The International Scouting Service (ISS) has released its first set of rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft and highly touted CHL stars Nathan MacKinnon and Seth Jones find themselves in the top two spots.
The 17-year-old MacKinnon has solidified his position at the top of the list with a quick start to his 2012-13 season, recording 11 goals and 17 points in 10 games with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. MacKinnon is the leading scorer on a Halifax team that sits first overall in the Quebec Major Junior league.
Playing in his first season in the Western Hockey League, Jones sits one spot behind the Canadian-born centre. A 6-foot-4, 206-pound defenceman from Plano, Texas, Jones has recorded two goals and six points in 10 games this season, leading the Portland Winterhawks to first place in the U.S. Division of the league's Western Conference.
The top-ranked European skater is centre Aleksander Barkov of Tappara of the Finnish Elite League. Ranked third on the ISS list, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder recorded seven goals and 16 points in 32 games with Tappara as a 16-year-old last season. He is now in his second year in Finland's top league.
Rounding out the top five are forwards Sean Monahan of the OHL's Ottawa 67's and Curtis Lazar of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.
