Muir's Top 30 NHL Draft Prospects

John Tavares, C

His skating won't make anyone forget Yvon Cournoyer and his play away from the puck is a work in progress, but his OHL-record goal totals (single-season 72; career 215) prove he knows where to go in the offensive zone and what to do with the puck once he gets it.

Victor Hedman, D

A cross between Nick Lidstrom and Chris Pronger, Hedman will mature into the 25-minute stud. He's physically ready to make the jump immediately, but it is more likely he'll spend at least another season in Sweden.

Matt Duchene, C

Some will compare him to Joe Sakic, but he's more like Marian Hossa: a smart, two-way player, great skater with elite playmaking skills, and more than willing to go hard to the net. Some scouts suggest he'll prove to be the best all-around player in this class.

Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW

Widely considered a lock for the top-five since an impressive performance at the World Juniors. The kid is a burner, Mike Gartner-style. He blazes up and down the wings, blowing by defenders and driving hard to the net where he's capable of fooling netminders with a variety of shots. He'll be a first line winger in the NHL.

Brayden Schenn, C

A hard-nosed player who approaches every shift with integrity. Like his brother Luke, Brayden is a scrapper. He's intense in his pursuit of the puck, and extremely tough when it's in his possession. He's got a bit of Mike Richards in him.

Dmitry Kulikov, D

Think of him as a more physical version of Sergei Zubov. He's strong positionally and great with his stick, so he's effective in his own end, but his play with the puck moves him to the top of the class. He's an offensive-minded defender who has the nerves and the hockey sense to serve as the core of a puck-possession approach.

Evander Kane, C

A cruiserweight with a gift for goal scoring and a nasty competitive edge, Kane is not particularly big (6-1, 176), but he plays with the determination of a guy three inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. Once he hits the blueline, he's a bull going to the net.

Jared Cowen, D

At 6-5, 220, Cowen has the potential to become a dominant physical defenseman who also brings an offensive dimension.

Chris Kreider, C

Kreider is the big, two-way center that every team covets. He's blessed with great acceleration, elite playmaking skills and a willingness to engage in the battle down low. He could be a more competitive version of Jason Spezza.

Ryan Ellis, D

He might not be the traditional shutdown defender, but Ellis is sound in his own end. And once he gets the puck, there may be no more effective player in the draft. His hockey sense is off the charts. Few can match his passing touch and no one is better at finding a lane to get his shot to the net.

Jordan Schroeder, C

A risky pick? Some might say so after his red flag-raising performance at the combine and disappointing effort at the World Juniors. But Schroeder is still regarded as a world-class talent, an elite playmaker with great wheels who elevates the level of those he skates with. His frame (5-9, 180) may be small, but it's sturdy, and that makes him tough to knock off the puck. Maybe he's not such a risky pick after all.

Scott Glennie, C

A dynamic player, the core of Glennie's game is his speed. Defenders have to respect his ability to blow by them, and that creates space for him and his linemates in the neutral zone. His goal-scoring ability might be slightly overrated, but Glennie should develop into a solid finisher with 30-goal potential.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D

At 6-3, he's bigger than the prototypical new-age defender, but Ekman-Larsson boasts the same high-end skills package. He's an elite skater with great mobility and he reads the play quickly, something that shows in his strong positioning at both ends of the ice.

John Moore, D

He's a smooth skater and savvy playmaker who makes great reads in the other team's zone. But in his own zone, he remains something of an adventure. He has a tendency to run around and his physical game doesn't match his size (6-2, 190).

Nazem Kadri, C

Kadri can be a flashy, creative contributor in the offensive zone and a diligent checker in his own end. There have been questions about his competitive fire, but some scouts feel those were answered during the OHL playoffs.

David Rundblad, D

Rundblad worked the power play in Sweden as an under-ager thanks to his slick playmaking, cannon shot and strong reads. And he's a right-handed shooter, a quality most every team covets. Add in the fact that he should play at about 6-2, 210 and has more than a passing familiarity with his own zone, and he should become a bulwark of an NHL team's back end.

Jacob Josefson, C

There's nothing in Josefson's game that particularly stands out, but he's such a well-rounded performer that you simply roll him out every third shift and trust him to do the job at both ends of the ice. He won't dazzle anyone with his offense, and there is some frustration about him not shooting enough, but he's a smart playmaker who makes the most of his linemates.

Zach Kassian, RW

Kassian is mean, has an NHL-ready body and plays every shift with a chip on his shoulder. But, like Boston's Milan Lucic, he's more than just a nuclear deterrent. Kassian has surprisingly deft hands in close and has a cannon of s shot from distance. He's also a decent passer, and while he won't knock anyone out with his skill level, he's so fiercely competitive that he'll find a way to validate his ice time.

Peter Holland, C

Holland's earned a rep as this year's Patrick Marleau -- a big, talented center who doesn't always compete hard -- and that's damaged his stock. So maybe he's not the centerpiece of your offense, but with his size (6-2, 185), dazzling foot speed and heavy shot, he can make a contribution. How much of one depends on his desire.

Landon Ferraro, RW

He may not match the top end of some first-rounders, but his skill set and willingness to compete at both ends suggest he'll become a solid NHLer. He's fearless in the corners and down low, and as his 37 goals suggest, he's got a nose for the net.

Nick Leddy, D

The winner of Minnesota's prestigious Mr. Hockey award, Leddy is a smooth-skating offensive defender. He's small, but so explosive and so smart with the puck that his size won't impede his progress. He'll QB a power play someday.

Kyle Palmieri, RW

Palmieri's game is built on speed and hockey sense, but his tenacious play with or without the puck makes him desirable. His compete level always is set on high and that helps earn him the space he needs to take advantage of his howitzer shot. Despite his lack of size (5-10, 191), Palmieri was a beast at the NHL combine, finishing in the top three in the key strength tests.

Louis Leblanc, C

Scouts routinely praise his competitiveness, but this kid has played at least a level below his maximum for the past two seasons and he's going to Harvard next year. Those willing to overlook his easy route point to his soft hands and ability to create separation on the ice. He's that ideal center who's just as willing to shoot as pass, and with a projectable frame (currently 6-0, 178), he could become a second-line bulldog.

Carter Ashton, RW

A physical forward who drives the net and scores the ugly goals, Ashton's game often draws comparisons to Bill Guerin.

Calvin de Haan, D

Scouts rave about his high panic threshold. The kid is always poised with the puck and, with great on-ice vision, is a dangerous passer. He also has an uncanny knack for getting his shot past blocks and onto the net. Seems like a simple skill, but it's valuable as defensive schemes become more successful at reducing shot opportunities from the point.

Jeremy Morin, W

He has size (6-1, 189) and smarts, but that sweet set of hands has him ranked as the best pure scorer after JohnTavares. Morin can, and will, shoot from anywhere and his one-timer may be the best in the draft. Yet, his skating leaves scouts wanting more and so does his work ethic.

Jordan Caron, RW

This 36-goal scorer has an NHL-ready body (6-2, 202) and is a bull on the cycle where his strength and hands make him particularly effective. He's not the greatest skater, but he has the work ethic and the hockey sense that should help him compensate.

Zach Budish, C

Budish missed the entire season with a torn ACL suffered while playing football, but eased most concerns with his performance at the draft combine. Scouts who watched him last year saw a power forward prospect in the Keith Tkachuk mold -- above-average marks in all the offensive categories and solid leadership skills. He could be the steal of the draft.

Dylan Olsen, D

He'll never be a top pairing defender, but Olsen has an innate understanding of the game, an NHL ready body (6-2, 207), and plays the kind of smart, physical game that never goes out of style. He's reliable with the puck and can be more of a boon to a penalty kill than a power play.

Stefan Elliott, D

Elliott is drawing comparisons to Washington's Mike Green, but they're not really accurate. No one needs to leave a trail of bread crumbs for Elliott to find his own zone, but he'll never be a shooter of Green's caliber. Still, Elliott should mature into a high-octane blueliner thanks to his dexterity on the blades, poise with the puck and knack for finding seams to his teammates or the net.