With a few major NHL prospect events behind us -- including the World Junior Championships (WJC) in December and the CHL Top Prospects Game in January -- it's time to digest the games and individual player performances, both good and bad.
When it comes to NHL scouting, especially when analyzing draft-eligible players, there are so many things to consider and so much to project with 17- to 19-year-old players. Many high-profile prospects continue to perform at a high rate, with players like defenseman Seth Jones (Portland, WHL) and forward Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax, QMJHL) leading the way. But what about the rest of the prospect pool?
Here's a look at five prospects -- many whom aren't likely to be household names -- whose draft stocks are rising or falling based on recent play.
Rising
Mirco Mueller, D, Everett (WHL)
Previous rank: 31-60
Current rank: 20-30