It’s time to put a wrap on draft week on the site. What better way to end it than a ranking of the top 40 players in the upcoming NHL Draft?

This year was a little tougher than most for me. This is a deep draft that probably goes about 40 players deep with talent that could have gone in the first round in previous drafts. I hope you enjoyed the coverage this week and I look forward to discussing these rankings with all of you.

Let’s get to it.

1. Alexis Lafreniere – Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) | F

The Canadian-born winger has been the guy at the top of the draft all the way through the year. He’s a dynamic talent and will be a nice piece to help turn around the organization that wins the lottery.

2. Quinton Byfield – Sudbury Wolves (OHL) | F

Like Lafreniere, Byfield has been comfortably in the two spot for most of the season for me. Some people have him third overall in their rankings, but I feel the gap from 2-3 is larger than the gap from 3-4.

Who doesn’t want a 6’4″ center that can skate like the wind and is full of skill?

3. Tim Stutzle – Adler Mannheim (DEL) | F

The German-born forward, Stutzle, comes in at third for me. I’m not going to pretend to sit here and tell you I’ve watched German pro league games. I’m basing this off conversations I’ve had with people that have watched him and his performance in the World Junior. He dominated that tournament among his peers and showcased his talent.

4. Marco Rossi – Ottawa 67’s (OHL) | F

Rossi may be one of my favorite players of the draft. The kid oozes offensive talent and I feel is close to NHL-ready at this point. Some people may not like his size (5’9″), but his ceiling is high at the next level.

5. Lucas Raymond – Frolunda (SHL) – F

The first Swedish forward comes in at five with Raymond. He’s a dynamic skater and first-line right-wing potential in the NHL. He’s a play driving winger that should only need one more year in Sweden before jumping to the NHL.

6. Jamie Drysdale – Erie Otters (OHL) | RD

Drysdale is without a doubt the top defenseman available in this draft. He’s the only defenseman that I wouldn’t be upset with if the Sabres selected him. I wouldn’t be thrilled, but he’s going to a dynamic player in the NHL. His impressive two-way game is intriguing for a lot of teams.

7. Anton Lundell – HIFK (Liiga) | F

Outside of the top two picks, Lundell may be the most NHL-ready prospect in the top 10. He’s a strong two-way player that will never “wow” you but he should be a solid top-six forward for a long time in the NHL.

8. Alexander Holtz – Djurgarden (SHL) | F

Holtz may be the best scorer in the draft. He has a lethal shot that will attract teams to him and is why he could go in the top five. I don’t feel he has the same skill as others around him, but his scoring talent makes up for that.

9. Cole Perfetti – Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | F

These next two players I kept switching at 9 and 10. Eventually, I landed on Perfetti at this spot. His skating is a concern, but his offensive talent shouldn’t be overlooked. He scored 111 points in the OHL this season and put together back to back 37-goal campaigns.

10. Noel Gunler – Lulea (SHL) | F

Gunler is a player that has climbed up my board the last few weeks based on some conversations. Earlier this week Patrik Bexell discussed how his attitude is being mentioned as a problem, but those in Sweden haven’t seen it as an issue. He’s another gifted shooter and brings some size at 6’2″.

11. Seth Jarvis – Portland Winterhawks (WHL) | F

Have I mentioned that this draft is full of offensive talent? Jarvis is another dynamic winger that is a great skater. He has great playmaking ability and the advanced stats like him as well.

12. Yaroslav Askarov – SKA (VHL) | G

The only first-round worthy goalie in this draft is Askarov. The Russian goaltender struggled during the World Juniors but he has the potential to be a number one goaltender one day. I’m very much on team don’t draft a goalie in the first round, but here he is.

13. Jack Quinn – Ottawa 67’s (OHL) | F

Quinn is the other forward from the 67’s. He didn’t play with Rossi so that argument can’t be used against him. He’s a goal scorer, but there are some reservations about him. He burst onto the scene this season with 52 goals in 62 games after scoring just 12 in 61 games the year prior.

14. Jacob Perreault – Sarnia Sting (OHL) | F

I’m higher on Perreault than some others. A lot of rankings you’ll see him projected at the back end of the first round. I love players that can shoot the puck and Perreault is one of them. He’s offensively gifted but needs work in the other areas of the game.

If Perreault goes to the right team that develops him properly, he can become a dynamic scoring winger in the NHL.

15. Dawson Mercer – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) | F

Meet another playmaking forward in Mercer. The Newfoundland-born winger adds some size to his offensive talent. He’s not a perfect prospect. There are some concerns about decision-making and like most players, needs to improve in his own end of the ice.

16. Jake Sanderson – U18 US National Development Program | LD

Sanderson is the second-best defenseman in the draft and some see him has a top 10 talent. I’m not one of them. He has some good parts to his game. Sanderson is strong in his own end of the ice and skates well for a player of his size.

My issue is with his offensive upside. I don’t think there’s enough there for him to be worthy of a top-10 pick. He’ll be heading to the University of North Dakota next season.

17. Jan Mysak – Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) | F

The Czech-born forward spent half of this season in the Czech pro league and was later loaned to Hamilton for the remainder of the season. The move to the OHL helped Mysak showcase his true offensive ability. He scored 15 goals in 22 games for the Bulldogs.

18. Rodion Amirov – Salavat Yulaev (KHL) | F

Amirov was able to play in the KHL as an 18-year-old which says a lot about his offensive game. He didn’t produce a lot in limited minutes but did produce well in the second-tier Russian league (MHL) with 20 goals and 22 points in 17 games.

There’s always that concern with Russian players coming over to North America from the KHL. The team that gets him in the second half of round one could walk away with some nice value.

19. Connor Zary – Kamloops Blazers (WHL) | F

Zary showcased his offensive upside in juniors scoring 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games. However, his two-way game is what makes him an intriguing prospect.

20. Dylan Holloway – University of Wisconsin (NCAA) – F

Holloway didn’t have the type of freshman season for the Badgers he was hoping for. He scored eight goals and 17 points in 35 games. Overall Wisconsin underperformed expectations this past season. He as good vision, but needs to add that consistency to his game.

From this point on I’ll just be listing the players without comments

21. Mavrik Bourque – Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) | F

22. Roni Hirovnen – Assat (Liiga) | F

23. Jeremie Poirier – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | LD

24. Ryan O’Rourke – Soo Greyhounds (OHL) | LD

25. Hendrix Lapierre – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) | F

26. Braden Schneider – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | RD

27. Thomas Bordeleau – U18 US National Development Program | F

28. Jean-Luc Foudy – Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | F

29. John-Jason Peterka – Munchen Red Bull (DEL) | F

30. Helge Grans – Malmo (SHL) | RD

31. Brendan Brisson – Chicago Steel (USHL) | F

32. Zion Nybeck – HV71 (Superelit) | F

33. Kaiden Guhle – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) | LD

34. Lukas Reichel – Berlin (DEL) | F

35. Topi Niemela – Karpat (Liiga) | RD

36. William Wallinder – Modo (Superelit) | LD

37. Emil Andrae – HV71 (Superelit) | LD

38. Tyson Foerster – Barrie Colts (OHL) | F

39. Antonio Stranges – London Knights (OHL) | F

40. Tyler Tullio – Oshawa Generals (OHL) | F