Here is my first list. They are rankings. This isn’t a mock draft. I will post some updates to this list on NHL Draft Buzz. My first list is usually more volatile. I like to wait until after the World Juniors are decided to post it. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, either on the radio or on my websites. I look at what a prospect projects to be, leadership, and other intangibles that are mixed in, besides what you see on the ice. I like to talk to as many prospects throughout the draft year for this reason. It helps me understand what makes them tick.
- Gavin McKenna – LW –Penn State – NCAA
- Keaton Verhoeff – D – North Dakota – NCAA
- Ivar Stenberg – LW – Frolunda – SHL
- Alberts Smits – D – Jukurit – Liiga
- Tynan Lawrence – C – Muskegon – USHL
- JP Hurlbert – LW – Kamloops – WHL
- Chase Reid – D – Sault St. Marie – OHL
- Ethan Belchetz – LW – Windsor – OHL
- Ryan Roobroeck – LW – Niagara – OHL
- Daxon Rudolph – D – Prince Albert – WHL
- Carson Carels – D – Prince George – WHL
- Ryan Lin – D – Vancouver – WHL
- Viggo Bjorck – C/RW – Djurgarden – SHL
- Caleb Malhotra – C – Brantford – OHL
- Xavier Villenueve – D – Blainville- Boisbriand – QMJHL
- Elton Hermansson – RW – Modo – U20
- Adam Novotny – LW – Peterborough – OHL
- Jack Hextall – C – Youngstown – USHL
- Oscar Hemming – LW – Boston College – NCAA
- Oliver Suvanto – C – Tappara – Liiga
- Jasper Kuhta – C – Ottawa – OHL
- Nikita Klepov – RW – Saginaw – OHL
- Egor Shilov – C – Victoriaville – QMJHL
- Alessando di Iorio – C – Sarnia – OHL
- Malte Gustafsson – D – HV71 Jr. – U20
- Adam Valentini – C/W – Michigan – NCAA
- Will McLaughlin – D – Portland – WHL
- Ilya Morozov – C – Miami University – NCAA
- Juho Piiparinen – D – Tappara – Liiga
- Beckham Edwards – C – Sarnia – OHL
- Tomas Chrenko – C – Nitra – Slovakia
- Blake Zielinski – C – Des Moines – USHL
