2017 NHL Draft Rankings

April 28, 2017

Peter Harling

1. Nolan Patrick, Centre, 6-3, 198 (Brandon, WHL)

Has all the tools, size, skill, skating, smarts; Jack of all trades – master of none.

2. Nico Hischier, Centre, 6-1, 176 (Halifax, QMJHL)

Dynamic offensive centre, but plays solid defensively as well.

3. Casey Mittelstadt, Centre, 6-1, 201 (Eden Prairie, USHS)

Committed to U. of Minnesota, has such high skill set could be a one-and-done.

4. Timothy Liljegren, Defence, 6-0, 191 (Rogle, SHL)

Don’t be fooled by poor season due to mono and playing pro at 17-years-old.

5. Martin Necas, Centre, 6-1, 167 (Brno, Extraliga)

Tall and slim, needs development time but has plenty of skill and can skate.

6. Miro Heiskanen, Defence, 6-0, 170 (HIFK, Liiga)

Elite hockey sense and smarts, excellent positioning and all-around skill

7. Gabriel Vilardi, Centre, 6-2, 193 (Windsor, OHL)

Playmaking versatile centre, strong on pucks and down low

8. Cale Makar, Defence, 5-11, 179 (Brooks, AJHL)

Explosive offensive skill, vision and skating. Commit to U-Mass Lowell

9. Cody Glass, Centre/RW, 6-2, 180 (Portland, WHL)

Breakout season highlighted with performances at Top Prospect game and U18 with Canada.

10. Elias Pettersson, Left Wing, 6-1, 160 (Timra, Allsvenskan)

Pettersson needs time to fill out but tremendous vision and skill.

11. Eeli Tolvanen, Right Wing, 5-10, 174 (Sioux City, USHL)

A shoot first mentality, perhaps the most natural goal scorer in the draft

12. Owen Tippett, Right Wing, 6-1, 202 (Mississauga, OHL)

Elite shot, great skating, good size, but questions about hockey sense

13. Kristian Vesalainen, Left Wing, 6-3, 207 (Frolunda, SHL)

Outstanding U18 performance reprised his stock after disappointing season.

14. Michael Rasmussen, Centre, 6-6, 215 (Tri-City, WHL)

Has an NHL frame to be sure, skates well and has some skill.

15. Klim Kostin, Centre, 6-3, 196 (Dynamo, KHL)

Season cut short due to injury, a polarizing player who lacks consistency.

16. Juuso Valimaki, Defence, 6-2, 204 (Tri-City, WHL)

One of the older prospects in the draft, has enticing package of size, skating skill and smarts.

17. Kailer Yamamoto, Right Wing, 5-8, 153 (Spokane, WHL

He’s quite tiny but his skill is arguably tops in the draft.

18. Isaac Ratcliffe, Left Wing, 6-6, 196 (Guelph, OHL)

Hulking winger developed a dangerous scoring touch.

19. Lias Andersson, Centre, 5-11, 198 (HV71, SHL)

A versatile two-way player who can impact a game offensively and defensively.

20. Ryan Poehling, Centre, 6-2, 183 (St. Cloud State, NCAA)

Impressive freshman year in NCAA and won Gold with USA at U18

21. Nick Suzuki, Centre, 5-11, 187 (Owen Sound, OHL)

A short but not undersized player, has hockey strength to go with skill and speed.

22. Callan Foote, Defence, 6-4, 213 (Kelowna, WHL)

A defense first player but has good skating, first pass and heavy shot.

23. Urho Vaakainainen, Defence, 6-0, 177 (JYP, Liiga)

Excels at both carrying puck up the ice and making crisp outlet passes.

24. Jason Robertson, Left Wing, 6-1, 180 (Kingston, OHL)

Goal scoring winger with size, has skating concerns.

25. Erik Brannstrom, Defence, 5-10, 173 (HV-71, SHL)

An offensive defenceman with a heavy shot that distributes the puck like a boss.

26. Nicolas Hague, Defence, 6-6, 208 (Mississauga, OHL)

Massive defenceman with a hard heavy shot and a willingness to jump in the play offensively.

27. Matthew Strome, Left Wing, 6-4, 206 (Hamilton, OHL)

A big strong winger with an accurate shot and good hockey sense, skating needs work.

28. Shane Bowers, Centre, 6-1, 183 (Waterloo, USHL)

Competes hard and is a smart two-way player.

29. Kole Lind, Right Wing, 6-1, 175 (Kelowna, WHL)

Makes plays and has good offensive vision, but has a quick release and can finish.

30. Maxime Comtois, Left Wing, 6-2, 199 (Victoriaville, QMJHL)

A physical and rambunctious forechecking winger who plays a two-way game.

31. Henri Jokiharju, Defence, 6-0, 176 (Portland, WHL)

Player of the game at the Top Prospects game distributes the puck and creates transition.