The road to building an NHL Draft Ranking is a long and arduous one.

Early-season expectations can turn sour by Christmas. Relative unknowns can establish themselves as household names through the CHL playoffs or the U18s. Lists are made, crumpled up, tossed away, and new ones are created. And it's so much fun.

This year's class hasn't generated the same level of hype as some of its predecessors, most notably that of the last draft. It still offers an intriguing blend of high-end skill and long-term potential though. That seems especially true on the blue line, where many defenders have the scouting community furiously debating which one projects best and who carries the most risk.

Regarding this final board, as always, these assessments are somewhat limited. I am but one man. However, I'm fortunate enough to have a very patient wife and am privileged to have a tremendous group to work with at EP Rinkside, as well as a host of NHL contacts to bounce things off of.

This list isn't supposed to act as a mock draft – that comes out in a few days. This is a reflection of how I perceive the player's current makeup in conjunction with how I believe they will progress and develop. Hopefully, toward an NHL career. It's more of a projection rather than a pure assessment of the current product. 

The translatable traits trump all.

Regarding my method, I place immense value on processing speed. Physical attributes are great, especially speed. But if you can't see the play develop or recognize your options quickly, both offensively and defensively, you're facing an uphill battle. If you're intelligent, you can overcome a host of physical limitations. If you're gifted physically yet have limited awareness on the ice, you're at a greater disadvantage to reach your ceiling. Add them together, and you have the recipe for immense success.