Cayden Lindstrom – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Columbus Blue Jackets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 22: Penn State Nittany Lions defensemen Jackson Smith (7) motions to the Minnesota student section after scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play during the third period of a college hockey game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions on November 22, 2025, at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025

Despite missing the playoffs, the Columbus Blue Jackets are beginning to show signs of progress. A growing group of young NHL contributors has started to hit its stride, with players such as Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko emerging as key offensive drivers. Meanwhile, Kent Johnson, Denton Mateychuk, Cole Sillinger, Luca Pinneli (188th) and Luca Del Bel Belluz (94th) continue to develop into important complementary pieces of the roster. Slowly but surely, Columbus is assembling a more competitive and well-rounded lineup. The organization also signalled its intent to accelerate that progress during the 2025–26 season, acquiring veteran forwards Mason Marchment and Conor Garland. Those additions suggest the Blue Jackets are ready to move beyond the rebuilding phase and begin pushing toward meaningful contention.

Behind the NHL roster, the prospect system continues to develop across multiple leagues. A significant portion of the organization’s high-end talent is currently playing in the NCAA, with several top prospects gaining valuable collegiate experience. Defenseman Jackson Smith, ranked 30th in McKeen’s prospect rankings, has enjoyed an impressive freshman season at Penn State and currently sits among the top-producing defenders in the NCAA. Forward Cayden Lindstrom (52nd), meanwhile, is healthy and progressing through his freshman campaign after injury concerns. William Whitelaw has emerged as a breakout performer at Western Michigan, producing at nearly a point-per-game pace. In Russia, the Blue Jackets also have promising depth in goal. Sergei Ivanov, 21, has spent most of his time at the KHL level, posting an impressive .928 save percentage with three shutouts. Meanwhile, 2025 first-round selection Pyotr Andreyanov (75th) has split his season between the VHL and MHL, with most of his success coming at the junior level.

Another encouraging sign for Columbus is its intact draft capital. The organization has managed to maintain selections in every round of the 2026 NHL Draft, providing additional opportunities to strengthen the system. Regardless of how the current season ultimately unfolds, the Blue Jackets appear to be trending in a positive direction both at the NHL level and throughout their prospect pipeline.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
CBJ	1	Jackson Smith	D	19	6-4/200	Penn State (NCAA)	35	11	15	26	40
CBJ	2	Cayden Lindstrom	C	20	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	31	3	7	10	94
CBJ	3	Pyotr Andreyanov	G	19	6-0/205	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	26	13	8	2.59	0.919
CBJ	4	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	22	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	55	22	36	58	2
CBJ	4	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	22	6-1/185	Columbus (NHL)	14	0	1	1	4
CBJ	5	Luca Marrelli	D	20	6-2/185	Cleveland (AHL)	32	4	12	16	10
CBJ	6	Luca Pinelli	C	21	5-9/165	Cleveland (AHL)	68	14	32	46	66
CBJ	6	Luca Pinelli	C	21	5-9/165	Columbus (NHL)	3	0	0	0	0
CBJ	7	Jordan Dumais	RW	22	5-8/165	Cleveland (AHL)	46	7	11	18	8
CBJ	8	William Whitelaw	RW	21	5-9/173	Western Michigan (NCAA)	39	19	15	34	51
CBJ	9	Sergei Ivanov	G	22	5-11/165	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	29	13	11	2.50	0.928
CBJ	10	Evan Gardner	G	20	6-0/175	Saskatoon (WHL)	52	25	16	2.96	0.902
CBJ	11	Charlie Elick	D	20	6-4/200	Tri-City (WHL)	63	6	14	20	46
CBJ	11	Charlie Elick	D	20	6-4/200	Cleveland (AHL)	2	0	1	1	0
CBJ	12	Guillaume Richard	D	23	6-2/180	Cleveland (AHL)	70	7	11	18	20
CBJ	13	Oiva Keskinen	C	22	6-0/180	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	49	20	17	37	14
CBJ	14	Jack Williams	RW	24	5-11/185	Cleveland (AHL)	72	15	23	38	14
CBJ	14	Jack Williams	RW	24	5-11/185	Notre Dame (NCAA)	2	0	0	0	0
CBJ	15	Corson Ceulemans	D	23	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	64	8	16	24	43

Jackson Smith, D, Penn State University (NCAA)

The standout Penn State defenseman joined the team this year after being selected fourteenth overall by the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2025. Smith brings not only a decent size to the blue line, standing at 6’4”, but also some high end skating combined with great stickhandling skills and creativity. It showed in his point production, where he finished the NCAA season with 26 points in 35 games, tops among defenseman on the team. The freshman did not look out of place playing collegiate hockey and transitioned easily into his role as an offensive threat for the Nittany Lions. The one aspect of Smith’s game that stands out right away is his elite skating for his size. From his separation speed, to his four-way mobility and easy transitions, it is no wonder he was highly sought after during the NHL draft. You combine that with his puck control skills and high end shot, Smith will always be a high-end offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. And the defensive part of his game has also been evolving, making him a dual threat from the backend. The Blue Jackets will be very happy once Smith joins the club full time down the road.
Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

After missing a good amount of time during the past two seasons owing to injury, Lindstrom finally made his hockey debut for the Spartans this year and took a little time to get the cobwebs loose and adjust to the speed of college hockey. He responded with a decent freshman outing, putting up 10 points in 31 games. Now the numbers don’t tell the full story, as Lindstrom plays a power forward style game and he is best suited for those battles along the boards and in front of the net. He seemed to embrace his role for Michigan State and helped them become one of the best, if not the best, team in the NCAA. Lindstrom provides some added toughness and grit to the Blue Jackets pipeline and will most likely wreak havoc to opposing teams once he makes the jump to the big club. There may still be some time spent in the NCAA for him to develop and return to top form, but the reward will be worth the wait. The big power forward will also need to get his offensive mojo back if he wants to make an impact at the NHL level. His struggles on the scoresheet this season are hopefully just a one-off and expect him to increase on those totals next year. Columbus is surely hoping Lindstrom can develop into a reliable NHL power forward for their team at some point.
Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Zvezda Moscow (VHL)

Andreyanov has taken a slight step back this season after his outstanding campaign last year. He started the year in the VHL, but his subpar play got him demoted back to the MHL, where his GAA has taken a significant hit. He is still the uber athletic, explosive and dexterous goalie that Columbus picked at 20 last draft, making difficult plays look easy and producing highlight reel saves when necessary. His ability to anticipate play and track pucks through traffic is excellent as well, adding to his impressive toolkit. The weaknesses in his game come from poor angles when he is forced to move laterally across his crease. He leaves the short side open and has had issues with stopping low glove shots in those situations. He is also slightly on the heavier side. If he can shed some weight while adding muscle, the athleticism could be otherworldly as he is already very gifted. Some slight tweaks to his positioning and techniques could turn him into a star, and he has plenty of time in an excellent goalie developmental system with Krasnaya to get him there.
Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

For Del Bel Belluz, it’s all about finding a way to breakthrough offensively at the NHL level. He has proven that he can be an impact offensive player at the AHL level with Cleveland. However, that same consistency has not yet carried over to the NHL level. He had a strong cup of coffee last year with the Jackets, but this year’s run was significantly less effective. As he inches closer to the end of his waiver exemption, he will need to prove to Columbus that he can be a top nine player for them. The skill and touch are there. Del Bel Belluz is a skilled play creator who protects the puck well and operates with a quick strike mentality. However, he needs to find a way to discover more success playing through the middle and in higher traffic areas at the NHL level to take that next step. The Jackets have three key top nine forwards entering this offseason as UFA’s and that could create room for LDBB to finally breakthrough next year. He still has terrific upside to be an offensive contributor, even if some tweener concerns are creeping in.
Luca Marrelli, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Offseason shoulder surgery delayed Marelli’s pro debut until only recently, but the former Oshawa General standout has been quick to make an impact with the Cleveland Monsters.
Marrelli’s best asset is unquestionably his brain; he’s an extremely intelligent defender. Marrelli rarely turns the puck over and is calm under pressure, making him a high-end facilitator and powerplay quarterback. He’s not a physical player, but he is effective in the defensive end too, because of his good four-way mobility and defensive instincts. While the Jackets will likely take his development slow the rest of the season given his injury recovery, he has the potential to move quickly through the organization and into a main club role. It’s not inconceivable to see him up with the Jackets full time next year in a third pairing role. He projects as a serviceable two-way second pairing type who can operate as a Swiss Army knife, plying his trade on both special team’s units.
Luca Pinelli, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Given his lack of size and elite physical tools, there was some concern over the translatability of Pinelli’s skill set to the pro game. He had improved over four years with the Ottawa 67’s, but concerns lingered. However, his first pro season has been solid so far, with Pinelli even earning a cup of coffee with the Jackets as an injury fill in. He’s such a competitive player; he never stops moving his feet and he’s always in attack mode. That gives him an advantage and allows him to overcome a lack of size/speed. Pinelli is also a skilled playmaker who protects the puck well through traffic despite his smaller stature. Not likely to become a premier offensive player at the NHL level, Pinelli should be able to carve out a long career playing through the middle of a lineup. Given the aforementioned Jackets’ forwards who are UFA’s, Pinelli might have the opportunity to secure a bottom six spot next season with a good offseason and training camp. Danton Heinen’s replacement perhaps?
Jordan Dumais, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Injuries have not been kind to Dumais the last few seasons. The former QMJHL scoring star had struggled to stay on the ice for the last few years, missing time due to hernia surgery, upper body injuries, and hip issues. However, he’s been healthy this year and that’s the main positive as he tries to find his footing at the pro level. The Blue Jackets are going to have to be patient with his development given all the time missed. So, while his production this year with the Monsters has been somewhat disappointing, it’s important to remember the context. An extremely skilled and intelligent offensive player, Dumais’ ceiling is extremely high. However, his lack of size and dynamic skating ability has always brought forward questions regarding the probability of his NHL success. It’s still too early to come to any concrete conclusions; Dumais remains a high upside player. Next season will be the big one for him as he will need to prove that he can be an offensive leader at the AHL level first.
William Whitelaw, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

The 33rd overall selection of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL draft, joined Western Michigan after two seasons in the NCAA on different teams, and his involvement with the reigning collegiate champs has been nothing but remarkable. Whitelaw popped off offensively this year, posting an impressive 34 points in 39 games, good enough for third on the team in scoring. His ability to help out on the scoresheet is a testament to his development and WMU’s trust in his overall game. The third-year player has elite speed and can easily navigate through the toughest tight areas, owing to his high level four-way mobility and balance. Whitelaw also possesses some great scoring skills and racked up 19 goals for the Broncos, which was second best on the team. He is a gritty player for his size, listed at 5-foot-9 and not afraid to battle down low or along the wall. The question is, will all of these attributes translate into an NHL career? Only time will tell, but Whitelaw’s development curve so far has been positive, and he could one day push for a Blue Jackets roster spot.
Sergei Ivanov, G, St. Petersburg (KHL)

Ivanov has had an up and down career in the Russian pro leagues. After loans to Sochi and Vladivostok, he has returned to St.Petersburg and is playing well. He is on pace to have his best record and the GAA and SV% has come back to par. He makes up for his smaller size with high-end athleticism and quick lateral mobility. Strong going post to post and covers the bottom of his net well by utilizing the butterfly and his ability to adjust in tight. He is still struggling to fight through screens and has a tendency to lose pucks in scrums, scrambling to follow the play. His ability to read the game is inconsistent but his aggressive nature and strong pushoffs help make up for his poor positioning. There is a tendency to overcommit though, skating himself out of his crease and leaving backdoor passes or rebounds wide open. There is a strong base here and a move to North America to work on his technical play and tightening up his positioning could see him making the NHL one day.
Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

By this point it's fair to say that things haven't quite gone as expected for Gardner or the Blue Jackets since the goaltender was selected by Columbus 60th overall in 2024. The Blades were a stalwart defensive club that season and that might have painted a misleading picture of their then-rookie netminder, particularly through his sky-high save percentage, which has been free-falling ever since. His performances in the playoffs have also lagged behind his regular season results, which is another bad sign. There aren't any specific or serious concerns about his game, necessarily. He's about as balanced and well-rounded as goalies his age come. But rather, the problem is that nothing about him truly stands out. His technique, reflexes, puck tracking, rebound control and mental acuity are all more good than they are great, and that's not an ideal makeup for a goalie who doesn't have an abundance of natural size to fall back on. Gardner has already signed his entry-level contract, so Columbus will try to develop him as much as possible in the coming years.
Charlie Elick, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

At this point, you have to operate under the assumption that the offensive game will never really be a strength. However, his size, mobility, and physicality do make him a potentially elite shutdown defender, which is why he was an early second round selection.
Guillaume Richard, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Richard is a lot like Elick, but perhaps with a little less upside because his physical tools are not as elite. He’s already proven to be a strong defensive presence in the AHL as a rookie and he is tracking towards being a quality third pairing type for the Jackets.
Oiva Keskinen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Keskinen is looking like a solid pick by the Jackets when they took him as an overager late in 2023. He’s improved every year in Liiga and has emerged as one of the top young forwards in Finland.
Jack Williams, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

The former Northeastern star was signed as a free agent by the Jackets last year and his first year in the AHL has been largely solid. He’s been one of the Monsters’ top offensive performers and has been solid away from the puck too.
Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Columbus has been very patient with their 2021 first round pick out of the AJHL. Since leaving Wisconsin Ceulemans has struggled to be a fairly impactful defender at the pro level, but he’s having his best season to date at both ends, providing some hope that he can at least be a solid depth defender in the near future.

McKeen’s 2025-26 Hockey Pool Yearbook Feature – Fantasy Prospect Rankings

Peter Harling — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:47:09 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 12: Boston defenseman Cole Hutson (44) handles the puck during the championship game of the NCAA D1 Frozen Four between the Boston University Terriers and the Western Michigan Broncos on April 12, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers who read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players who can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects who have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect skaters must be under 26-years-old as of September 15th, 2024, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 career games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

Demidov made his NHL debut with much anticipation and expectations, and he did not disappoint with a two-point showing in his first game. There is a lot of hype surrounding Demidov and if he lives up to the potential, he could very well go down as one of the all-time scoring leaders in Montreal and flirt with 1,000 career points, joining the ranks of legends like Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau, and Henri Richard.

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

The big man on campus was the Hockey East Player of the Year and scoring champion with 49 points in 37 games at Boston College. He also captained Team USA to a WJC Gold Medal and then made his NHL debut in Washington scoring his first career goal. Leonard will be an NHL regular starting in the 2025-26 season and should be a Calder contender in his rookie season. His value in multi-category leagues is even higher.

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

Hot off a Hoby Baker Award winning season as a senior with Michigan State, Howard and the Lightning were at a contract impasse. Rather than lose him as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Lightning traded him to the Oilers. Howard should see an opportunity to crack the Oilers roster in a top six role given their lack of prospect depth. His new ELC will fit in the Oilers budget and playing with either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl could push Howard into the forefront of the Calder race.

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

A late season surge pushed Sennecke up the draft ranking all the way to third overall in his draft season. He has carried that momentum into hi D+1 season scoring 86 points in 56 games for the Generals. Don’t make the same mistake Team Canada made by erroneously omitting him from the 2025 WJC roster, Sennecke is a play driving forward with tremendous hockey sense and skill as well as size at 6-foot-4. Sennecke has another year of junior eligibility but could make the Ducks roster as soon as this season.

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

Drafted second overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Misa has been the first overall selection in all my fantasy drafts and mock drafts. Misa has been a highly anticipated fantasy prospect since becoming the latest OHL exceptional status recipient. He has a Memorial Cup Championship on his resume, is coming off a 134-point campaign and will spend his D+1 season developing in the NCAA against bigger, stronger, faster competition that will only make him more NHL ready for his ETA of 2026-27.

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

After posting 51-points as captain of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and a finalist for the Hoby Baker, Snuggerud made a splash in the NHL with the Blues. Playing in the Blues final seven regular season games, he notched four points and then duplicated that performance in the playoffs. Snuggerud looks to be a lock for a top six role with the Blues and could be a solid Calder sleeper candidate if his early chemistry with Robert Thomas continues.

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

A lot of super-star players have come from the USNTDP, but Perreault holds the single season point record with 132 points in the 2022-23 season. Perreault just completed his sophomore season at Boston College and posted 16 goals and 32 assists in 37 games with the Eagles. He also was a key player in the USA WJC Gold Medal with 10 points in seven games. Perreault is a dynamic playmaker that also has a nose for the net and can finish. He played in five NHL games to close the season and while not a lock to make the Rangers out of training camp, he is their top prospect and a fantasy must own.

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

Catton was the 2024 draft class leading scorer with his 115-points, which puts him in the company of an elite group of players the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard to post such lofty production in their draft year. I am not suggesting that Catton has that kind of NHL and fantasy value, but he is the Krakens most dynamically gifted offensive player and has tremendous upside.

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

When the Capitals drafted Alexei Protas’ younger brother in the third round, it might have appeared to be a pick motivated by nepotism. Then Ilya moved from the USHL to the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and had a breakout season to the tune of 50 goals, and 124 points (second in OHL scoring) and now looks like a steal of a third-round pick. Since he was drafted from the USHL, he can move up to the AHL for the coming season and further his development. Look for the Protas brothers to be a force in the Nations capital for the foreseeable future.

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

The first pick in Utah’s franchise history, Iginla was on pace for a stellar D+1 season with 14 goals and 31 points in 21 games with Kelowna before a hip injury ended his season early. After surgery, the expectation is that he will return to Kelowna for an important season of development in the WHL, and with Canada at the WJC before he joins the NHL. Tij was drafted higher than his father, Hall-Of-Famer and Calgary legend Jarome Iginla, can Tij match his old mans career status?

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Two things stand out with Martone: his dynamic offensive game and his size. However, for all you banger leaguers reading, don’t be fooled to think he is going to rack up hits and PIM’s as that is not really his game. He is a finesse playmaking winger. Martone has committed to take his development to Michigan State in the NCAA for his D+1 season in hopes that playing against older, stronger and better competition will make him NHL ready for the 2026-27 season.

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

The consensus number one ranked prospect heading into the 2025 draft was Hagens. He played his draft year in the NCAA with Boston College and despite posting solid numbers as a freshman, he was unable to keep pace with Macklin Celebrinis’ pace from the previous season, and he fell on draft day to the Bruins. It is quite possible that Hagens ends up being the best fantasy prospect from his draft class, but he will return for at least one more year in the NCAA. Look for a spike in his production and for him to challenge for a Hoby Baker nomination.

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Lindstrom is a unicorn as a 6-foot-4, 214-pound center that scored 46 goals and 46 points in 32 games with Medicine Hat in his draft year. He combines skill, skating, smarts, and size in such a rare and dominant package. A well documented herniated disc back injury that ended his draft season after 32 games and all but eliminated his D+1 season minus a few playoff, and Memorial Cup games is the other side of his story. Lindstrom will play the coming season in the NCAA with Michigan State where he will try to regain his health, conditioning and further his development. If he can realize his massive potential, he has franchise upside and would be a dominant player in multi-category leagues. Or, he could have a set back from his back injury and follow Nolan Patrick’s career path. High risk, but high reward potential.

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

Gritsyuk may be a sleeper prospect, but don’t sleep on the Russian sniper. He is coming in hot from the KHL where he posted 17 goals and 44-points in 49 games. While he was only a fifth-round pick from the 2019, the now 24-year-old is NHL ready and will step into a top six role in New Jersey. He may not have the same offensive upside as some of the players in the range of his ranking but given his advanced development the wait time is zero, which moves the needle.

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

The AHL can be a meatgrinder that chews up and spits out teenage hockey prospects. Despite that, Dvorsky played last year as a 19-year-old and posted 21 goals and 45 points in 61 games with Springfield and was second in league rookie scoring. Dvorsky also shone at the WJC last year with Slovakia, scoring nine points in just five games. His play earned him an NHL cup of coffee, two games but he failed to record any points playing limited minutes. Dvorsky still needs more AHL development, but his promising development suggests the 10^th overall pick from the 2023 draft is well on his way to becoming an NHL regular and a fantasy must own player.

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

His first full season in North America was a success as the Canucks 2022 15^th overall pick split time between the NHL and Abbotsford in the AHL. In the AHL he posted 28 points in 36 games and another seven in 16 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup Championship. In his 24 NHL games the Swedish winger posted six points while averaging 12:30 of ice time. Expect him to be a full time NHL player this year and to see elevated minutes, leading to numbers similar to what he produced in the AHL.

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes must feel like the drafted a top ten player with their 30^th overall pick from 2023. As a freshman in his D+1 season at University of Maine, Nadeau posted 19 goals and 46 points in 37 games. He followed up that with an impressive rookie season in the AHL to the tune of 32 goals and 58 points in 64 games with the Chicago Wolves. His underwhelming production at the WJC with Canada was curious, but the entire team underwhelmed. Nadeau made his NHL debut on April 16^th and earned his first career point against Montreal. Look for his sophomore season to see more NHL opportunities as he plays his way into a top six role with the Canes.

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Drafted third overall by the Hawks in 2025, the Swedish center brings size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, a high-level hockey sense, and skill level to his game. He would be better slotted as a second line center at the NHL level as his two-way game is more his calling card as opposed to a go-to offensive driver. The 18-year-old will likely play two more seasons in the SHL before crossing over to North America, meaning a little more wait time and a limited offensive ceiling compared to his draft status.

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

The 21-year-old Russian saw his production dip from 0.79 to 0.54 points per game in the final year of his KHL contract. Despite the disappointing production, with 209 career KHL games of development he has signed with the Wild and will play in North America to the delight of fantasy managers who roster Yurov. With Yakov Trenin, Vlad Tarasenko, and Kirill Kaprizov providing some fellow Russian support, he should adjust quickly and could play his way into a top six role sooner than later.

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

Desnoyers could be the most underrated player in the 2025 draft, which says a lot sine he was selected fourth overall. A 6-foot-2 center Desnoyers has excellent hockey sense, size, skating, skill and compete. He has played a key role and produced all season starting with a point per game to lead Canada to Gold at the Hlinka. He was the first line center for Team CHL at the Prospects Challenge and was a point per game again. With his club team in Moncton, he posted 84-points in 56 games and lead the Wildcats in playoff scoring with 30-points in 19 games to be named playoff MVP, and a league championship. He is the best two-way player, and that takes nothing away from his offensive game.

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

After being acquired from the Jets for Brayden Yager, McGroarty made his pro debut and impressed, splitting time between the NHL and AHL. In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he played 60 games, notching 14 goals and 39 points. While he only played in eight NHL games, he impressed with three points, playing a physical game as well showing he can have an impact away from the puck. With the Pens looking to rebuild, he is a corner stone player going forward, starting now.

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

Musty had a frustrating season. It began by holding out for a trade from Sudbury in the OHL. A deal never happened so he resumed playing and scored 59 points in 33 games before an injury put him on the shelf until the playoffs. He returned for game two but despite four points, the Wolves were swept in four by Kingston. He will turn pro now and play his rookie season in the AHL. The 6-foot-2 winger has size and played a power game at the OHL; he could be an impactful top six winger with his size and shot.

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

When the Islanders acquired Ritchie at the NHL trade deadline, he instantly became their top prospect. Ritchie started the season in the NHL with the Avalanche where he played seven games and scored his first career goal with his signature shootout move (a spectacular deke as he fakes the shoot like he fanned then quickly backhands it home). He returned to the Oshawa Generals where he dominated with 70 points and 50 PIM in 47 games and led the Generals back to a league championship rematch vs London. Ritchie should be a regular on Long Island this fall.

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers added Savoie in a trade with Buffalo, and he instantly became the Oilers top prospect. Savoie is an undersized forward at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds but he is also a prolific offensive player. He posted some hefty point totals in the WHL and in his first full pro season, he scored 19 goals and 54 points in 66 games in Bakersfield. He made his debut in Edmonton as well, playing in four games and recorded his first career point. He has the skill to play and produce in the NHL, but size is a concern.

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

The big Russian winger made the move to North America after the Sharks selected him with the first pick of round two in the 2024 NHL Draft. His debut was delayed following an off-season shoulder surgery, but when he resumed playing with Saginaw in the OHL he dominated with 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games. Saginaw was eliminated in the first round, and he was called up to play two AHL games with the Barracuda. It is expected he will play the coming season in the AHL, to further his development, but he has NHL top six winger upside with his size, skating and shooting ability.

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leaf's top prospect is poised to bring his game to the NHL for the coming season. In his final year in the OHL with the London Knights, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring (39-points in 17 games), added a second straight league championship, and led the Memorial Cup in soring to lead the Knights to victory. He is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds but he plays a physical game to complement his dynamic skill and vision.

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

A true boom-or-bust player. Cristall is as dynamic an offensive player as you will find. His career WHL point production is off the chart with 412 points in 248 games (1.66 points per game). He finished his WHL career with Spokane in the playoffs where he scored 21 goals and 41 points in 19 games. How could such a dominant player be a bust? He is just 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds as the NHL trends towards size again. Also, his defensive game and compete level is a liability. These factors kept him off the Canada WJC roster. If he plays in the NHL, he will be great, but there have been plenty of prolific junior scorers that never made the NHL.

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

“Goal” Eiserman is a polarizing player. His offensive upside is significant. He is the all-time NTDP goal scoring leader, was a key player for USA winning Gold at the 2025 WJC with seven points. As a freshman at Boston University, he scored 25 goals and 36 points in 39 games. His play away from the puck is where scouts have concerns with his game. Eiserman will return for his sophomore season with the Terriers where he will continue to score goals, and more importantly develop his overall game.

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

Perhaps the player from the 2025 draft class with the most upside is O’Brien. The 6-foot-2 center has tremendous vision and hockey sense, a late June birthday means he has plenty of development road head where his potential can grow. While his physical game is lacking as his slender 176-pound frame needs to fill out, there are very few flaws in his game overall.

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

Ohgren made his North American debut last season and had a tremendously successful rookie season in the AHL scoring 37 points in 41 games on a poor Iowa Wild team. His play earned him an NHL audition of 24 games, but he was limited to an average of 11:06 in ice time and only managed five points. Ohgren should be ready for a bigger role in Minnesota, and his point production should increase with more playing time.

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

Parekh dominated the OHL in his draft year and then returned for his D+1 season and posted 33 goals, 107 points and 96 PIM. He was an egregious omission from the Team Canada WJC roster and made his NHL debut on April 17^th scoring his first career NHL goal in a 5-1 win over LA. Parekh is still junior eligible as a 19-year-old but is almost assured to be a full time NHL player this season. It should not take long for him to secure a top four pairing and first power play role in Calgary. Parekh could have a similar rookie season as Lane Hutson had and be a Calder candidate.

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

Hutson 2.0 is a similar player to his older brother Lane. Cole is developing in the NCAA at Boston University and posted 48 points in 39 games in his freshman season. His real breakout however was on the World stage with USA at the WJC where he led the tournament in scoring with 11 points in seven games. Cole has another season with the Terriers coming up before he is ready to join the Capitals in the NHL. When he arrives, it is not out of the question for him to have the same impact Lane Hutson had, or even better.

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

The top pick from the 2025 Draft class has signed with the Islanders, and all signs point towards him making the Islanders out of training camp and becoming an NHL rookie. A shoulder injury limited him to just 17 games in Erie last season, so a return to the OHL would not be the worst scenario for his long-term development.

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

All Buium does is win. At 19-years-old his trophy case already includes a World Championship, an NCAA Championship, two WJC Golds and a U-18 Gold. Buium made his NHL debut in the playoffs and recorded his first career point playing in four games. Buium is not only a lock to make the Wild roster, but he should also be a top pairing impact player right out of the gate.

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

The 23-year-old Russian blueliner has been one of the most anticipated players to come from the KHL for several years. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defender captained SKA St. Petersburg for two seasons and posted career KHL stats of 54 goals and 177 points in 288 games. He has signed in Carolina and made his NHL debut in the playoffs, earning his first career point in four games. He will have to compete with Shane Gostisbehere and K’Andre Miller for top power play deployment but count on Nikishin playing big minutes in his rookie season.

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

The 2024 second overall pick only played 18 NHL games in his rookie season, but as a 19-year-old he produced 22 points in 52 AHL games with Rockford. Can he breakout as the Hawks top pairing and first power play quarterback in his sophomore season? He will have to outplay Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski to do so, but it is a real possibility as soon as this fall.

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

All Cagnoni is missing to be ranked higher is size and draft pedigree. At 5-foot-9 he comes up short by todays NHL standards, and as a fourth-round pick, he lacks the golden ticket first round picks get. However, his on-ice production speaks volumes, scoring 16 goals and 52 points in 64 games as a AHL rookie with the Barracuda. Cagnoni is the future first power play quarterback in San Jose on a unit that will include Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa. Cagnoni could be a fantasy beast!

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

Where will Dickinson play in the 2025-26 season? He posted 91 points in 55 games, won a second consecutive OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Championship. He has another year of junior eligibility remaining, so the AHL is not an option, but has signed an NHL contract so the NCAA is not an option either. He has nothing left to learn in the OHL, so he looks ready to make the jump to the NHL.

9 - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a rising star and the Wings top prospect. The 5-foot-11 right shot defender has tremendous poise on the ice, sees the ice very well, carries the puck and dictates the play with authority. After a solid SHL career of 52 points in 107 games including an SHL Championship, he made his debut in the AHL to close the season. A full year of AHL development is to be expected under GM Steve Yzerman, but a future blueline anchored by Mo Seider, Simon Edvinsson and ASP sets up the Red Wings for a decade.

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

After injury limited Luneau to just 13 combined AHL and NHL games in his rookie season, he returned in 2024-25 to post near point per game production with the Gulls with 52 points in 59 games. The 6-foot-1 right shot offensive defenceman has great upside, but he also has his work cut out for him to crack the Ducks top four with competition the likes of Jacob Trouba, Jackson Lacombe, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov.

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

There were a lot of skeptics when Ottawa selected the 6-foot-4 right shot offensive defenceman at seven ahead of Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium and Sam Dickinson at the ’24 Draft. A lot of those critics were silenced when Yakemchuk nearly made the Sens roster after a tremendous preseason performance. He was returned to the WHL for his senior year and was slightly underwhelming seeing his point totals dip and failing to be make the Canadian WJC roster. His pro career will begin, likely in Belleville for a season before assuming the top pairing role on the right side in Ottawa next to Jake Sanderson.

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

Rinzel had a breakout season in 2024-25. It was not just his 10-goal, 32-point performance as a sophomore at University of Minnesota, but his nine game NHL audition in which he averaged over 23 minutes of ice time including an average of 2:24 powerplay time on ice where he delivered five points. The 21-year-old is the early favorite to be the first power play quarterback heading into the upcoming season. Don’t sleep on Rinzel, he has some big upside.

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

The 5-foot-10 right shot offensive defenceman had a strong rookie season starting in the NHL with an eight-game run with the Devils where he posted three goals before an AHL assignment. Overall, he racked up 18 points in 30 AHL games and finished the season back in the NHL with New Jersey. With Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemic in the fold, getting ice time, let alone power play time will be difficult barring injury.

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

Acquired from Carolina along with a first and second round pick in the K’Andre Miller trade, Morrow could fill the gap from Miller out of camp behind Adam Fox on the Rangers second pairing. Morrow had a strong rookie season the year prior posting 39 points in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves and had a 14-game NHL run with the Hurricanes scoring six points.

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

Acquired from Montreal for Zac Bolduc this summer, Mailloux is now the top defensive prospect in the Blues system. Mailloux is NHL ready after a second AHL campaign with 80 points and 165 PIM in 135 career games, and five points in eight career NHL games. Mailloux will no longer be considered a prospect as he will make the Blues roster full time, and battle Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler for top power play deployment.

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

The 6-foot-2 Austrian defender made a splash in his AHL debut in 2023-24 when he posted five points in the final 11 games in Laval. Injuries kept him out of action until he returned for the Olympics with Austria and finished the season again in the AHL with Laval. His six points in 13 playoff games with the Rocket are promising but a nearly full season lost to injury suggest he may need a time in the AHL before he is ready for Montreal. The departure of Logan Mailloux improves his stature in Montreal.

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

Widely considered to be a shutdown defender, a red flag in fantasy, Bonk has considerable fantasy value. At 6-foot-2 he has decent size and can play a physical role and contribute hits and blocks. But he has also contributed significant offensive numbers with 150 career regular season points in 189 games with the London Knights. Bonk was deployed as the net front presence on the power play regularly with London and was tried as the first powerplay quarterback for Canada at the WJC. His pro career will begin with a season in the AHL with Lehigh Valley before he becomes a top four NHL regular.

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

Nashville has a strong track record of drafting and developing top quality NHL defencemen. Tanner Molendyk is the latest and he nearly made the Predators out of training camp last year before returning for his final year in the WHL. He was a point per game player with Saskatoon and Medicine Hat and at the Memorial Cup. Molendyk will be an AHL rookie this season, but it likely won’t be long before he is patrolling the Predators blueline in a top four capacity.

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

His fantasy value took a big hit when the Flames drafted Zayne Parekh. Brzustewicz is an offensive defenceman that posted a 92-point season in the OHL, and in his AHL rookie campaign last year impressed with five goals and 32 points in 70 games with the Wranglers. Brzustewicz was a key piece in return from the Elias Lindholm trade so the Flames are invested, he has great offensive and fantasy upside, but the Parekh addition will take some of that critical power play ice time up.

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

After two seasons in the shadow of a Hutson with the Boston University Terriers, Willander may be an underrated fantasy defenceman. With all the top offensive deployment at BU going to the Hutson’s, lane and Cole, Willander still managed to produce 49 points in 77 career games with the Terriers. His play with Sweden at the WJC was impressive as well with five points in seven games. Willander is a strong skating, puck moving two-way defender with offensive upside. Willander was signed by the Canucks and will start his professional career in the AHL with defending Calder Cup Champions Abbotsford.

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are building something special and Askarov should be a key piece of that puzzle. A top ranked goalie prospect for years, the move from Nashville and out from under Juuse Saros, gives Askarov has the opportunity to seize a starting role in San Jose. With the young core and foundations now in place, it’s just a short matter of time before this team becomes a powerhouse, and Askarov is a fantasy star.

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

There is no sugar coating this, Wallstedt had a terrible season posting brutal numbers in both the AHL, and NHL in his third season in North America. Despite the setback, Wallstedt remains an elite goalie prospect and with the Wild building a defence that consist of Brock Faber, Zeev Buium, and David Jiricek the future still remains very bright.

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

It is difficult to understand how Fowler was not the top goalie selected in his draft year. Five other goalies went before he was selected 69^th overall in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has established himself as an elite prospect playing at Boston College in the NCAA. Fowler has won a WJC Gold Medal with USA, a Hockey East Championship, and was named the Goalie of the Year winning the Mike Richter Award. Fowler is trending to be the next great Montreal Canadiens goalie following the likes of Ken Dryden, Patrick, Roy and Carey Price.

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

A late bloomer, Nabokov was drafted in 2024 by the Avalanche after a breakout season in the KHL as a 21-year-old, where Nabokov won a Gagarian Cup and playoff MVP. Nabokov has signed his ELC with Colorado but has been loaned back to play the 2025-26 season in the KHL to ensure he gets playing time. Expect him to finish the season in the AHL as the KHL season ends in March, allowing him a small sample of North American hockey before being full time in 2026-27.

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

The Wings 2021 15^th overall draft pick has now played three full seasons of professional hockey with time in the ECHL, AHL, and he made his NHL debut in December with a 6-foot-5 shootout win over Buffalo. The past two seasons have been consistent and strong for Cossa, playing 40+ games in Grand Rapids and posting 20+ wins. The addition of John Gibson suggests that Detroit thinks he needs a little more development before he becomes their starting goalie.

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

On last years list I suggested Commesso was on track to develop into the Hawks starting goalie for the Connor Bedard glory years. Since then, the Hawks acquired Spencer Knight, and he appears to be the incumbent franchise goalie for the foreseeable future. Commesso had another impressive year of development in the AHL and is still quite capable of being an NHL starting goalie. Where and when are less certain now.

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings added insulation to their goaltending future when they selected Augustine 41^st overall in 2023. Since then, he has been developing with Michigan State U. in the NCAA with a career record of 42-16-6, two Big Ten Championships and two WJC Gold Medals with USA. Augustine will play his junior season with the Spartans and will also need some AHL development time. He is further away than Cossa, but his upside could be higher.

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

Kokko made his North American debut last season, and it was a strong one posting a 20-10-2 record in the AHL with a 2.26 GAA and .913 SV%. His strong play earned him an NHL recall, and he had a rough start coming in to relieve Joey Daccord in a 7-2 loss to the Blues where he allowed two goals on six shots. With Grubauer and Daccord under contract for the next two seasons, the 21-year-old Finnish netminder can continue to develop in the AHL with Coachella. He is a prospect on the rise.

9 - Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

The Devils selected the Russian goalie from the USHL with their second-round pick in 2024 and Yegorov started his D+1 season back in the USHL with Omaha. Committed to Boston University in the NCAA, the Terriers were having goaltending concerns and brought “Big Mike” in just in time for the Bean Pot Tournament where he was outstanding leading the Terriers to victory. Yegorov played in 18 games total with an 11-6-1 record and 2.15 GAA. Still only 19-years-old, the 6-foot-5 netminder is a long way from the NHL, but he is showing tremendous potential.

10 - Hampton Slukynsky – Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps Slukynsky is still a little under the radar and not quite a household name in less deep dynasty leagues, but that is about to change. Selected 118^th overall by the Kings, Slukynsky posted a 19-5-1 record as a freshman at Western Michigan and a sparkling 1.90 GAA. His trophy case includes USHL Goalie of the Year, Championships from the USHL, NCAA National and NCHC, and Gold Medals with USA from the U-18, WJC and World Championship. He is still just 20-years-old and needs a lot of development time before the NHL, but his stock is rising fast!

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:01:34 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (May 2025 - 13th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Dean Evason Hired: July 2024

Another year, another missed postseason for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although, 2024-25 carried a spark of optimism. The team battled until the final day despite falling just short of a playoff spot, buoyed by breakout seasons from a few young stars.

Kirill Marchenko nearly doubled his career high with 74 points, Kent Johnson (22) closed in on 60, and 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli hit the 50-point plateau in his sophomore campaign. Together, they form the core of a group aiming to shift the fortunes of a franchise that has reached the playoffs just six times in 24 years.

On the back end, Denton Mateychuk split time between the NHL and AHL, averaging 18 minutes per game in Columbus and cementing his reputation as a poised two-way defender and power-play distributor. In the AHL, forwards Luca Del Bel Belluz, Jordan Dumais, and Owen Sillinger each flashed offensive upside, while defensemen Stanislav Svozil and Corson Ceulemans continued to develop in Cleveland, positioning themselves as future contributors on the Blue Jackets’ blue line.

Top prospect Cayden Lindstrom missed the entire 2024-25 season due to injury but will return next year at Michigan State and will be looking to reassert himself as one of the most promising young power forwards in the game.

Columbus moved on from Gavin Brindley but bolstered its future at the draft. With two picks in the first round, they selected defenseman Jackson Smith 14th overall and later addressed their long-term goaltending depth with Pyotr Andreyanov—though the Russian netminder is signed overseas for the foreseeable future.

After years of frustration, Columbus now boasts a loaded depth chart at both the NHL and AHL levels. If their emerging core continues to progress and the next wave arrives as expected, the Blue Jackets could soon move from hopeful to dangerous in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Cayden Lindstrom

Lindstrom’s entire 2024-25 season was limited to just seven games, and those appearances never would have happened at all if his Medicine Hat Tigers team wouldn’t have gotten all the way to the WHL finals, won the league championship, then played for the Memorial Cup. This is due to him receiving back surgery in November that was meant to address a nagging issue that had been lingering since the prior season. And yet, if you were to candidly ask the Blue Jackets if they would choose to go a different direction with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft if given the opportunity, they would likely still decline. That's because Lindstrom truly is that exciting of a hockey player and still maintains such an enticing long-term ceiling that he is well worth the wait and the slower development path. He's a huge center with menacing physicality, explosive skating ability, sublime puck skill and infectious determination, which is a blend of traits that is highly rare and highly valuable. If everything goes right for him then the sky's the limit.

2 - Jackson Smith

The young and rebuilding Blue Jackets went into the 2025 draft with a clear need for another blue-chip defender in their system, especially after their relationship with former sixth overall pick David Jiricek went south, and he was dealt to Minnesota. Knowing that, they must have been pretty thrilled when Smith was still available for them at 1fourth, because he has a realistic chance of becoming one of the true superstars to come out of this year's class. What makes him such a special prospect is his tremendous upside on both the offensive and defensive sides of the puck, thanks to his explosive skating ability, finely tuned athleticism, energetic demeanor, and his proficiency handling the puck at breakneck speeds. It still remains to be seen, though, just how much of that raw potential Smith will be able to convert into actual results, which has been the knock on him for a while now and surely would have been the reason why Columbus got him where they did.

3 - Luca Del Bel Belluz

Luca Del Bel Belluz has been a huge success story this past year and looks like he’ll compete for a lengthy stint in the NHL this year. In 2024-25, he tore up the AHL, building on his success from the previous season, and carried that production into his call-up with Columbus. After that trial run, Del Bel Belluz returned to the AHL, where his scoring pace dipped in February due to a team-wide slump. Del Bel Belluz generates dangerous chances thanks to his smart timing and off-puck positioning. He always seems to find open ice, readjusting in the zone and using his slick release to beat goalies. While he’s not going to be a play driver and still lacks high-end pace, he projects as a complementary scorer who can bring skill and finishing in a depth role. Del Bel Belluz looks well on his way to becoming a useful piece in Columbus’s bottom six should he continue on his current trajectory.

4 - Pyotr Andreyanov

Andreyanov is one of the most athletic, quickest, and best-skating goalies drafted in the past 5 years, akin to Shesterkin. He plays at a very high intensity, never giving up on a play, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make a save. His stance can be very compact, and his hands are weaker, which can be harmful for an NHL projection. However, his cognition sets him apart. Andreyanov reads the play well, showing a high level of anticipation and predicting play at high speeds and chaos. Combine that with his level of athleticism and skating, and there is a serious potential starting goalie in the making. The area he will have to work on, like most hyper athletic undersized goalies, is his poise. Shesterkin didn’t win a Vezina on raw talent alone. His control, precision, and calmness are what got him there. Andreyanov is a chaotic goalie; he will require refinement to reach his potential, but with Shesterkin as a comparison, it makes sense why he was the 20th overall pick.

5 - Luca Marrelli

Intelligence is the name of the game here. Marrelli is one of the OHL’s smartest defenders. He’s rarely out of position defensively. He rarely turns the puck over. He consistently makes smart plays and stabilizes the offensive attack when he’s on the ice. Best of all for Columbus, he does this from the right side. As a power play quarterback, he walks the line well and gets pucks on net, although a significant amount of his offensive production this year has come at even strength. Marrelli’s upside may not be significant; we’re not likely talking about a future first pairing defender. However, the consistency and efficiency of his game should play well at the pro level as long as he continues to improve his physical intensity. He’ll turn pro next year and should work his way up the lineup over a few years before being ready for a role with the Jackets.

6 - Jet Greaves

Jet Greaves is a technical goalie who has had early success at the NHL level. He is a great skater who uses short, efficient routes through the crease and positions himself perfectly. He manages his depth well, balancing aggression and reservation. He’s very controlled in his movement, keeping the same stance, never moving his upper body or throwing his hands around, he is all about stability and precision. This isn’t to say he lacks athleticism. Greaves is adept at exploding laterally and stretching out to make a big backdoor save when needed to. Where he falls short is his tracking. His hands often get beat anywhere above the pad, and he can be seen failing to track the shot into his hands, and sometimes just moving the hand to the wrong location. It’s especially seen when a high shot comes after Greaves moves laterally. One shouldn’t expect him to put up the same NHL numbers in a prolonged season, but he’s still capable of being an effective goalie with enough high-level tools that could propel him to a bigger role.

7 - Jordan Dumais

Once again, Jordan Dumais missed a significant portion of the season, returning from a lingering lower-body injury on January 31st. Dumais has now appeared in just 39 league games over the past two seasons, but he jumped back into action with four points in his first four games before falling victim to Cleveland’s offensive struggles in February. Throughout his junior career, Dumais has faced criticism for his lack of size, speed, and strength, but he’s consistently proven doubters wrong by producing points wherever he plays. The skills and hockey sense are clearly there. The million-dollar question now is: where does he fit in an NHL lineup? And if it’s not in the top six, can he adapt his game to meet the needs of the Blue Jackets? This season will no doubt be a “prove it” year where Dumais must remain in the lineup and produce. Columbus is in dire need of depth scoring, and Dumais must seize the opportunity.

8 - Luca Pinelli

The Ottawa 67’s did not make the playoffs this past year for the first time in over a decade, so as you might expect, many of their players had down years, including Pinelli. A workhorse in all three zones, Pinelli’s compete level can never be questioned. He may not be big, but he is consistently successful in his pursuit of the puck, and he executes well in the middle of the ice and near the crease by outthinking and outworking bigger defenders at the junior level. He certainly has a measure of skill too, in particular a quick and powerful wrister. The big question mark is whether he can continue to find success as an offensive player at the pro level, despite not being the quickest or the biggest. Additionally, if that’s not the case, does he fit the profile of the kind of player Columbus would want to play a fourth line, penalty killing kind of role? Pinelli will turn pro next year and there could be some growing pains in his first season, but his work rate should endear him to his coaches.

9 - Guillaume Richard

Guillaume Richard was a fourth-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and just finished a full four-season career in the NCAA with the Providence Friars. Richard was once a highly touted QMJHL prospect, a top 10 draft pick who ultimately decided to go the USHL - NCAA route instead of playing in the CHL. Richard is not going to be a difference maker offensively (his highest scoring NCAA season was three goals, 18 points) but could turn into a useful defensive defenceman. He uses plus skating and efficient stickwork to suffocate opponents in the defensive zone. He is decent on retrievals and can move the puck quickly but needs to clean up his decision making when he does decide to hold onto the puck. At times he can try to do too much with the puck on the rush, which ends up in turnovers with him out of position defensively. Richard will likely season his game in Cleveland with the Monsters for the next couple years.

10 - Charlie Elick

The past few seasons haven’t exactly been easy sledding for Elick, who started out in the WHL with an underachieving Brandon team before being traded to the similarly underachieving Tri-City Americans. And those sorts of situations can be extra difficult for prospects like him who are always asked to do a lot of heavy lifting, such as killing penalties, defending late leads, and matching up against the best opponents on other teams. The good news for Elick is that these trials and tribulations are presenting great opportunities for him to hone his craft, especially since he’s being used in ways that play to his strengths, and it’s not like the work ever gets any easier for players after they turn pro. Getting to spend time playing international hockey for Canada, and winning a couple of gold medals along the way, probably helps make things more palatable too. Elick has undeniable NHL upside as a stay-at-home shutdown defender, and there won’t be any deviation from that kind of role as he continues to develop.

11 - Stanislav Svozil

After a noticeable rookie season in the AHL, Svozil wasn’t really able to do anything but put in a repeat performance in 2024-25, even if it still saw him be the Monsters’ top overall defenceman aside from Denton Mateychuk. This said, there was progress in the areas of decision making with the puck, timing, and joining the attack. We also saw a considerable cutdown on turnovers over the latter half of the season. His NHL prospects are still uncertain.

12 - William Whitelaw

Will the third time be the charm for the undersized, yet sneaky talented Whitelaw? After almost identical freshman and sophomore seasons for Wisconsin and Michigan respectively, there’s no denying Whitelaw’s offensive upside and now Western Michigan looks to be the team ready to tickle the breakout out of him. Dynamic in transition, Whitelaw’s variable set of shot releases makes him a goal scoring threat that overshadows how well he can set up teammates.

13 - Evan Gardner

After a big 2023-24 season for Saskatoon of the WHL, including taking over between the pipes in the playoffs (10-1 record!), Gardner’s 2024-25 season for Saskatoon continued to display developmental positives although he couldn’t quite repeat his feats of the previous season. The starting job was his to lose and despite his team lacking the defensive wherewithal of the previous season, he ultimately finished top 10 in the WHL in wins, goals against average, and save percentage. He has signed his ELC.

14 - Corson Ceulemans

Getting long in the tooth as a prospect, Ceulemans is entering the final year of his ELC and we’re still waiting to see the promise he displayed in his heavily pandemic-shortened draft season. Last season began much like the previous growing-pain-filled season ended before upper body surgery in January ended his season prematurely. Even though Ceulemans has shown improvement in closing gaps and winning puck races, Columbus is busy narrowing down which blueline prospects it wants to plan with.

15 - Jack Williams

Columbus won the Williams sweepstakes, signing the college free agent to a two-year ELC last spring after the Massachusetts native completed his third straight season of offensive improvement. Despite his solid numbers and sometimes eyebrow-raising offensive flair, Williams has made himself noticeable as a feisty player who causes turnovers and wins puck battles before showing strong reads. The hard-working Williams will look to put his name on the pro map already this season.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #13 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:37:28 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 06: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk (5) passes the puck during first period National Hockey League action between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators on April 6, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

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Columbus 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 18:00:39 +0000

_{ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Gavin Brindley (4) skates with the puck during the first period of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Previous Rank - 11th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Dean Evason Hired: July 2024

The Columbus Blue Jackets have ushered in a new regime this summer, with former Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell and newly appointed Head Coach Dean Evason taking the helm. This marks the third head coach in as many years for the Blue Jackets, as Evason takes over with a mandate to set a ship that has floundered at times straight.

Luckily, he inherits a strong youth movement fueled by an influx of high-end prospects. Over the last four drafts, Columbus has selected seven players in the first round, six of whom were chosen 12th overall or higher. Anchored by an already established veteran group of Boone Jenner, Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov, the club managed to graduate a total of five (5!) youngsters last year. Those names include: David Jiricek, Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Yegor Chinakhov. All five will push for major roles on the team this season after showing their readiness at various levels.

Looking to join this group in 2024-25 is standout defenceman Denton Mateychuk (49th), fresh off an incredible season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he earned WHL Defenceman of the Year, WHL Playoff MVP, and WHL (East) First All-Star Team honors. While Mateychuk may see some time in Cleveland, he feels ready to make the leap to the NHL. Gavin Brindley (85th), who signed his pro papers after being named NCAA (B1G) Player of the Year at Michigan as the Conference scoring champion, is another promising young forward expected to make his debut soon.

The farm system in Cleveland is also strong, with several key prospects developing steadily. Defencemen Stanislav Svozil (101st) and Corson Ceulemans (128th) have recently completed their AHL rookie seasons, while Samuel Knazko is now considered a two-year veteran presence in the AHL.

On the forward side, Jordan Dumais (136th), fresh off a spectacular junior career of 325 points in 193 QMJHL games, joins the ranks. He’ll be joined by already established AHL pros like Luca Del Bel Belluz (238th) and James Malatesta. In just a few years’ time, you can add 2024 first rounder, Cayden Lindstrom (14th) to this list of reinforcements.

In their 23-year history, the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs only six times and have won just two series. However, with a major influx of young talent and several high-pedigree prospects in the pipeline, Columbus’s window that has been left ajar could be broken open in short order.

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1. Cayden Lindstrom

Lindstrom missed half of his draft-eligible season due to injury, but he just looked so utterly tantalizing in the games he was able to play in that it became undeniable that he deserved to get picked as high as he did. He's an incredibly rare kind of player, who is able to blend great footwork, soft hands and imposing physicality, sometimes all within the same shift. When all the cylinders are firing for him at once he is an unstoppable force who leaves a significant impact in different ways. His Tigers team is poised to run roughshod over the WHL over the next two seasons and challenge for back-to-back league titles, and that kind of experience should help provide an additional boost to his development. Between him and Adam Fantilli the Blue Jackets could be downright scary down the middle for the next decade or more.

2. Denton Mateychuk

Moose Jaw really leaned into their high-flying, run-and-gun style this season, to impressive results, and Mateychuk had the best seat in the house as their number one defenceman. Therein lies the secret to his success: his ability to see and break down the ice in front of him. He’s not the biggest, fastest, or most purely talented blueliner out there, and he likely never will be, but only a tiny fraction of his peers can understand the sport and feel its flow as well as he can. It also helps that he’s as competitive as they come, with an intense drive to win that is worth its weight in gold at the NHL level but is far from universal. He’ll still need to put in more work with his strength and conditioning before he’s ready for full-time duty in Columbus, but once that happens, he’ll be primed to shine.

3. Gavin Brindley

It's impossible to not root for Brindley, who is usually both the smallest player out on the ice and, simultaneously, the hardest worker. He is an absolute menace who always loves to push the pace and be right in the middle of the action. He's far from brainless or reckless, though, and is very aware and methodical with his decisions, pinpointing his pressure in ways that force turnovers and win pucks. His game is all about controlling the chaos that he creates, and he is an expert at it. There's no shortage of skill on display either, as he can weave through traffic with his skating and puck skills, and he is precise with his shooting and passes. He seems inevitably destined for the NHL with how consistently effective his presence is, but some questions remain about how high his ceiling will go.

4. Stanislav Svozil

Svozil’s scoring totals from his final year in Regina were undeniably admirable, but the help of a little-known teammate of his — some kid named Connor Bedard — might have given Blue Jackets fans the wrong idea about what his game is really about. He’s far less of an offensive generator or powerplay specialist, and moreso an even-strength puck rusher and game manager, but that’s OK, because there is value in both kinds of defensemen. He has quick feet and a pesky attitude, and he uses them in tandem to help him dodge forecheck pressure on retrievals and zone exits, as well as close gaps and provide sticky man-to-man coverage when defending. It would be nice if he was bigger or flashier with the puck, but neither of those things should prevent him from eventually carving out a spot for himself in the NHL.

5. Corson Ceulemans

The Columbus organization is overflowing with young defensemen right now, and Ceulemans feels like a bit of a forgotten man, despite being a recent 1st-round pick of the team. He missed most of his draft year due to COVID, then found himself stuck in an unexpectedly bad situation at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons, and then the situation he found himself mired in next with AHL Cleveland wasn’t much better due to extreme roster turnover and drama with the parent club. Simply put, it hasn’t been a conducive few years for a prospect who was always a bit boom-or-bust, even going back to his AJHL days. Regardless, he’s a rangy right-shot defenseman who can play with both power and finesse, and at times he’s shown flashes of just how good he can be. The Blue Jackets would be wise to continue being patient with him.

6. Jordan Dumais

Dumais is one of the most interesting case studies in the prospect world right now. He is an exceptionally smart winger who is also a dazzling magician with the puck. Using those gifts he absolutely torched the QMJHL over the past two seasons, scoring at a torrid pace of two points per game. So then why wasn’t he selected until 96th overall in the 2022 draft? It’s because he’s small, lacks strength, and is not a particularly proficient skater, and players with that combination of deficiencies rarely find success in the NHL. His chances of making it aren’t zero, and he was fully deserving of getting picked at some point in the draft, but his gaudy point totals don’t truly reflect his NHL potential. Are his strengths elite enough to fully overcome his weaknesses? That’s the big question that we’ll see play out with him moving forward.

7. Charlie Elick

Elick was a frustrating and bewildering player to scout at times last year, but Columbus was nevertheless surely thrilled to draft him where they did, because he can still become a truly impactful NHL defenceman one day. There's more than enough raw material here to work with, it just needs to be heavily and carefully refined. He's a masterful skater for a defender of his stature, and there's an old-school flavour to his toughness and penchant for laying thunderous body checks. His game will probably always be one-dimensional, because there are major limitations to his puck-handling and decision-making that are still too deep-rooted to be sufficiently removed. However, if everything else clicks for him he could turn out to be one of the best shutdown specialists in the NHL, able to systematically get stops against both the rush and the cycle.

8. William Whitelaw

The University of Michigan seems like it's becoming an unofficial farm team of the Blue Jackets, with Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley, and Nick Blankenburg all having played there recently. You can now add Whitelaw to the list too, after he recently used the NCAA transfer portal to leave the University of Wisconsin for new pastures that he believes will be greener for him. On paper it seems like a good fit for the two sides, as both the Wolverines and the dangerous winger prioritize mercilessly inflicting offensive damage. Whitelaw is an aggressive, menacing attacker who shoots the puck in bunches because he knows, correctly, that his shot is good enough to beat goalies from almost anywhere, but he also has the skill and the will to cut into prime shooting real estate to give himself better looks.

9. Luca Del Bel Belluz

Del Bel Belluz had an impressive freshman season as a professional hockey player, transitioning out of junior more cleanly and effectively than some might have expected. Not only were there big questions coming in about whether his skating ability would be good enough or not for him to keep up at the AHL level, he had to endure the ongoing turbulence afflicting the Blue Jackets organization, which has had a spillover effect to their farm team and has been quite disruptive for some of his young compatriots. So then, give him high marks on both fronts, for elevating his skating to another level and for successfully tuning out the noise around him. He’ll still always be more of a slow-things-down kind of forward, though, who uses his size and reach to drive possession and lug pucks to the net down in the cycle.

10. Luca Pinelli

Pinelli is an interesting case study for a prospect, because the limitations in size and skating ability are prominent and would be highly limiting at the NHL level, but he's just so solid in other areas that it's hard to doubt him. He's the primary conduit for OHL Ottawa's offense, using exceptional sense and feel to consistently be one step ahead of the opposition, and he's a deadly finisher around the net when the puck finds its way to him. He's also good at bearing down and being strong and enduring in puck protection, which is important, because that will probably be his most effective means of driving play at the professional levels, finding pucks along the boards and carrying them into more dangerous areas. The leadership role he's still growing into right now could provide a boost for his promotion chances, too.

11. James Malatesta

Malatesta is already becoming a new fan favourite in Columbus because of his infectious personality and extreme tenacity. He is a relentless buzzsaw of a player, with a motor that never seems to run out of gas. He was a big part of the Quebec Remparts team that won the 2023 QMJHL championship and then the Memorial Cup as well. A natural-born pest, opposing NHLers are going to get sick of him before he even plays a full season.

12. Guillaume Richard

Richard will be heading back to Providence College in the fall for his fourth season with the Friars, which could be considered a questionable decision. He hasn’t exactly proven that he’s ready for the professional levels, but at the same time, his development has seemingly plateaued in his current environment. As far as stay-at-home defenders go, he’s not among the biggest, fastest, or meanest, so he’ll need to find some other dimension that he can bring into his game.

13. Andrew Strathmann

Strathmann is as feisty as they come, as evidenced by three straight seasons with 100 penalty minutes or more. Unfortunately, he also has a bad habit of crossing the line with his physical play and he was suspended five separate times in 2023-24 alone. He’s not big or an especially talented skater or puck mover, so the edge that he plays with is what sets him apart, and he’ll need to walk a fine line with how he applies it.

14. Jet Greaves

Greaves is The Little Engine That Could of hockey goalies. He went undrafted and missed a full year in the OHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but turned pro anyway, immediately started succeeding, and hasn’t looked back since. He’s fast, focused, driven, and endlessly self-assured. Smaller goalies like him always have an uphill battle, but Columbus will be happy to keep him around so long as he continues finding ways to stop pucks and win games.

15. Evan Gardner

Gardner led the WHL in save percentage last year and won the starting job for Saskatoon during their big playoff push. Those are both incredibly impressive feats for a draft-eligible goalie who was in his rookie season in the league. However, the Blades were rock solid defensively, so he didn’t get challenged as much as other netminders. Is his upside legitimately high, or was it a one-time mirage caused by his environment?

2024 NHL SCOUTING REPORT (VIDEO + GRADES): Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Adam Tate — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:32:08 +0000

Cayden Lindstrom - photo Brian Liesse

Cayden Lindstrom

C - #28 Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

6’3, 214 lbs, Shoots: L

DOB: 03.02.2006 - Chetwynd, British Columbia

Every few seasons in the WHL a player comes along who is an undeniable force in all aspects of the game. A player who has the tools to become a game changer at the NHL level with their skill and their physical play. A player that gives everyone who watches his games something to talk about the next day. That player is Cayden Lindstrom.

Playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers, Lindstrom brings size, speed, and skill to each and every game. Hailing from Chetwynd, BC, he was selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and made his full-time debut for the Tigers in the 22-23 season. He played well, scoring 19 goals and 42 points in 61 games (0.69 pts/game) in his rookie season. He was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup last August. His play reached another level in the WHL this season but he suffered from injuries which limited the number of games he was able to dress for. Lindstrom scored 27 goals and 46 points but was only able to play in 32 games due to back and hand injuries. Despite this, his points per game jumped up to 1.44, good for third amongst NHL Draft-eligible players in the WHL this season. He returned to play in the WHL playoffs but struggled to elevate his game to the same level after missing so much time.

Lindstrom’s profile fits that of a power forward who uses his size and strength to overpower opposing players. He’s a big player in the WHL already and will add more muscle to his frame as he matures. He plays with a mean streak and will dish out hits to opposing players with regularity. Even with his size, Lindstrom is a good skater, capable of sprinting past defenders as well as holding them off when he has the puck. He is a very good shooter and can get his shot off at multiple levels in the offensive zone. His passing is improving and he is becoming a multi-dimensional offensive player as a result. His hockey sense is a plus trait as well.

As with most prospects, there are areas of Lindstrom’s game that will need to continue to improve before he reaches the NHL. His defensive awareness is good but he doesn’t always put forth his best effort in his own zone. His passing will need to continue to improve so that teams don’t key in on his shot.

At the end of the day, the team that drafts Lindstrom should feel very comfortable that they’re getting a top-line power forward who will excel in all aspects of the game as he matures.

Skating

Lindstrom is a strong skater with speed not found very often for a player of his size. His acceleration is deceivingly quick and he is able to puck handle while at speed. He pushes defenders back into their zone with his pace as they have to respect his ability to skate past them if they aren’t careful. This creates openings for himself and his teammates. Lindstrom can also turn a defender and protect the puck as he crashes the crease. He has good balance on his skates which allows him to weave through defenders while puck handling or stay on his feet when being checked by the opposition.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skate_01.mp4

This first clip shows some of Lindstrom’s (#28 in black) acceleration with the puck. Starting from below his team’s goal line, he skates towards a forecheck that tries to front him. Lindstrom uses good edge work to change direction on the checker and is past him quickly. The defencemen see Lindstrom building speed through the neutral zone and have to back off in order to not get turned wide. This allows Lindstrom to pass to his teammate at the blue line, who then enters the zone with room to shoot or pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skate_02.mp4

This next video starts with Lindstrom (#28 in white) leading a breakout of the Tigers' defensive zone. The defender does a good job of keeping up with Lindstrom and not allowing him to go to the slot. Due to the speed of the breakout, the Tigers outnumber the defenders and they can’t get back in time to prevent Lindstrom from scoring off of a nice passing sequence.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skate_03.mp4

This clip shows Lindstrom’s foot speed as he picks up the puck at his own net while in a glide. He utilizes crossovers to accelerate through his turn to exit the zone. He continues to move his feet through center ice and only goes into his glide as he enters the offensive zone. This creates a momentary odd-man rush and scoring chance for the Tigers.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skate_04.mp4

The last clip of this section shows Lindstrom starting with the puck at center ice. As he enters the offensive zone he uses a slight hesitation to set up his next move. The defender thinks they have a chance at a poke check but Lindstrom is able to use good edge work to spin away from the defender’s stick to create a scoring chance. The goal is just icing on the cake at that point.

Grade: 60

Shot

Lindstrom has a great, pro-ready wrist shot. He uses a drag and release to get the shot off quickly and pick corners of the net consistently. He also possesses a very good one-timer and sets himself up to use it on a regular basis. The Tigers use a five-forward group on their first power-play unit and have Lindstrom set up as the net-front presence. His ability to tip shots in that role improved over the course of his season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_shot_01.mp4

This first clip is from last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup while Lindstrom was playing for Team Canada. The combination of speed and shot accuracy as he goes backhand to forehand makes it difficult for the goaltender to know what Lindstrom is going to do at that moment, and as such is unprepared to stop the shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_shot_02.mp4

This video is a perfect example of how Lindstrom’s size/speed combo along with his wrist shot accuracy make him a deadly goal scorer. The defenceman is not prepared to stop Lindstrom from entering the zone, and Lindstrom takes advantage, going to the slot with the puck. The defenceman tries to use body position and his stick to stop Lindstrom but he’s too strong. He loads up on his wrist shot and easily beats the goaltender high on his glove side.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_shot_03.mp4

Lindstrom is the beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time on this goal, but it’s not all luck. Once he sees the puck has been turned over, he quickly gets himself into a position to be a passing option. His teammate passes him the puck and he one-times it past the goaltender. The key to this goal is how he’s able to create velocity with the shot despite the awkward position by transferring his weight as he goes to one knee. If he tries to puck handle into a better shooting position, the goaltender will have time to set up for the shot and a goal is less likely.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_shot_04.mp4

This is a good old-fashioned goal scorer's goal. Lindstrom manipulates the defender into screening the goaltender with his puck handling, loads up on a hard wrist shot and puts the puck into the high glove-side corner.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_shot_05.mp4

The last clip for this section comes from a Medicine Hat power play. Lindstrom is playing the net front but slides over to the side to make himself a passing option for the puck carrier. Lindstrom is already turning his feet towards the net as he receives the pass. This move allows him to set up for a quick shot into the short-side top corner of the net. It’s a very accurate shot with excellent placement that’s nearly unstoppable.

Grade: 60

Skill

Lindstrom’s skill set matches his power forward profile but he has softer hands than expected for a player his size. His ability to handle and protect the puck, which along with his size and reach, make him difficult to check. His passing ability is underrated and improving quickly. This is an area of his game that projects well as he continues to mature.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skills_01.mp4

Lindstrom’s ability to handle the pass coming off the boards and then protect the puck from the defender are key pieces of this goal and he looks very much the part of a power forward as he crashes down towards the net with the puck. The puck handling as the defender tries to close down on him creates space for Lindstrom and allows him to settle the puck for his next move.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skills_02.mp4

This next play shows Lindstrom’s puck-handling ability and confidence to try things that other players wouldn’t. After receiving the pass, Lindstrom tries to angle himself past the defender, but the defender makes a good read and closes the space down. Instead of shooting the puck towards the near-side boards and trying to chase it down, Lindstrom attempts to put the puck through the defender’s feet. It’s not the cleanest play but it works, and Lindstrom is able to regain control of the puck as he enters the offensive zone. At this point, his space has become limited by a closing defender, but he is able to keep the puck with a stop-and-go move, handling the puck the whole time until he can pass it to an open teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skills_03.mp4

As mentioned, Lindstrom’s passing is improving and opening up more opportunities for scoring chances. This play is a very nice back door pass with Lindstrom able to get the puck to his teammate in perfect position while avoiding the sticks of two defenders. It’s one of Lindstrom’s prettier assists this season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skills_04.mp4

Lindstrom’s backhand pass at center ice in this clip is not ideal, both in the situational read and the execution. It would’ve been better to skate back toward his own blue line and reload through the neutral zone. After the failed pass, he puts himself in a good position for a takeaway in the neutral zone and ends up with the puck. From there he handles the puck around three defenders in rapid succession before pushing the puck into the offensive zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_skills_05.mp4

The last play in this clip demonstrates Lindstrom’s vision and good touch with the puck. As he receives the pass, he sees that he has an open teammate behind the closing defender. A nice little one-touch pass around the defender turns a potential neutral zone turnover into a good offensive zone entry.

Grade: 55

Smarts

Lindstrom’s hockey sense and decision-making is another rapidly improving area of his game. His awareness of passing options in the offensive zone has greatly improved year over year and has seen his assists per game rate nearly double from 0.38 last season to 0.59 this season. His defensive game continues to improve as well though it lags behind his offensive zone awareness, which is typical of most young players. His ability to read plays and anticipate where the puck will be is also improving.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_smarts_01.mp4

This first clip is a really nice pass from Lindstrom to create a goal on a 2-on-0. Most skaters would shoot in Lindstrom’s position, but he reads the goaltender so well that he knows his teammate is wide open for an easy tap-in goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_smarts_02.mp4

Another nice pass from Lindstrom in this clip. The Tigers are on the powerplay and Lindstrom is positioned at the net front. He sees Andrew Basha continuing to skate into the penalty kill box after losing the puck and one touch passes the puck over to him. Basha is essentially wide open in the slot and scores.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_smarts_03.mp4

This clip contains a nice pass from Lindstrom after the Tigers enter the offensive zone, but it’s his positioning throughout the clip that is a bit of a mixed bag. As the puck enters the neutral zone, Lindstrom is skating through the center ice faceoff circle. Just before the puck enters his defensive zone, he does a shoulder check on the weak side winger who is wide open. At this point, Lindstrom should cover that player so they aren’t alone in front of the net, but he drifts towards the puck looking to help instead. Luckily, his team recovers the puck and once in the offensive zone, he is able to support the sustained pressure in the zone with good reads and decisions.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_smarts_04.mp4

This play shows Lindstrom’s improving defensive anticipation. He continues to skate through the middle of the ice to his own net in support of his defencemen and is in a position to lift the opposing forward’s stick in time to prevent a shot on the open net. He then uses body position to ensure his check can’t get to the puck and Medicine Hat is able to skate the puck out of the zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_smarts_05.mp4

This last clip is a good example of Lindstrom’s overall improving ability to read the play on the ice. From being a passing option as the Tigers enter the offensive zone, to reading the goaltender’s errant pass to create pressure, to being a good defensive support piece in his own zone, Lindstrom is reading the play well in every zone.

Grade: 55

Physical/Compete

Being a bigger player has its advantages, combine that with a bit of meanness and a desire for hitting, and you get a physical power forward who can be a chaos-causing wrecking ball. Lindstrom is those things, but he also has a competitiveness to his game that makes him good as a forechecker and board battler. He can go overboard at times and he’ll need to work on picking his spots better as his penalty minutes nearly doubled in far fewer games this season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_01.mp4

This video shows the kind of power forward that Lindstrom is turning into and it starts right at the faceoff with a sneaky mean cross-check to Kai Uchacz. As the puck enters the defensive zone, Lindstrom uses body position and strength to lean on Uchacz to prevent him from skating to the puck. Lindstrom gains control of the puck and skates into the offensive zone. As he enters the zone, he reads the defender is out of position and too slow, so he uses a hesitation move to turn the defender fully and makes a prototypical power forward move to the slot, complete with one hand on the stick while the other protects himself from the defender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_02.mp4

This clip demonstrates Lindstrom’s competitiveness and desire for the puck. He makes a good read here and is able to turn the puck over in the offensive zone. It’s a decent scoring chance that otherwise wouldn’t have happened had he backed off into the neutral zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_03.mp4

In this clip, Lindstrom is being physical and using strong play along the boards to give the opposing players very little time or room to be effective. The result is an exit out of the defensive zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_04.mp4

This clip shows Lindstrom’s ability to be an effective forechecker with his reads and physicality. He’s able to get two hits in on opposing players and takes up enough space along the boards that his teammate is able to come away with the puck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_05.mp4

Lindstrom’s ability to forecheck comes as much from his ability to read the defenders as his physical play. In this clip, he’s able to contain the initial zone exit attempt by the defender with his positioning. As he circles back into the neutral zone he closes in on the puck carrier, forcing them to dump the puck in. Once in the defensive zone, he’s able to be a good support for his defencemen and initiates a board battle for the puck with his hit on the puck carrier.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lindstrom_comp_06.mp4

This last clip speaks to Lindstrom’s need to rein in his more aggressive play. The initial body check on the puck carrier at the boards is good, but the cross-check afterwards is what draws the referee’s attention, and the resulting penalty.

Grade: 60

OFP: 58.75

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: TWO-ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Brock Otten — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:03:17 +0000

#1. San Jose Sharks - Macklin Celebrini - C - Boston University (HE)

At this point, San Jose might as well announce this now. The entire hockey world knows that Celebrini is going to be its guy. This is a pivot without any true weaknesses who projects as a franchise leader for the Sharks moving forward. Think of the impact that Jonathan Toews had on turning the Blackhawks rebuild around.

#2. Chicago Blackhawks - Artyom Levshunov – D - Michigan State (B1G)

Part of me believes that Chicago might really like Sam Dickinson because of how much value they have been placing on skating in recent drafts, but another part believes that Levshunov will be the Hawks guy. We prefer Dickinson, but there’s no doubting that Levshunov has among the highest two-way upside of any defender in this draft. With his high-end skill and offensive aggressiveness, he’ll be able to give the Hawks a dynamic puck mover on both of their first two pairings (with Korchinski).

#3. Anaheim Ducks - Anton Silayev – D - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

On one hand, the Ducks haven’t used a Top 50 pick on a Russian based player (as in playing in the KHL, MHL, etc) since Stanislav Chistov in 2001. It’s obvious that they have preferences for other regions. However, what’s also obvious is the fit here. The Ducks have so many terrific puck moving defenders. The system is loaded. However, the team’s high end defensively oriented prospects have had their development stall like Noah Warren and Drew Helleson. Anaheim could see Silayev as an amazing fit beside guys like Mintyukov and Zellweger, allowing them to play freely and aggressively.

#4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ivan Demidov – RW - SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

The Jackets have had great success with young Russian players recently, even forming a great Russian kid line involving Chinakhov, Voronkov, and Marchenko. Not only is Demidov clearly the best player available at this point, but he also helps add significant skill to the wing for the organization that needs it. This is an offensive play driver solely needed.

#5. Montreal Canadiens - Cayden Lindstrom – C - Medicine Hat (WHL)

This is one of the best-case scenarios for Montreal. Is Lindstrom’s injury history a concern? Likely for some teams. However, the upside here is too large for Montreal to pass up. Not only is Lindstrom a fantastic young player, but he also helps the Canadiens get bigger and heavier up front, which was a reason for preferring Slafkovsky at first overall two years ago.

#6. Utah Hockey Club - Zeev Buium – D - Denver (NCHC)

Seems likely that Utah could lean towards taking one of the high-end offensive defenders available with this pick. In the last five drafts, the Coyotes have not taken a single player out of the OHL. This leads me to believe that Buium is a guy that the team could find really attractive at #6. He’s such an intelligent playmaker from the backend and he would really help Utah improve their transitional game and powerplay production.

#7. Ottawa Senators - Sam Dickinson – D - London (OHL)

Dickinson is the perfect defender for the modern era thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s the kind of blueliner who projects as an all situations, minute eater. Given how terrific he has been in this year’s OHL playoffs (and the Memorial Cup), Ottawa likely sees him as a terrific fit as a “winner” who can help them get over the hump in the coming years. The Sens really need to hit on this pick and Dickinson is as safe as safe can be to be an impact player.

#8. Seattle Kraken - Beckett Sennecke – RW - Oshawa (OHL)

There is a ton of traction for Sennecke to be a high pick and Seattle strikes us as a likely landing spot. They’ve targeted the OHL pretty heavily and, playing in the Pacific, they want to load up their lineup with heavier players who can withstand the punishing style in the division. Sennecke oozes upside as an athletic winger still growing into his frame. He is skilled, physical, and intelligent. A great combination. Logic says Seattle finally uses their first on a defender, but something about this spot screams Sennecke.

#9. Calgary Flames - Tij Iginla – C - Kelowna (WHL)

Maybe this is far-fetched. But maybe it’s not. Teams don’t use top ten selections for the sole purpose of nostalgia. But how can you pass up the opportunity to draft an iconic name, who also happens to be worthy in this spot. Iginla was terrific in the second half of the year, and this gives Calgary an injection of skill and tenacity. He could have a similar impact to his father in Calgary.

#10. New Jersey Devils - Konsta Helenius – C - Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)

The Devils are a team that definitely don’t want to be picking in this range. The organization has been trying to escape the rebuilding phase, so would it not make sense for them to target a player who has great upside, but who can also make an impact pretty quickly? Helenius fits in well with the players already in New Jersey and the Devils have liked the region in recent drafts.

#11. Buffalo Sabres - Zayne Parekh – D - Saginaw (OHL)

Yeah, we know that the Sabres already have Dahlin and Power on the back end. That powerplay unit is already loaded. However, at some point, you have to say that Parekh is too good to let slide further. One of the draft’s most creative and intelligent defenders, Parekh is the ultimate wild card. He could go as high as the top five or fall out of the lottery all together. This would be great value for the Sabres.

#12. Philadelphia Flyers - Cole Eiserman – LW - U. S. NTDP U18

Often tagged as being the draft’s purest goal scorer, Eiserman had an up and down year with the NTDP. However, he still managed to break the program’s scoring record and that is impressive. Big wingers who can put the puck in the net do not grow on trees. While the Flyers could go defense here, having just dealt top prospect Cutter Gauthier for defender Jamie Drysdale, it seems unlikely that they will go that route.

#13. Minnesota Wild - Carter Yakemchuk – D - Calgary (WHL)

This seems low for Yakemchuk. But someone is going to need to fall a bit considering the talent available in the lottery. While Yakemchuk’s upside is significant, we think teams may have concerns over his puck management and skating combination. That said, he’s a great fit in Minnesota as a potential puck mover and triggerman who can help their powerplay and move quickly through the system.

#14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Stian Solberg – D - Valerenga (Norway)

The draft is bound to get pretty wild around this point given the wild fluctuation among rankings. Solberg has had a ton of momentum the last month and we really like this fit. Solberg was tremendous at the World Championships, showing that he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. This is someone who can come in and be a defensive stalwart for the Sharks in the future.

#15. Detroit Red Wings - Berkly Catton – C - Spokane (WHL)

This is much lower than our ranking for Catton, but we realize that we may be more aggressive on him compared to the NHL community. He is the kind of play driver who can elevate Detroit’s first two lines in the future. He’s more skilled than Danielson and Kasper, but he has that same kind of high-end work ethic. If Catton is still available at fifteen, this should one hundred percent be his landing spot.

#16. St. Louis Blues - Trevor Connelly – LW - Tri-City (USHL)

Where does Connelly go? That’s one of the draft’s biggest questions considering the noise around his off-ice “issues.” However, we do think that someone bites considering Connelly has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in this draft. The Blues need more firepower. They need more play drivers. Connelly is someone who can make this St. Louis team better down the line if he progresses well.

#17. Washington Capitals - Adam Jiricek – D - Plzen (Czechia)

It was a pretty tough draft year for Jiricek, after he missed the majority of the year with injury. However, he came into the year as a potential top ten selection for a reason. He’s talented and a potential two-way stalwart like his brother David. So many options here but could see the Caps lean defense if Jiricek is still on the board.

#18. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - Michael Brandsegg Nygard – RW - Mora (Allsvenskan)

The Hawks have really been focusing on selecting strong skaters in recent years, so there’s a chance that they team will jump on a guy like Jett Luchanko here. However, we like Brandsegg Nygard here for a few reasons. One, he’s one of the best players available. Two, he’s an excellent fit alongside some of the high-end skill that Chicago has brought in. His hard work and attention to detail could make him the kind of high-end role player that Chicago had during their Cup runs.

#19. Vegas Golden Knights - EJ Emery – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Did you know that Vegas has never drafted a player out of the U.S. NTDP? Seems wild, but this could be the year. Vegas has used their first selection on a center every year of existence. That kind of commitment is impressive. However, we believe that this is the year that the streak breaks. We love Emery’s physical tools and upside as a defensive stalwart, and he fits the exact mold of the kind of defender Vegas seems to love. The team’s defensive core is getting older, and he could be a great fit there in a few years.

#20. New York Islanders (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Michael Hage – C - Chicago (USHL)

We like this potential landing spot for Hage. He was, perhaps, the best player in the USHL in the second half of the year. This was the real Michael Hage, after he put some personal turmoil behind him. He has upside as a top six, power center and his skill is badly needed in a prospect pool that is currently lacking it.

#21. Los Angeles Kings - Jett Luchanko – C - Guelph (OHL)

We know the Kings love the OHL. Luchanko would be a great pick here. The tenacious and intelligent pivot brings speed and playmaking ability to the table and looks like a future fixture as a second line center. There aren’t a ton of natural pivots in the system right now, so it also makes sense for Los Angeles to target that position, if a good one is available.

#22. Nashville Predators - Leo Sahlin Wallenius – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

A strong skating, potential two-way defender, Sahlin Wallenius proved to be a bit of a chameleon in his draft year. What’s his real future role? Regardless, the physical tools are going to be intriguing to a team like Nashville.

#23. Toronto Maple Leafs - Harrison Brunicke – D - Kamloops (WHL)

This would be the first time since 2018 that Toronto uses its first-round selection on a defender. We’d say it’s needed. Brunicke is a strong skating rearguard with upside at both ends. He excelled defensively at the U18’s and he’s the kind of modern-day defender that Toronto sorely lacks. The organization would have also seen a fair amount of Brunicke while scouting Fraser Minten in Kamloops.

#24. Colorado Avalanche - Igor Chernyshov – LW - Dynamo Moskva (KHL)

We could see Colorado moving this pick at the draft for some immediate help after their disappointing playoff performance. However, if they keep this selection, a guy like Chernyshov could make a ton of sense. He can attack with speed and power, playing a North/South game that fits their system.

#25. Ottawa Senators (via Boston Bruins) - Liam Greentree – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Back-to-back OHL players for Ottawa in our mock, this time the team selects Windsor winger Greentree, who has the potential to be a Jason Robertson kind of player in the future. He is creative and skilled but needs to improve his skating. We believe improving the team’s skill and finishing ability on the wing should be a focus.

#26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets) - Sam O’Reilly – RW - London (OHL)

With a strong OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup performance, O’Reilly has surged up draft rankings to close out the year. The physical, two-way center has more offensive upside than he has shown thus far playing in a secondary scoring role. Worst case scenario could see him developing into a Scott Laughton type, which would still be terrific value at this point of the first.

#27. Carolina Hurricanes - Alfons Freij – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

The Hurricanes always seem to love the same kind of players that the amateur scouting community love. Freij is one of those amateur scouting darlings this year that we (as a community) seem to love more than the NHL community (as a whole). The skating ability and skill are evident. He was a standout at nearly every international event for Sweden and projects as a skilled top four defende

#28. Calgary Flames (via Vancouver Canucks) - Cole Beaudoin – C - Barrie (OHL)

After drafting Iginla early, the Flames opt for a different kind of forward late in the first. Beaudoin projects as the kind of guy you win in the playoffs with. He brings versatility. He brings leadership. He brings consistency. He is an intelligent playmaker and can excel as a middle six complementary piece. Just seems very likely that at least one NHL team likes his intangibles enough to draft him in the first.

#29. Dallas Stars - Emil Hemming – RW - TPS (Fin-Liiga)

The Stars haven’t drafted a player out of Finland since Miro Heiskanen in 2017, but we’d say that has worked out pretty well. At this point, Hemming fills a need and represents the best player available. He brings tenaciousness and he is one of the draft’s best goal scorers from the wing.

#30. New York Rangers - Charlie Elick - D - Brandon (WHL)

Elick has a similar profile to Braden Schneider when the Rangers drafted him and that worked out pretty well. The size, skating, and physicality combination make Elick a potential shutdown defender for a decade. His decision making needs to improve, but New York has actually improved this component in several of their defensive prospects.

#31. Anaheim Ducks (via Edmonton Oilers) - Julius Miettinen – C - Everett (WHL)

Miettinen improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year and represents a big body with skill. His skating took a big leap from the beginning of the year to the end, and it has really improved his projection as a top six forward. Anaheim really seems to favor forwards with a well-rounded profile and that’s Miettinen.

#32. Philadelphia Flyers (via Florida Panthers) - Ben Danford – D - Oshawa (OHL)

This pick might surprise some people, but Danford is a player who rocketed up rankings in the second half as part of an Oshawa team that went to the OHL finals. He’s one of the better defensive players in the draft; a shot blocking expert who has terrific defensive instincts. He’s also a strong skater who has shown flashes of more offensively. Shades of Oliver Bonk here and that worked out really well so far.

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#33. San Jose Sharks - Dean Letourneau – C - St. Andrew's (CHS-Ontario)

There’s definitely a chance that Letourneau goes in the first, but we feel that teams may be more comfortable using a second on a prep player given that many of those chosen in the first have not developed well. The Sharks can take a chance on Letourneau, given the team’s window is a ways away. The big man oozes upside because of his athleticism.

#34. Chicago Blackhawks - Henry Mews – D - Ottawa (OHL)

With the Hawks focusing so much on strong skating ability, Mews makes sense here. He’s a terrific four-way mover who possesses excellent upside as an offensive defender. He’s a creative rush attacker and his defense did improve over the course of the season.

#35. Anaheim Ducks - Terik Parascak – RW - Prince George (WHL)

A highly intelligent playmaker, Parascak makes up for only average skating by being a step ahead of others mentally. He’s skilled. He’s tenacious. He projects as a quality complementary piece in the top six and he would fit in perfectly with what Anaheim already has in the system.

#36. Philadelphia Flyers (via Columbus Blue Jackets) - Sacha Boisvert – C - Muskegon (USHL)

Why not double down on a top goal scorer? After drafting the draft’s best in Cole Eiserman, the Flyers now take one of the other best options in power center Sasha Boivert. His skating needs to continue to improve, but he can really fire it.

#37. Winnipeg Jets (via Montreal Canadiens) - Cole Hutson – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Wouldn’t it be fitting if the Jets used the Montreal pick to select Lane’s brother Cole? Cole battled some injuries this year, but he closed out the year on a high note by returning for the U18’s. He can control the tempo with his handling ability and mobility. His defensive game is also probably more advanced compared to Lane’s at the same age.

#38. Utah Hockey Club - Teddy Stiga – C - U. S. NTDP U18

Back-to-back NTDP members are chosen here as Stiga ends up being Utah’s pick. He is a terrific complementary piece who was one of the NTDP’s most improved players this year. He plays at a feverish pace, and he is skilled and intelligent enough to play with high end, creative playmakers. Could be the perfect future linemate for Logan Cooley.

#39. Ottawa Senators - Linus Eriksson – C - Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Erikson is a strong skating, two-way center with a strong chance of developing into an excellent and versatile middle six piece. He was solid for Sweden internationally this year and adds great depth to Ottawa’s center position down the line.

#40. Seattle Kraken - Will Skahan – D - U. S. NTDP U18

One of the draft’s most physical defenders, Skahan is big, reasonably mobile, and projects as a top four shutdown blueliner. Seattle has never really drafted a player like Skahan, and we would argue that in order for them to take that next step, they’ll need players like him in the Pacific.

#41. Calgary Flames - Dominik Badinka – D - Malmo (SHL)

Strong, two-way defender who played a ton at the SHL level. His true offensive upside was hidden by playing sheltered minutes against men. The Flames opt for defense here and have had some luck taking Swedish based defenders in recent years (Badinka is Czech but played out of Sweden).

#42. San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey Devils) - Andrew Basha – LW - Medicine Hat (WHL)

The Sharks opt for a bit of a safer selection at this spot after really rolling the dice with the previous two picks. Basha is an excellent complementary piece who projects as someone who can elevate the play of a creative and skilled pivot. He could be the perfect linemate for the likes of Celebrini, Smith, or Eklund because he is skilled and does the dirty work to open up ice.

#43. Buffalo Sabres - Maxim Masse – RW - Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Buffalo makes Masse the first QMJHL player off the board. He’s one of the better pure goal scorers in the draft and he plays a mature, pro style game that sees him get to the middle of the ice. The skating needs to keep improving, but this is a player who could fit in well with some of the others in Buffalo’s system.

#44. Pittsburgh Penguins (via Philadelphia Flyers) - Lucas Pettersson – C - MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)

With their first pick in the draft, the Penguins opt for Swedish center Lucas Pettersson. He’s a strong skating, two-way pivot who projects as a solid middle six piece who can play in a variety of different situations. Building up prospect depth needs to be a focus of Kyle Dubas, after the system was bled dry for the last half a decade.

#45. Minnesota Wild - Brodie Ziemer – RW - U. S. NTDP U18

A Minnesota native heading to the University of Minnesota, the Wild get the captain of this year’s NTDP. He projects as a terrific complementary piece in the top nine who can help bring out the best in more skilled players. He plays a heavier game, which fits in with the theme that Minnesota seems to be focusing on at the draft in recent years.

#46. Pittsburgh Penguins - Aron Kiviharju – D - HIFK (Fin-Liiga)

If there is a team that is going to take a chance on Kiviharju bringing everything together, the Penguins make a ton of sense. With a couple of seconds, they should be focusing on bringing in high upside players and Kiviharju is just that. Is there concern that he has plateaued? Absolutely. However, there’s also a chance that injuries this year really prevented him from being at his best.

#47. Detroit Red Wings - Leon Muggli – D - Zug (Sui-NL)

The Red Wings opt for Leon Muggli, a Swiss defender who really emerged as a top-notch NHL prospect this year. He showed well playing against men in the NL. He’s intelligent and mobile and should have a solid floor as an NHL rearguard in some capacity.

#48. St. Louis Blues - Matvei Shuravin – C - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Long and lean Russian defender with intriguing two-way upside. He was a player who was hard to get a read on this year with his limited minutes in the KHL, however he has an intriguing combination of size and mobility. It’s possible that he reminds the Blues of drafting Colton Parayko back in the day.

#49. Utah Hockey Club (via Washington Capitals) - Yegor Surin – C - Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Utah and their scouts have not been shy about selecting Russian players in recent drafts. Surin is better than the 49th player selected. He is a competitive, but skilled pivot who could end up developing into a versatile player for Utah down the line. Maybe the perfect linemate for fellow Russian Daniil But?

#50. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - John Mustard – C - Waterloo (USHL)

One of the best names in the draft, but also one of the best skaters. Mustard had a breakout campaign in the USHL this year. He’s an explosive player and a talented goal scorer. However, he is also an intense competitor, something that should make Mustard an NHL player in some capacity if the offensive game doesn’t translate.

#51. Philadelphia Flyers (Compensation Pick for Jay O’Brien) - Ryder Ritchie – RW - Prince Albert (WHL)

Ranked as a first rounder by us, there is thought that we are higher on him than NHL scouts after a bit of a disappointing second half mired by injuries. Ritchie is a competitive winger who plays bigger than his size (excuse the cliche). He has solid upside as a complementary piece on a scoring line. This is a nice swing for Philadelphia with their compensation pick.

#52. Washington Capitals (via Vegas Golden Knights) - Marek Vanacker – LW - Brantford (OHL)

The Capitals opt for speedy Hamilton winger Marek Vanacker, the last of our first round graded players. He was extremely consistent all year long and has intriguing offensive upside because of the pace he can play at. Washington would be very familiar with him thanks to their scouting of Patrick Thomas.

#53. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Heikki Ruohonen – C - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)

The Preds have long loved Finnish players, with a strong presence in that market. Ruohonen was one of the biggest risers in the second half of the year; he was excellent at the U18’s for the Finns. He is a competitive, two-way, power center eventually heading to Harvard.

#54. New York Islanders (via Los Angeles Kings) - Adam Kleber – D - Lincoln (USHL)

Kleber is a massive defender whose game really improved over the second half of the year. His mobility, in particular, really took a positive step forward. The USHL rearguard projects as a physical stay at home type, but he does flash some intriguing offensive tools too.

#55. Nashville Predators - Mikhail Yegorov – G - Omaha (USHL)

There has been a ton of talk about Nashville moving on from Juuse Saros, handing over the keys to Askarov. However, there isn’t much of a back-up plan behind Askarov if he doesn't pan out. Taking a goalie makes sense for the Preds in round two and Yegorov is an excellent athlete who their goaltending development coaches can really work with.

#56. St. Louis Blues (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Luke Misa – C - Mississauga (OHL)

Misa is a speedy, two-way forward who projects as a solid middle six option for St. Louis down the line. He had a solid year for Mississauga in the OHL and is the type of player who could move quickly through the system as a later birthday.

#57. Montreal Canadiens (via Colorado Avalanche) - Tory Pitner - Youngstown (USHL)

Montreal has done well by selecting heady defenders in recent years and Pitner is definitely that. He’s one of the draft's most intelligent blueliners, especially in the defensive end. He competes hard and projects as a solid two-way, second pairing type.

#58. Anaheim Ducks (via Boston Bruins) - Tarin Smith – D - Everett (WHL)

A team with an already loaded defensive talent pool can afford to take chances on high upside defenders like Smith. He’s very raw, but his physical tools are excellent. He skates well. He can create offense. How it all comes together remains to be seen, but Anaheim can afford to be patient.

#59. Nashville Predators (via Winnipeg Jets) - Adam Jecho – C - Edmonton (WHL)

An enigma to the highest degree, Jecho is one of the draft’s ultimate boom or bust prospects. At times, he dominates in the offensive end with his size and skill. Other times, he looks lumbering, lazy, and disengaged. Which Jecho will emerge as the real one? Nashville has always loved wingers like this with high end physical tools.

#60. Carolina Hurricanes - Nikita Artamonov – LW - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

This just seems like an amazing fit. The Canes have loved players like Artamanov. High end processor. Not the quickest or most physical, but efficient. They’ve also been one of the most aggressive NHL franchises in drafting Russian talent recently.

#61. New York Islanders (via Vancouver Canucks) - AJ Spellacy – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Spellacy was outstanding in the second half of the OHL season after he fully recovered from a knee injury. He has great length and speed and projects as a high end third line player who can be an elite penalty killer and defensive forward. The last Windsor forward NYI took worked out well.

#62. Calgary Flames (via Dallas Stars) - Raoul Boilard – C - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

What’s the finished product going to look like with Boilard? This is completely unknown due to some consistency issues. However, the Flames need to improve their center depth in the organization and Boilard is a rangy pivot who could end up being a solid middle six piece.

#63. Seattle Kraken (via New York Rangers) - Jesse Pulkkinen – D - JYP (Fin-Liiga)

The first re-entry to go in this mock draft, Seattle has not shied away from selecting players outside of their first year of eligibility. Pulkkinen is a big offensive defender who plays an aggressive style. He needs major refinement, but the tools are there.

#64. Edmonton Oilers - Pavel Moysevich – G - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Have to think the Oilers go with a goalie here if there is one on the board that they really like. Moysevich is a re-entry who was fantastic in the KHL this past season. He is one of the draft’s best athletes and he could move quickly through the system.

#65. Utah Hockey Club (via Florida Panthers) - Jack Pridham – RW - West Kelowna (BCHL)

There is a connection between Utah (previously Arizona) and the St. Andrew’s College program of late. Pridham is a graduate of that program who had a solid year in the BCHL. He is a big winger with great skating ability. The upside is a bit of a mystery, but the tools are legitimate.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – TOP 32 FINAL RANKINGS

Brock Otten — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 16:00:27 +0000

It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide releasing soon. This year, the McKeen’s team has made the executive decision to rank 300 players outright, rather than include honorable mentions. This is a change in our previous methodology.

As has been the case all season long, Macklin Celebrini remains our top ranked prospect and we expect him to be the first overall selection by the San Jose Sharks. Rounding out the top five are Russian winger Ivan Demidov, London defenseman Sam Dickinson, power center Cayden Lindstrom, and the fast-rising Tij Iginla. Iginla was ranked 12th on our midseason list, but his strong finish to the WHL season, coupled with his excellent U18 performance, has elevated him into our top five.

Filling out our top ten are Michigan State defender Artyom Levshunov, spark plug center Berkly Catton, towering defender Anton Silayev, Denver defender Zeev Buium, and Western defender Carter Yakemchuk. Buium moves up from 15th at midseason thanks to his remarkable consistency all year long, in addition to a great Frozen Four performance for Denver. While Russian blueliner Silayev moves out of our top five after a lukewarm second half that saw his offensive production drop off.

Other players who have elevated their stock significantly include Norwegian defender Stian Solberg, Oshawa winger Beckett Sennecke, NTDP defender EJ Emery, Finnish power forward Julius Miettinen, offensive blueliner Cole Hutson, gritty Barrie forward Cole Beaudoin, Oshawa defender Ben Danford, and speedy Brantford winger Marek Vanacker. Solberg jumps up over 30 spots, springboarding into our first round after a terrific second half in the Norwegian men’s league, followed by an eye-opening performance at the men’s World Championships. The athletic and projectable Sennecke also makes a huge jump, from the late first to the earlier first after an outstanding second half and playoff performance for Oshawa, helping the team make the OHL finals.

Other players who have seen their stock drop include Henry Mews, Adam Jecho, Maxim Masse, Raoul Boilard, Jesse Pulkkinen, Aron Kiviharju, and Simon Zether. Ottawa defender Henry Mews has fallen out of our first round due to consistency and defensive engagement concerns. We still value his upside but believe other players have had stronger second half pushes. The same can be said about Finnish defender Aron Kiviharju. Injuries derailed his development this year and his performance at the U18’s (albeit coming off a long layoff) was uninspiring.

As far as goaltenders go, none cracked our top 50. We love the depth for the position this year, and as such, we would feel more comfortable waiting longer to select our first netminder in 2024. Owen Sound’s Carter George, and Russian netminders Pavel Moysevich and Mikhail Yegorov are our top netminders.

Overall, the strength of this draft crop has really grown on us as a scouting team. Early on in the season, we weren’t enamored with the quality of top end players available, nor the depth. The defenseman group available has always been deemed as strong, but what has really elevated this crop is the fact that so many forwards finished the year well, altering their projection and draft standing. We feel that those drafting inside the top 20 have a great chance of grabbing a high impact player.

Look for the release of our 2024 Draft Guide soon (Week of June 10^th). It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2025 NHL Draft, and much more.

Subscribers can see the full Top 300 Ranking here.

If you are interested in a subscription, you can learn more here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	PTS	PIM
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	Boston University (HE)	38	32	32	64	18
2	Ivan Demidov	RW	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	30	23	37	60	20
3	Sam Dickinson	D	6-3/200	7-Jun-06	London (OHL)	68	18	52	70	30
4	Cayden Lindstrom	C	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66
5	Tij Iginla	C	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	Kelowna (WHL)	64	47	37	84	35
6	Artyom Levshunov	D	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	Michigan State (B1G)	38	9	26	35	44
7	Berkly Catton	C	5-10/170	14-Jan-06	Spokane (WHL)	68	54	62	116	41
8	Anton Silayev	D	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	3	8	11	10
9	Zeev Buium	D	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	Denver (NCHC)	42	11	39	50	20
10	Carter Yakemchuk	D	6-3/200	29-Sep-05	Calgary (WHL)	66	30	41	71	120
11	Zayne Parekh	D	6-0/180	15-Feb-06	Saginaw (OHL)	66	33	63	96	64
12	Michael Hage	C	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	Chicago (USHL)	54	33	42	75	53
13	Konsta Helenius	C	5-11/180	11-May-06	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	22	36	10
14	Beckett Sennecke	RW	6-2/175	28-Jan-06	Oshawa (OHL)	63	27	41	68	67
15	Cole Eiserman	LW	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	USN U18 (USDP)	57	58	31	89	34
16	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	Mora (Allsvenskan)	41	8	10	18	19
17	Liam Greentree	RW	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	Windsor (OHL)	64	36	54	90	33
18	Trevor Connelly	LW	6-0/160	28-Feb-06	Tri-City (USHL)	52	31	47	78	88
19	Alfons Freij	D	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	40	14	19	33	14
20	EJ Emery	D	6-3/185	30-Mar-06	USN U18 (USDP)	61	0	16	16	61
21	Jett Luchanko	C	5-11/185	21-Aug-06	Guelph (OHL)	68	20	54	74	36
22	Harrison Brunicke	D	6-2/185	8-May-06	Kamloops (WHL)	49	10	11	21	47
23	Stian Solberg	D	6-2/195	29-Dec-05	Valerenga (Norway)	42	5	10	15	47
24	Adam Jiricek	D	6-2/180	28-Jun-06	Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2
25	Emil Hemming	RW	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	40	7	4	11	0
26	Ryder Ritchie	RW	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	Prince Albert (WHL)	47	19	25	44	24
27	Dominik Badinka	D	6-3/185	27-Nov-05	Malmo (SHL)	33	1	3	4	6
28	Sacha Boisvert	C	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	Muskegon (USHL)	61	36	32	68	86
29	Julius Miettinen	C	6-2/205	20-Jan-06	Everett (WHL)	66	31	36	67	32
30	Yegor Surin	C	6-1/190	1-Aug-06	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	42	22	30	52	108
31	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	43	11	31	42	38
32	Marek Vanacker	LW	6-0/175	12-Apr-06	Brantford (OHL)	68	36	46	82	55

2024 NHL DRAFT: FULL FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT – 32 PICKS

Steven Graves — Fri, 10 May 2024 16:09:44 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

With the Draft Lottery now concluded - we now know definitively where all the lottery selections are situated. Mind you, nothing changed from before the draft, but I digress. This draft really opens up at #2 after Macklin Celebrini. There are a ton of great defenders that offer high end potential, a few high-octane offensive forwards, and a couple of raw toolsy players that scream the word “upside”. There is no consensus after #1 so it’ll be fascinating to see how this class goes. Here’s my shot at it:

#1: San Jose Sharks - C - Macklin Celebrini

After a horrid season that saw the Sharks finish as the worst team in the NHL, the organization will be rewarded with a potential franchise altering talent in Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini will return to the Bay Area where he spent some of his formative years growing up, as his father - Rick Celebrini works with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, so Macklin is quite familiar already. He will step right into the NHL next season and projects as a #1 center. For a franchise that has been in a rough patch the past few seasons, getting a talent like Celebrini will really help the team going forward.

#2: Chicago Blackhawks - RW - Ivan Demidov

The Chicago Blackhawks are a team that is difficult to pinpoint who they’ll select, they’re a team that are in need of everything. Because of this I have them selecting the second most talented player in this class in Ivan Demidov. He might just be the most skilled player in the draft class. If he had played in North America this season, there is a chance he could have challenged Celebrini for #1. Demidov is an offensive weapon that can leave your jaw on the floor watching him play - Pairing him next to Connor Bedard could see both players putting up gaudy offensive totals playing off of each other and could set up Chicago’s offense for years to come.

#3: Anaheim Ducks - C/RW - Konsta Helenius

Anaheim is a weird team for this draft, they’re a team that needs time more than anything because they have a lot of talent already in their system, it’s just a few years too soon before we start to see that translate in the NHL. Looking throughout their roster they’re set up well for the future up the middle and on the back end. They have Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson at center and on defence you have promising players in Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov and Tristian Luneau. There is improvement to be had on the wing, however as Cutter Gauthier and Troy Terry are really the only two names of note. Because of this at this spot I have them selecting Konsta Helenius, a player who can play both center and wing, however I have him as more of a winger in the NHL. He is a very mature player that can be a fantastic complementary piece to more skilled linemates. He is a great 200’ player and a kid that will complement bigger guys like Gauthier, McTavish and Carlsson well.

#4: Columbus Blue Jackets - LD - Anton Silayev

Columbus’ biggest need right now is probably on defense and a shutdown defender at that. Anton Silayev is one of the most polarizing players in this class, he is massive at 6’7” and just finished the season playing full time in the KHL, something that never happens for 17-year-old defenders. However, after having a red-hot start in the KHL, he really cooled down in the last 40 or so games. Silayev provides some of the most intriguing upside in the draft - it’s not often a 6’7” defender that can skate, move the puck well and be imposing physically come through the NHL draft. Columbus would be betting on that upside coming to fruition as the NHL returns to valuing big defenders as it has shown to be successful come playoff time.

#5: Montreal Canadiens - C - Cayden Lindstrom

Montreal definitely won’t be scared away from drafting a big, fast, toolsy forward this year after seeing how well Juraj Slafkovsky played in his sophomore campaign in the NHL. Lindstrom would be a massive get for Montreal as they’ll finally get that big center that the franchise has been yearning for in what seems like forever. Lindstrom has some of the most fascinating upside in this draft class, and Montreal would be ecstatic to get him into their organization.

#6: Utah - RD - Artyom Levshunov

The former Arizona Coyotes could go many directions at this spot, they have many great prospects in their system and there isn’t an obvious position of need. I have them going for the best player I believe will be available in this spot in Artyom Levshunov. Levshunov is one of the most NHL ready players in this draft and would be a massive get for the new Utah franchise. He would shore up the right side of the defense on this Utah team moving forward and should give the team a very good top four defender, moving forward with potential of being more than that.

#7: Ottawa Senators - RW - Tij Iginla

Two years in a row the Ottawa Senators have traded out of the draft lottery. They will make their selection this year following a very disappointing season in which they had playoff aspirations. At this spot I have them taking one of the most improved players in the class in Tij Iginla. Tij, the son of former Calgary Flames captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla saw a massive spike in production this year after getting moved to Kelowna from Seattle. He went from .38 points per game last year to 1.31 points per game this year. A fantastic progression from last year. Ottawa will hope Iginla becomes a great offensive player that is able to contribute physically to help them as they seek the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

#8: Seattle Kraken - LD - Sam Dickinson

With the 8th overall selection, I have the Seattle Kraken picking London Knights defender Sam Dickinson. The 6’ 3” left shot Dickinson would be a godsend for Seattle as there are scouts who think he could end up being the best defenseman in the draft. He is a strong skating two-way defender that can impact the game in all three zones, there are question marks about his decision-making ability but there is just too much to like about Dickinson for Seattle to not pick him if he falls to this spot. In a few years, you can conceivably see him becoming Seattle’s #1 defender, and getting that value at #8 overall would make their fans very happy.

#9: Calgary Flames - RW - Beckett Sennecke

This is a tough pick to nail down, Calgary could go many different directions here, but I have them taking one of the most interesting prospects in the second half of the season in Oshawa Generals forward Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke who stood at just 5’ 10” just two seasons ago now stands at 6’ 3”. Through his growth spurt he has kept his strong offensive skill set and clearly is still adjusting to the change. The name of the game for him is “potential” because he hasn’t learned to use his newfound size yet and still needs to fill out to put him in a position to better utilize that size, If Sennecke’s playoffs are anything to go off of, it shows that he is just scratching the surface on what he could become, and Calgary would be a great franchise to help him harness his potential.

#10: New Jersey Devils - LD - Zeev Buium

The New Jersey Devils already have a great group of defenders but if they’re lucky enough to have a talent like Zeev Buium fall to them at #10, they’re going to jump at that opportunity. He gives the Devils one of the most exciting young defensive cores in the NHL with Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes already in the fold. Buium just had one of the best freshman campaigns in NCAA history and is fresh off a national championship with Denver. He would solidify a Devil’s defense that is already seen as promising.

#11: Buffalo Sabres - C - Berkly Catton

With the 11th overall selection in the 2024 draft, I have the Buffalo Sabres going for one of the most talented offensive players in the draft in Berkly Catton. Catton, a former first overall selection in the WHL draft had a massive year for Spokane in the WHL where he had 54 goals and 114 points in 68 games - good for 4th in league scoring. Catton is a couple years away from being a full time NHL player but with Buffalo on the upswing, they can afford to wait a couple years. Simply put, Buffalo would be getting the best player available at this spot.

#12: Philadelphia Flyers - RD - Carter Yakemchuk

At number twelve, the Philadelphia Flyers select Carter Yakemchuk. Yakemchuk would be heading into a really good situation in Philadelphia since other than Oliver Bonk, their defensive prospects are looking rather thin. He is a big defender that loves to push pace with the puck on his stick, he is able to take over in the offensive zone at times and loves to activate from the blueline. While a dangerous offensive defender, he will need to focus on his play in his own zone to really reach his potential.

#13: Minnesota Wild - RD- Zayne Parekh

Minnesota would be jumping for joy if a talent like Parekh falls to them at this point. They would get one of the best offensive defenders to come through the NHL Draft in a long time. He delivered one of the best seasons as a draft eligible defender in nearly 35 years, tallying 33 goals and 96 points for Saginaw in the OHL. Parekh is deadly in the offensive zone. He is able to manipulate defenders and open shooting lanes like very few defenders can. As a result, he is able to get great shot opportunities that more often than not beat the goalie or create rebound chances. He has star potential written all over him - unfortunately there are some red flags with his game and his defensive engagement is a work in progress. Because of those concerns can see him falling in the draft.

#14: San Jose Sharks (Via Pittsburgh) - LW - Cole Eiserman

With the selection acquired via the Erik Karlsson trade, the Sharks will select a player who was once thought to be Celebrini’s biggest challenger for #1. Eiserman is a deadly goal scorer and is the best one in the draft class. He just surpassed Cole Caufield’s USNTDP record for goals for the program with 127. Unfortunately, he didn’t see much improvement in his game from last year and it allows San Jose an opportunity to snag him here and potentially pair him with Celebrini as a potential trigger man for that could see the two set themselves up for success for many years.

#15; Detroit Red Wings - RW - Liam Greentree

After a fantastic season that saw them miss out on the last playoff spot by an empty net goal, the Detroit Red Wings are in win now mode. They have a ton of promising prospects that have yet to graduate to the NHL, however they don’t have a player that can dominate as a net front presence. That’s why I have them selecting the Windsor Spitfires captain here. Greentree had a fantastic year for the OHL’s second worst team, scoring 90 points when the second leading scorer on his team had 66. Greentree is a very intelligent big, bodied forward that puts himself in great positions to score and is great around the net. Detroit could use a kid like him as they start to make the playoffs consistently in the future.

#16: St.Louis Blues - LW - Trevor Connelly

St.Louis was the last team to miss the playoffs after catching fire following the trade deadline. At one point this season, they were looking like they would be a player in the lottery for first overall. While the results were encouraging for next season, it landed them at 16^th, and will land on Trevor Connelly, one of the highest scoring players in the USHL this season. He is a big, bodied forward that is able to skate well and create plays for himself, he isn’t afraid to use his size to his advantage and can produce in many different ways. There are questions teams will have to answer here, and he could fall further, but probably the most talented option left on the board.

#17: Washington Capitals - C - Michael Hage

With the 17th pick the Washington Capitals select Chicago Steel centerman Michael Hage. After missing nearly his entire 16-year-old season to injury, Hage came into the year on a mission. He had a fantastic offensive campaign that showcased his ability to affect the game in both the offensive and defensive zones. With both Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov leaving the franchise in the past 12 months, they’re going to be in need of centermen going forward and Hage is the best one at this spot in the draft.

#18: New York Islanders - LW - Teddy Stiga

The New York Islanders are a team that always seems to like to go for fast, pesky forwards that can really change the tempo of the game when they’re on the ice. Guys like J. G. Pageau, Casey Cizkas and Cal Clutterbuck are just a few examples of this. Teddy Stiga of the USNTDP is yet another example of this, he is a kid who has seen incredible progression since last year. He went from being a bottom six energy forward to showcasing a previously unknown offensive skill set that could make him a great complementary piece in the NHL one day. One of this year’s biggest risers and a player that just seems like an Islander pick.

#19: Vegas Golden Knights - LD - Alfons Freij

With an aging Vegas blueline and the lack of quality defensive prospects in their system - I suspect the franchise will be targeting a defender with this selection. One of the best ones at this spot is Alfons Freij, a great skating two-way defender that has shown great improvement in his offensive game as the year has progressed. Freij would be in a great position to succeed in Vegas if given the proper time to develop. He could be a key piece to building this blueline in the future.

#20: Chicago Blackhawks (Via Tampa Bay) - RW - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

With the pick that Chicago received in the Brandon Hagel trade, the Blackhawks go with Michael Brandsegg Nygard, poised to be the highest drafted Norwegian player in the history of the NHL Draft. Nygård is a kid that may not be able to create offense for himself, but he is going to put himself in positions to score and to get the puck. Having a center as smart as Bedard could really elevate a big, bodied winger like Nygard, since he doesn’t need the puck on his stick to be effective. He is excellent at moving his feet, keeping up with the pace of play, and has some of the best off-puck positioning in the class. Truly a player that is destined to succeed next to a Bedard level talent.

#21: Los Angeles Kings - RD - Adam Jiricek

It was a nightmare season for Adam Jiricek who started the season off poorly in Czechia’s top men’s league then was injured at the World Juniors and missed the rest of the season. Los Angeles could be a team that takes a gamble on the talent of Jiricek. Before he was injured, he was seen as a potential top-10 selection for the draft. He has a lot of what you want as a defender, good size, skating, defensive play along with good offensive instincts. It’s impossible to know how he has progressed since the injury and it would be a risky selection, but one absolutely worth making if you’re LA.

#22: Nashville Predators - LD - Matvei Shuravin

Nashville has been a defensive factory since their inception into the NHL. They have churned out quality defenders one after another. I have them going with the big Russian rearguard with the 22nd spot here. Shuravin is a 6’ 4” Russian defender that possesses strong skating and great defensive abilities. He’s still rather raw and needs to continue to improve his offensive game as well as learn to harness his size more effectively, but he is a project defender that could really explode into the NHL in a few seasons if given the right development time. I think Nashville is the perfect spot for that to come to fruition.

#23: Toronto Maple Leafs - RD - Ben Danford

Toronto addresses their biggest need with their first-round selection this year, as Ben Danford of the Oshawa Generals is a right-shot, top pairing defender that enjoyed a great season for the OHL’s Eastern Conference champions. It’s so difficult to get defenders like Danford via trade in the NHL, so your best bet is to draft them. It will take a few years for him to play in the NHL, but if he develops as intended, he could be a nightmare to play against in the NHL. The Maple Leafs sorely need a player like him.

#24: Anaheim Ducks (Via Edmonton) - LW - Nikita Artamonov

With the puck acquired via the Adam Henrique trade, I have the Anaheim Ducks going with Nikita Artamonov. Artamonov quietly had one of the most impressive statistical outputs ever for a 17-year-old in the KHL. Artamonov is a few years away from the NHL, however the Ducks are a great place for him since they’re loaded with great prospects already, and can be patient with as he further develops his game in Russia. Hopefully by the time he comes overseas, the Ducks will already be competing for a playoff spot,

#25: Colorado Avalanche - RD - E. J. Emery

In this spot I have the Avs going with one of the rawest prospects in the draft class in American E. J. Emery. He is no sure thing. He has a lot that he needs to work on with his game, but he also has some very intriguing upside. He is a defense-first defender that is intimidating to play against. He can shut down opponents by using his skating and long stick to keep opponents at bay. There are decision making concerns here, and there is limited offensive potential, but he could be a perfect complementary piece for a more offensive minded partner. Colorado would love to have someone like Emery in their system down the road.

#26: Ottawa Senators (Via Boston) - RD - Dominik Badinka

Ottawa’s second selection of the first round, a selection they received in the Alex DeBrincat trade. With this pick I have them going for a right-handed defender in Dominik Badinka. Badinka is a late born ‘05 born and played a majority of the past season in the SHL. He is 6’ 3” and isn’t afraid to lay the body. His skating is great and has some offensive skill as well. The right side of Ottawa’s defense needs a lot of help, getting Badinka here would be a step in the right direction for the Sens.

#27: Montreal Canadiens (Via Winnipeg) - LW - Igor Chernyshov

Montreal will go for the best player still on the board with this selection, and that is Russian power forward Igor Chernyshov. He is a strong skating big body who really showcased a lot of potential playing in Russia this year. He could be scratching the surface of what he could be offensively. There is still a lot of growth to be done with his game. Montreal would love to take that bet here with the selection they received in the Sean Monahan trade.

#28: Carolina Hurricanes - C - Cole Beaudoin

Carolina’s drafting in the past five or so years has been clinical. They constantly find talent in every round of the draft and have one of the league's best prospect pools despite being one of the league's best teams year in, year out. In this spot they go with Cole Beaudoin out of Barrie in the OHL. Cole doesn’t have the best upside to be a top six player in the NHL but looks to be a sure bet to be a very good bottom sixer going forward. He has a fantastic motor and is relentless on the forecheck. He really has a game suited for the NHL.

#29: Calgary Flames (Via Vancouver) - C - Jett Luchenko

With the pick Calgary acquired in the Elias Lindholm deal they go with Guelph Storm pest Jett Luchenko. Luchenko is just a honey badger. He always has his feet going and always wants to do something on the ice. The Flames will bet on Luchenko being a bottom six energy guy going forward and a key piece to when they start to compete for a playoff spot again.

#30: Philadelphia Flyers (Via Florida) - RW - Sam O’Reilly

At #30, I gave the Flyers going with a player that has seen steady progression as the year has gone on with Sam O’Reilly. O’Reilly is a teammate of last year’s first round pick, Oliver Bonk, and Denver Barkey, so you know the Flyers are very familiar with him. O’Reilly has really showcased an excellent two-way game all season long. He has been a consistent contributor in all three zones and has potential to hit another level offensively next season.

#31: Dallas Stars - RW - Emil Hemming

Hemming is one of the better goal scorers in the draft, I have Dallas going here to help replenish their prospect pool after seeing a good number of graduations as of late. The Finnish winger is a goal scoring power forward that can really rip the puck. He showcased this ability at the U18’s. He has flaws, but at this point in the draft I don’t know how you can go wrong betting on a player like Hemming.

#32: New York Rangers - C - Sacha Boisvert

With the last pick in the first round, I have the Rangers going for centreman Sacha Boisvert. Boisvert had a great year in the USHL for Muskegon and plans to go to the University of North Dakota next year. He is an offensive centreman that can be really dangerous in front of the net. He can finish off plays to great effect and isn’t afraid to stand his ground. The Rangers would be very happy to add a player like Boisvert to their pipeline.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 32 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:23 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06

Cayden Lindstrom – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Columbus Blue Jackets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th) GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024 COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025

Jackson Smith, D, Penn State University (NCAA)

Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Zvezda Moscow (VHL)

Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Luca Marrelli, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Luca Pinelli, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Jordan Dumais, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

William Whitelaw, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Sergei Ivanov, G, St. Petersburg (KHL)

Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Charlie Elick, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Guillaume Richard, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Oiva Keskinen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Jack Williams, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

McKeen’s 2025-26 Hockey Pool Yearbook Feature – Fantasy Prospect Rankings

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

9 - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025