NHL · 1 year ago

2024 NHL Draft Rankings Top 50: Who Comes After Celebrini?

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

50. Christian Humphreys, C (USNTDP)
It's not difficult to be impressed when scouting Christian Humphreys. Although there aren't a ton of high-end traits he brings to the table, he does a little bit of everything well, which makes him underrated in some circles.

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1. Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University)
The clear-cut No. 1 prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft is Macklin Celebrini. The San Jose Sharks won't have to think long when they head to the podium. Celebrini is a franchise-altering player with a high-end skill set that separates him from his peers.

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2. Artyom Levshunov, RHD (Michigan State)
After Celebrini, you can make a case for multiple prospects for the second-best in our rankings. Artyom Levshunov pops as a potential two-way, smooth-skating, minute-eating defenseman at the next level. These types of defensemen don't grow on trees.
3. Ivan Demidov, RW (St. Peterburg)
Making a case for Ivan Demidov as the most skilled prospect in this draft class is not hard. He'll add a unique element to any team's prospect system he's added to, and some believe he's more well-rounded than Matvei Michkov was last year.
4. Anton Silayev, LHD (Torpedo)
Giant defensemen who can defend at the level Anton Silayev can are hard to come by. Some question whether his offense will translate to the NHL level, but what he's doing in the KHL at his age is exceptional.
5. Zeev Buium, LHD (University of Denver)
It's not hard to come away highly impressed with Zeev Buium every time you watch him play. It's hardly a coincidence that he seems to win wherever he goes. Buium has plenty of offensive upside, with an elite skating stride and a package to build on defensively.
6. Zayne Parekh, RHD (Saginaw)
Zayne Parekh's ability to create offense in the OHL is noteworthy. We're not quite ready to say he has a point-per-game upside in the NHL, but it wouldn't surprise us if he came close during his peak.
7. Cayden Lindstrom, C (Medicine Hat)
If there weren't some question marks about his back injury, we wouldn't have a problem putting Cayden Lindstrom as the fifth-best prospect in this class. Back concerns are no joke, but you can't teach his size and skill.
8. Sam Dickinson, LHD (London)
Sam Dickinson is right in the mix in a draft loaded with defensemen at the top. Dickinson plays a solid two-way game for the London Knights and projects as a stable top-pairing presence in the NHL.
9. Berkly Catton, C (Spokane)
Although he's slightly undersized as a center, we have no problem putting Berkly Catton in our top ten. It seems unlikely he'll land in the top ten because of that, but his skill and skating immediately pop on video. Despite the recent trends on small forwards at the draft, we're comfortable with where we have Catton.
10. Tij Iginla, C (Kelowna)
Tij Iginla is a strong prospect who has climbed into our top ten during his draft-eligible season. Iginla has many popular traits for an NHL forward, with his goal-scoring and physicality landing him as a top prospect in this class.
11. Carter Yakemchuk, RHD (Calgary)
In a year with many gifted defenseman inside our top ten, Carter Yakemchuk falls just on the outside looking in. It's not hard to find people who love this defenseman, and it won't be a surprise to see him wind up as a top ten selection on draft day.
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12. Konsta Helenius, C (Jukurit)
It's easy to find an appreciation for the little things that Konsta Helenius does on the ice. Helenius finished the regular season as the fourth most productive year by a U-18 player in Liiga history.
13. Beckett Sennecke, RW (Oshawa)
One of the biggest risers in the second half of the year has been Oshawa Generals winger Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke is one of the top skill players in this draft class, and his performance in the playoffs left many feeling good about his rising draft stock.
14. Cole Eiserman, LW (USNTDP)
It's not hard to declare Cole Eiserman as the best pure goal scorer in this draft class. In saying that, some feel he'll be a coaches nightmare with his play away from the puck in the NHL. Still, goals remain as valuable as ever, and this kid can has a knack for finding the right areas.
15. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW (Mora)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is the definition of a player that you grow to love after watching play multiple times. There are real questions about his offensive upside, but he carries a heavy shot and is a forechecking beast.
16. Trevor Connelly, LW (Tri-City)
It's no secret that off-ice issues have put question marks around where Trevor Connelly will get selected on draft day. On talent alone, some have him as a top 10 selection, but it's hard to see that transpiring. Interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine will go a long way in solidifying his potential draft stock. Still, it's hard to comfortably rank him higher than this.
17. Michael Hage, C (Chicago)
Michael Hage has been one of the USHL’s top scorers this season, which has helped firmly raise his draft stock. Hage needed to make an impression after missing the majority of the 2022-23 campaign, and he's done exactly that.
18. Adam Jiricek, RHD (Plzen)
An injury-plagued season has made it difficult to firmly rank Adam Jiricek in this draft class. Jiricek has the tool kit that teams typically fall in love with on the backend, meaning it won't be a surprise if Jiricek is ultimately selected higher than we'd recommend taking him.
19. Liam Greentree, LW (Windsor)
Although there were some underwhelming moments toward the end of his season, there's still good reason to be bullish about the potential that Liam Greentree brings to the table. Greentree has the ability to be a power forward at the next level, which is a rare skillset that teams covet.
20. Stian Solberg, LHD (Valerenga)
Stian Solberg has been slowly rising up draft boards this season. After the top group of defenseman are selected in the group, Solberg is firmly in that next tier, which should plant him firmly as a potential selection between 15 and 25.
21. EJ Emery, RHD (USNTDP)
It's hard not to get excited about the NHL tools that EJ Emery possesses. Although he's somewhat raw as a prospect, the upside is real with this player, which could excite teams in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
22. Igor Chernyshov, LW (Dynamo)
Igor Chernyshov has the size and skill to make his presence felt as a winger. Although the skill jumps out at you, what's also noteworthy has been his play away from the puck and competitive tendencies.
23. Sacha Boisvert, C (Muskegon)
Sacha Boisvert has been one of my favorite prospects to scout in this draft class. Boisvert scored at a high clip in the USHL, and has plenty of the traits NHL teams will look for in a two-way pivot down the middle of the ice.
24. Nikita Artamonov, RW (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod)
If you're someone that buys into analytics in hockey, Nikita Artamonov is a prospect that pops. Artamonov has the high-end hockey IQ and scoring prowess to be a solid winger at the NHL level.
25. Dean Letourneau, C (St. Andrew’s)
It's hard not to drool when watching the potential that Dean Letourneau brings to the arena. The 6-foot-7 forward reminds plenty of people of NHL star Tage Thompson, which bodes well for his prospects. Keep in mind bigger centers take longer to develop, meaning patience will be necessary.
26. Teddy Stiga, LW (USNTDP)
If you're looking for a forward prospect that brings energy and skill to the table, Teddy Stiga will immediately impress you. Stiga has the real makings of a strong complimentary forward in the NHL.
27. Andrew Basha, LW (Medicine Hat)
The more you watch Andrew Basha, the more you grow to like him as a prospect. After Cayden Lindstrom was sidelined for a large chunk of the season, Basha took the reigns and demonstrated his offensive pedigree as a prospect.
28. Terik Parascak, RW (Prince George)
Terik Parascak was dominant in the WHL this year, tallying 43 goals and 105 points with Prince George. There's certainly a one-dimensional aspect to his game, but that dimension is hard to come by in the NHL.
29. Emil Hemming, RW (TPS)
The production won't necessarily jump off the page at you, but Emil Hemming brings plenty of NHL style traits to the table. With strong two-way play, there's a lot to like about Hemming in this class.
30. Cole Beaudoin, C (Barrie)
There are multiple physical attributes that make Cole Beaudoin a tempting pick at the end of the first round. Although he doesn't boast the highest ceiling, his showing at the combine helped solidify a lot of what teams already liked about him.

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31. Cole Hutson, LHD (USNTDP)
On instinct alone, we're probably higher on Cole Hutson than where we're slotting him. Hutson brings some of the qualities that his brother Lane does to the table. Still, these type of defenseman are hard to project, which should give a team a chance to pick this skilled player in the second or third round as a boom or bust type.
32. Aron Kiviharju, LHD (HIFK)
Aron Kiviharju has been in the spotlight for this draft year for a while now. Although injuries have taken some of the buzz away, he's still a desirable defensive prospect that is worth a shot in the early second round.
33. Henry Mews, RHD (Ottawa)
Like a lot of players at this point in our rankings, Henry Mews has some people that really like his game, and others that aren't as high on him. In saying that, Mews has the tools that NHL teams often target on the backend, which should see him go in this range.
34. Matvei Gridin, LW (Muskegon)
Matvei Gridin began the season with an incredible hot stretch. Although he fell off the historic pace he was on to start, Gridin still demonstrated that he has the ability to put up points at the next level.
35. Lucas Pettersson, C (Modo)
Lucas Pettersson has a lot of NHL qualities to his game. NHL teams covet players that can control the middle of the ice, which Pettersson continues to do at a strong rate.

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36. Charlie Elick, RHD (Brandon)
Although there's very limited offense when it comes to Charlie Elick, he's one of the strongest defenders in this draft class, and we know how valuable that is at this time of the year.
37. Yegor Surin, C (Yaroslavl)
It was hard to find a landing spot for Yegor Surin, and at the end of the day, we're probably a little bit lower than the field on him. Surin was great during the second-half of the year, which should have him hanging around Day 1 status.
38. Alfons Freij, LHD (Vaxjo)
Alfons Freij is a very strong two-way defenseman. Although there isn't a lot that he excels at on the ice, he doesn't have many weaknesses, which is a big value on the backend.
39. Harrison Brunicke, RHD (Kamloops)
Harrison Brunicke's status as a big, right-shot defenseman certainly adds value to his ranking. Still, he does a lot of things well on the ice, and his arrival in this area isn't unwarranted.
40. Maxim Masse, RW (Chicoutimi)
Maxim Masse is a strong threat to score goals in the NHL. Even though his goal-scoring is his calling card, he's a well-rounded player that could find himself as a top-six tweener at the next level.
41. Ryder Ritchie, RW (Prince Albert)
When watching the tape of Ryder Ritchie, the one thing that immediately pops is his high-end release. Ritchie can play an energy role, but if he makes it to the NHL, it's more likely it's as a scoring winger.
42. Dominik Badinka, RHD (Malmo)
With a big frame and the hockey sense paired with it, Dominik Badinka is a prospect worth keeping an eye on. Badinka has some sneaky skill in his bag, which gives him a real avenue to project as a top four defenseman.
43. Linus Eriksson, C (Djurgardens)
There are many qualities with Linus Eriksson that make him project as a potential late first round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Eriksson's smarts and speed give him a clear pathway to the NHL.
44. Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD (JYP)
Although Jesse Pulkkinen is an overage player in this draft class, he still presents a lot of the tools NHL teams look for in a defenseman. Pulkkinen's strong play this season in the JYP earned him a nice boost on our rankings.
45. Tanner Howe, LW (Regina)
Tanner Howe was a productive player in Regina, yet he continues to be a player many scouts have a difficult getting a feel for. Howe projects as a strong complimentary forward.
46. Justin Poirier, RW (Baie-Comeau)
Although he doesn't have the ideal size, all Justin Poirier has continued to do is score goals. A team will eventually take a chance on him, but it's hard to see him being selected in the range we have him in.
47. Julius Miettinen, C (Everett
Julius Miettinen is the full package of what NHL teams typically covet down the middle. You'd have liked more production from him this season in the WHL. Still, he presents as an appealing Day 2 option in this class.
48. John Mustard, C (Waterloo)
John Mustard is a center who plays with pace and has continued to boost his draft stock this season in the USHL. It's hard to say if there's top six upside with this prospect, but a third line projectable center at this range certainly isn't bad.
49. Adam Jecho, C (Edmonton)
Looking for a big center? Give Adam Jecho a call at the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. Jecho skates well for his size and has continued to develop his puck skills throughout the year.
50. Christian Humphreys, C (USNTDP)
It's not difficult to be impressed when scouting Christian Humphreys. Although there aren't a ton of high-end traits he brings to the table, he does a little bit of everything well, which makes him underrated in some circles.

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1. Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University)
The clear-cut No. 1 prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft is Macklin Celebrini. The San Jose Sharks won't have to think long when they head to the podium. Celebrini is a franchise-altering player with a high-end skill set that separates him from his peers.

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2024 NHL Draft Rankings Top 50: Who Comes After Celebrini?

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