Graduated - Viktor Arvidsson

 

1.  Brandon Carlo

Defense - 34th OV (2016)

Boston (NHL) - 46GP - 3G - 6A - 9P - 31PIM - +5

Previous Rank - 7

Carlo has been nothing short of spectacular for a defenseman going from the WHL to the NHL this season.  Averaging over 21 and a half minutes a game, Carlo is used in all key defensive situations for Boston.

 

2.  Brock Boeser

Right Wing - 12th OV (2016)

North Dakota (NCAA) - 16GP - 11G - 11A - 22P - 14PIM - +7

Previous Rank - 2

Boeser was hampered for much of the early parts of the season with a wrist injury that ultimately caused him to miss the World Juniors.  Since returning, Boeser has returned to form showcasing his lethal shot.

 

3.  Colin White

Center - 16th OV (2016)

Previous Rank - 3

Boston College (NCAA) - 19GP - 11G - 7A - 18P - 24PIM - +9

White was a star for the gold medal winning USA in the World Juniors.  An excellent 2 way player, White led the US and was 2nd in the tournament with 7 goals.  

 

4.  Frank Vatrano

Center - 177th OV (2015)

Boston (NHL) - 12GP - 3G - 3A - 6P - 2PIM - E

Previous Rank - 1

Vatrano is basically finishing his preseason.  A foot injury sidelined him for most of training camp and the first quarter of the season.  Vatrano now finds himself playing on one of Bostons top lines with Backes and Krejci.

 

5.  Troy Stecher

Defense - 133 OV (2016)

Vancouver (NHL) - 35GP - 1G - 12A - 13P - 19PIM - -4

Previous Rank - 14

A NCAA free agent signing by Vancouver, Stecher has spent the season quarterbacking the number one power play unit and averaging over 21 minutes a game.

 

6.  Sonny Milano

Left Wing - 24th OV (2015)

Cleveland (AHL) - 28GP - 9G - 11A - 20P - 16PIM - -3

Previous Rank - 4

Milano spent a couple of weeks with Columbus in the NHL getting a lot of practice time.  Since his return, he has been one of Clevelands top offensive players as he leads the team in points per game.

 

7.  Adrian Kempe

Left Wing - 25th OV (2016)

Ontario (AHL) - 30GP - 8G - 4A - 12P - 28PIM - -2

Previous Rank - 3

Kempe has all the tools to make the NHL but now his offensive game is still taking time to come around.  The Swedish player has been putting the puck in the net more regularily lately.

 

8.  Brayden Point

Center - 38th OV (2015)

Tampa Bay (NHL) - 36GP - 3G - 12A - 15P - 10PIM - -5

Previous Rank - 9

Point was the biggest surprise out of Tampa Bay's camp making the team in his first professional season.  Presently sidelined by an injury, Point was averaging over 15 minutes per game with almost 3 minutes of power play time per game.

 

9.  Brandon Montour

Defense - 52nd OV (2015)

San Diego (AHL) - 27GP - 10G - 15A - 25P - 30PIM - +3

Previous Rank - 8

Not many defenseman lead their team in points per game but Montour does just that.  Brandon received his first NHL taste recently and continued to play his offensive style of game while with the big club.

 

10.  Austin Czarnik

Center - 160th OV (2015)

Boston (NHL) - 42GP - 5G - 8A - 13P - 10PIM - -6

Previous Rank - 11

Austin had an incredible camp and earned a job with Boston.  He's had some consistency issues, but continues to quarterback the 2nd power play unit while also killing penalties.

 

11.  Brendan Guhle

Defense - 43rd OV (2016)

Prince Albert / Prince George (WHL) - 31GP - 9G - 7A - 16P - 22PIM - -1

Previous Rank - 10

Brendan has been a rock for Prince George since his mid season trade.  He's also proven he is NHL ready as he was an emergency callup for Buffalo for 3 games and was one of their better defensemans.

 

12.  Caleb Jones

Defense - Trade

Portland (WHL) - 33GP - 4G - 29A - 33P - 30PIM - +1

Previous Rank - NR

The younger brother of Seth Jones, Caleb was a rock for the USA in the 2017 WJC.  Caleb played over 36 minutes in the gold medal game.  Talk of Caleb being a late grower have continued to help raise his stalk.

 

13.  Anders Bjork

Forward - Trade

Notre Dame (NCAA) - 22GP - 15G - 19A - 34P - 8PIM - +15

Previous Rank - 24

Bjork has continued to improve on his season point totals every year.  Now a junior, a lot of Bruins fans are starting to wonder if he will sign in the offseason or potentially become a free agent next year.

 

14.  Roope Hintz

Left Wing - 59th OV (2016)

HIFK Helsinki - 26GP - 7G - 7A - 14P - 2PIM - +11

Previous Rank - 19

Hintz was slowed by a preseason leg injury but has been picking up the pace as of late.  Expect to see him in North America next season.

 

15.  Ryan Graves

Defense - Trade

Hartford (AHL) - 38GP - 5G - 15A - 20P - 32PIM - -2

Previous Rank - 13

Graves is a big boy and has a big shot.  His point totals continue to increase in the AHL but questions about his foot speed continue to linger when it comes to future NHL time.

 

16.  Ryan Macinnis

Center - Trade

Tucson (AHL) - 30GP - 5G - 3A - 8P - 19PIM - -15

Previous Rank - 12

Macinnis had some real early season struggles as he tried to adjust to the professional game.  As of late, his play at both ends has picked up.

 

17.  Christian Jaros

Defense - 104th OV (2016)

Lulea (SWE) - 27GP - 3G - 7A - 10P - 22PIM - +10

Previous Rank - 23

Jaros is a hard nosed defenseman who has excelled why playing in Swedens top league.  Jaros was the Slovak captain of the WJC team last year.

 

18.  William Borgen

Defense - 94th OV (2016)

St. Cloud State (NCAA) - 20GP - 1G - 8A - 9P - 27PIM - +6

Previous Rank - 20

 

19.  Charles Hudon

Left Wing - 137th OV (2013)

St. Johns (AHL) - 18GP - 10G - 7A - 17P - 22PIM - -4

Previous Rank - 18

It's been a long time coming for Hudon to reach the NHL full time.  He looked to be getting that chance before consecutive injuries have basically kept him out of the lineup for the past month.  He does have 2 assists in 3 NHL games.

 

20.  Jack Dougherty

Defense - Trade

Milwaukee (AHL) - 35GP - 1G - 5A - 6P - 20PIM - -6

Previous Rank - 16

Playing in his 3rd league in 3 years, Dougherty has adjusted well to the professional game.  Dougherty has yet to find his full offensive game in the AHL.

 

21.  Joe Hicketts

Defense - 95th OV (2015)

Grand Rapids (AHL) - 32GP - 4G - 10A - 14P - 23PIM - +3

Previous Rank - 21

The undersized defenseman has been excellent in his first AHL season.  Hicketts has been solid offensively and held his own battling professional players for the first time.

 

22.  Maxim Letunov

Center - Trade

Connecticut (NCAA) - 21GP - 5G - 15A - 20P - 21PIM - +3

Previous Rank - 15

Letunov has been working hard to improve his play on the defensive side of the puck so his offensive numbers have dipped slightly.  Maxim continues to need to bulk up to grow into his 6'4" frame.

 

23.  Marcus Pettersson

Defense - Trade

Skelleftea (SWE) - 31GP - 2G - 4A - 6P - 45PIM - -3

Previous Rank - 17

Another big hard nosed defenseman in Sweden,  Pettersson has been plying his trade in the top league since he was 19.

 

24.  Michael Bunting

Left Wing - 73rd OV (2015)

Tuscon (AHL) - 30GP - 8G - 6A - 14P - 21PIM - -2

Previous Rank - 22

Bunting his a very pesky player with a decent offensive touch.  Generally not a question of whether he will make the NHL but more what kind of a role he will find himself in.

 

25.  Brandon Halverson

Goalie - 54th OV (2015)

Hartford (AHL) - 10GP - 3.24GAA - .886SP

Previous Rank - NR

Halverson started his first professional season in the ECHL where he put up excellent numbers.  His AHL career started very poorly but he has been putting up better numbers recently.

 

26.  Sami Niku

Defense - 154th OV (2016)

JyP (FIN) - 39GP - 2G - 13A - 15P - 18PIM - -6

Previous Rank - NR

The slick defenseman has continued to improve his offensive numbers every year.  It's hoped that he will be given a shot in North America next season.

 

27.  Christoffer Ehn

Center - 165th OV (2015)

Frolunda (SWE) - 35GP - 3G - 7A - 10P - 6PIM - +4

Previous Rank - NR

Ehn has gone from a 2 point season to at least a 10 point season in a league where young players don't generally get a lot of ice time.

 

28.  C.J. Franklin

Forward - 159th OV (2015)

Minnesota State Mankato (NCAA) - 23GP - 7G - 12A - 19P - 32PIM - +3

Previous Rank - NR

Franklin continues to improve his offensive numbers year after year.  He presently sits 3rd on his team in scoring.

 

29.  Ryan Zuhlsdorf

Defense - 184th OV (2016)

Minnesota (NCAA) - 18GP - 2G - 2A - 4P - 27PIM - +8

Previous Rank - 25

Zuhlsdorf has transiontioned smoothly to the NCAA from the USHL.

 

30.  Julius Vahatalo

Forward - 125th OV (2015)

TPS Turku (FIN) - 26GP - 2G - 3A - 5P - 4PIM - +4

Previous Rank - NR

Vahatalo has taken a big step back this season after a 9 goal campaign last year.  He will have to step it up to ever have a hope of seeing the NHL.