Today I will rank prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft by traits. I will specifically be looking at the best skaters, hands, hockey sense, shot, competitors and pure athletes in the draft class. From top prospects who you’ll see featured in several of these rankings to midrange players who have one defining attribute, these players will have wide ranges in projected draft stock.
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Best skaters
- Berkly Catton, C, Spokane
- Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat
- Sam Dickinson, LHD, London
- Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon
- E.J. Emery, RHD, U.S. NTDP
- Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City
- Owen Allard, C, Sault Ste. Marie
- John Mustard, C, Waterloo
- Owen Protz, LHD, Brantford
- Jonathan Morello, C, St. Michael’s
- Elliott Groenewold, LHD, Cedar Rapids
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
- Frans Haara, RHD, Skelleftea
- Zeev Buium, LHD, Denver
- Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, Vaxjo
- Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph
- Austin Baker, LW, U.S. NTDP
These are the players whose skating ability stood out from the pack when I watched them this season.
Catton is a player with elite edge work. He reminds me of a smaller Tim Stützle or a less dynamic Jack Hughes with how he uses his edges and always attacks while in motion. He’s 5-foot-10, but his skating is why I think he has a chance to be an impactful NHL forward.
After Catton is a list of tremendous athletes. Lindstrom, Dickinson, Elick and Emery are all big men who can fly. There are some offensive questions about all of them, albeit less for the former two, but their size and skating combination should allow them to have NHL careers.
Best puck skills
- Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
- Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa
Other names to know (in alphabetical order):
- Nikita Artamonov, LW, Torpedo
- Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat
- Zeev Buium, LHD, Denver
- Berkly Catton, C, Spokane
- Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City
- Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
- Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor
- Michael Hage, C, Chicago
- Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit
- Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna
- Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State
- Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi
- Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George
- Lucas Pettersson, C, MODO
- Max Plante, LW, U.S. NTDP
- Justin Poirier, RW, U.S. NTDP
- Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert
- Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary
There are three players whose pure offensive skill level stood out above the rest: the projected No. 1 pick in Celebrini, a likely top-five pick in Demidov and a late riser into a potential top-10 pick in Sennecke. They consistently dazzle with their puckhandling, particularly Demidov who was a human highlight reel at Russia’s junior level.
Sennecke’s pure production won’t wow you this season, but his tools are loud. He’s 6-2, can skate and beat defenders with his one-on-one play on most shifts.
Ivan Demidov’s puck skills stand out among other prospects in the 2024 draft class. (Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Hockey sense
- Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw
- Zeem Buium, LHD, Denver
- Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
Other names to know (in alphabetical order):
- Nikita Artamonov, LW, Torpedo
- Berkly Catton, C, Spokane
- Ben Danford, RHD, Oshawa
- Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA
- Linus Eriksson, C, Djurgarden
- Tomas Galvas, LHD, Liberec
- Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit
- Cole Hutson, LHD, U.S. NTDP
- Aron Kiviharju, LHD, HIFK
- Luca Marrelli, RHD, Oshawa
- Henry Mews, RHD, Ottawa
- Tomas Mrsic, C, Medicine Hat
- Leon Muggli, LHD, Zug
- Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George
- Mac Swanson, C, Fargo
Buium and Parekh had dominant offensive seasons in the NCHC and OHL respectively and made themselves top-10 pick candidates, primarily due to their hockey sense. Parekh is an elite offensive player who sees the ice as well as anyone and has NHL PP1 type of poise. Buium makes a ton of plays as well and does so in motion.
I’ve heard criticism of Levshunov’s sense from some evaluators and I personally see the opposite. I think he’s a super creative and instinctive offensive player who makes a lot happen with the puck. He has the potential to run a first power play in the NHL due to how skilled and intelligent he is.
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Best shot
- Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
- Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
- Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau
- Emil Hemming, RW, TPS
- Sam Dickinson, LHD, London
- Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary
- Alexander Zetterberg, RW, Orebro
- Austin Burnevik, RW, Madison
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora
- Alfons Freij, LHD, Vaxjo
- Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw
- Aatos Koivu, C, TPS
- Kevin He, LW, Niagara
- Kaden Shahan, RW, Sioux City
- Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon
The two best pure goal scorers in the draft are Eiserman and Iginla. They have some notable differences in their play styles, but both can rip a puck and are consistent threats to score from midrange.
Celebrini gets a ton of praise for his skill, sense and compete, and rightfully so, but you can make a reasonable argument his shot is just as good as those other traits.
A notable feature of this year’s draft class is how many defensem*n are legit scoring threats. Parekh and Yakemchuk both scored 30 goals in their respective CHL leagues, and Dickinson has a bomb from the point as well.
Best compete
- Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat
- Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo
- Stian Solberg, LHD, Valerenga
- Yegor Surin, C, Yaroslavl
- Gabriel Eliasson, LHD, HV71
- Tanner Howe, LW, Regina
- Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie
- Eriks Mateiko, LW, Saint John
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
- Carson Wetsch, RW, Calgary
- Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph
- Brodie Ziemer, RW, U.S. NTDP
These are coaches’ favorite types of players with a work ethic that truly stands out. The first five are high-energy players who have a ton of physicality. Lindstrom, Silayev, Solberg, Surin and Eliasson impose themselves on games and make lives miserable for their opponents. Players like Howe, Beaudoin, Luchanko and Celebrini aren’t as physical but are excellent two-way forwards who win a ton of battles.
Best athlete
- Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo
- Gabriel Eliasson, LHD, HV71
- Trent Swick, LW, Kitchener
- Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat
- Adam Kleber, RHD, Lincoln
- Sam Dickinson, LHD, London
- E.J. Emery, RHD, U.S. NTDP
- Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon
- Adam Jecho, RW, Edmonton
- Dean Letourneau, C, St Andrew’s College
- Marcus Gidlof, G, Leksands
- Roman Shokhrin, LHD, Yaroslavl
- Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD, JYP
- Nathan Aspinall, LW, Flint
- Mikhail Yegorov, G, Omaha
- Stepan Gorbunov, C, Traktor
- Ty Thorpe, RW, Vancouver
- Luke Ashton, LHD, Langley
- Eemil Vinni, G, Jokipojat
- Jimmy Dodig, LHD, Cretin-Durham
- Matthew Lahey, LHD, Nanaimo
- Miroslav Satan, C, Bratislava
This category is less about the players’ hockey skills and more about their pro upsides. These are the big men who move well and who, if scouts believe in their puck play or compete or think it can develop, they can envision as good NHL players.
There’s a reason why many scouts refer to Silayev as a “freak.” It’s tough to find 6-7 defensem*n who can move like him. He’s the kind of rare athlete you don’t see often in the NHL Draft.
Eliasson is one of the more divisive prospects in this year’s class. He’s huge, mobile and very physical. He looks like a pro defenseman, but his puck play is extremely limited — his ice time was often limited with the Swedish U18 team. Swick is a re-entry CHL player who could be a later pick due to offensive questions, but he’s nearly 6-7 and moves very well for his size.
(Top photo of Cole Eiserman: David Reginek / USA Today)
Corey Pronman is the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic. Previously, Corey worked in a similar role at ESPN. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman
