2004 NHL Entry Draft: The Mid-Season Rankings

Alexander Ovechkin and Kyle Chipchura lead the lists of players available in the 2004 NHL Draft, according to the latest rankings from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. No surprise that Ovechkin, a forward with Moscow Dynamo, is the top-ranked European skater. Scouts have been raving about him for a couple of years. Chipchura, the highest ranked North American, is more of a mystery.

Chipchura is a centerman with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. He has 13 goals and 27 assists in 47 games this season. Rounding out the top three North American skaters are left wingers Andrew Ladd of the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) and Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion (Ontario Hockey League).

On the European list, Ovechkin is followed by two centers, Evgeny Malkin of Russia and Rostislav Olesz of the Czech Republic.

Al Montoya, who plays for the University of Michigan, leads the list of North American goaltenders, after helping the United States win the World Junior Championship earlier this month. He is followed by David Shantz of the Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL) and Devan Dubnyk of the Kamloops Blazers (WHL).

Among European goaltenders, the top prospect is judged to be Marek Schwarz, who played for the fourth-place Czech Republic team at the World Juniors. Behind him are Magnus Akerlund of Sweden and Thomas Greiss of Germany.

TSN.ca helpfully provides the complete mid-season prospect rankings, which include 430 players.

Players who turn 18 by September 15 are eligible to be drafted. NHL Entry Draft regulations state that 18-year-olds must declare their eligibility. Those who turn 19 by September 15 are automatically eligible for selection.

Although Ovechkin is the most highly anticipated prospect to come along in several years, 2004 is considered a weaker draft year than 2003. The 2003 NHL Entry Draft produced seven players who are already in the NHL, and a handful more who are considered outstanding prospects.