As discussed in my 2017 draft prospect rankings, this year's draft class is not entirely devoid of top talent, but there is a lot of bunching at the top, and that top group is underwhelming compared to some of the better classes of recent years.
That's reflected in this ranking of the best draft prospects of the past five years, with several 2017 players represented -- but toward the end of the board.
What's important to note is that these are my evaluations at the time of the draft, not now. So after looking at this ranking, it is incorrect to jump to the conclusion that I think both Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick are better than Leon Draisaitl.
While I try my best to view these prospects in the perspective of where they were as draft prospects, it is obviously hard to battle hindsight.
With those caveats in mind, let's dive into my ranking of the top 30 draft prospects of the past five years:
Note: In terms of a class-by-class breakdown, there are six from 2013, seven from 2014, six each from 2015 and 2016 and five from 2017.
1. Connor McDavid, C, 2015 draft: McDavid was one of the best prospects in the history of the game. He wasn't in a different galaxy in 2015 from a player like Jack Eichel, or some of the top names in recent years, but there was some noticeable separation. McDavid distinguished himself at every level and tournament, and has continued to do so since joining the Edmonton Oilers, leading the NHL in scoring and being a Hart Trophy candidate in his second NHL season in 2016-17.
2. Patrik Laine, RW, 2016 draft: Laine was one of the most dominant 17-year-olds not named Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby I've ever seen. He's a big, strong winger with an elite combination of offensive tools including his hands, sense and shot. As an NHL rookie, he continued his unique development path as one of the top scoring 18-year-old players of, oh, the past few decades. No biggie.
3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, 2013 draft: MacKinnon posted 1.7 points per game and 4.6 shots per game for Halifax in the QMJHL during his draft season while being two weeks away from sliding into the following year's draft class. One of the best skaters (in terms of the attribute) that I've ever seen as a first-year draft eligible, MacKinnon didn't have the elite east-west game of some other prospects in this group, but the way he could create chances out of nowhere with his speed and skill was stunning. He came out of the gates flying as an NHL rookie, and has played well on a very poor Colorado team, struggling to gain traction due to his supporting cast and inability to finish. I did not foresee the latter issue as a significant problem when he was a draft prospect.
4. Auston Matthews, C, 2016 draft: The pride of Scottsdale, Arizona, is a player I've followed closely for many years, and I continue to be amazed by the skill level he brings to the table. His abilities as a goal scorer and a playmaker are of the highest grade. He was my first-place vote and is the likely winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie this season. He is one of the brightest stars in the NHL and a true centerpiece center for the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, likely for a long time.
5. Jack Eichel, C, 2015 draft: Despite missing a sizable portion of this season due to injury, Eichel rebounded well, looking like one of the NHL's best players upon his return. His shot generation is among the elite in the NHL, and while things in Buffalo aren't trending in a great direction, it's hard to lay that at the feet of Eichel, who is one of the most valuable assets in the NHL. The draft hype for him in 2015 has been fully warranted.
6. Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, 2016 draft: Puljujarvi was the MVP of the 2016 World Junior Championship and one of the most impressive prospects to ever come out of Finland. He has a lot going for him in terms of his skating, skill, shot, IQ and frame. Despite being one of the most impressive prospects I've seen the past few years, Puljujarvi struggled the season after his draft. He was quite good in the AHL, but not dominant, and struggled at the higher levels such as the NHL and the World Championships. I still believe in him long term as a good top-six forward, but his star isn't shining as brightly as it did a year ago.
7. Jonathan Drouin, LW, 2013 draft: As a draft prospect, Drouin was a dynamic playmaking winger who bled offensive hockey sense. You see elements of that in his NHL play, as he'll have shifts or games when he owns the puck and sets up chance after chance for Tampa Bay. However, issues in his all-around game -- a significant issue at the time of his draft -- keep him from always having the puck, and inconsistency slides into his game.
8. Seth Jones, D, 2013 draft: It's easy to forget how highly we thought of Jones back in the 2013 season. He's one of the best defenseman to ever go through the draft, right up there with first overall pick Erik Johnson. Heading into the 2013 draft, Jones presented an all-around tool kit of mobility, size, vision and great defensive play. Jones has come into his own since being traded from Nashville to Columbus, and he was an important piece of the franchise's revitalization this season. He was leaned on in a way he wouldn't have been in the defensemen factory of Nashville.
9. Aaron Ekblad, D, 2014 draft: Known during his draft year as the man-child, due to how physically advanced he was, Ekblad was one of the best defensemen in the CHL during his 17-year-old season; he was a top-pairing defender for Canada at the World Juniors that season, which is quite unusual for a player that age. His offensive production dipped this season with Florida, but his shot generation was elite. In the long term, I still see a star defenseman due to his skating, size and IQ.
10. Aleksander Barkov, C, 2013 draft: Barkov was a force during his draft season, a 20 minutes-per-game center in the top league in Finland and a top-six forward in the World Juniors, while being days away from being pushed into the 2014 draft class due to birthdate. A player with elite IQ and great hands, albeit with lackluster speed, he's been a strong two-way center since making his way into the NHL, but he was injured this season and seems to have hit a lull in his development. However, he has shown skills that indicate he may wind up as the best player from his draft class.
11. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, 2013 draft: Big Val's career arc has been nothing short of fascinating -- for both good and bad reasons. He was one of the best 18-year-old forwards of the past decade, but didn't progress thereafter and saw his ice time cut, and then played in the KHL this past season. He may not have the hockey IQ to be a great NHL player, but since he's a big man who can skate so well, with above-average skill, some NHL scouts at the time of his draft thought he could be the best player from his class. When and if he returns to the NHL, I think he can be helpful to whatever team he joins.
12. Sam Bennett, C, 2014 draft: Bennett was fourth in the OHL in points per game as a 17-year-old and carried a mediocre Kingston team on his back. Bennett has been rather disappointing since joining the Flames, but he's still young. He brings speed, skill, intelligence and a tremendous work ethic to the table. He may lack that dynamic trait to hit that next level of production in the NHL, but given what's he showed during his career, I wouldn't write off that possibility just yet.
13. Mitch Marner, C, 2015 draft: All Marner did in his draft season was be a two points-per-game player for London in the OHL. Since then, he has continued to show offensive dominance in the CHL, the World Championships and, most importantly, the NHL. He is one of the most imaginative offensive players I've had the pleasure of scouting, and with his hands, IQ and skating, he has the potential to be a point-per-game player in the NHL.
14. Dylan Strome, C, 2015 draft: After being a much-hyped third overall pick by the Coyotes in 2015, Strome fell off the radar a little this season after being sent back to the OHL and not being dominant at the World Juniors. He's still highly touted for the same reasons he was back in his draft year. He has elite hockey sense and is a great playmaker with size who can finish chances. However, his skating continues to be an issue.
15. William Nylander, RW, 2014 draft: Though he has done nothing but impress since being drafted, it's easy to forget the up-and-down whirlwind that was his draft season. He bounced around numerous teams, had his ice time plummet and skyrocket in the Allsvenskan, and ended it with a dominant performance at the world under-18 championship. Any potential issues that were debated in 2014 seem comical now that Nylander looks like one of the best young players in the NHL.
16. Sam Reinhart, C, 2014 draft: Reinhart was a touted prospect for a long time, and while he never had a gigantic scoring surge a la Dylan Strome, Reinhart earned the highest praise from coaches at every stop and logged huge all-around minutes. The same trend has continued into his NHL career with Buffalo. Reinhart is not a game-breaking, 70-plus point producer, but he is a reliable two-way forward who will put up quality numbers each season.
17. Noah Hanifin, D, 2015 draft: Hanifin was incredibly good playing in Hockey East as a draft-eligible player for Boston College in 2015. He joined the college ranks extremely early after blowing away the competition the season before at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. As a prospect, Hanifin was a dynamic skating defender with good, but not dynamic, skill and solid two-way play. The lack of a high-IQ component has hampered him since joining Carolina, as the NHL pace has been an issue for him, but he's still putting up points.
18. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, 2014 draft: A prospect who was not very well-known -- having played in Switzerland's junior league in his 16-year-old season -- Ehlers landed in North America with a bang, clearing 100 points in the QMJHL in his draft year. His speed and skill blew observers away, and he continued to excel as his draft season went along. Ehlers broke out in 2016-17, and he has shown that despite a small frame he can be a top scorer in the NHL due to his fantastic skill set.
19. Clayton Keller, C, 2016 draft: Keller is one of the most accomplished players in the history of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, setting the record for most assists in a season, posting the second-most points in a season, and racking up record stats during the two-season span. He's an elite playmaker with very good speed, and despite a small frame, he is decent defensively and is often a dangerous short-handed scoring threat to boot. He continued his elite performance during the 2016-17 season for Boston University and at the World Juniors and World Championship, solidifying himself as an elite prospect and a potential impact NHL player.
20. Kevin Fiala, C, 2014 draft: Fiala shot straight up throughout the course of his draft season, with a solid World Juniors, a great second half in the Swedish Hockey League as he worked his way into scoring-line minutes, and a World Championship appearance too. He displayed great attributes between his hands, offensive IQ and skating ability, and was quite impressive versus pros for a small, slight player. He's had some good stretches in the NHL, and looked to be hitting his stride toward the end of the season and into the playoffs before getting injured. I expected more from him to date, but the talent is there to succeed.
21. Mathew Barzal, C, 2015 draft: Barzal missed a big chunk of his draft season with an injury, but when he was healthy he was a dynamic passer and was one of the best players at the world under-18 championship. He's so fun to watch, due to his skating and hockey sense, and is always creating space to make plays and find his teammates. Barzal has continued to be a dynamic playmaker in the junior ranks; he was the MVP of the WHL playoffs and could be a top-six forward for the Islanders as soon as next season.
22. Nico Hischier, C, 2017 draft: Hischier was very good from the start in league and international play, and he has put himself into the discussion to go first overall in the 2017 draft. He's a very good skater and puck handler who can dictate possession with his skill and hockey sense. He can be a very good player for his NHL team down the middle, but probably not a star.
23. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, 2016 draft: Dubois is a well-rounded player. He's big and smart, he can dangle, and he works as hard as anyone on the ice. Dubois' advanced defensive play also helps him be a versatile option on his team. After a fantastic second half to his draft season that inspired such optimism, he had an up-and-down 2016-17 campaign that downgraded him mildly as a prospect; however, he could be in Columbus full time next season.
24. Nolan Patrick, C, 2017 draft: When I did this column last year, Patrick was slotted ninth overall as a bonus rank looking ahead. However, several injuries and some unspectacular play when healthy caused him to slip down the list. I could see arguments for him being in the Sam Reinhart range instead of his current placement on this board, but the direction he's trending makes me a little cautious.
25. Gabriel Vilardi, C, 2017 draft: Big men who can make the plays Vilardi can make with the puck are hard to find. His skill level is legitimately top-level, as is his ability to maintain possession, create offense off the rush, and evade pressure on par with some of the better 5-foot-11 forwards. An injury in his draft season may have kept his stock from being as high as it could get, on top of his significant skating issues, but the size/skill/IQ combo make him a top prospect.
26. Leon Draisaitl, C, 2014 draft: I wasn't as high as the industry was on Draisaitl during his draft season, taking issue with his skating particularly, but he blew me away as a passer and showed the ability to make some unique offensive plays. Since then, he has played notably well, particularly this past season, and in the back of my mind I know I should have trusted my eyes a little more in terms of the skill and IQ he flashed.
27. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, 2016 draft: Tkachuk has done nothing but produce giant numbers at every level and tournament the past few years. He's a highly skilled playmaker who grinds for pucks as much as anyone. He's also smart on and off the puck. While he didn't rise to the Matthews/Laine level of production as a rookie this season, Tkachuk continued to produce great numbers and is a core piece of Calgary's future.
28. Cody Glass, C, 2017 draft: Glass wasn't on my top 30 in 2017 to start the season, but he erupted at the start of the season and maintained his play throughout the campaign. He's a dynamic playmaker who has the skill, size and IQ to be a significant scorer in the NHL. Some scouts I talk to praise his skating. I haven't seen a blow-you-away gear from him, but he's certainly above-average in that area. There aren't many forwards -- never mind true centers -- in 2017 with his skill, size and production.
29. Nick Suzuki, C, 2017 draft: Suzuki was consistently impressive and one of the top overall players in the OHL. Scouts praise his hockey sense. He sees the ice well as a playmaker, but overall his ability to make quick, creative and correct decisions consistently helps him be a dangerous two-way force. His skating technique isn't sublime, and that, in combination with his small frame, works against him. At the end of the day, he's one of the smartest players in the draft, and that means a lot when projecting a player into the NHL.
30. Elias Lindholm, C, 2013 draft: I was a big believer in Lindholm when he was entering his draft, but he has been good yet not amazing for the Hurricanes, plateauing somewhat in recent years. There was so much excitement for him coming out of Sweden. Lindholm put up ridiculous numbers for an 18-year-old, and by the time he was drafted, he had played one and a half seasons of high-level pro hockey, acquitting himself quite well. There were concerns about his off-the-puck play and his explosiveness, and those concerns continue in his NHL tenure.