The CSS rankings go so deep, many of these players will still be on the board when the Isles pick in the third round.
For the first time in several seasons, New York Islanders fans approach spring with little reason other than curiosity to keep an eye on the best prospects for the summer's NHL draft.
Not only are the Islanders so good this year that they should finish well out of lottery territory, they also don't even have a first- or second-round pick thanks to the Thomas Vanek trade.
(And remember, that trade is the only reason they're good now...because they only improved the team over the summer to decrease the value of those sunk costs. That's how that works, right? You improve the team not to win but rather to avoid bad press? Yeah.)
Anyway, we know many readers still like to follow the draft regardless. And the Isles have two third-round picks, so chances are a player or two in the NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings will end up as Isles property.
The 2015 NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Below you'll find the top names to mull -- and remember the CSS uses separate rankings for North American and international skaters as well as N.A. and international goalies. May the Isles find their next Anders Lee.
Rk
North American Skaters
2014-15 Team
League
Position
Height
Weight
1
McDavid, Connor
Erie
OHL
C
6' 0.75"
195
2
Eichel, Jack
Boston University
H-EAST
C
6' 2.0"
196
3
Hanifin, Noah
Boston College
H-EAST
D
6' 2.75"
203
4
Crouse, Lawson
Kingston
OHL
LW
6' 4.0"
211
5
Strome, Dylan
Erie
OHL
C
6' 3.0"
187
6
Werenski, Zachary
U Of Michigan
BIG10
D
6' 2.0"
206
7
Marner, Mitchell
London
OHL
C
5' 11.0"
155
8
Zacha, Pavel
Sarnia
OHL
C
6' 3.0"
210
9
Barzal, Mathew
Seattle
WHL
C
5' 11.25"
175
10
Provorov, Ivan
Brandon
WHL
D
6' 0.0"
191
11
Zboril, Jakub
Saint John
QMJHL
D
6' 0.75"
184
12
Meier, Timo
Halifax
QMJHL
RW
6' 1.0"
208
13
Merkley, Nicholas
Kelowna
WHL
C
5' 10.75"
191
14
Connor, Kyle
Youngstown
USHL
LW
6' 1.0"
177
15
Chabot, Thomas
Saint John
QMJHL
D
6' 1.25"
181
16
Carlo, Brandon
Tri-City
WHL
D
6' 4.75"
198
17
Chlapik, Filip
Charlottetown
QMJHL
C
6' 0.75"
194
18
Harkins, Jansen
Prince George
WHL
C
6' 0.75"
177
19
Bittner, Paul
Portland
WHL
LW
6' 4.0"
206
20
Sprong, Daniel
Charlottetown
QMJHL
RW
6' 0.0"
189
21
Svechnikov, Evgeny
Cape Breton
QMJHL
LW
6' 2.0"
199
22
Greenway, Jordan
USA Under-18
USHL
LW
6' 4.75"
222
23
Roy, Jeremy
Sherbrooke
QMJHL
D
5' 11.75"
189
24
Debrusk, Jake
Swift Current
WHL
LW
5' 11.5"
171
25
Roy, Nicolas
Chicoutimi
QMJHL
C
6' 4.0"
199
26
Konecny, Travis
Ottawa
OHL
C
5' 9.75"
174
27
White, Colin
USA Under-18
USHL
C
6' 0.0"
183
28
Boeser, Brock
Waterloo
USHL
RW
6' 0.5"
191
29
Novak, Thomas
Waterloo
USHL
C
6' 0.5"
179
30
Brisebois, Guillaume
Acadie-Bathurst
QMJHL
D
6' 1.75"
170
31
Pilon, Ryan
Brandon
WHL
D
6' 2.0"
206
32
Musil, Adam
Red Deer
WHL
C
6' 2.5"
198
33
Vande Sompel, Mitchell
Oshawa
OHL
D
5' 10.0"
182
34
Warren, Brendan
USA Under-18
USHL
LW
6' 0.25"
191
35
Yan, Dennis
Shawinigan
QMJHL
LW
6' 1.25"
180
36
Bracco, Jeremy
USA Under-18
USHL
RW
5' 9.25"
173
37
Gawdin, Glenn
Swift Current
WHL
C
6' 0.75"
188
38
Juulsen, Noah
Everett
WHL
D
6' 1.25"
175
39
Forsbacka Karlsson, Jakob
Omaha
USHL
C
6' 0.75"
190
40
Fischer, Christian
USA Under-18
USHL
RW
6' 1.0"
212
41
Korostelev, Nikita
Sarnia
OHL
RW
6' 1.25"
195
42
Marsh, Adam
Saint John
QMJHL
LW
6' 0.0"
160
43
Wagner, Austin
Regina
WHL
LW
6' 1.0"
178
44
Speers, Blake
Sault Ste. Marie
OHL
C
5' 10.75"
180
45
Meloche, Nicolas
Baie-Comeau
QMJHL
D
6' 2.5"
202
46
Wotherspoon, Parker
Tri-City
WHL
D
6' 0.25"
171
47
Dermott, Travis
Erie
OHL
D
5' 11.25"
197
48
Gagne, Gabriel
Victoriaville
QMJHL
RW
6' 4.75"
186
49
Beauvillier, Anthony
Shawinigan
QMJHL
LW
5' 10.25"
173
50
Trenin, Yakov
Gatineau
QMJHL
C
6' 1.75"
192
51
Spencer, Matthew
Peterborough
OHL
D
6' 1.5"
201
52
Roslovic, Jack
USA Under-18
USHL
C
6' 0.5"
182
53
Dunn, Vince
Niagara
OHL
D
5' 11.75"
182
54
Knott, Graham
Niagara
OHL
LW
6' 3.25"
192
55
Noel, Nathan
Saint John
QMJHL
C
5' 10.75"
170
56
Senyshyn, Zachary
Sault Ste. Marie
OHL
RW
6' 1.0"
192
57
Foley, Erik
Cedar Rapids
USHL
LW
5' 11.5"
185
58
Timashov, Dmytro
Quebec
QMJHL
LW
5' 9.25"
192
59
Galipeau, Olivier
Val-D'or
QMJHL
D
6' 0.5"
202
60
Carrier, Alexandre
Gatineau
QMJHL
D
5' 11.0"
174
61
Gabrielle, Jesse
Regina
WHL
LW
5' 10.75"
205
62
Gropp, Ryan
Seattle
WHL
LW
6' 2.0"
184
63
Marody, Cooper
Sioux Falls
USHL
C
6' 0.25"
173
64
Marino, John
South Shore
USPHL PRE.
D
6' 0.5"
171
65
Lauzon, Jeremy
Rouyn-Noranda
QMJHL
D
6' 1.75"
193
66
Strand, Austin
Red Deer
WHL
D
6' 3.25"
194
67
Capobianco, Kyle
Sudbury
OHL
D
6' 1.0"
178
68
Bouramman, Gustav
Sault Ste. Marie
OHL
D
5' 11.25"
184
69
Nielsen, Andrew
Lethbridge
WHL
D
6' 3.0"
207
70
Cecconi, Joseph
Muskegon
USHL
D
6' 2.25"
209
71
Greer, Aj
Boston University
H-EAST
LW
6' 2.5"
204
72
Gilbert, Dennis
Chicago
USHL
D
6' 2.25"
201
73
Dove-Mcfalls, Samuel
Saint John
QMJHL
LW
6' 2.0"
207
74
Gates, Brent
Green Bay
USHL
C
6' 1.75"
196
75
Cotton, David
Cushing Academy
HIGH-MA
C
6' 2.5"
200
76
Guhle, Brendan
Prince Albert
WHL
D
6' 1.5"
184
77
Jones, Caleb
USA Under-18
USHL
D
5' 11.75"
194
78
Bachman, Karch
Culver Academy
HIGH-IN
LW
5' 10.5"
175
79
Askew, Cameron
Moncton
QMJHL
C
6' 2.25"
203
80
Kielly, Kameron
Charlottetown
QMJHL
RW
6' 0.0"
180
81
Massie, Jake
Kimball Union
HIGH-NH
D
6' 2.0"
165
82
Gabriele, Grant
USA Under-18
USHL
D
6' 0.75"
167
83
Sadek, Jack
Lakeville North
HIGH-MN
D
6' 1.5"
185
84
Andersson, Rasmus
Barrie
OHL
D
6' 0.0"
210
85
Fronk, Jiri
Cedar Rapids
USHL
RW
6' 1.5"
191
86
Corriveau, Taggart
Westminster
HIGH-CT
RW
6' 1.0"
176
87
Terry, Troy
USA Under-18
USHL
C/RW
5' 10.5"
160
88
Cirelli, Anthony
Oshawa
OHL
C
5' 11.5"
160
89
Alain, Alexandre
Gatineau
QMJHL
C
6' 0.25"
173
90
Pavlychev, Nikita
Des Moines
USHL
C
6' 7.0"
200
91
Leveille, Loik
Cape Breton
QMJHL
D
5' 11.5"
223
92
Martenet, Chris
London
OHL
D
6' 7.0"
198
93
Pawlenchuk, Grayson
Red Deer
WHL
LW
5' 11.5"
183
94
Kolesar, Keegan
Seattle
WHL
RW
6' 1.25"
217
95
Luff, Matt
Belleville
OHL
RW
6' 1.5"
179
96
Szypula, Ethan
Owen Sound
OHL
C
5' 10.5"
168
97
Zborosky, Zachary
Kootenay
WHL
RW
5' 11.0"
175
98
Schemitsch, Thomas
Owen Sound
OHL
D
6' 3.0"
205
99
Henley, David
Charlottetown
QMJHL
D
6' 4.5"
203
100
Hobbs, Connor
Regina
WHL
D
6' 0.5"
187
101
Bethune, Jared
Prince George
WHL
C
6' 0.0"
174
102
Fitzgerald, Casey
USA Under-18
USHL
D
5' 10.5"
186
103
Richard, Anthony
Val-D'or
QMJHL
C
5' 9.5"
163
104
Gardiner, Reid
Prince Albert
WHL
C/RW
5' 10.5"
187
105
Parsells, Adam
Wausau West
HIGH-WI
D
6' 5.5"
192
106
Olson, Tate
Prince George
WHL
D
6' 2.25"
174
107
Jaremko, Jacob
Elk River
HIGH-MN
C
5' 11.25"
170
108
Stephens, Devante
Kelowna
WHL
D
6' 1.25"
171
109
Mcdermott, John
Westminster
HIGH-CT
C
6' 1.25"
185
110
Sideroff, Deven
Kamloops
WHL
RW
5' 11.0"
171
111
Radke, Roy
Barrie
OHL
RW
6' 2.5"
203
112
Fournier, Jordan
Victoriaville
QMJHL
RW
6' 1.25"
181
113
Stephens, Mitchell
Saginaw
OHL
C
5' 11.25"
184
114
Fora, Michael
Kamloops
WHL
D
6' 2.5"
210
115
Marcoux, Antoine
Victoriaville
QMJHL
C
6' 1.0"
170
116
Suter, Pius
Guelph
OHL
C
5' 11.0"
165
117
Mccool, Hayden
Windsor
OHL
C
6' 3.0"
200
118
Lalonde, Bradley
Cape Breton
QMJHL
D
6' 0.5"
193
119
Lemcke, Justin
Belleville
OHL
D
6' 2.25"
200
120
Simpson, Mark
Acadie-Bathurst
QMJHL
C
6' 5.25"
189
121
Tkachev, Vladimir
Quebec
QMJHL
LW
5' 9.5"
144
122
Wilkie, Christopher
Tri-City
USHL
RW
5' 11.5"
199
123
Vela, Marcus
Langley
BCHL
C
6' 0.75"
202
124
Mckenzie, Brett
North Bay
OHL
C
6' 1.75"
190
125
Cho, Austin
St. Andrews College
HIGH-ON
D
6' 0.5"
190
126
Van Boekel, Jack
Saint John
QMJHL
D
6' 6.75"
200
127
Addison, Jeremiah
Ottawa
OHL
LW
5' 11.75"
182
128
Peters, Collin
Sioux Falls
USHL
C
5' 11.5"
166
129
Betz, Nick
Erie
OHL
RW
6' 4.25"
220
130
Fontaine, Gabriel
Sherbrooke
QMJHL
C
6' 1.0"
179
131
Kalynuk, Wyatt
Lincoln
USHL
D
6' 0.5"
165
132
Jaycox, Lukas
Warroad
HIGH-MN
D
6' 1.5"
183
133
Bear, Ethan
Seattle
WHL
D
5' 11.0"
200
134
Gatenby, Joe
Kelowna
WHL
D
6' 0.25"
176
135
Macarthur, Tyler
Owen Sound
OHL
D
6' 3.5"
177
136
Fortin, Alexandre
Rouyn-Noranda
QMJHL
C
6' 0.0"
173
137
Davis, Kevin
Everett
WHL
D
5' 11.75"
183
138
Murphy, Matthew
Quebec
QMJHL
D
6' 2.25"
208
139
Diffley, Brien
Boston University
H-EAST
D
6' 1.0"
176
140
Karnaukhov, Pavel
Calgary
WHL
LW
6' 2.5"
194
141
Seney, Brett
Merrimack
H-EAST
LW
5' 8.75"
156
142
Moynihan, Connor
Halifax
QMJHL
LW
6' 3.75"
211
143
Fox, Trent
Belleville
OHL
C
6' 2.0"
190
144
Bradley, Matthew
Medicine Hat
WHL
C
5' 11.25"
187
145
Salituro, Dante
Ottawa
OHL
C
5' 8.25"
178
146
Smallman, Spencer
Saint John
QMJHL
RW
6' 0.5"
184
147
Mangiapane, Andrew
Barrie
OHL
LW
5' 10.0"
170
148
Webster, Bailey
Saint John
QMJHL
D
6' 3.0"
210
149
Freytag, Matthew
Tri-City
USHL
LW
6' 0.75"
195
150
Morrison, Brad
Prince George
WHL
C
5' 11.5"
154
151
Franzen, Gustaf
Kitchener
OHL
C
5' 10.75"
173
152
Soy, Tyler
Victoria
WHL
C
5' 11.5"
172
153
Lindberg, Brandon
Sarnia
OHL
C
6' 0.5"
205
154
White, Colton
Sault Ste. Marie
OHL
D
6' 0.0"
182
155
Myers, Philippe
Rouyn-Noranda
QMJHL
D
6' 4.75"
196
156
Darcy, Liam
Berwick Academy
HIGH-ME
D
5' 10.5"
175
157
Olson, Jacob
Hill-Murray
HIGH-MN
D
6' 3.0"
210
158
Miller, David
Kitchener
OHL
C
5' 8.5"
180
159
Artemov, Artem
Saginaw
OHL
LW
5' 10.5"
200
160
Hunt, Dryden
Regina
WHL
C/LW
6' 0.0"
199
161
Keane, Jackson
Winnipeg Blues
MJHL
C
5' 9.0"
148
162
Michaud, Lucas
Portland Jr. Pirates
USPHL PRE.
RW
5' 10.5"
200
163
Goulet, Alexandre
Charlottetown
QMJHL
C
5' 11.5"
195
164
Jensen, Kade
Lethbridge
WHL
D
6' 1.5"
191
165
Conley, Kevin
Youngstown
USHL
LW
5' 11.5"
192
166
Becker, Jack
Mahtomedi
HIGH-MN
C
6' 3.0"
188
167
Azar, Nick
Honeybaked U18
HPHL
D
6' 3.0"
201
168
Flanagan, Mckay
The Gunnery
HIGH-CT
D
6' 1.0"
185
169
Comrie, Ty
Tri-City
WHL
C
5' 11.5"
169
170
Pearson, Chase
Youngstown
USHL
C
6' 2.0"
189
171
Lizotte, Cameron
Peterborough
OHL
D
6' 1.25"
193
172
Shea, Ryan
Boston College H.S.
HIGH-MA
D
6' 0.0"
168
173
Crawley, Brandon
London
OHL
D
6' 0.5"
198
174
Henderson, Jacob
Omaha
USHL
RW
6' 2.5"
203
175
Spaxman, Ethan
Waterloo
USHL
D
6' 3.5"
193
176
Boka, Nicholas
USA Under-18
USHL
D
6' 0.25"
197
177
Mcneely, Jack
Lakeville North
HIGH-MN
D
6' 2.5"
178
178
Mackie, Gage
Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep
HIGH-MN
LW
6' 2.5"
192
179
Pfeifer, Tristen
Everett
WHL
D
6' 4.0"
180
180
Palmu, Petrus
Owen Sound
OHL
LW
5' 5.75"
169
181
Desrocher, Stephen
Oshawa
OHL
D
6' 3.75"
198
182
Gardner, Rhett
Okotoks
AJHL
C/LW
6' 2.25"
200
183
Hughes, Cameron
U Of Wisconsin
BIG10
C
5' 10.75"
144
184
Overhardt, Alex
Portland
WHL
C
5' 11.0"
181
185
Zuhlsdorf, Ryan
Sioux City
USHL
D
5' 11.25"
188
186
Laishram, Adam
Belleville
OHL
RW
5' 8.5"
158
187
Gaudette, Adam
Cedar Rapids
USHL
C
6' 0.75"
170
188
Jankowski, David
Stanstead College
HIGH-QC
C
6' 1.0"
155
189
Finlay, Liam
Vernon
BCHL
RW
5' 6.5"
132
190
Bukarts, Rihards
Brandon
WHL
LW
5' 8.5"
190
191
Philp, Luke
Kootenay
WHL
C
5' 9.25"
180
192
Miletic, Sam
Green Bay
USHL
LW
6' 0.25"
182
193
Mcfadden, Garrett
Guelph
OHL
D
5' 10.5"
180
194
Borgen, William
Moorhead
HIGH-MN
D
6' 1.75"
189
195
Crawford, Marcus
Saginaw
OHL
D
5' 11.0"
193
196
Bell, Jason
Saint John
QMJHL
D
6' 2.0"
188
197
Zborovskiy, Sergey
Regina
WHL
D
6' 3.0"
198
198
Demler, Brendan
Ohio Blue Jackets U18
T1AAA
D
6' 1.25"
166
199
Reddekopp, Chaz
Victoria
WHL
D
6' 3.25"
219
200
Peski, Andrew
Brockville
CCHL
D
6' 0.25"
201
201
Masonius, Joseph
USA Under-18
USHL
D
6' 0.25"
190
202
Fryer, Callum
Aurora
OJHL
D
6' 2.25"
190
203
Stevens, Luke
Noble & Greenough
HIGH-MA
LW
6' 3.75"
184
204
Evers, Christian
USA Under-18
USHL
D
6' 1.75"
206
205
Busch, Tyler
Spruce Grove
AJHL
C
6' 2.25"
180
206
Somers, William
Hotchkiss School
HIGH-CT
LW
6' 4.0"
228
207
Trinkberger, David
Sioux City
USHL
D
6' 4.5"
207
208
Desharnais, Vincent
Chilliwack
BCHL
D
6' 6.0"
207
209
Bast, Gabe
Penticton
BCHL
D
5' 8.75"
188
210
Gysi, Daniel
Springfield Pics
USPHL PRE.
D
5' 11.0"
165
LV
Schlichting, Connor
Sarnia
OHL
D
6' 3.25"
207
LV
Meyer, Jarett
Owen Sound
OHL
D
6' 8.0"
246
Rk
International Skaters
2014-15 Team
League
Position
Height
Weight
1
Kylington, Oliver
Aik
SWEDEN-2
D
6' 0.0"
180
2
Rantanen, Mikko
Tps
FINLAND
RW
6' 3.5"
211
3
Looke, Jens
Brynas
SWEDEN
RW
6' 0.5"
180
4
Spacek, Michael
Pardubice
CZREP
RW
5' 11.0"
187
5
Larsson, Jacob
Frolunda Jr.
SWEDEN-JR.
D
6' 2.0"
191
6
Carlsson, Gabriel
Linkoping Jr.
SWEDEN-JR.
D
6' 4.0"
183
7
Gurianov, Denis
Togliatti 2
RUSSIA-JR.
RW
6' 2.5"
183
8
Ahl, Filip
Hv 71 Jr.
SWEDEN-JR.
LW
6' 3.25"
211
9
Aho, Sebastian
Skelleftea
SWEDEN
D
5' 9.25"
165
10
Kase, David
Chomutov
CZREP-2
RW
5' 11.0"
169
11
Hintz, Roope
Ilves
FINLAND
LW
6' 2.5"
185
12
Siegenthaler, Jonas
Zurich
SWISS
D
6' 2.5"
220
13
Rykov, Yegor
Ska St. Petersburg 2
RUSSIA-JR.
D
6' 1.25"
216
14
Dergachyov, Alexander
Ska St. Petersburg 2
RUSSIA-JR.
C
6' 4.0"
200
15
Lindgren, Jesper
Modo Jr.
SWEDEN-JR.
D
6' 0.0"
<td sdnum="103