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Nation Network Prospect Profiles: FINAL RANKINGS

By Rhys Jessop
Jun 26, 2015, 14:46 EDTUpdated:
Draft day is here, and our Prospect Profiles series has now run its course. If you missed any of the players we covered or are just looking for information on a particular player, our entire top-45 countdown with links to each individual profile is after the jump
As always, click on each individual player’s name to view their full prospect profile.
- Slick defender with definite offensive slant to game. Excels in moving the puck quickly and accurately. Questions about defensive upside.
- Hitches in skating and consistent intensity, but a talented scoring winger that has all the tools to be better.
- Great athlete with massive wingspan that finds success in strong board play. Pass-first type of guy. Shot and Skating can improve.
- Lanky Finn with good speed and strong puck skills. Would like to see a better physical game from his 6’3 frame, but pro-level production is strong for age.
- Home-run swing defender with excellent skating and high-end offense. Statistical darling, but big concerns about defensive abilities.
- Unknown how much he benefited from elite linemates, but strong skater with great shot in a 6’4 frame.
- Toolsy, jack-of-all trades defender with no real weaknesses in his game. Played huge minutes for one of WHL’s best defensive teams in 2015.
- Shifty skater and skilled playmaker that has track record of success against top opposition on the international stage.
- Mobile two-way defender that played a large role for his junior team. Strong transition game and NHL-sized frame. Only decent statistically, and questions about D ability.
- Skating ability, hands, shot, puck skills all plus-level. Dynamically skilled forward with a high offensive ceiling. Defensive game needs polish.
- Smart playmaker with a well-rounded two-way game. Lack of a “wow-factor” but all around effective centreman.
- Very skilled and fast blueliner. Can make mistakes trying to do too much. Excels with puck possession and is a good powerplay quarterback.
- Natural goal scorer with good vision and willingness to crash the net. Great instincts and can improve skating.
- Big puck mover that plays a calm and cool game. Adept skater and a top D in the WHL, but intensity is at times questionable.
- Talented and dynamic winger that’s scored a ton of points at every level. Physical game a concern, but very high skill level.
- Massive forward with big skill had disappointing injury and suspension plagued 2014-15. Projects far better than his numbers.
- Gritty two-way defender without many holes in his game, could develop into anything at the NHL level.
- Powerplay ace with a cannon of a shot and big offensive upside, but defensive questions. Hugely impressive Swedish career before making jump to North America.
- Heady and intelligent playmaker that sees the ice well and produces offense.
- Tremendous athlete with good skill and physicality. Skating needs work and offensive ceiling questionable.
- Has to bulk up to handle physicality, but smallish winger is fearless and flashy. Very good scoring talent.
- Highest scoring D on the CHL’s best team at 17. Fantastic skater and strong defensive ability to go with offensive upside. Undersized, however.
- Sneaky and deceptive offensive player with strong puck skills, quick feet, and a willingness to engage in puck battles. Very creative playmaker.
- One of the WHL’s top 17-year old ES scorers this past season. Very smart and crafty 200-foot player, but could benefit with improved skating.
- Fast climber up rankings played with Auston Matthews, but is a very skilled playmaker that excels in a puck possession system.
- Hard nosed and gritty offensive dynamo with extremely high talent. Down year in 2014-15, but was incredible as a 16-year old.
- Big body, crushing hitter, nasty fighter, smart defensive defender, strong playmaker, and prolific shooter checks all boxes on the good D checklist.
- Electric sniper with tons of flash to his game. Decent defensively with a good work ethic, but had an inconsistent year. Near-elite skill set.
- Towering defensive ace that skates well and always impresses in live viewings. Mediocre counting stats cause concern, but may have been influenced by poor luck.
- Bulky winger with a nasty streak and a rocket of a shot, but questions about how effective he’ll be without an elite linemate.
- Pass-first winger who is agile and shifty. Key component of dominant Kelowna Rockets club. Needs to shoot more.
- Heady puck moving D that uses smarts to excel on both offense and defense. Physical game isn’t great, definitely projects offensively.
- Concerns about struggles and IQ are likely overblown. Elite skater with monstrous offensive talent coming off a disappointing season.
- Lacks dynamism of other forward prospects, but monster offensive player with a well-rounded defensive game and attention to detail.
- Big-bodied winger that simply produces. Fantastic hands and high end vision make him one of the draft’s top offensive threats.
- Hulking Finnish forward that played a major role in the Liiga at just 17. Intelligent playmaker with smooth hands and protects the puck well.
- Smooth-skating puck mover with definite two-way upside. Strong passer with good hockey sense.
- Dynamic and explosive playmaker with excellent hands and fast feet. Disappointing season thanks largely to fluke knee injury.
- All-around offensive powerhouse that’s dominated the USHL for years now. Terrific skater that has a polished two-way game as well.
- All around high end skill with no real weaknesses. Skates, shoots, attacks, and defends very, very well.
- Offensively inclined all-around workhorse who’s incredibly young by NCAA standards. Entirely unprecedented performance in 2015.
- Obscenely skilled point producer with astounding puck skills, vision, and quickness. Would be in 1st overall discussion in any other season.
- Smooth and crafty big-bodied pivot who produced at an elite rate behind Connor McDavid. Franchise centre potential.
- Simply one of the best prospects to come along in the last decade. Explosive skater with elite hands and vision. Dominated every level he’s played at.
- Potential generational talent and surefire NHL superstar. Indescribable explosive all-around ability.
And that does it for our 2015 Nation Network Prospect Profiles. Thank you for reading along, and we hope you enjoyed the series!
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