USHL)

Moore remains 1 of the much intriguing upside bets contempt a plateau successful improvement implicit 2 seasons with the NTDP.

The feeling among scouts is that Moore's plateau is related to the operation the NTDP plays with, successful that it stifles creativity, and I would hold with that assessment. Moore is simply a skilled guardant with beardown skating, bully puck accomplishment and violative instincts. He has moments of implicit brilliance, manipulating defenders with crossovers, threading look-off passes and showcasing high-end puck protection.

At his best, Moore combines finesse with power, winning battles on the wall, creating screens and asserting assemblage presumption to make offense. It is simply a prime blend of hard and brushed skill. He excels successful possession and tin bid shifts with deceptive question and slick hands successful choky space. The deficiency of consistency successful his play leads to questions astir what benignant of subordinate Moore tin beryllium astatine the NHL level.

A deficiency of carnal spot and assertiveness without the puck lessens his interaction much often than not, starring to quiescent nights and "invisibility" monikers. If Moore tin rise his engagement level and amended strength, determination is existent second-line imaginable astatine the adjacent level. Otherwise, helium projects arsenic a versatile third-line guardant who tin lend connected a 2nd power-play portion and supply complementary offense.

33. Nathan Behm, F, Kamloops (WHL)

Behm is simply a dynamic winger with the accomplishment to make into a middle-six NHL scorer and an extracurricular changeable astatine becoming a second-line scorer. He combines originative playmaking, deceptive shooting, and above-average puck handling to make offense. He beats defenders by manipulating them and utilizing his scope to propulsion pucks done traffic. His brushed hands let him to drawback pucks effortlessly and execute speedy slot passes and shots.

He has an NHL-ready build, but he'll request to amended gait and prosecute physically to scope his potential. If helium tin make and refine those areas, helium projects arsenic a dual-threat violative guardant successful a scoring role; without it, helium settles into a bottom-six forward. As a subordinate disposable precocious successful the archetypal circular oregon successful the second, he's a worthwhile plaything connected upside.

34. Cameron Schmidt, F, Vancouver (WHL)

The extremity scorer is apt to spell a batch little than I person him, but his scoring quality is among the champion successful the draught class. He possesses elite finishing skill, high-end velocity and above-average puck handling.

He scores successful a assortment of ways: disconnected the rush, done traffic, and connected one-timers. He's hard to work due to the fact that he's deceptive successful his movements to find oregon make space. Despite his 5-7 frame, Schmidt adds a uncommon carnal borderline and flashes playmaking quality.

For evident reasons, scouts and executives question whether oregon not helium tin beryllium effectual astatine the NHL level -- the numbers suggest helium has a morganatic changeable if helium grows to 5-9. He's a boom-or-bust pick; if helium rounds retired his playmaking and utilizes his afloat violative toolkit connected a accordant basis, Schmidt could go a dynamic second-line scorer and 1 of the draft's biggest steals.

35. Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)

Brzustewicz is the adjacent imaginable from the mill that is the London Knights. The blueliner projects arsenic a steady, mobile modulation defender with the imaginable to turn into a No. 4 oregon 5 NHL blueliner.

A right-handed changeable with a beardown antiaircraft foundation, helium maintains bully spread control, moves the puck precise good and supports plays portion remaining positionally sound. In an elevated role, his violative creativity developed dramatically. He jumped into the rush, evaded forecheckers and created scoring chances with prime passes to the slot.

If helium continues to make his assurance and play-driving ability, Brzustewicz could germinate into a reliable second-pairing defender. Without that growth, helium inactive holds worth arsenic a extent puck mover with a bully antiaircraft foundation.

36. Cole McKinney, F, USNTDP (USHL)

Not dissimilar his teammates, McKinney apt had his discourtesy stifled with the program, and determination were signs that helium has much to give. He projects arsenic a competitory third-line halfway with above-average two-way play. The NTDP's starring scorer -- and 1 of the USHL's astir businesslike producers -- McKinney's standout attributes see relentless puck pursuit, astute positioning and beardown penalty-killing instincts.

Offensively, helium thrives disconnected the cycle, supports play with timely passes and speedy decisions and is an above-average net-front presence. While his puck handling and shooting bounds apical six upside, immoderate scouts judge determination is much upside arsenic a middle-six player. At a minimum, his motor, antiaircraft value, and play-driving habits springiness him a wide way to a bottom-six NHL role.

37. Milton Gästrin, F, MoDo (J20 Nationell)

Gästrin is 1 of the astir well-rounded and translatable two-way centers successful the draft, projecting arsenic a reliable third-line NHLer.

He combines high-end antiaircraft instincts, beardown off-puck enactment and a relentless centrifugal to person galore scouts believing he'll beryllium a reliable checking center. His playmaking continues to make and mightiness springiness him much discourtesy than presently projected, but he'd apt apical retired betwixt 30 and 40 points.

Gästrin is simply a reliable play driver, and coaches volition beryllium comfy playing him successful each 3 zones. While helium lacks dynamic violative upside, his intelligence, versatility, and dependable skating improvement marque him a low-risk stake to go an effectual bottom-six center.

38. Václav Nestrašil, F, Muskegon (USHL)

Nestrašil is simply a high-upside powerfulness guardant who projects arsenic a top-six NHL winger if his improvement continues connected its existent path.

He is simply a unsocial blend of supra mean puck accomplishment and playmaking with size, centrifugal and punishing carnal play. He excels with give-and-go's, attacking disconnected the wall, and creating abstraction successful traffic. He consistently moves the puck done carries oregon passes to the mediate of the ice, creating much threatening opportunities.

He is earthy and somewhat erratic with his reads and timing; his continued betterment and carnal toolkit springiness him morganatic upside. If helium becomes a much accordant threat, he's a second-line force; if not, his antiaircraft worth and strength inactive task a relation arsenic a physical, bottom-six winger.

39. Carter Amico, D, USNTDP (USHL)

Amico is simply a 6-5 right-handed defenseman with the mobility, physicality and antiaircraft instincts to turn into a No. 4/5 NHL blueliner. Injuries are a concern, but erstwhile healthy, helium kills rushes with assertive spread control, clears the crease with authorization -- a trait NHL scouts emotion -- and starts breakouts with a bully archetypal pass.

Offensively, helium shows flashes of playmaking, but constricted reps and inconsistencies (partly owed to a genu injury) permission questions astir however precocious the ceiling is. If helium stays steadfast and continues to make his modulation crippled astatine Boston University, Amico has the tools to go a physical, play-driving defender with No. 4 upside.

40. Jacob Ihs-Wozniak, F, Lulua (J20 Nationell)

Ihs-Wozniak is simply a goal-scoring instrumentality with 1 of the champion finishing touches successful the class. He possesses an arsenal of changeable types that are NHL-caliber, has large off-puck instincts and a processing playmaking side. That operation of violative skills gives him morganatic middle-six scoring upside. He times his movements for rebounds and slot chances precise well, making him hard to necktie up. He's not a play driver, but his frame, scoring interaction and violative instincts marque him a bully stake to beryllium a complementary player.

To scope his ceiling, Ihs-Wozniak volition request to amended his speed, which volition amended his play successful modulation and his play on the wall. His imaginable arsenic a power-play menace and extremity scorer boost his NHL level to a third-line player.

41. Eric Nilson, F, Djurgardens IF (J20 Nationell)

Nilson projects arsenic a defensively reliable, bottom-six checking halfway with penalty-killing value. A fluid skater with a precocious centrifugal and beardown two-way instincts, helium consistently supports play successful each 3 zones, eliminates abstraction connected the backcheck, and was 1 of the apical antiaircraft forwards astatine Sweden's J20 level.

Offensively, helium tin thrust modulation play and showed flashes of playmaking and a changeable that could make into a threat. Scouts question his willingness to thrust the mediate of the ice, fixed he'll request to bash that to beryllium a two-way subordinate astatine the NHL level. He'll request to make his playmaking and capable retired physically to scope his potential. If helium tin make those traits and harvester them with his dependable antiaircraft play, he'll apt carve retired a bottom-six relation successful the NHL.

42. Benjamin Kevan, F, Des Moines (USHL)

Kevan is simply a skilled and speedy winger who projects arsenic a imaginable middle-six scoring menace if helium rounds retired his game. A dynamic skater with elite modulation quality and flashy puck skill, Kevan creates disconnected the unreserved with give-and-go's and originative passes. He uses his velocity defensively to unit puck carriers connected the backcheck.

Kevan needs to make his offensive-zone play to beryllium a much well-rounded violative threat. If helium adds spot and an constituent of physicality, Kevan could germinate into a two-way, play-driving winger. He's an upside stake with his accomplishment set, but apt ends up an AHL scorer if helium can't polish his offensive-zone play.

43. Alexander Zharovsky, F, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

Zharovsky has immoderate of the champion hands successful the draught class, without a doubt. He's an elite puck handler with high-end creativity and violative instincts that marque him 1 of the astir skilled European forwards successful the draft.

After a dilatory start, helium exploded for 46 points successful 29 MHL games and held his ain successful KHL playoff action. Zharovsky manipulates defenders to make for some himself and teammates, showing dual-threat imaginable arsenic a scorer and playmaker. His skating and antiaircraft play request development, but his earthy accomplishment ceiling is undeniable.

He is simply a boom-or-bust winger, but his show astatine the KHL level is an indicator that he's apt to beryllium palmy successful the NHL. With due development, helium could go a middle-six scorer and power-play menace successful the NHL.

44. Max Pšenička, D, Portland (WHL)

One of the biggest risers successful the backmost fractional of the season, Pšenička projects arsenic a two-way, shutdown defenseman with the tools to go a reliable No. 4/5 astatine the NHL level. He brings bully speed, physicality and astute antiaircraft reads, consistently forcing dump-ins and battling for position. Offensively, helium shows flashes of creativity connected breakouts and unreserved activation, and improvement successful puck power and passing precision volition lone boost his violative projection.

His assertive play and competitiveness marque him a playoff-type defender. At 6-4 and 176 pounds, determination is much than capable country to capable retired his frame, which is apt to marque him a beardown net-front beingness successful the NHL. If helium continues to make his violative crippled and adds strength, Pšenička has the upside to go a reliable second-pair defender with immoderate grit.

45. Kurban Limatov, D, MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

Limatov is simply a high-upside, boom-or-bust defenseman with second-pair NHL potential. He possesses elite mobility and carnal tools, and astatine 6-3, his explosive skating allows him to evade forecheckers and thrust play successful transition.

As the play progressed, his antiaircraft reads improved and allowed him to play with much physicality and aggressiveness. Offensively, Limatov is earthy and somewhat chaotic, but determination are signs of creativity. If helium continues to amended his decision-making, helium could go a dynamic two-way defender. If not, helium mightiness stay a high-minute KHL player, but the NHL upside makes him an intriguing subordinate successful the 2nd round.

46. William Horcoff, F, University of Michigan (NCAA)

The lad of erstwhile NHLer Shawn Horcoff, William projects arsenic a defensively reliable third-line halfway with size, spot and beardown off-puck instincts. At astir 6-5, he's a disruptive unit successful his ain zone, utilizing his scope and physicality to unit puck attackers and origin turnovers.

Offensively, helium facilitates with astute passes and uses his size to play with interaction and support the puck. He'll request to make his skating from a velocity and mobility position to turn offensively. If helium adds a measurement with immoderate explosiveness and fills retired his frame, Horcoff could go a physically imposing, two-way pivot successful a bottom-six NHL relation who plays against secondary matchups.

47. Daniil Prokhorov, F, MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)

The champion mode to picture the 6-5 Prokhorov is simply a freight bid connected skates.

A physically ascendant winger with middle-six powerfulness guardant upside, helium is 1 of the astir physically imposing players successful the draft. He delivers punishing hits, protects the puck good and drives the nett with force. His dense changeable and straight-line velocity contributed to a 20-goal MHL season, with flashes of puck skill.

He needs to make his hockey sense, and helium seems to get passageway vision, which limits his playmaking and wide decision-making. If helium improves his reads and off-puck awareness, Prokhorov could go a rare, punishing middle-six winger. Without growth, helium inactive has a nonstop way to a extent NHL relation done sheer physicality and size.

48. Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton (OHL)

Ivankovic projects arsenic a poised, technically dependable platoon starter with the upside to go a No. 1 NHL goalie. Despite lasting nether 6 feet, helium possesses elite skating, fantabulous positioning and controlled, diligent movements that let him to way and grip chaos with ease.

A standout for Hockey Canada and under-18 golden medalist, helium plays bigger than his size, speechmaking screens and staying composed nether pressure. Height remains the cardinal interest among teams, but his begetter is 6-5, truthful determination is anticipation that Ivankovic grows different mates of inches. If helium does, his intelligence constitution and method instauration marque him a bully stake to beryllium 1 the champion goaltenders successful the class.

49. Luca Romano, F, Kitchener (OHL)

A high-speed halfway with a large centrifugal who projects arsenic a middle-six, two-way forward, Romano has play-driving worth successful transition. He thrives disconnected the rush, utilizing velocity and borderline enactment to transportation pucks done zones and make chances portion keeping his feet moving.

Defensively, he's a relentless backchecker with bully positioning and beardown stickwork. He lacks dynamic violative creativity, but flashes of playmaking and shooting successful stride person maine believing determination is much to springiness offensively. If helium develops his creativity and learns to usage the abstraction helium creates with his speed, Romano could germinate into a reliable middle-six halfway with velocity and two-way ability.

50. Mason West, F, Edina High (USHS-MN)

Without a doubt, the champion wide jock successful the draught class. A precocious schoolhouse backmost with morganatic assemblage shot imaginable and a hockey subordinate who could spell successful the apical 50 of the NHL draught does not travel astir excessively often.

The 6-6 guardant possesses uncommon mobility, carnal tools and intriguing upside. A earthy shooter and creaseless skater, his accumulation connected the Minnesota High School circuit astatine Edina High was impressive. When helium stepped into the USHL, his improvement deed warp speed.

For evident reasons, West is precise earthy arsenic a prospect. He shows flashes of skill, an immovable net-front beingness and increasing carnal engagement. Given his rawness, helium volition request to make his puck control, positioning and decision-making. However, helium volition beryllium capable to trust connected his QB scanning skills to assistance make his decision-making successful hockey. With continued development, determination is simply a existent accidental helium becomes a middle-six NHL powerfulness forward. The axenic earthy quality of this elite jock has executives and scouts precise excited.

51. Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln (USHL)

Another of the truly gangly and mobile defensemen successful this draft, Rombach has scouts believing successful his shutdown ability.

The 6-6½ defender projects arsenic a second-pair shutdown defenseman with elite antiaircraft instincts and bully puck retrievals. What separates him from akin defenders is that helium handles unit well. He enarthrosis checks connected retrievals, scans coming up ice, absorbs interaction and escapes unit with astute passes.

He won't beryllium an violative contributor, but helium could make into a positive modulation subordinate offensively. To scope his ceiling, Rombach needs to amended his skating posture, which volition let him to beryllium much physical. With continued improvement astatine the University of Minnesota, helium could go a prime shutdown defender successful a top-four NHL role.

52. Eddie Genborg, F, Linkoping HC (J20 Nationell)

Genborg projects arsenic a bottom-six checking winger with a beardown accidental to play NHL games acknowledgment to his size, physicality and nonrecreational details. At 6-2, he's a relentless forechecker with a large motor, plays a beardown rhythm crippled and is fantabulous defensively. Genborg impressed by earning implicit 20 SHL games this play and starring Sweden's J20 league successful extremity pace, which buoys his NHL projection confidence.

His scoring should construe due to the fact that it comes via net-front positioning and a bully catch-and-release shot. While his violative ceiling is constricted by instincts and mean playmaking, his blend of strength, effort and two-way worth gives him a wide NHL way arsenic a carnal extent forward.

53. Semyon Frolov, G, MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)

A dependable riser successful the rankings, Frolov projects arsenic a 1B platoon goaltender with the imaginable to propulsion for a larger role.

At 6-3, Frolov blends beardown puck tracking and athleticism with astute positioning. He's calm nether pressure, crisp with his prevention enactment and excels erstwhile facing high-danger chances. His assertive play benignant adds worth and could go a spot if developed well.

Splitting clip crossed 3 MHL teams, helium showed adaptability and consistency down varied defenses and should person small contented adjusting to a KHL relation adjacent season. There are immoderate who judge Frolov volition spell aboriginal successful the 2nd round, arsenic his size, axenic athleticism and demeanor are charismatic to teams.

54. Matthew Gard, F, Red Deer (WHL)

Gard projects arsenic a reliable bottom-six checking halfway with the motor, size and antiaircraft IQ to gain an NHL role. He excels astatine pushing attackers to the perimeter, disrupting attacks and forechecking. Gard plays with nonstop energy, combining spot and bully assemblage positioning to triumph battles and make abstraction for his teammates.

While he's chiefly a antiaircraft player, determination are signs that further processing his playmaking and velocity could summation his violative output. If his violative improvement plateaus, Gard's precocious motor, detail-oriented crippled makes him a beardown stake to anchor an NHL 4th line, due to the fact that he's precisely the benignant of subordinate coaches spot successful the antiaircraft portion and connected the punishment kill.

55. Ivan Ryabkin, F, Muskegon (USHL)

One of the astir polarizing players successful the draught class, Ryabkin is simply a boom-or-bust powerfulness guardant with middle-six upside. He blends a speedy release, creativity and punishing physicality, albeit precise inconsistently.

After a dilatory commencement successful Russia, his determination to the USHL reignited his game, wherever helium became a apical extremity scorer successful the 2nd half. He's a menace disconnected the unreserved with one-timers and in-tight finishes, and determination are flashes of playmaking ability. His inconsistent pace, mediocre decision-making and undisciplined physicality bounds his reliability and NHL potential.

If helium tin dial successful his effort and details, Ryabkin's unsocial blend of accomplishment and grit could marque him a unsafe NHL scorer. Otherwise, he's improbable to beryllium an NHL player, which is wherefore he's a campaigner to autumn retired of the apical 2 rounds.

56. Ethan Czata, F, Niagara (OHL)

Czata projects arsenic a bottom-six checking halfway with beardown antiaircraft instincts, penalty-killing worth and underrated playmaking ability. Despite a driblet successful production, his antiaircraft play was impressive, with bully positioning, physicality and quality to disrupt plays.

Offensively, helium shows flashes of prime passing quality and spatial awareness, particularly disconnected the puck. His liable two-way crippled and hard accomplishment marque him a beardown campaigner for an NHL extent role, but he'll request to adhd immoderate velocity and make his violative playmaking quality to beryllium thing much than a fourth-line center.

57. Charlie Trethewey, D, USNTDP (USHL)

Trethewey projects arsenic a No. 4/5 two-way defenseman with a blend of almighty skating, physicality and a dense shot.

As the play progressed, helium improved his scanning, stickwork and breakouts, and helium go a dependable shutdown beingness for the NTDP. He takes distant clip and space, delivers punishing hits and activates with confidence. The adjacent measurement is to amended his decision-making and passing erstwhile helium activates.

As his antiaircraft details and play nether unit proceed to develop, Trethewey's beardown carnal instrumentality kit gives him morganatic NHL imaginable arsenic a hard-nosed, second-pair defenseman.

58. Theo Stockselius, F, Djurgardens (J20 Nationell)

Stockselius projects arsenic a third-line, two-way guardant with beardown playmaking instincts, hard accomplishment and projectable carnal tools. A prime passer with high-end hockey sense, helium consistently creates discourtesy with intelligent playmaking and passing.

He led Djurgardens successful playoff scoring and became a cardinal contributor for Sweden's under-18 team. As the play progressed, Stockselius started to physically prosecute and usage his assemblage much effectively, which should lone amended arsenic helium physically matures.

He is simply a below-average skater successful presumption of velocity and mechanics, and volition apt request to amended that to deed his ceiling arsenic a middle-six contributor. If helium does not amended his skating -- but tin proceed compensating with astute positioning and carnal play -- he's apt to go a bottom-six contributor successful the NHL.

59. Haoxi (Simon) Wang, D, Oshawa (OHL)

Haoxi Wang is simply a existent task with second-pair NHL upside due to the fact that helium has a uncommon blend of size (6-6) and elite mobility.

A precocious accomplishment to competitory hockey, Wang is inactive learning the crippled but shows imaginable to go two-way defenseman by eliminating space, escaping unit and skating pucks done transition. OHL contention exposed his rawness arsenic a prospect, with inconsistent reads and turnovers, but helium consistently improved his retrievals, breakouts and antiaircraft play.

With important development, Wang could go a rangy, shutdown defenseman with decent puck-moving ability. He's a high-risk, high-reward plaything who volition trial immoderate team's improvement staff.

60. L.J. Mooney, F, USNTDP (USHL)

It remains to beryllium seen wherever the diminutive Mooney volition go, but he's 1 of my favorites successful the draught class. He's a high-energy winger with explosive speed, speedy hands and a centrifugal that doesn't person an disconnected switch. He's dynamic disconnected the unreserved and consistently beats defenders with his velocity and puck handling.

Despite concerns astir his 5-7 framework and questionable decision-making, helium has much separating skills than galore successful this area. Many smaller players don't play the antiaircraft broadside of the puck, but that doesn't picture Mooney. He's consistently supra the puck, successful bully positions and acold much physically engaged than anyone his size -- arsenic good arsenic astir who person 5 inches and 25 pounds connected him.

The information that helium thrives successful chaos makes maine judge his hockey consciousness and decision-making volition improve. If helium develops his playmaking, Mooney could go a middle-six spark plug with two-way interaction who provides complementary scoring.

61. Hayden Paupanekis, F, Kelowna (WHL)

If a squad wants a versatile Swiss Army weapon benignant of subordinate who tin capable galore roles, this is their guy.

Paupanekis showed 2 sides this season: shutdown specializer successful Spokane, and play operator successful Kelowna. A competitive, carnal halfway with NHL-ready antiaircraft detail, Paupanekis consistently unopen down opposing apical lines. He is not peculiar astatine anything, but helium does everything astatine an mean oregon amended level, and plays a nonrecreational style. He stays supra the puck, supports his teammates, wins battles and it doesn't wounded that he's 6-4. His skating and hands let him to negociate unit and marque plays astatine speed, showing determination is much violative upside to give.

While his scoring instincts are a enactment successful progress, his speed, spot and penalty-killing imaginable springiness him a wide bottom-six NHL projection with country to turn into more.

62. Tyler Hopkins, F, Kingston (OHL)

Hopkins projects arsenic a bottom-six guardant with a projectable antiaircraft crippled and the centrifugal to beryllium reliable successful a checking role. He defends with pro details, remaining patient, engaging physically and disrupting plays some connected the forecheck and successful transition. With bully puck extortion skill, helium wins galore of his puck battles.

Offensively, helium makes businesslike passes and has the skating to bushed different players to pucks. While his violative upside is limited, his playmaking has immoderate developable traits. Given Hopkins' precocious level arsenic penalty-killing, reliable two-way forward, he's what scouts telephone a "safe bet" to scope the NHL arsenic a fourth-line forward.

63. Peyton Kettles, D, Swift Current (WHL)

At 6-5, Kettles has a bully blend of size, physicality and beardown antiaircraft instincts. Trusted successful each cardinal antiaircraft situations, helium uses his agelong scope and bully positioning to adjacent gaps, unit attackers to the perimeter and triumph battles on the boards.

His puck moving is limited, which is apt related to his risk-averse style, but helium did amusement flashes of being capable to marque plays nether pressure. His skating and mobility request to make for his play nether unit to improve, but he's 1 of the youngest players successful the draught people and has a longer improvement way than most. Kettles has the tools to go a dependable, hard-to-play-against blueliner successful a No. 4/5 shutdown role.

64. Kristian Epperson, F, Saginaw (OHL)

Epperson made the astir of his 2nd draft-eligible season, earning top-line minutes adjacent to Michael Misa and proving helium could thrust play connected his own. He's a relentless forechecker who reads the play to clip his routes and stifles the breakout.

Epperson has a bully blend of above-average playmaking, bully hockey consciousness and a nonstop motor. He creates space, plays connected with his linemates, and supports plays crossed each 3 zones. He'll request to adhd a measurement oregon 2 to beryllium effectual astatine the NHL level.

While helium remains a project, the operation of two-way play, puck-moving accomplishment and hockey consciousness gives him a changeable astatine carving retired a third-line NHL role.

Honorable mentions

Adam Benak, F, Youngstown (USHL)
Aleksei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)
Conrad Fondrk, F, USNTDP (USHL)
Malte Vass, D, Farjestad (J20 Nationell)