Rasmus Dahlin is my No. 1 prospect for the 2018 NHL draft. This is hardly a novel opinion and not worth the price of your subscription.



However, it’s worth considering why this is. What makes him an elite prospect? Is there a reasonable alternative, and if not, why? If he is a clear-cut No. 1, what level are we talking about? These are the questions I’ll consider today.



Check out Corey Pronman’s complete preview of the 2018 NHL draft and all of The Athletic’s draft coverage.



SKILL SET



Excerpted from my 2018 NHL draft preview:



Dahlin’s skill and IQ rank among the very best in the class. He’s incredibly elusive and skilled. He can play at such a quick pace and make highly creative plays versus pros at his age. What stands out to me is not his elite skill but his elite awareness. He understands how to attack defenses so well and attempts things I don’t see players his age try. He sees gaps in coverage...