The Hockey News‘ NHL draft preview is out on the stands for a bit and I thought I would take a look at it (here is my preview of THN last year and here is a look at the success of their prognostication). For the sake of comparison I’ve bracketed the differences from ISS’ latest rankings (which can be found here, keeping in mind ISS ranks goaltenders separately and NR simply means the player is not in ISS’ top-30). This is not a comprehensive guide (like Red Line Report), instead being like McKeen’s in offering a top-100 list.
1 – Seth Jones – D – Portland – WHL
2 – Jonathan Drouin – F – Halifax – QMJHL (3)
3 – Nathan MacKinnon – C – Halifax – QMJHL (2)
4 – Elias Lindholm – C – Brynas – SweE (7)
5 – Valery Nichushkin – F – Chelyabinsk Chelmet – RusS (4)
6 – Aleksander Barkov – F – Tappara – FinE (5)
7 – Sean Monahan – C – Ottawa – OHL (9)
8 – Darnell Nurse – D – S.S. Marie – OHL (6)
9 – Lazar, Curtis – C – Edmonton – WHL (12)
10 – Ryan Pulock – D – Brandon – WHL (14)
11 – Alexander Wennberg – C – Djurgarden – SweJr (NR) (15)
12 – Robert Hagg – D – Modo – SweJE (NR)
13 – Adam Erne – LW – Quebec – QMJHL (NR)
14 – Nikita Zadorov – D – London – OHL (8)
15 –Max Domi – C – London – OHL (25)
16 –Bo Horvat – C – London – OHL (NR) (10)
17 – Andre Burakowsky – F – Malmo – SweAl (16)
18 – Mirco Mueller – D – Prince Albert – WHL (NR)
19 – J. T. Morrissey – D – Prince Albert – WHL (21)
20 – Samuel Morin – D – Rimouski – QMJHL (30)
21 – Kerby Rychel – F – Windsor – OHL (20)
22 – Rasmus Ristolainen – D – TPS Turku – FinE (11)
23 – Hunter Shinkaruk – F – Medicine Hat – WHL (13)
24 – Anthony Mantha – LW – QMJHL (23)
25 – Zachary Fucale – G – Halifax – QMJHL (n/a)
26 – Ian McCoshen – D – Waterloo – USHL (NR)
27 – Michael McCarron – RW – USNDP – USHL (28)
28 – Ryan Hartman – RW – OHL (NR)
29 – Jacob de la Rose – C – Leksand – SweAl (NR)
30 – Frederik Gauthier – C – Rimouski – QMJHL (18)
Just like last year Adam Proteau writes an uninspired blurb about the Senators. After praising the Sens’ system he says they still need scoring forwards and defensemen (I’m not sure who doesn’t, but fair enough), although he calls the Sens blueline “old” which only applies to two members of their blueline (and therefore their blueline isn’t really old). He also thinks that Eric Gryba is the only right-handed blueliner in the organisation (somehow missing Cody Ceci among others). The only prospect named that isn’t already on the NHL roster is Mark Stone and Proteau ends the short piece by bringing up Alexandre Daigle as if that has any relevance whatsoever (different era, different GM, different organisation).
There’s a marked difference in prospect assessment by THN, which is interesting, but not compelling in and of itself (it might be if their accuracy was better). The guide is inexpensive and easily available and offers very brief scouting reports on their top-60 prospects. It’s a useful product for casual fans, but there’s n0t nearly enough meat or insight for those with a serious interest in the draft.
This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)
eyeonthesens 