NHL: Ranking the Draft Picks

Redline just released their final draft ranking.

For those just getting up to speed on this whole draft ranking business, there are three key independent services; International Scouting Services (ISS), McKeens and Redline.

The NHL also has their own scouting service called Central Scouting Service. Their final rankings can be found here.

Its interesting to follow all the rankings including the independent services - especially when you're Columbus and are always drafting so high in the first round.

Last month, the three services were pretty tightly ranked in the top 10. They each had Stamkos No. 1, Filatov No. 2, and then Doughty/Bogosian mixed and matched at Nos. 3 and 4. That hasn't changed with Redline's new ranking, but there are a lot of differences after the top 4:

NO. PLAYER POS HT/WT S DOB TEAM

1 Steven Stamkos C 6-1/180 R 7-Feb-90 Sarnia

2 Nikita Filatov LW 6-0/172 R 25-May-90 CSKA

3 Drew Doughty D 6-0/213 R 8-Dec-89 Guelph

4 Zach Bogosian D 6-2/199 R 15-Jul-90 Peterborough

5 Mikkel Bodker RW 5-11/201 L 16-Dec-89 Kitchener

6 Alex Pietrangelo D 6-3/198 R 18-Jan-90 Niagara

7 Luke Schenn D 6-2/210 R 2-Nov-89 Kelowna

8 Kirill Petrov RW 6-3/218 L 13-Apr-90 Ak Bars Kazan

9 Cody Hodgson C 5-11/182 R 18-Feb-90 Brampton

10 Tyler Myers D 6-7/210 R 1-Feb-90 Kelowna

It's interesting that Wilson and Hodgson are not in the top 10. Also, Mikkel Bodker is really climbing at No. 5. From there, two defensemen sitting pretty (potentially for us) at Nos. 6 and 7 in Pietrangelo and Schenn.

So what does this all tell us?

Perhaps the top six isn't quite as set as we thought. A month ago, Pietrangelo was thought to be a surefire top four pick, but he seems to be slipping. Bodker was more in that 8-10 range and now he's managed to climb into the top five at Redline off an impressive playoff performance. For those who have the NHL Network, you can actually catch Bodker playing for Kitchner in the Memorial Cup.

Also, how about Filatov? This kid is consistently getting ranked the second best prospect in this draft behind Stamkos. Of course, there is that nasty lack of a transfer agreement with Russia that is hanging over teams' heads as they put their own draft lists together. Will he drop? He says he wants to come over, which may be enough for a team in the top five to grab this offensive dynamo.

For Columbus, a team that could really use a defensive stud in their system, this is all good news. If both Pietrangelo and Schenn are available at No. 6, which I still think is unlikely, who does Columbus choose? That would be a nice problem to have.

I am certainly liking Columbus' chances to land one of Doughty, Bogosian, Pietrangelo or Schenn, the more I read these rankings, especially with Bodker climbing and Filatov staying locked at No. 2.

Stay tuned for more draft coverage on lightthelamp!

-LTL