2015 NHL Draft Prospects: 6 Hidden Gems in This Year's Class

The NHL draft will deliver fantastic talent in the top 60 selections, but after that, teams will have to rely on solid scouting and good luck to find useful players.

Every year, there are hidden gems available who often have similar skills and drawbacks. Small forwards, defensemen playing behind more famous prospects and goalies in obscure leagues can all give tremendous value during the draft's second day.

Here are six under-the-radar 2015 draft prospects ranked according to where they should go in the draft based on actual value.

6. Matej Tomek, G, Topeka Roadrunners (NAHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Matej Tomek of the Topeka RoadRunners is ranked No. 5 among North American goaltenders by Central Scouting.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Tomek's resume is ideal for modern goaltending. He has size (6'2", 180 lbs) and impressive save percentages at every level.

Where Should He Be Ranked? His ranking on the North American list probably puts him in the fourth round, but his actual value is as a mid-second-rounder. If a team selects Tomek at No. 50 overall, that should be regarded as a solid pick.

5. Andrew Mangiapane, C, Barrie Colts (OHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Andrew Mangiapane of the Barrie Colts is ranked No. 85 by Central Scouting on their North American list.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Mangiapane is a fast player with tremendous skill and creativity. His 104 points in 68 OHL games in 2014-15 suggest he will top out as a skill forward in the NHL. Despite a lack of size (5'10", 170 lbs), he is very durable.

Where Should He Be Ranked? When accounting for all four of Central Scouting's lists, the No. 85 ranking among North American skaters means he would be an early fourth-round selection. Mangiapane's skills and resume prove he's worth a second-round pick, possibly as high as No. 40 overall.

4. Blake Speers, RW, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Blake Speers of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is ranked No. 49 on the North American Central Scouting list.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Speers is an impressive player in terms of offense. His 67 points in 57 games in 2014-15 are impressive, and Craig Button of TSN believes he is a versatile player.

Where Should He Be Ranked? He is ranked in a range that should see him gone at the end of Round 2, but his offensive ability and range of skills make him a plausible selection at the beginning of the second round.

3. Zach Senyshyn, RW, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Zach Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is ranked as the No. 38 North American skater by Central Scouting.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Senyshyn checks off all of the boxes NHL teams look for in prospect wingers. He has size (6'1", 192 lbs at 18) and scored 26 goals in his OHL debut season. He also ended 2014-15 well, with 13 of those goals coming in his final 20 regular-season games.

Where Should He Be Ranked? No. 38 on the North American list projects to around No. 50 overall. Senyshyn's true value should have him just inside the top 30 overall in 2015.

2. Jeremy Bracco, RW, U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Jeremy Bracco of the USHL ranked No. 60 on the final North American list provided by Central Scouting.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Bracco is a splendid offensive weapon who is most effective when he has room to wheel. A tremendous skater, he forces defensemen to back up or get blown by on zone entries. He is a one-dimensional player, but that dimension—offense—is the hardest thing to find.

Where Should He Be Ranked? In a typical year, a No. 60 North American ranking would see a player chosen in the third round at around No. 75 overall. Bracco's talents are substantial, and a smart team may take him later in the first round, which matches his value.

1. Oliver Kylington, D, Farjestad (SHL)

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Where Is He Ranked? Oliver Kylington is a fleet defender for Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League and is ranked as the No. 6 European skater by Central Scouting.

What Skills Make Him Valuable? Kylington is an extremely fast defenseman, something that has increased value in the modern NHL. He has the raw tools to be an impact player.

Where Should He Be Ranked? He should be a lock for the top 20 overall, but the general view on Kylington appears to have dimmed in the last few months. He was the No. 1 European on the mid-term list, so NHL teams have been scared off by something in his performance since Christmas. Craig Button of TSN did a fine job of putting Kylington's season in perspective: "His confidence seemed to falter at times and affect his productivity, but a turnaround in this could eventually see him being one of the draft’s best defencemen."

Unless otherwise noted, information courtesy of NHL.com and Elite Prospects.