It’ll be tough for Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon to improve upon his draft ranking.
The 17-year-old claimed the title as the top performer in Future Considerations’ preliminary ranking for the 2013 NHL Draft last June. He’s done nothing in the last there months that has scouts doubting that performance.
If anything, its MacKinnon’s Mooseheads teammates Jonathan Drouin and Zachary Fucale that have upped their presence heading into the season. Both, alongside MacKinnon, helped Canada to gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial, creating positive momentum heading into the biggest season of their careers.
The duo weren’t the only Canadians to help their cause at the Hlinka. Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Josh Morrissey jumped 11 spots from the Preliminary Ranking to 15 while his WHL counterpart Curtis Lazar cracked the top-10 after debuting at 12 in June.
Canadians weren’t the only ones to see a boost.
After starting at 16 in June, Quebec Remparts forward Adam Erne rose to 13. Erne, regarded as the top American-born forward in the draft, is joined by teammate Anthony Duclair in the top-30.
Perhaps the biggest spike came from six-foot-four Russian Nikita Zadorov. The London Knights defenseman and ninth overall pick in this summer’s CHL Import Draft jumped on the radar, debuting on the Top-30 at 21.
Rank / Pos. / Name / Team / League / Ht / Wt
1). C/RW Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax, QMJHL, 6-0, 180
2). D Seth Jones, Portland, WHL, 6-4, 205
3). C Sean Monahan, Ottawa, OHL, 6-2, 195
4). C Aleksander Barkov, Tappara, SM-liiga, 6-2, 205
5). LW Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat, WHL, 5-10, 165
6). D Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS, SM-Liiga, 6-3, 205
7). C Elias Lindholm, Brynas, Elitserien, 6-0, 185
8). D Ryan Pulock, Brandon, WHL, 6-0, 195
9). C Curtis Lazar, Edmonton, WHL, 6-0, 185
10). C Valeri Nichushkin, Chelyabinsk, MHL, 6-3, 175
11). LW André Burakovsky, Malmo J20, SuperElit, 6-1, 175
12). C Max Domi, London, OHL, 5-10, 185
13). RW Adam Erne, Quebec, QMJHL, 6-0, 200
14). D Robert Hägg, Modo J20, SuperElit, 6-2, 200
15). D Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert, WHL, 6-0, 185
16). LW Kerby Rychel, Windsor, OHL, 6-1, 200
17). RW Hudson Fasching, U-18 USDP, USHL, 6-3, 190
18). C Pavel Buchnevich, Almaz Cherepovets, MHL, 6-0, 165
19). C Jonathan Drouin, Halifax, QMJHL, 5-11, 175
20). G Zach Fucale, Halifax, QMJHL, 6-0, 165
21). D Nikita Zadorov, London, OHL, 6-4, 205
22). C Ryan Kujawinski, Kingston, OHL, 6-0, 175
23). C J.T. Compher, U-17 USDP, USHL, 6-0, 165
24). D Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL, 6-4, 185
25). RW Ryan Hartman, Plymouth, OHL, 5-11, 185
26). C Jacob De la Rose, Leksand, Sweden, 6-2, 185
27). LW Anthony Duclair, Quebec, QMJHL, 5-11, 165
28). C Connor Hurley, Muskegon, USHL, 6-1, 175
29). C William Carrier, Cape Breton, QMJHL, 6-0, 200
30). C Bo Horvat, London, OHL, 6-0, 195