2017 NHL Draft rankings
April 27, 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.