This 31-day project included evaluations of roughly 500 prospects (each club\u2019s top 15 plus worthy honorable mentions). It will conclude next week with my annual top 100 drafted skaters and top 20 drafted goalie rankings.<\/p>\n
Each team\u2019s ranking includes reports on every ranked prospect, projections, timelines and team-specific tiers, as well as video and insight from sources where relevant. The evaluations and rankings are the byproduct of countless viewings (both on tape and in person) spanning years.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve placed emphasis on upside more than proximity to the NHL. A player with top-half-of-the-lineup potential may rank higher than a player with NHL experience who projects lower, even sometimes in cases where the former is less likely to reach his ceiling than the latter. Teams that have consistently prioritized upside instead of playing it safe tend to grade higher overall. I believe that over time, teams that draft and develop for ceiling instead of floor will distinguish themselves in a hard-cap league built on parity. The league\u2019s most precious resource is homegrown talent capable of making more than a marginal impact while cost-controlled, particularly when depth pieces are so readily available through trades and free agency. My rankings reflect that.<\/p>\n