2024 NHL Draft: The top 15 defensemen

Credit: Ian Goodall

The 2024 NHL Draft is the year of the defenseman.

Teams needing to add size, skill or mobility on their blueline will have plenty of high-end options to choose from, with the potential for half of the top 10 to be defenders. It wouldn’t be surprising if half the first round were blueliners, actually, so there’s almost never been a better time to truly ramp things up in that department.

Belarus’ Artyom Levshunov has often been associated as the No. 1 defenseman in this draft, with many linking him to the Chicago Blackhawks. Others like Anton Silayev more for his size and compete level, while teams chasing offense might look toward Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium or Sam Dickinson.

It’s hard to find a consensus draft ranking involving these blueliners because they all have different skills that make them better than others. But the one thing almost all the top options have is high-end skating, something that can separate the difference-makers from the rest of the crop.

Here’s a look at 15 of the best blueliners available this year, with many of these expected to go on Day 1:

1. Artyom Levshunov, RHD (Michigan State, NCAA)

It feels like Levshunov is the consensus No. 1 defender right now. He’s just got everything scouts want in a high-end defender – size, mobility and puck-moving skills, just to name a few quality traits. He led the Spartans in scoring after putting up one of the most impressive Draft+1 seasons by a defenseman in recent USHL history. And he’s got an incredible personality, something teams do find valuable. I think the ceiling for Levshunov to become a team’s No. 1 defenseman is very high, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the decision to turn pro for 2024-25.

2. Zayne Parekh, RHD (Saginaw, OHL)

*Zayne Parekh (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

If any defender in this draft can hit the 70-point marker in the NHL, it’s Parekh. Fresh off of a Memorial Cup championship with Saginaw, Parekh finished the OHL regular season with 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games to lead all U-18 OHLers. It was the third most productive U-18 season ever by an OHL defender, and he still has at least another year to go in major junior – just imagine the numbers he’ll put up as the Spirit look to remain a contender in 2024-25. Parekh was far and away the best offensive defenseman in junior hockey this year, and I think the upside of Parekh being a devastatingly good point producer will allow him to go early.

3. Sam Dickinson, LHD (London, OHL)

Dickinson won nearly everything possible this year, starting with the Hlinka Gretzky and then later with the OHL championship. Unfortunately, he fell short at the Memorial Cup, but he still looked like a high-end defender everyone knew he could be. A minute-muncher with the Knights, Dickinson can do a bit of everything. He’s calm with the puck, makes smart, quick decisions, and plays so well in transition. He’s 6-foot-3, moves really well and had one of the most productive seasons of any CHL defenseman. There are times he’ll get caught trying to do too much with the puck, but his versatility will make him an attractive option this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being the best all-around option of the bunch.

4. Zeev Buium, LHD (University of Denver, NCAA)

Buium became just the second U-19 defenseman to break the 50-point barrier in NCAA history, and it feels like it went under the radar. He won the national championship and the World Juniors in the same year, while Macklin Celebrini even called him the best player in the Frozen Four. Buium is a great skater who loves the puck on his stick, and he never seems to get frazzled, no matter the situation. In the NHL, look for Buium to become a high-output puck distributor who can score, hit, block shots and play on both special team units.

5. Anton Silayev, LHD (Torpedo, KHL)

Of the group so far, I truly believe Silayev is the best at actually playing defense, but he lacks the offensive stylings the others do. But the 6-foot-7 blueliner played some important minutes in the KHL while blocking shots, landing hits and showing off great skating for his size. There aren’t a whole lot of big defenders that can skate as well as Silayev does, and his ice time in the KHL is something that has never been seen by someone his age. He’s going to be a star in a few years.

6. Carter Yakemchuk, RHD (Calgary, WHL)

*Carter Yakemchuk (Jenn Pierce/Calgary Hitmen)*

With 30 goals, 71 points and 120 penalty minutes in 66 games, it was hard not to notice Yakemchuk this year. Yet, at the NHL Draft combine, many players still considered him to be the most underrated player in this draft class. He’s such a pain for players to do deal with because he’s nearly the entire package – offense, size and skating, mainly. Defensively, though, I still need to see more improvement. His decision-making under pressure leaves a bit to be desired, but the potential is high here. With some seasoning, Yakemchuk could be a high-output defender in the NHL who might be a second-pair blueliner at best, but someone you can throw on the power play and get nice results.

7. EJ Emery, RHD (USNTDP)

Emery has the size and strength to make himself useful in the NHL one day. I thought his performance at the U-18s only helped his stock in a big way – by all accounts, I thought he was the best defenseman. He skates well for a 6-foot-3 defender and does a tremendous job of cutting off angles, even on the bigger ice in international tournaments. In terms of pure defensive play, I don’t know if there’s a better option in this draft, and someone I could see a team trading up or down to get just because he has the makings of a rock-steady, top-four option. The North Dakota commit isn’t too active on the scoresheet, but you can pair him with someone who is and he’ll be the rock that keeps things calm.

8. Adam Jiricek, RHD (Plzen, Czechia)

Jiricek was injured at the world juniors and missed the rest of the year after and still hasn’t skated yet. His draft stock is going to take a huge blow, especially after just a so-so run with HC Plzen in the top Czech league. However, the fact he was playing against men at a young age can’t be understated, and if he’s anything like his brother, David, he could still emerge as a great value pickup. The 6-foot-2 defender had one assist in 19 pro games but was a key part of the Czechs’ national junior program, playing nearly 20 games between the U-18 and U-20 teams.

9. Stian Solberg, LHD (Valerenga, Norway)

Scouts really have come around on Solberg – so much so that he looks like a lock for the first round after starting outside of the second. He’s 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, something that has helped him play against men for the better part of the past three years. His best play, though, was at the IIHF World Championship, where he was Norway’s best defenseman by a longshot. He took some dumb penalties, but Solberg isn’t afraid to play on the edge and I like him for that. I’m excited to see what he can do in the NHL in a few years.

10. Aron Kiviharju, LHD (HIFK, Liiga)

After missing most of the season due to an injury, Kiviharju returned in time for the U-18s and had a fine, yet unspectacular tournament. That’s to be expected, given his significant time off, so it’s hard to say if he hurt or helped his stock. Once considered one of the top prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft, he fell even before his injury, but I still think there’s top-pairing potential there. Kiviharju had some bumps in the road a year ago against men, but his upside as a minute-munching, puck-moving defender will still make teams interested.

11. Charlie Elick, RHD (Brandon, WHL)

*Charlie Elick (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

I really like Elick, although I’m not sure where he’ll end up in the draft. The team that drafts Elick is getting someone with size, physicality and good defensive zone awareness. Offense? Nope, although he’s got better abilities with the puck than some might give him credit for. Elick moves well for a 6-foot-3 defenseman and many WHL players consider him one of the toughest defensemen to beat in 1-on-1 situations. There isn’t high-end upside here, but he’s got the makings of a guy who’ll have a good 10-12 year career being effective in his own zone.

12. Alfons Freij, LHD (Vaxjo, Sweden U-20)

I thought Freij looked really solid at the U-18s where he was easily one of the better defenders. He’s good in so many elements but not exceptional in anything. Freij has the ability to be elusive with the puck and run a power play, but I do see some second-pairing potential while putting up 30ish points a year. With just some refinement, the 6-foot-1 defenseman could really take the next step in his development. His numbers have been great internationally and he’s one of the best offensive defensemen in the Swedish U-20 league.

13. Dominik Badinka, RHD (Malmo, SHL)

There’s a lot to like here about Badinka, who took a chance on himself by leaving home a few years ago to get the best opportunity to shine in Sweden. Badinka has a good 6-foot-3 frame and solid hockey sense, and he doesn’t crumble under pressure. His mobility is solid, he’s elusive and makes things happen with the puck more often than not. If he can add some extra top speed, he’ll be golden because he’s got the own-zone play figured out.

14. Cole Hutson, LHD (USNTDP)

*Cole Hutson (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Man, Hutson is fun to watch. He was named top defenseman at the U-18s after leading all blueliners in points, which helped him become the all-time USNTDP scoring leader in his position. He’s defensively flawed, can get too fancy with the puck at the wrong times and isn’t particularly big. But the upside here is still huge. Like his older brother Lane, Cole has tremendous hockey IQ and can elude attackers as well as anyone. I feel like his shot has improved over the past 18 months, mostly in terms of accuracy and overall power, but it’s still a work in progress. I think he’s a good value pick if taken after No. 25.

15. Harrison Brunicke, RHD (Kamloops, KHL)

Brunicke could become the second South African-born player drafted in the first round, although I don’t feel too confident about it given the depth of options right now. I do know there’s a ton of interest from teams looking for a big, right-handed defenseman who can play a bunch of different roles. He’s quite smart with the puck, and I feel like his offensive abilities are better than his numbers suggest. With a 6-foot-3 frame, projectable traits and some budding offensive potential, there’s a lot to like here – and a decent showing at the U-18s doesn’t hurt.

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