Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 134 CHL players have been listed in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings which were released earlier today for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft which takes place June 25-26 in Los Angeles, California.
The 134 players includes 116 CHL skaters amongst the 210 in North America ranked by NHL Central Scouting, and 18 goalies on the overall list of 30 ranked in North America. The Ontario Hockey League leads the way with 53 players ranked including 45 skaters and eight goaltenders, ahead of the Western Hockey League with 52 players which includes 46 skaters and six goaltenders, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 29 players including 25 skaters and six goaltenders. All 40 players that competed in the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game appear in the rankings.
The top eight ranked players are all from the CHL including Tyler Seguin of the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers who is the number one ranked player heading into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires is ranked second overall after being listed at number one in the midterm rankings. Brett Connolly of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars is ranked third, while Erik Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs is the top ranked defenceman at number four ahead of the Spitfires’ Cam Fowler who is ranked fifth. Brandon Gormley of the Moncton Wildcats is the top rated QMJHL prospect ranked sixth. Calvin Pickard of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds maintained his number one ranking amongst the goaltenders.
Last year a total of 99 CHL players were selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft with 16 chosen in the first round including the first overall pick John Tavares of the London Knights.
NHL Central Scouting Final Draft Rankings
1-Seguin, Tyler
Center
Plymouth
OHL
2- Hall, Taylor
Left Wing
Windsor
OHL
3-Connolly, Brett
Right Wing
Prince George
WHL
4-Gudbranson, Erik
Defenseman
Kingston
OHL
5-Fowler, Cam
Defenseman
Windsor
OHL
6-Gormley, Brandon
Defenseman
Moncton
QMJHL
7-Pysyk, Mark
Defenseman
Edmonton
WHL
8-Etem, Emerson
Right Wing
Medicine Hat
WHL
10-Johansen, Ryan
Center
Portland
WHL
