Prospects Analysis: Top-200 Rankings

With the 2018-19 season fast approaching, here's our top-100 NHL prospects. The list is limited to players with less than 25 career regular-season games.

1. Rasmus Dahlin (D-BUF, acquired: 1st Round (1st overall) '18): Fear not, Sabres fans, the best prospect since Connor McDavid is here to turn your franchise around! Dahlin should be an impact player from the get go. His combination of speed, skill, and hockey IQ is remarkable for any defenseman, let alone a kid that turned 18 years old in April. He can play the game any way you want and he never seems to make a poor read defensively. I expect some minor growing pains regarding his transitioning to the smaller ice surfaces of North America early in the season, but it shouldn't take more than a couple weeks for him to work through those issues. His ceiling is that of a perennial All-Star and Norris Trophy candidate. Buffalo has added a bunch of talented players to their pipeline over the last few seasons, but this is the guy that the Sabres needed to get over the hump. A quiet, unassuming kid, and a hard worker, Dahlin is simply too talented to fail. The fun begins this fall.

2. Elias Pettersson (F-VAN, acquired: 1st Round (5th overall) '17): The fifth-overall pick by Vancouver in 2017, Pettersson was viewed as bit of a project at the time of his selection given his long, lean frame. Well, that scrawny kid was named Swedish Hockey League Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Playoff MVP in 2017-18. He led the SHL in points (56 in 44 games) and plus/minus (plus-27) in helping Vaxjo win a league championship. Pettersson signed his entry-level deal with the Canucks in May and he will be in their lineup this fall. He is going to have a more difficult time finding opening space on the ice at the NHL level than he did in Europe, but he is shifty enough and smart enough to take advantage of what little room he is given. The Canucks are in the running for worst team in the NHL and their prospect pool is barren, but Pettersson will provide them with an immediate difference-maker up front to play alongside rising star Brock Boeser.

3. Casey Mittelstadt (F-BUF, acquired: 1st Round (8th overall) '17): Mittelstadt has been viewed as a world-class offensive prospect for quite a while, but the World Junior Championship this past holiday season was his coming out party. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and signed with the Sabres after his freshman season at the University of Minnesota came to an end. Mittelstadt quickly racked up five points in six games for Buffalo late in the year. He has good size (6-foot-1, 205), elite vision, and is a brilliant puck handler. Mittelstadt should be amongst the NHL's leading rookie scorers this coming year. The combination of he and Dahlin will be a joy to watch in the coming years.

4. Andrei Svechnikov (F-CAR, acquired: 1st Round (2nd overall) '18): Carolina zeroed in on Svechnikov early in the draft process and never looked back. It was a wise choice. The big Russian tallied 40 goals in 44 OHL games in what will almost certainly be his only junior season. Svechnikov brings a remarkable combination of power and skill to the table. He can overpower opposing defenders with his size and then use his speed and agility to create a scoring chance just moments later. Dahlin aside, I believe Svechnikov has a significantly better chance of becoming a superstar than any other player selected in this past June's draft. Svechnikov should begin the season in a prominent role for the Hurricanes and I expect him to be worthy of selection in 12-team leagues immediately.

5. Eeli Tolvanen (F-NSH, acquired: 1st Round (30th overall) '17): People forget that Tolvanen's one and only KHL season was never actually supposed to happen. The Finnish sniper was committed to Boston College only to be deemed ineligible due to the school's admissions process. He headed off to Jokerit instead and posted one of the best seasons (19 goals, 36 points in 49 games) for a teenager in KHL history. He played for Finland at the Olympics and finished the year in Nashville. His brief three-game run with the Preds wasn't great, but big things are expected from Tolvanen this coming year. He has a cannon of a shot and is the very definition of a pure goal scorer. He can put the puck in the net from anywhere and possesses a blistering one-timer on the power play. He needs to work on his play away from the puck, but you can't teach Tolvanen's offensive abilities. He is a good bet to earn a top-six role out of training camp.

6. Kirill Kaprizov (F-MIN, acquired: 5th Round (135th overall) '15): Kaprizov would be a couple spots higher on this list if there was any guarantee that he would eventually come over to play in North America. The 21-year-old has been a KHL All-Star the past two seasons and he starred in helping to lead the OAR to Olympic gold. Kaprizov plays for CSKA Moscow, one of the KHL's premier organizations, and he's in a good spot there. His contract reportedly runs through 2019-20, so the earliest we would see him in North America is the 2020-21 season. The Wild sent representatives to Russia for what was essentially a meet-and-greet with Kaprizov, but there has been no indication that the 2015 fifth-round selection has committed to ever joining the Wild. Kaprizov is a terrific offensive player and worthy of a hold in all dynasty leagues given up massive upside, but this situation is years from being resolved.

7. Henrik Borgstrom (F-FLA, acquired: 1st Round (23rd overall) '16): The Panthers have a good, young core and the addition of Borgstrom as a full-time player should lengthen the lineup even more this coming year. Having won a national championship and being named a Hobey Baker Award Finalist over the course of his two seasons at the University of Denver, Borgstrom elected to sign with the Panthers in March and got into four games with the club late in the year. The talented Finn has good size (6-3, 195)and great hands. Borgstrom is equally adept at finishing or setting up his teammates and he possesses a terrific wrist shot. Florida has the depth up front to start Borgstrom out in a third-line role, but I imagine he will be pushing for top-six minutes by Christmas.

8. Filip Zadina (F-DET, acquired: 1st Round (6th overall) '18): Detroit was zeroed in on taking a defenseman with their first pick in June's draft, but Zadina's availability led to that plan being discarded in a hurry. The No. 3 overall player on my board at the start of the draft, Zadina combines high-level skill with a tireless work ethic. Zadina led all QMJHL rookies in goals (44), assists (38) and points (82) in his first season in Halifax. Zadina would have been a strong candidate to play in the NHL this coming year no matter where he ended up, but that is especially true now that he is in Detroit. The Wings are a poor hockey club and they need the immediate influx of talent and desire that Zadina brings to the party.

9. Martin Necas (F-CAR, acquired: 1st Round (12th overall) '17): Necas was so good in training camp last year that the Hurricanes carried him on their opening night roster. He suited up in one game for Carolina before they smartly sent him back to his Czech club in Brno for one final year of development. If all goes according to plan, he should stick for good this time around. Necas is a terrific skater and excels at making plays at top speed. He goes to the difficult areas of the ice to create offense and doesn't shy away from physical contact. His defensive awareness is decent, although like most young players, he can stand to improve a bit in that area.

10. Ilya Samsonov (G-WSH, acquired: 1st Round (22nd overall) '15): Washington had to wait more than three years to get Samsonov to North America, but they finally made it happen. The best goaltending prospect in the entire league, Samsonov just completed his third straight successful season (12-9-1, 2.31 GAA, .926 save percentage) with Magnitogorsk of the KHL. Samsonov is a massive kid (6-2, 200). He plays his angles well and does a strong job of controlling potential rebounds. The plan is for Samsonov to be the starter for AHL Hershey this season. He needs some time to get adjusted to playing on smaller ice surfaces and having him fill an immediate backup role to Brayden Holtby makes little sense. The 21-year-old needs to play. His dynasty league value is immense, but barring injury, it's going to be at least another season before he gets a shot at a significant workload with the Caps.

11. Miro Heiskanen (D-DAL, acquired: 1st Round (3rd overall) '17): Dallas signed Heiskanen to his entry-level contract just weeks after they spent the third-overall pick on him in 2017 but instead of forcing him into their lineup right away, they allowed Heiskanen to spend one final season in his native Finland. He responded with this best offensive season (11 goals, 23 points in 30 games) to date and he now appears more than ready to fill a top-six role for the Stars this fall. Heiskanen plays a calm, steady game, makes a terrific first pass and has the mobility to skate the puck out of trouble. In time I think he could be an asset on the power play for the Stars, but those opportunities figure to be limited right out of the gate with John Klingberg coming off the best season of his pro career. Having played against men back home for the past several seasons, Heiskanen should be more than ready for the jump to North America.

12. Robert Thomas (F-STL, acquired: 1st Round (20th overall) '17): At the time he was taken 20th overall by the Blues in the summer of 2017, Thomas was viewed as a smart, defensive-oriented center with a limited offensive arsenal. A little over 12 months later, he is widely viewed as one of the top offensive weapons in the OHL and there is a decent chance he spends the entirety of this upcoming season in St. Louis. A midseason trade from London to Hamilton allowed Thomas to earn a much bigger role and he responded with 12 goals and 32 points in 20 playoff games in helping Hamilton to the OHL Championship. Thomas is still very responsible in his own zone, but he now appears to be a lock to fill a top-six role at the NHL level given his newly found offensive output.

13. Jordan Kyrou (F-STL, acquired: 2nd Round (35th overall) '16): 70 assists and 109 points in 56 games later, Kyrou was named the OHL's Most Outstanding Player for 2017-18. He has gotten considerably better in each of his four seasons in Sarnia and he appears to be ready to challenge for a roster spot with the Blues out of training camp. Kyrou's best asset is his vision, although he has an underrated shot and he has improved defensively over the past few years. He is going to make his living as a point producing, top-six winger, but his play in his own end doesn't figure to be a liability moving forward. If the Blues only have room for either Thomas or Kyrou out of camp then it figures to be Thomas because he's further along defensively but I would be very surprised if Kyrou doesn't spend a good chunk of the season in the NHL regardless of where he begins.

14. Quinn Hughes: (D-VAN, acquired: 1st Round (7th overall) '18): Being able to add Hughes to their prospect pool was quite a coup for the Canucks. They have a pair of high-end offensive talents in Pettersson and Boeser, but their D core could charitably be termed a work in progress and Hughes has the potential to improve that group in a hurry. The University of Michigan product is a world-class skater and possess terrific creativity with the puck. His ceiling is one of the highest on this list. He needs to bulk up, but Hughes showed at the World Championship earlier this year that he can defend talented opponents due to his smarts and mobility. I rarely say this, but I think Vancouver would be best served to sign Hughes immediately and let him learn on the job at the NHL level.

15. Cale Makar (D-COL, acquired: 1st Round (4th overall) '17): Fresh off a pair of seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, Makar was a bit up and down in his freshman campaign at UMass-Amherst. His skill level is apparent, but he didn't dominate the game on some nights as Colorado would have hoped after spending the fourth-overall pick on him last summer. Perhaps more importantly for Makar was the fact that he played very well for Team Canada at the World Juniors. He began the tournament in the role of the club's seventh defenseman and by the time all was said and done, he developed into one of their best players in helping Canada win the Gold Medal. I'm a believer in Makar's long-term offensive abilities and I also believe he is going to take a significant step forward this season for the Minutemen. Colorado tried to sign Makar this summer but he elected to return to school. It figures to be the correct decision in the long run.

16. Igor Shestyorkin (G-NYR, acquired: 4th Round (118th overall) '14): Shestyorkin had a truly awful 2017-18 campaign. His GAA skyrocketed to 1.70 and his save percentage dropped to a paltry .933. The kid might not make it if he keeps playing at that level. In all seriousness, Igor continues to roll through the KHL. He had another brilliant year for SKA, he made the Russian (OAR) Olympic team (although he didn't play in the tournament) and he was exceptional for Russia (1.46 GAA, .942 save percentage) at the World Championship. Shestorykin's rebound control needs refinement, but the rest of his game is elite. His KHL contract runs through this coming season and all indications are that he plans to sign with New York next summer. The Rangers traded for his teammate and friend, defenseman Igor Rykov in a deadline deal with New Jersey and it appears as if both players with join the Rangers at the same time. Nothing is set in stone, but Rangers fans should be optimistic that this deal will get done. Shestyorkin is the heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist's throne in the Rangers crease.

17. Ilya Sorokin (G-NYI, acquired: 3rd Round (78th overall) '14): Sorokin is in the same boat as Shestyorkin aside from the fact that his KHL contract runs through 2019-20 and he has given no indication regarding his future. There was a rumor going around that Sorokin didn't want to join the Islanders if Garth Snow was in charge, but with Lou Lamoriello now calling the shots, that shouldn't be an issue moving forward. Outside of a prospect camp he attended shortly after he was drafted, the Islanders have had little contact with Sorokin in the past few years. Since becoming a full-time starter in the KHL three seasons ago, Sorokin's highest GAA was 1.61 and his worst save percentage was .929. In other words, Death, Taxes, and Ilya Sorokin making a mockery of the KHL. The Isles goaltending situation is a tire fire and they need to do whatever is necessary to get Sorokin signed in the spring of 2020.

18. Adam Boqvist (D-CHI, acquired: 1st Round (8th overall) '18): While there were rumors of Boqvist potentially sliding in the draft, he ended up being selected about where most expected and he brings youth and skill to Chicago team that is suddenly in need of both. Boqvist is a terrific offensive player, but the rest of his game needs work. He is very weak from a physical standpoint and he struggles to defend at times. He has a very high hockey IQ, so it's certainly reasonable to expect improved play in his own zone moving forward. Boqvist is a potential game-breaker from the back end and he could be playing in Chicago as early as 2019-20, although 2020-21 is more likely. Boqvist has elected to play this coming season with London of the OHL. It was a great decision for his long-term development. I expect him to post a ton of points while having his fair share of mishaps in his own end.

19. Oliver Wahlstrom (F-NYI, acquired: 1st Round (11th overall) '18): That blur you saw across your television screen on draft night in June was new Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello running to the podium to nab the tumbling Wahlstrom. It's truly remarkable that the Isles could stay at No. 11 and nab the best pure goal scorer in the draft. He has a hard, heavy shot and you don't have to ask him twice to fire. He's a bit one-dimensional and he rarely creates offense on his own, but Wahlstrom has 40-goal potential down the line. A product of the US NTDP, Wahlstrom is off to Boston College this fall. I doubt he plays more than one season of collegiate hockey. It's been a rough summer for the Islanders and their fans, but they should be salivating at the thought of Mathew Barzal setting up Wahlstrom for one-timers for years to come.

20. Sam Steel (F-ANA, acquired: 1st Round (30th overall) '16): Steel's stock has risen considerably over the past few years. I thought he was a high-floor/low-ceiling prospect at the time he was drafted, but since then, Steel has posted 83 goals and 214 points in 120 WHL contests, improved his play away from the puck, and was named WHL Most Valuable Player in 2016-17 and Memorial Cup MVP this past May. Steel is also a very hard worker and displays great leadership qualities. He still has a high floor, but he now has the ceiling of a top-six, two-way difference making center. Anaheim should be thrilled with his progress and he will be given a realistic chance to earn a roster spot with the club out of training camp.

21. Gabe Vilardi (F-LAK, acquired: 1st Round (11th overall) '17): I had Vilardi ranked No. 3 on my big board for the 2017 draft and I thought the Kings got a potential steal at pick No. 11. A little over a year later, that certainly appears to have been the case. A back injury kept Vilardi sidelined until after New Year's, but he was one of the best players in the OHL upon his return. His numbers (58 points in 32 games) were off the charts and he played equally well, if not better (11 goals, 22 points), in 16 playoff contests for Kingston. The knock on Vilardi in his draft year was his below-average footspeed, but he thinks the game so well and has such good size at 6-3, 200, that he still can dominate play in the offensive zone for extended periods of time. The Kings still maintain one of the worst prospect pools in the entire NHL, but assuming the back issue isn't a long-term problem, it sure looks as if they struck gold with the Vilardi selection.

22. Cody Glass (F-VGK, acquired: 1st Round (6th overall) '17): As the first two draft picks in Vegas history, Glass and Nick Suzuki will be forever linked. While Suzuki's strength is his two-way play, Glass is more of a point producer. I said in my column last season that he reminded me a bit of a young Mark Scheifele and I stand by that. Glass once again made a mockery of the WHL to the tune of 37 goals and 102 points in 64 games. He was a surprise cut from the Canadian World Junior roster, but he didn't hang his head and went back to Portland and continued to dominate. Glass projects to be that big, physical, point-producing center that all NHL clubs are looking for. Glass would benefit from one more year of seasoning before realistically challenging for a roster spot in Vegas.

23. Brady Tkachuk (F-OTT, acquired: 1st Round (4th overall) '18): I wasn't as high on Tkachuk as some others heading into the draft (he was No. 7 on my big board), but I acknowledge he has a high floor, he's almost NHL ready, and he will help improve the culture in the Ottawa locker room. That last part may be most important considering how things are going for the Senators these days. I would have looked elsewhere, but Tkachuk was a reasonable selection. On the ice, Tkachuk plays extremely hard and has a nice set of hands for a big (6-3, 195)kid. He does his best offensive work from within five feet of the goal crease. Even if he maxes out as a 20-goal, 45-point type of guy, he should be able to impact a game in a variety of other ways.

24. Filip Chytil (F-NYR, acquired: 1st Round (21st overall) '17): On the surface, Chytil's three points in nine NHL contests this past season doesn't appear to be much to write home about. Upon further examination, he had quite a productive season. He managed 31 points in 46 AHL games despite being one of the youngest players eligible for the 2017 draft. The production given his age bodes very well for the future. Chytil is a tall (6-2), lanky kid with good hands and an underrated shot. He is still learning the finer nuances of playing in his own zone, but he is a hard worker and popular amongst his coaches and fellow teammates. Chytil's ceiling is very high and given the (likely brief) rebuild that the Rangers find themselves embroiled in, the young Czech should find himself playing the entirety of this upcoming season in the NHL.

25. Morgan Frost (F-PHI, acquired: 1st Round (27th overall) '17): I wasn't crazy about the Flyers selection of Frost, mainly because there was another player (Tolvanen) still on the board that I thought was a better prospect. A little over a year later, Tolvanen is still the better prospect, but Frost has seen his stock skyrocket thanks to a season in which he led the OHL in scoring (112 points in 67 games) and plus/minus (plus-70). Frost is your typical undersized (5-11, 170), offensive playmaking center. He moves well, makes terrific reads with the puck, and possesses elite hockey sense. There are some concerns that Frost's stat line was simply the result of playing for the best offensive team in the CHL, but that's not the case. Frost is a legitimate offensive dynamo. There is a chance he is ready to help the Flyers in the fall of 2019.

26. Nick Suzuki (F-VGK, acquired: 1st Round (13th overall) '17): The very definition of consistency, Suzuki has been one of the best players (196 points in 129 games) in the OHL the past two seasons. Vegas can afford to be patient with Suzuki given the fact they just made it to the Stanley Cup Final as an expansion team, but I think he's just about ready for full-time NHL duty. The beauty of Suzuki's game is how many different things he does to help his club win hockey games. He's obviously a terrific offensive player, but he's a hard worker, can help on the penalty kill, and has shown an ability to fill a defensive role if needed. He has one of the highest floors on this list given his all-around game.

27. Evan Bouchard (D-EDM, acquired: 1st Round (10th overall) '18): Edmonton considered trading up to ensure Bouchard's services this past June, but he fell right into their lap. Bouchard was arguably the best passer available (forward or defenseman) in the entire draft. He led all OHL defenders in both assists (62) and points (87) this past season and given the current blueline situation of the Oilers, Bouchard should be given a realistic chance to crack their roster out of training camp. The most likely scenario remains Bouchard playing one final season of junior hockey, suiting up for the Canadian World Junior team in December, and nabbing a roster spot in Edmonton in 2019-20. Bouchard's mobility is only average, but he does most everything else exceptionally well.

28. Jesperi Kotkaniemi (F-MTL, acquired: 1st Round (3rd overall) '18): Montreal's rumored interest in Kotkaniemi leading up to the draft proved to be legitimate. Talented, two-way centers are the NHLs most valuable assets now and Habs GM Marc Bergevin couldn't pass on the opportunity to add the big Finn to his stable. I had Kotkaniemi rated No. 9 overall on my board, but there was never any chance he would fall that far. He played well in the Finnish league (10 goals, 29 points in 57 games) as a 17-year-old and there is clearly plenty of untapped upside to his game. Much of Bergevin's future legacy depends on how productive Kotkaniemi eventually becomes. He figures to be one year away from NHL duty.

29. Erik Brannstrom (D-VGK, acquired: 1st Round (15th overall), '17): The Golden Knights selected Brannstrom with a pick acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for absorbing Mikhail Grabovski's contract and not selecting Calvin DeHaan or Adam Pelech in the expansion draft. Advantage: Vegas. Brannstrom was one of my favorite players in the 2017 draft and he had a strong season (two goals, 15 points in 44 games) for HV71 of the SHL. The shifty Swede makes brilliant decisions with the puck, can quarterback a power play, and rarely gets caught out of position defensively despite the fact he checks in at just 5-10, 170. He should excel in the modern-day NHL and having already signed his entry-level deal with the club, I wouldn't be shocked if Brannstrom spent this coming season playing in Vegas.

30. Adam Fox (D-CAR, acquired: trade with CGY): Fox turned down multiple opportunities to sign with Calgary after each of his two seasons at Harvard and the Flames were less than confident he would ever choose to do so. As a result, they flipped him to Carolina along with Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland in the deal that brought Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin up north. I maintained all along that Fox should have been on the United States Olympic team and I stand by that. I also maintain he has nothing left to learn by playing collegiate hockey, but leaving a good situation at Harvard is a difficult decision for a 20-year-old kid to make. Fox's hockey sense is as strong as any player on this list. He excels at running a power play, although it's more because of his smarts and vision as opposed to Fox having a howitzer of a slap shot. He's very similar to Keith Yandle of the Panthers in that regard. The most likely scenario now is Fox forgoing his senior year to join Carolina next spring, but that is far from assured.

31. Rasmus Kupari (F-LA, acquired: 1st Round (20th overall) '18): I like Kupari's game more than most and it's doubtful you will see him ranked this highly anywhere else. I believe he has the skill set to develop into an impactful top-six forward, but there are plenty around the league that feel he doesn't have a ton of offensive upside. Kupari didn't have a very good year for Karpat (six goals, 14 points in 39 games) of the Finnish league and he saw his stock drop considerably as the draft approached. I think the Kings got a steal at No. 20, but I acknowledge he needs to show significant improvement this season.

32. Timothy Liljegren (D-TOR, acquired: 1st Round (17th overall) '17): That grin you see on the face of Leafs President Brendan Shanahan is him thinking about the 16 teams that passed on Liljegren in the 2017 draft. Viewed as a top-five talent heading into the draft (I had him ranked No. 6 on my big board), Liljegren tumbled to the middle of Round 1 due to a combination of contracting mono and poor play upon returning. The Leafs immediately signed the big Swede and he spent this past season playing for their AHL affiliate. The results were positive. Liljegren displayed flashes of the high-end offensive ability that everyone knew he possessed, and most importantly, his defensive game and ability to play within a team structure improved under the guidance of Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. My guess is that Liljegren, who turned 19 years old in April, begins next season back in the AHL, but I imagine he will make his NHL debut before the 2018-19 campaign is complete.

33. Logan Brown (F-OTT, acquired: 1st Round (11th overall) '16): It was another lost season for Brown as he played just 36 contests between his four-game stint in Ottawa and his time spent in the OHL. He even managed to get banged up during his brief stint with Team USA At the World Juniors. This comes on the heels of a 35-game campaign for the big center, so at least he is trending in the right direction. The fact Brown remains as high as he does on this list is a testament to his natural ability. He brings elite size (6-6, 220)to the table, he uses his large frame well, and he has a terrific set of hands. My only concern regarding Brown at this point is his ability to remain healthy over the course of a full season. He hasn't been able to do so throughout the course of his junior career and I think it's overly optimistic to believe that he will suddenly be able to suit up on a nightly basis while adjusting to the rigors of the professional game.

34. Kieffer Bellows (F-NYI, acquired: 1st Round (19th overall) '16): Bellows's decision to move on from Boston University after his freshman season and instead suit up for WHL Portland was a smart one. He scored 41 goals in 56 games for the Winterhawks and Bellows also lead the World Juniors in goals with nine in just seven games for Team USA. The son of long time NHLer Brian Bellows, Kieffer is a pure goal scorer. He has a terrific wrister and has displayed the ability to put the puck in the net from anywhere in the offensive zone. The two main concerns regarding Bellows's game are that he doesn't offer a heck of a lot to a hockey club if he isn't scoring goals and that he struggles to generate offense on his own and thus needs to play alongside a talented, playmaking center. I would certainly bet on his talent level over either of those two problems becoming long-term issues.

35. Ryan Donato (F-BOS, acquired: 2nd Round (56th overall) '14): Seeing what Donato did for the Bruins upon his arrival late in the season, he may be too low on this list. A member of the US Olympic squad, Donato was the United States' best player in South Korea. He combines skill and speed with great hockey sense. After posting nine points in 12 regular season games with the Bruins, I was baffled that coach Bruce Cassidy decided to scratch the former Hobey Baker Finalist for all but three of Boston's postseason contests. He may not have saved their season, but Boston was essentially a one-line team by the time they were eliminated by the Lightning and Donato certainly could have helped provide some secondary scoring. I assume the Bruins will rectify their mistake and assign Donato a significant role to begin the 2018-19 campaign.

36. Joel Farabee (F-PHI, acquired: 1st Round (14th overall) '18): Farabee's tenacious style of play should go over well in a hard-working city like Philly. The only concern I have regarding Farabee's game is his size. At 6-0, 165, he's extremely slight and a constant injury risk given how hard he plays the game. His skill level is at least solid average and I have little doubt Farabee will develop into a use NHL player in some capacity. Whether that will be in a top-six role or a depth position remains to be seen. Farabee's aggressive nature should fit extremely well alongside some of the other more talented offensive players in the Philadelphia system. He is off to Boston University this fall.

37. Carter Hart (G-PHI, acquired: 2nd round (48th overall), '16): Although Hart was a solid prospect in his draft year, there was nothing in his previous body of work that would lead you to believe he would go on to post some of the best goaltending numbers in WHL history. Hart has taken home the Del Wilson Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year for the past three seasons. In 2017-18, he was named CHL Goaltender of the Year after posting a 31-6-3 record to go along with a 1.60 GAA and .947 save percentage. He also has 22 shutouts in the past three years. A kid who remains calm and composed in net and offers terrific size at 6-2, 190, Hart has an outside chance to earn significant playing time for the Flyers next season because of their lack of goaltending depth. All things being equal, they would almost certainly prefer Hart gets a full year of AHL exposure prior to arriving on Broad Street, but they may be left with no other option.

38. Noah Dobson: (D-NYI, acquired: 1st Round (12th overall) '18): On the strength of their selections of Dobson and Wahlstrom, both of whom fell further than expected, the Islanders were widely regarded by many (myself included) to have had the best draft of all 31 teams this past June. Dobson's strong finish to the season and brilliant showing in the Memorial Cup for eventual champion Acadie-Bathurst seemingly gave him an outside chance at being a top-5 pick. That didn't happen, and the Isles are better off as a result. Dobson is a solid, two-way defender with a good set of wheels. He doesn't figure to produce a ton of offense as a pro, but I think he has enough ability to be an option on a second power-play unit. He was a safe, yet solid pick.

39. Jordan Greenway (F-MIN, acquired: 2nd Round (50th overall) '15): In a season in which Greenway played all over the world, literally, he began the year at Boston University and finished playing in the NHL. In between, he suited up for Team USA at the Olympics. The more I watch Greenway play, the more I think he stands a great chance at developing into an impact player at the NHL level. When you combine his size (6-5, 230)with the fact he has a terrific set of hands around the front of the net, Greenway should easily be able to score a dozen power play goals on a yearly basis. He is prone to taking foolishly penalties now and then because he plays so hard, but Greenway offers enough all-around projection that he should be an asset even if he is filling a bottom-six role at even strength.

40. Owen Tippett (F-FLA, acquired: 1st Round (10th overall) '17): Tippett played seven games with the Panthers early in the season before being shipped back to OHL Mississauga to do what he does. That being, score goals. Tippett has 80 goals over the last two years with the Steelheads and he is close to earning a permanent spot in the Florida lineup. The other aspects of Tippett's game, mainly his defensive accountability, remain a work in progress. Tippett wasn't viewed as a candidate for the Canadian World Junior team in December, which was surprising given how well he has played over the course of the OHL career and how high he was taken in the draft. He could stand to use his teammates a bit more and he will never be mistaken for a Selke Trophy candidate, but Tippett's ceiling is that of a perennial 30-goal scorer at the NHL level.

41. Vitali Kravtsov (F-NYR, acquired: 1st Round (9th overall) '18): It took a ton of guts for GM Jeff Gorton and Scouting Director Gordie Clark to pull the trigger on Kravtsov. With guys like Wahlstrom, Bouchard and Dobson available, the Rangers went with the guy they had ranked as the second-best forward in the draft. The team that apparently wouldn't have taken Zadina had he had fallen to them? This was it. Kravstov's offensive abilities aren't in question. After a nondescript regular season in which he received minimal playing time and tallied just four goals in 35 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk, Kravtsov was elevated to a top-six role for the playoffs and responded with 11 points in 16 games. The big Russian's game has drawn comparisons to Capitals forward Evgeni Kuznetsov. Kravtsov considered buying out the final season of his KHL contract to make the move to North America this season, but he ultimately elected to suit up for Traktor for one more year. With the KHL season ending far earlier than the NHL campaign, it's conceivable Kravtsov could be in NYC as early as this coming spring.

42. Taylor Raddysh (RW-TB, acquired: 2nd Round (58th overall), '16): Playing the role of a hired gun, Raddysh was dealt from OHL Erie to Sault Ste. Marie in the middle of the season. He was instrumental in leading the Greyhounds to Game 7 of the OHL Finals before they were bounced by Hamilton. Raddysh's numbers were down across the board in 2017-18 (33 goals, 83 points in 58 games), although he still had a terrific offensive season. Raddysh doesn't have any elite offensive tools, but he's above-average across the board and his game has no real weaknesses. He's proven to be a dynamic point producer at the junior level and although I think he probably needs a full year of AHL seasoning before he is ready to help the Lightning, Tampa has enough forward depth on their NHL roster that they can afford to take things slowly with Raddysh. He's not a sexy pick for dynasty owners, but I think he has a long, productive professional career.

43. Colin White (F-OTT, acquired: 1st Round (21st overall) '15): He has been a prospect for seemingly ever, but White has played just 23 regular season NHL games and is thus still eligible for this list. Yes, I was surprised also. White's season got off to a late start due to a broken wrist and he spent most it with Belleville of the AHL. He managed just two goals and six points in 21 games with Ottawa. White played better for Team USA at the World Championship than he did at any point during the season for the Senators. White is still just 21 years old and he has a high floor as a potential third-line center than can contribute 15-plus goals per season, but I think he needs to have a big year to still be considered a high-end prospect. Ottawa was a bad hockey team last year and they project to be a bad hockey team this year. White should have plenty of opportunity to make an impact in the nation's capital.

44. Grigori Denisenko (F-FLA, acquired: 1st Round (15th overall) '18): Florida has plenty of talented, young skaters on their NHL roster and as a result they could afford to take chance on a player like Denisenko that has no clear timetable to arrive in North America. Although Denisenko is a strong offensive player, he is prone to taking bad penalties and needs to clean up his defensive game. He could also stand to use his teammates a bit more. Denisenko's upside is significant, but he is a way away from NHL duty. Dynasty owners should plan on Denisenko playing at least two more seasons with Yaroslavl of the KHL.

45. Olli Juolevi (D-VAN, acquired: 1st Round (5th overall) '16): With his stock at an all-time high leading into the draft, Vancouver spent a top-five pick on Juolevi in 2016. His star has dimmed considerably in the past two-plus years, although he is coming off a nice season (seven goals, 19 points in 38 games) for TPS of the Finnish league. Juolevi signed his entry-level contract shortly after the draft and after allowing him to play one more season with OHL London, Vancouver loaned him to TPS in hopes of boosting his confidence. It seems to have worked, but we won't know that for sure until he returns to North America this fall. Unfortunately, Juolevi's season debut will be significantly delayed due to off-season back surgery. At his best, Juolevi looks like a second-pairing defender that brings some size and plenty of offensive ability to the table. I think most of his point production at the professional level will be of the secondary variety, but Juolevi has an intriguing skill set and the Canucks needs all the talented, young players they can get their hands on.

46. Dante Fabbro (D-NSH, acquired: 1st Round (17th overall) '16): I would be surprised bordering on shocked if Fabbro didn't develop into a useful NHL regular. I was never as high on him from an offensive perspective as some others, but he makes intelligent plays with the puck and he's strong defensively without being overly physical. He plays under control and his skill set allows him to complement either an offensive or defensive minded partner. Fabbro will return to Boston University for his junior season in which he will serve as team captain. My guess is that he turns pro next summer and forgoes his final season of collegiate eligibility.

47. Ty Smith (D-NJ, acquired: 1st Round (17th overall) '18): Smith is another player that very easily could have been selected several spots higher in the draft. An undersized defender (5-11, 175)with a good set of wheels, Smith was one of the WHL's most productive defensemen (73 points in 69 games) this past season for Spokane. I'm not convinced he will provide a ton of offense for the Devils at the professional level, but his mobility and smarts should allow Smith to have a long career as a second-pairing defender. He might be just a year away from helping New Jersey.

48. Michael Rasmussen (F-DET, acquired: 1st Round (9th overall) '17): The surprise of training camp last fall, Rasmussen nearly made the Detroit roster as an 18-year-old. He was eventually returned to WHL Tri-City and posted nearly identical numbers (31 goals, 59 points in 47 games) to the previous season before exploding for 16 goals and 33 points in 14 playoff games. Rasmussen checks in at 6-6 and projects as your typical power forward. He does his best work within five feet of the net. He was viewed as extremely raw when drafted, but Rasmussen appears to be closer to NHL duty than anyone could have possibly anticipated at the time. The Red Wings have spent all summer talking him up and it sure appears as if they plan on giving Rasmussen a significant role this season. It's a risky move considering Detroit remains one of the poorer teams in the league and they have nothing to gain by rushing him. If he proves he isn't ready, the Wings need to send Rasmussen back for one final WHL season.

49. Thatcher Demko (G-VAN, acquired: 2nd Round (36th overall) '14): As expected, Vancouver's goaltending combination of Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson failed miserably this past season. With their teammates crumbling around them, those two only made matters worse. While all this was going on, Demko played well (25-13-4, 2.44 GAA, .922 save percentage) for AHL Utica. He also got into one game with the Canucks. Demko has terrific size at 6-4 and he moves well for such a big kid. Markstrom is signed for two more years at $3.6 million and Nilsson for one more at $2.5 million. Demko is better than either of them but given their lofty salaries and the fact the Canucks are quite possibly the worst team in the NHL, Vancouver seemingly has little incentive to rush Demko into a full-time gig. He turns 23 years old in December.

50. Kailer Yamamoto (F-EDM, acquired: 1st Round (22nd overall) '17): Yamamoto's standout training camp performance earned him a nine-game trial with Edmonton before the Oilers (correctly) returned him to WHL Spokane. He started extremely slowly for the Chiefs before picking up the pace as the season went along. Yamamoto was good but not great for Team USA at the World Juniors. The concerns that have plagued Yamamoto throughout his junior career (mainly his small frame) remain. He has more than enough offensive ability to fill a top-six role and the fact he should have an opportunity to play alongside Connor McDavid makes Yamamoto a highly intriguing long-term asset, but he offers little defensively and questions remain about his ability to handle the physicality of an 82-game NHL season. I like him, but there are risks here.

51. Vitali Abramov (F-CBJ, acquired: 3rd Round (65th overall) '16): Abramov ends his three-year junior career as one of the most productive offensive players in recent QMJHL history. He posted 104 points in each of the past two seasons after posting 93 points in his first campaign. Abramov works his tail off and obviously has shown an ability to hit the scoresheet with regularity. He wins battles all over the ice. His lack of size (5-9, 170)is a concern, but I don't think it will hold him back. Players with Abramov's puck skills and work ethic generally succeed. He likely needs at least half a season of AHL seasoning but I imagine he will make his NHL debut at some point in 2018-19.

52. Joe Veleno (F-DET, acquired: 1st Round (30th overall) '18): Veleno's tumble on draft night was one of the crazier things I have seen since I began writing for RotoWire in 2005. The widely accepted explanation was that teams felt Veleno just didn't possess enough upside to make it worth spending a first-rounder on him, but I would counter that beginning in the middle of Round 1, Veleno's dependability should have made him a highly desirable asset. He didn't have a standout draft season in the QMJHL (79 points in 64 games) and he his offensive game hasn't' developed as much as scouts hoped when Veleno was given exceptional status to join the league as a 15-year-old in 2015, but he thinks the game well, is a strong skater and a hard worker. The selection of Veleno isn't going to help accelerate Detroit's rebuild, but it has a chance to provide considerable value down the line.

53. Nikita Gusev (F-VGK, acquired: trade with TB): Of all the players on this list, Gusev was the one that I had the most difficult time ranking. He turned 26 years old in July and although Vegas owns his rights after a trade with Tampa at the expansion draft in 2017, he has given no indication regarding his plans moving forward. His KHL contract reportedly runs through this coming season. On the ice, I have the upmost confidence that Gusev could step in and fill a top-six role at the NHL level immediately. Gusev was named KHL MVP this past season after posting 62 points in 54 games for SKA St. Petersburg and he led the Olympics in scoring for the OAR. I do wonder if Vegas's handling of the Vadim Shipachyov situation will impact Gusev's decision. If I had to guess I would wager that he remains in the KHL, but that's far from guaranteed. I could see his rights being dealt once again if he informs the Golden Knights he doesn't wish to play for them.

54. Oskar Lindblom (F-PHI, acquired: 5th Round (148th overall) '14): After his first season in North America began slowly, Lindblom eventually found his footing. His AHL numbers were strong (34 points in 54 games) and he flashed in his 23-game stint with the Flyers while playing up and down the lineup. I'm not crazy about Lindblom in a bottom-six role as it would be a waste of his offensive abilities and I imagine he would perform just fine if Philadelphia slotted him alongside Claude Giroux for the entire season. Lindblom brings size (6-2, 200)and plenty of skill to the table. I think he develops into a useful fantasy asset in deeper leagues sooner rather than later.

55. Klim Kostin (F-STL, acquired: 1st Round (31st overall) '17): Kostin had no business plummeting in the draft as he did and the Blues deserve credit for getting him signed and into their system immediately. Kostin played the entirety of last season in the AHL as an 18-year-old. He scored just six goals in 67 games, but a steep learning curve was expected. Kostin barely played in his draft year and he's still leaning the game. He's a massive kid (6-3, 200)and a load to handle down low, but the other aspects of his game need work. His ceiling remains extremely high but it may another two years before he is ready to help St. Louis.

56. Barrett Hayton (F-ARI, acquired: 1st Round (5th overall) '18): There is a serious shortage of centers around the NHL and the steadiness and reliability that Hayton brings to the table saw him be selected a bit earlier than most expected. I had him ranked No. 17 on my board, but there were other teams that were considering the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound in the top 10. If I was picking that high, I would have shot for ceiling over floor, but Hayton didn't get the opportunity to show his full offensive repertoire this season while playing for arguably the best team in the CHL. He has a bright future and I'm a big fan, but I just felt 5th overall was a tad early.

57. Lias Andersson (F-NYR, acquired: 1st Round (7th overall) '17): One of the reasons the Rangers were reportedly interested in Andersson was because they felt he could step into their lineup right away. That proved not to be the case as Andersson had a rough training camp and was loaned to his Swedish club team in Frolunda to start the year. After the World Juniors ended he moved to the AHL and after the Rangers blew up their team at the trade deadline, he finished the season playing seven games in New York. The scouting report on Andersson – a high-floor, two-way center, remains the same as when he was drafted. He may not provide enough offense to fill a top-six role, but Andersson is an asset that can be deployed in a variety of roles. He should spend the entirety of this season with the Rangers.

58. Juuso Valimaki (D-CGY, acquired: 1st Round (16th overall) '17): Injuries limited Valimaki to just 43 games for WHL Tri-City this past season, but the production (14 goals, 45 points) was once again there for the talented Finn. He then finished his year with a strong playoff. The more I watch Valimaki play, the more I think he has a chance to develop into an impact defenseman for the Flames. He has size (6-2, 205), mobility, and an ever-growing offensive game. Valimaki will probably begin his first professional season in the AHL, but he should be just about ready for a full-time roll on the Calgary blueline.

59. Dylan Sikura (F-CHI, acquired: 6th Round (178th overall) '14): Although eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this August, Sikura signed with the Blackhawks in March after his senior season at Northeastern University ended. One of the most productive offensive players in the country of the past two seasons (43 goals, 111 points in 73 games), Sikura finished the year by posting three assists in five games with Chicago. The Hobey Baker Award Finalist is a complete offensive player. He turned 23 years old this past June and Sikura is more than ready to compete for a top-six role in training camp. Sikura is an under-the-radar Calder Trophy candidate.

60. Jonathan Dahlen (F-VAN, acquired: trade with OTT): The recently-retired Alexandre Burrows had been awful for years now but that didn't stop the Senators from sending Dahlen to Vancouver for him in February 2017. The Canucks then proceeded to sign Dahlen to his entry-level deal less than two months later. They loaned back him to Timra in the Swedish second league Allsvenskan his past season and Dahlen responded with 44 points in 44 games on his way to being named league MVP. Dahlen has always had a high floor but his offensive game has improved considerably since he was first drafted in the second round by Ottawa in 2016. He may begin the year with AHL Utica, but Dahlen should spend much of this coming season in Vancouver.

61. Troy Terry (F-ANA, acquired: 5th Round (148th overall) '15): Terry was one of four collegiate players (Greenway, Donato, Will Borgen) named to the United States Olympic team. He posted five assists in five games in South Korea and signed with Anaheim after completing a third straight productive season at the University of Denver. Terry played two games with the Ducks at the tail end of the season and was a healthy scratch for their (short) playoff run. Terry's hockey sense is elite. He's a good skater and a good offensive player, but his brain will make him an effective pro player. I generally advocate top prospects be returned to the minors or juniors if there aren't substantial minutes available for them on the NHL roster, but I think Terry would thrive in a checking role to the begin the season. He could move up in the lineup if/when injuries strike.

62. Kristian Vesalainen (F-WPG, acquired: 1st Round (24th overall) '17): Vesalainen spent his draft year bouncing between clubs in Sweden and his native Finland. He was never able to find his rhythm and he dropped in the draft as a result. Finally situated in Finland for the duration of the 2017-18 season, Vesalainen posted 22 goals and 43 points in 49 games and led the league in power play goals with 14. He has plenty of size (6-4, 195)and a cannon of a shot. Vesalainen has the offensive skills to be at least 25 spots higher on this list when we reevaluate the situation a year from now. He needs to work on his play away from the puck, but that will improve over time.

63. Philippe Myers (D-PHI, acquired: undrafted FA): Myers would be knocking on the door of the NHL if he was ever able to shake the injury bug. The big (6-5, 210)has the skill set to be an impact defender at both ends of the rink. He just needs to suit up first. Myers played just 50 games this past season, his first in the professional ranks, for AHL Lehigh Valley and going back to his junior days, he has never played more than 63 games in a single season. Myers should develop into a top-four defender without issue given his size and ability, but that's not a given considering all the time he tends to miss. Staying healthy for a full season is more important for Myers moving forward than his statistics.

64. Oliver Kylington (D-CGY, acquired: 2nd Round (60th overall) '15): With three full AHL seasons under his belt despite the fact he turned just 21 years of age in May, Kylington is just about ready for full-time NHL duty. His role has increased considerably each season for Stockton and his play away from the puck and his decision making has improved great since Kylington was first drafted. A terrific passer and strong skater, Kylington has always had the tools to contribute offensively and if the rest of his game continues to improve, he looks like a solid second-pairing defender for the Flames.

65. Janne Kuokkanen (F-CAR, acquired: 2nd Round (43rd overall) '16): Kuokkanen's first professional season went about as I expected and by that, I mean he dressed in a handful of games for the Hurricanes (four) and he was productive offensively for AHL Charlotte (40 points in 60 games). Kuokkanen has a high floor. At the very least I figure he should be able to handle a third-line role for Carolina while chipping in 15-odd goals per season. The knock on Kuokkanen is his lack of physicality. He's a perimeter player, particularly in the offensive zone, although I have no issues with his compete level.

66. Alexander Nylander (F-BUF, acquired: 1st Round (8th overall) '16): With eight goals and 27 points in 51 games, Nylander's second AHL campaign was only marginally better than his first. He tallied one goal in a brief four-game stint with the Sabres. Nylander is still extremely young (he turned just 20 in March), but his lack of production is concerning for a kid that was viewed by most as a high-floor prospect. Between Dahlin, Mittelstadt and Eichel, Buffalo has enough high-end offensive weapons that Nylander should eventually be able to settle into a secondary scoring role. This is a massive year for his development. Nylander is far too young to give up on, but he can't go three seasons with any signs of substantial improvement.

67. Jon Gillies (G-CGY, acquired: 3rd Round (75th overall) '12): Gillies continues to hone his craft at the AHL level (17-16-3, 2.53 GAA, .917 save percentage) while he waits for a full-time gig to open up in Calgary. He did get into 11 games with the Flames last season and the results (3-5-1, 2.88 GAA, .896 save percentage) weren't great. Gillies has dealt with significant injuries over the past few years and he is behind the curve development wise simply because of all the time he has missed. Gillies offers elite size (6-6, 225)and he moves well for such a big kid, but there is little reason to keep him on the NHL roster in a backup role. Starter Mike Smith is signed for one more season. In an ideal world, Gillies would carry the load for AHL Stockton for another year before taking over in net in 2019-20. He must remain healthy for that plan to become a reality.

68. Ryan Poehling (F-MTL, acquired: 1st Round (25th overall) '17): Poehling was one of the youngest collegiate hockey players in the country during his draft year at St. Cloud State and his numbers (seven goals, 13 points in 35 games) suffered as a result. This past season, he took the significant step forward (14 goals, 31 points in 36 games) that many expected. Poehling brings size (6-2, 200), strength, and a decent amount of skill to the party. He may not have enough natural offensive ability to fill a top-six role on a regular basis, but he's too good to term a depth player. I think Poehling eventually develops into a useful, two-way third-liner that can help the Habs in a multitude of areas.

69. Jacob Larsson (D-ANA, acquired: 1st Round (27th overall) '15): Anaheim's defensive unit remained surprisingly healthy for the majority of the 2017-18 season and as a result, Larsson spent the entire season playing in the AHL. When the Ducks were forced to make a call to the minors, they preferred the floor of Marcus Pettersson over the ceiling of Larsson in a depth role. More of a finesse defender than a banger, Larsson is mobile and is strong in his own zone despite a lack of physicality to his game. He has nothing left to learn in the AHL and the Ducks would be smart to start Larsson in a third-pairing role to begin the season and move him up the depth chart as his play warrants.

70. Michael McLeod (F-NJ, acquired: 1st Round (12th overall) '16): While the Devils continue to retool and improve as an organization, McLeod is trending in the wrong direction. A knee injury suffered in the preseason sidelined him until November and McLeod looked lackluster (44 points in 38 games) upon returning to the OHL Mississauga lineup. A player with McLeod's natural gifts and in his final junior season should be producing at a far greater rate. It has been the case throughout his career. McLeod is a big kid (6-2, 195)but he's not physical and he would have extremely limited value in a checking role. New Jersey now has the depth on their NHL roster to be patient with McLeod and he needs to take advantage of that development time.

71. Isac Lundestrom (F-ANA, acquired: 1st Round (23rd overall) '18): Lundestrom should be ready to help Anaheim after just one more season in the SHL. A defensively-responsible center who prides himself in his play in his own zone, Lundestrom has more offensive skill than he gets credit for. He was deployed in a secondary role for Lulea this past season and his numbers (6 goals, 15 points in 42 games) showed that. I like Lundestrom's chances of developing into a middle-six, two-way pivot with a slight opportunity for more. He reminds me of Lias Andersson, although Andersson is a bit more creative offensively.

72. Max Jones (F-ANA, acquired: 1st Round (24th overall) '16): Jones missed substantial time this past season with a broken finger and although he finally made the Team USA roster for the World Juniors, he was virtually invisible while playing a limited role in the tournament. Jones is a physical specimen and he works his tail off but he has had difficulty remaining healthy. He has played just 64 OHL games over the past two seasons and he has suffered due to the missed reps. I figured he would be in line for an NHL job at this point but I don't see how he doesn't begin this coming season in the AHL given how little hockey he has played of late. Jones's ceiling is that of an impact, two-way power forward, but he's far from reaching it.

73. Conor Timmins (D-COL, acquired: 2nd Round (32nd overall) '17): Timmins raised his stock about as much as he could this past season considering he played just 36 games for OHL Sault Ste. Marie. He was productive (eight goals, 41 points) when healthy and he played well for Team Canada at the World Juniors. Timmins missed nearly two months with a lower-body injury before returning late in the year. Timmins's biggest asset is his reliability. He plays a calm and structured game and he rarely makes a bad pass. He's a good skater and has above-average offensive abilities. I think Timmins is just about ready to help the Avs. His long-term role is likely that of a second-pairing, power-play guy. He figures to get a long look in camp.

74. Nicolas Hague (D-VGK, acquired: 2nd Round (34th overall) '17): Remember when Hague dropped in the draft because teams thought he had a limited amount of offensive ability? Well, that same guy scored 35 goals this past season and became the first OHL defender to crack the 30-goal plateau since 1999-00. He was named the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman. Hague offers world-class size (6-6, 215)and he's willing to get involved from a physical standpoint, so even 35-40 points per season at the professional level would make him a potential All-Star. Hague's point production will be a topic to keep an eye on as he transitions to the professional ranks this coming season.

75. Warren Foegele (F-CAR, 3rd Round (67th overall) '14): Foegele has seen his stock skyrocket on the strength of a 28-goal first AHL season. He also scored twice and added an assist in a brief two-game stint with Carolina. Foegele started to pick up the pace in the tail end of his final junior season. He was named OHL Playoff MVP with Erie in 2016-17 and he carried his strong play over to the professional ranks. Foegele is a tall (6-2), lanky winger with a good set of hands. I've always been a fan of his game, but this sudden increase in production came out of nowhere. While Foegele is likely to begin next season back in the AHL, he is on the verge of earning a full-time gig with the Hurricanes.

76. Aleksi Heponiemi (F-FLA, acquired: 2nd Round (40th overall) '17): With a league-leading 90 assists in just 57 contests, Heponiemi once again made a mockery of the WHL for Swift Current. The talented Finn brings elite vision and offensive instincts to the table. The only concern surrounding Heponiemi moving forward is his lack of size. The WHL's official website has him listed at 5-10, 140. He's certainly bulked up a bit over the past year or so, but I doubt he's 165 soaking wet. He doesn't get hit much because he's so shifty, but Heponiemi needs to continue to add muscle to his frame. Knowing he was unlikely to crack the Florida roster out of camp and with less than nothing left to learn playing junior hockey, Heponiemi signed with Karpat in the Finnish league for this coming season. He should be ready to challenge for a roster spot in 2019-20 after one strong campaign overseas.

77. Jake Bean (D-CAR, acquired: 1st Round (13th overall) '16): While Bean has seen his stock drop a bit over the past year-plus, he hasn't played all that badly. The reason I have him ranked lower on the list than ever before is due to questions I have regarding his long-term ceiling. He's mobile, a very good passer, and an asset on the power-play, but I think he is ultimately ticketed for a second-pairing role as opposed to a top-two guy. Set to turn pro this fall, Bean shouldn't need much development time in the AHL. I wouldn't be surprised if he spends a good portion of the season in Carolina.

78. Bode Wilde (D-NYI, acquired: 2nd Round (41st overall) '18): Ahh, the curious case of Mr. Wilde. Bode was rumored to be going anywhere from the mid-to-late first round this past June before a sudden freefall sent him spiraling to the middle of Round 2. The Islanders scored big with Wahlstrom and Dobson in the first round and they could afford to take a risk on Wilde. Bode possess world-class offensive skills and terrible hockey sense. I'm a believer in his physical gifts, but hockey IQ is probably the most difficult aspect of the sport to teach and Wilde has a way to go to reach his massive ceiling. Initially committed to Harvard and then the University of Michigan, Wilde now appears ticketed for Saginaw of the OHL.

79. Dominik Bokk (F-STL, acquired: 1st Round (25th overall) '18): Bokk is another high-ceiling, long-term project. A highly creative puck handler with an elite set of hands and a terrific wrist shot, Bokk has all the makings of a top-six scoring winger. His play away from the puck needs substantial improvement and like most young kids he needs to bulk up, but there is a ton of upside here. The Vaxjo program in Sweden is turning out talented offensive players left and right and the young German is the latest in an ever-growing line of potential future NHL stars.

80. Evgeni Svechnikov (F-DET, acquired: 1st Round (19th overall) '15): Svechnikov had a terrible season. There is no other way to say it. Although he was expected to play a significant role in Detroit from the get go, Svechnikov spent most of the year in the AHL and he managed just seven goals and 23 points in 57 games. He was slightly better in his limited time with the Wings (two goals, four points in 14 games), although not by much. Drafted in 2015, Svechnikov is still just 21 years old, but he's trending in the wrong direction. He simply doesn't play with the same intensity or consistency as his younger brother (No. 4 on this list). Svechnikov is too young to give up on given his size (6-3, 205)and above-average hands, but he needs to perform considerably better in 2018-19.

81. Henri Jokiharju (D-CHI, acquired: 1st Round (29th overall) '17): Between his excellent play for WHL Portland (71 points in 63 games) and a strong showing for his native Finland at the World Juniors, it was quite the productive season for Jokiharju. The former first round pick makes smart reads defensively despite having nothing more than average size (6-0, 180), but Jokiharju's greatest asset is his ability to get the puck up and out of his own end quickly. With Chicago desperate to infuse some youth on their blue line, Jokiharju could be on the fast track to the NHL.

82. Kale Clague (D-LA, acquired: 2nd Round (51st overall) '16): Your typical offensive-minded defenseman, Clague's final junior season was by far his most productive (71 points in 54 games). Clague led all WHL defensemen in assists (60) and he was named the league's best defender. His play in his own end has improved, but still needs work. Clague will never be the type of player that his team leans on to protect a one-goal lead late. His ceiling is high, but Clague would be best served by playing a full year in the AHL.

83. Sami Niku (D-WPG, acquired: 7th Round (198th overall) '15): The Jets knew they had an intriguing prospect on their hands when they brought Niku over to North America last season, but no one could have seen him making such a flawless transition to the smaller ice surfaces. The 21-year-old was named the AHL's top defenseman after posting 16 goals and 54 points in 76 games for Manitoba. Niku also suited up for one NHL game and scored his first goal in the process. Seemingly on the verge of earning a full-time gig in Winnipeg and having proven he can rack up points on this side of the pond, Niku should be owned in all competitive dynasty leagues at this point. It's scary to think he was nothing more than an afterthought a year ago.

84. Wade Allison (F-PHI, acquired: 2nd Round (52nd overall) '16): Allison was tied for fifth in the nation in scoring (15 goals, 30 points in 22 games) when a lower-body injury suffered in mid-January ended his season. Allison had a strong freshman campaign (29 points in 36 games) at Western Michigan University and he had taken another significant step forward in his second year prior to the ailment. Allison is a big, strong net-front presence who can physically dominate opposing defenders. Assuming he is fully healed from the injury (he should be), expect Allison to once again be amongst college hockey's leading goal scorers this season.

85. Ryan Merkley (D-SJ, acquired: 1st Round (21st overall) '18): The Sharks took Merkley early on in hopes of hitting a home run. With Brent Burns not getting any younger and the value of talented, puck-moving defenders at an all-time high, San Jose just wasn't able to pass on Merkley's immense potential. Yet with the good comes plenty of bad. For all his skill (and there's a ton of it), Merkley has gotten into fights with teammates and coaches to the point that some clubs removed him from their draft boards entirely. He has also shown little interest in improving the defensive side of his game. If Merkley's past issues are nothing more than youthful immaturity, the Sharks got a steal. If they are part of an ongoing problem, they likely wasted a first-round pick.

86. Anthony Cirelli (F-TB, acquired: 3rd Round (72nd overall) '15): Cirelli made his NHL debut on March 1 and he played a key role for the club for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs. I have long touted Cirelli as one of the most underrated prospects in the league and his showing in his brief NHL run was the exact reason why. Cirelli has the rare ability to be a productive offensive player (11 points in 18 games) without having the puck on his stick. He plays hard, his hockey sense is elite, and he's an asset defensively. Cirelli's ultimate role is likely that of a versatile third-liner, and while that may seem underwhelming, keep in mind that position will come with 20-plus goals per season in addition to serving as an asset on the penalty-kill. Cirelli is a winning player and I doubt he spends another day in the minors.

87. Colton Point (G-DAL, acquired: 5th Round (128th overall) '16): Having played sparingly in his freshman season at Colgate, no one knew what to expect from Point when he took over the starting job this past year. He responded with 16-12-5 record in addition to a sparkling 1.74 GAA and .944 save percentage. He was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker award and Point came out of nowhere to seize the backup job for Team Canada at the World Juniors where he won a gold medal. Point surprised many by electing to sign with Dallas this summer and he should begin the year in the AHL.

88. Filip Hronek (D-DET, acquired: 2nd Round (53rd overall) '16): By all accounts, Hronek got better and better as his first AHL season progressed. His final numbers were strong (11 goals, 39 points in 67 games) and he was one of the most important players for the Griffins in the second half of the season. Hronek finished the season with the Czech national team at the World Championships. Hronek, who will turn 21 years old in November, is one of the few defensemen in the Detroit system with any sort of legitimate, top-four upside. As currently constructed, the Wings are set up to be a poor hockey club for the next several seasons. They need to exercise patience with Hronek and allow him to develop the defensive side of his game at the AHL level.

89. Michael DiPietro (G-VAN, acquired: 3rd Round (64th overall) '17): Playing for a Windsor team that found themselves in the rare position of rebuilding, DiPietro was the Spitfires's best player on a nightly basis. While his final numbers were a bit underwhelming (29-21-1, 2.79 GAA, .910 save percentage), DiPietro was still named OHL Goaltender of the Year. DiPietro is a tad smaller (6-0, 200)than most goalies in the NHL these days, but he is the ultimate competitor, extremely athletic, and never gives up on a play. DiPietro is behind Thatcher Demko (No. 48) on this list because he's younger and has a less proven track record, but I would be far from shocked if he ended up as Vancouver's goaltender of the future when all is said and done.

90. Jake Oettinger (G-DAL, acquired: 1st Round (26th overall) '17): Oettinger's play in his second season at Boston University wasn't quite on par with his first, although his overall numbers were fine (21-13-4, 2.45 GAA, .915 save percentage) and he showed more good than bad. The Terriers iced an extremely young team on a nightly basis and Oettinger struggled at time as a result. His performance for Team USA at the World Juniors (2.77 GAA, .889 save percentage) wasn't as positive. Oettinger has plenty of size (6-4, 215)and the guaranteed starting role for one of the most prestigious college programs in the nation. He will be fine in the long run, but the entire BU roster may struggle early on this season as they transition to the defensive system of new head coach Albie O'Connell. Former coach David Quinn left to take the same position with the New York Rangers.

91. Trent Frederic (F-BOS, acquired: 1st Round (29th overall) '16): Allow me to start by saying that Frederic produced more offensively in his two seasons at the University of Wisconsin (32 goals, 65 points in 66 games) than I ever imagined. He signed with the Bruins in mid-March and finished the season by posting eight points in 13 AHL games. Frederic has a bunch of size (6-2, 205)and a good set of hands. I wasn't optimistic at the time he was drafted that Fredric would be able to fill a top-six role in the long run. Two-plus years later, I might have sold him short. Even if he doesn't ultimately reach that goal, Frederic has a high floor due to his big frame and ability to work below the goal line. He figures to begin next season back in the AHL.

92. Cal Foote (D-TB, acquired: 1st Round (14th overall) '17): The only concern anyone had about Foote leading into the draft last year was a lack of foot speed. He has size (6-4, 215), a decent amount of skill, and plenty of hockey IQ. Foote averaged more than a point-per-game (19 goals, 70 points in 60 games) for WHL Kelowna this past season, and while he will never produce at that rate as a professional, Foote should be able to contribute some offense from the back end. If Foote can use his smarts to make up for his choppy skating stride in terms of handling opposing forwards, he's an easy top-four defender. At the very minimum he is a high-probability NHLer.

93. Jason Robertson (F-DAL, acquired: 2nd Round (39th overall) '17): The main question surrounding Robertson, like Foote, is his below-average skating. The big sniper really labors around the ice at times and I'm not entirely convinced he can improve it enough to take a regular shift at the NHL level. Robertson has tallied 42 and then 41 goals in each of the past two OHL seasons. He has a cannon of a shot and is a legitimate high-level sniper. I have zero concerns about his ability to score as a pro, but he may be limited to power-play duty and those type of one-dimensional players are more difficult to carry on an NHL roster than ever before. Robertson is a high-risk/high-reward pick for dynasty leaguers.

94. K'Andre Miller (D-NYR, acquired: 1st Round (22nd overall) '18): The Rangers used their embarrassment of draft riches to trade up and select Miller in June. A freak athlete with a ton of size (6-3, 205), Miller had one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft. He has only been playing defense for a couple of seasons but the early returns are positive for a kid with such limited exposure to a difficult position. Miller is raw and his all-around game needs considerable refinement, but New York fans should be excited about the University of Wisconsin commit.

95. Carl Grundstrom (F-TOR, acquired: 2nd Round (57th overall) '16): For a second straight season, Grundstrom played with Frolunda in Sweden before joining the AHL Marlies for their playoff run. This year he posted eight goals and 14 points in 20 postseason contests and was a key cog on Toronto's championship squad. Grundstrom is a hard-working, two-way guy that can fill a variety of different roles for his team. He is probably ultimately a good third-liner than can seamlessly fill a top-six role should injuries arise. Unless the Leafs feel Grundstrom needs more time getting used to the smaller ice surfaces of North America, I don't see why he needs additional time in the AHL. He should challenge for a roster spot in camp.

96. Josh Mahura (D-ANA, acquired: 3rd Round (85th overall) '16): Mahura scored 22 goals for WHL Regina last season, or, to put it in a different light, three more than the rest of his junior career combined. He capped off his year with a very strong performance (five assists in seven games) in the Memorial Cup. Mahura's calling card is his mobility. He is very good at going back and picking up the puck and skating it out of his own end. Mahura was the very last cut from the Canadian World Junior team, and instead of sulking about the demotion, he went back to Regina and dominated. His defensive play needs work and I think he's the top of kid that needs at least a full year in the AHL, but he has top-four upside.

97. Adam Gaudette (F-VAN, acquired: 5th Round (149th overall) '15): Gaudette's third (and final) season at Northeastern was truly nothing short of remarkable. He led the nation in both goals (30) and points (60) on his way to winning the Hobey Baker Award. Vancouver gave Gaudete the full-court press when the Huskies's season ended in late March and he signed with the club days later. He finished the year by going scoreless in five NHL contests. Not only is Gaudette obviously a talented offensive player, he can earn a prime role with the Canucks beginning this season. 40-45 points appears to be well within reach for Gaudette in his freshman year, but fantasy owners need to keep in mind that production is like to have a putrid plus/minus rating attached to it.

98. Ian Mitchell (D-CHI, acquired: 2nd Round (57th overall) '17): Mitchell turned down an offer to play for WHL Brandon to maintain his collegiate eligibility and the University of Denver is darn glad he did. Mitchell posted 30 points in 41 games in his freshman season for the Pioneers and perhaps most impressively, took just seven minor penalties all year long. Mitchell has more offensive ability than any defender in the Chicago system and he reportedly considered signing with the Blackhawks this spring. He ultimately decided to head back to school for his sophomore year, but we figure to be having this same conversation a year from now. Mitchell should be one of the NCAA's most productive defensemen this coming season.

99. Boris Katchouk (F-TB, acquired: 2nd Round (44th overall) '16): Katchouk's final junior season ended with him potting a career-best 42 goals in just 58 games. He was named a First-Team OHL All-Star and he was extremely effective (six points in seven games) for Canada at the World Juniors. Katchouk has the size (6-2, 210) and skill set to excel in a multitude of roles. He has gotten progressively better in each of his three OHL campaigns and he looks more than ready for the challenge of tackling professional hockey. Katchouk is a dark horse candidate to spend a decent chunk of the coming season in Tampa Bay.

100. Rasmus Sandin (D-TOR, acquired: 1st Round (29th overall) '18): Toronto GM Kyle Dubas claimed his selection of Sandin had nothing to do with his connection to Sandin's OHL club, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. That is a bit difficult to believe, but the Leafs got a solid player regardless. Sandin had an exceptional draft season (12 goals, 45 points in 51 games) to the point that he went from an afterthought to No. 23 on my board. A calming, mobile influence with plenty of hockey IQ, Sandin should make a strong second-pairing option for the Leafs. He might be ready for NHL duty after just one more season of junior hockey.

THE NEXT 100

101. Vladislav Kamenev (F-COL, acquired: trade with NSH)
102. Erik Foley (F-STL, acquired: trade with WPG)
103. Serron Noel (F-FLA, acquired: 2nd Round (34th overall) '18)
104. Joey Anderson (F-NJ, acquired: 3rd Round (73rd overall) '16)
105. Riley Tufte (F-DAL, acquired: 1st Round (25th overall) '16)
106. Jonah Gadjovich (F-VAN, acquired: 2nd Round (55th overall) '17)
107. Tyler Parsons (G-CGY, acquired: 2nd Round (54th overall) '16)
108. Luke Kunin (F-MIN, acquired: 1st Round (15th overall) '16)
109. Ville Husso (G-STL, acquired: 4th Round (94th overall) '14)
110. Nick Merkley (F-ARI, acquired: 1st Round (30th overall) '15)
111. Akil Thomas (F-LA, acquired: 2nd Round (51st overall) '18)
112. German Rubtsov (F-PHI, acquired: 1st Round (22nd overall) '16)
113. Martin Kaut (F-COL, acquired: 1st Round (16th overall) '18)
114. Kole Lind (F-VAN, acquired: 2nd Round (33rd overall) '17)
115. Libor Hajek (D-NYR, acquired: trade with TB)
116. Rasmus Asplund (F-BUF, acquired: 2nd Round (33rd overall) '16)
117. Victor Ejdsell (F-CHI, acquired: trade with NSH)
118. Rasmus Andersson (D-CGY, acquired: 2nd Round (53rd overall) '15)
119. Nicolas Roy (F-CAR, acquired: 4th Round (96th overall) '15)
120. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (F-BOS, 2nd Round (45th overall) '15)
121. Ryan McLeod (F-EDM, acquired: 2nd Round (40th overall) '18)
122. Max Gildon (D-FLA, acquired: 3rd Round (66th overall) '17)
123. Urho Vaakanainen (D-BOS, acquired: 1st Round (18th overall) '17)
124. Mikhail Vorobyov (F-PHI, acquired: 4th Round (104th overall) '15)
125. Ty Dellandrea (F-DAL, acquired: 1st Round (15th overall) '18)
126. Drake Batherson (F-OTT, acquired: 4th Round (121st overall) '17)
127. Joseph Woll (G-TOR, acquired: 3rd Round (62nd overall) '16)
128. Filip Gustavsson (G-OTT, acquired: trade with PIT)
129. Shane Bowers (F-COL, acquired: trade with OTT)
130. Cliff Pu (F-BUF, acquired: 3rd Round (69th overall) '16)
131. Zachary Senyshyn (F-BOS, acquired: 1st Round (15th overall) '15)
132. Ethan Bear (D-EDM, acquired: 5th Round (124th overall) '15)
133. Malcolm Subban (G-VGK, acquired: waivers from BOS)
134. Jake Walman (D-STL, acquired: 3rd Round (82nd overall) '14)
135. Brett Howden (F-NYR, acquired: trade with TB)
136. Josh Norris (F-SJ, acquired: 1st Round (19th overall) '17)
137. Mitchell Stephens (F-TB, acquired: 2nd Round (33rd overall) '15)
138. Isaac Ratcliffe (F-PHI, acquired: 2nd Round (35th overall) '17)
139. Filip Chlapik (F-OTT, acquired: 2nd Round (48th overall) '15)
140. Jake Evans (F-MTL, acquired: 7th Round (207th overall) '14)
141. Dylan Samberg (D-WPG, acquired: 2nd Round (43rd overall) '17)
142. Brendan Guhle (D-BUF, acquired: 2nd Round (51st overall) '15)
143. Andrew Peeke (D-CBJ, acquired: 2nd Round (34th overall) '16)
144. Mattias Samuelsson (D-BUF, acquired: 2nd Round (32nd overall) '18)
145. Otto Koivula (F-NYI, acquired: 4th Round (120th overall) '16)
146. Sean Day (D-NYR, acquired: 3rd Round (81st overall) '16)
147. Valentin Zykov (F-CAR, acquired: trade with LA)
148. Alex Formenton (F-OTT, acquired: 2nd round (47th overall) '17)
149. Patrick Harper (F-NSH, acquired: 5th Round (138th overall) '16)
150. Jeremy Bracco (F-TOR, acquired: 2nd Round (61st overall) '15)
151. Linus Soderstrom (G-NYI, acquired: 4th Round (95th overall) '14)
152. Yegor Korshkov (F-TOR, acquired: 2nd Round (31st overall) '16)
153. Noah Juulsen (D-MTL, acquired: 1st Round (26th overall) '15)
154. Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D-ARI, acquired: 1st Round (23rd overall) '17)
155. Dennis Cholowski (D-DET, acquired: 1st Round (20th overall) '16)
156. Felix Sandstrom (G-PHI, acquired: 3rd Round (70th overall) '15)
157. Dillon Dube (F-CGY, acquired: 2nd Round (56th overall) '16)
158. Denis Gurianov (F-DAL, acquired: 1st Round (12th overall) '15)
159. Alexander Alexeyev (D-WSH, acquired: 1st Round (32nd overall) '18)
160. Logan Stanley (D-WPG, acquired: 1st Round (18th overall) '16)
161. Mathieu Joseph (F-TB, acquired: 4th Round (120th overall) '15)
162. Devon Toews (D-NYI, acquired: 4th Round (108th overall) '14)
163. Christian Wolanin (D-OTT, acquired: 4th Round (107th overall) '15)
164. Mario Ferraro (D-SJ, acquired: 2nd round (49th overall) '17)
165. Givani Smith (F-DET, acquired: 2nd Round (46th overall) '16)
166. Maxime Comtois (F-ANA, acquired: 2nd Round (50th overall) '17)
167. Joe Hicketts (D-DET, acquired: undrafted FA)
168. Antoine Morand (F-ANA, acquired: 2nd Round (60th overall) '17)
169. Roope Hintz (F-DAL, acquired: 2nd Round (49th overall) '15)
170. Jack Studnicka (F-BOS, acquired: 2nd Round (53rd overall) '17)
171. Max Letunov (F-SJ, acquired: trade with ARI)
172. Julien Gauthier (F-CAR, acquired: 1st Round (21st overall) '16)
173. Dylan Gambrell (F-SJ, acquired: 2nd Round (60th overall) '16)
174. Rem Pitlick (F-NSH, acquired: 3rd Round (76th overall) '16)
175. Reilly Walsh (D-NJ, acquired: 3rd Round (81st overall) '17)
176. Louis Belpedio (D-MIN, acquired: 3rd Round (80th overall) '14)
177. Jared McIsaac (D-DET, acquired: 2nd Round (36th overall) '18)
178. Adam Huska (G-NYR, acquired: 7th Round (184th overall) '15)
179. Jonatan Berggren (F-DET, acquired: 2nd round (33rd overall) '18)
180. John Quenneville (F-NJ, acquired: 1st Round (30th overall) '14)
181. Jeremy Swayman (G-BOS, acquired: 4th Round (111th overall) '17)
182. Alexander Volkov (F-TB, acquired: 2nd Round (48th overall) '17)
183. Connor Ingram (G-TB, acquired: 3rd Round (88th overall) '16)
184. Tanner Laczynski (F-PHI, acquired: 6th Round (169th overall) '16)
185. Igor Rykov (D-NYR, acquired: trade with NJ)
186. Tim Gettinger (F-NYR, acquired: 5th Round (141st overall) '16)
187. Cam Dineen (D-ARI, acquired: 3rd Round (68th Overall) '16)
188. Lucas Wallmark (F-CAR, acquired: 4th Round (97th overall) '14)
189. Tyler Steenbergen (F-ARI, acquired: 5th Round (128th overall) '17)
190. Jake Wise (F-CHI, acquired: 3rd Round (69th overall) '18)
191. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (F-LA, acquired: 2nd Round (41st overall) '17)
192. Marcus Davidsson (F-BUF, acquired: 2nd Round (37th overall) '17)
193. Otto Somppi (F-TB, acquired: 7th Round (206th overall) '16)
194. Jonathan Tychonick (D-OTT, acquired: 2nd round (48th overall) '18)
195. Nils Lundkvist (D-NYR, acquired: 1st Round (28th overall) '18)
196. Matt Villalta (G-LA, acquired: 3rd Round (72nd overall) '17)
197. Mason Appleton (F-WPG, acquired: 6th Round (168th overall) '16)
198. Ivan Chekhovich (F-SJ, acquired: 7th round (212th overall) '17)
199. Calen Addison (D-PIT, acquired: 2nd Round (53rd overall) '18)
200. Jesse Ylonen (F-MTL, acquired: 2nd Round (35th overall) '18)