Future Badgers Abound on NHL's Mid-Term Draft Rankings

The NHL Scouting Service has released their North American Mid-Term Rankings and there are a lot of future Badgers and Wisconsin natives on the list. It's no surpise that Kyle Turris is currently ranked fifth. Ryan McDonagh is entering UW this coming season rather than for 2008-2009 because his stock has risen so fast. This list confirms that his rise has been meteoric as he is currently ranked twelfth.

The next figure on the list Wisconsin fans will be interested to hear is Travis Erstad at #71. Erstad is currently a Senior at #2 ranked Stevens Point High School and plays with Team Wisconsin Major before and after the high school season. Blake Kessel is the next name of interest on the list just 5 spots behind Erstad at #76. He is Phil's brother, and is currently playing with the Waterloo Blackhawks in the USHL. Blake was not drafted by a USHL team, meaning his ascent on the rankings has been rapid as well.

Wisconsin native and UW recruit Josh Turnbull, who also currently plays for the Waterloo Blackhawks hits the list at #144. Just six spots later Brennan Vargas from the USNTDP U-18 team makes the list. His father was a Badger and he was talked about as a potential recruit, although I haven't heard anything along those lines recently.

Brendan Smith has been injured and/or recovering from injury this season, and the NHL North American Mid-Term Rankings has him at #157. This is a surprise as ISS and Red Line have listed him around #30 overall previously. Madison native Craig Smith makes the list at #201. He is teammates with Blake Kessel and Josh Turnbull on the Waterloo Blackhawks, and is committed to UW.

Jason Gregoire has been mentioned as a potential UW recruit, although the fact that he played the first four games of the USHL season and has been injured since then probably hasn't helped him much. He is listed as a player that has had limited viewing. He plays for Lincoln of the USHL.