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February 7, 2012
From Daigle To Datsyuk
Draft Mid-Terms, Top 50

by Corey Pronman

I typically have not done mid-year draft rankings, but this year I decided to change it up. As a disclaimer this is not what you should expect from my draft coverage going forward towards the end of the draft season. There will be full detailed reports and lengthy explanations for every major ranking come time for my end of year rankings. Due to the fact there are no explanations in this draft ranking, I fully encourage readers to ask as many questions as you please.

The usual explanations for my rankings:

The information that was used to form these rankings is scouting-based material from my own observations of these players, on top of the many, many conversations I've had with scouts and front-office executives within the industry (phone bill ain't looking pretty this month). However, the rankings are purely my own.

The rankings have an emphasis on the possession skill, due to the convincing studies in the hockey analytics world that shows that Corsi is representative of the possession skill and that Corsi is overwhelmingly the most important quality to consistently win hockey games that is under the team's control. I also take into account the market value of upside and position based on studies done.

The singular goaltending prospect towards the end of the list is not an error or an attempt to make a skaters-only rankings. Research has shown goaltending has very low value in the current NHL marketplace due to very volatile performances on a year-to-year basis and the fact good goaltending is easily obtainable in the open market.

Statistical performance is used as a complementary aid and adjusted for age, league quality, and other performance-altering factors. However, due to the lack of context in non-NHL statistics such as zone starts, quality of competition, and not having on-ice shot metrics, statistics are not given a heavy emphasis.

If you have a question about why a certain prospect is ranked where, use the contact tab or ask me via my Twitter account @coreypronman.

1. Mikhail Grigorenko, Center, Quebec-QMJHL

2. Nail Yakupov, Left Wing, Sarnia-OHL

3. Alex Galchenyuk, Center, Sarnia-OHL

4. Ryan Murray, Defense, Everett-WHL

5. Matt Dumba, Defense, Red Deer-WHL

6. Filip Forsberg, Left Wing, Leksands-Allsvenskan

7. Jacob Trouba, Defense, USA Under-18-USHL

8. Morgan Rielly, Defense, Moose Jaw-WHL

9. Cody Ceci, Defense, Ottawa-OHL

10. Teuvo Teravainen, Left Wings, Jokerit-SM-Liiga:

11. Radek Faska, Center, Kitchener-OHL

12. Zemgus Girgensons, Center, Dubuque-USHL

13. Griffin Reinhart, Defense, Edmonton-WHL

14. Matt Finn, Defense, Guelph-OHL

15. Ludvig Bystrom, Defense, MODO-SEL

16. Brendan Gaunce, Center, Belleville-OHL

17. Michael Matheson, Defense, Dubuque-USHL

18. Pontus Aberg, Left Wing, Djurgarden-SEL:

19. Slater Koekkoek, Defense, Peterborough-OHL

20. Martin Frk, Right Wing, Halifax-QMJHL

21. Tomas Hertl, Center, HC Slavia Praha-Czech Extraliga

22. Daniil Zharkov, Right Wing, Belleville-OHL

23. Raphael Bussieres, Left Wing, Baie-Comeau-QMJHL

24. Nikita Gusev, Left Wing, CSKA-MHL

25. Sebastian Collberg, Right Wing, Frolunda-SEL

26. Nicolas Kerdiles, Left Wing, USA Under-18-USHL

27. Nikolai Prokhorkin, Center, CSKA-MHL

28. Derrick Pouliot, Defense, Portland-WHL

29. Charles Hudon, Left Wing, Chicoutimi-QMJHL

30. Cristoval Nieves, Center, Kent-US High School

31. Tim Bozon, Left Wing, Kamloops-WHL

32. Olli Maatta, Defense, London-OHL

33. Stefan Matteau, Center, USA Under-18-USHL

34. Tanner Pearson, Right Wing, Barrie-OHL

35. Mike Winther, Center, Prince Albert-WHL

36. Ville Pokka, Defense, Karpat-SM-Liiga

37. Damon Severson, Defense, Kelowna-WHL

38. Dillon Fournier, Defense, Rouyn-Noranda-QMJHL

39. Henrik Samuelsson, Right Wing, Edmonton-WHL

40. Jordan Schmaltz, Defense, Green Bay-USHL

41. Dalton Thrower, Defense, Saskatoon-WHL

42. Anton Slepyshev, Left Wing, Novokuznetsk-KHL

43. Phil Di Giuseppe, Left Wing, University of Michigan-CCHA

44. Brady Skjei, Defense, USA Under-18-USHL

45. Jarrod Maidens, Center, Owen Sound-OHL

46. Nathan Walker, Left Wing, Vitkovice-Czech Extraliga

47. Andreas Athanasiou, Left Wing, London-OHL

48. Andrei Vasilevski, Goaltender, UFA-MHL

49. Scott Kosmachuk, Right Wing, Guelph-OHL

50. Denis Kamaev, Right Wing, Rouyn-Noranda-QMJHL

Honorable Mentions

Tomas Hyka, Right Wing, Gatineau-QMJHL

Tom Wilson, Right Wing, Plymouth-OHL

Adam Pelech, Defense, Erie-OHL

Jake McCabe, Defense, Wisconsin-WCHA

Brian Hart, Right Wing, Phillips Exeter-US High School

Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus. You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.

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