On December 15th, ISS Hockey released their latest monthly rankings of the top 150 skaters, as well as the top 10 goalies, worldwide. International Scouting Services, as they’re also known, uses their team of worldwide scouts to put together the rankings each month.
At the end of 2012, Nathan MacKinnon has held on to the number one position as top prospect for the 2013 NHL Draft, according to ISS Hockey. MacKinnon, who currently plays for the Halifax Mooseheads, has been a force in the QMJHL this season. In 30 games played, he has tallied 22 goals and 30 assists giving him 52 points. Those numbers are good enough to lead the Mooseheads, and put him at 3rd overall in QMJHL scoring behind Josh Currie and Ben Duffy.
The rest of the top five skaters remains unchanged from last month. Second overall is Seth Jones, who currently plays for Portland in the WHL. From the Finnish Elite League, Sasha Barkov currently ranks third. MacKinnon’s Halifax teammate, Jonathan Drouin, ranks as the fourth overall prospect and Sean Monahan of Ottawa in the OHL rounds out the top five.
“MacKinnon and Jones continue to stand above the rest of this class”, said Dennis MacInnis, Director of Scouting for ISS Hockey. “A big riser this month is Nikita Zadorov, moving up 8 spots to #11. A remarkable physical specimen standing at 6’5″ and over 230 pounds, Zadorov exhibits the type of poise and composure with the puck that one would expect from a ten year veteran.”
The top 30 prospects, which can be seen below, are sure to make their way to the stage during the 2013 NHL Draft. While there is certainly no telling where each player will be taken, you can bet on many of these guys making a major impact with an NHL franchise in the coming years.
Check out the top 30 below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Do you think there is anyone on the list that shouldn’t be? Or perhaps someone that was left off the list that deserves a nod? And if you’re an NHL GM with the number one pick in 2013, who is your draft choice?
| Rank | Name | Position | Birthdate | Shot | Height | Weight | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MacKinnon, Nathan | C | 9/1/1995 | R | 6.00* | 182 | Halifax | QMJHL |
| 2 | Jones, Seth | RD | 10/3/1994 | R | 6.03.5* | 208 | Portland | WHL |
| 3 | Barkov, Sasha | F | 9/2/1995 | L | 6.03 | 209 | Tappara | FinE |
| 4 | Drouin, Jonathan | C | 3/27/1995 | L | 5.10.75* | 185 | Halifax | QMJHL |
| 5 | Monahan, Sean | C | 10/12/1994 | L | 6.02* | 186 | Ottawa | OHL |
| 6 | Lindholm, Elias | C | 12/2/1994 | R | 5.11.75 | 181 | Brynas | SweE |
| 7 | Nichushkin, Valery | F | 3/4/1995 | L | 6.04 | 196 | Chelyabinsk Chelmet | RusS |
| 8 | Shinkaruk, Hunter | C | 10/13/1994 | L | 5.11 | 175 | Medicine Hat | WHL |
| 9 | Nurse, Darnell | LD | 2/4/1995 | L | 6.03.5* | 189 | S.S. Marie | OHL |
| 10 | Ristolainen, Rasmus | RD | 10/27/1994 | R | 6.04 | 207 | TPS Turku | FinE |
| 11 | Zadorov, Nikita | LD | 4/15/1995 | L | 6.05.25* | 230 | London | OHL |
| 12 | Lazar, Curtis | C | 2/2/1995 | R | 5.11.75* | 193 | Edmonton | WHL |
| 13 | Pulock, Ryan | RD | 10/6/1994 | R | 6.00.5* | 211 | Brandon | WHL |
| 14 | Burakowsky, Andre | LW | 2/9/1995 | L | 6.01 | 176 | Malmo | SweAl |
| 15 | Dickinson, Jason | LW | 7/4/1995 | L | 6.01.25* | 179 | Guelph | OHL |
| 16 | Santini, Steve | RD | 3/7/1995 | R | 6.01.5* | 207 | USA Under-18 | NTDP |
| 17 | Hagg, Robert | RD | 2/8/1995 | L | 6.02.25* | 204 | Modo | SweJE |
| 18 | Morrissey, Joshua | LD | 3/28/1995 | L | 5.11.75* | 182 | Prince Albert | WHL |
| 19 | Erne, Adam | F | 4/20/1995 | L | 6.01* | 195 | Qubec | QMJHL |
| 20 | De La Rose, Jacob | C | 5/20/1995 | L | 6.02 | 187 | Leksands | SweAl |
| 21 | Lehkonen, Artturi | LW | 7/4/1995 | L | 5.11 | 159 | Kuopio | FinE |
| 22 | Gauthier, Frederik | C | 4/26/1995 | L | 6.05* | 210 | Rimouski | QMJHL |
| 23 | Rychel, Kerby | LW | 10/7/1994 | L | 6.01* | 200 | Windsor | OHL |
| 24 | Thompson, Keaton | LD | 9/14/1995 | L | 6.00.25* | 187 | USA Under-18 | NTDP |
| 25 | Kujawinski, Ryan | C | 3/30/1995 | L | 6.01.75* | 203 | Kingston | OHL |
| 26 | Bowey, Madison | RD | 4/22/1995 | R | 6.00.75* | 200 | Kelowna | WHL |
| 27 | Fasching, Hudson | F | 7/28/1995 | R | 6.01.75* | 213 | USA Under-18 | NTDP |
| 28 | Bailey, Justin | C | 7/1/1995 | R | 6.03.25* | 194 | Kitchener | OHL |
| 29 | Theodore, Shea | RD | 8/3/1995 | L | 6.01.75* | 182 | Seattle | WHL |
| 30 | Morin, Samuel | LD | 7/12/1995 | L | 6.07* | 200 | Rimouski | QMJHL |
