Seven Recruits Listed on Final 2007 NHL Draft Ranking
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Seven future University of Michigan ice hockey players have been ranked among the top North American players eligible for the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft, according to the NHL's Central Scouting Service's final rankings, which were released Wednesday (April 25).
The list of players who have signed National Letters of Intent for 2007-08 includes forwards Louie Caporusso (Woodbridge, Ontario), Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn.), Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich.), Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Ben Winnett (New Westminster, B.C.); defenseman Tristin Llewellyn (Ann Arbor, Mich.); and goalie Bryan Hogan (Highland, Mich.).
Pacioretty, who spent the 2006-07 season with the United States Hockey League's Sioux City Musketeers, is the highest rated future Wolverine at No. 16. In the mid-term rankings he had been slated at No. 23.
Winnett is the 90th ranked prospect in North America after dropping down one position as compared to the mid-term draft rankings. Winnett skated for the British Columbia Hockey League's Salmon Arm Silverbacks this season.
Palushaj is rated No. 101. He plays for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL. Palushaj was rated No. 68 in the mid-term rankings.
Caporusso is the 121st-ranked player on the draft list. Caporusso, who played with the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, moved up from No. 152 at the mid-term rankings.
Llewellyn is slotted in the 134th spot. A defenseman for the USHL's Tri-City Storm, he was ranked No. 90 in the mid-term rankings.
Rust earned the No. 167 position in the North American rankings. He played the past season with the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. Rust was rated at No. 124 in the January rankings.
Hogan was ranked 18th among North American goaltenders. Hogan, who played for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, was the 14th-rated goalie in the mid-term rankings.
Kyle Turris of the British Columbia Hockey League's Burnaby Express tops the CSS list of North American skaters. Among goalies, Jerremy Smith (Plymouth, OHL) is the considered the best prospect.
The NHL's Cental Scouting Service provides three rankings (prelimnary, mid-term, final) of eligible players leading up to the NHL Entry Draft. The 2007 NHL Entry Draft will be held Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
