Calgary, AB – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels tops the list of Western Hockey League draft-eligible skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s fall preliminary rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Nugent-Hopkins, 17, is in his second season with the Rebels, and currently ranks second on the team and tied for eighth in the WHL in scoring.  The Burnaby, B.C., product is the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year after putting up 24 goals and 65 points for the Rebels as a 16-year-old in 2009-10.  He was the first overall selection in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.

At second and third on the list are two Portland Winterhawks, with Swiss rookie Sven Bartschi coming in at No. 2 and Ty Rattie coming in at No. 3.

Bartschi, 17, was selected in the 1st round, 7th overall, by the Hawks in the 2010 CHL Import Draft, and currently leads all WHL rookies in scoring with 16 goals and 33 points. 

Rattie, also 17, is in his second season in the WHL, and currently leads the Winterhawks and ranks second in the WHL scoring race with 38 points in just 22 games.

Coming in at fourth on the list is Vancouver Giants’ defenseman David Musil.  The 6’3”, 200-lb rearguard is in his second season in the WHL after posting an impressive rookie season in 2009-10.

Portland Winterhawks defenseman Joe Morrow rounds out the top five WHL skaters.  The offensive-minded Sherwood Park, AB, product is in his second season in the WHL, and has put up 13 points through his first 14 games.

Topping the list of the WHL’s draft-eligible goaltenders is Brandon Wheat Kings rookie netminder Liam Liston.  Liston, a St. Albert, AB, product, has played 16 games for the Wheat Kings as a rookie, and leads all rookie netminders with nine victories and a solid .909 save percentage.

For the complete Central Scouting Fall Preliminary Rankings, click HERE