ISS Top 31 Prospects for 2018 NHL Draft

[Axeman33]

Below is the ISS Top 31, highlighting the rankings for the top 31 prospects:

Rank Player Position Team League
1 Dahlin, Rasmus LD Vastra Frolunda SweE
2 Svechnikov, Andrei RW/C Barrie OHL
3 Zadina, Filip RW Halifax QMJHL
4 Tkachuk, Brady C Boston U. H.E
5 Wahlstrom, Oliver C USA U18 NTDP
6 Bouchard, Evan RD London OHL
7 Hughes, Quinn LD U. of Michigan Big Ten
8 Boqvist, Adam LD Brynas IF Jr. SweJE
9 Veleno, Joseph C Drummondville QMJHL
10 Dobson, Noah RD Acadie-Bathurst QMJHL
11 Smith, Ty LD Spokane WHL
12 Denisenko, Grigori LW Yaroslavl Loko RusJr
13 Hayton, Barrett C Sault Ste. Marie OHL
14 Kupari, Rasmus C Karpat Oulu FinE
15 Lundestrom, Isac C Lulea HF SweE
16 Farabee, Joel LW USA U18 NTDP
17 Kotkaniemi, Jesperi C Assat FinE
18 McIsaac, Jared LD Halifax QMJHL
19 Wilde, Bode RD USA U18 NTDP
20 McLeod, Ryan C Mississauga OHL
21 Noel, Serron RW Oshawa OHL
22 Alexeyev, Alexander RD Red Deer WHL
23 Kaut, Martin RW Pardubice CzeE
24 Bernard-Docker, Jacob RD Okotoks AJHL
25 Ginning, Adam RD Linkoping HC SweE
26 Thomas, Akil C Niagara OHL
27 Groulx, Benoit-Olivier C Halifax QMJHL
28 Bokk, Dominik LW Vaxjo SweJE
29 Tychonick, Jonathan LD Penticton BCHL
30 Olofsson, Jacob C Timra SweAl
31 Marchenko RW Khanty Mansiysk RusJr

Goalies
1 Rodrigue, Olivier G Drummondville QMJHL
2 Mandolese, Kevin G Cape Breton QMJHL

Rasmus Dahlin remains at #1 on the ISS Top 31 rankings, which comes as a surprise to nobody who has ever seen him play. Dahlin is in line to become just the 3rd defenceman picked #1 overall in the past 22 seasons of the NHL Entry Draft, joining Erik Johnson in 2006 and Aaron Ekblad in 2014.

?Dahlin is a superstar in the making? says ISS Director of Scouting Dennis MacInnis. ?Dahlin is an amazing skater with fantastic puck handling and an elite hockey sense. He can change direction in a hurry and make opponents look foolish. He plays very mature for his age and plays with confidence. It?s hard to find any weakness in his game but added strength will make him even more dynamic. He has the ability to be a difference maker in each and every game he plays. When he has the puck on his stick, he is one of the most electric players in this age group, and projects as a franchise defender at the NHL level.?

[Cdot588]

So excited for this years draft. So many skilled defenseman in the top 20, which makes things that much more interesting because typically using a high draft pick on a defenseman is very risky (Erik Johnson comes to mind). I think obviously Dahlin will turn into a great player, but my favorite player to watch recently has been Bouchard. The guy actually looks, plays and has the shot of an NHLer. I hope I can steal him in my rookiedraft

[Bazz]

Wahlstrom just climbing the ranks.

[Axeman33]

A lot of undersized Dmen in the 1st round too compared to most seasons.

[Canucks_fan18]

So excited for this years draft. So many skilled defenseman in the top 20, which makes things that much more interesting because typically using a high draft pick on a defenseman is very risky (Erik Johnson comes to mind). I think obviously Dahlin will turn into a great player, but my favorite player to watch recently has been Bouchard. The guy actually looks, plays and has the shot of an NHLer. I hope I can steal him in my rookiedraft

I agree with this. Unless the dmen is can't miss then I wouldn't be burning lottery picks on them. A lot of good D come in later rounds Weber, Subban, Letang, Josi etc. It seems drafting high end forward talent for teams works out better.

[Cdot588]

Undersized players are just the new norm around the league. It does make it more interesting for defencemen though. You gotta be really quick and be able to move the puck to be a small dman in the league. I think Wahlstrom is an interesting name as well, haven't gotten to see him play much, no clue what his upside is.

[lucafen4]

Merkley has now fallen from 12th to out of first round.. what's going on with this kid?

[Zorro]

A lot of undersized Dmen in the 1st round too compared to most seasons.

It's amazing how times change.. I remember when guys like Brian Rafalski were hard to come by..

[Fighting_Emu]

Wahlstrom's the guy on the list thats intriguing to me. Ive seen very little ink spilled on him but hes climbing up slowly but surely. What kind of game he play? Upside?

[Cdot588]

Merkley has now fallen from 12th to out of first round.. what's going on with this kid?

His offensive upside is huge, but I think a lot of people are worried about his play in his own end.

[Bazz]

His offensive upside is huge, but I think a lot of people are worried about his play in his own end.

From watching highlights I compare him to a faster more gifted Pastranak/Tolvanen. In my main league I'm going to end up with a pick in the 7-9 range and was hoping to get him, that's not happening now.

[VincentVega]

From watching highlights I compare him to a faster more gifted Pastranak/Tolvanen. In my main league I'm going to end up with a pick in the 7-9 range and was hoping to get him, that's not happening now.

Ah, you know these two are not the same One is a 70-point NHL player, the other has yet to play in the NHL.

[lucafen4]

Ah, you know these two are not the same One is a 70-point NHL player, the other has yet to play in the NHL.

well that and Merkley is a Dman.. not sure how he can be compared to either.

[Axeman33]

ISS has Brady Tkachuk as a center but I am pretty sure he plays wing.

[hockeyrobot]

Some solid defensemen right around where the Wings will probably pick. I'm ok with that.