Wednesday, January 11, 2012

NHL Releases Midterm Draft Rankings

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The 2012 NHL Entry Draft figures to be another busy one for current and future college players, according to the midterm rankings released by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau.

Midterm Rankings: North American Skaters | North American Goalies

In each of the seven years since the 2004-05 NHL lockout more than 60 college or college-bound players have been selected in the NHL Draft. Thirty percent of first- and second-round selections have come from the college ranks.

Michigan recruit Jacob Trouba, who signed a National Letter of Intent in the fall, is ranked ninth among North American skaters on the midterm lists. His future teammate, Wolverine sophomore Phil Di Giuseppe, is the top-rated current college player at No. 28.

Also in the top 50 are Vermont recruit Zemgus Girgensons (12), Minnesota recruit Brady Skjei (18), Wisconsin recruit Nicholas Kerdiles (27), Boston College recruit Michael Matheson (29), Michigan recruit Boo Nieves (31), Miami recruit Patrick Sieloff (34), North Dakota recruit Jordan Schmaltz (35), Michigan State recruit Matthew Deblouw (37), Boston University recruits Samuel Kurker (41) and Robert Baillargeon (43), Ohio State recruit Zachary Stepan (44) and Wisconsin freshman Jake McCabe (47).

Future Northeastern goaltender Jon Gillies of the Indiana Ice (USHL) is fourth in the ranking of North American goaltenders, leading a group of 11 future college goalies on that list.