Alexander Appleyard, Gray Matter, Ben Jordan, SpokedZ, Chris Ford, Austin Garret and Josh Tessler combined their draft rankings and put together the official Smaht Scouting 2024 NHL Draft Final Rankings.
Below you will find the rankings and a high level summary on each player.
#1 – Macklin Celebrini – Center – Boston University
I feel confident that Celebrini will eventually be a top line asset at the NHL level. The production will come quickly with his shot and his acceleration. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching him leverage his acceleration to get himself into quality shooting lanes. Not only is it working well at full strength, but it is even more lethal when on the power play. His ability to identify and quick take advantage of tight passing lanes to the slot will net him quite a number of assists at the next level. Defensively, he is responsible and quite sound. (Josh Tessler)
#2 – Ivan Demidov – Right Wing – SKA St. Petersburg
The most dynamic, fun, and exciting player in the draft, Demidov just oozes skill and creativity in every facet of his game. The way he’s able to slow the game down and weave around defences—sometimes a bit too much—is mesmerising; his small area skill is really impressive, and the creativity and quickness that he brings makes him an electrifying player to watch. In my eyes, he’s still a strong contender for first overall, and he’s remained my personal #1 all year; the dynamic skill that he has could make him a uniquely talented player in the NHL, and the prospect of where that could take him is so exciting to me. The questions with Demidov largely come down to translatability, consistency, and decision-making. It’s hard to say how his game will translate to smaller ice, higher pace / intensity, and tougher competition, given his skating limitations and tendency to slow down and do too much; which makes a more easily projectable player like Celebrini difficult to pass up. But I have a lot of faith in the skill and the mind that Demidov has to figure it all out, and I fully believe he’s going to be an incredible NHL player, surpassing even my expectations. For me, after #1, it’s a no-brainer. (Gray Matter)
#3 – Berkly Catton – Forward – Spokane
Catton blends nifty edgework with high-end skill alongside a surgical approach to dissecting opposing teams’ defensive structures. His microstat profile is aburd through two games. He’s averaging five dangerous shots a game, completing 75% of his passes with 29% going to dangerous areas of the ice, and is involved in a ridiculous 58% of all offensive transitions for Spokane with a 94%(!!!) success rate. Outside of Bedard, he’s the best WHL player I’ve tracked in three years. (Austin Garret)
#4 – Artyom Levshunov – Right Handed Defenseman – Michigan State University
The Michigan State defenseman has been intriguing from an offensive standpoint. He loves jumping into the rush and pinching up with and without the puck. He will look to position himself in the high slot and pepper shots on net. Levshunov has collected quite a few assists at 5v5 as a result of generating rebounds for his teammates at the crease. Defensively, Levshunov’s positioning can be spotty at times. Since he likes to pinch up and play up in the offensive zone, there are shifts in which he finds himself slightly out of position and struggles to get back into position. When Levshunov is in position and ready to defend, he isn’t always assertive and I’d like to see Levshunov work on being more assertive when looking to shut down the attack. (Josh Tessler)
#5 – Cayden Lindstrom – Forward – Medicine Hat
Cayden Lindstrom continues to remain one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft with his combination of size, speed, and skills giving him the upside of a top-six contributor at the NHL level. Despite not having played since December, his film up until then remains incredibly impressive. When I watch him play, all I can think is POWER. Everything he does is so powerful, from his stride to his shot. He leverages his size and skill to great effect in the offensive zone where he is frequently a threat to score from everywhere or find an open teammate when he pulls multiple defenders into his space. His forechecking ability remains one of the best in this draft and he is a capable defender with the physical tools to continue to improve in this area. He may slip in the draft due to his injuries but should he make a complete recovery, he could prove to be one of the best players in this class. (Chris Ford)
#6 – Zeev Buium – Left Handed Defenseman – University of Denver
Zeev Buium is the most well-rounded defenseman in the 2024 NHL Draft class. In the offensive zone, Buium is a great quarterback from the point. He will shift across the point and pinch up with the puck in an effort to identify and utilize a passing lane to the slot. Defensively, Buium does a good job of positioning himself in front of the attack to take away skating lanes. When moving the puck up the ice, if he is slightly further back behind his teammates he’ll opt to pass forward to them. (Josh Tessler)
#7 – Tij Iginla – Forward – Kelowna
Tij Iginla can be very tenacious in his pursuit of the puck in the offensive zone. Iginla looks to pray on the vulnerable and does a great job of stick lifting and poke checking to cause disruption in puck possession. Iginla does well at feathering passes in tight and does a good job with puck security when being pursued by multiple attackers at close proximity. He’s got a good shot especially from range. But, should he be leading the rush he’ll love to attempt wrap-around shots. Iginla has second line upside and could be deployed at center or wing without losing a step. (Josh Tessler)
#8 – Zayne Parekh – Right Handed Defenseman – Saginaw
Zayne Parekh is one of the better puck moving defensemen in the 2024 NHL Draft class. He loves to take advantage of tight passing lanes when on the rush and pressure intensifies. Parekh will complete outlet and stretch passes underneath the stick of the attacker with ease. When off puck but his team has possession of the puck, Parekh loves to jump into the rush and provide his teammates with a passing option up ice. In the offensive zone, when pinching up he loves to change up his pace to throw off attackers and buy separation so he can net enough space to get a pass off to the interior. Defensively, his positioning has been solid, but he isn’t an overly assertive defenseman. (Josh Tessler)
#9 – Sam Dickinson – Left Handed Defenseman – London
Dickinson is likely to be one of the first defenders off the board come draft day in June. He has a pro-favoured frame at 6ft3 and 194 lbs, and uses it incredibly effectively in both ends of the ice. If it weren’t for 2023 1st round pick Oliver Bonk (PHI) taking PP time, I think we would perceive Dickinson’s offensive capabilities differently, and project him out a bit differently. In the defensive zone, he nips plays in the bud, and accelerates the transition game with quick up passes. Skating is a strength, and there is no glaring weakness directionally. He can go all four directions well, with good agility to re position when needed. (Ben Jordan)
#10 – Liam Greentree – Right Wing – Windsor
Liam Greentree, a draft-eligible captain in the CHL, shone on a weak Windsor Spitfires team, scoring 90 points in 64 games. Known for his blend of power and finesse, he thrives under pressure, using his physicality to create plays. Greentree excels in puck handling, passing, and shooting, making him a constant offensive threat. He skillfully navigates through defenders with clever moves and strategic delays, positioning himself as one of the top distributors in his draft class. While his playmaking stands out, he’s also a proficient scorer. However, his skating is a key area for improvement, lacking agility and speed, which could hinder his top-six potential. Despite this, his playing style effectively compensates, making him a solid third-line player with the upside to grow into a top-six role if his skating improves. Greentree’s mix of classic power and modern playmaking sets him apart. With enhanced skating, he could become a highly effective top-six winger in the NHL. (Chris Ford)
#11 – Nikita Artamonov – Left Wing – Nizhny Novgorod
When draft day comes the chatter about Nikita Artamonov is likely to include “this guy came out of no-where this year”. But make no mistake, the Nizhnekamsk native has been one of the best three Russian forwards amongst his age-group for the last couple of years. This year however? He has taken a giant leap, and is playing at a level in the KHL that very few draft eligibles ever achieve. 23 points in 54 games is preposterous, with Michkov, Tarasenko and Panarin the only players in the KHL’s 15 year history to do better P/GP wise. Artamonov belies the outdated stereotype of the skilled, Russian winger who only plays in the offensive zone. He is an energiser bunny. Voracious on the fore-check, diligent in the defensive zone, with an active stick that constantly disrupts lanes. Furthermore, while no-one would mistake him for a physical player, he is more than happy to go to the corners or net-front. However, he is not just an “energy” player. He is a great skater and a fantastic passer, alongside this his ability to get free ice in the offensive zone is exceptional. The downsides? He is not the most “creative” player, his hands are quite average and he could use his solid shot more than he does. Nevertheless, Artamonov has the potential to be a 70+ point, two-way winger in the NHL if he keeps developing. (Alex Appleyard)
#12 – Cole Eiserman – Left Wing – USNTDP
Eiserman is constantly making an impact each shift he is out there for. In the offensive zone, he is a good forechecker, will fight for pucks down low and in the corners. Eiserman will rely on his reach to stick lift attackers and force a disruption in oppositional puck possession. He has good puck manipulation and will use it to draw in attackers and then quickly pass underneath the stick to an open teammate. Eiserman has an excellent shot especially from range. He does play with a bit of a physical edge in all three zones. If he isn’t the one shutting down play, he isn’t far behind and will scoop up pucks below the red line. When in transition, if Eiserman is driving the puck up ice, he does struggle to get separation around attackers. Eiserman projects to be a top six goal scorer, who won’t always push play up ice, but will provide his linemates with someone who fights hard for pucks and will be a threat with his shot. (Josh Tessler)
#13 – Trevor Connelly – Forward – Tri-City
Trevor Connelly does a good job of not forcing the puck into danger and will pivot away from pressure to get the separation that he needs to complete a pass to the interior. But, if he doesn’t have a great passing option to the interior and yet sees that his teammate does have a passing lane to the low slot from behind the net, Connelly will pass the puck along the boards to get the puck into the hands of the teammate behind the net. When driving the cycle to find a lane to the slot, he does a good job of navigating the puck around pressure with his reach and great handling. He will work the puck along the boards and scan for passing lanes to get the puck to an open teammate in the slot. If he has the puck and a teammate is close by with an attacker looking on, he will delay, draw the attacker to him and then pass to his teammate who is now open with a clear lane to the crease. When in transition, if he faces pressure once he gets the puck in the neutral zone, he’ll re-group and find another lane into the offensive zone. (Josh Tessler)
#14 – Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – Right Wing – Mora
There has never been a Norwegian who has gone in the first round. The highest a Norweigan has been picked was Marius Holtet, who went 42nd overall in 2002. Next summer Michael Brandsegg-Nygård will change that. The Oslo native has everything to be a top NHLer. Brandsegg-Nygård, no matter how much you watch, has no major issues. The things that make him stand out? His release is fantastic, he gets the puck off crisply, quickly, and with a high level of accuracy even if it is away from his body or in his feet. His hockey IQ is impressive, he is virtually never out of position and seemingly knows where everyone is on ice at all times. He is also a legitimate power-forward, who likes to throw his weight around and get to the net-front. On the boards he regularly dominates men 15 years his senior. Defensively he is also impressive, with an active stick and the ability to win most 1-v-1 battles. While he has no “holes” he does have a few things to improve upon to reach his potential. His skating is solid, but will need to get more explosive. Additionally, while his vision is fantastic, he does not always connect on pass attempts, and will likely never be a high-end play-maker. But make no mistake, he has the potential to be one of the premier two-way wingers in the NHL. (Alex Appleyard)
#15 – Konsta Helenius – Center/Right Wing – Tappara
The 2024 NHL draft does not have an abundance of Centers with clear 1C upside, but Helenius is certainly on that short list. Last year the Finn put himself in the conversation as a potential top five pick, with 11 points in 33 Liiga games at just 16 years old. This year he has advanced that conversation further. 36 points in 51 games, while playing Center in one of the world’s best five pro leagues? That should probably be turning more heads than it has. Since 1990 Olli Jokinen (by coincidence Helenius’s current coach), Mikhail Granlund, Alex Barkov, Patrik Laine and Kaapo Kakko are the only five draft eligibles who have produced at 0.70 P/GP in Liiga. 4/5 went top three, and 4/5 have become consistent 65+ point NHL players, with Kakko still having a chance to make it 5/5. Helenius’s game is built around his high IQ, which he uses to dictate play. He is a fantastic transition player and drives play as a result. His passing is crisp, accurate and deceptive, and while he might primarily be a play-maker he has a good shot, especially his one-timer from the left half-wall on the power-play. He is not the fastest, but is extremely shifty and agile. Helenius also has an exceptional compete level, and is more than solid defensively. Once he matures physically he certainly has the potential to be a legitimate 1C in the NHL, albeit many teams might move him to wing. (Alex Appleyard)
#16 – Adam Jiricek – Right Handed Defenseman – Plzen
Adam Jiricek is one of the stronger defensive defensemen in this class. When defending against the rush, he communicates well with his forwards to explain where he needs the support prior to crossing into the defensive zone. He implements extremely good positioning to shut down passing and shooting lanes to the interior. Jiricek does a great job of re-adjusting his positioning when defending against multiple attackers to shut down potential one-timers. When behind the red line and along the boards, he plays with a physical edge and will look to pokecheck. Jiricek’s floor seems to be a top four defensemen, but with more and more refinement he could potentially be a top two defensemen. (Josh Tessler)
#17 – Alfons Freij – Left Handed Defenseman – Växjö
For the first time in a long time, there is a real possibility that we don’t see any Swedes drafted in the first round in 2024. That being said, Swedish defenseman Alfons Freij possesses many traits and attributes that give him a shot at hearing his name called on day 1 and still make him a very intriguing prospect for any organization. His two best and most projectable traits are his skating and puck moving ability, and they often go hand-in-hand. Freij is an incredibly mobile defenseman who oozes confidence with the puck on his stick. He often will take the puck from behind his own net and carry it up ice into the offensive zone to create scoring chances. Always with his head up, he also makes a fantastic first pass when it’s a better option than keeping it for himself. He’s a dual threat in the offensive zone as well, capable of creating passing lanes to distribute while also possessing a great shot. Freij is not afraid to take risks with the puck, and those risks don’t always pan out. At times he will turn the puck over and gift odd man rushes to the opposition. He’ll need to learn to be a bit more selective with his playmaking in order to excel at the next level. Another aspect of his game that will need to improve as he develops is his in zone defense. His skating prowess makes him a capable rush defender, however at times he can get caught out of position chasing pucks once the opposition has established possession. That said, his foundational tools and willingness to experiment with them give him serious potential. (SpokedZ)
#18 – Michael Hage – Center – Chicago
Hage is a two-way forward with excellent distribution, good reach and provides tight pressure in his own zone. His reach and handling allow him to navigate around pressure with ease when driving the puck up ice. In transition, he will look to pass off of the boards if he runs into too much pressure and he has spotted an open teammate further up in the neutral zone. Hage has excellent speed and can push pace to be the driver on a middle six line in the NHL. (Josh Tessler)
#19 – Anton Silayev – Left Handed Defenseman – Nizhny Novgorod
Anton Silayev is a defensive defenseman who has measures in at 6’7″ / 207 lbs. He has extremely good speed for his size especially his lateral speed that allows him to shift positioning when he is slighly further away from where he needs to be when defending against the rush. Silyaev uses his reach and size to take up space. While he does a good job of eliminating skating lanes to the interior, he doesn’t always shut the play down all together. He can be quite physical along the boards and I got a feeling that it won’t be long before he starts to use his physicality a bit more to shut down the cycle / rush. (Josh Tessler)
#20 – Teddy Stiga – Left Wing – USNTDP
Teddy Stiga always keeps his feet moving off-puck and looks to provide passing options for his teammates laterally and up ice. When on the forecheck or defending against the halfwall, he is relentless in his pursuits and is constantly keeping his feet moving and accelerating at the moment of puck movement. More often than not, Stiga will look to make contact with his stick instead of engaging with a shoulder or hip check. Has great speed to keep in tow when teammates are pushing the puck up ice. Stiga does struggle with pressure when he gets in a tight jam. He will tend to struggle with netting separation in the corners when pressure is at the backside. Stiga has a quick shot from a far and that makes him dangerous. If a goaltender gives him a gap, he doesn’t hesitate and fires. He carries a middle six winger projection. (Josh Tessler)
#21 – Beckett Sennecke – Right Wing – Oshawa
Sennecke oozes confidence and skill, and that’s how he earned himself a spot as an HM just outside our round 1. Sennecke is an absolute hound on the forecheck where his motor will not stop until he gains possession of that puck. From there he flashes elite ability with his hands, and does a great job in small areas weaving and stickhandling through defenders skates, and sticks. He does a great job keeping pucks and plays alive off the wall by slipping through checks or dangling in a phone-booth. Unfortunately, his situation in Oshawa has been iffy at best, and I hope that forward group finds some more chemistry adn purpose in the new year, as I think Sennecke’s draft stock could benefit enormously from it. (Ben Jordan)
#22 – Igor Chernyshov – Left Wing – Dynamo Moscow
Igor Chernyshov is a Russian power forward prospect. He plays a gritty game and works the boards with great pressure shift in shift out. He is defensively responsible in transition and will put up a tough fight at open ice. In the defensive zone, he will fall back to the low slot and provide support to his defensemen down low. From a production stand point, Chernyshov has thrived off of odd man rushes / breakouts in MHL play. (Josh Tessler)
#23 – Andrew Basha – Forward – Medicine Hat
Andrew Basha is entertaining to watch every shift. His puck movement in transition is excellent. His handling and distribution is excellent. Basha’s puck manipulation makes him a threat on the rush and mid-cycle. He is shifty, mobile, agile and has tremendous speed. Basha does a good job of utilizing tight passing lanes to the slot. He will grab possession of loose pucks off the boards, drive to the trapezoid and look to feather passes to the low slot. (Josh Tessler)
#24 – Carter Yakemchuk – Right Handed Defenseman – Calgary
I wouldn’t be surprised if Yakemchuk is a name that continually keeps rising up lists. He hasn’t played in any marquee events, and thus hasn’t had the early season hype that some other names have had, but don’t be fooled by that. Since the new year of this past season, Yakemchuk has really started to take strides, and his game continues to round itself out. Yakemchuk has a nice blend of size, skill, and aggressiveness that allow him to be a force all over the ice. His instincts are great, and he joins the rush when he feels he can contribute to the play. He holds his own in the defensive zone with his size and ability to separate puck carriers from the puck to quick start offense the other way for his side. (Ben Jordan)
#25 – Luke Misa – Center – Mississauga
Luke Misa plays a very high-tempo game, prays on the vulnerable when on the forecheck, can drive the rush and create chances off of the rush regularly. Misa will feather passes in tight lanes in all three zones as he looks to push play up ice. In the offensive zone when off puck, he does a great job of finding open ice down low to create an intriguing passing option for his teammates. He will also look to jump onto loose pucks at the crease and capitalize with a quick goal before the goaltender can react. (Josh Tessler)
#26 – Lucas Pettersson – Center – MoDo
Lucas Pettersson quietly came into this season as one of NHL Central Scouting’s ‘A’ grade prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft, and he did nothing this season to suggest that was a mistake. Pettersson is an offensively gifted two-way centerman who finished this season as top scorer in the J20 Forts Division with 31 points in 18 games (14 goals, 17 assists). He also represented Sweden at multiple international tournaments, always wearing a ‘C’ or ‘A’ on his sweater. Hockey IQ and skating lay the foundation for Pettersson’s success. He’s a very smart player who is able to think and play at breakneck speed, making him a nightmare to defend off the rush. A dual-threat offensively, Pettersson is capable of setting up his teammates from anywhere in the offensive zone while also possessing a dangerously hard and accurate snap-shot. He also provides defensive value as well, both off the rush and in-zone. He’s able to read and disrupt plays, forcing turnovers and intercepting passes, and oftentimes turning defense into offense for MoDo. Whether or not Pettersson is selected on day 1 will likely depend on how much of his offense teams believe will translate in the NHL. While there are questions about how much of an offensive threat he’ll be at the next level, his two-way ability combined with his hockey IQ and dynamic skating make him a first-round pick for us. (SpokedZ)
#27 – Jett Luchanko – Center – Guelph
What makes Jett Luchanko lethal is his edges, agility and quick decision making. Luchanko has shown consistently that he can dodge pressure with his edges and that has made him extremely difficult to shut down when he is at full speed. Does an excellent job of incorporating delays while in possession of the puck in the offensive zone to draw confusion and a passing lane to a nearby teammate. Luchanko projects to be a middle six center at the next level. (Josh Tessler)
#28 – Ryder Ritchie – Forward – Prince Albert
After a very strong Hlinka Gretzky tournament for Canada, I think that many were expecting Ritchie to put up better point totals than he managed. Although there may be something to this, Ritchie is still doing a lot of things very well. I have a tough time seeing him falling out of round 1 as the season goes along. His feet and hands are ultra quick making him an exceptional puck carrier. If you give Ritchie time to pickup speed and attack defenders downhill, you will be sorry after he beats you, and secures middle ice. (Ben Jordan)
#29 – Linus Eriksson – Center – Djurgården
Linus Eriksson has been a riser throughout the season. He was not a total unknown coming into the year, having been utilised in the u-17 national teams middle six and having been one of the top scorers at the J18 level last season, however, he started the season slowly in the J20, with only five points through his first 10 games. he slowly but surely found his footing in the J20, and from mid-October to late-November lit up the league with 14 points in 13 games while dominating in all three zones. This led to him being promoted to the big club in December, where he again started slowly, with just one point in his first 10 games. However, in late January he flicked a switch and put up 15 points in his final 31 games, while generally playing only 12 minutes a night. He then lit up the WJC u-18 too. He is a coaches dream, a heady center who captained the national team, works hard, can PK, drive play, and is strong on the draw. Eriksson has all the tools to be a two-way NHL center, likely at 3C, but with a chance of getting to 2C level. (Alex Appleyard)
#30 – Stian Solberg – Left Handed Defenseman – Vålerenga
Solberg is a heavy, smooth-skating physical defender who skates fast, hits hard, and takes no prisoners. He’s been playing in Norway’s top men’s league for a few years, and has looked very solid; he also played a big role for Norway at the world juniors and world championships, and performed very well there, putting his skating and physicality on display regularly. He’s a very effective play-killer, both in-zone and on the rush; he defends aggressively, and forces opponents to the boards and into physical battles, where he typically overpowers them and turns play the other way. Offensively, there’s potential, but it needs work. He’s a very good skater overall, which gives him a significant advantage, and he shows good offensive instincts in general: he knows when to join the rush, times his plays well, recognises passing lanes and space to attack; but his offensive toolkit is a bit lacking, and he winds up turning the puck over with lacklustre passes, and taking too many poor shots from the perimeter, as he runs out of options due to a lack of reliable handling skill. But then occasionally he’ll just show off and go end-to-end, displaying skills you haven’t seen from him otherwise, leaving you wondering where that goes the rest of the time. But the strength and physical play he has in addition to his steady defensive game is very impressive for this stage in his development, and as he keeps getting stronger, I can easily see him growing into a great modern shutdown defender in the NHL, with potential for more if he’s able to refine and regularise his offensive flashes. (Gray Matter)
#31 – Marek Vanacker – Left Wing – Brantford
Marek Vanacker is a power forward prospect with great agility and excellent north-south speed. That combination has made it tough for opponents to catch up to should they fail to pivot alongside Vanacker when he pivots. Vanacker also has great reach and that allows him to quickly get a shot off after peeling the puck away from the attacker in front of him. At the combine it was released that Marek has been playing the majority of this season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, so to see the level of production he had, with not a ton of help, given the injury was very impressive. I expect a massive offensive outburst for Marek next season in Brantford. (Ben Jordan)
#32 – Sam O’Reilly – Right Wing – London
Sam O’Reilly is a highly effective middle-six center, recognized for his defensive skills and tireless effort. During the 2023-24 season with the London Knights, he excelled in faceoffs, penalty killing, and maintaining strong positional play, making him a dependable, detail-oriented player. Standing at 6-foot-1, O’Reilly was pivotal in supporting his team, delivering quick, accurate passes and setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates. Offensively, O’Reilly displays potential with his strategic puck handling and ability to outmaneuver defenders. While he needs to improve his lateral mobility and hand skills, his high hockey IQ and strong defensive instincts make him a valuable playmaker. His knack for quick decision-making and defensive acumen positions him well for a checking role in the NHL. O’Reilly’s keen attention to detail and physical style of play suggest he’s on the brink of a breakout season. He’s a promising prospect expected to outperform his draft position and contribute significantly as he transitions to the NHL. (Chris Ford)
#33 – Sacha Boisvert – Center – Muskegon
Sacha Boisvert is an entertaining watch. He’s got absolutely incredible handling and its led to gorgeous assists. Boisvert will toe drag to get separation and then quickly make use of a passing lane. He has a great shot off of the rush and has found success sniping far side top shelf goals from low danger. Boisvert makes use of tight passing lanes and won’t shy away from a pass over / under the stick of an attacker to get the puck in the hands of a open teammate further up in the zone. But, it’s the handling that makes Boisvert a fun prospect to watch. His dangling and toe drags have helped light the lamp in Muskegon regularly. (Josh Tessler)
#34 – Tomas Galvas – Left Handed Defenseman – Olomouc
Tomas Galvas is a solid puck moving defenseman, who does an excellent job in keeping the puck secure with traffic at his side. He won’t force the puck into tight pressure deliberately, but has shown that if he is encountering multiple attackers that he can keep his feet and hands moving to secure the puck and position it away from the attackers before chipping it off the boards. Galvas does a good job of using an active stick to trap attackers and force them to dump the puck in the neutral zone and take away potential shooting / passing lanes in his own zone. He has an excellent power stride that he will use to get himself into position to defend should be a bit too far away from where he needs to be. (Josh Tessler)
#35 – Emil Hemming – Forward – TPS
If the draft was all about raw talent then the big Finnish winger would be in seriously contention to go top 10. Scouts often talk about the “S’s of scouting”… skill, smarts, speed, size and skating. Hemming has them all. He can be a juggernaut even against men in Liiga, able to use his speed, edge-work, pick-handling and size in conjunction to drop a shoulder and get past anyone. Even at 17 years old against men, Hemming has an incredible transition game. His wrist-shot is lethal to boot, and he is able to pick a corner from anywhere on ice. Alongside this he is creative with silky hands, and when he is “on” this combined with a natural swagger and confidence means that he will undress defensemen regularly. While he may not be the most “natural” passer he has good vision as well, and tries to make cross-ice plays that most would never see. However, there are some real concerns about Hemming’s game that mean he is likely to go later in the 1st. While he has the size he rarely uses it, and plays on the perimeter. Defensively he gets lost far too often, and his consistency is also worrying, as even against his own age-group he can go missing for long stretches. There is the upside for him to be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL if he can iron out these kinks. (Alex Appleyard)
#36 – John Mustard – Forward – Waterloo
John Mustard is the definition of potential. He’s extremely raw in his use of his skill, and there’s a lot of adaptations he’s going to have to learn to be successful in a skilled role in the NHL, however the raw tool kit and compete level makes him a tantalizing prospect. He does have an awkward skating stride as he hunches over with a less bent knee, but with the puck on the stick Mustard can get to an above-average pace. His skill is great for his size, and he can get off the wall and into dangerous areas at ease at times with the puck on his stick. He’s a great forechecker and is very defensively responsible for a winger. He has a 24% shot share (his shots/team shots when he’s on the ice) and is a productive facilitator in the offensive zone. I’d like to see him get more pucks into dangerous areas of the ice with his passing, but his skill level is there that I’m not worried that only 16% of his passes have gone to dangerous areas of the ice. He’s a player to watch in the upcoming months because he has room to improve his microstat profile and if that happens, then his production profile is going to improve from impressive to one of the best in the USHL. (Austin Garret)
#37 – Aron Kiviharju – Left Handed Defenseman – TPS
Two years ago the Finnish blue-liner was being talked about as a potential #1 pick, yet now there are whispers that he might fall outside the 1st round. Is this simply a case of the spotlight being so strong, for so long, that his weaknesses have been magnified? The answer is probably no. There are legitimate concerns over his game. He is undersized, he is not the best skater, and early this season a knee injury that required surgery has put him out for four months. Kiviharju was expected to be healthy again in February, but only returned in April, just in time for the u-18 WJC, where he was solid but did not shine. However, in a league where top pairing defensemen are at a premium, if Kiviharju falls outside the first? There is the potential for one of the bigger draft steals in recent history. While there are concerns about his game the upside is inarguable. His hockey IQ would be the envy of most NHLers, he is almost always two-steps ahead and rarely makes bad decisions. This, combined with fantastic vision, great passing and silky hands means he is great in transition, and controls play when set-up in the OZ. Defensively he has an active stick, good gap control, and thrives on breaking up plays before they develop. He is also strong down low, even against players 15 years older and 50lbs heavier. His upside is still a #2-3 defenseman despite the concerns. (Alex Appleyard)
#38 – Daniil Ustinkov – Left Handed Defenseman – Zürich
Daniil Ustinkov is a solid defensive defensemen and has been excellent at eliminating gaps all season against men in Switzerland (National League). He isn’t overly assertive with his pressure, but makes does an excellent job of using his positioning to shield lanes to the inside and forces play to low danger. When attackers look to use pivots to shake free from pressure, Ustinkov matches edge for edge and doesn’t leave a gap. On the flip side, he will use pivots to shake free of pressure when he has the puck. From a transition perspective, Ustinkov looks to usually make an outlet pass from the backend to a teammate further up in the defensive zone and let his forwards push play up ice. But, there are some shifts in which he looks to be a bit more of a driver in transition. He will skate up the offensive zone blue line to be a passing option for his teammates in the neutral zone, facilitate a controlled zone entry once he has the puck on his stick, push the puck up the boards and try to find a gap to get a pass off to a teammate down in the zone. When off puck and the oppositional breakout is about to kick off, he will skate up to the backside of an attacker off of the boards to make it a challenge for that attacker to grab control of the puck off of a pass from the defenseman looking to complete a breakout pass. (Josh Tessler)
#39 – Henry Mews – Right Handed Defenseman – Ottawa
Henry Mews is a solid puck moving defenseman and a great distributor when pushing the puck up ice. Mews has excellent handling that he can ulitize to navigate through tight pressure to get separation before completing an outlet feed. While he has had productive shifts where he pushed pace, there are shifts in which I see Mews will encounter pressure and pass into traffic instead of using his handling to open up an uncontested passing lane. Defensively, Mews will struggle with gap control from time to time and his defensive work could use further refinement, but when you to balance that with his distribution with the puck you are looking at high second round pick. (Josh Tessler)
#40 – Cole Hutson – Left Handed Defenseman – USNTDP
Cole Hutson has tremendous upside, great mobility and shiftiness to open up space for himself to make an uncontested pass or shot. He likes to pinch up in the offensive zone and pass to the interior. But, Hutson has struggled with puck control and sometimes delays a bit too long when determining his next move while pinching with the puck. (Josh Tessler)
#41 – Topias Hynninen – Right Wing – Jukurit
Hynninen is a guy I’ve really enjoyed watching all year, and he’s steadily improved as the season’s gone by. He doesn’t necessarily excel at any one skill, but he isn’t lacking in any either. He’s very well-rounded; he does everything quite well, but it’s the energy and the pace that he plays with that stands out the most when you watch him. He plays hard, does very well in both offensive and defensive transitions, and is just an extremely effective player in all that he does. Making life miserable for opponents with his speed and intensity, constantly forcing errors and turnovers; and doing all of it against pro competition, without looking out of place in the slightest. The ceiling is likely not too high with him, but those traits alone I think will absolutely make him a valuable energy player in the NHL, and if he can further develop and unlock the playmaking potential I believe he has, well, that’s a great bonus. (Gray Matter)
#42 – Dominik Badinka – Right Handed Defensman – Malmö
Dominik Badinka is a 6’3”, 183lb right-shot defenseman who has seen his draft stock skyrocket this season. An interesting note on Badinka- he’s followed one of the most unusual development paths we’ve seen, playing in 3 different countries in 3 years. He spent his 16-year-old season in Czechia for Pirati Chomutov, his 17-year-old season in Finland for Jokerit, and his 18-year-old season in Sweden for Malmo. While he is one of the oldest defensemen in this draft class, he looks to be one of the furthest along in his development. Badinka finished this season having played more SHL games for Malmo (33) than J20 games (17). In those 33 SHL games, he tallied 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points while averaging around 15-minutes TOI. Badinka is a calm, mobile defenseman with size and two-way ability. He’s excellent on retrievals and breakouts, which enabled him to adjust to the SHL quickly and be given more and more ice-time. He’s an excellent puck mover who likes to have the puck on his stick and dictates play with poise and confidence. He’s also a solid defender who plays hard and was unafraid of the older competition in his first SHL season. He does lack high-end handling skill and ability to work the blue line in order to project as a true first powerplay QB or top pair defenseman (at this point). That being said, he still projects to be a reliable, minute-munching second pair defenseman who provides value at both ends of the ice. (Alex Appleyard)
#43 – Noel Fransén – Left Handed Defenseman – Färjestad
Noel Fransen went from being a relatively unknown defenseman in this draft class to one with fringe first round potential. He finished this season with the most goals and points of any defenseman in the J20, and he did the same last season in the J18. Fransen is an offensive-minded defenseman who thrives with the puck on his stick. He transports pucks through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone with ease using his quick feet and explosive speed bursts. He’s constantly with his head up, scanning the ice and identifying open lanes to attack. He’ll either attack these lanes to establish possession in the offensive zone, or he will attack and drive the net himself. He’s also scored a handful of coast-to-coast goals this season. Fransen has a terrific first-pass when the option to transport the puck himself isn’t there. Inside the offensive zone, he has a hard and accurate one-timer capable of beating goaltenders from distance. (SpokedZ)
#44 – EJ Emery – Right Handed Defenseman – USNTDP
EJ Emery, a North Dakota commit, is a standout physical defenseman known for his ability to win puck battles and make quick, effective passes under pressure. His defensive prowess is evident in his excellent positioning, which helps him keep attackers in low-danger areas and mitigate scoring opportunities. Emery’s strength and awareness allow him to take away net-front shooting threats, using his body to block shots and protect the crease. As a reliable outlet passer, he excels in transitioning the play, even when faced with intense pressure. Projecting to be a solid top 4 defenseman, Emery’s skill set solidifies him as a quintessential defensive defenseman, prioritizing strong, dependable play in his own zone. (Josh Tessler)
#45 – Terik Parascak – Right Wing – Prince George
Terik Parascak is a prospect with a lot diverse opinions around him. A lot of sites have Terik ranked as a first rounder, while some have Parascak as a second rounder. It largely comes down to whether or not you believe that his current play style will translate to the NHL level or will more polishing need to take place. The Smaht Scouting team is a bit more cautious with Parascak and I’ll explain why. Parascak does an excellent job of identifiying where he needs to be off-puck to provide his linemates with a quality passing option in a quality shooting lane. But, when Parascak is leading the charge and has the puck on his stick, his speed hampers his ability to cut to the inside. Parascak isn’t an overly physical player and won’t use his weight often when dealing with tight pressure while in possession of the puck. We project Parascak to be a third line forward at the next level. (Josh Tessler)
#46 – Tanner Howe – Forward – Regina
Tanner Howe plays a high-energy skilled game with a dogged off-puck game that allows him to play bigger than he is. I had very high expectations for Tanner Howe to be a dominant offensive player in the WHL and he’s somewhat disappointed. He has a good-not-great offensive transition involvement percentage of 35% and can go missing for stretches in transition with the puck not touching his stick as much as I’d like. His passing volume is rather low because of the lower percentage of transition opportunities, but he is passing at 24% to dangerous areas of the ice which is good. He’s fumbled the puck more than he did last year and some of his passes are off the mark, but the skill level and thought process behind his decisions are all there. His size will see him slip in the draft, but he should be a mid-second round pick at the latest. (Austin Garret)
#47 – Miguel Marques – Forward – Lethbridge
Miguel Marques is wired to get pucks to the interior. Whenever he has the puck outside of the slot and pressure intensifies, he looks for the tighest gaps and uses them to get pucks to the slot. He has great handling and will implement shot fakes and toe drags to net the separation that he needs to get a pass off. When shooting from range, he has a very quick shot release and will look to target glove side. He also tallied quite a few backdoor goals at 5v5 this season by being in the right space at the right time. He isn’t always the facilitator in transition, but plays a fairly active role in getting the puck up ice. Defensively, he plays more of a support role, but always looks to cement himself in open ice towards the blue line so he can provide an outlet lane for his defensemen. Marques has middle six upside. (Josh Tessler)
#48 – Yegor Surin – C – Yaroslavl
Surin is an interesting but frustrating player who’s moved up and down my board all year, and I’m still unsure of where to place him. He has a ton of skill, a pretty good motor, and good playmaking in flashes, but he doesn’t really know what to do with his tools most of the time. Some games he’s dominant, plays well physically and brings the skill that he has on every shift; but other times—most games I’ve seen—he really struggles to be effective. He generally plays well when given space by more passive defences, but when he’s challenged, it becomes a problem; he lacks real escapability and explosiveness in his skating, and he rarely ever tries to manipulate pace of play or use much deception in general. So combine that with his constant individualism and failure to work off his teammates, and what you typically see is him charging towards opponents solo and hoping to either pull the puck through their legs or power through them, and it’s not often a recipe for success, even in the MHL. When he does work off his teammates, there’s a lot more to like there; if he can be reined in a bit and learn to play more of a team game, he could be a solid complementary playmaker, or physical energy guy; both roles I think he could perform well in. (Gray Matter)
#49 – Cole Beaudoin – Center – Barrie
Cole Beaudoin is one of the stronger transitional centermen in the class. He doesn’t have flash, but instead has excellent reach and speed that he will utilize to push the puck around pressure in the neutral zone. Should he run into a brick wall as he approaches the slot off the rush, he will look to complete a drop pass to a teammate skating up behind him. Beaudoin’s ranking is indicative of how consistent he has been offensively with his ice time in the OHL level. I see a third line center at the next level. (Josh Tessler)
#50 – Matvei Gridin – Forward – Muskegon
This season Gridin led the USHL in points. He outproded players such as Trevor Connelly and Michael Hage, who seem certain to go inside the first round, yet the concensus is that the young Russian winger will go somewhere in the mid-2nd come June. Why is that? Well, it is mainly based around the way he plays the game, and not his skill-set and talent level. It is fair to say that Gridin plays on the perimeter, cheats a lot to create offence, plays at a slow pace, and does not back-check with effort consistently. Those are the things that will make NHL teams think twice before drafting the future Michigan Wolverine winger. But what does Gridin do well? He is a fantastic play-maker, with high-end hands, an accurate and quick release he can get off from any spot, and the ability to see plays in the offensive zone very few players his age can. Gridin also has a level of confidence that can border on arrogance, which makes for some real highlight reel plays. Skating wise he is agile for his size, is a smooth skater who while not a burner has at worst average straight-line speed. Despite the flaws he has clear top-six upside at the NHL level, and if he falls into the mid-2nd? Could be a potential steal down the line. But there is also the real risk he will “just” end up a high-scoring minor leaguer. (Alex Appleyard)
#51 – Julius Miettinen – Forward – Everett
Julius Miettinen has been a late riser in this draft both amongst NHL team consensus and the public scouting rankings. It is easy to see why. While he went into the season listed as a winger he played mostly down the middle, he is also 6’3, skates well, the foundation of his game is his strong DZ play, and Miettinen has some snarl to his game. Furthermore, he had an incredibly strong finish to the regular season, with 20 points in his final 10 games. However, the rave reviews that have had him catapult into first round contention seem over the top. 10 games don’t make a players career, let alone make them a first rounder. The rest of Miettinen’s young career have marked him out as someone who has likely 3rd line upside at the highest level. In the WHL he produced a large amount of his points on the power-play, and while a decent play-maker is not instinctive in the offensive zone or transition. His stand-out offensive trait is his ability around the net-front, and I think there is real concern that he is a LW, not at C, as a pro. An interesting prospect nonetheless who many teams will salivate over. (Alex Appleyard)
#52 – Ben Danford – Right Handed Defenseman – Oshawa
Ben Danford can be a very physically intimidating defenseman especially when the puck carrying attacker is vulnerable and has their back turned to Danford. But, he doesn’t just look to throw his weight, he will also look to extend his stick and catch opponents off guard with a pokecheck. His positioning is quite good and a lot of that can be credited to his excellent edgework and well-timed pivots to stay in tow when defending against an attacker. (Josh Tessler)
#53 – Leon Muggli – Left Handed Defenseman – Zug
The NLA is a top five league on earth. Yet at 17 years old Leon Muggli has already established himself as a good bottom pairing defenseman, something very few players manage to do. In fact, in the leagues 86 year history, the only defenseman who had a clearly better draft year? David Reinbacher, the #5 overall pick last year. So why is Muggli not ranked as a potential 1st round pick anywhere? The answer is related to upside. Muggli is super well-rounded, with plus skating, a good outlet pass, a deceptive wrist-shot and high IQ inside the red-line. For a 17 year old he makes very few mistakes, and is already able to PK well vs men. However, he is not “exceptional” in any area, is very risk-averse as a player, and his offensive game is unlikely to enable him to even be on an NHL power-play. It is very likely that he will play in the NHL one day, but in order to become more than “just” a solid #4 defenseman? He will need to take a few more risks and show more creativity once established in the offensive zone. Muggli could also do with engaging more physically at times, though that likely comes with more physical maturity. Whoever takes him, likely in the 2nd round, will be getting a player with a true high-floor, who is probably not that far away from being able to play in the NHL. And if he keeps improving, he can potentially become a very good 2nd pairing NHLer one day. (Alex Appleyard)
#54 – Veeti Väisänen – Left Handed Defenseman – KooKoo
In a draft brimming with exciting defensemen, Veeti Väisänen gets a bit lost in the shuffle. Is he an exciting player? Not really. Will he be a top pairing guy in the NHL? Unlikely. But what Väisänen lacks in terms of highlights, he makes up for with a well-rounded skill-set and a level of defensive maturity that few defensemen have at 17. This season, playing against men in Liiga, Väisänen has utilised his smooth skating, defensive IQ and strong stick to be a reliable presence on KooKoo’s back-end. He rarely gets beaten in the defensive zone, and he is strong in transition, utilising his great skating ability in conjunction with a level of calmness with the puck on his stick that allows him to scan the ice and pick out the best outlet options. However, while there is a lot to like about Väisänen, his upside is limited by his lack of high-end skills. He will likely never put up too many points, given his shot is just average, he is not overly creative, and his hands are middling. He also starts to turn the puck over as soon as he gets away from making the simple play. Late in the first he could be a solid option, and can certainly be a good second pairing defenseman down the line. (Alex Appleyard)
#55 – Leo Sahlin Wallenius – Left Handed Defenseman – Växjö
Leo Sahlin Wallenius is a left-shot defenseman who plays on the same Vaxjo J20 team as the aforementioned Alfons Freij. Of the two defenseman, Sahlin Wallenius is by far the more offensive-minded. He’s a skilled and mobile defenseman who looks to influence the play every time he steps onto the ice. He transports pucks through the neutral zone at high pace and into the offensive zone, creating high danger scoring chances with ease. Inside the offensive zone, Sahlin Wallenius is a very creative and unpredictable attacker. Never settling for hope shots from the point, he excels at activating from the blue line and skating around in search of open looks. He is also a solid enough defender that he should be able to make himself a fairly well-rounded defenseman with some legitimate offensive upside. (SpokedZ)
#56 – Kamil Bednarik – Center – USNTDP
Kamil Bednarik is extremely good in transition and has excellent good north-south speed to help him push pace. He will struggle in the corners and behind the red line with intensified pressure on his backside. But, usually Bednarik will only find himself in such situations if he can’t find a teammate to pass to off of the rush. Once he has passed the puck after bringing the puck up ice, Bednarik does a good job of acquiring open ice with an excellent shooting angle. (Josh Tessler)
#57 – Adam Jecho – Right Wing – Edmonton
Adam Jecho is consistently stronger defensively than he is offensively. Jecho will make good use of his physciality to close off the cycle behind the red line. He has excellent east-west speed that he can build up with his crossovers and that makes him quite strong at adapting to changes in puck movement when defending against the cycle. Jecho projects to be a checking line center, who can shift over to the wing and be a bit more physical on the backcheck if need be. (Josh Tessler)
#58 – Herman Träff – Right Wing – HV71
Träff is a player I’ve enjoyed a fair amount this year; he’s big, physical, smart, hard-working, fairly well-rounded, and brings some good skill with him as well. He’s a good forechecker, and positions himself well off the puck in general; he reads play quite well, supports well in transition and low in the offensive zone, and plays his role as a winger pretty effectively in the defensive zone as well. But the offensive side is a bit of a question mark; he’s super skilled, and he’s got a pretty good shot; but in my viewings, he doesn’t often find himself in situations to effectively utilise those skills, and he can fade into the background a bit. But I like Träff quite a bit, and I do think there’s potential for more offence in his game, but as it stands, I’m not super confident in his projection to the NHL as an offensive force. That said, I can easily see him ending up as a solid bottom-six physical power winger, who can chip in some offence here and there primarily by being a smart support player, and I think he could fill that role quite well. (Gray Matter)
#59 – Timur Kol – Left Handed Defenseman – Omsk
A lot of people, even those who have one eye on the NHL draft, probably don’t know who Timur Kol is. That is reflected by the fact that not one draft outlet has his ranked in their mid-term top 100. But make no mistake, he is someone who many NHL teams will be looking at closely, even if only for the fact that he is over 6’3, around 200lbs already, and is very mobile. That is a base combination that makes scouts excited when it comes to the modern NHL. But Kol is not just a big guy who can move. He spent half this season playing against men at the VHL level, and his 0.35 P/GP (8 in 23 gp) set the all-time record in terms of production from a draft eligible blue-liner. In terms of how he came about that level of production? The Muscovite defenseman’s offensive game is built mostly around his shot. It is not hyperbolic to say that that is wrist-shot is heavier and more accurate than most of the forwards in this years draft, and his slap-shot is certainly amongst the biggest in this draft. Alongside that he utilises his skating well to join the rush, and for a defenseman is more than happy to get to the slot or support his forwards inside the circles. His puck-skills are probably what lacks most offensively, and in turn he loses his handle on the puck more often than you would like to see under pressure. In terms of passing he is also pretty average. Defensively he has played admirably against men, using his big frame well to protect the puck as well as using his long reach and high defensive IQ to break up entries on a regular basis. If he can improve his puck-handling, as well as potentially be a bit more physical, he has the other skills to be a #4 defenseman in the NHL. (Alex Appleyard)
#60 – Yegor Graf – Center – SKA St. Petersburg
Graf can be a frustrating player at times, but he brings good intensity, and shows flashes of some very promising skill and play creation. He’s lacking in size and strength, and he can struggle with puck skills sometimes: struggling on receptions, poor control; but other times he’ll display some pretty high-end hands and crafty playmaking that catches you off guard. And he’s a very smart off-puck player as well, which lessens the impact of the occasional on-puck issues, and makes him a great complementary player on a line with a better play-driver. When paired with Demidov this season, I think Graf has really shined, and his best play has come; you get to see a lot more moments of high skill and creativity from him when Demidov is driving the play, and I think their play styles complement and elevate each other. I don’t think Graf will ever be able to drive play effectively on his own, but he’ll do some damage if you pair him with a skilled forward who’s more adept at creating space. (Gray Matter)
#61 – Adam Kleber – Right Handed Defenseman – Lincoln
Adam Kleber has excellent speed for his 6’4″ frame and great stick-handling that he will use to shift the puck around tight pressure before passing to an open teammate in the slot or along the blue-line. Kleber will throw his weight behind the red line and will implement quality shoulder checks to shut down the oppositional cycle. I would like to see Kleber acquire an active stick and use his reach when defending against the rush in the neutral zone, but he does an excellent job of taking away centered passing lanes with an active stick in the defensive zone. Ultimately, if Kleber uses his active stick more and more, he will only garner more ice time especially at the next level. (Josh Tessler)
#62 – Matvei Shuravin – Left Handed Defenseman – Krasnaya Armiya Moscow
Matvei Shuravin is a solid defensive-minded defensemen who does a good job of taking away space with his power stride. Should be slightly out of position, he’ll use his lengthy stride extensions to match pace and shut down the rush by trapping the attacker along the boards. He isn’t an overly assertive defenseman when taking on the F1, but maintains good positioning and extends his stick blade out towards the attacker to trap them. His distribution from deep in his own zone has been great. He can wire quick stretch passes to the neutral zone and does a good job of identifying tight passing lanes while pushing the puck up in the defensive zone and seeing that he could potentially get the puck in the hands of a teammate further up in the zone. His puck control and quick distribution in the defensive zone doesn’t always match to successful puck movement in the offensive and neutral zones. Shuravin will try to bring the puck up the middle in the offensive zone, but isn’t quick to get a pass off and runs into walls. When he doesn’t have possession of the puck in the offensive zone, he looks to engage himself in puck battles down low, win loose pucks and pass to the slot. (Josh Tessler)
#63 – Tarin Smith – Left Handed Defenseman – Everett
Tarin Smith is a skilled defenseman known for his exceptional outlet passing, often launching the puck from behind his red line with impressive long-range accuracy. His defensive prowess is evident in his ability to protect the slot, physically engaging attackers who attempt to screen his goaltender. Smith excels at using the boards to advance the puck, frequently passing to a teammate near the defensive zone blue line. Rather than pinching up with the puck, he prefers to find open lanes from the point, though he will advance when a teammate desperately needs a passing option. Additionally, Smith has a knack for perimeter shots off the rush, especially when a teammate doubles back and sets him up as he skates up from behind. (Josh Tessler)
#64 – Ryerson Leenders – Goaltender – Mississauga
Ryerson Leenders stands out in his draft class for his exceptional use of athleticism and technique in goalkeeping. He favors using the panda method when overlapping the posts, demonstrating his innovative approach to post protection. His quick reactionary movements are particularly effective during high-danger chances, making him a formidable opponent for attackers. Leenders typically relies on the Reverse Vertical-Horizontal (RVH) technique for post protection, showcasing his adaptability and precision in the crease. His agility is most evident when he shifts his pads in the butterfly position to block backdoor plays, consistently neutralizing high-danger scoring opportunities. No other player in this draft class matches Leenders’ ability to leverage athleticism to thwart offensive threats so effectively. (Josh Tessler)
#65 – Will Skahan – Left Handed Defenseman – USNTDP
Will Skahan, a Boston College commit, is a defenseman known for his effective neutral zone engagement, proactively challenging opponents before they reach the blue line to disrupt plays early. His positional awareness in the slot is strong, ensuring he covers dangerous areas to prevent scoring opportunities. Skahan’s physical presence is formidable, often using his size and strength to win battles and intimidate opponents, which complements his stay-at-home tendencies. Under pressure, he adeptly utilizes the boards for passes, aiming to move the puck to teammates safely. Additionally, Skahan has a knack for getting under opponents’ skin, using his tenacity to throw them off their game. (Josh Tessler)
#66 – Ilya Nabokov – Goaltender – Magnitogorsk
Ilya Nabokov, a 6’1″ overager KHL goaltender, played the entire season for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, showcasing a mix of strengths and areas for improvement. Known for his excellent glove, Nabokov demonstrates a solid ability to handle medium danger chances effectively. His side-to-side speed in the butterfly position is commendable, allowing him to cover the net efficiently. However, he tends to overcommit on high danger chances, which can lead to vulnerabilities. A key area for improvement is his tendency to expose the five hole when shifting laterally in net, particularly in the butterfly position. Additionally, Nabokov consistently overlaps the post with his pad, further bolstering his defensive coverage. With focused development on these specific areas, Nabokov has the potential to enhance his overall performance significantly. (Josh Tessler)
#67 – Clarke Caswell – Forward – Swift Current
Clarke is a super high-end thinker, who you can see problem solving on the ice. When handling the puck, he’s straight up sneaky, and makes a ton of defenders miss with poke checks or other attempts to disrupt with their stick. Was really happy to see him on the central scoutings final instalment, as he is a player that definitely warrants consideration in the middle rounds. He’ll need to round out some of his tools, and increase his strength, but the smarts and puck skills are there for him to be a contributor at the next level. (Ben Jordan)
#68 – Pavel Moysevich – Goaltender – SKA St. Petersburg
Pavel Moysevich, a towering 6’5″ overage goalie, has demonstrated his skills across all three Russian hockey leagues—VHL, KHL, and MHL—while playing for SKA St. Petersburg this season. Known for effectively filling the net, Moysevich employs a wide stance that enhances his coverage and stability. His proactive approach sees him venturing slightly out of the crease and playing further out on the rush, avoiding the tendency to cage himself. Moysevich exhibits good rebound control, crucial for minimizing second-chance opportunities. However, he occasionally fumbles high-danger pucks, requiring him to swiftly seal the puck before attackers can capitalize. Despite this, he excels at maintaining situational awareness, using head movements to keep an eye on the ice and manage pressure near the net. (Josh Tessler)
#69 – Charlie Elick – Right Handed Defenseman – Brandon
Charlie Elick is a defense first defenseman who can close gaps with quality speed through his power stride and crossovers. Once he picks up possession of the puck, he generally quickly gets ride of the puck once he has spotted a lane to an open teammate up ice. Elick isn’t as overwhelming physically as some other defensemen in the class, but will use his physicality to quiet the rush. Elick projects to be a number four/five defenseman. (Josh Tessler)
#70 – Brodie Ziemer – Forward – USNTDP
Brodie Ziemer, a Minnesota Golden Gopher commit, excels in puck manipulation, skillfully forcing attackers to change their stick placement, which opens up new passing lanes. He is known for his quick decision-making, often opting to pass to an open teammate rather than holding onto the puck for extended periods. Ziemer demonstrates remarkable ability with breakout passes, particularly when he is in control during a rush. Although he isn’t the primary puck mover on his line, he consistently looks to push the puck up the ice swiftly, frequently employing one-touch passing to maintain the pace and fluidity of play. (Josh Tessler)
#71 – Harrison Brunicke – Right Handed Defenseman – Kamloops
The only South African born NHL player to have made it to date has been Olaf Kölzig. Brunicke has an excellent shot to join the ranks. He has excellent speed through his crossovers and straight line extensions and that allows him to grab onto loose pucks in his own zone and drive up ice quickly. Brunicke does seem to struggle to find success along the blue-line when he is called upon to control the puck at the point and find seperation and a passing lane to the inside. But, there is no denying how great Brunicke can be at pushing pace from the backend and leading the transition. (Josh Tessler)
#72 – Raoul Boilard – Center – Baie-Comeau
Raoul Boilard, a center for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, was once seen as a first-round candidate with standout positional play and system hockey skills. He excels in supporting teammates, shortening passing lanes, and providing easy outlets under pressure. Boilard’s smart, logical passes and constant pressure in all zones turn defense into offense effectively. While he appears as a quiet, two-way player, Boilard’s high skill level surfaces unexpectedly with deceptive passes and creative rushes. Standing at 6-foot-2, he has the size, smarts, and occasional brilliance that make him an intriguing NHL prospect. However, his play dropped off later in the season, showing passivity that led to a reassessment of his upside. Boilard’s next step is to become more proactive in creating offensive opportunities. If he can elevate his playmaking and offensive drive, he has the potential to become a reliable bottom-six NHL center. Additionally, he is a faceoff specialist with a blend of composure and aggression, excelling in critical aspects of the game like net-front play and board battles. With improved skills, he could rise to a second-line defensive specialist role in the NHL. (Chris Ford)
#73 – A.J. Spellacy – Center – Windsor
Speed stands out early in viewings of Spellacy. He’s one of, if not the fastest straight-line skaters that I’ve seen from this draft class. When he got a full head of steam coming through the neutral zone in the OHL, it was trouble for many defenders. As he improves, and progresses to the next level, he’ll have to improve his play through contact. He struggles to make plays, or get shots off when overwhelmed physically, and doesn’t do as well as well evading those pressures. All that’s not to say he isn’t a physical player though… he clocks in at 6’2 and isn’t afraid to lay the body. Look for Spellacy to hear his name called in the middle to late rounds in Vegas. (Ben Jordan)
#74 – Jacob Battaglia – Right Wing – Kingston
Has excellent stick-handling and mobility to navigate around pressure along the half-wall. His straight line speed still requires further polishing, but his edgework has proven to be quite strong. Battaglia can pivot out on a dime, delay to throw off the attack and that leads to a fellow teammate skating into position to give Battaglia a quality passing lane to exploit. Battaglia won’t be the primary puck mover on the line, but will play an excellent support role. (Josh Tessler)
#75 – Eemil Vinni – Goaltender – HIFK
Eemil Vinni is a goaltender known for his keen ability to track attackers through traffic, allowing him to reset effectively for shots on net. However, he struggles with lateral acceleration, affecting his ability to move quickly from side to side. Vinni tends to adopt a conservative stance within the crease when facing rushes, which sometimes leads to him giving up the five-hole, especially when an attacker doesn’t have a clear shot. His over-shifting can result in leaving the far side open, as demonstrated when he allowed a goal on a far side shot after an attacker had clearance. Despite these challenges, Vinni exhibits a strong glove hand on low-danger shots and rarely concedes on the short side, thanks to his heavy reliance on the RVH (Reverse-VH) technique. Nonetheless, he has shown difficulty controlling his movements during splits, often overcommitting and allowing attackers on the far side ample opportunity to score. (Josh Tessler)
#76 – Maxim Massé – Right Wing – Chicoutimi
Maxim Massé, winner of the Michael Bossy Trophy for the QMJHL’s top professional prospect, has the skills and tools for a successful NHL career. The Chicoutimi Saguenéens winger is known for his speed and ability to handle physical play. He excels in winning pucks below the goal line and setting up scoring opportunities. Massé is a prolific goal scorer, capable of hammering passes from the slot and beating goalies cleanly. Despite a slight drop in performance, he has shown consistent scoring ability, finishing two consecutive seasons with the most goals on his team. While Massé’s development has slowed, he still has the potential to excel as a power forward in the top-nine, with power play time. Even in a bottom-line, two-way role, his skills make him a valuable prospect, making him a smart pick in the 2nd or 3rd round. (Chris Ford)
#77 – Jakub Fibigr – Left Handed Defenseman – Mississauga
The Czech blue-liner went slightly under the radar this season, easy to understand why when you consider just how many defensemen are eligible for this draft who have clear top four NHL upside. Of all major draft outlets only Craig Button has him going inside the second round. His 0.7 P/GP in the OHL may not immediately jump off the page, but he was not on PP1 for most of the year, and in turn the majority of his points came at even strength. In fact, he picked up 0.49 non-PP P/GP this season. Between 2006 and 2019, only 30 CHL defensemen hit over 0.45 non-PP P/GP in their draft year. Of those 30? 20 became legitimate NHL players, and 13 reached top four level. Of course, that is all well and good, but what does Fibigr do that will give him a good chance at an NHL future? His game is built around his skating. He uses it well in all three zones, from cutting off zone entries with his lateral mobility, to joining the rush and creating difficult situations for opposition defenses with his long, smooth stride. Fibigr looks effortless on ice as a result, and it allows him to play the game in an aggresive manner, as he can use his skating to recover from any mistakes. However, his game certainly does not lack effort. Despite still being physically immature he is not scared to take a hit, or dish one out, and he is constantly searching for “soft-ice”, with his off-puck movement being a big plus in all three zones, creating headaches for any team when it comes to lane coverage. His hands are above average, and he thinks the game very well, often looking a step ahead. He is good at getting shots through, but does lack a bit of zip on his release. Overall, Fibigr is a well-rounded blue-liner who if he simply keeps developing over the next few years? He can probably become a #4-5 defenseman in the NHL. (Alex Appleyard)
#78 – Alexander Zetterberg – Center – Örebro
If Alexander Zetterberg was a couple of inches taller he would be in contention for the first round of the draft. However, he is listed at 5’8 and under 160lbs and may be even smaller than that, and while size is less and less important in the NHL, there are serious concerns that his high skill level will be limited due to simply being physically unable to cope with the combination of strength and speed that pro hockey presents. In fact, he was not even invited to the NHL combine, probably due to such concerns. It should be noted though that Zetterberg is used to playing against bigger, older players, and has done every year since he was a 13 year old playing against 16 year olds. He has also excelled at every level he has played, including this year where he was top 10 in J20 scoring. His skill-set is intriguing, he is deceptive, elusive, is a fantastic passer and has a high IQ, especially in the offensive zone. He is also tenacious and always tries to keep his feet moving. Zetterberg also has a good shot, especially on the PP. The undersized Swede has every component in place to be a potential draft steal if he falls outside the second round, and though at the pro level he likely moves to wing. (Alex Appleyard)
#79 – Luca Marrelli – Right Handed Defenseman – Oshawa
Luca Marrelli is a excellent distributor from deep in his zone. He does an excellent job of incorporating delays to allow his teammates to skate further down before feathering a pass. Marrelli does a good job of igniting odd man rushes with those well-timed passes. Defensively, Marelli has a bit of a passive approach. I would like to see Marrelli acquire an active stick or look to be physical when he is right next to the puck carrier. But, he does keep excellent positioning. Offensively, if he runs out of real estate, he won’t force the puck into a tight spot and will complete a well-placed drop pass. (Josh Tessler)
#80 – Justin Poirier – Right Wing – Baie-Comeau
Justin Poirier is known for his prowess as a heavy shooter from the half wall. Despite being undersized, he excels at finding gaps on the short side from range and scoring, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone. Poirier demonstrates an impressive ability to capitalize on opportunities, particularly when goaltenders leave their five-hole exposed during low-danger 5v5 situations. When controlling the puck and pushing the pace, he skillfully uses his edges to drift away from pressure, maintaining possession and creating scoring chances. His strategic shooting and evasive maneuvers make him a valuable asset on the ice. He projects to be a third line shooter at the NHL level. (Josh Tessler)
#81 – Christopher Thibodeau – Center – Kingston
Christopher Thibodeau is a skilled transitional winger known for his strategic playmaking abilities. He excels at executing precise drop passes in the neutral zone, particularly effective against a 1-3 trap during a 2-3 rush, which allows him to smoothly transition the puck to a teammate. Thibodeau demonstrates an impressive understanding of time and space, often waiting for defenders to overcommit before delivering accurate passes to the slot. Despite potentially being undersized, he adeptly manages pressure situations, skillfully utilizing drop passes when space is limited. His keen awareness and ability to read the game enable him to maximize his team’s offensive opportunities, making him a valuable asset on the ice. (Josh Tessler)
#82 – Jesse Pulkkinen – Left Handed Defenseman – JYP
People often talk, across all sports, about finding potential “unicorns”. Players with such a rare mix of attributes that they are close to mythical beings. While this phrase is thrown around far too often, Jesse Pulkinnen gets close… maybe more Okapi than unicorn, but still such an intriguing player on numerous levels. He is 6’6 and over 220lbs for starters. Then add in the fact he has a powerful stride, albeit is an awkward skater at times. Place on top of this a mean streak. Then sprinkle on silky handy and boundless confidence. There are very few players quite like him. His development is unorthodox too. A “solid” defenseman at u-18 and u-20 level the last few years, he went undrafted last season at 18 years old. However, he must have found something magical over summer, as this season he looked a different player. His 1.56 P/GP at the u-20 level were the most in league history for a player who iced in 15+ games, and he more than held his own in 35 games at the pro level, split between Liiga and Mestis. He also impressed at the World Juniors. Pulkinnen has impressive upside, and certainly could be a second pairing NHLer on skill-set alone. But he is still extremely raw, especially in the defensive zone, where his IQ seems severely lacking at times. (Alex Appleyard)
#83 – Christian Humphreys – Center – USNTDP
Christian Humphreys does an excellent job of threading tight passes. It doesn’t matter if its in transition or behind the red line in the offiensive zone, Humphreys can capitalize in tight. He will also look to be deceptive too with his distribution and won’t shy away from behind the back backhand passes after capturing a loose puck behind the red line. If he sees a teammate skating into a potential passing lane and has an attacker forcing Humphreys to push the puck to one side of his body, he will swing the behind the back pass instead of repositioning himself to be square with his teammate. If he looks to square up, he might lose that passing option. (Josh Tessler)
#84 – John Whipple – Left Handed Defenseman – USNTDP
Whipple has excellent reach and will use his reach nicely in transition when defending against the rush. He extends his stick out to take away space and force dump ins. Whipple has excellent speed with his crossovers and straight line extensions. His speed allows him to adjust his positioning quickly off puck to keep his positioning aligned with a vulnerable attacker who has their back turned towards Whipple. (Josh Tessler)
#85 – Luke Osburn – Left Handed Defenseman – Youngstown
Osburn has grown well into a steady, reliable defenceman for Youngstown over the course of the year. He likely won’t blow you away much watching him this year, but the potential that he has is tangible regardless. The timing and anticipation, the fluidity and escapability in his skating, on top of being one of the better passers among defencemen in the class, using his reach to open and attack passing lanes under pressure; it’s easy to see all of that adding up to a pretty great puck-moving defender at the next level. That said, there’s a long road ahead of him, and a lot of development needed for him to get to a place where he can apply his skills in the NHL, and it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll get there. But he’s very young for the draft, and I think the skills that he has could take him far if he keeps refining them. With a few years in college, I could absolutely see him developing into a top-4 puck-mover at the NHL level. (Gray Matter)
#86 – Kim Saarinen – Goaltender – HPK
Kim Saarinen is a conservative goaltender known for his strategic positioning and effective net coverage. He excels in firm stick placement, which aids in executing far-side wrap-around goals even when facing traffic in front of the net. Saarinen’s upright stance allows him to take away a significant portion of the net, and he demonstrates strong overlap with his blocker when in the butterfly position. However, while he employs the RVH (Reverse-VH) technique proficiently, he sometimes struggles to react quickly enough to far-side or blind-side shots, especially when there is traffic at the doorstep. Despite this, his large overlap and conservative style make him a reliable presence in the crease. (Josh Tessler)
#87 – Simon Zether – Center – Rögle
Simon Zether is a player I’ve been quite surprised hasn’t earned more love in this draft class. He’s a 6’3” two-way center who earned a full-time spot on Rogle BK’s SHL squad this season. He’s a highly intelligent player who already excels on the defensive side of the puck. He knows how to use his big frame to be a physical pest and is strong enough to win battles versus much older competition. He also does possess some legit skill and has proven to be a goal-scoring threat when playing against his peers. He’s shown much more willingness to use his size and strength to his advantage offensively over time as well, taking pucks at the blue line and driving to the net himself with defenders unable to take the puck from him. A lack of footspeed could hinder the offensive upside, but his intelligence, reliability and defensive prowess should make him a valuable NHL centerman for a long time.
#88 – Andrei Krutov – Left Wing/Right Wing – Nizhny Novgorod
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod’s system is fast becoming a talent factory. With the legendary Igor Larionov at the helm of the senior team, the set-up seems to mirror his philosophy, with skill, speed, IQ and tenacity a hallmark of those coming through the system, and Larionov being one of the few KHL head coaches who gives young players chances at the highest level, and does not pigeonhole or limit their game. This draft will be a banner year for the Novgorod club, high-lighted by Silayev and Artamonov, who may both go inside the first round. However, a third Novgorod product will also be drafted, the highly skilled winger Andrei Krutov. Krutov’s game is built around his fantastic hands, creativity, and ability to get free for shots. He is truly dominant in the MHL on the power-play, though while he has a quick release that he loves to use he could be more accurate and increase his shot velocity. The main reasons he is not universally ranked higher is he is merely a “decent” skater and is not really a play-driver. Nonetheless, he will surely be at worst a good KHLer one day, with the potential to be an NHL middle six winger if everything goes well. (Alex Appleyard)
#89 – Tory Pitner – RHD – Youngstown
Pitner has not got much attention this year, and at some level that is understandable. He is the kind of player that if he makes it to the NHL won’t be plastered over bill-boards, he won’t be talked about amongst opposition fans, but in his own locker-room and the home arena concourse he will be beloved. His game is built around doing all the little things right. In turn, especially in the defensive zone, he can make difficult plays look easy, and really does not have any glaring weaknesses. His gap is very strong for his age, and when combined with an active stick forwards struggle to enter the zone cleanly vs him. Additionally, he is strong for his 6’1 size, has an infuriating stick to deal with around the crease, and can lay big hits too. He also rarely gets beaten in physical battles, and understands how to use his leverage extremely well. Pitner also moves the puck well and supports his team-mates in transition. While he lacks creativity in the offensive zone and his skating could be better, if he improves at least the second aspect of his game it is easy to see him being a solid #4-6 defenseman in the NHL one day. (Alex Appleyard)
#90 – Carter George – Goaltender – Owen Sound
Carter George is a highly effective goaltender known for his agility and ability to quickly reset, particularly during rushes. His technique of taking away a lot of space in the net while standing upright is complemented by his pad overlap, which effectively covers low shots. George is skilled at presenting the five hole to opponents only to take it away swiftly, a tactic that often disrupts shooters’ timing. However, he occasionally overcommits outside the crease during odd-man rushes, which can lead to vulnerabilities. Despite this, his ability to reset quickly after such scenarios makes him a formidable presence in the net. (Josh Tessler)
#91 – Lucas Van Vliet – Left Wing – USNTDP
Lucas Van Vliet served in a depth role for the USNTDP this season, showcasing his strength as a defensive forward. His excellent positioning and adept stick work make him effective at disrupting attackers and taking away passing lanes, often forcing opponents into less advantageous plays like dump outs or D to D passing. Known for his heavy shot, Van Vliet is proactive in shifting the puck around the offensive zone to find optimal shooting lanes. He particularly loves to shoot off the draw from the hashmarks. (Josh Tessler)
#92 – Kenta Isogai – Forward – Wenatchee
Kenta Isogai, a native of Nagano, Japan, is a re-entry prospect in his draft year plus two. Last season, he played for Wenatchee in the WHL after several seasons in the USHL with Youngstown. Isogai is known for his excellent positional awareness in the offensive zone, effectively adjusting his position as his teammates shift, providing a reliable backdoor option at the net front. He is a very physical player, consistently applying pressure immediately after an opponent gains possession, forcing them into low-danger areas. Isogai excels in using his physicality to disrupt opponents, knocking them off the puck in open ice. Additionally, he demonstrates a keen ability to find and exploit tight gaps for passing lanes to the inside. As a two-way winger, his physical presence is felt in the neutral zone, where he also displays good stick handling and puck security, even when handling the puck wide. (Josh Tessler)
#93 – Mac Swanson – Forward – Fargo
I don’t often start a player write-up with questions, but this one merits some. Who was the highest scoring forward in the USHL this season at 5v5? Who led the USA in scoring at the WJAC-19? Who was almost P/GP LAST season at 16 years old in the USHL? Who was Clark Cup MVP? Who was USHL Player of the Year? No, it was not Trevor Connelly, who will go top 20 in the draft, it was his international line-mate, Mac Swanson. Swanson has everything to be a star in the NHL. Everything aside from one thing. One thing he really cannot control. Size. Swanson is listed at 5’7, and alongside that is a pretty average skater, though he is agile. However, he is an incredible playmaker with an intuitive understanding of how to control a game. Swanson also has a solid shot and creates space well both for himself and his line-mates. While capable of playing all three forward positions, and very comfortable at C in junior hockey, he most likely kicks out to wing in the pros. If Swanson falls out of the top 100 he really does have potential steal written all over him. (Alex Appleyard)
#94 – Heikki Ruohonen – Center – Kiekko-Espoo
Ruohonen is a player whose draft stock has risen partially due to exposure. His five points in five games at the u-18 WJC have had him catapult as high as top 50 in some rankings. There is a lot to like about his game, he is an intelligent two-way center who is diligent defensively, works hard in all three zones, can deliver some bruising hits, and rarely loses a board battle. And all this is ignoring the fact that he had the highest P/GP of any first time draft eligible u-20 SM-Sarja regular this season. Very few players who do what he did this season at that level don’t end up – at worst – good Euro league or AHL players. Offensively he is a deceptive passer who is a danger around the net to boot. He will never be the most “skilled” player, his hands can be clunky, and he can struggle to get shots off from tough spots. Ruohonen is also not the worst skater but does need to get a bit quicker is he is going to excel at the pro level. However, his IQ, drive and well-rounded game mean that with continued improvement to his skating he has a chance to one day make the NHL in a bottom-six role. (Alex Appleyard)
#95 – Ollie Josephson – Forward – Red Deer
Ollie won’t wow you with his skill, and likely won’t factor in much as a scorer at the next level, but that shouldn’t deter teams from calling his name later in the draft. I would describe Josephson as a speedy, two-way winger that uses his hockey sense to ensure proper positioning at every turn. I think given his ability to read and disrupt exits and passes that Ollie could be a guy relied upon to kill penalties at the pro level. What makes Ollie most valuable, is his versatility. He could plug in at any of the six bottom-six slots in a line-up, while also contributing as mentioned on a PK. Very safe floor for Josephson, I expect to hear his name late 3rd or into the 4th. (Ben Jordan)
#96 – Anthony Romani – Center/Right Wing – North Bay
Romani really took off this season after being passed over in the 2023 entry draft (his first year eligible). Heading into the 2024 draft, there’s no dispute whether he’ll be selected, but rather how much he’ll slide due to his production coming a year later than most in this class. What I saw from Romani this season was his hockey sense coming through in the offensive zone. It looked like he was reacting to what the game was giving him, instead of thinking with the puck on his stick. His passing is elite, and he has the ability to feed teammates from just about anywhere, using different puck touches and velocities to reach teammates. Not only was playmaking a big reason for his offensive leap this season, but he clearly came in stronger this season, and possessed a much more dangerous shot. (Ben Jordan)
#97 – Melvin Fernström – Forward – Örebro
Melvin Fernström is going to be a good pro hockey player in the not-so-distant future, the only question is at what level. He dressed in nine games in the SHL for Örebro this season, playing in seven, including three in the play-offs. While he did not trouble the scoresheet, you can see why he was trusted to ice in such big games with a lot on the line. He is a mature player in every sense of the word, already with a pro frame and pro habits. Fernström has excellent anticipation, skates well, and is incredibly strong on his skates for an 18-year-old. Furthermore, for a winger his age he is a net positive defensively, even though at times he can switch off when his team don’t have the puck. Offensively his game is built around getting to danger areas on ice, being hard to contain on the cycle, and his shot. I would not say his shot itself is high-end, but he is incredible at finding space to get it off and will put pucks on net with good velocity even when he is off balance, or it is in his feet or at the end of his reach. He also has quick hands in terms of deflections and tips. While not the most purely “skilled” player his game has the hallmarks of a player who if things go well could be a good NHL third liner. (Alex Appleyard)
#98 – Kevin He – Left Wing – Niagara
After a 21 goal rookie season on a subpar IceDogs team, I was curious to see what Kevin He would accomplish offensively in his NHL draft year. Again, on a subpar Niagara team he was able to work with what he had, finishing the year with 31 snipes and 53 points in 64 games. I love the way He works the wing. It feels like when he’s controlling the puck, that the defenders play at his pace, and that he controls the play. He’s been a tad one-dimensional offensively in that a lot of his offense comes off turnover and scoring on odd-man rush scenarios. With that said, he got a lot stronger this year, and his play below the goal line definitely improved. He’s got sneaky speed, and sneaky physicality that really help to maintain possession of the puck, and a sneaky shot that can beat goalies at the junior level. (Ben Jordan)
#99 – Evan Gardner – Goaltender – Saskatoon
Evan Gardner, the goaltender for the Saskatoon Blades, exhibits a predominantly shallow positioning style, rarely drifting far outside the crease. Standing at 6’2″, Gardner effectively squares up to shots, leveraging his good side-to-side movement to face them directly. However, he struggles with rebound control, particularly off his glove, which often results in additional scoring opportunities for opponents. While he employs the Reverse-VH (RVH) technique for post protection, Gardner inconsistently uses it against rush plays, leading to vulnerabilities, especially with low-danger five-hole shots. Additionally, his difficulties with trapping pucks using his glove contribute to his rebound control issues. Despite these challenges, Gardner’s solid positional play and lateral quickness remain key strengths in his goaltending repertoire. (Josh Tessler)
#100 – Vladislav Bryzgalov – Goaltender – Alberni Valley
Vladislav Bryzgalov, the son of former NHL goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, has been making a name for himself in the hockey world. This season, he played primarily in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), with a brief stint in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Bryzgalov is known for his remarkable athleticism and post-to-post speed, making him a formidable presence in the net. His rebound control is excellent, and he exhibits quick reaction times, particularly when shifting in the butterfly position to shut down rebound shots. Despite not being a large goaltender, Bryzgalov effectively leverages toe pad saves when he’s not fully squared to the shot. His ability to quickly reset after a save makes him a challenging goaltender to beat. (Josh Tessler)
Honorable Mentions
Ondrej Kos, Jiří Ticháček, Marcus Kearsey, Aatos Koivu, Eriks Mateiko, Sebastian Soini, Ivan Yunin, Dean Letourneau, Kieron Walton
Full List
| Rank | Player | Position | Team |
| 1 | Macklin Celebrini | C | Boston University |
| 2 | Ivan Demidov | RW | SKA St. Petersburg |
| 3 | Berkly Catton | F | Spokane |
| 4 | Artyom Levshunov | RHD | Michigan State University |
| 5 | Cayden Lindstrom | F | Medicine Hat |
| 6 | Zeev Buium | LHD | University of Denver |
| 7 | Tij Iginla | F | Kelowna |
| 8 | Zayne Parekh | RHD | Saginaw |
| 9 | Sam Dickinson | LHD | London |
| 10 | Liam Greentree | RW | Windsor |
| 11 | Nikita Artamonov | LW | Nizhny Novgorod |
| 12 | Cole Eiserman | LW | USNTDP |
| 13 | Trevor Connelly | F | Tri-City |
| 14 | Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | RW | Mora |
| 15 | Konsta Helenius | C/RW | Tappara |
| 16 | Adam Jiricek | RHD | Plzen |
| 17 | Alfons Freij | LHD | Växjö |
| 18 | Michael Hage | C | Chicago |
| 19 | Anton Silayev | LHD | Nizhny Novgorod |
| 20 | Teddy Stiga | LW | USNTDP |
| 21 | Beckett Sennecke | RW | Oshawa |
| 22 | Igor Chernyshov | LW | Dynamo Moscow |
| 23 | Andrew Basha | F | Medicine Hat |
| 24 | Carter Yakemchuk | RHD | Calgary |
| 25 | Luke Misa | C | Mississauga |
| 26 | Lucas Pettersson | C | MoDo |
| 27 | Jett Luchanko | C | Guelph |
| 28 | Ryder Ritchie | F | Prince Albert |
| 29 | Linus Eriksson | C | Djurgården |
| 30 | Stian Solberg | LHD | Vålerenga |
| 31 | Marek Vanacker | LW | Brantford |
| 32 | Sam O’Reilly | RW | London |
| 33 | Sacha Boisvert | C | Muskegon |
| 34 | Tomas Galvas | LHD | Olomouc |
| 35 | Emil Hemming | F | TPS |
| 36 | John Mustard | F | Waterloo |
| 37 | Aron Kiviharju | LHD | TPS |
| 38 | Daniil Ustinkov | LHD | Zürich |
| 39 | Henry Mews | RHD | Ottawa |
| 40 | Cole Hutson | LHD | USNTDP |
| 41 | Topias Hynninen | RW | Jukurit |
| 42 | Dominik Badinka | RHD | Malmö |
| 43 | Noel Fransén | LHD | Färjestad |
| 44 | EJ Emery | RHD | USNTDP |
| 45 | Terik Parascak | RW | Prince George |
| 46 | Tanner Howe | F | Regina |
| 47 | Miguel Marques | F | Lethbridge |
| 48 | Yegor Surin | C | Yaroslavl |
| 49 | Cole Beaudoin | C | Barrie |
| 50 | Matvei Gridin | F | Muskegon |
| 51 | Julius Miettinen | F | Everett |
| 52 | Ben Danford | RHD | Oshawa |
| 53 | Leon Muggli | LHD | Zug |
| 54 | Veeti Väisänen | LHD | KooKoo |
| 55 | Leo Sahlin Wallenius | LHD | Växjö |
| 56 | Kamil Bednarik | C | USNTDP |
| 57 | Adam Jecho | RW | Edmonton |
| 58 | Herman Träff | RW | HV71 |
| 59 | Timur Kol | LHD | Omsk |
| 60 | Yegor Graf | C | SKA St. Petersburg |
| 61 | Adam Kleber | RHD | Lincoln |
| 62 | Matvei Shuravin | LHD | Krasnaya Armiya Moscow |
| 63 | Tarin Smith | LHD | Everett |
| 64 | Ryerson Leenders | G | Mississauga |
| 65 | Will Skahan | LHD | USNTDP |
| 66 | Ilya Nabokov | G | Magnitogorsk |
| 67 | Clarke Caswell | F | Swift Current |
| 68 | Pavel Moysevich | G | SKA St. Petersburg |
| 69 | Charlie Elick | RHD | Brandon |
| 70 | Brodie Ziemer | F | USNTDP |
| 71 | Harrison Brunicke | RHD | Kamloops |
| 72 | Raoul Boilard | C | Baie-Comeau |
| 73 | A.J. Spellacy | C | Windsor |
| 74 | Jacob Battaglia | RW | Kingston |
| 75 | Eemil Vinni | G | HIFK |
| 76 | Maxim Massé | RW | Chicoutimi |
| 77 | Jakub Fibigr | LHD | Mississauga |
| 78 | Alexander Zetterberg | C | Örebro |
| 79 | Luca Marrelli | RHD | Oshawa |
| 80 | Justin Poirier | RW | Baie-Comeau |
| 81 | Christopher Thibodeau | C | Kingston |
| 82 | Jesse Pulkkinen | LHD | JYP |
| 83 | Christian Humphreys | C | USNTDP |
| 84 | John Whipple | LHD | USNTDP |
| 85 | Luke Osburn | LHD | Youngstown |
| 86 | Kim Saarinen | G | HPK |
| 87 | Simon Zether | C | Rögle |
| 88 | Andrei Krutov | LW/RW | Nizhny Novgorod |
| 89 | Tory Pitner | RHD | Youngstown |
| 90 | Carter George | G | Owen Sound |
| 91 | Lucas Van Vliet | LW | USNTDP |
| 92 | Kenta Isogai | F | Wenatchee |
| 93 | Mac Swanson | F | Fargo |
| 94 | Heikki Ruohonen | C | Kiekko-Espoo |
| 95 | Ollie Josephson | F | Red Deer |
| 96 | Anthony Romani | C/RW | North Bay |
| 97 | Melvin Fernström | F | Örebro |
| 98 | Kevin He | LW | Niagara |
| 99 | Evan Gardner | G | Saskatoon |
| 100 | Vladislav Bryzgalov | G | Alberni Valley |
| HM | Ondrej Kos | F | Ilves |
| HM | Jiří Ticháček | LHD | Kladno |
| HM | Marcus Kearsey | LHD | Charlottetown |
| HM | Aatos Koivu | C | TPS |
| HM | Oskar Vuollet | C/LW | Skellefteå |
| HM | Eriks Mateiko | LW | Saint John |
| HM | Sebastian Soini | RHD | Ilves |
| HM | Ivan Yunin | G | Omsk |
| HM | Dean Letourneau | C | Sioux Falls |
| HM | Kieron Walton | C/LW | Sudbury |