NHL Central Scouting Service has released their final rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft.
There was some shuffling among possible first-rounders, but there was no change at the top. Sam Bennett remains the top-ranked North American skater, Kasperi Kapanen keeps his spot among as the top European., and Boston College backstop Thatcher Demko is still the top North American goalie.
Alex Tuch, who as a child was neighbors with former Sabres forward Tim Connolly, is the top ranked American skater at No. 12. Anthony DeAngelo (14), Sonny Milano (16), Dylan Larkin (17), and Nick Schmaltz (19) are other Americans ranked in the top 20.
As far as Sabres bloodlines goes, Luc Snuggerud (42), Daniel Audette (75), Dominic Turgeon (97), and Jack Ramsey remain ranked. More information on them can found in this February post.
MUCH more on this later.
Full lists of North American and European skaters and goalies can be accessed here.
Top 30 North American skaters:
| ank | Player | Team | League | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BENNETT, SAMUEL | KINGSTON | OHL | C | 6' 0.25" | 178 |
| 2 | EKBLAD, AARON | BARRIE | OHL | D | 6' 3.5" | 216 |
| 3 | REINHART, SAM | KOOTENAY | WHL | C | 6' 0.75" | 185 |
| 4 | DRAISAITL, LEON | PRINCE ALBERT | WHL | C | 6' 1.5" | 204 |
| 5 | DAL COLLE, MICHAEL | OSHAWA | OHL | LW | 6' 1.5" | 182 |
| 6 | VIRTANEN, JAKE | CALGARY | WHL | RW | 6' 0.75" | 208 |
| 7 | RITCHIE, NICHOLAS | PETERBOROUGH | OHL | LW | 6' 2.25" | 226 |
| 8 | PERLINI, BRENDAN | NIAGARA | OHL | LW | 6' 2.75" | 205 |
| 9 | FLEURY, HAYDN | RED DEER | WHL | D | 6' 2.5" | 203 |
| 10 | MCCANN, JARED | SAULT STE. MARIE | OHL | C | 6' 0.25" | 179 |
| 11 | HONKA, JULIUS | SWIFT CURRENT | WHL | D | 5' 10.75" | 180 |
| 12 | TUCH, ALEX | USA U-18 | USHL | RW | 6' 3.5" | 213 |
| 13 | EHLERS, NIKOLAJ | HALIFAX | QMJHL | LW | 5' 11.0" | 162 |
| 14 | DEANGELO, ANTHONY | SARNIA | OHL | D | 5' 10.5" | 175 |
| 15 | SCHERBAK, NIKITA | SASKATOON | WHL | RW | 6' 1.0" | 175 |
| 16 | MILANO, SONNY | USA U-18 | USHL | LW | 5' 11.5" | 183 |
| 17 | LARKIN, DYLAN | USA U-18 | USHL | C | 6' 0.75" | 190 |
| 18 | BARBASHEV, IVAN | MONCTON | QMJHL | C/LW | 6' 0.0" | 180 |
| 19 | SCHMALTZ, NICK | GREEN BAY | USHL | C | 5' 11.5" | 172 |
| 20 | MACINNIS, RYAN | KITCHENER | OHL | C | 6' 3.25" | 183 |
| 21 | FABBRI, ROBERT | GUELPH | OHL | C | 5' 10.25" | 170 |
| 22 | HO-SANG, JOSHUA | WINDSOR | OHL | C/RW | 5' 11.0" | 175 |
| 23 | QUENNEVILLE, JOHN | BRANDON | WHL | C | 6' 0.5" | 182 |
| 24 | GOLDOBIN, NIKOLAY | SARNIA | OHL | RW | 5' 11.75" | 178 |
| 25 | CORNEL, ERIC | PETERBOROUGH | OHL | C | 6' 1.5" | 186 |
| 26 | MARTIN, BRYCEN | SWIFT CURRENT | WHL | D | 6' 1.75" | 195 |
| 27 | MCKEOWN, ROLAND | KINGSTON | OHL | D | 6' 0.75" | 195 |
| 28 | LEMIEUX, BRENDAN | BARRIE | OHL | LW | 6' 0.25" | 206 |
| 29 | GARDINER, REID | PRINCE ALBERT | WHL | C/RW | 5' 10.5" | 183 |
| 30 | DOUGHERTY, JACK | USA U-18 | USHL | D | 6' 1.0" | 186 |
