As discussed in my 2017 draft prospect rankings, this year's draft class is not entirely devoid of top talent, but there is a lot of bunching at the top, and that top group is underwhelming compared to some of the better classes of recent years.
That's reflected in this ranking of the best draft prospects of the past five years, with several 2017 players represented -- but toward the end of the board.
What's important to note is that these are my evaluations at the time of the draft, not now. So after looking at this ranking, it is incorrect to jump to the conclusion that I think both Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick are better than Leon Draisaitl.
While I try my best to view these prospects in the perspective of where they were as draft prospects, it is obviously hard to battle hindsight.
With those caveats in mind, let's dive into my ranking of the top 30 draft prospects of the past five years:
