NHL Draft: Top 10 North American Prospects

The 2017 NHL Draft takes place on Friday June 23 and Saturday June 24 at United Center in Chicago, IL. The Islanders hold the 15th overall pick in this year's draft and NewYorkIslanders.com is getting you set with a look at the top prospects entering the draft.
This week, we'll be previewing the top North American skaters, the
top European skaters
, goalies and the players ranked in the teens that could be in the Islanders range.
All rankings are based off NHL Central Scouting. All analysis provided by Islanders Head Amateur Scout Vellu Kautonen.

| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Owen Sound | C | R | 5'11 | 183 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 65 | 45 | 51 | 96 | 10 |

Nick Suzuki

Center, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Born: London, Ontario
DOB: August 10, 1999
Ranked 10th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Very skilled forward that has a smaller stature, but he has the ability to score and is a play-maker. He has quickness and is always dangerous when he has the puck in offensive zone. He can also be utilized defensively to kill penalties because he has the hockey sense to play defensively and then use his offensive smarts, as seen with his five short-handed goals last year.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Brooks (AJHL) | D | R | 5'11 | 180 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 54 | 24 | 51 | 75 | 18 |

Cale Makar

Defenseman, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
Born: Calgary, Alberta
DOB: October 30, 1998
Ranked 9th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Defenseman who is a dynamic skater with and without the puck. He competes hard and wants to be a difference maker offensively. He has good shot too.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Sioux City (USHL) | RW | L | 5'10 | 170 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 52 | 30 | 24 | 54 | 26 |

Eeli Tolvanen

Right Wing, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Born: Nummela, Finland
DOB: April 22, 1999
Ranked 8th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
A sniper from Finland who had a great year in Sioux City (USHL). He knows his way around the offensive zone and is always dangerous when he has puck on his stick. Good skater who can challenge d-men with his speed.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Mississauga | RW | R | 6'0 | 200 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 60 | 44 | 31 | 75 | 36 |

Owen Tippett

Right Wing, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Born: Peterborough, Ontario
DOB: February 16, 1999
Ranked 7th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
His shot might be the hardest in this year's draft. He scored 44 goals in 60 games in the OHL so it just shows his offensive talent. He is a good skater as well.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Portland | C | R | 6'2 | 179 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 69 | 32 | 62 | 94 | 36 |

Cody Glass

Center, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba
DOB: April 1, 1999
Ranked 6th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
2016-17 WHL First-Team All-Star
After a slow start Cody played better in second half and finished the season with 94 points in 69 games. He is a good two-way player who has the ability to make players around him better.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Tri-City | C | L | 6'6 | 215 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 50 | 32 | 23 | 55 | 50 |

Michael Rasmussen

Center, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Born: Surrey, BC
DOB: April 17, 1999
Ranked 5th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Rasmussen had a strong first half of the season but suffered a minor hand injury in January that slowed him down a little in the second half. He is big and strong and can dominate in front of the net because of his size. Good puck skills and has ability to score dirty goals too.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Windsor | C | R | 6'3 | 201 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 49 | 29 | 32 | 61 | 12 |

Gabriel Vilardi

Center, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Born: Kingston, Ontario
DOB: August 16, 1999
Ranked 4th (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Gabriel has a good hockey frame and is very strong along the boards and dangerous around the net. He also has quick hands. He capped a strong second half of the season with a Memorial Cup with Windsor.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Green Bay (USHL) | C | L | 6'1 | 201 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 25 | 21 | 43 | 64 | 8 |

Casey Mittelstadt

Center, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Born: Eden Prairie, MN DOB: November 22, 1998
Ranked 3rd (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Casey has good hands and sees the ice well. One of the best qualities in a young prospect is the will to compete, and he has that. He needs to get stronger, which comes with time and development, but he has very good hockey IQ.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Halifax | C | L | 6'0 | 174 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 57 | 38 | 48 | 86 | 24 |

Nico Hischier

Center, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Born: Naters, Switzerland DOB: January 4, 1999
Ranked 2nd (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
Nico had a great year in Halifax; 86 points in 57 games is really impressive. He is a good skater who can make plays to his linemates and he never stops working. Very competitive player.
| | | --- | | Team | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | | Brandon | C | R | 6'2 | 198 | | GP | G | A | P | PIM | | 33 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 36 |

Nolan Patrick

Center, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Born:Winnipeg, Manitoba DOB: September 19, 1998
Ranked 1st (NA Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
He has great body structure, skates well and can be a game changer when he has the puck. He has shown the ability to be a dominant player in all three zones. Last summer, he had sports hernia surgery and the recovery time took longer than most expected, keeping him out of the lineup for several games last season (33 total games). Nolan has all the tools but he just has to stay healthy.