Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column looking at Hockey’s Stars. Over the next few days we will be previewing the 2014 NHL Draft by ranking our top 30 prospects and honourable mentions. As always, you can check out the previous Top Shelf Prospects articles here.

With the Junior seasons not just in Canada but throughout the world gearing up for the stretch drive and a number of international tournaments (Ivan Hlinka, 4 Nations, Subway Super Series, World Juniors) in the books, we have gotten a decent overview of what some of the biggest prospects for the draft are doing this year. This is an up to date look and ranking of these prospects. That said, there is still plenty of work to be done and many important games to be played including junior league playoffs, the U18 European five nations, and of course the Under 18 World Championships. While the rankings still have some fluidity, a pecking order is also starting to define itself. For now, this is what we have, we hope you enjoy the early preview and be sure to be ready in late March as we roll out our full player-by-player draft preview.

You can view Part 1 (1-5) by clicking here.

You can view Part 2 (6-10) by clicking here.

You can view Part 3 (11-15) by clicking here.

2014 NHL Draft: February Rankings Part 4 (16-20)

16) Jakub Vrana, C/RW, Linkopings (6’0″ 180 lbs): A Czech prospect who is playing in Sweden, he is a natural centre but can also play on the wing. Vrana already has a ton of international experience with 8 points in 6 games at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 Championships, and appearances for the Czech Republic at the 2013 and 2014 World Juniors, 2013 Under 18s and this summer’s Hlinka. He has very good top end speed, but its his elite acceleration and change of pace ability that really sets him apart and allows him to beat defenders one on one. Has good vision and passing skills to be a creative playmaker. His wrist shot is very accurate, and he has an excellent release. He’s fallen a bit in recent months (from a previous top 10 ranking, as some questions have started to emerge about his two-way game, and he needs to put muscle on his frame, but he’s still an excellent prospect. Has just three points in 19 games in the SHL after being called up, as he was over a point per game in the Under-20 league, however given his age he isn’t getting a lot of ice time in the top Swedish League, and its not a league that usually sees results from 17-year-olds.

17) David Pastrnak, RW, Sodertalje (6’0″ 176 lbs): Another Czech player playing his pro hockey in Sweden, Pastrnak is playing in the Allvenskan where he has 23 points in 34 games. He is an extremely good skater, with good speed, excellent acceleration, great edgework and agility, and very good balance. He is able to use his skating skill and his quick hands to be a nightmare for defenders off the rush. If they back off too much to respect his ability to get past them, he can unleash a powerful and accurate wrist shot which features a very quick release. Pastrnak has a great ability to beat defenders by changing speeds and can do this both on the rush and in the cycle game. He can dart into the smallest of openings and create a scoring chance.

18) Sonny Milano, LW/C, US National Team Development Program (5’11” 185 lbs): The leading goal and point scorer for the US NTDP so far this season. Milano has good top end speed, but his quickness is outstanding. By that I mean that he has a tremendous first step, great acceleration, and the ability to change direction on a dime. He has great hands and the ability to make plays with the puck at top speed. He loves to shoot the puck, and has a great wrist shot and release. He is very dangerous working off the half-wall on the powerplay, as he can take advantage of smallest bit of extra time and space to create excellent scoring chances. He needs to work harder defensively, as he can sometimes coast when his team doesn’t have the puck, and doesn’t use his skating as effectively as he does on offence.

19) Alex Tuch, RW, US National Team Development Program (6’3″ 218 lbs): Tuch is built like a truck, and plays the game like the type of power forward prospect who many teams covet. His skating stride seems unconventional and awkward, but it doesn’t hold him back as he generates decent speed. He’s not a speedster but it doesn’t hold him back, and he has good balance and is strong on the puck. While he’s not a huge hitter, he does use his size and strength to establish position in front of the net or to win board battles. He is also good at controlling the puck in the cycle game and at driving the net when an opening appears. If an opening doesn’t appear, has been known to drive the net by bowling right over the man defending him. He has soft hands to tip in pucks, pounce on rebounds, and score from in tight when driving the net. He also has one of the hardest wrist shots in the draft class, and a good release. Rising quickly on draft boards, and if his current level of play continues will continue to move up as he has the combination of size and skill that NHL teams covet.

20) Julius Honka, D, Swift Current Broncos, (5’11 174 lbs): A Finnish defender playing for Swift Current in the WHL. Has put up 12 goals and 38 points in 38 games this season, and also appeared in all seven games helping the Finns to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. An offensive defenceman, he is a great skater who can both lead the rush or join in as a trailer. He has good stickhandling ability, excellent vision and passing skill and a very good point shot. Can play the role of powerplay quarterback, and create a ton of chances when given time and space. Has great mobility, and is also extremely quick skating backwards. This and a quick stick help him to defend against the rush. However his size means that he can be beaten in board battles and struggles to clear the front of the net. He will need to add some muscle to his frame. He also could use some work on basic fundamentals of zone coverage. Don’t take this report too harshly, he’s not terrible defensively and is actually average in his own zone for a player his age, but his weaknesses are what keep him from being a top 10 pick.

You can view Part 1 (1-5) by clicking here.

You can view Part 2 (6-10) by clicking here.

You can view Part 3 (11-15) by clicking here.

You can view Part 4 (16-20) by clicking here.

You can view Part 5 (21-25) by clicking here.

You can view Part 6 (26-30) by clicking here.

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