2024 NHL Draft: A very early top 32 ranking
Connor Bedard hasn’t even been a Chicago Blackhawk for a week, and half the teams haven’t even seen their prospects hit the ice for development camps yet.
But it doesn’t mean it’s too early to look at the next NHL Draft.
Compared to the 2023 selection process, the 2023 draft lacks a generational talent. And that’s OK. At the top, Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman are both high-end talents that would challenge for a top three spot in the 2023 draft class. The highlight of the draft class is the high-end defensive talent, led by USHL superstar Artyom Levshunov, OHL standout Sam Dickinson and Finnish phenom Aron Kiviharju.
We don’t even know the date of the 2024 draft, and the official city hasn’t been announced yet – although just about everyone expects it to be in Vegas. So much can change, including the top consensus prospect, before the real thing kicks off next June. But let’s take a look at an early top 32 ranking of the top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft:
1. Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University, NCAA)
Dynamic. Dangerous. Deceptive. Take your buzzword of choice. He’s not Connor Bedard, but Celebrini is one hell of a prize for whoever snags the first overall pick. Celebrini had one of the most remarkable rookie seasons we’ve ever seen in the USHL, recording 46 goals and 86 points to lead the league. He won the league’s player and rookie of the year awards and then capped off the season by scoring the game-winning overtime goal for Canada at the U-18 World Championship. Shoulder surgery will keep him out of action with Boston University to start the year, but the 17-year-old center will obliterate the college ranks once he’s ready. Expect him to compete for a spot on Canada’s world junior roster, too.
2. Cole Eiserman, LW (USNTDP)
Easily the most lethal shooter in the class, Eiserman stood out at the U-18 World Championship against older competition. His chemistry with top 2025 prospect James Hagens was remarkable, with Eiserman finishing the year with 69 goals and 104 points in 62 games. That’s good for third in team scoring this year and second behind Jack Hughes’s 116-point season among U-17 USNTDP skaters ever. Eiserman is as pure of a goal-scorer as it gets, with the American star drawing comparisons to Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin thanks to his unstoppable release.
3. Artyom Levshunov, D (Green Bay, USHL)
From discussions during the NHL Draft, a few scouts I talked to said Levshunov would be the first defenseman taken in 2023 had he been available. That’s how confident some people are about the dominant USHL defenseman. He put up 42 points last year, which is remarkable for a Draft+1 defender. He’s an excellent two-way defenseman with good hands and hockey IQ. He’s a modern-day blueliner that can punish you both physically and on the scoresheet. We know NCAA schools are courting him for the 2023-24 season, which could spice things up.
4. Ivan Demidov, RW (SKA-1946 St. Petersburg, MHL)
Whoever drafts Demidov won’t have to wait as long as Philly will for Michkov. Demidov plays for the same SKA St. Petersburg team and has a deal until 2025, so just one year after getting drafted. Demidov obliterated the top Russian junior league with 62 points in 41 games, earning MVP honors. He also made his KHL debut while getting into a game with Russia’s U-18 team. The skilled winger
5. Berkly Catton, C (Spokane, WHL)
After putting up some truly dominant numbers at a young age, Catton hit the ice at full attack as a rookie with Spokane this past year. He had 55 points in the WHL, and was among the best players at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in November. He had a quiet, yet effective U-18 World Championship to cap the season off, showing a good mix of speed and skill. Catton is a hard worker with a solid payoff often due to his skill around the net. He might be the smartest prospect in the draft class.
6. Sam Dickinson, D (London, OHL)
At 6-foot-3, Dickinson is as big as they get among top-flight, mobile defenders. He’s a strong skater, smart puck-mover, can shoot the disk accurately and his defensive game is consistent and reliable. Dickinson doesn’t give you much room to work with, which makes him so effective. I wanted to see a bit more with him this year, but I expect a huge year for Dickinson, who’ll eat minutes for breakfast every game.
7. Aron Kiviharju, D (TPS, Liiga)
Heading into last year, Kiviharju’s name was the one on top of everyone’s mind. But some growing pains have dropped him in some scouts’ opinions, and being a defenseman always makes it harder to go No. 1. But it’s incredible that he has spent nearly half the season in the top Finnish pro league. He’s not playing insignificant ice time either, averaging around 21 minutes a night. He’s been ridiculously good against U-20 competition and was tremendous at the U-18 World Championship. Kiviharju still projects to be a high-end prospect that should go early.
8. Konsta Helenius, RW (Jukurit, Liiga)
Helenius stood out at the U-17 World Challenge last fall, and he didn’t stop there. He played many minutes in the top Finnish league and finished with 11 points in 33 games – that’s quite special for a 16-year-old. His physical play, speed and overall skill make him dominant, even at 5-foot-10. I could see Helenius creeping up into the top five, maybe even challenging for a top three spot.
9. Henry Mews, D (Ottawa, OHL)
Keeping the defensive train alive, Mews is a strong all-around defender that’ll give you 100 percent effort every night. He knows when to push on the attack without getting himself out of position, and he’s got enough speed to get him back after a rush. Mews is trending toward the type of prospect that excels in heavy minutes.
10. Cole Hutson, D (USNTDP)
You’ve heard about his brother, but could Cole be the better prospect? He’s slightly taller at 5-foot-10 and is coming off of a 68-point season – the best total ever from a USNTDP defenseman, regardless of age. There’s a reason why Cole is playing so much so early. He excels against quality competition. And thanks to his brother, scouts might have learned their lesson and not pass on Cole because he’s on the smaller size. But like his brother, Cole struggles in his own zone. The offense is there, but let’s see some defensive improvements.
11. Maxim Massé. RW (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)
12. Zayne Parekh, D (Saginaw, OHL)
13. Tanner Howe, C/LW (Regina, WHL)
14. Igor Chernyshov, LW/RW (Dynamo, MHL)
15. Adam Jiricek, D (HC Plzen, Czechia)
16. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW (Mora IK, Sweden U-20)
17. Ryder Ritchie, RW (Prince Albert, WHL)
18. Becket Sennecke, RW (Oshawa, OHL)
19. Charlie Elick, D (Brandon, WHL)
20. Zeev Buium, D (USNTDP)
21. Veeti Vaisanen, D (KooKoo, Finland U-20)
22. Will Shakan, D (USNTDP)
23. Anthony Cristoforo, D (Windsor, OHL)
24. Liam Greentree, RW (Windsor, OHL)
25. Alexander Zetterberg, C (Orebro, Sweden U-20)
26. Emil Hemming, LW/RW (TPS, Finland U-20)
27. Carter Yakemchuk, D (Calgary, WHL)
28. Andrew Basha, LW (Medicine Hat, WHL)
29. Jakub Chromiak, D (Sudbury, OHL)
30. Sacha Boisvert, C (Muskegon, USHL)
31. Justin Poirier, RW (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
32. Michael Hage, C (Chicago, USHL)