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2018 NHL Entry Draft Rankings: Pre-World Junior List

When you have all these extra picks, it’s never too early to start thinking about the draft.

NHL: NHL Draft David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

It’s that time of year again. The World Junior Hockey Championship is around the corner, which means that junior hockey is on the mind for a lot of people that don’t ordinarily pay attention to it. Luckily, there are a number of us here that keep a close eye on junior hockey all year so you don't have to. Here at Mile High Hockey, we are going to provide you with updates on the 2018 NHL Entry Draft from now until June.

We will provide rankings and news, as well as prospect profiles for some of the players that will be of interest to fans.

Below is my list of the top-50 eligible prospects for next June’s draft. I think it’s important to see where many guys stand before the hype of the World Juniors kicks in.

While Rasmus Dahlin is the name even periphery fans will know, this is really a two-man draft. The gap between Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov is not as wide as many would believe. In fact, there are a few people in the scouting world that I have spoken to that believe there are a few teams that would have Svechnikov as #1 on their draft board - although that was before his season was derailed by a broken wrist. Dahlin will almost certainly be #1 from now until the draft, but the elite sniping Russian is going to be one heck of a consolation prize for whichever team finishes second in the lottery.

One interesting note is that half of my top-10 are from the US National Team Development Program, showing just how much talent is coming out of this generation of USA Hockey.

December List

Rank Name Position Team Previous Rank
Rank Name Position Team Previous Rank
1 Rasmus Dahlin LD Frolunda HC (SHL) 2
2 Andrei Svechnikov RW Barrie Colts (OHL) 1
3 Adam Boqvist RD Brynas IF J20 (SuperElit) 4
4 Brady Tkachuk C/LW Boston University (NCAA) 3
5 Oliver Wahlstrom C/RW USNTDP U18 16
6 Quinton Hughes LD University of Michigan (NCAA) 7
7 Isac Lundestrom C/LW Lulea HF (SHL) 9
8 Joel Farabee LW USNTDP U18 5
9 Filip Zadina LW Halifax Mooheads (QMJHL) 11
10 Bode Wilde RD USNTDP U18 15
11 Jared McIsaac LD Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 10
12 Joseph Veleno C Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) 8
13 Rasmus Kupari C Karpat U20 (Jr Liiga) 12
14 Ty Smith LD Spokane Chiefs (WHL) 19
15 Jett Woo RD Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 14
16 Ryan Merkley RD Guelph Storm (OHL) 6
17 Jesperi Kotkaniemi C Ässät U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) 20
18 Barrett Hayton C Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 18
19 Evan Bouchard RD London Knights (OHL) 21
20 Jack McBain C Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) 17
21 Cale Addison RD Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) 31
22 Rasmus Sandin LD Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 49
23 Ryan McLeod C Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) 22
24 Noah Dobson RD Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) 30
25 Serron Noel RW Oshawa Generals (OHL) 28
26 Akil Thomas C Niagara Icedogs (OHL) 13
27 Allan McShane C Oshawa Generals (OHL) 24
28 Mattias Samuelsson LD USNTDP Juniors (USHL) 33
29 Jakub Lauko C Pirati Chomutov (Czech) 27
30 Dmitri Zavgorodny C Rimouski (QMJHL) 25
31 Alexander Khovanov C Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 29
32 K'Andre Miller LD USNTDP Juniors (USHL) 47
33 Anderson MacDonald LW Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL) 23
34 Jacob Olofsson C Timra IK (Allsvenskan) 32
35 Benoit-Olivier Groulx C Halifax Moosheads (QMJHL) 40
36 Jan Jenik F HC Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech2) 34
37 Alexander Alexeyev LD Red Deer Rebels (WHL) n/a
38 Jake Wise C USNTDP Juniors (USHL) 36
39 Filip Hallander F Timra IK (Allsvenskan) n/a
40 Jakub Skarek G HC Dukla Jihlava 35
41 Nando Eggenberger W Davos (NLA) 37
42 Lukas Dostal G HC Kometa Brno (Czech U20) 50
43 Grigori Denisenko LW Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) 39
44 Curtis Hall C Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) n/a
45 Ty Dellandrea C Flint Firebirds (OHL) 41
46 Adam Ginning LD Linköping HC (SHL) 43
47 Xavier Bouchard RD Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 44
48 Jesse Ylonen RW Espoo United (Mestis) 38
49 Alex Kannok-Leipert RD Vancouver Giants (WHL) n/a
50 Blake McLaughlin C Chicago Steel (USHL) n/a