Jordan Subban

Briggins looks at four players moving up the Central Scouting list.

NHL Central Scouting has released its final 2013 Draft Prospect rankings. In this week's article, I look at players who have made significant changes from their mid-season ranking. This week will focus on North American players while next week will look at Europeans.

Rising Prospects

Zach Nastasiuk – RW, Owen Sound – #13 (mid-season rank 33)

The 6-1 and 191 pound Nastasiuk is currently playing for Canada in the under-18 tournament after an excellent sophomore season in Owen Sound where he doubled his offensive output this season. He finished with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 62 games. After a slow start in September and an injury in October, Nastasiuk finished the season strong. He also had an excellent playoff, netting four goals and seven assists in 11 games. Nastasiuk is a competitive big player who could develop into something special or end up as a third-liner. Keep an eye on his performance at the U18 and where he goes in the NHL draft. Nastasiuk could be worth the investment after the blue chip prospects are off the board in your keeper/dynasty fantasy draft.

John Hayden – C, USNDT – #29 (mid-season 59)

John Hayden is a big player who puts up points and can drop the gloves. The 6-3 and 210 pounder played for the U.S. National Under-17 Team this past season and is committed to Yale next season. He scored 11 goals and added nine assists in 24 games to go along with 51 penalty minutes. He has a knack for big goals, scoring four game winners this season.This power-forward holds extra value in leagues that count penalty minutes.

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Jordan Subban – D, Belleville – #55 (mid-season 81)

Subban will be no stranger to managers come draft time as he follows the path of his older brothers P.K. and Malcolm and is selected by an NHL team. At 5-9 and 177 pounds, Jordan is smaller than his older brother and fellow d-man P.K. They play a similar style, making exciting offensive plays. Jordan finished the season with 15 goals and 26 assists in 68 games for the Belleville Bulls. He had a particularly strong February, scoring six goals and adding nine assists in 12 games. While the Subban brand may make him jump out in fantasy drafts, remember that defenseman can take longer to develop than other players. Being a small offensive d-man does not always translate to success in the NHL.

Falling Prospects

Jason Dickinson – C, Guelph – #30 (mid-season 16)

One way to slip from a projected mid-first rounder to outside the first round is by driving scouts crazy with inconsistent play. While the 6-2 and 176 pound center had 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 66 games, his final totals fell behind the the near point-per-game pace he had set in September through November. From December to March he only had 6 goals. Despite a disappointing finish to the season, Dickinson cracked Canada's U18 roster. He will need to add strength to his frame if he hopes to play in the NHL someday. Let somebody else in your fantasy league handle this project.