2014 NHL Draft: 6 Gopher recruits included in Central Scouting's final rankings

Six University of Minnesota draft-eligible recruits were among the players listed in NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings; including two among the top 60 North American skaters. The six include two defensemen, three forwards and goalie recruit Logan Halladay.

NHL Central Scouting is essentially ran as a hypothetical 31st NHL team. It is not a mock draft to predict how teams will draft. Instead, it allows a look at how one team's draft board fares during several points throughout the year.

Halladay, a 6 foot, 188 lbs goaltender from Cary, NC who made his verbal commitment to the Gophers last month, has made the biggest leap after not being included in January's midterm rankings.

The only other player to see his stock rise by Central Scouting is Swedish Jr. U-20 leading goal scorer Leon Bristedt. Bristedt, a 5'8", 180 lbs forward, had this 60 points (32G-28A) in 43 games season as an 18 year-old. (Bristedt just turned 19 last month.) He is the 24th ranked European skater.

Players:

• Jack Glover, D USNTDP (38 NA - down from 27 in midterm rankings)
• Ryan Collins, D USNTDP (57 NA - down from 32 in midterm rankings)
• Leon Bristedt, F Linkoping Jr. [SWE] (24 Euro - up from 37)
• Jack Ramsey, F Penticton BCHL (181 NA - down from 151)
• Tyler Sheehy, F Waterloo USHL (200 - down from 150)
• Logan Halladay, G Janesville Jets NAHL (16 NA Goalies, not on midterm)

Glover, Collins, Bristedt and Ramsey have all signed Letters of Intent. The first three are expected to play for Minnesota next year. Ramsey and Sheehy could either be brought in for 2014-15 or 2015-16 depending on departures.

Minnesota had 14 drafted players this season. While several others remain draft-eligible, none are on NHL Central Scouting's list.

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Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate