Gabriel Foley’s Mid-Season 2024 NHL Draft Rankings

With the World Juniors underway, it’s officially 2024 NHL Draft season. It’s an exciting year, marked by only the second time in history that two NCAA defenders are projected to go in the First Round. The last time this happened was in 2014-15 (Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski) and, much like that year, the 2024 NHL Draft class is absolutely loaded with strong defensive talent. They’re joined by really interesting forward talent, ranging from some of the best goal-scoring prospects that I’ve ever seen to guys that build their brand on hard work over skill. It’s the first draft of what will be a trio of great top-ends, and a year where I disagree with consensus a good bit. But before we dive into my 2024 NHL Draft rankings, let’s lay out some ground rules:

1. First and foremost, these rankings are not indicative of where I think these players will actually land come draft day. These are my rankings of where I think each player deserves to go, based on current talent and future potential.
2. Each player will have a brief scouting report attached to them. If you’d like to know more in-depth thoughts about any player in the class, I encourage you to reach out to me on Twitter (@NHLFoley)!
3. These rankings were made INDEPENDENT of the ongoing 2024 World Juniors Championship. World Juniors play will be factored into my next rankings update.

Click here to jump straight to my 2024 NHL Draft table rankings!

Featured image via Richard Gagnon

Gabriel Foley’s Winter 2024 NHL Draft Rankings

1. Macklin Celebrini (C)

Celebrini is a cerebral, fleet-footed centerman with fantastic puck control. A lot of his game is focused around quick-thinking in the middle lane and his stickhandling makes him great in tight. Any issue in Celebrini’s game seems to be rooted in him trying to overcomplicate things or second guessing when to jump in. He will be something special if, and I’d presume when, he learns to simplify his game at a pro level.

2 – Ivan Demidov (RW)

Demidov has gotten a good amount of flack for his underperformances in the MHL this season. But it’s seemed to me that he’s more under-interested than he is under-skilled. Demidov is a firey forechecker that knows how to drive through opponents. His handling is phenomenal in the corner and his eye for the ice is even better, helping him exploit weakness or create plays when there are none. He’s capable of running a team when he’s on his game but it seems he may need a challenge to really drive him.

3 – Konsta Helenius (C)

Helenius is a relentless forechecker that’s able to use good open-hip skating and an active stick to stay square to opponents and win puck battles. He’s not scared of the physical sides of the game and fights for his spot in the low-slot. He sets up play fine on his own but his off-puck ability makes me think he could be even better with some linemates to help with play-creation. A player you can fit into any role — one of those guys all coaches want one of.

4 – Anton Silayev (LHD)

I simply refuse to rank a 6’7” defender with the skating ability of Silayev any lower. I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s incredibly smooth moving and quick and uses it to drive play through the neutral zone very well. His puckhandling lets him operate low into the offensive zone but Silayev’s ability to walk the blue line is what sticks out – reminiscent of the classic 90s defenders. He’s a bit naive and needs to keep adding skill if he wants to really excel at the next level. But his talent is unique enough that I’d bet on him early.

5 – Sam Dickinson (LHD)

Dickinson is the prototypical big-frame defender that sparks breakouts with hard passes and skates well with the puck. He continues to operate down London’s lineup, limiting his special teams time and offensive upside. But he’s been a solid A prospect for years now and looks to be entering the next stage with a style that’s already built plenty of pros.

6 – Cole Eiserman (LW/RW)

Eiserman has been a hockey star for most of his life. And, maybe because of that, his game has developed very confidently along one path – becoming a really good goal-scorer. That’s exactly what Eiserman is, scoring at a rate higher than Cole Caufield or Auston Matthews managed doing their juniors career. But Eiserman struggles to do a lot else: regularly floating out of position and struggling to defend off of the puck. He’s one of the youngest players in the class, is putting a lot of work into building out the other areas of his game, and undeniably has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft class – and, really, anyone in recent years other than Connor Bedard. Eiserman is the home-run swing this year.

7 – Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (RW)

MBN is turning into a seriously exciting prospect, showing off a high-action, high-energy style. He doesn’t overtake plays but puts a lot of effort into making the small plays… the little stick lifts, the chip-ins, etc. – MBN makes all of the plays that coaches plead players to put more attention towards. And he’s effective as a result, showing that he has the ability to win puck races, create plays in the slot, and maintain possession. Count me on the list of those bullish on MBN.

8 – Nikita Artamonov (RW/LW)

Artamonov is a very dynamic, all-around winger that works just as hard to make a play in the defensive zone as he does to try and score a goal. He’s effective both east-to-west and north-to-south and knows how to work the ice to create open lanes for his teammates. His skating is impressively agile but he could afford to dig into the ice more with his strides. If he can boost his power skating ability, he should develop into a great swiss-army knife type of player.

9 – Cayden Lindstrom (C)

Lindstrom has been an exciting prospect for years but added an extra layer to his game with improved skating and agility this season. It’s turned him into a really capable offensive talent, with his size dominating his work in the corners and low-slot, his shot making him a dangerous presence from anywhere on the ice, and his strong skating helping him get between the two spots much quicker than opponents. But Lindstrom’s reactivity could use a boost and he struggles to make the right choice every time. He’s also missing a physical aspect that I’d expect more of given his size. He looks like the makings of a fantastic pro but may take longer to adjust than some expect.

10 – Carter Yakemchuk (RHD)

Yakemchuk is one of my favorites this year, boasting a classic defenseman style that leans heavily into size and power, helped out by good mobility and strong puck skills. He’s as strong as any juniors player and shows it when battling in the defensive end. I do question Yakemchuk’s stamina and wish he could stay more consistently mentally engaged but his grit is too exciting to pass up.

11 – Zeev Buium (LHD)

Buium is blowing up through the first half of this season, leading all NCAA freshmen defenders in scoring. The burst in offense is on the back of the smooth, lanky transitional game that Buium built at the NTDP, building momentum when carrying the puck out of his own zone and finding lanes to exploit in the neutral zone. But for as great as Buium’s offense has looked, his game has lacked a consistency that keeps him from my top tier of defenders. He’s flashy in pieces but can fade into the background, or even be a liability, at certain times. They’re the same issues that held Buium back at the NTDP – and it’s encouraging to see they’re becoming less frequent. If he can continue replacing his woes with this flashy offense, he’ll be fantastic – but there’s reason for tempering expectations in a sphere that’s very bullish on Buium.

12 – Trevor Connelly (F)

Connelly is an absolute force on the ice, carrying incredible strength in his 6’2” frame and using it to power his way through opponents and find open ice. He’s as effective as anyone when he’s on his game but he isn’t always on – leading to frustrating shifts where Connelly is more a piece in the way than he is a dominating presence. His strong style looks like something that will carve out a strong role at the top level – but he’ll need to find the consistency in his game before he really establishes himself.

13 – Andrew Basha (LW)

Basha is maybe the smartest player in this draft class second to Celebrini and pairs it with a tireless work ethic to make plays happen every single shift, throughout all game. It’s seriously impressive – he’s the type of player that makes the teammates around him better and is adaptable enough to work in a variety of roles. But for all of his mental smarts, his raw skillset could use a small boost of grit, speed, and finesse that would solidify his spot in the top of a lineup. His size isn’t a noticeable concern but could be a factor as he faces faster and stronger competition – keeping him lower than his IQ alone would place him.

14 – Berkly Catton (F)

Berkly Catton is a player absolutely full of raw talent but one that struggles to make his energy felt through his linemates. He has great puckhandling and knows how to exploit opponents’ weaknesses, but can get shut down easily if his teammates aren’t opening space for him. Catton always has a plan before the puck is on his stick – a trait that can really help young players keep their flash as they move to higher levels. I love him as an individual talent but have been left wanting more when I see him in with the Chiefs.

15 – Justin Poirier (RW)

Poirier falls into the ‘Joshua Roy’ or ‘Zach Benson’ category of player – a shifty, undersized winger who’s able to use elusive chest movements and great edgework to work tightly around opponents. He’s quick and knows how to attack open space and danger areas, and doesn’t let himself get bullied in the slot. I think this type of player is gaining more and more momentum in the modern NHL, so I’m willing to bet on upside, especially considering Poirier is a September birthday, giving him even more time to establish those “A-tier” traits.

16 – Zayne Parekh (RHD)

Parekh is a solid defender that gets to his spots, knows how to win back possession, and jumps into the offense seamlessly. He also works well with his forwards in the regroup and offensive end, keeping him from being too much of a liability despite his knack for offense. But Parekh isn’t as snappy as I’d like, keeping him from really shutting down play in his own zone and limiting his ability to take advantage of the opportunities he’s given. There’s a lot to like with Parekh but there’s a layer of explosiveness that I’d like to see before I rank him as high as some others.

17 – Artyom Levshunov (RHD)

Levshunov looks a bit lost this season. He’s still showing strong raw skills – great puckhandling, good skating, an understanding of how to exit the zone – but he’s making a lot of mental errors, pressuring opponents at the wrong moments and reacting quickly instead of smartly with the puck. But I’m still willing to bet on him. He’s a young defender who, by my understanding, came into his Michigan State commitment very quickly before the season started.

I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard he might have been caught a little off guard by a sudden chance to the NCAA. It’s also worth remembering that this is Levshunov’s second season in the U.S., and he’s already in a new league, so there’s certainly no lack of turbulence in his recent years. I’ve seen the positives shine through his game enough to think he’ll be dangerous again next season after he has time to really adjust to the league.

18 – Liam Greentree (C)

There is never a moment where Greentree isn’t noticeable on the ice – for better or for worse. He’s an incredibly smart playmaker, working with his teammates to create and exploit open space and showing strong puckhandling and passing. But his smarts come in waves and he can be caught lacking in all three zones. Greentree’s game needs a lot of maturing to become effective a the top level but he could reasonably develop into the type of reliable centerman that every team wants.

19 – Eric Bürger (LHD)

Bürger is the shut-down defenseman of this draft class, doing his best work when he’s preventing opponents from entering the zone. He’s sturdy and fundamental, using an active stick and good awareness to shut down play before opponents can get momentum going. He’s just as by-the-books with the puck on his stick, pushing play up the ice well and keeping mindful of his positioning. Bürger doesn’t have the flashiest style but he’s been consistently efficient and plays the type of game I’d want somewhere on my blue-line.

20 – Kamil Bednarik (C)

I’ve heavily debated where I want to rank Bednarik. He doesn’t jump off the page like other First Round talents and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as my whiff this year. But I can’t ignore just how hard he works. Bednarik is relentless, putting 110% into every single shift, all game long. It makes him a ferocious role player and he’s smart enough to create plays from the chaos that he causes. There’s nothing fantastic about Bednarik but like the former Ike Howard, his work ethic and tenacity defines his play. In a year of defensemen, I’d be willing to take a flyer on this year’s top NTDP center.

21 – Igor Chernyshov (RW)

Chernyshov is voracious. He never stops working, and never gives up on plays. But he does reach a lot, and he can be subject to getting a little tunnel-visioned if he gets too invested in play. He has a good, active stick but he’s not really dynamic or quick enough to truly use it. He’s good with the puck but doesn’t create space to really be dangerous. Chernyshov has a really solid skillset that’s littered with “but…”. He’s a good player but one that I’m hesitant about.

22 – Ryder Ritchie (F)

Ritchie has all of the individual talent that you could want. He’s great with the puck on his stick, scanning well and showing a good understanding of how to use his body to protect the puck. But he doesn’t make the quick or sharp decisions and can look bogged down if there isn’t space for him to exploit. A team is buying pure hockey skill with Ritchie – I tend to stray away from those kinds of players, though I completely understand why some would be very high on Ritchie. I’m willing to be wrong on this one.

23 – Michael Hage (C)

Hage has found himself slightly outside of the “smash spot” that I thought he’d have in Chicago’s top center role this year. And his game has lacked some energy as a result – as he’s struggled to really takeover or dominate games. But I still find myself excited by Hage’s puck-skills. He is incredibly dangerous when he’s attacking the defense and seems to have pinpoint accuracy with his passing and shooting. I’m very worried about how Hage stays engaged when he’s not on the puck but – after a 22-23 season ruined by injury – I’m still willing to bet that Hage will find his groove as a really high-end scoring talent soon enough.

24 – Beckett Sennecke (LW)

Sennecke is a good, responsible player in all three zones. But there’s something just off about how he scans the ice and makes decisions. He always makes the right choice but takes just a little too long, leaving him susceptible to getting caught really off-guard. Even if it doesn’t happen often, it happens enough that Sennecke can appear as the weak link on his line. His skillset is really well-rounded and lends itself to a great role as a swiss-army knife kind of player but I don’t know if he’s one I’d advocate for if I was in the war room.

25 – Charlie Elick (RHD)

Elick isn’t always 100% engaged in play. But he makes the right decisions when the moment comes to him, showing off a great ability to drive play forward and quarterback play creation. He makes a key difference when he’s on the ice, even if his off-puck play is missing a spark. He’s a player I’m willing to bet on at the midpoint of the year, but one that we’ll get the best idea of as he pursues the opportunities like the CHL Top Prospect game and U18s.

26 – Maxim Massé (RW)

I love Massé on the puck. He’s hard to knock off of it, keeps his head up, and has a killer shot that he can lean on if there’s no play to be created. When offense is set up, he’s a player I want to work the puck to. And his physicality lends itself to a great net-front ability. But he’s really not quick. I really worry about Massé’s mobility. He’ll need to add a lot of athleticism to boost his effectiveness on his own side of the red line, and to make him effective with the faster moving offense of pros. There may be roles for him even if he can’t add that, though I worry enough that I could see him falling in my rankings with a slow second-half.

27 – Topias Hynninen (C)

Hynninen is a well-rounded player that’s able to create plays with the puck on his stick, and serve his role off of it. He’s got good, visionary passing and effective puckhandling, but he struggles to make things really happen if his teammates are lifting their own load by either burying the chances he creates or setting him up. He’s a strong enough player in all three zones but hasn’t found a way to jump off the page yet. I think Hynninen is poised to learn a lot over the next few seasons that will really define his play – but he’s hard to make a confident statement about as it stands.

28 – Sacha Boisvert (C)

Boisvert is a burly centerman that knows how to throw his weight around in his shoulders, helping him blaze his own path into the corners or the low-slot. His shot is a thing of beauty, carrying serious power behind it and proving extremely difficult for USHL goalies to track. But Boisvert is missing a layer of fundamentals that would really lift up his game. His focus seems a bit spread-thin as it stands, but if a team can help him get a better grip on where to be and what to do off of the puck, he could develop into a really solid change-of-pace centerman with goal-scoring upside.

29 – Luka Misa (C)

Misa is a shifty forward with good bend and posture in his skating stance that lets him dart around the ice while keeping his head up and scanning. He’s responsible in all ends, always in the right spot and quick to facilitate break-ins and break-outs. His quick style lends itself to a good amount of odd-man-rushes, although Misa has lacked a finish that could elevate him from a good playmaker to a great one. Still, his style is poised and responsible, but quick and skilled enough to catch opponents off-guard when the moment presents itself.

30 – Yegor Surin (F)

Surin is an absolute dart on the ice, driving into the high-pressure areas of the ice with weight and control that helps him create chaos. He’s got good heft that carries through into his shot, which is really solid. He’s an annoying pest that can very quickly turn a turnover into a dangerous shot. He’ll be a player you always have to monitor if he pans out, although I worry about how well he’ll translate to North American pros.

31 – Raoul Boilard (C)

Boilard isn’t the type to dominate play but he’s always in his spots and makes the right choices when he does get the puck, making him a reliable option for the middle lane. That role is solidified by a fantastic faceoff ability (59.4% – leads all QMJHL rookies!!) and a great reach. Boilard is the perfect plug-and-play centerman – the type of guy that I’d want to push hard and see just how confident of a role he can establish.

32 – Leo Sahlin Wallenius (LHD)

Sahlin Wallenius is a very, very smart defenseman that shows a clear understanding of what his role is and how he can make things happen from his spot. He’s rangey with a great reach and uses it to shut down play around his defensive blue line. But he’s quite unrefined, and can look a bit wonky because of it. His mental approach is worth high regard but he’ll need to add some athleticism and fluidity to reach much of a ceiling at the pro level.

Honorable Mentions

Matvei Gridin (C/W, Muskegon, USHL)

Gridin seems to have it in every category – solid skating, good puckhdanling, good size, good awareness… but he hasn’t been able to pull them all together into a strong package just yet. If I had to name a ‘Most Likely To Breakout In The Year’s Second Half’, it would be Gridin, who is already leading all USHL draft-eligibles in scoring.

Terik Parascak (RW, Prince George, WHL)

Parascak is a fleet-footed, quick-passing forward with a good sense of how to move the puck around the offensive zone and create chances. He’s been really impressive this season but my viewings of him were too limited to warrant ranking. Parascak should be apart of every First Round viewing list but I can’t confidently say where he sits just yet.

Miguel Marques (RW, Lethbridge, WHL)

Marques is a strong-shouldered winger capable of pushing his way into his spots and using his strong frame to stay there. He’s strong on the puck and makes good plays, though I always find myself wanting a little more form Marques games. His talent is undeniable, he just needs to find how to apply it more consistently.

Stian Solberg (LHD, Vålerenga, EliteHockey Ligaen)

There’s something to be said about a teenager that can play 25+ minutes and special teams every single night. That’s what Solberg has done at every level. He’s really effective but can’t be trusted in the spotlight consistently. Keep him close if your favorite isn’t there in the First.

Tanner Howe (C, Regina, WHL)

Howe still looks the part of a really high-energy, high-event center that knows how to crash the net. But I don’t feel as confident in his effectiveness as I did when he had the best prospect since McDavid on his line. Howe could be a First Round talent but I want to see more first.

Anthony Cristoforo (RHD, Windsor, OHL)

Cristoforo is a hefty, high-event defenseman that knows how to carry an offense forward from his own end or operate on the blue line in the offensive zone. But I find he can lack poise in a way that takes away from his effectiveness. He’s a consideration for a higher spot but one I’m pausing on for now.

Alfons Freij (LHD, Växjö, J20 SuperElit)

Freij is a dang dynamo – maybe one of the most athletic in the draft class. He pairs his agility with great stickhandling to become really dangerous in the offensive end. He’s sharp and makes great plays – but I’m not yet sure if his traits are translatable to pros.

Liam Danielsson (RW, Örebro, J20 SuperElit)

Danielsson is shifty and elusive, capable of deke-ing or cutting around defenders with or without the puck. He makes big plays and knows how to score. But he doesn’t work in systems or with teammates like I’d want. A good talent that would be hard to fit into place as it stands.

Aron Kiviharju (LHD, HIFK, Liiga)

An injury has forced Kiviharju out for a long while but he was completely fine in his early Liiga play. Any statement of where his talent deserves to be ranked seems shortsighted – we just haven’t seen enough this year. Still, I don’t ever encourage drafting injured players in the First.

Daniil Ustinkov (LHD, ZSC, National League)

Ustinkov is a beefy defender that moves smoothly and handles the puck well. But I get hung up on his decision making – he gets into the dirty areas but doesn’t always make things happen. Still, it’s size I’d bet on.

Sebastian Soini (RHD, Ilves, Liiga)

Soini is a beefy skater with beautifully smooth skating and great puckhandling. He’s heads-up and keeps an active stick but can lack poise and get beat easily. Still, Soini has the guts to pull off cheeky plays – something you don’t see every day in a defender of his frame.

Adam Jiříček (RHD, Plzeň, Czechia Extraliga)

Jiříček is a really talented hockey player with a lot of potential. But he’s really looked shaky this year, struggling to stay strong on the offensive blue line and not making plays in the defensive end. It’s disappointing, especially considering he is now out for a good while with a lower-body injury. He’s talented enough to consider high, but sketchy enough to ultimately forgo.

Veeti Väisänen (LHD, KooKoo, Liiga)

I admire how quickly Väisänen makes a decision but can’t get behind just how aggressive he is. He’s talented enough to challenge opponents and win, but routinely overextends in a way that makes him easier to beat. If Väisänen can calm down, he would warrant high draft regard – but I’m hesitant for now.

2024 NHL Draft Rankings Table