The NHL’s Central Scouting department released its final rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft on Tuesday morning, and as expected, Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick leads the way as the top ranked skater in North America.
Halifax Mooseheads center Nico Hischier ranks second among North American skaters, while Eden Prairie, Minn. high school center Casey Mittelstadt rounds out the top three. The top defenseman in North America is Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger is the top North American goalie ranked, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of HPK in Finland takes that honor among European goaltenders.