This article is part of our Prospects Analysis series.
With the 2016-17 regular season finished, it's time to update our prospect rankings one final time. Seventeen players graduated from the list and another five dropped off, so nearly a quarter of the list is new additions. The top 10 is very tight and a case can be made to move any of those players up or down a spot or two.
(Notes: - All stats as of April 12; players with 25 games or more of NHL regular season experience are not included)
1. Keller, Clayton (F-ARI)
2. Boeser, Brock (F-VAN)
3. Strome, Dylan (F-ARI): Another stellar season for OHL Erie (75P in 35GP), but appears to be a "safe" prospect as opposed to one with elite upside.
4. Connor, Kyle (F-WPG)
5. Barzal, Mathew (F-NYI)
6. Vrana, Jakub (F-WSH)
7. Samsonov, Ilya (G-WSH)
8. Kaprizov, Kirill (F-MIN)
9. Jost, Tyson (F-COL): Perhaps the only player in the COL organization who is guaranteed to be with the team next season.
10. Sergachev, Mikhail (D-MTL)
11. Sanheim, Travis (D-PHI)
12. Chabot, Thomas (D-OTT): No prospect in the league had his stock rise as much this season.
13. McAvoy, Charlie (D-BOS): Left BU and is set to make NHL debut in Stanley Cup Playoffs.
14. Svechnikov, Evgeni (F-DET)
15. White, Colin (F-OTT)
16. Senyshyn, Zachary (F-BOS)
17. Dubois, Pierre-Luc (F-CBJ): Had a poor QMJHL season (55P in 48GP) split between Cape Breton and Blainville-Boisbriand and was invisible for Team Canada at WJC.
18. Sorokin, Ilya (G-NYI)
19. Shestyorkin, Ilya (G-NYR)
20.
With the 2016-17 regular season finished, it's time to update our prospect rankings one final time. Seventeen players graduated from the list and another five dropped off, so nearly a quarter of the list is new additions. The top 10 is very tight and a case can be made to move any of those players up or down a spot or two.
(Notes: - All stats as of April 12; players with 25 games or more of NHL regular season experience are not included)
1. Keller, Clayton (F-ARI)
2. Boeser, Brock (F-VAN)
3. Strome, Dylan (F-ARI): Another stellar season for OHL Erie (75P in 35GP), but appears to be a "safe" prospect as opposed to one with elite upside.
4. Connor, Kyle (F-WPG)
5. Barzal, Mathew (F-NYI)
6. Vrana, Jakub (F-WSH)
7. Samsonov, Ilya (G-WSH)
8. Kaprizov, Kirill (F-MIN)
9. Jost, Tyson (F-COL): Perhaps the only player in the COL organization who is guaranteed to be with the team next season.
10. Sergachev, Mikhail (D-MTL)
11. Sanheim, Travis (D-PHI)
12. Chabot, Thomas (D-OTT): No prospect in the league had his stock rise as much this season.
13. McAvoy, Charlie (D-BOS): Left BU and is set to make NHL debut in Stanley Cup Playoffs.
14. Svechnikov, Evgeni (F-DET)
15. White, Colin (F-OTT)
16. Senyshyn, Zachary (F-BOS)
17. Dubois, Pierre-Luc (F-CBJ): Had a poor QMJHL season (55P in 48GP) split between Cape Breton and Blainville-Boisbriand and was invisible for Team Canada at WJC.
18. Sorokin, Ilya (G-NYI)
19. Shestyorkin, Ilya (G-NYR)
20. Nylander, Alexander (F-BUF)
21. Kamenev, Vladislav (F-NSH)
22. Ho-Sang, Josh (F-NYI): Was NYI's best player on most nights following debut in early March.
23. Brown, Logan (F-OTT)
24. Saros, Juuse (G-NSH)
25. Juolevi, Olli (D-VAN)
26. DeBrincat, Alex (F-CHI): 65-goal season for OHL Erie. One of the best junior players of his generation. Questions remain about his ability to player against bigger, stronger defensemen at NHL level.
27. Bracco, Jeremy (F-TOR)
28. Greenway, Jordan (F-MIN)
29. Bean, Jake (D-CAR)
30. Honka, Julius (D-DAL)
31. Borgstrom, Henrik (F-FLA): Made FLA brass looks like geniuses after posting 22G, 43P in 37GP in freshman season at Denver University.
32. Lindblom, Oskar (F-PHI)
33. Walman, Jake (D-STL)
34. Tuch, Alex (F-MIN)
35. Demko, Thatcher (G-VAN)
36. Thompson, Tage (F-STL): Dominant, big-bodied power forward had huge year at UConn, but struggled in AHL (1G, 2P in 13GP) after signing with Blues.
37. McLeod, Michael (F-NJ)
38. Pu, Cliff (F-BUF)
39. Raddysh, Taylor (F-TB): Finished second in OHL scoring after posting 109P (and plus-67 rating) in 58GP for OHL Erie.
40. Pulock, Ryan (D-NYI): Laughable that fading NYI left him in minors for virtually entire season.
41. Kuokkanen, Janne (F-CAR)
42. Bowey, Madison (D-WSH)
43. Larsson, Jacob (D-ANA)
44. Myers, Philippe (D-PHI)
45. Sprong, Daniel (F-PIT)
46. DeBrusk, Jake (F-BOS)
47. Fleury, Haydn (D-CAR)
48. Dal Colle, Michael (F-NYI)
49. Jones, Max (F-ANA)
50. Mascherin, Adam (F-FLA): One of the best snipers in OHL had 35G and 100P in 65GP for Kitchener.
51. Parsons, Tyler (G-CGY)
52. Gillies, Jon (G-CGY)
53. Fabbro, Dante (D-NSH)
54. Dunn, Vince (D-STL): Excellent first pro season (13G, 42P in 69GP) for AHL Chicago.
55. Abramov, Vitali (F-CBJ): Russian import won QMJHL scoring title (104P) with Gatineau.
56. Kapanen, Kasperi (F-TOR)
57. Steel, Sam (F-ANA): Exploded for 50G and 131P for WHL Regina to win WHL scoring title.
58. Zboril, Jakub (D-BOS)
59. Bellows, Kieffer (F-NYI)
60. Kunin, Luke (F-MIN)
61. Hart, Carter (G-TB)
62. Milano, Sonny (F-CBJ): Will be off this list entirely in the fall if he isn't traded to another organization.
63. Butcher, Will (D-COL): Avs need to do whatever is necessary to get 2016-17 Hobey Baker Award winner under contract. Eligible to become UFA in August if he chooses not to sign.
64. Bjork, Anders (F-BOS)
65. Husso, Ville (G-STL)
66. Chlapik, Filip (F-OTT)
67. Eriksson Ek, Joel (F-MIN)
68. Fox, Adam (D-CGY): Crazy point total (40 in 35GP) for a true freshman playing college hockey at Harvard.
69. Dahlen, Jonathan (F-VAN): Shipped from OTT to VAN in Alex Burrows deal.
70. Guhle, Brendan (D-BUF)
71. Sandstrom, Felix (G-PHI)
72. Forsbacka-Karlsson, Jakob (F-BOS)
73. Speers, Blake (F-NJ)
74. O'Regan, Danny (F-SJ)
75. Compher, J.T. (F-COL)
76. Hronek, Filip (D-DET): Averaged more than point-per-game (61P in 59GP) for OHL Saginaw in first season in North America.
77. Roy, Nicolas (F-CAR)
78. Tufte, Riley (F-DAL)
79. Letunov, Max (F-SJ)
80. Greer, A.J. (F-COL)
81. Pokka, Ville (D-CHI): STILL hasn't made NHL debut. Should considering going back to Europe if Chicago refuses to trade him.
82. Stephens, Mitchell (F-TB)
83. Cirelli, Anthony (F-TB)
84. Kyrou, Jordan (F-STL): Without a doubt one of the most improved players in all of junior hockey this season.
85. Fischer, Christian (F-ARI)
86. Bear, Ethan (D-EDM): Scored 28 goals as a defenseman for WHL Seattle.
87. Kylington, Oliver (D-CGY)
88. Foley, Erik (F-WPG)
89. Girard, Samuel (D-NSH): Led all QMJHL defenseman in scoring (75P in 59GP)
90. Hobbs, Connor (D-WSH): Led all WHL defenseman in scoring (31G, 85P in 67GP)
91. Mete, Victor (D-MTL)
92. Woll, Joseph (G-TOR)
93. Wallmark, Lucas (F-CAR)
94. Jones, Caleb (D-EDM): Was huge asset for Team USA at WJC and averaged nearly a point-per-game (62P in 63GP) for WHL Portland.
95. Jankowski, Mark (F-CGY)
96. Brooks, Adam (F-TOR): Has 250 points over last two seasons for WHL Regina.
97. Stanley, Logan (D-WPG)
98. Wood, Kyle (D-ARI)
99. Frederic, Trent (F-BOS): Still think he will be limited offensively as a pro, but was much better in freshman season at University of Wisconsin than I expected.
100. Saarijarvi, Vili (D-DET)
JUST MISSED
Saarela, Aleksi (F-CAR): 6G and 10P in 8 AHL GP since coming over after Finnish season ended.
Day, Sean (D-NYR): Elite physical gifts, was much more consistent this season in OHL.
Johansen, Lucas (D-WSH)
Donato, Ryan (F-BOS)
Terry, Troy (F-ANA): Team USA WJC hero played well all season long for University of Denver.
GRADUATED
Buchnevich, Pavel (F-NYR)
Meier, Timo (F-SJ)
Dvorak, Christian (F-ARI)
DeAngelo, Anthony (D-ARI)
Bjorkstrand, Oliver (F-CBJ)
Puljujarvi, Jesse (F-EDM)
Beauvillier, Anthony (F-NYI)
Fiala, Kevin (F-NSH)
Chychrun, Jakob (D-ARI)
Montour, Brandon (D-ANA)
Perlini, Brendan (F-ARI)
Erne, Adam (F-TB)
Wood, Miles (F-NJ)
McCarron, Michael (F-MTL)
Sanford, Zachary (F-STL)
Barbashev, Ivan (F-STL)
Guentzel, Jake (F-PIT)
DROPPED OFF
Hawryluk, Jayce (F-FLA)
Dermott, Travis (D-TOR)
Goldobin, Nikolay (F-VAN)
Scherbak, Nikita (F-MTL)
Hudon, Charles (F-MTL)
