Hockey Prophets

NHL Draft 2017 - The Hockey Prophets' Eleven Through Twenty

June 21, 2017 by Brian Fogarty

Below is the second installment of the Hockey Prophets 2017 NHL Draft writeups, looking at players ranked from eleven through twenty. To see the top ten, go to NHL Draft 2017 - The Hockey Prophets' Top Ten. Follow the link to see the Hockey Prophets 2017 "The 99s" draft ranking.

11) Michael Rasmussen  C - Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Born: April 17, 1999

6'5, 221 pounds

Rasmussen has all of the tools necessary to be a top pick in this draft, provided he develops the work ethic necessary to commit himself to the hardest places on the ice. Teams looking for size and strength up the middle need look no further than the 6'5, 221 behomth. Rasmussen has excellent skating for a player of his size, with balance, strength on his skates, and quickness that is unexpected from such a big player. He has a good shot and quick hands, and excellent vision to go with his playmaking abilities. The one drawback--and it is a drawback as big as the player himself--is a seeming unwillingness to do the difficult, bruising and exhausting work in front of the nets. The NHL game is not played on the perimeter. If Rasmussen makes it as a long-term NHL player, he will do so because he improved his work rate and suffering threshold, and started getting his nose dirty a lot more often.

Read more: NHL Draft 2017 - The Hockey Prophets' Eleven to...

NHL Draft 2017 - The Hockey Prophets' Top Ten

June 19, 2017 by Brian Fogarty

Last summer, Nolan Patrick was the clear number one prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft, but a season filled with injuries, rehab, injuries, rehab and more rehab, and the startling rise of a young Swiss upstart, has turned the Patrick as first overall on its head. Now, just days before the actual 2017 NHL Draft, the race for the top spot is essentially a draw between Patrick and Nico Hischier, the offensive dynamo who led the Halifax Mooseheads and the Swiss National U20 teams this year.

This year's draft lacks the kind of depth and generational talent that has been seen in the last couple of years (the 2015 and 2016 drafts have already provided the hockey world with NHL superstars), but there are some interesting and talented players in the top ten. Here is a brief look at what the Hockey Prophets see as the top ten players available for the draft.

Read more: NHL Draft 2017 - The Hockey Prophets' Top Ten

Zakk's 2017 NHL Draft Ranking: Final Edition

Zachary DeVine, Hockey Prophets features writer who covers the San Jose Sharks for The Hockey Writers and Dobber's Prospects, has put together his Final ranking for the 2017 NHL Draft. 

To see the Hockey Prophets' Top 62, go to 2017 Draft Class (The "99s").

[Ranking update: 6/20/2017]