Feb Draft Top 60
Zherdev may no longer have much of a cushion between him and the rest
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of the draft class, but the CSKA Moscow forward remains atop the McKeen's
rankings. Despite a disappointing showing at the Under-20 World Juniors in Halifax,
the dynamically skilled forward stays put as the odds-on favorite to go first
overall in the draft due to a superb rookie campaign in the Russian Superleague.
The Under-20 WJC MVP Marc-Andre
Fleury remains in the number two position, followed by the skilled and
steady Eric
Staal, swift and rugged Nathan
Horton and the mature and creative Milan
Michalek.
Making a quick transition up the rankings to land in the number seven position
is North Dakota's wizard Zach
Parise. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound centerman is creating a stir due to
his keen scoring touch and superb puck skills. Though not big in stature, Parise
is a player with a big heart and tremendous and anticipation.
In the ninth slot is the big, crafty and very underrated Jeff
Carter. One of the hottest draft-eligibles since late fall, the lanky
centerman with the Soo Greyhounds has developed into an all-around nightmare
for the OHL opposition. A team leader, Carter has shown excellent maturity and
perseverance, playing for an underachieving team.
Just making the cut at number ten is Minnesota's big and remarkably skilled
Thomas Vanek. Guelph's sniper Dustin
Brown (eighth) and Portland's giant Brandon
Coburn (sixth) hold on to their January slots.
Be sure to check out the McKeen's
Draft Top 60 list, Who's Hot
and Who's Not as well as The
Draft File for exclusive in-depth NHL draft coverage.