With the World Junior Championships over after the United States took gold, several prospects headed for the 2017 NHL Draft saw their stock rise. For many, like Nico Hischier, the international showcase served as a boon for his professional career. Casey Mittelstadt, on the other hand, has turned heads at the high school level. They’re both likely to see it pay off this summer when Chicago hosts the draft in late June.
ISS Hockey released their latest rankings and still have center Nolan Patrick and Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren as #1 and #2 respectively. Patrick has been nursing an upper body injury, and while he’s played only six games for the Brandon Wheat Kings this season, he remains at the top of the list. Liljegren, who didn’t play in the WJC, remains the top ranked defenseman.
Sam McCaig of Puck Daddy writes the following on Hischier and Mittelstadt:
Hischier, a right winger who plays for the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, turned heads at the WJC with four goals and seven points in five games for his native Switzerland. As a result, Hischier rose from the No. 8-ranked prospect a month ago all the way to No. 3. Mittelstadt, a centre who’s playing high school hockey in Minnesota and has committed to the University of Minnesota next year, went from No. 12 up to No. 6.
When Sportsnet conducted its rankings in early December, Patrick remained at the top of the list as well. But Jeff Marek did bring up the case of Gord Kluzak, who played only 38 games in the year he was drafted. If the name isn’t familiar, there’s a good reason for that. Kluzak succumbed to a knee injury and would go on to have 10 surgeries following the injury. He did end up playing 299 games with the Boston Bruins, but injuries shortened–and hampered–his career.
While Marek doesn’t think that Patrick will travel down the same path, he also writes that NHL scouts he spoke with weren’t too concerned with him not playing in the WJC. Marek, prior to the Championships, also noted Hischier’s rise.
ISS January Rankings: Top Ten
- Nolan Patrick – Center – Brandon – WHL
- Timothy Liljegren – Defenseman – Rogle – Sweden
- Nico Hischier – Center – Halifax – QMJHL
- Gabe Vilardi – Center – Windsor – OHL
- Owen Tippett – Right Wing – Mississauga – OHL
- Casey Mittlestadt – Center – Eden Prairie High School
- Michael Rasmussen – Center – Tri City – WHL
- Callan Foote – Defenseman – Kelowna – WHL
- Klim Kostin – Center – Dynamo – KHL
- Eeli Tolvanen – Left Wing – Sioux City – USHL