Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts remains at the head of the 2014 NHL Draft class.

Ekblad, who overtook the No. 2 ranked Sam Reinhart in November, has retained the top spot in Future Considerations’ February ranking for the draft, held this June in Philadelphia.

The 17-year-old defenseman isn’t without close company, though.

Reinhart, who skates with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, hasn’t been ranked lower than second all season. Kingston Frontenacs forward Sam Bennett, who Central Scouting ranked first among North American skaters at the midterm, is third.

William Nylander, Future Considerations’ top-ranked European, is fourth, while Oshawa Generals winger Michael Dal Colle rounds out the top-5.

1). D Aaron Ekblad, Barrie (OHL), 6-4, 215
2). C Sam Reinhart, Kootenay (WHL), 6-1, 185
3). C/LW Sam Bennett, Kingston (OHL), 6-0, 180
4). C/W William Nylander, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan), 5-11, 170
5). LW/C Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa (OHL), 6-2, 180
6). C Leon Draisaitl, Prince Albert (WHL), 6-2, 210
7). LW Nick Ritchie, Peterborough (OHL), 6-2, 230
8). LW Brendan Perlini, Niagara (OHL), 6-2, 205
9). D Haydn Fleury, Red Deer (WHL), 6-3, 200
10). C Jared McCann, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL), 6-0, 180
11). LW Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax (QMJHL), 5-11, 165
12). LW Ivan Barbashev, Moncton (QMJHL), 6-1, 185
13). RW Conner Bleackley, Red Deer (WHL), 6-1, 195
14). C Jake Virtanen, Calgary (WHL), 6-1, 210
15). RW Kasperi Kapanen, KalPa (SM-Liiga), 5-11, 170
16). C Dylan Larkin, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-1, 190
17). G Thatcher Demko, Boston College (NCAA), 6-4, 180
18). RW David Pastrnak, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan), 6-0, 170
19). D Roland McKeown, Kingston (OHL), 6-1, 200
20). LW Sonny Milano, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 5-11, 185
21). C Adrian Kempe, Modo (SHL), 6-2, 190
22). D Jack Dougherty, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-1, 185
23). RW Alex Tuch, USNTDP U18 (USHL), 6-3, 215
24). RW Anton Karlsson, Frolunda J20 (SuperElit), 6-1, 190
25). C Nick Schmaltz, Green Bay (USHL), 5-11, 170
26). RW Nikolay Goldobin, Sarnia (OHL), 6-0, 175
27). C Robby Fabbri, Guelph (OHL), 5-10, 165
28). C Jakub Vrana, Linkoping J20 (SuperElit), 5-11, 185
29). D Anthony DeAngelo, Sarnia (OHL), 5-11, 175
30). D Julius Honka, Swift Current (WHL), 5-10, 170