The 2017 NHL draft class is one without the fanfare of the prior two seasons, due to the lack of bona fide elite prospects at the very top of the class. That doesn't mean the class is devoid of talent, but everything gets shifted downwards without a player like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews for the taking.
Without a true top talent or two, players that would usually be selected No. 3-6 go at the top, players who would normally go in the teens are in the discussion in the top 10 and so on throughout the first round. The result is a draft class that is projected to be below average.
While discussions with many sources in the industry take place to gather information, the rankings, profiles and analysis are completely my own, and reflect my opinion of who I believe the top prospects in the draft class are. These may differ from the industry -- at times in a significant manner. This is not a projection of what will transpire on draft day in Chicago; for that, be sure to check out my forthcoming mock draft.
We'll continue my ranking of the top 100 prospects with a look at Nos. 61-80:
61. Jesper Boqvist, C, Brynas (SHL-2)
DOB: 10/30/98 | Ht: 6' 0.0" | Wt: 179
2016-17 stats: 16 GP | 0 G | 6 A
I struggled to get a good read on Boqvist this season. On the one hand, his numbers versus men in the SHL-2 this season and in the Swedish under-20 league last season are outstanding. On the other hand, while I've come away with positive impressions from viewings, he doesn't do anything to set off a flashing sign that says "surefire NHL scorer." Boqvist possesses very good speed and puck skills. You occasionally see him have a "wow" moment where he makes a very creative play with the puck, or evade pressure in a difficult manner. He can be taken out of the game physically, though. I have never been a huge fan of his defensive play, but the way he's transitioned to the pro game gives me some optimism that he could be a competent forward in his own end.
62. Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)
DOB: 2/15/99 | Ht: 6' 5.5" | Wt: 200
2016-17 stats: 67 GP | 28 G | 26 A
Ratcliffe drew a lot of attention in the OHL as a towering forward who can score. Some might be hesitant to draft a tall guy without outstanding numbers, thinking, "Oh, there go those scouts again, falling in love with size." Ratcliffe isn't a tree though. He has pretty decent offensive skills for a big man. He can make plenty of scoring chances happen with his puck-protection skills and winning battles around the net, but he can make a creative play with the puck as well. He also has a bullet of a wrist shot. Ratcliffe's skating isn't a selling point, but he's not lumbering around the ice. I don't love his projection, but I wouldn't fault an NHL team at all for taking him.
63. Jarret Tyszka, D, Seattle (WHL)
DOB: 3/15/99 | Ht: 6' 2.25" | Wt: 190
2016-17 stats: 54 GP | 6 G | 19 A
A careful observation of Tyszka will reveal the skills he possesses and show a player with a lot of upside despite just OK point totals this season. He skates well, with a great jump in his first step, dangerous top gear and ability to move quickly in all directions. He has solid stick skills and can make skilled plays off the rush. He moves the puck well, making quick, creative decisions with the puck and controlling the puck well at the offensive blue line. He'll need improvements in the defensive zone. He has the size to win battles, but he's not smooth in his own end in terms of reads or disrupting plays.
64. Alexander Chmelevski, C, Ottawa (OHL)
DOB: 6/09/99 | Ht: 5' 11.5" | Wt: 190
2016-17 stats: 58 GP | 21 G | 22 A
Often called "Sasha," the product of Huntington Beach, California, came into the season with hype, but didn't quite get up to the level some hoped he would. He's got a ton of talent. He can get up the ice with above-average speed. He has great puck skills and can evade pressure very well. He sees the ice very well and can be a decent finisher, too. So what's the problem? His off-the-puck play needs a lot of work and often leaves you wanting consistency. While his offensive instincts are top notch, defensively and along the walls he's not exactly the most engaged player. I believe in the upside and think he could have an NHL future, but he'll need a better 18-year-old season (and beyond).
65. Artyom Minulin, D, Swift Current (WHL)
DOB: 10/01/98 | Ht: 6' 2.5" | Wt: 197
2016-17 stats: 70 GP | 8 G | 42 A
Minulin hasn't generated a ton of accolades, and while he put up points, he wasn't scoring left and right this season. However, when I've watched him carefully, I've seen a defender with a lot of skill and IQ in his game. When Minulin has the puck, he shows good patience and awareness with his distributions. Minulin is very useful on the power play because of his vision. He can display quality puck skills in open ice, and has a good shot from the point as well. Unfortunately, his skating is problematic. He can get turned by quicker forwards and will rely on his puck movement to transition the puck as opposed to speed. Defensively, he's about average outside of his skating, showing fine physical play and reads, but he's not perfect in his own end, making the occasional bad error.
66. Rickard Hugg, C, Leksand Jr. (SHL-2)
DOB: 1/18/99 | Ht: 5' 10.5" | Wt: 179
2016-17 stats: 32 GP | 13 G | 25 A
Hugg has played very well during the past two years at the junior level. He's not a dominant offensive force, but he's consistently effective and has a lot of versatility in his game. Hugg can play center or the wing well. He's an above-average scorer who can also kill penalties at a high level. He has decent stick skills and can play at a pro pace with his offensive mind. He doesn't have the ability to go through a team, but he makes good passes and creates enough space with his speed and hands to get the puck moving. I also like how he's able to win battles and be a competent center defensively without taking many penalties.
67. Sami Moilanen, RW, Seattle (WHL)
DOB: 1/22/99 | Ht: 5' 8.5" | Wt: 185
2016-17 stats: 70 GP | 21 G | 22 A
Moilanen has been a top name with Finland's 1999 group for a few years, and was a big part of Seattle's deep playoff run. Though not a dynamic playmaker, he's a well-rounded forward who is always around the puck making a play in both halves of the rink. He's a good skater who pressures defensemen well, and can be dangerous in transition. He generates chances due to his speed and IQ. The latter is evident when he's setting up his teammates for chances and making quick decisions. I don't love his puck skills, but he's about average in that area, though I wish I saw more there for a smaller player. Defensively, he's quality for his age, being able to win battles despite his size and be a useful penalty killer.
68. Dylan Samberg, D, Hermantown (HS MN)
DOB: 1/24/99 | Ht: 6' 3.0" | Wt: 190
2016-17 stats: 25 GP | 10 G | 18 A
An important part of the No. 1-ranked team in the Minnesota high school ranks this season. On one hand, it's hard to gauge him because of the low quality of competition he played against; on the other hand, he'd play seemingly more than half the game some nights, and he did so at a high level. Samberg measures 6-foot-3, and while he's not an elite skater, he moves quite competently for such a big man. He's able to get up into a rush and stay with his checks. He closes his gaps quickly and is very physical, often making stops by finishing with the body. He's already quite strong for a player his age. I don't think his puck skills are great, but they're about average, and he can make the occasional skill play. I like him more looking to make a pass than dangle, and he makes some nice reads with his vision. His defensive game looked good at the high school level, but there were moments you saw he needs to be challenged more and sharpen his reads. He's committed to Minnesota-Duluth for the 2018-19 season.
69. Ivan Chekhovich, LW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
DOB: 1/04/99 | Ht: 5' 10.0" | Wt: 177
2016-17 stats: 60 GP | 26 G | 33 A
Chekhovich isn't the kind of player who takes over a game, but he quietly goes about his business, putting up significant scoring numbers in the CHL and international play. There are a lot of above-average traits in his game. He's a quality skater but doesn't have a dynamic gear. He can make skilled plays with the puck but doesn't try to go through a whole team. He can be a responsible defensive player, but he's not a big, crushing physical player. Chekhovich's game goes through his hockey sense. He sees the ice well, has the variety of tools and IQ to know how to complement any linemate he's given, and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
70. Filip Westerlund, D, Frolunda (SHL)
DOB: 4/17/99 | Ht: 5' 11.0" | Wt: 180
2016-17 stats: 33 GP | 0 G | 4 A
Westerlund established himself in the SHL this season, getting a regular shift with Frolunda as a 17-year-old. He has great hockey sense and overall puck-moving skill. Westerlund is calm and composed when he has the biscuit, making great outlets and evading pressure, and he has soft hands. His offensive IQ is high-end, and it's a big selling point, but it comes with the fact that there aren't a ton of other selling points to his game. Westerlund has mediocre speed, he's undersized, and he isn't very physical. His IQ allows him to be competent defensively, and he closes his gaps fine, but I wouldn't qualify him as a shutdown player. A team drafting him is betting on his upside, which is quite notable, thanks to his hockey IQ.
71. Jacob Tortora, RW, US U-18 (USHL)
DOB: 7/25/99 | Ht: 5' 6.5" | Wt: 162
2016-17 stats: 42 GP | 16 G | 17 A
This is a guy who intrigued me all season, and while you'd prefer the smaller players to have eye-popping numbers (his are good, but not at that level), I think there's still a lot to like in his game. Tortora is a very good skater, who explodes out of the gates with his first step and can push defenders back off the rush. He's a great playmaker, with good stick skills to create space, and the vision to set up his teammates. While I prefer him more when he's making plays instead of finishing, I've also been impressed by his accurate shot and ability to convert chances into goals when he gets them. The question is about his size, and whether his skill is great enough to overcome it. There are reasonable doubts there, but he shows enough grit and defensive IQ to be useful off the puck even if not outstanding. He's committed to Boston College for 2018-19.
72. Linus Nyman, RW, Kingston (OHL)
DOB: 7/11/99 | Ht: 5' 9.25" | Wt: 158
2016-17 stats: 68 GP | 26 G | 24 A
Nyman was one of the top rookies in the CHL this season, was excellent in the OHL playoffs and showed well for the Finnish under-18 team. He's a very good skater, who is effective carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He has decent offensive ability, with the vision to make tough, creative passes, while also having a quality shot and the ability to finish from distance. He's not a pure dangler, but he shows enough puck skills to hold onto possession and escape pressure. Nyman has also shown he can put pressure on the other team and has an edge to his game without taking penalties.
73. Alexandre Texier, C, Grenoble (France)
DOB: 9/13/99 | Ht: 6' 0.0" | Wt: 187
2016-17 stats: 40 GP | 10 G | 9 A
Texier followed one of the most unique paths of any NHL draft prospect in recent memory, playing his entire first draft-eligible season in Grenoble of the top league in France. However, he has impressed at every level, including the pro league, the under-20 and under-18 tournaments and playing for the French national team. He's a highly skilled playmaker who can make very technical, high-skill plays on a routine basis. He's not a well-rounded player; he'll need to add a lot of speed to his game, as well as play harder off the puck. But in sum, he has NHL-caliber skill, and teams are willing to take a chance on players like that, regardless of geography.
74. Morgan Geekie, C, Tri-City (WHL)
DOB: 7/20/98 | Ht: 6' 2.25" | Wt: 178
2016-17 stats: 72 GP | 35 G | 55 A
Geekie enters his second year of draft eligibility with a ton more buzz than a year ago. Despite his name, he does not to my knowledge spend his weekends playing Dungeons & Dragons (this one is my editor's fault). The 6-foot-2 center had a huge campaign for Tri-City, leading them in goals and points. He's skilled for a big man, and shows a high level of creativity. He's not a pure dangler, but he's a very smart offensive player with solid puck skills. He sees the ice well, and while he has a quality wrist shot, he's able to set up plays as well and he can finish. The big issue with Geekie is his skating. He has shown some improvement from last season, but he's still quite sluggish moving around the ice, and won't be too threatening on zone entries as a pro as it stands now.
75. Mackenzie Entwistle, RW, Hamilton (OHL)
DOB: 7/14/99 | Ht: 6' 2.75" | Wt: 175
2016-17 stats: 54 GP | 12 G | 13 A
Entwistle is a big power winger with a decent all-around toolkit. I've seen him take faceoffs this season, but he probably projects on the wing as a pro. Entwistle skates at an above-average level, and well above average for a 6-foot-3 player. He works hard to win battles and uses his big frame to his advantage to win pucks and maintain possession. The scouts I talk to who are big supporters of Entwistle admit his offensive ceiling is lower than you'd like. That's not to say he can't score, because he has a big-time shot, but he's not going to be a primary creator of chances on his line at the NHL level. He has average puck skills and can make the occasional high-level play but doesn't have the elite hockey sense to do so consistently. He projects as a forward who can check good players and take a regular even-strength shift with a bit of offense sprinkled in.
76. Dmitri Samorukov, D, Guelph (OHL)
DOB: 6/16/99 | Ht: 6' 2.0" | Wt: 180
2016-17 stats: 67 GP | 4 G | 16 A
Samorukov struggled in his transition to North America after entering the season with hype but ended the OHL season strong, and had a very good performance at the world under-18 championship. Samorukov is mobile, particularly at 6-foot-2, and is more than capable at jumping up into the attack. His skill level isn't elite, but he's a smart puck-mover who can make creative plays. On defense, he's not afraid to get involved in the physical play and can win battles. His game started to show more pace as he got used to the smaller North American rinks, and while his decisions weren't perfect, I see solid hockey IQ in his game.
77. Ostap Safin, RW, Sparta Jr. (Czech U20)
DOB: 2/11/99 | Ht: 6' 4.5" | Wt: 191
2016-17 stats: 24 GP | 6 G | 12 A
I expect Safin will hear his name called somewhere in the top two rounds. I see qualities there that are desirable, but I'm slightly lower on him than the industry. On the plus side, there are good athletic qualities to his game. At 6-foot-5, he has very good feet for a big man, with an easy first few steps. He handles the puck fine, can make the occasional creative play or distribution, possesses an accurate wrist shot and is able to finish chances well. However, he's not going to be a primary playmaker on his line as a pro. His physical play is inconsistent. Some days he has an edge and wins battles, other days he's like a big teddy bear on the puck.
78. Emil Bemstrom, C, Leksand Jr. (SHL-2)
DOB: 6/01/99 | Ht: 5' 10.75" | Wt: 177
2016-17 stats: 28 GP | 21 G | 12 A
Bemstrom impressed me all season through his junior performance and in international tournaments. He's a skilled winger who can make tough, coordinated plays with the puck, with the occasional flash of high-end ability. When Bemstrom generates space with his skill, he's able to make solid distributions, while also being able to finish chances from a distance. However, I see his style as more of a playmaker than a finisher. His skating is fine, but I don't love his speed at 5-foot-11, and that will need to improve for him to be an NHL player. Bemstrom has played center in the past and could be competent taking a draw here and there, but he projects on the wing as a pro given that he's not an overly physical player nor is he a very reliable defensive forward.
79. Noel Hoefenmayer, D, Ottawa (OHL)
DOB: 1/06/99 | Ht: 6' 0.25" | Wt: 191
2016-17 stats: 62 GP | 14 G | 26 A
Hoefenmayer continued to impress me as the season went along. He produced solid scoring numbers on a mediocre Ottawa team, while also taking tough defensive assignments. What stands out to me most is his hockey IQ. He's a very smooth player who makes a lot of good, simple plays in all three zones. He's not a speedster, but he's adequately mobile and able to jump up into the play. He's a coordinated puck handler who can make the occasional high-skill play, and he has a big shot from the point. I like him a lot more as a puck mover than a dangler, though. Despite his subpar size, he's solid defensively because of his IQ and can read plays as they're developing.
80. Logan Cockerill, RW, US U-18 (USHL)
DOB: 3/03/99 | Ht: 5' 8.5" | Wt: 165
2016-17 stats: 52 GP | 14 G | 14 A
Cockerill didn't get a ton of points this season, and he's on the small side, but I have zero concerns putting him in my top 100, because he has big-time upside. No, I'm not cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, I've just been very impressed every time I've seen Cockerill. He's a great skater who puts defenders on their heels with consistency. His puck skills are above average, and combined with his speed, he's consistently able to gain the zone and make tough plays at full speed. Cockerill works hard, is an OK penalty killer despite his size and makes a difference every shift. The main critique outside of the size is that he's not an elite playmaker and excels more going north-south than east-west. But I've seen him make a lot of good plays. He'll skate for Boston University beginning in 2018-19.