Widely regarded as the media's foremost draft expert, Bob McKenzie has covered every NHL Draft since 1980 and his annual TSN rankings are considered the most accurate indicator of how the draft will unfold. In the 2008 Draft, 27 of his top 30 prospects were first-round picks. In the last five years, McKenzie was 125 of 150 in terms of projecting first rounders (83 percent).
In addition to the numerical listing of TSN's Top 60, there were 15 Honorable Mentions (listed alphabetically) who could have challenged for spots in the Top 60. For that matter, all players ranked in the top 40 or so received some consideration from some scouts as first-round possibilities and the players ranked between 31 and 40 could challenge those ranked between 21 and 30 for first-round status.
TSN's annual survey of NHL scouts asked them to "slot" players when in the draft they believe the player will be chosen. The final rankings were based on a consensus of opinion and did not take into account the NHL teams' order of selection or specific teams needs.
In addition to TSN's ranking (TSN), others were listed for comparison, including NHL Central Scouting (CSB), International Scouting Service (ISS), Red Line Report (RLR), McKeen's (McK) and The Hockey News (THN). The CSB rankings are displayed as one of four different lists; North American Skaters (NAS), European Skaters (ES), North American Goalies (NAG) and European Goalies (EG). TSN has also listed a "Comparable" so fans have a reference for the style of game each prospect plays. Comparing, for example, Stamkos to Yzerman is not to suggest the former will score 1755 points. It's just to suggest that Stamkos plays the game a lot like Yzermand did.
1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 | 51-60 | Hon. Mentions | McKenzie's Analysis | DraftCentre
1. STEVEN STAMKOS
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PROFILE
Pos: Centre
Shoots: R
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 176 lbs.
Born: 02/04/1990
From: Scarborough, ON
Team: Sarnia (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 1
CSB: 1 NAS
ISS: 1
RLR: 1
McK: 1
THN: 1
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Comparable: Steve Yzerman
From TSN: Dynamic speed, with and without the puck, there's not much to say about Stamkos that hasn't already been said. He does everything at top speed and is equally adept at making plays and scoring goals, though finishing is his strong suit. His defensive game is vastly underrated because of his offensive prowess. He consistently exhibits commitment and character.
From NHL Central Scouting: The team that takes Steven Stamkos is going to get one of the fastest skaters in all of the draft. Steven goes to the net fearlessly with that speed and brings a bit of an edge and a bit of an aggressive attitude that every team wants.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Sarnia (OHL) | 61 | 58 | 47 | 105 | 88 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Sarnia | 9 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 20 |
2. DREW DOUGHTY
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PROFILE
Pos: Defenceman
Shoots: R
Height: 6'
Weight: 219 lbs.
Born: 12/08/1989
From: London, ON
Team: Guelph (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 2
CSB: 3 NAS
ISS: 4
RLR: 3
McK: 4
THN: 2
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Comparable: Raymond Bourque
From TSN: His hockey I.Q. is off the chart and he has an innate understanding of when he needs to step up offensively and create offence for his team, either by doing it himself or making those around him better. As good –- no, make that as great -– as he is, there may still be a huge upside because he has only recently shown any interest in training like a pro. Doughty has lost 20 to 25 pounds since season's end and while it will take time for him develop NHL-level strength, the fact that he's finally showing an inclination to get serious about conditioning and maximize his potential suggests he can still make a quantum leap forward in his development. Like Stamkos, his defensive game is greatly underrated.
From NHL Central Scouting: Drew's strengths are poise and defensive acumen – that is the ability to know when to jump up in the rush, the ability to know when to stay back, when to join the rush late and when to lead the rush. He has a ton of experience in the international game at all levels and brings that to the ice every night for the Guelph Storm.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Guelph (OHL) | 58 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 68 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Guelph | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
3. ZACH BOGOSIAN
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PROFILE
Pos: Defence
Shoots: R
Height: 6'2
Weight: 197 lbs.
Born: 07/15/1990
From: Massena, NY
Team: Peterborough (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 3
CSB: 2 NAS
ISS: 2
RLR: 4
McK: 2
THN: 3
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Comparable: Rob Blake
From TSN: A physical specimen who plays every shift with unbridled passion and aggression, Bogosian likes to make things happen. He has a cannon for a shot, gets physically involved at every opportunity and is a natural born leader, not unlike his father Ike, who was a co-captain of the Syracuse University football team. While he maybe doesn't have the off-the-scale hockey smarts of a Doughty, his competitiveness is as good as it gets. He blew everyone away at the NHL Central Scouting Combine with his strength and conditioning. He is a dynamic skater.
From NHL Central Scouting: Zach is a big player and he plays defense very big. Zach's combination of skating ability and his size are what set him apart. There are some bigger, taller defensemen, who have to grow into their body, but Zach is right there, fully proportioned and ready to make that step into the NHL very quickly.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Peterborough (OHL) | 60 | 11 | 50 | 61 | 72 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Peterborough | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
4. ALEX PIETRANGELO
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PROFILE
Pos: Defence
Shoots: R
Height: 6'3
Weight: 206 lbs.
Born: 01/18/1990
From: King City, ON
Team: Niagara (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 4
CSB: 6 NAS
ISS: 5
RLR: 7
McK: 3
THN: 5
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Comparable: Sergei Zubov
From TSN: A big, mobile puck mover who makes doing things with the puck appear easy. Scouts believe his upside is huge because he's only just started to tap into his physical presence and as he matures they believe he could be a dominant force at both ends of the ice, although some scouts say he's only paid cursory attention thus far to the game without puck. His off-season conditioning has been significantly set back because of the spleen injury that ended his season prematurely, but in the long run there will be no ill effects.
From NHL Central Scouting: Alex is very poised out there on the ice. A tall player, who is still growing in to his body, Alex brings a keen ability to know when to pass the puck out of the zone, when to carry the puck out of the zone and he's unflustered in the face of a hard forecheck. He probably needs to get a little more assertive.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Niagara (OHL) | 60 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 94 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Niagara | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
5. NIKITA FILATOV
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PROFILE
Pos: Left Wing
Shoots: R
Height: 6'
Weight: 165 lbs.
Born: 05/25/1990
From: Moscow, RU
Team: Moscow CSKA-2 (RusDi)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 5
CSB: 1 ES
ISS: 3
RLR: 2
McK: 7
THN: 4
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Comparable: Daniel Alfredsson
From TSN: The Russian forward is a dynamic goal-scorer whose skill in that area draws comparison to Washington's Alexander Semin, but Filatov gets high marks from most scouts for being more of a complete package, in terms of work ethic, character and consistency. Fluent in English and the son of parents who received some education outside of Russia, the family is perceived as progressive and North America-friendly. In other words, this is a prospect who desperately wants to play in the NHL and immediately make the move to the pro game on this side of the ocean. He has quickness and a deft touch and while the "Russian" factor could cause him to slide a little lower than he's rated – this is the consensus second-best forward available after Stamkos – it's inconceivable to think he could slide as far as countryman Alexei Cherepanov did last year.
From NHL Central Scouting: A leader, has a great attitude, excellent work ethic and tons of talent. He has matured during the season and leads by example. He is an excellent skater who can change pace, even at top speed. Despite his size, he still plays aggressive, taking and giving hits.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Moscow CSKA-2 (Russia III) | 34 | 32 | 34 | 66 | 90 |
6. LUKE SCHENN
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PROFILE
Pos: Defence
Shoots: R
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 212 lbs.
Born: 11/02/1989
From: Saskatoon, SK
Team: Kelowna (WHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 6
CSB: 5 NAS
ISS: 6
RLR: 6
McK: 5
THN: 6
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Comparable: Adam Foote
From TSN: He is without question the best defensive defenceman available in the draft, a big, physical presence with an edge who perfectly understands his role as a shutdown defender. The bonus is that he makes a great first pass, doesn't try to play outside of his ability and is as mentally tough as he is physically tough.
From NHL Central Scouting: He has a tough edge to him, he has the ability to, if caught up ice, to work hard and get back in time to recover. Needs to improve his decision-making.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Kelowna (WHL) | 57 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 100 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Kelowna | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
7. MIKKEL BOEDKER
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PROFILE
Pos: Left Wing
Shoots: L
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: 12/16/1989
From: Brandby, Denmark
Team: Kitchener (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 7
CSB: 11 NAS
ISS: 7
RLR: 5
McK: 6
THN: 9
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Comparable: Milan Michalek
From TSN: Dynamic speed and vision and the ability to make plays at top speed make this Danish winger one of the premier forwards available. He's probably a better playmaker than he is a goal scorer, but he most certainly can put the puck in the net. Hard to imagine him not being a top 10 pick.
From NHL Central Scouting: Although he is 5'11", he plays low to the ice and as a result is a real solid player. This Team Denmark product is a versatile player for the Kitchener Rangers and that is what he is going to be for his NHL team. He quarterbacks the power-play as a forward from the point for the Rangers and does an effective job.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Kitchener (OHL) | 62 | 29 | 44 | 73 | 14 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Kitchener | 20 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 2 |
8. COLIN WILSON
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PROFILE
Pos: Centre
Shoots: L
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Born: 10/02/1989
From: Greenwich, Conn
Team: Boston U. (H.E.)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 8
CSB: 10 NAS
ISS: 8
RLR: 11
McK: 12
THN: 7
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Comparable: Ron Francis
From TSN: There is not a lot of flash to Wilson's game but his strong two-way play and physical maturity are highly sought after. Like Bogosian, Wilson was a man amongst boys at the NHL Central Scouting Combine. What he lacks in offensive firepower, he makes up with diligence and smarts, with and without the puck. The son of ex-NHLer and former Canadian Olympian Carey Wilson, he often gets favorable comparisons to Ronnie Francis and/or Rod Brind'Amour.
From NHL Central Scouting: Colin is a combination of a skilled and power forward. He is very strong, has excellent hands and is a very good passer and playmaker. He makes and takes a difficult pass extremely well. He is tough and strong on the puck and is a very smart player who is aware of where teammates are at all times. He anticipates the play at both ends of the ice very well. When he gets the puck he responds instantly and knows where to put the puck. He is very reliable defensively, has incredibly quick feet and he can turn quickly while maintaining puck control.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Boston University (NCAA-Hockey East) | 37 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 22 |
9. CODY HODGSON
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PROFILE
Pos: Centre
Shoots: R
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: 02/18/1990
From: Markham, ON
Team: Brampton (OHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 9
CSB: 9 NAS
ISS: 9
RLR: 9
McK: 9
THN: 8
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Comparable: Chris Drury
From TSN: One scout dubs the Brampton Battalion forward as the sleeper of this year's draft, a complete package forward who maybe isn't as big or as fast or as purely skilled as some, but one who puts all elements of his game together as well as just about anybody in this draft class. "He's really not that far off Stamkos," the scout said. The folks at Hockey Canada would concur. Hodgson was the best Canadian at the recent Under-18 world tourney and displayed terrific leadership and character, plus an ability to score big goals and be the team's defensive conscience up front. He might be hurt by the tag of being an average skater and sub-six feet tall, but some scouts figure he has a lot of Chris Drury in him.
From NHL Central Scouting: He is a very skilled centerman who's hockey sense has him quarterbacking the power-play from down at the half boards. He knows when to shoot and when to pass – his point total reflects that. He's also a good face-off guy; he can take face-offs with the best of them and win them at the OHL level.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Brampton (OHL) | 68 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 36 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Brampton | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
10. KYLE BEACH
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PROFILE
Pos: Centre
Shoots: R
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 203 lbs.
Born: 01/13/1990
From: Kelowna, BC
Team: Everett (WHL)
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RANKINGS
TSN: 10
CSB: 7 NAS
ISS: 13
RLR: 14
McK: 21
THN: 10
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Comparable: Claude Lemieux
From TSN: Quite simply, he's unique. In more ways than one. Just in terms of style, this draft is lean on power forwards with nastiness and an edge, and Beach has all that in spades. But Beach takes an Owen Nolan-like power forward game and liberally spices it with Claude Lemieux-type agitation and misbehaving that rankles many in the hockey community. But he's a big, strong guy who can score goals and go into the heavy traffic areas and isn't afraid to drop the gloves. All that said, some teams are throwing out the caution flag on Beach's personality, character and attitude, saying he's at best immature, on and off the ice, and at worst, out of control. Our sense is some team or teams in the top 10 are willing to overlook the blemishes and draft him where his talent suggests he should be taken. Others, however, say they wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole and reckon that if his penchant for marching to his own beat weren't enough to scare them off, being an average skater who suffered a couple of concussions and didn't produce much at all in the second half of the season certainly are reasons to take a pass. Clearly, the most fascinating human interest story of Draft Day 2008.
From NHL Central Scouting: One of the top forwards in this year's draft and is probably the most competitive – from the blue line in there is no one that competes like him. He has good scoring skills and a very accurate shot, and from the blue line in, once he gets the puck, he almost owns it.
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| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim |
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| 2007-2008 | Everett (WHL) | 60 | 27 | 30 | 60 | 222 |
| 2008 Playoffs | Everett | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 | 51-60 | Hon. Mentions | McKenzie's Analysis | DraftCentre