April 20, 2006
Central Scouting Releases Final Rankings

The NHL's Central Scouting Service has released its final rankings of the top eligible players for the 2006 entry draft, slated for June 24-25 in Vancouver, B.C. The rankings list North American and European players separately, as well as separating goalies from skaters (forwards and defensemen).

Erik Johnson, a U.S. NTDP defenseman headed to Minnesota next season, is the top-rated prospect among North American skaters. North Dakota forward Jonathan Toews is ranked fourth on that list while Minnesota's Phil Kessel checks in at No. 5.

The North American lists rank 210 skaters and 30 goalies, all playing in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to college players the list features draft-eligible major junior players, as well as a number of college-bound high school, prep and junior players.

North American Skaters (College and College-Bound Players Only)
Rank Player Pos. School
1. Erik Johnson* D Minnesota
3. Jonathan Toews F North Dakota
5. Phil Kessel F Minnesota
11 Kyle Okposo* F Minnesota
13. Nigel Williams* D Wisconsin
20. Mark Mitera D Michigan
22. Brian Strait* D Boston University
26. Carl Sneep* D Boston College
29. David Fischer* D Minnesota
30 Trevor Lewis* F Michigan
33. Blake Geoffrion* F Wisconsin
39. Michael Forney* F North Dakota
45. Kevin Montgomery* D Ohio State
47. Chris Summers* D Michigan
49. Derrick LaPoint* D North Dakota
56. Rhett Rakhshani* F Denver
60. Andreas Nodl* F St. Cloud State
61. Simon Danis-Pepin D Maine
63. Michael Carman* F Minnesota
66. Eric Gryba* D Boston University
69. Ryan Turek* F Michigan State
77. Ryan Flynn* F Minnesota
81. Michael Ratchuk* D Michigan State
82. Kyle Medvec* D Vermont
84. Jamie McBain* D Wisconsin
86. Brian Gibbons* F Boston College
88. David McIntyre* F Colgate
89. Matthew McCollem* F Harvard
90. Benn Ferriero F Boston College
91. Joe Devin* F Cornell
92. Brian Lebler* F Michigan
94. Chad Morin* D Harvard
96. Jonathan Rheault F Providence
97. Zach Jones D North Dakota
103. Kai Kantola* F Bowling Green
109. Chris Auger* F UMass Lowell
110. Doug Rogers* F Harvard
114. Eric Baier* D Providence
115. Cody Wild D Providence
117. Jonathan Matsumoto F Bowling Green
123. Erik Felde* F Alaska Anchorage
128. Jeffery Lee* F Alaska Fairbanks
130. Matt Martello* F Lake Superior State
131. Brian Day* F Colgate
132. Andy Sackrison* F Minnesota State Mankato
137. Matt Lombardi* F Boston College
139. Josh Gillam* F Dartmouth
140. Nick Sucharski F Michigan State
143. Peter LeBlanc* F New Hampshire
144. Tony Romano* F Cornell
146. David Grun* F Minnesota Duluth
147. Zach Cohen* F Boston University
148. Tyler Ruegsegger* F Denver
149. Blake Gallagher* F Cornell
150. Tim Filangieri D Boston College
152. T.J. Miller* D Northern Michigan
153. Simon Gysbers* D Lake Superior State
156. Ben Smith* F Boston College
158. Jeremy Russell* D Brown
159. Christopher Higgins F Boston University
162. Andrew Rowe* F Michigan State
163. Jordan Fulton* F Minnesota Duluth
164. Jack Christian D Harvard
166. Mike Devin* D Cornell
168. Sean Coffey* D Brown
169. Chris Huxley* D Harvard
172. Tyler Beachell* F Princeton
175. Jimmy Fraser F Harvard
177. Austin Mayer* F Providence
178. Jason Lawrence F Boston University
181. Carter Camper* F Miami
182. Mike Testwuide* F Colorado College
185. Brett Motherwell D Boston College
187. Patrick Maroon* F Ferris State
191. Ben Street F Wisconsin
193. Joe Smith* F Harvard
194. Ray Kaunisto* F Northern Michigan
198. Chris Clackson* F Western Michigan
200. Nick Oslund* F St. Cloud State
204. Gary Steffes* F Miami
205. David Meckler F Yale
207. Phil Axtell* F Michigan Tech
208. David De Kastrozza* F Maine
210. Mike Brennan D Boston College
North American Goaltenders (College and College-Bound Players Only)
3. Jeff Zatkoff G Miami
4. Joe Palmer* G Ohio State
6. Brett Bennett* G Boston University
10. Alex Kangas* G Minnesota
13. Billy Sauer G Michigan
14. Jase Weslosky* G St. Cloud State
15. Marc Cheverie* G Denver
17. Alec Richards G Yale
18. Ryan Simpson* G Providence
20. Mark Dekanich G Colgate
21. Chad Johnson G Alaska Fairbanks
26. Richard Bachman* G Colorado College
28. Austin Lee* G Minnesota State Mankato
* Player has committed to attend college