Four players who have either signed with or committed to the Gophers are in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's midseason ratings which go down to 210 players.

Defenseman Brady Skjei, who is nearly 6-3 and weighs 200 pounds, is rated No. 18, which means he could be a first round pick in the 2012 NHL draft.

Skjei, who formerly played for Lakeville North, is with the under-18 U.S. national development team in Ann Arbor this season. The Gophers have still not released the names of the players they signed in mid-November, but Skjei tweeted he signed on Nov. 15.

It is reasonably certain that forward A.J. Michaelson of Waterloo of the USHL also signed. He is rated No. 83.

Two high school juniors who have committed to the Gophers also are ranked by the Central Scouting Bureau. Defenseman Jake Bischoff of Grand Rapids is No. 132 and forward Lou Nanne of Edina is No. 199.