As we approach the week of the 2024 NHL Draft, I am excited to finally be sharing my final draft rankings. The following list will consist of 128 names and I have written scouting reports on the top 64 players. Along with the scouting report there is a projection for every player in the top 64. These projections are based on what I think the player will become if their development goes to plan. Something to note is that I do not rank goalies, and so while there are goalies who deserve to be drafted in the top 4 rounds, they are not included in my rankings. It would be unfair for me to rank them, as I do not spend enough time watching them.
It is important to clarify that these rankings are not necessarily indicative of the order in which players will be selected in the actual draft. Instead, they reflect my assessment of their skills and my predictions for their future achievements beyond the draft.
I have spent countless hours watching each and every person on this list and more who didn’t make the cut. When assessing players, I place great importance on their hockey IQ, as it serves as the foundation for their overall performance. A player’s mental capabilities dictate how effectively they utilize their physical tools. Even if a player possesses impressive physical skills, without strong hockey sense, their chances of achieving success are diminished. Another crucial aspect for me is a player’s work ethic. If a player demonstrates a strong work ethic, it suggests they have the motivation and determination to continuously improve. Now that you understand the key skills that hold significance to me, it becomes clear why I may favor certain players over others. Without any further delay, let’s dive into the rankings and explore the promising prospects of the 2024 NHL Draft.
- Macklin Celebrini – Boston University – Center: Celebrini has only surpassed my expectations for him coming into this season. As the youngest player in college hockey he has looked like the best player on the ice more times than not. Celebrini is a very solid skater and does a great job knowing when to use his speed to beat defenders and when to use his deceptiveness to slow the game down. He is an all around player that anticipates play at both ends of the ice at a very high level. His relentless work ethic causes turnovers in the D zone on a consistent basis and quickly turns it to offense. His playmaking is another part of his game that makes him a superb player. He is constantly drawing players to him and passes through them to open teammates. Celebrini is masterful at looking off teammates, making defenders commit to him, and then making a no-look pass on to the tape of his target. His hockey IQ is exceptional as he always seems to be in the right spot. He consistently is able to find soft areas in the defense and put himself in high danger areas. I project he will be relied upon in all situations, and be a high-end 1st line center at the NHL level.
- Ivan Demidov – SKA St. Petersburg – Winger: Demidov was the most entertaining player to watch in this year’s draft class for me. He is full of creativity and highlight real plays. His hands are by far the best in this draft and as the season progresses he did a better job of knowing when to use them. While he may not be the fastest straight line skater I think he has some of the best edges and deceptive skating in this class. He is constantly making quick cuts and turns to create space and make defenders look silly. Because of his magic stick handling ability he draws so much attention to himself that he creates a surplus of space for his teammates, and by doing this he is able to use his superb playmaking ability to find teammates for dangerous chances. In my opinion he is the top playmaker in this draft class. Demidov doesn’t boast the most powerful shot but it is extremely accurate. Coupling this with his quick hands, he is a nightmare for goaltenders. While he needs to work on his positioning in the dzone, he is not a liability. I project that Demidov will be a high-end over a point per game winger at the NHL level and has the potential to be the best player from this draft class.
- Cayden Lindstrom – Medicine Hat Tigers – Center: Lindstrom is the definition of a power forward. He is an athletic freak and plays a very hard-nosed brand of hockey. He has a huge frame that allows him to win battles for the puck with ease, and this will only continue to progress as he adds muscle. For a player his size, his skating is extremely impressive. He has solid acceleration and is able to gain a step on defenders with ease. His speed, along with his long reach, allow him to hold on to the puck and power his way to the net. Not only is he good at getting to the dirty areas, but he also has a quick release that catches goalies off guard and he can beat them from distance. Lindstrom is not known for his playmaking ability, but I believe it is a very underrated part of his game. While he may not use his playmaking ability that often due to the fact he is able to get things done by himself at this level, I have seen him make extremely high-level passes, enough to make me think his playmaking will become a bigger part of his game as the competition gets stronger. His defensive game needs some work, but the work ethic is there, and he definitely doesn’t lack compete or grit. I project that Lindstrom will be a solid 1st line or high-end 2nd line center who brings scoring and nastiness to the lineup. Lindstrom is the type of player that I think is built to help teams win in the playoffs.
- Zeev Buium – University of Denver – Defenseman: Buium has been my top D in the draft since November. He is an extremely smart and skilled defender that has a ton of offensive skill in his game. There are so many things that impress me about his game, but one of the main things is his poise with the puck. He is not easily flustered by pressure and confidently holds onto the puck long enough to open space for an outlet pass instead of throwing it away. Along with this his skating is remarkably shifty and hard for defenders to read. He has fantastic edges and lateral mobility that allows him to get pucks past forcheckers and create offense. He has great vision from the point and is constantly using his lateral mobility and quick agility to gain a step on defending forwards and get passes to teammates in high danger areas. Buium is known for his offensive potential and rightfully so, but his defensive reliability cannot be overlooked. He continuously got better at defending both the rush and in the dzone and became super reliable toward the season’s end. I project Buium will be a number 1 offensive defender who will run a powerplay and be very reliable on both sides of the ice.
- Berkly Catton – Spokane Chiefs – Center: Catton is a speedy offensive forward who has extremely impressive vision and soft hands. Catton is a very strong skater who can accelerate super quick and fly by defenders. He is very skilled on his edges and this allows him to make quick cuts and turns to gain advantages on defenders. His speed and agility make him a transitional monster and a one man breakout at times. He is a solid shooter and does a really nice job at trying to change the point of his release and with this he is able to fool goalies and beat them from distance. His has deceptive hands which allows him to easily fool defenders and get past stick checks with ease. For a smaller player he does a good job at getting to the middle of the ice and creating offense from there. He is a very positionaly sound player at both ends of the ice and I have been impressed with his work ethic at both ends. Above all else his playmaking is what impresses me the most. He makes so many subtle plays that extend possession or that most players wouldn’t even see are available. He finds teammates in high danger areas on a regular basis and makes high-end plays that catch the teammate receiving the puck off guard. I project Catton will be a solid 1st line center or high-end 2nd line center who creates a tone of offense and who could also be a solid penalty killer.
- Sam Dickinson – London Knights – Defenseman: Dickinson is an athletic, big, good skating defenseman. He works extremely hard in all aspects of the game and isn’t afraid to play a physical brand of hockey. For a player his size he is a very solid skater and has really good top speed. He uses his stick coupled with his long reach to defend the rush effectively. Because of his size and strength he wins a lot of battles down low and does a great job boxing players out. In my opinion he has the highest defensive upside in this draft. When it comes to offense he has flashes of brilliance followed by forced or off target passes. As the season went on he did a good job cleaning up his turnovers and started to make the simple play more often. When he skates the puck in transition he is a force to be reckoned with. He flashes solid stickhandling ability and vision. He is always looking to join the rush and is very smart when choosing to do so. Dickinson has flashed all the tools that you’d want in a top pair defender, he just needs to make those flashes more consistent. I project Dickinson will be a really solid top pairing defender who can shut the other teams top players down and chip in offensively.
- Beckett Sennecke – Oshawa Generals – Winger: Sennecke is a tall skilled forward who had an incredible playoffs. He is lanky and has a lot of room to grow into his body and add muscle. His skating has improved since last year and he is now able to pull away from opponents on occasion. His skating will become a bigger strength as he adds muscle. He does a good job using quick edgework to throw defenders off balance and get around them. One of Sennecke’s best traits is his swift puck handling ability. He times his moves extremely well and is able to do it through traffic. He has good vision and is able to use his hands to keep attention on him and make space for teammates. His shot has decent power but his accuracy is what makes his shot more of a weapon. He has a knack for being slippery and hard to get the puck from. For a skinny player he does a good job at protecting the puck and being able to come away with it in battles. He works hard and wasn’t afraid to throw the body in the playoffs. I’d like to see him be more engaged in the dzone as he tends to curl instead of using stops and starts. A big thing with Sennecke is that adding strength will help him get even better at what are already his strengths, and that makes his upside exciting. I project Sennecke will be a solid point producing top 6 forward who can play on the powerplay at the NHL level.
- Carter Yakemchuk – Calgary Hitmen – Defenseman: Yakemchuk is one of my personal favorites in this draft class. He is a rover on the ice and is always jumping up into the rush. While he may get caught out of position because of this, there are many times he will create a high danger chance or be able to get back in time. Yakemchuk has quick hands that allow him to pull off smooth moves to get around defenders. He has a special ability to make players miss at the blue line and get past the first layer of defense. He has a rocket of a shot and does a fantastic job of getting it through traffic. In terms of skating there are some aspects that I like and some that need work. He has good edges and is able to make deceptive maneuvers to create space for himself. On the other hand he needs to get stronger on his skates and become harder to knock off the puck. Yakemchuk has a mean streak to his game and can lay booming hits. He tends to get caught chasing in the D-zone and needs to improve on his defensive positioning. I think he has a good defensive stick and does a good job at being disruptive and getting into passing lanes and blocking shots. While Yakemchuk is more of a raw prospect than some of the other defensemen that are ranked in the top of this draft I think that he has the potential to be one of the best offensive defenseman in this draft if he puts it all together. I project him to be a top-pair offensive defenseman who runs a powerplay and plays a hard nosed style of hockey.
- Zayne Parekh – Saginaw Spirit – Defenseman: Parekh is an extremely gifted offensive dman. He is superb on his edges and makes escape moves look easy. He is an average skater in straight line speed but his deceptive head and shoulder fakes and stick handling ability make him very dangerous in transition. His playmaking is elite, and his ability to find passing lanes to dangerous areas is incredible. His shot is pin point accurate and seems to always get through. On the defensive side of the game I saw improvements in all areas as the season went on. While he is very aggressive in joining the rush he uses his skating to get back in time. He has a really impressive stick and does a great job of disrupting passing lanes. He isn’t the strongest and needs to build muscle to be able to become more effective in battles. While it is not in every game he can get annoyed by the other team and play with an edge. I think he needs to play with that edge on a more consistent basis as it adds another dimension to his game. I project he will be a solid number one or two defender at the NHL level who can run a power play and produce a ton of points.
- Artyom Levshunov – Michigan State – Defenseman: Levshunov has been one of the most tricky prospects for me to come to a conclusion on this year. Some viewings I come away impressed and see what many believe to be the top D in this class, but in most of my viewings I’ve struggled to see that. Levshunov is a smooth skating defender who defends really well on the rush and is really good in transitioning to offense. He is always looking to join the rush and become an offensive threat, but I think he needs to do a better job of deciding when to jump into the play. In the dzone I’ve found he tends to lose his man more than I’d want. His skating ability allows him to make up for a lot of his mistakes at this level. While Levshunov possesses good playmaking ability and a solid shot, I feel like he lacks the creativity to take full advantage of his physical traits. In my opinion Levshunov has all the physical tools to become a number one defender but I am not convinced he has the hockey IQ to push him to that level. I project he will be a solid puck moving number two or three defender that kills penalties and can chip in offensively at the NHL level.
- Tij Iginla – Kelowna Rockets – Winger: Iginla has flown up my rankings this year. Every game I’ve watched he seemed to get better and better. He has a quick release that is extremely accurate. He has a stellar ability to get shots off in awkward shooting positions. He does a great job at finding space in the offensive zone and has a knock for finishing in tight. He has quick hands and does a good job at protecting the puck. His playmaking has grown a tremendous amount as the seasons gone on. He is great at working the cycle and getting pucks to teammates in dangerous areas from down low. He works hard at both ends of the ice and while it’s not how he plays regularly he isn’t afraid to be physical. I project he will be a really good goalscoring top 6 winger at the NHL level.
- Anton Silayev – Torpedo – Defenseman: Silayev is a giant on skates. For a player his size he moves and skates extremely fluidly and effortlessly. He had a solid season against men and showed that he can be a solid shutdown defenseman. He uses his long reach and strength to his advantage to disrupt plays. As the season went on he did a better job of playing more physically and using it to his advantage. Silayev tends to opt for a simple play when it comes to breaking the puck out and playmaking in general. He needs to work on his lateral mobility and needs to become more deceptive in his playmaking. He tends to telegraph what he is going to do and lacks creativity to get past forcheckers. He also needs to work on his shot selection and his ability to get shots through as most of his shots tend to get blocked. While he may not have a high offensive upside, his size, skating, defensive stick, and positioning in the dzone, make me think he could be a solid defender at the next level. I project Silayev will be a solid shutdown top 4 defender at the NHL level who doesn’t provide a ton of offense.
- Konsta Helenius – Tappara – Center: Helenius is a solid two way player who has had a very impressive season against men. He is a better playmaker than goal scorer. He does a great job down low and along the boards. He is able to spin off pressure and protect the puck long enough to get passes to his teammates. He is good in tight and is really positionally sound. While I don’t think many of his traits are elite I think he is one of the smartest players in this class. His brain could help take his above average skills to the next level. Helenius is also one of the most defensively sound forwards in this class. He has a fantastic work ethic and is always hunting to get the puck back. I project he will be a solid number two center at the NHL level who kills penalties and can produce a good amount of offense.
- Liam Greentree – Windsor Spitfires – Winger: Greentree is a big body player who has a ton of offense to his game. He is extremely smart and has great positioning in the offensive zone. He is hard to knock off pucks and does well at using his body to keep possession. He is good along the walls and does a great job spotting and hitting his teammates with passes through traffic. For a player his size his hands are exceptionally skilled. Along with his quick hands he has a quick release and can beat goalies from distance. The thing that will hold Greentree back from reaching his highest potential is his skating. While he isn’t the slowest player, he lacks separation speed and agility. If he can improve those things he will be a very big offensive threat. I project Greentree will be a top 6 forward at the NHL level who will be a big threat on the power play.
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – Mora IK – Winger: Nygard is the definition of work ethic. He is the hardest working player in the draft and a nightmare to play against. He is a forchecking menace who has a very disruptive stick. He is a powerful skater who has good top speed and is super sturdy on his feet. He wins a lot of boards battles and causes defenders to constantly turn over the puck. Offensively he does a great job finding soft areas in the offensive zone and has a really heavy wrist shot. Nygard also has a solid one timer and can beat goalies from distance. He has solid vision and makes a lot of little plays that help his team get sustained pressure. I would like to see him use his skating and strength to power his way to the net more often. I project Nygard will be a top 6 winger at the NHL level who will be relied upon in all defensive situations, score goals, and be a nightmare to play against.
- Cole Eiserman – USNTDP – Winger: Eiserman is a goal-scoring machine at the junior level. He has a lightning-quick release and he can pick his spot from anywhere in the offensive zone. He has a lethal one-timer and is a menace on the power play. Eiserman has a knack for finding soft ice and the puck just seems to find him in the offensive zone. He is a solid skater and is strong on his skates. He is a competent playmaker but his vision is not up to par of other top prospects. There are many occasions where he enters the zone or gets a puck along the wall and just throws it toward the slot hoping for something to happen. He needs more consistency in his compete, as in some games, he is relentless, whereas in others, he isn’t noticeable. He also doesn’t drive play as much as I’d like, as he tends to sit back and wait for his teammates to get him the puck. While Eiserman is far from a complete player, his goal-scoring ability makes him unique, and if everything hits, he could be a special player. I project that Eiserman will end up being a solid, top-6, 25-35 goal-scorer at the NHL level, who gets most of his points on the powerplay.
- Stian Solberg – Valerenga – Defenseman: Solberg to me is one of the biggest wild cards in this draft class. He is a big hard nosed defender who transitions well and has played against men all year. He has shown flashes of really high end traits, such as high end escapeability, poise under pressure, and sliding into open space in the ozone. He is an extremely hard working prospect and seems to always be looking for opportunities to lay someone out. While most of the time he does a great job sticking to his positioning in the dzone, he can get out of position because of chasing a hit. He has a very disruptive stick and does a good job at guiding forwards to the outside where he will always punish them. Solberg is a solid skater who is very strong on his skates. He shows flashes of impressive lateral mobility and deceptive techniques. If he can become more consistent in using those traits he will take his game to another level. He has all the tools to become a really important player for an NHL team. I project he will be a top 4 defender who can do a bit of everything. He will be able to kill penalties, block shots, transition well, and put up some points. This is a player that if he hits could be perfect for the playoffs.
- Trevor Connelly – Tri City Storm – Winger: Connelly is a very gifted offensive player. He has really good top end speed and acceleration. Because of his super quick and soft hands coupled with his speed and deceptive skating, he is a big threat in transition. He is deadly on the power play as both a shooting and playmaking threat. He is a mesmerizing player and draws all the attention to him and creates so much space for teammates. Connelly is a very creative player and has a great amount of confidence. He has a good work ethic and typically plays with an edge. His defensive game still needs refining but he definitely improved his defensive effort as the season went on. If it wasn’t for the character concerns, he’d be higher on my list because his talent is really top tier. I project Connelly will be a really good play driving top 6 winger who will make his teammates better and will kill it on the powerplay.
- Andrew Basha – Medicine Hat Tigers – Winger: Basha is an energetic player who never stops moving. While he is on the smaller side he doesn’t shy away from contact. He is an extremely smart player and has fantastic vision. He sees plays developing quicker than most players on the ice and makes passes through traffic with ease. He plays with a ton of pace and an exceptionally agile and shifty skater. He works hard at both ends of the ice and is a solid penalty killer. He has soft hands and is able to pull off moves around the defense at top speed. I project Basha will be a top 6 winger at the NHL Level who can drive play with his speed.
- Yegor Surin – Loko Yaroslavl – Center: Surin is a bigger forward who has a ton of skill. He is a powerful skater who is a tank on the ice and is hard to knock off pucks. His work ethic got more consistent as the season went on. The games where he is most dangerous is when he is playing with an edge and getting under players skin. He needs to make that a more consistent part of his game. Surin is a solid goalscorer as he has a quick release and soft hands. This allows him to beat goalies in many ways. I think Surin’s playmaking is underrated and it will become more of an asset when he isn’t able to do everything on his own. He makes passes through traffic and can freeze defenders with a fake shot and slip it to an open teammate. He is good along the boards at escaping pressure and creating offense coming off the wall. I project that Surin will be a top 6 forward at the NHL level who will be a pest to play against.
- Michael Hage – Chicago Steel – Center: Hage is a player who improved a ton throughout the season. He is reliable at both ends of the ice and isn’t afraid to play physical. He is smart positionally and excels at finding soft areas in the ozone. Hage has powerful legs and quick acceleration. He can blow past defenders and loop around the ozone with ease. He has quick hands but tends to try to do a bit too much too often. He Is a good passer and has a solid shot. He does good along the boards and knows how to come away with the puck and transition it to offense quickly. I project Hage will be a middle 6 reliable center at the NHL level who can play both powerplay and penalty kill.
- Igor Chernyshov – Dynamo Moskva – Winger: Igor Chernyshov: Chernyshov is a big bodied player who plays a power forward game. He is a powerful skater who accelerates quickly and does a good job protecting the puck. When playing in the MHL this year he seemed to not have as big of work ethic than when he was playing in the KHL. In the KHL he seemed to play it safe too much and looked like he was afraid to try things for not wanting to turn the puck over. He needs to find a happy medium of continuing to make the smart play but be more willing to use his skills and try things when given space. In the MHL he showed flashes of high-end stick handling and ability to pull off power moves. His best offensive trait is his ability to win battles and quickly transition to offense. He has a heavy shot, but needs to get better at finding soft areas. I project Chernyshov will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who will play a solid possession game.
- Jett Luchanko – Guelph Storm – Center: Luchanko has quickly become a personal favorite of mine this season. He is a small, slippery forward who has very impressive skating and agility. He does a fantastic job at being deceptive with his body and hands making defenders have trouble reading what he will do. He has a strong motor and works hard at both ends of the ice. He is very smart positionally and does a great job anticipating plays. He is an inept passer who sees lanes that many don’t. He has soft hands and is solid in tight. I project Luchanko will be a middle 6 center who will play both on power play and penalty kill.
- Harrison Brunicke – Kamloops Blazers – Defenseman: Brunicke is a big, lanky dman who skates really well. While Brunicke is a tall defender he can get pushed around and isn’t the strongest on his skates due to his lanky frame. As he puts muscle on his frame he should be able to win more battles as he shows solid techniques and just lacks the strength right now. He has a disruptive stick and does a good job with his gap control. His skating allows him to make up for mistakes of being too aggressive. Brunicke has shown signs of solid agility, he just needs to make it more of a consistent part of his game. He has really slick hands for a big man and has occasionally made really high-end rushes. I project Brunicke will be a top 4 NHL defender who excels at transitioning and puck moving.
- Sacha Boisvert – Muskegon Lumberjacks – Center: Boisvert is a player that grew on me all year. Almost every facet of his game improved this year. He is a reliable center who drives play in the ozone and isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas and win battles. He is a solid skater, and as he gains strength I think his skating will become a strength. He has good edges for a bigger guy and can make defenders miss with them. He has a very quick and accurate release and can beat goalies from distance. He shows flashes of playmaking brilliance but needs to be more consistent with it. His work ethic at both sides of the puck really improved as the year went on and he was very skilled on the PK. I project Boisvert to be a middle 6 center at the NHL level who can be dangerous on the PP, be a reliable PKer, and annoy the other team.
- Noel Fransen – Farjestad – Defenseman: Fransen has seemed to fly under the radar a bit this season. He is a smooth skating defender who has really impressive acceleration. He is very dangerous in transition, as he is always looking to join the rush. He has good instincts on when to join and create an advantage for his team. He’s smart in choosing the times to jump in off the blueline and outnumber the defenders down low. He has a powerful shot and can beat goalies from distance. He does a great job at shooting around screens and using them to make it difficult on goalies. Because of how dangerous he is from the point he opens up space down low and does a good job taking advantage of that and slipping passes to open teammates. I project that Fransen will be a solid puck moving top 4 defender at the NHL level who could potentially run a second powerplay unit.
- Matvei Shuravin – Krasnaya Armiya Moskva – Defenseman: Shuravin is one of the best defensive defenseman in this draft class. He is very smart positionally and has a really effective stick. He has a tall, lanky frame but seemed to box out and push grown men away from the middle with ease. He is a really good skater for his size and is hard to beat wide. He is smart in transition and makes the simple play most often. He has a ton of poise with the puck and can make hesitation moves to get an extra second to make a play. He showed flashes of offensive ability throughout the season but didn’t make it a consistent part of his game. He showed that he has lateral mobility, instincts on when to jump in the play, and flashed solid puck handling. If he can make these things a more consistent part of his game he will become a really well rounded player. I project Shuravin to be a middle pair dman at the NHL level who is very hard to play against and good in transition.
- Ryder Ritchie – Prince Albert Raiders – Winger: Ritchie is a younger player in this class who played on a very bad team this year. In a year he didn’t have a great supporting cast, Ritchie had a solid offensive season. He is a good skater who uses head and shoulder fakes well in transition to make defenders miss. He holds onto the puck a little too long and gives up possession as a result. He has really smooth hands and can make moves in tight, but needs to do a better job recognizing he’s opening up space for teammates and make passes before he’s closed in on. His work ethic needs more consistency as he glides some shifts and then has a relentless motor other shifts. While he is far from a finished product he has shown enough high-end flashes that I think he will be able to put all of his tools together and become a really solid player. I project Ritchie will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who will create a lot of offense off the rush.
- Marek Vanacker – Brantford Bulldogs – Winger: Vanacker is an all around forward whose motor is always going. He has good speed and his quick acceleration allows him to pull away in transition. He is deadly off turnovers and will make defenders pay more often than not. He has a really good defensive stick and creates odd man rushes a lot with his stick checking abilities. He has a really good shot and soft hands that allow him to beat goalies from anywhere. I really like his playmaking ability as he sees plays develop that most players don’t. He does a great job at picking the perfect time to pass that allows the puck to make it to its target. He is good at using his body to protect the puck power his way to the net. I project that Vanacker will be a 2nd line winger at the NHL level who is very dangerous in transition and will be reliable on both sides of the puck.
- Teddy Stiga – USNTDP – Winger: Stiga seemed to improve in every single game as the year went on. Stiga is a smaller forward who plays with pace and a ton of intensity. He has a relentless motor and doesn’t shy away from contact. He is very positionaly sound at both ends of the ice and shows a ton of heart in the way he battles in corners. He is a shifty player and pretty deceptive. He does a great job at finding soft areas and has a decent shot to take advantage of that. His playmaking definitely became more of a strength as the season went on and he consistently found his teammates in prime scoring areas. He will need to add strength but his work ethic gives me hope his game will translate to the NHL. I project Stiga will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who coaches will love and can play in all situations if needed.
- Alfons Freij – Vaxjo Lakers – Defenseman: Freij is a smooth skating defenceman who shows flashes of high-end escapability and deceptiveness. He lacks strength and can get pushed around in puck battles and has a hard time boxing out in front of the net. Because of his skating, Freij does a solid job defending the rush and forcing plays to the outside. He is dangerous in transition and makes outlet passes with ease. He has a ton of lateral mobility and deceptiveness on the blueline but needs to make it a more consistent part of his game. Freij will need to add strength and become more positionally sound in the dzone to succeed at the next levels. I project Freij will be a middle pair defender at the NHL level who will be more effective in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.
- Jesse Pulkkinen – JYP – Defenseman: Pulkkinen is a big puck moving defender. He is by quite a big margin my favorite overager in this class. He uses his long reach and disruptive stick to break up plays and transition to offense. He is good along the boards as he is hard to get off the puck. He sometimes holds onto the puck too long and gets himself in trouble. He will need to learn when to hold onto the puck and when to make the simple play. He shows flashes of high-end offense. He has really good puck skills and dangles around forechecking forwards and is able to make moves at the blueline. He is very deceptive with the puck on his stick and has good vision. He needs to work on his overall speed and decision making, but if he can improve those things he has the ability to really outperform his draft position. I project Pulkkinen will be a second pair defender at the NHL level who will be solid at both sides of the puck.
- EJ Emery – USNTDP – Defenseman: Emery is a tall shutdown defenseman. He is incredibly hard to beat in transition as he is a good skater and does a great job angling. He has a really disruptive stick and does a great job of knowing when to step up on players. Emery is very positionally sound and supports his partner really well. He is lanky and needs to add weight but he is extremely athletic and as he gains muscle, watch out. Emery is a reliable puck mover but doesn’t flash high-end offense. He won’t be a point producing Dman at the next level but he would be a perfect partner for an offensive Dman. I project Emery will be a solid second pair shutdown defender.
- Emil Hemming – TPS – Winger: Hemming is a big forward who has a lethal shot. He works hard at both ends of the ice and has the strength to battle against men. His shot is his biggest offensive tool. He has a powerful one timer and a quick snapshot. He is extremely dangerous on the half wall on the power play. He plays physical and does a solid job creating turnovers. He is a solid passer from the wall but has a hard time creating space for his teammates. He needs to get better at finding soft areas in the ozone to be able to release his heavy shot. He isn’t a bad skater but needs to gain a gear or two to become a more effective power forward. I project Hemming will be a middle 6 winger who will be a solid all around player and be dangerous on the powerplay.
- Lucas Pettersson – MoDo – Center: Pettersson is a smart player who plays a solid all around game. He is a shifty player and knows how to protect the puck. He does a good job creating offense off the cycle and does well at finding space in the ozone. He is more of a playmaker than a shooter but does a good job of finishing plays in tight. He sees the ice at a solid level and can make passes through traffic on a regular basis. While Pettersson has solid edges, his top speed and acceleration could use some work. He flashes solid hands and work ethic but I’d like to see both those things be more consistent. I project Pettersson will be a middle 6 winger who plays an all around game and can play with anyone.
- Sam O’Reilly – London Knights – Center: O’Reilly is an all around player who has a good motor and can play all positions. He can be relied upon to play in any situation. His positioning at both ends of the ice is advanced for a player his age. He has a knack for finishing plays in tight and does a great job getting to the middle of the ice. He is a solid skater and knows how to use his body to protect the puck. He is a solid playmaker but doesn’t have high-end vision. He flashes really impressive stick handling ability but I’d like him to use it more often. He makes the smart play more often than not but I think he could benefit from being more daring. I project O’Reilly will be a middle 6 center at the NHL level who can play any forward position and be relied upon in all situations.
- Matvei Gridin – Muskegon Lumberjacks – Winger: Gridin is a skilled winger who is both a shooting and playmaking threat. He sees the ice very well and always seems to get the puck on his stick in dangerous areas. He is creative with the puck and can pull off high-end stick handling moves. He has a very accurate shot and can beat goalies from far out. Gridin does a great job of opening up space for teammates and drawing defenders to him then finding a way to get the puck to them. He is an average skater and it is far from a flaw, but I’d like him to improve his acceleration to help him better deploy his skills. He also needs to be more consistent when it comes to compete level. Some shifts his motor doesn’t stop but others he gets caught gliding a lot. I project Gridin will be a middle 6 winger point producing winger at the NHL level.
- Nikita Artamonov – Torpedo – Winger: Artamanov is a very smart player and had a great season playing against men in the KHL this year. He is a two way player who is really reliable in the defensive end. His motor is always going and is a good forechecker. His shot isn’t his most effective offensive trait but he does a great job finding soft areas and getting to pucks in tight. Artamanov is more of a playmaker and has really solid vision. He is dangerous during the cycle and off the rush. He can spot small openings and get pucks through to teammates. I think he will be more of a complimentary player at the NHL level and not be a big point producer. I project Artamanov will be a middle 6 winger who is relied upon in defensive situations and doesn’t produce a ton of points but can chip in on occasion.
- Adam Jecho – Edmonton Oil Kings – Winger: Jecho is a huge forward who moves well for his size. He is hard to get the puck from and uses his reach well. He has a heavy release and can beat goalies from distance. He has soft hands for a big man and can pull off impressive moves on occasion. His work rate and positioning in the dzone needs more work and consistency. He does a great job of knowing when to pass or shoot. He showed flashes of being deceptive with his playmaking. He has a lot of tools and I think he could become an effective player if he’s given time to develop. I project Jecho will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who can chip in offensively.
- John Mustard – Waterloo Blackhawks – Winger: Mustard is a hardworking forward who is one of the fastest skaters in this draft class. He can pull away from defenders with ease. He has a very strong lower body that makes him hard to knock off the puck. He has a really quick release and solid one timer. He has a good work ethic and improved many aspects of his game as the season went on. He does a good job finding open space and creating space for his teammates. He isn’t the most effective playmaker and needs to improve his vision. He does a great job drawing defenders to him but failed to see good passing opportunities, but he did show flashes that give me hope he can improve in this area. I project that Mustard will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who will be dangerous in transition and be a very effective forchecker.
- Dominik Badinka – Malmo – Defenseman: Badinka is a big, strong dman who plays with pace and intensity. He is a strong player and does well protecting the puck. He played well against men in the SHL this year. He didn’t take very many risks when he played in the SHL and showed he could be a reliable defensive presence. In the J20 he was a lot more aggressive and really showed solid offensive upside. He showed poise with the puck, smooth edgework, lateral mobility, and solid stickhandling. As he gets more comfortable against men I expect his offensive game to start showing more. I project Badinka will be a middle pair defender at the NHL level who is a reliable defenseman and someone who can effectively move the puck.
- Tarin Smith – Everett Silvertips – Defenseman: Smith is a tall, mobile defenceman who has impressive offensive tools. He is a quick and agile skater who has skilled edges that make him deceptive in transition and allows him to escape pressure. Smith does a great job at joining the rush and activating from the blueline to create odd man situations in the Ozone. Smith has improved his defensive zone play by a good margin as the season progressed. He has a good stick and disrupts a lot of plays. He isn’t afraid to be physical but I’d like to see that be a more consistent part of his game. I project Smith will be a solid middle pair defenseman at the NHL level who will be a good puck mover and will be hard to forecheck.
- Leo Sahlin Wallenius – Vaxjo Lakers – Defenseman: Wallenius is a smooth skating dman who can move the puck well. He has good lateral mobility and can skillfully activate from the blue line. He has good vision from the point and does a good job getting shots through. He has poise along the blueline but during a heavy forecheck he becomes nervous and tends to misfire on passes or turn it over. In the dzone he also tends to chase and get caught out of position. He needs to calm down in the dzone and focus on his zone or man. I think if he can adjust to a forecheck and be more poised in his end, he has the offensive instincts and skill to be a really effective player. I project Wallenius will be a middle pair puck moving defender at the NHL level.
- Justin Poirier – Baie-Comeau Drakkar – Winger: Poirier is one of the most skilled shooters in this draft class. He has a knack for getting shots off in awkward positions and does a great job of changing the angle of his shot. He has quick hands that make it hard for a defenseman to get into his shooting lane. While he is a smaller player, he works hard and isn’t afraid to get involved in physical play. I’d like to see him add more playmaking to his game. He draws a ton of attention because of his shot and this opens up space for his teammates but he doesn’t take advantage of this as often as I’d like. His skating isn’t bad but he needs to add a few gears to his speed if he wants to be an effective player at the next level. He also needs to work on his defensive work ethic. I project Poirier will be a middle 6 goal scoring winger at the NHL level.
- Alexander Siryatsky – Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk – Defenseman: Siryatsky is a tall, lanky dman who is very young for this draft class. He is a smooth skater and possesses solid lateral mobility and impressive deception along the blueline. His pinches are questionable at times but his strong skating allows him to make up for it a lot of the time. He has a good stick and isn’t afraid to play physical. I’d like to see him use his big body and physicality on a more consistent basis. Offensively he does a great job joining the rush and helping create odd man rushes. He has solid poise with the puck and shows flashes of really quick hands and the ability to make people miss. I project Siryatsky will be a bottom three defender at the NHL level who can move the puck well in transition.
- Herman Träff – HV71 – Winger: Träff is a big forward who works hard and has solid offensive skills. He isn’t the fastest skater but is smart in the routes he takes and he gets where he needs to be in an efficient way. He also has a strong lower body and is hard to knock off pucks. He has fast hands and can dangle through traffic. He also has a heavy shot and a quick release that can beat goalies from distance. He gets to the middle of the ice with ease and isn’t afraid to take punishment to make a play. I project Träff will be a middle 6 power forward at the NHL level.
- Tanner Howe – Regina Pats – Winger: Howe is a small player that plays like hes 6’2″. He is very aggressive and plays with an edge. He has solid vision and can score in tight. He does a good job of getting the puck to the middle of the ice and creating havoc around the net. He has a strong lower body that can make him hard to knock off the puck sometimes. He has a strong work ethic and is smart enough that I don’t think his size will be a problem. He has a good shot and sees the ice very at a high level. I project Howe will be a solid point producing 3rd liner at the NHL level.
- Julius Miettinen – Everett Silvertips – Center: Miettinen is a big, power forward. His skating improved immensely throughout the season and he showed he could get to dangerous areas efficiently. He has good body positioning and a long reach, making it hard for opponents to get the puck. He works hard at both ends of the ice and is reliable in his own end. He has a quick shot and knows how to score in tight. He uses his body well to win battles and is able to create offense from the corners. I project Miettinen will be a 3rd line forward at the NHL level, who will be reliable in the dzone and be tough to play against.
- Alexander Zetterberg – Orebro – Winger: Alexander Zetterberg: Zetterberg is a small, skilled forward who is really fun to watch. He is a quick and agile skater who can change direction at a wim. He is very deceptive in his skating and puck handling and makes it hard for defenders to read him. For being a smaller player he does a great job at getting to the middle of the ice and creating offense from within. He works hard at both ends and is really good in transition. He has high end vision and uses deceptive shoulder and head fakes to open up lanes. The only problem with him is his size and strength. I personally think he is smart enough to overcome that to some degree and turn into an NHLer. I project Zetterberg will be a 3rd line winger at the NHL level.
- Cole Beaudoin – Barrie Colts – Center: Beaudoin is an extremely strong and hardworking player. He fights for every puck and wins a ton of battles. He doesn’t have a ton of offensive upside but his work rate and willingness to go to the dirty areas make him a very valuable player. I think coaches will love having him on their team and he will be a guy that succeeds in playoff hockey. He can score in tight and is very hard to box out from getting to the net. He needs to add a bit of speed if he wants to fully utilize his power forward mentality and tools. I project Beaudoin will be a 3rd line checking center at the NHL level.
- Max Plante – USNTDP – Center: Plante is a midsized forward who plays with intensity. He works hard at both ends of the ice and has really good positioning in the ozone. He seems to always be in the right area and in positions to score. He sees the ice at a high level and makes passes that many can’t. He’s always scanning the ice and is very deceptive with the way he looks one way and passes the other. He is a good skater and as he gets stronger he will only get faster. I project Plante will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who will be a really solid playmaker.
- Melvin Fernstrom – Orebro – Winger: Fernstrom is an all around player that can play in all situations. He works hard at both ends of the ice and creates a lot of turnovers due to his good stick and solid positioning. He moves well and can shift side to side with ease. He has quick hands and showed he sees the ice at a really solid level. He can score in tight and he makes a ton of plays from below the goal line. He also does a great job getting to the middle of the ice. I project Fernstrom will be a complimentary middle 6 winger at the NHL level.
- Hagen Burrows – Sioux City Musketeers – Winger: Burrows is a big bodied forward who played against high school competition for a major part of the year. He dominated in every aspect against that competition. When he played in the USHL you saw a lot about his game translated and he looked very skilled. He did a great job creating plays from below the goaline. He uses his body really well to protect the puck and is really efficient along the walls. He has a solid shot but I think his playmaking will translate better. He will take some time and patience but he has a lot of pro qualities. I project Burrows will be a bottom 6 winger at the NHL level.
- Carson Wetsch – Calgary Hitmen – Winger: Wetsch is a big framed forward who plays hard at both ends of the ice. He has a good motor and is a really tenacious forchecker who finishes his checks any chance he gets. He has a strong lower body and can be hard to knock off the puck. He is a menace in front of the net and has skill for finishing in tight. I would love to see him use his speed and strength to try more power moves. He is a proficient puck mover and does a good job at helping with breaking the puck out. I project Wetsch will be a solid bottom 6 winger at the NHL level who competes hard and is hard to play against.
- Adam Jiricek – HC Plzen – Defenseman: Jiricek was a hard player to get a read on this year. At the beginning of the year I was very high on him as he showed solid lateral mobility and offensive instincts. As the season went on, I saw that less and he seemed to struggle with the speed of the Czech pro league. He would get nervous under pressure and turnover the puck. I also felt that his decision making and playmaking was very inconsistent and didn’t improve much from last season. It doesn’t help that he was injured part way through the season and out for the rest of the year. For me the concerns outweigh the positives I saw earlier in the year for me to be able to rank him in the 1st round like most. I project Jiricek will be a bottom pair defender at the NHL level.
- Tomas Galvas – Bili Tygri Liberec – Defenseman: Galvas is a small, shifty defender. He is very agile and quick on his skates and has a lot of deception to his game. He loves to use head and shoulder fakes to throw defenders off balance. He has good hands and vision and can break the puck out with ease. He lacks strength and struggles along the wall. He doesn’t crack under forecheck and is very poised with the puck. I project he will be a bottom 4 puck moving defender at the NHL level.
- Cole Hutson – USNTDP – Defenseman: Hutson is a smaller Dman who is very offensive minded. He is a very quick and shifty skater and this allows him to make forchecker miss and turn it up the ice. He is deceptive with his stickhandling and can make defenders think he’s doing one thing then he does the other. He sees the ice at a high level and can make plays through traffic. He loves to join the rush but often gets caught being too aggressive. He struggles in the defensive end as he tends to lose his man and not be strong enough to win many battles. I think his defensive game and decision making will be a key factor on if he can make it to the next level. If he can fix those things I project Hutson will be a middle pair defender at the NHL level who chips in offensively and can move the puck well.
- Luke Misa – Mississauga Steelhead – Center: Misa is a small skilled forward who plays with pace and has a relentless motor. He has a quick shot and a knack for scoring close to the net. For a smaller player he does a good job getting to the middle of the ice and finding soft areas. He sees the ice well and I think his playmaking will transition better than his goal scoring at the next level. He works hard at both ends of the ice and can be used in all situations. I project Misa will be a middle 6 wing at the NHL level who can chip in offensively and compliment a lot of players’ games.
- Simon Zether – Rogle BK – Center: Zether is a big bodied player who plays a reliable game. He played against men in the SHL a majority of the season and didn’t look out of place. While he didn’t show much offense at that level he did show he could be reliable in the dzone and win battles against men. However, Zether did show some offensive tools when he played in the J20. He did well at using his frame to protect the puck and find teammates in soft areas. He showed quick hands and an ability to draw defenders to one side of him so he could spin off the other direction. His vision isn’t anything special and he doesn’t have the greatest shot, but Zether does a good job getting to the netfront and can score in tight. I don’t think Zether has the speed to be a center at the next level and he needs to add a step if he wants to be able to be an effective player in the NHL. I project Zether will be a 4th liner at the NHL level.
- Vladimir Mikhalyov – Sibir Novosibirsk – Winger: Mikhalyov is a smaller winger who flashes high-end puck skills. He is quick and agile and makes quick cuts to get away from defenders. He has really quick hands and can handle the puck extremely well in tight spaces. He sees the ice well and makes passes that surprise his teammates because they don’t think he’ll get it through the traffic. He is super creative, especially in tight. He can make defenders and goalies look silly. He needs to work on knowing when to make risky plays and when to make the safe play that would extend possession. He has a high ceiling but low floor. I project that he will be a middle 6 winger at the NHL level who can create offense.
- Daniil Ustinkov – ZSC – Defenseman: Ustinkov is a very interesting prospect. While he is a midsize player he has a really strong lower body and it’s hard to knock off the puck. He plays a very intelligent game and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He thrives under pressure and makes simple deceptive moves That enable him to get out of tight situations. He does a good job at choosing when to join the Rush and help on the offensive side of the puck. While he isn’t the flashiest player, I think that his hockey iq along with his poise make him a very interesting prospect. I project Ustinkov will be a solid bottom pair defender at the NHL level who can be relied upon in any defensive situation.
- Kamil Bednarik – USNTDP – Center: Bednarek is an all-around solid player. He works hard at both ends of the ice and isn’t afraid of physicality. He has good vision and can make plays through traffic. He has above average skating and agility that allows him to protect the puck and get past defenders. I’d like to see him get to the middle of the ice more and create offense from within on a more consistent basis. He has a lot of tools but none that stand out as high-end. I think he will play in the NHL but probably as a bottom 6er.
- Luke Osburn – Youngstown Phantoms – Defenseman: Osburn is a very raw prospect. The most impressive part of his game is his skating ability. He makes escape moves look easy and his lateral skating allows him to gain space in all three zones. Osburn plays a very aggressive style of defense. He joins the rush every chance he gets and he loves to step on forwards. While he gets beat because of his aggressive approach, his skating helps him get back and help minimize the damage done by his mistake. He tends to get caught chasing in the Dzone. While he’s not the biggest guy he doesn’t shy away from being physical. Osburn has a good motor and strong work ethic, he has improved his positional play in the Dzone as the year has progressed and has shown better decision making on when to pick his times to join the rush. I think that his offensive instincts are really solid. He has confidence with the puck and uses delays to trick defenders and gain space. I think that he has all the tools to become a solid puck moving bottom 3 defender at the NHL level that can be very efficient in transition and chip in offensively.
- Charlie Elick – Brandon Wheat Kings – Defenseman: Elick is a big defender who plays hard and loves to play physical. He works hard and is always looking to punish opposing players. This gets him in trouble sometimes as he takes himself out of position to make a hit. He showed flashes of solid lateral mobility but he didn’t show it often. He is a fast forward skater but his transitioning is a bit clunky. He showed flashes of solid vision but most often he would try to force plays. He has a ton of tools that could make him a solid player but I have concerns about his overall smarts. I project Elick will be a bottom pair physical defender at the NHL level.
- Terik Parascak
- Henry Mews
- Artyom Shchuchinov
- Sebastian Soini
- Spencer Gill
- Lukas Fischer
- Jack Berglund
- Kaden Pitre
- Christian Humphreys
- Linus Eriksson
- Alexis Bernier
- Colton Roberts
- Heikki Ruohonen
- AJ Spellacy
- Tuomas Suoniemi
- Finn McLaughlin
- Brodie Ziemer
- Kevin He
- Arsen Taimazov
- Alexandre Blais
- Dean Letourneau
- Raoul Boilard
- Maxim Massé
- Leon Muggli
- Jakub Fibigr
- Darels Uljanskis
- Miguel Marques
- Timur Kol
- Adam Kleber
- Petr Sikora
- Tory Pitner
- Aaron Kiviharju
- Jaromír Pérez
- Anthony Romani
- Aatos Koivu
- Veeti Väisänen
- Ollie Josephson
- Wilson Björck
- Mac Swanson
- Andrei Kozlov
- Gabriel Eliasson
- Fyodor Avramov
- Nathan Free
- Yaroslav Belyakov
- Matvei Korotky
- Ondrej Becher
- Jack Pridham
- Harry Ahlberg
- Hiroki Gojsic
- Mitja Jokinen
- Javon Moore
- Niilopekka Muhonen
- Clarke Caswell
- Petter Vesterheim
- Jamiro Reber
- Will Skahan
- Ondrej Kos
- Viggo Gustafsson
- Jacob Battaglia
- Eriks Mateiko
- Ben Danford
- Oskar Vuollet
- Eric Bürger
- Kaden Shahan