Zach Gallant – McKeen's Hockey

Detroit – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:14:04 +0000

For years, the Detroit Red Wings deservedly held the reputation of being among the most astute drafters in the game. The rosters of those teams that famously went to 25 consecutive playoffs were littered with not only players that were developed in-house, but many of whom were mid and late round draft picks. Notable players drafted by the Red Wings after the second round include Vladimir Konstantinov (11th round, 1989), Sergei Fedorov (4th round, 1989), Niklas Lidstrom (3rd round, 1989), Slava Kozlov (3rd round, 1990), Mike Knuble (4th round, 1991), Tomas Holmstrom (10th round, 1994), Pavel Datsyuk (6th round, 1998), Henrik Zetterberg (7th round, 1999), Jonathan Ericsson (9th round, 2002), Valtteri Filppula (3rd round, 2002), Johan Franzen (3rd round, 2004), and Gustav Nyquist (4th round, 2008).

In addition to the remarkable run of middle and late round success experienced by the organization, notable about the above players is that, for all but Knuble, they were drafted out of Europe, particularly Sweden and Russia. The folks responsible for those selections deserve as much applause as we can give. But for all of their success drafting Europeans late, the Wings, like all other franchises, drafted many players in the later rounds who never panned out, including players from Europe as well as North America. Witness the 2011 draft class, whose top impact player (Dmitri Bykov) spent one season in the NHL before returning to Russia. Or 1996. The Red Wings got 49 games out of first rounder Jesse Wallin, and a grand total of zero out of the remaining eight players drafted.

Looking at their past few draft classes, the ones whose products are largely featured in this space, we can see that the Wings have continued to invest heavily in Europeans in the 3-7 rounds. Between 2011-2016, the Red Wings made 31 total selections in those rounds. 16 of the players taken were Europeans. I am no Don Cherry, bemoaning the growing wave of Europeans taking up spots from good old Canadian boys, but in Detroit’s case, there seems to have been the feeling that what worked in the past will continue to work in perpetuity. That had a magic touch with Europeans.

What they missed was that an undervalued edge that they once had was no longer undervalued across the NHL. High-end European players were no longer there for the taking. Russians were no longer so unwilling to come over to North America. The Europeans available after the second round were generally no better than the North Americans available at that point and could not promise any special value. And so we see that, despite such a heavy lean into Europeans in recent drafts, only three of the top 20 were actually drafted out of European leagues. With nine selections between the third and seventh rounds this year, the Red Wings may have learned that lesson. The sample is very small, but with only one of the nine drafted from a European league, the Red Wings seem to be ready to draft for talent, wherever it may be found.

Another downside to their recent approach, whether due to geographical lean, or simply how things have shaken out, is that the Detroit system, while deep in prospects that have NHL upside, is virtually bereft of true high-end, dynamic players. Of course, they have also very rarely had high picks, what with their long-time playoff streak finally coming to an end this past season, but they rarely were able to grab players who have developed into more than they had seemed on draft day. At present, none of the following twenty players, the top twenty in the pipeline, project as more than second line/second defensive pairing players.

1 Michael Rasmussen – A big player with skill, Rasmussen has uncommon touch for a man of his size (6-6”, 215). He is especially effective in the cycle when he is able to get a shot off from the half-wall on in. The Red Wings used a top ten pick on him despite the questions about the wrist injury that shortened his season and the fact that an outsized portion of his draft year production came on the power play. Needs to prove he can be a force at 5-on-5.

2 Evgeni Svechnikov – To Svechnikov’s credit, his 51 point rookie pro season (fourth among AHL rookies) ensured that no one would forget the talents that are inherent in the player drafted 19th overall in 2015. He plays a heavy game, has a very strong shot and plus puck protection skills. Despite the skill set, watching him this year, there was a sense that he would take shifts and games off and his intensity would waiver noticeably. His next hurdle will be consistency.

3 Tyler Bertuzzi – Essentially, the inverse of Svechnikov. Bertuzzi plays a very intense brand of hockey, which he supplements with enough skill to profile as a highly productive pest. In spite of injuries limiting his time on ice in his second season with Grand Rapids, Bertuzzi’s point production increased and he was lights out in a Calder Cup run. Can play in all situations and should be ready for his first full NHL season.

Dennis Cholowski

4 Dennis Cholowski – After a single season with St. Cloud State, the Wings signed Cholowski away from college. He will need at least two seasons before he is ready for the NHL, but the former first rounder is mobile and very steady in the back. He already demonstrates plus ability to read game situations and should be the type of player who is far more valuable in real life than in fantasy hockey.

5 Givani Smith – Although his scoring has yet to take off, stuck as he has been on a moribund Guelph team in the OHL, Smith, the Wings’ 2016 second rounder, has a power forwards’ build and playing style. A strong skater for his size, he has untapped puck skills and has been reliable in all situations for the Storm. Penalty minutes are a problem, as his exuberance often spills over into belligerence, but the tools are there for added offensive output given better teammates. This could be a big year for Smith.

6 Filip Hronek – Drafted only a few picks after Smith in 2016, Hronek had a stellar first season in North America, playing with Saginaw of the OHL, scoring over one point per game. Generally on the right side of the puck, Hronek’s effectiveness is easy to underappreciate, as he shows many of the little things that should allow him to move quickly through the system. He has plus mobility and very good puck moving skills.

7 Axel Holmstrom – Not related to longtime Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom, Axel’s game will remind many Wing’s fan of their former hero. While injuries made this past season (his third in the SHL) a write-off, he came to North America before the year ended and should spend most of next season in Grand Rapids. Not a great skater and not a threat from a distance, he is effective because he is next to impossible to dislodge from the crease. Great reads and soft hands.

8 Keith Petruzzelli – Although none of the skaters in the system project as first line/first pair players, Petruzzelli has the potential to one day be a starting netminder. That day is far into the future, but the future Quinnipiac goalie has incredible size, plus athleticism and a high compete level. He needs to also prove that he can hold up under a big work-load, as his 37 games played this year were a career high.

9 Joe Hicketts – A rare high-profile undrafted free agent out of the CHL, Hicketts fails the eye test, standing only 5-8”, 174. But he makes those inches count. On the offensive side of the game, he is aggressive and effective, sensing openings and attacking them. Off the puck, he needs a responsible partner as he will pull himself out of position chasing a play, but he uses his stick well and plays bigger than his size.

10 Vili Saarijarvi – Undersized (not as much as Hicketts, but still quite small), Saarijarvi has put up points from the blueline wherever he has gone. His amateur career ended on a strong note, with 15 points in Mississauga’s run to the OHL finals. He can be soft off the puck, but his plus mobility and puck moving skills will give him a good chance to be an impact player.

11 Ryan Sproul – Had injuries not made last season a near write-off, Sproul would not likely be eligible for this list. After three full AHL seasons, he spent all of last year in the NHL, but only got into 27 games. His ceiling may be that of a third pairing NHL defender, but he is already there. Does not have any standout tools, but has enough of everything that he should not be a liability in a sheltered role.

12 Jordan Sambrook – Another blueliner who does a little bit of everything, Sambrook was an instrumental player in Erie’s run to the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup title game. A two-way defenseman who has been pivotal on both special teams units, he will have to prove this year that he can continue to produce offensively on a much depleted OHL team. Another good year will move him up this list more than a few spots.

13 Gustav Lindstrom – The Wings’ 2017 second round pick, Lindstrom has strong puck skills and a high hockey IQ, made more interesting by the fact that he has only been playing in a competitive league for three years. He was competent as a rookie teenager in the Allsvenskan and there is more room for growth with this prospect than with most of the others in this region on the list.

14 Martin Frk – Exposed to waivers last year, Frk, a former Wings’ second rounder was claimed by Carolina. He got into only two games with the Hurricanes before they, too, exposed him and the Red Wings re-claimed their man. He spent another season with Grand Rapids and continued to prove that he is ready for an NHL chance. He has an NHL shot, but the rest of his game fails to excite. His career will be dictated by the percentages.

15 Jared Coreau – In his fourth season as a pro, after signing as a free agent out of Northern Michigan, Coreau finally received an NHL opportunity, appearing in 14 games for the Red Wings, shutting out both Montreal and L.A. A big body who guards his posts well and does a respectable job controlling rebounds, he is limited by his lack of athleticism, which affects his lateral movements. The team likes him, and exposed Petr Mrazek in the expansion draft, confident in Coreau’s ability to take over the backup job. Vegas passed over Mrazek, though, and barring a trade, Coreau will spend another season on the farm.

16 Zach Gallant – With strong acceleration and a wide array of shots to choose from, Zach Gallant, a third round pick from this year’s draft is one to watch. He has a tendency to vary his effort level from period to period, but at his best, is a strong 200 foot player wo plays a physical game. Stronger at moving the puck up the ice than at executing offensive zone entries.

17 Kasper Kotkansalo – The first of four third round picks made by Detroit this year, Kotkansalo held his own as a tough minutes defenseman with a struggling Sioux Falls squad in the USHL. He has limited offensive tools, but has loads of hockey smarts and a pro-sized frame. He will be taking his mature, relatively mistake-free game to Boston University next season.

18 Lane Zablocki – The last of Detroit’s third rounders on this list, Zablocki was potent offensively for both Regina and Red Deer in his draft year. Despite his plus numbers with both teams, his tools do not suggest a high end scorer as a pro. If anything, his physical game is his most impressive attribute thus far in his young career.

19 David Pope – A sleeper pick whose offensive game finally show signs of life in his third season at Nebraska-Omaha. Although the offensive improvement is nice, his off-puck game is even more impressive. A good penalty killing winger and a disruptive forechecker.

20 Dylan Sadowy – After a lost rookie professional season, Sadowy will either be way higher on this list next year, or way off. A strong offensive producer with a plus shot at the OHL level, he deserves at least one full, healthy season in the AHL before writing him off.

There are several more players besides the twenty above who were considered for inclusion, including Chase Pearson, Dominic Turgeon, Robbie Russo and Malte Setkov. This is a deep system, with many players who could play roles on future Red Wigs’ teams. In a salary cap world, it is important to be able to fill out the bottom half of the roster with lower cost, preferably homegrown, players and the Wings are positioned to do just that. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, they lack in players who look to be future team leaders. Dylan Larkin, once considered a future centerpiece, took a step back in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are still young but neither has yet staked a claim in the top six.

This system-wide shortage is a consequence of drafting to type. In addition to over-drafting Europeans for much of the past decade, the Wings seem to overvalue size and a power game with their forwards and quiet competence among defensemen. Neither are bad things, per se, but they need more variety to round out a competitive NHL roster going forward.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Atlantic Division – Detroit Red Wings

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 16:57:29 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	9	5-N	10	Michael RASMUSSEN	C	18	6-6/215	Tri-City (WHL)
2	38	25-E	103	Gustav LINDSTROM	D	18	6-2/190	Almtuna (Swe 2)
3	71	92-N	125	Kasper KOTKANSALO	D	18	6-2/200	Sioux Falls (USHL)
3	79	52-N	90	Lane ZABLOCKI	RW	18	5-11/190	Reg-RD (WHL)
3	83	64-N	89	Zach GALLANT	C	18	6-2/190	Peterborough (OHL)
3	88	2-NG	37	Keith PETRUZZELLI	G	18	6-5/180	Muskegon (USHL)
4	100	NR		Malte SETKOV	D	18	6-4/185	Malmo (Swe Jr)
5	131	197-N		Cole FRASER	D	18	6-2/195	Peterborough (OHL)
6	162	NR	hm	Jack ADAMS	RW	20	6-5/210	Fargo (USHL)
6	164	NR		Reilly WEBB	D	18	6-3/195	Hamilton (OHL)
7	193	NR		Brady GILMOUR	C	18	5-10/170	Saginaw (OHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	9	Michael RASMUSSEN	C	Tri-City (WHL)	50	32	23	55	50
2	38	Gustav LINDSTROM	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	48	2	7	9	26
3	71	Kasper KOTKANSALO	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	47	1	11	12	43
3	79	Lane ZABLOCKI	RW	Reg-RD (WHL)	64	28	26	54	97
3	83	Zach GALLANT	C	Peterborough (OHL)	60	21	26	47	74
3	88	Keith PETRUZZELLI	G	Muskegon (USHL)	22	10	1	2.40	0.918
4	100	Malte SETKOV	D	Malmo (Swe Jr)	38	2	10	12	18
4	100			Malmo (Swe Jr 18)	3	2	2	4	4
5	131	Cole FRASER	D	Peterborough (OHL)	61	6	13	19	82
6	162	Jack ADAMS	RW	Fargo (USHL)	56	37	23	60	55
6	164	Reilly WEBB	D	Hamilton (OHL)	12	0	1	1	5
7	193	Brady GILMOUR	C	Saginaw (OHL)	65	26	21	47	4

Detroit Red Wings – Draft Grade: 40

Michael Rasmussen of the Tri-City Americans

Lots of quantity, but of questionable quality, that is the Detroit Red Wings 2017 draft class. With the ninth overall pick, the Wings passed over Gabriel Vilardi and Owen Tippett, among other more skilled players, for massive Tri-City center Michael Rasmussen. Rasmussen is absolutely a first round talent, but there are enough questions about his game that he should have remained on the board for another four or five picks or so. Four or five picks at this early stage in the draft are significant. He is a solid skater for his size and knows how to use his bulk to create space for himself down low but struggled to produce at even strength, with an inordinate number of his goals and points coming on the power play. The Wings are clearly hoping that he can follow an accelerated version of Anthony Mantha’s path to the NHL. They could have gone for more with their highest draft pick since popping Keith Primeau third overall in 1990.

Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

With their second round selection, they picked up a Swedish defenceman who we had ranked 103, while their first of four third rounder, a Finnish blueliner in the USHL, we had ranked 125. The former, Gustav Lindstrom, does have plus puck skills, while the latter, Kasper Kotkansalo, does most things at an average to slightly above average level, but has no standout skills. I will give them credit for a trio of astute picks with their other three third rounders, as CHL centers Lane Zablocki and Zach Gallant were both solid value at that point, while their final pick of the round, netminder Keith Petruzzelli, was a particular favorite of mine, and could be the Wings’ goalie of the future.

Best value: Keith Petruzzelli, G, Muskegon (3/88): That Petruzzelli lasted to late in the third round is all the evidence I need to swear off taking goalies in the first round forever. Playing more than he ever had in a single season before, the lanky Quinnipiac commit hit a wall towards the end of the season, but his compete level and ability to read the play (he is, after all, generally the tallest guy on the ice) will let him go far.

Biggest head-scratcher: Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (1/9): At 15^th overall, Rasmussen would be a wise choice. At number 9, with Vilardi and Tippett both still on the board, the Red Wings seem likely to feel regret sooner than later. While Rasmussen is a force down low, his even strength shortcomings should have given the team pause before walking up to the podium.

Scouting Reports: OHL – Eemeli Rasanen, Zach Gallant

Scott Crawford — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 18:05:37 +0000

Scott Crawford provides a detailed scouting report of 58th ranked big defenseman Eemeli Rasanen. We have included our write up from the 2017 McKeen's NHL Draft Guide. You can learn more here about our magazine and a subscription.

Eemeli Rasanen wins the 2017 draft award for prospect most likely to be unfairly compared to Zdeno Chara on the basis of height alone. Standing 6-7”, and with a marked offensive bent to his game, the Finnish import had a strong rookie season in the OHL, helping Kingston get to the second round of the OHL playoffs, before returning to Europe to represent Finland at the WU18s.

While Rasanen does not have the mean streak that marked Chara’s play, he does put his massive frame to good use. He is very tough to play against in the corners. Further, as long as he can keep his man in front of him, he can be hard to get past with his long reach and his proclivity for closing gaps. Therein also lies his main weakness. With some larger prospects, you will read that he is a good skater for his size, even if he would lose footraces to average sized opponents. Not so with Rasanen. He is simply slow of foot.

This was more apparent in the wider rinks of Europe, and raised some eyebrows at the WU18 for the wrong reasons, but it remains a concern for NHL scouts. If a team thinks that specialized training can improve his skating to at least average, he will be a great weapon, able to provide offense from the blueline while demonstrating a good head for the game. On the other hand, as the overwhelming majority of his OHL offense (30 of 39 points) came on the man advantage, his ceiling may be more limited in that side of the game than presently appears to be the case.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Eemeli Resanen	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: D, Shoots R	H/W: 6-7", 215 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Kingston Frontenacs, OHL (66-6-33-39-41)
	Finland U18, WU18 (6-1-0-1-2)

Eemeli Rasanen of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Skating: Rasanen has the skating for a defenseman, a BIG defenseman, yet is still able to skate backwards without disrupting his backward strides and square up the opposing forward. For a big defenseman, he has a decent stride, although not like the other defenseman moving up the ice. He can still be a part of the play without falling behind. Grade: 55

Shot: He needs more work on his shot when he is a stand-alone shooter. In the playoffs, he took a high number of slap shots that missed the net and did not complement his teammates on secondary chances. He likes to take one timers near the blue line and gets in great position to take shots, but he is looking at the defender when he shoots so he is shooting at him when he should be looking to the outside of the blocker to have the puck at least go through him maybe have a chance to hit the net. Grade: 50

Skills: Very surprised at how well Rasanen can move the puck up the ice with his big frame. His skating makes him look like a clumsy player with the puck, but his slick stick work allows him to be in a transitional play with his forwards to either pass the puck at the offensive zone entry or move the puck in himself. He understands his big frame is a challenge for opposing players and uses the extra time to make smart quick passes to open teammates or teammates in a better position on the ice than he is. Grade: 55

Smarts: Rasanen is a crafty smart giant that any team would be able to appreciate. At the start of the season he was extremely uncomfortable playing the stretch with his defensive partner whenever they had to close the gaps. He made it work by the end of the season as he finally got comfortable using his big frame to close out the gaps and drag opposing puck possessors to the walls or push them to dump the puck in. An extremely smart defenseman that can play a decent two-way game and can potentially double his offensive output next season. Grade: 60

Physicality: He is active on the clean side of the game when it comes to pushing players against the boards or holding opponents along the boards by placing his leg between the opponent’s legs and using his body weight to take them out of the play. However, he needs to understand that he can really do damage to someone and create an intimidating style of aggressive play that causes players with the puck to be scared to be even close to him. In other words, look at how big he is - he should score much higher here. Grade: 55

Summary: Eemeli Rasanen is probably the tallest player in the draft this year and produced decent numbers in his first season in the OHL. Playing on the North American ice surface for the first time this season, of course he was going to be uncomfortable and struggle, but he continued to improve all the way through the playoffs. He played with more confidence as the season wore on, and it showed up in his defensive play. His puck handling capabilities need a bit of improvement to go along with his skating to become more of an offensive factor for the Frontenacs next season. He has the raw potential to be a special defenseman next season and any NHL team that drafts him is getting a good prospect that is committed to developing his play on and off the ice.

Zach Gallant	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 6-2", 190 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Peterborough Petes, OHL (60-21-26-47-74)

Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Skating: Gallant's best attribute that he brings to the game is his acceleration when he receives the puck. On one hand when he collects around the neutral zone, his acceleration carries him across the o-zone entry without opponents seeing him. on the other he can also use his acceleration in the defensive zone to increase the damage of his attempted hit or to move the puck out of the zone. He needs work on his first stride otherwise he would have a higher grade and he would be a difference maker on the offense, but his acceleration comes from his cross over instead of the first stride. Grade: 55

Shot: Shooting is decent, he has many options from an accurate wrist shot to a decent looking slap shot. The problem is that there is no power from either shot when he is skating. When he would be coming up the ice with the puck on a break out, aim it high, hitting the goaltender in the waist area most of the time, but he rarely puts much strength in his shots, making them easy saves for the goalie. However, when he is standing still and has time to put pressure on the puck he can release a strong shot, which is why he was effective on the powerplay. Grade: 55

Skills: Gallant has above average puck handling skills that allow him to move around the defensive zone and neutral zone when players are behind him or transitioning to defense, giving him an edge. However, when he enters the offensive zone and he has opponents in front of him he has a hard time moving around defensemen, even at an average height and it causes him to delay the play in the corner or worse, lose the puck in a 50/50 battle. Looks to pass the puck in the offensive zone and can make a quick play. Grade: 55

Smarts: Gallant is a frustrating player to watch because he is a decent two-way forward that can be a difference maker, but there is something in his head that tells him to not play in the first period, but play hard in the third period. He is extremely inconsistent and there were times in the playoffs that he did not see ice time in a given period. He understands how to read plays and get himself open, but I question if he has the confidence to play as an effective center at a higher level. Grade: 50

Physicality: A capable physical player as he puts up five good hits per game on average. He is there on the forecheck making the right plays and he often causes a stir behind the opposing net or in the corners. His problem is he cannot be physical with the puck as he tends to lose the 50/50 battles at an alarming rate. Grade: 55

Summary: Zach Gallant is an intriguing prospect with the size and skills to potentially be a bottom six forward, but needs a lot of work to make it to the next level. The NHL team that drafts him needs to work hard on his mental development as it is his biggest weakness heading into the draft and his failure to score a single goal in two rounds of the 2017 playoffs is proof of that shortcoming. A reputation for inconsistency and laziness will cause him to go lower in the draft, but there is hope. He has decent skating skills and a shooting style that normally hits the target. He can be a decent defensive forward when he wants to be and has potential to make the NHL, but again, the team that takes a chance on him will need to put in a ton of work to get a return on their investment.

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Iain Morrell — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:16:51 +0000

MCKEEN'S 2017 NHL DRAFT GUIDE - Learn more here!

Nico Hischier will make National Hockey League history as the first name called in Chicago at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The New Jersey Devils hold the first overall selection having won the draft lottery, and will be looking at three prospects in particular who have risen to the top of the 2017 draft class.

Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Hischier is a very attractive choice having 'checked all the boxes' during an outstanding North American debut with the Halifax Mooseheads. The native of Naters, Switzerland led all rookie scorers in the QMJHL and finished 10th in league scoring, while delivering strong performances for his country at both the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships (WJC).

A fast and dynamic skater with high-end puck skills, Hischier distinguished himself for his two-way diligence and his ability to contribute in every area of the ice and - by extension - the game. He possesses a high hockey IQ and is a very creative player combining both structure and innovation.

It will be an agonizing decision if New Jersey opts to pass on Hischier in favour of the other prime attraction - Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winnipeg native entered the 2016-17 season as the consensus top choice after a standout season in which he tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 30 points in 21 games (13-17-30) and earned WHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

Patrick was injured during that playoff run however and underwent sports hernia surgery last July. His groin/abdominal problems would re-surface after playing in Brandon's opening five games, and sideline him for 34 games and force him to miss the U20 WJC.

Returning in January, Patrick still managed to finish fifth on the Wheat Kings in scoring with 20 goals and 46 points despite playing in just 33 games.

However he suffered another health setback late in the regular season - an unspecified upper-body injury - and missed the WHL playoffs.

Nolan Patrick would be the first Manitoban selected first overall in the NHL draft - with Nico Hischier set to become the first-ever Swiss-born player.

A third option emerged for New Jersey this spring at the U18 WJC where defenceman Miro Heiskanen turned in a commanding performance for Finland and effectively threw his hat into the ring.

Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It makes some sense for the Devils to consider adding a potential building block on the blueline given the loss of Adam Larsson in last summer's Taylor Hall deal.

Heiskanen would be the first Finnish-born player to go first overall.

CENTRE STAGE

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires sits at No. 4 on the McKeen's Top 125 - ranking the best prospects available for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward led Windsor with 29 goals and 61 points - in just 49 games - and then played a central role in helping the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup, highlighted by a four-assist performance in a win over the top-ranked Erie Otters.

Big, highly-skilled, and ultra competitive, Vilardi brings plenty of meat to the plate - but the skating has raised concerns about how impactful an NHLer he can be. Described as a 'knock kneed' skater, he will have to continue upgrading his quickness and explosiveness.

The Kingston, Ontario native can play on the wing but showcased at the Top Prospects Game in January that he is very effective playing in the middle.

The fifth-ranked prospect is Casey Mittelstadt, the top American-born player.

Mittelstadt ripped apart the high school circuit averaging 2.56 points per game (64 points in 25 games) and earning Minnesota’s distinguished Mr. Hockey award as the state’s top senior skater. He fell short though of leading his hometown Eden Prairie to a state championship, falling in the semi-finals.

Mittelstadt was questioned about returning for his senior year amid concerns that his development could be stunted. However, he helped allay some of those concerns with impressive stints in the USHL, wrapped around his high school season, recording 30 points in 24 games - for a 1.25 points-per-game average which was tops in the league.

Sharp-shooting winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is next at No. 6.

The Peterborough, Ontario native infuriated with his inconsistent (and incomplete) defensive work habits but, at the end of the day, may be the best goal-scoring prospect in this draft class.

He finished fifth in the OHL with 44 goals and added another 10 goals in 20 playoff games.

Slick-skating defenceman Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is ranked seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta native was among this season's biggest risers - shooting up the draft chart and dazzling with his skating and skills while leading Brooks to the RBC Cup final.

Makar still has plenty of growing to do in terms of learning how to harness and deploy his exceptional talents. His education will be in good hands for his upcoming freshman season at the University of Massachusetts. Makar may benefit most by staying on the NCAA collegiate route for at least two years, though the lure of the NHL is all powerful.

Sorting out the rest of the top 10 has been a convoluted journey since the initial rankings were published last fall. That's not unusual - but this season the rankings seemed to be in a larger state of flux. There's not much to separate the next dozen or so players - all of whom could conceivably land a top 10 spot.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks was another big riser, moving up from 24th - in the preliminary ranking - to grab the No. 8 position.

A cerebral two-way pivot with good size and skill, the Winnipeg native led Portland and tied for seventh in WHL scoring during a spectacular breakout season - in which he more than tripled his rookie numbers from 2015-16.

Glass begins a run of centremen with seven of the next ten players being pivots; Michael Rasmussen (10th), Elias Pettersson (11th), Martin Necas (12th), Robert Thomas (15th), Nick Suzuki (16th), and Lias Andersson (17th).

KLIM PICKINGS

The wildcards for this year's draft will begin with swift-skating Swedish defenceman Timothy Liljegren

The native of Kristianstad, Sweden has been a prime name for 2017 since he was 16 years old - and was ranked No. 4 on our preliminary list. However, he was sidelined early by a bout of mononucleosis and struggled to find his game after returning.

There's no denying the physical gifts as he is a strong, fast skater with a good skill set featuring a heavy wristshot.

Klim Kostin

However, his hockey sense and overall decision making have continually come into question as the scrutiny on his game intensified. He doesn't seem to possess an innate feel for pressure and can be prone to stickchecks and turning pucks over on outlets. Can this part of his make-up develop and mature? Perhaps. It's a risk NHL teams must weigh before considering him as a top selection.

Another 'hot potato' pick will be Dynamo Moscow forward Klim Kostin who began the season at No. 5 in the rankings following a solid showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. The Penza native captained Russia and led his team in scoring (5-4-3-7) while flashing an intriguing mix of size, skill and creativity.

He also put in a decent showing at the Canada-Russia series in November, albeit not enough for World Junior team coach Valeri Bragin to include him on the U20 roster. However, Kostin underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January and missed an opportunity to further convince NHL scouts at the U18 WJC in April.

Strong and skilled with the puck, Kostin can create openings with his stickhandling and 1-on-1 abilities, but must work on his skating and consistency.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen also watched his stock soften as the season progressed after beginning as a top 10 pick (8th).

The native of Vihti, Finland tied for third in the USHL with 30 goals and then helped Sioux City reach the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen possesses sharp offensive instincts and a lethal shot, yet there are concerns about how his slight frame and dimensional game will translate to higher levels.

No player fell further in the rankings this season than towering Russian winger Nikita Popugaev.

The Moscow native fired 19 goals in his first 25 games with Moose Jaw, however his play tailed off in December and he was dealt a month later to Prince George where he continued to sputter.

Popugaev brings great size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds as well as a strong shooting arsenal. His skating needs to come along though, particularly his footwork and overall agility.

But the bigger concern is how badly he wants it - as his work ethic and defensive play regressed to alarming levels over the second half.

PLENTY OF FINNISH

Finland gave advance warning that they would be a big factor at the 2017 NHL Draft when they captured gold at the 2016 U18 WJC.

It was Finland's first gold medal at the event since winning the first two tournaments in 1999 and 2000 - and was accomplished with a predominantly underage blueline.

They followed up this year at the U18's with a silver medal, led by the splendid duo of Miro Heiskanen and Urho Vaakanainen.

Heiskanen's exploits were well chronicled, however Vaakanainen's play may have turned just as many NHL heads. His smooth skating, subtle skills, and innate feel for the game were on full display throughout.

Vaakanainen could turn out to be one of the best players from this draft.

Expect the Finns to be high profile at this draft - as they could place up to seven players in the opening round plus another half dozen in the second.

In all, there are 16 Finnish-born players in the McKeen's Top 125 including a number of potential sleepers such as Joni Ikonen (59th), Aleksi Heponiemi (65th), Emil Oksanen (76th) and U18 WJC captain Aarne Talvitie (77th).

Finland's Santeri Virtanen #22 carries the puck during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Gritty two-way centre Santeri Virtanen threw his name into the ring with an impressive showing at the U18 WJC after missing most of the season to injury.

His late rise wasn't a total surprise as he had initially been slotted as a potential 50-70 pick after a good showing at the Ivan Hlinka last fall.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Nolan Patrick	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/200	19-Sep-98	Canada
2	Nico Hischier	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/175	4-Jan-99	Switzerland
3	Miro Heiskanen	D	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)	6-0/170	18-Jul-99	Finland
4	Gabriel Vilardi	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/200	16-Aug-99	Canada
5	Casey Mittelstadt	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-1/200	22-Nov-98	USA
6	Owen Tippett	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/200	16-Feb-99	Canada
7	Cale Makar	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-11/180	30-Oct-98	Canada
8	Cody Glass	C	Portland (WHL)	6-2/180	1-Apr-99	Canada
9	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-3/205	1-Jun-99	Finland
10	Michael Rasmussen	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-6/215	17-Apr-99	Canada
11	Elias Pettersson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/165	12-Nov-98	Sweden
12	Martin Necas	C	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-0/170	15-Jan-99	Czech
13	Urho Vaakanainen	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-0/185	1-Jan-99	Finland
14	Juuso Valimaki	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Oct-98	Finland
15	Robert Thomas	C	London (OHL)	6-0/190	2-Jul-99	Canada
16	Nick Suzuki	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	10-Sep-99	Canada
17	Lias Andersson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	5-11/200	13-Oct-98	Sweden
18	Isaac Ratcliffe	LW	Guelph (OHL)	6-5/200	15-Feb-99	Canada
19	Erik Brannstrom	D	HV 71 (Swe)	5-10/175	2-Sep-99	Sweden
20	Timothy Liljegren	D	Rogle (Swe)	6-0/190	30-Apr-99	Sweden
21	Klim Kostin	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	6-3/195	5-May-99	Russia
22	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/175	22-Apr-99	Finland
23	Conor Timmins	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	18-Sep-98	Canada
24	Kailer Yamamoto	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-8/160	29-Sep-98	Canada
25	Jason Robertson	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-2/195	22-Jul-99	USA
26	Ryan Poehling	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/195	3-Jan-99	USA
27	Nicolas Hague	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-6/215	5-Dec-98	Canada
28	Josh Norris	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	5-May-99	USA
29	Shane Bowers	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/185	30-Jul-99	Canada
30	Cal Foote	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/215	13-Dec-98	USA
31	Henri Jokiharju	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/180	17-Jun-99	Finland
32	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	HPK (Fin)	6-4/195	9-Mar-99	Finland
33	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Sep-99	Canada
34	Kole Lind	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/180	16-Oct-98	Canada
35	Jesper Boqvist	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	30-Oct-98	Sweden
36	Grant Mismash	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	19-Feb-99	USA
37	Keith Petruzzelli	G	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/180	9-Feb-99	USA
38	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/165	1-Jul-99	Canada
39	Maxime Comtois	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-2/200	8-Jan-99	Canada
40	Adam Ruzicka	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-4/205	11-May-99	Slovakia
41	Morgan Frost	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/170	14-May-99	Canada
42	Filip Chytil	C	Zlin (Cze)	6-0/180	5-Sep-99	Czech
43	Nikita Popugaev	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-6/220	20-Nov-98	Russia
44	Jake Oettinger	G	Boston University (HE)	6-4/210	18-Dec-98	USA
45	Josh Brook	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-1/185	15-Jun-99	Canada
46	Santeri Virtanen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/195	11-May-99	Finland
47	Kyle Olson	C	Tri-City (WHL)	5-11/165	22-Mar-99	Canada
48	Evan Barratt	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	18-Feb-99	USA
49	Max Gildon	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/190	17-May-99	USA
50	MacKenzie Entwistle	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-3/180	14-Jul-99	Canada
51	Stelio Mattheos	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-1/195	14-Jun-99	Canada
52	Marcus Davidsson	C	Djurgardens (Swe)	6-0/190	18-Nov-98	Sweden
53	Michael DiPietro	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/195	9-Jun-99	Canada
54	David Farrance	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/190	23-Jun-99	USA
55	Stuart Skinner	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/210	1-Nov-98	Canada
56	Matthew Strome	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-4/210	6-Jan-99	Canada
57	Alex Formenton	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/165	13-Sep-99	Canada
58	Eemeli Rasanen	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-7/215	6-Mar-99	Finland
59	Joni Ikonen	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-10/170	14-Apr-99	Finland
60	Scott Reedy	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	4-Apr-99	USA
61	Sasha Chmelevski	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/190	9-Jun-99	USA
62	Filip Westerlund	D	Frolunda (Swe)	5-11/180	17-Apr-99	Sweden
63	Ian Mitchell	D	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	5-11/175	18-Jan-99	Canada
64	Maxim Zhukov	G	Green Bay (USHL)	6-3/190	22-Jul-99	Russia
65	Aleksi Heponiemi	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/150	9-Jan-99	Finland
66	Ostap Safin	LW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-4/200	11-Feb-99	Czech
67	Jack Studnicka	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/170	18-Feb-99	Canada
68	Nick Henry	RW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/190	4-Jul-99	Canada
69	Markus Phillips	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/200	21-Mar-99	Canada
70	Jarret Tyszka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/190	15-Mar-99	Canada
71	Kirill Maksimov	RW	Niagara (OHL)	6-2/195	1-Jun-99	Russia
72	Jake Leschyshyn	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/185	10-Mar-99	Canada
73	Alexei Toropchenko	RW	MVD Balashikha (Rus Jr)	6-3/190	25-Jun-99	Russia
74	Kirill Slepets	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
75	Olle Eriksson Ek	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	22-Jun-99	Sweden
76	Emil Oksanen	LW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-1/190	25-Sep-98	Finland
77	Aarne Talvitie	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	5-10/200	11-Feb-99	Finland
78	Reilly Walsh	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	21-Apr-99	USA
79	Ivan Lodnia	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-10/180	31-Aug-99	USA
80	Jonah Gadjovich	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-2/210	12-Oct-98	Canada
81	Ben Mirageas	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/180	8-May-99	USA
82	Dylan Samberg	D	Hermantown (USHS-MN)	6-3/190	24-Jan-99	USA
83	Antoine Morand	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-10/180	18-Feb-99	Canada
84	Morgan Geekie	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/180	20-Jul-98	Canada
85	Alexei Lipanov	C	MVD Balashikha (Rus 2)	6-0/165	17-Aug-99	Russia
86	Jack Badini	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/200	19-Jan-98	USA
87	Brady Lyle	D	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99	Canada
88	Lucas Elvenes	C	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	18-Aug-99	Sweden
89	Zach Gallant	C	Peterborough (OHL)	6-2/190	6-Mar-99	Canada
90	Lane Zablocki	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/190	27-Dec-98	Canada
91	Kevin Hancock	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98	Canada
92	Alexandre Texier	C	Grenoble (Fra)	6-0/190	13-Sep-99	France
93	Noel Hoefenmayer	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	6-Jan-99	Canada
94	Nate Schnarr	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-3/180	15-Jun-99	Canada
95	Jonas Rondbjerg	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	31-Mar-99	Denmark
96	Ivan Chekhovich	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/180	14-Jan-99	Russia
97	Robin Salo	D	Sport (Fin)	6-1/190	13-Oct-98	Finland
98	Luke Martin	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-4/215	20-Sep-98	USA
99	Cale Fleury	D	Kootenay (WHL)	6-1/205	19-Nov-98	Canada
100	Mikey Anderson	D	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-May-99	USA
101	Mason Shaw	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-9/180	3-Nov-98	Canada
102	Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99	Finland
103	Gustav Lindstrom	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	6-2/190	20-Oct-98	Sweden
104	Marian Studenic	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/165	28-Oct-98	Slovakia
105	Jack Rathbone	D	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-10/175	20-May-99	USA
106	Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98	Russia
107	Kalle Miketinac	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	2-Apr-99	Sweden
108	Dmitri Samorukov	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/180	16-Jun-99	Russia
109	Ian Scott	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
110	Austen Keating	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/170	7-May-99	Canada
111	Maksim Sushko	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/185	10-Feb-99	Belarus
112	Tyler Inamoto	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	6-May-99	USA
113	Ty Lewis	LW	Brandon (WHL)	5-11/180	5-Mar-98	Canada
114	Drake Batherson	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	27-Apr-98	Canada
115	Rickard Hugg	C	Leksands (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	18-Jan-99	Sweden
116	Scott Walford	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-1/195	12-Jan-99	Canada
117	Jordy Bellerive	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/195	2-May-99	Canada
118	Matthew Kellenberger	D	Oakville (OJHL)	6-0/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
119	Johnathan Kovacevic	D	Merrimack (HE)	6-4/215	2-Jul-97	Canada
120	Nick Campoli	C	North York (OJHL)	5-11/190	16-Feb-99	Canada
121	Mario Ferraro	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/185	17-Sep-98	Canada
122	Michael Pastujov	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	23-Aug-99	USA
123	Tyler Steenbergen	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/190	7-Jan-98	Canada
124	Mark Rubinchik	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/180	21-Mar-99	Russia
125	Kasper Kotkansalo	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	16-Nov-98	Finland