Draft Rankings are back! After a year-long absence, we’re back with a ranking of the top 16 prospects in the 2024 NHL draft. This draft is a very deep one with a plethora of prospects of different styles and strengths. With that being said, who are some names that you’ll see in the top half of round one.

#1 – Macklin Celebrini (Center, NCAA)

The consensus number one pick in the draft is first on our board. Celebrini, a Canadian forward who decided to spend his draft year in the American college system, is a bigger player who uses his size to his advantage, closing off opposing players and applying aggressive forchecking. Celebrini isn’t the quickest player, in fact he’s a very heavy skater, but he does have the ability to turn up the jets on occasion. What really makes Celebrini an elite prospect is his top of the class skill and smarts.

The top center always has his head on a swivel, making him very good at creating deceptive passes and open lanes. He’s also a very smart player with his passing and hands which makes up for his lack of top tier skating. Celebrini has a wicked shot and is even decent defensively, using his frame to box out defenders in transition. He’s prone to turning the puck over at times, but all in all Celebrini is far and away the top prospect in the draft.

#2 – Ivan Demidov (Right Wing, MHL)

Demidov was definitely punching below his weight class playing in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, but he dominated that lower-level league. The winger is an offensive dynamo, constantly driving play to the middle of the ice. Demidov has incredible skill, being able to pull pucks around opponents and between his legs with ease. He is able to use skill level to weave through defenders and is constantly moving in the offensive zone.

Demidov has shown willingness to get physical and use his speed to get in gaps and has an intenseness to his game that projects well to the NHL. His KHL games played highlighted some possible issues dealing with speed of game in some instances, but it’s not enough of a concern to have him anywhere lower than number two on this list.

#3 – Cayden Lindstrom (Center, WHL)

Cayden Lindstrom is a big center out of the CHL who has risen up draft boards as the year has gone on. He uses his big reach to control the pace of play, his combination of size and skill is what separates Lindstrom from a majority of the peers in his draft class. Lindstrom is skilled, quick, and confident on the ice and is capable of making high end plays in the offensive zone and off the rush. 

He needs to get better at using his other vast skills to solve problems and has issues turning the puck over, but all of his problems can be solved with guidance and coaching. That’s enough to have him as the third highest forward and third highest overall prospect on this list.

#4 – Berkly Catton (Center, WHL)

Catton is almost the opposite of Lindstrom, but isn’t worse by any means. Catton is a skilled and smart, but undersized center out of Spokane. The young forward has elite level skating and processing, is great at creating turnovers in the offensive zone, and loves to move the puck towards the middle of the ice while on the attack. He’s able to widen his stance while off the rush to create separation from defenders and open up passing lanes. 

Like almost any prospect Catton isn’t perfect, often trying too much while on the attack and definitely showing struggle in the defensive zone. Catton also doesn’t have the top footspeed you’d like to see from a player his size but the way he’s able to manipulate the game often makes up for that.

#5 – Artyom Levshunov (Defenseman, NCAA)

Levshunov has shown incredible offensive promise as an 18 year old in the NCAA. Levshunov is big and rangy playing a physical style while still being a dynamic puck carrier. He is able to shift his edges to change lanes and rush patterns while on the attack. Levshunov is also very smart on both sides of the puck, able to tie up sticks well off the rush and use deception to create passing lanes

Levshunov is somewhat lower on this ranking than you’ll see on most others and that is because of his many inconsistencies such as his passing, defending in his own end, and overall lower rate of offensive production at five-on-five.

#6 – Zeev Buium (Defenseman, NCAA)

Another offensive defenseman out of the NCAA, Buium was a pivotal piece to Denver’s championship winning team. He’s constantly looking for the next play with the puck and is fantastic at stringing plays together in all three zones to move the puck in the right direction. Buium is a fantastic passer and puck manipulator in the offensive zone and great in transition. 

The American defender is so good at out-waiting opponents and forcing them to make a move before he does. His defending is so-so, but mostly due to his lack of elite speed and skating when playing at a slower pace. Buium also had more turnovers than you would like to see, but all in all he would make a fantastic piece for any NHL team.

#7 – Tij Iginla (Center, WHL)

Tij Iginla is an offensive dynamo who is of course the son of hockey hall of famer Jarome Iginla. Tij is a very smart player with great body positioning. He is able to take creative routes to loose pucks and evade pressure, keeping the puck away from opponents and still finding teammates. Speed could be an issue given his style of play and size, but Iginla has a really nice shot with an underrated playmaking ability that any team would want.

#8 – Anton Silayev (Defense, KHL)

Silayev is one of the top defenders in this year’s draft, with his fantastic defending off the rush and great reach utilization. Silayev can be a bit chaotic defending in his own end and is caught puck watching sometimes which limits us from putting him any higher. However, what has ben hooked on the six-foot-seven defender is his mobility for his size, which is something you don’t see in bigger guys very often.

#9 – Cole Eiserman (Center, USNTDP)

Cole Eiserman is quite possibly the best goal scorer in the draft and he showed it this past season scoring at over a goal per game. Eiserman became a great passer throughout the year which balances his game more than it had been. His newly gained playmaking abilities haven’t detracted from his shot however, which he will even use to bait defenders. 

Eiserman needs to improve on his skating, there are moments where he’s a bit too overconfident with the puck, and he definitely lacks effort in his own end, but there is an NHL player here with his offensive tools alone.

#10 – Teddy Stiga (Left Wing, USNTDP)

Stiga is one of the most effective offensive players in the draft, and the second best to come out of the US national team. Stiga is always involved in the play whether that be cutting off pucks in the offensive zone or starting the breakout in the neutral zone. The American winger puts in that extra bit of effort you love to see all over the ice to make plays happen you don’t see from most prospects. Stiga has inconsistencies in his own end, but it isn’t anything to be too concerned about. All love for Teddy Stiga.

Stiga is a player we are certainly higher on than the consensus which has him likely outside the first round.

#11 – Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Right Wing, Allsvenskan)

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is one of the best two-way forwards in the 2024 NHL draft. He’s a great skater who forechecks effectively and plays a very smart, pro-style game that is very easy to project to the NHL.

Brandsegg-Nygard plays a physical game in a modern way, he doesn’t shy away from using his body, but uses it to defend in a smart way. There isn’t an obvious hole in his game, but not a ton of offensive strengths either which limits his ceiling, but gives him a very high floor.

#12 – Sam Dickinson (Defense, OHL)

Dickinson is a player lower on this list than most others, as he is projected to go within the top 10. Dickinson is at his best when moving up the ice and is very good offensively in transition. He’s a confident puck carrier in all zones and at his peak is excellent at evading pressure. Dickinson is decent defensively, with the ability to step up in the neutral zone and defend the net at times. He’s also able to think quickly on his feet when forcing a turnover. 

The issue with many of these positives is the consistency of them. That along with his tendency to flip pucks out instead of reading the ice on breakouts are what could be a turn off for teams when looking to draft the young defender.

#13 – Zayne Parekh (Defense, OHL)

Parekh is the almost yearly defensive prospect we see that garners a lot of hype for playing a fun, high-octane offense game. And credit where credit is due, Parekh is the best pure offensive defenseman in the draft. He has great hands at the blueline that he uses to create space for himself and teammates, a wicked wrister he isn’t afraid to use anywhere on the ice, and an excellent breakout passing ability. He’s almost like a forward in the offensive zone the way he plays.

The issues with Parekh come with his skating and straight-line speed which limits his game in transition on his feet as well as his defending. Parekh tends to get beat very easily by opposing forwards. On top of this, puck management in the defensive and neutral zone can be an issue at times. The hype with Parekh is real, but should come with a warning attached. Fun, but dangerous.

#14 – Michael Hage (Center, USHL)

Hage takes the term dangler to the next level. He has skill and creativity that most players only dream of. Hage can dance through defenders, think well on the fly, and is one of the best players in the draft at driving offense in the slot. Hage isn’t the quickest or most agile player and often relies on his skill to move the puck, which worked in the USHL but might not at the next level. His lack of speed also does limit his defensive game.

#15 – Alfons Freij (Defense, Swedish J20)

Freij is a very high upside offensive defenseman who played against weaker competition in the Swedish junior league. He has great quickness in his first few strides and smooth positioning in the neutral zone which allows him to transition the puck well. Freij isn’t afraid to drive the net if he spots a lane. 

He also plays good defense by using the offensive tools he’s already good at rather than trying to play a game that isn’t his. The Swedish defenseman has elite thought processing, but doesn’t have the skill to match in many areas. Freij isn’t an elite level skater, but if he improves in that area there is a top level defenseman to unlock here.

#16 – Igor Chernyshov (Left Wing, KHL)

Igor Chernyshov is another one of the most well-rounded players in the 2024 NHL Draft. He already has pro-level, straight-line speed, although he does need time and space to accelerate to that point. Chernyshov Has skill that makes everything easier for himself and his linemates and his ability to put in that extra bit of effort to turn the puck over and continue pushing the play has helped him stay in the KHL throughout a large chunk of the season. He always keeps it very simple, going to the net or moving the puck in deep.

Chernyshov consistently gets high level chances in scoring areas, but his shot in particular could use a lot of work leading to him not scoring at a very high rate in the KHL.

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