The 2008 NHL Entry Draft remains on track to be the Steven Stamkos show.
Stamkos, who has been ranked the No. 1 draft-eligible prospect since this past summer, remained No. 1 Thursday when NHL Central Scouting released its final ranking of the North American players eligible for the 2008 Entry Draft, which will be held June 20-21 in Ottawa.
Russia's Nikita Filatov is the top-ranked European skater. Thomas McCollum of the Guelph Storm is the top-rated North American goalie and Sweden's Jakob Markstrom is the top-ranked European goalie.
Stamkos, a star center for Sarnia in the Ontario Hockey League, has been the most acclaimed Canadian prospect since Sidney Crosby. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Stamkos had 58 goals and 47 assists during the regular season and added 11 goals in nine playoff games.
"I want to get drafted as high as possible, but just getting drafted is a tremendous honor," Stamkos said earlier this season. "Getting drafted is more like a bragging right. Once you get to (training) camp, then everyone's on an even playing field and you're playing for a job. You can be a fourth-rounder, but if you outplay the first-rounder, they're going to take you."
ESPN Story
NHL.com - 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Final Draft Rankings
NHL.com - 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Stamkos, defensemen lead final draft list (NHL) 
