London Knights forward John Tavares celebrates a goal during Sunday's game. (Morris Lamont/London Free Press/Canadian Press)

The recent world junior championships in Ottawa did nothing to change the perception that Ontario native John Tavares and Victor Hedman of Sweden are the top prospects for the NHL entry draft in June, according to the league's scouting bureau.

Tavares and Hedman on Monday were named the top North American and European skaters eligible for the draft, respectively, as NHL Central Scouting released its mid-season rankings.

It has been an eventful week for the 18-year-old Tavares, who last Monday helped lead Canada to its fifth straight world junior title. The Oakville, Ont., native scored eight goals and seven assists in six games and was named tournament most valuable player.

Tavares was then traded from the Oshawa Generals, the club he played for in the Ontario Hockey League since the age of 15. Tavares scored twice and assisted in his debut for the London Knights on Sunday

He has 185 goals and 386 points through 224 OHL games.

Hedman could become the first Swede in 20 years to be picked first in the draft. Vancouver's Mats Sundin was the top pick in 1989.

Hedman, a six-foot-five-inch defenceman who plays for MoDo in the Swedish Elite League, recorded two assists and a plus-4 rating in six games as his team won silver at the world juniors for the second straight year.

After Tavares, the top North American skaters are Matt Duchene of the OHL's Brampton Battalion, and Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Kane was part of Canada's recent championship team.

Next on the list is American Jordan Schroeder from the University of Minnesota, and Brandon Wheat Kings forward Brayden Schenn, the younger brother of defenceman Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The top skater from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is Simon Despres of Saint John, while the league's Olivier Roy (Cape Breton) and Jean-Francois Berube (Montreal) are among the top five goalie prospects.

The top ranked North American goalie was Edward Pasquale, who plays for the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL, ahead of Scott Stajcer of Owen Sound. American Michael Lee is third.

The next seven European prospects among forwards and defenceman are also from Sweden, with the next highest ranked player forward Nikita Dvurechensky of Russia.

Sweden also claims the top European goalie prospect as viewed by Central Scouting, Robin Lehner, followed by Mikko Koskinen of Finland.

The NHL entry draft will take place in Montreal on June 26. Central Scouting will release its last rankings in late April.