Bennett headlines NHL midterm draft rankings

After being ranked the number one CHL prospect, Sam Bennett joined HC@Noon and talked about the skills that put his name on top of the list, and which team he’d love to join if he had his choice.

Samuel Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs is the top draft-eligible skater from North America as the National Hockey League released its Central Scouting Bureau mid-season rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft on Monday.

Bennett sits fourth in OHL scoring with 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) in 40 games this season — his second in the OHL. He is currently riding a 24-game point streak, with 16 goals and 28 assists over that span.

Prince Albert Raiders centre Leon Draisaitl, who recently suited up for ninth-place Germany at the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship, is No. 2 on the list while Barrie Colts defenceman Aaron Ekblad sits third. Kootenay Ice centre Sam Reinhart — son of former NHLer Paul, and younger brother of recent NHL Draft picks Max and Griffin — is ranked fourth and Oshawa Generals forward Michael Dal Colle rounds out the top five.

The top two players on the European Skaters list also have NHL bloodlines. Right winger Kasperi Kapanen (son of former NHLer Sami) and center/winger William Nylander (son of former NHLer Michael) are the No. 1- and 2-ranked skaters from Europe, respectively.

The mid-season rankings feature the top 210 skaters and 34 goaltenders in North America and top 130 skaters and 15 goaltenders from Europe. See the full lists below.

CSS Final 2013 North American Skater Rankings
Rank Player Pos. Team (League)
1. Samuel Bennett C Kingston (OHL)
2. Leon Draisaitl C Prince Albert (WHL)
3. Aaron Ekblad D Barrie (OHL)
4. Sam Reinhart C Kootenay (WHL)
5. Michael Dal Colle C/LW Oshawa (OHL)
6. Haydn Fleury D Red Deer (WHL)
7. Nicholas Ritchie LW Peterborough (OHL)
8. Brendan Perlini LW Niagara (OHL)
9. Jake Virtanen RW Calgary (WHL)
10. Anthony DeAngelo D Sarnia (OHL)
11. Jared McCann C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
12. Ivan Barbashev C/LW Moncton (WHL)
13. Julius Honka D Swift Current (WHL)
14. Nikolay Goldobin RW Sarnia (OHL)
15. Roland McKeown D Kingston (OHL)
16. Sonny Milano LW USA U-18 (USHL)
17. Dylan Larkin C USA U-18 (USHL)
18. Joshua Ho-Sang C/RW Windsor (OHL)
19. Nick Schmaltz C Green Bay (USHL)
20. Brycen Martin D Swift Current (WHL)
21. Alex Tuch C/RW USA U-18 (USHL)
22. Nikolaj Ehlers LW Halifax (QMJHL)
23. Eric Cornel C Peterborough (OHL)
24. Nikita Scherbak RW Saskatoon (WHL)
25. Robert Fabbri C Guelph (OHL)
26. Chase De Leo C Portland (WHL)
27. Jack Glover D USA U-18 (USHL)
28. Aaron Haydon D Niagara (OHL)
29. Jack Dougherty D USA U-18 (USHL)
30. Connor Chatham RW Plymouth (OHL)

Click here for the full list of North American Skaters

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