Charlie Elick – 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 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?

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.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – 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 15:58:41 +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
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 32 – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:40:04 +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)

It’s time for a ranking update at McKeen’s Hockey as we approach the end of the calendar year. Hopefully you’ve all been following along with our early regional favourites series, where our regional scouts have been providing detailed breakdowns of some of their favourites for the 2024 Draft.

This article shows our top 32 and is available to everyone. For subscribers, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

The top player on our list is Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini. One of the highest scoring players in the NCAA this year as a freshman, Celebrini has met the ultra-high expectations placed on him heading into the year. He is, in our opinion, a slam dunk to be the first player selected this year. Recently named to the Canadian World Junior camp roster, hopefully Celebrini can earn a roster spot and have a strong performance for Canada as a focal point of the team’s offensive attack.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

After Celebrini is where things get…murky. We see a group of seven players in competition for that second spot; Sam Dickinson, Cayden Lindstrom, Konsta Helenius, Cole Eiserman, Anton Silayev, Ivan Demidov, and Artyom Levshunov. How those seven players are ranked was heavily debated amongst our scouts. There truly wasn’t much of a consensus among our staff and we know that NHL scouts are having a similar debate at this current time. An argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked second. Conversely an argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked eighth. Hopefully a few of these players can truly separate themselves from the pack in the second half. In particular, we’re looking to see if the three defenders, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov, can clean up some of their poor decisions with the puck.

Rounding out the top ten are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Mora). Catton is a dynamic play creator who has a chance to jump into that second tier grouping if he can find a way to become a more consistent off puck player. While Brandsegg-Nygard is a winger who plays a game that should translate easily to the pro level in North America. He competes hard. He skates well. It’s just a matter of whether you feel that he has the offensive upside and skill to be a top six player. At this point, considering our high ranking of him, we do believe he possesses that upside.

Of the remaining 22 players currently in our first round, 11 are defenders. While we aren’t enamored with this draft crop (overall), we do really like the upside of this blueline crop. The question is, can the likes of Adam Jiricek and Aron Kiviharju hang on to a spot in our first round because there is no question that they have underperformed compared to their expectations thus far.

But what about the goalies? This is everyone’s favourite question. At this point, we don’t see any netminders worthy of first round consideration. But we did rank OHL goalies Carter George and Ryerson Leenders at the back of our Top 64. George has been the more consistent performer thanks to his excellent play reading ability and mature approach. This was on display at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky too, when he stole the starter’s job from Gabriel D’Aigle. Meanwhile, Leenders is unquestionably the better athlete and a netminder with a penchant for making the highlight reel save thanks to his quickness. He just doesn’t have as refined of a technical approach.

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 64 plus Honourable Mentions – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:30:02 +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)

For this update, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20
33	EJ Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/185	30-Mar-06	22-0-5-5
34	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-10/180	28-Nov-05	28-16-17-33
35	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	5-11/185	17-Nov-05	29-4-10-14
36	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/180	6-Sep-06	27-2-9-11
37	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-10/175	25-Nov-05	25-11-26-37
38	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	6-1/185	1-Mar-06	22-13-12-25
39	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-4/210	14-May-06	22-1-4-5
40	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/185	21-Aug-06	27-10-16-26
41	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	6-3/185	18-Oct-05	17-11-16-27
42	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	6-6/210	21-Feb-06	28-32-31-63
43	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	8-Nov-05	27-13-22-35
44	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/170	4-Feb-06	22-10-20-30
45	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	6-0/195	26-Aug-06	15-0-1-1
46	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	5-10/175	1-Aug-06	21-11-14-25
47	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	6-0/165	9-Jul-06	24-2-4-6
48	Sebastian Soini	D	KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis)	6-2/180	10-Jun-06	15-0-4-4
49	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey(Swe J20)	5-11/170	17-Apr-06	26-13-13-26
50	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/200	24-Apr-06	24-10-8-18
51	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/170	22-Jul-06	25-4-12-16
52	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-7/185	4-Sep-06	30-23-10-33
53	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/185	26-May-06	22-13-14-27
54	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	28-Feb-06	19-1-5-6
55	Hagen Burrows	RW	Minnetonka (USHS-MN)	6-1/175	13-Oct-05	4-3-8-11
56	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/155	5-Apr-06	22-16-12-28
57	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-0/185	28-Feb-06	29-18-16-34
58	Dominik Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	6-3/185	27-Nov-05	15-2-10-12
59	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-3/200	17-Jan-06	29-3-10-13
60	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	5-11/175	28-May-06	28-22-21-43
61	Tuomas Suoniemi	C	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)	5-10/160	16-Apr-06	20-3-11-14
62	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-1/185	7-Jan-06	30-12-17-29
63	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-1/190	20-May-06	9-8-2, 3.03, .902
64	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/175	1-Jun-06	11-7-0, 3.03, .913
HM	Anthony Cristoforo	D	Windsor (OHL)	5-11/190	23-Feb-06	25-1-13-14
HM	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	6-4/195	8-Jun-06	28-5-11-16
HM	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/185	4-May-06	26-9-9-18
HM	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN)	5-10/165	4-Apr-06	25-24-24-48
HM	Aidan Park	C	Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN)	6-1/185	6-Jan-06	25-15-27-42
HM	Noel Fransen	D	Farjestads (Swe J20)	6-0/180	7-Dec-05	30-15-15-30
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	5-10/170	3-Dec-05	22-12-16-28
HM	Max Plante	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/170	20-Feb-06	12-4-13-17
HM	Tomas Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	5-10/150	11-Feb-06	17-1-2-3

Welcome to the 2024 NHL Draft – Western Region

Scouts: Derek Neumeier, Adam Tate, Ben Misfeldt — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:23:29 +0000

Autumn is just around the corner and you know what that means? It’s time to start thinking about the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The majority of players have already seen their seasons begin, be it European or North American based, and that gives us a ton to talk about already. As part of a large series, each of our scouting regions and regional scouts will be introducing you to some of their early favourites; names to keep an eye on.

This is ‘Welcome to the 2024 NHL Draft’ - Western Region

Scouts: Derek Neumeier, Adam Tate, Ben Misfeldt

Favourite Player from the West Heading Into the Draft Year:

Ryder Ritchie, Wing, Prince Albert Raiders

Byron Ritchie is a former NHLer and longtime journeyman pro who carved out a successful career thanks to his smarts and tenacity, overcoming limitations with his size and talent. It's immediately clear when scouting his son, Ryder, that those positive traits have been passed down from father to son, and even better, the younger Ritchie also has more size and natural skill to work with. He plays an incredibly mature style of hockey and oozes professional traits and tendencies, even more than the average offspring of a former player. His pacing is consistently relentless all over the ice, from putting opposing defenders on their heels on the rush to coming back hard on the backcheck. He loves to directly attack the net, preferring to use his hands to open up opportunities for his lethal shot, but he can make plays as well and usually spots the right times to defer. Plays hard and will fight through checks to get to inside ice. While he might never become a superstar player he still projects as one heck of an NHLer overall, one who routinely makes a positive difference on the ice, wins over all of his coaches, and brings a plethora of intangibles. (Derek Neumeier)

Berkly Catton, Centre, Spokane Chiefs

Berkly Catton’s rookie year in the WHL last season was a bit of a revelation. Posting the fourth best rookie point total while being at least a year younger than the players ahead of him gave an indication that he could be an interesting prospect heading into his NHL draft year. He plays a good 200ft game, making sure to be responsible defensively while contributing on offence. And he exploded this summer, leading the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in goals and points. During that tournament he showed an accurate and deceptive wrist shot that beat goaltenders from all parts of the ice, usually from the faceoff dots or closer. He didn’t have a specific “spot” that he targeted, just took what the goaltenders gave him. He made sure to keep up his defensively responsible game as well. He’ll likely be the Spokane Chiefs number one option at centre this upcoming season. While the Chiefs weren’t a great team last year and aren’t expected to be much better this year, Catton should continue to shore up all aspects of his game and show that he’s worthy of being an early first round pick in next summer’s NHL draft. (Adam Tate)

After an uber-successful Hlinka Gretzky tournament in which he was arguably the best player, Berkly Catton comes into the 2023-24 season as the clear frontrunner to be the highest drafted player from the WHL. Catton was a rare bright spot on a very weak Spokane team last season and will look to build on that success this forthcoming season. He is a very well-rounded two-player player who can create offense at an elite level through both high-end goal scoring and playmaking. While his agility is excellent, his overall skating isn’t going to be his reason for NHL success. Instead, it’s Catton’s ability to read and control play that will have scouts excited about his NHL prospects. His combination of vision and passing accuracy, especially at a high pace, allows him to snap dangerous cross-ice passes with relative ease. He has a rare understanding of knowing where the puck will end up and seems to position himself in the right spot at the right time, allowing him to pounce on loose pucks and defender’s mistakes. In addition to his playmaking prowess, Catton has an accurate wrist shot and is frequently able to maneuver himself into the slot to release it. He also has a consistently relaxed element to his game and never seems to get flustered when possessing the puck in close proximity to defenders. Additionally, Catton demonstrated a strong work ethic and excelled as a two-way centre during his 16-year-old season, an impressive feat in a physically demanding league. (Ben Misfeldt)

First Round Candidates:

Carter Yakemchuk, Defense, Calgary Hitmen

What a revelation Yakemchuk was for the Hitmen last season, growing his game by leaps and bounds over the course of the year. There were even a few times where he was the best player on the ice, on either team. He is a toolsy, confident blueliner who is getting more and more comfortable being a focal point for his club and putting the game on his stick. He does everything well and can be a difference-maker in all three zones, but where he shines the brightest is with his puck control, using it to carve through traffic and break a lot of ankles on his way to the opposing net. A late bloomer, he isn't nearly as polished as other top prospects in this draft class are, but his development is moving rapidly in the right direction, which is a great sign for his long-term upside. (Derek Neumeier)

Charlie Elick, Defense, Brandon Wheat Kings

The Wheat Kings weren't very deep or strong last season, and they likely won't be again this year. While that's not a good thing for the team overall, it could be a huge benefit for Elick, their budding star on the back end who was selected by the club 3rd overall in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. He projects well as a workhorse, minute-munching defender, and should get a lot of opportunities soon to step into that kind of role. He has all the tools necessary to become an elite shutdown defenseman, not just physically but seemingly mentally as well. He doesn't leave much of a mark offensively and likely never will, but he has enough prowess with his skating and hands to be an asset with possession, breakouts and transitions. If he takes that expected next step then his specialist talents should draw a lot of attention from NHL scouts. (Derek Neumeier)

Adam Titlbach, Forward, Vancouver Giants

Adam Titlbach comes to the Vancouver Giants as their first pick in this year’s Import Draft. Generally playing Centre to this point in his career, the Czechian may see more time on the wing with the Giants as they have pretty solid depth up the middle. This may serve Titlbach well as he could see more success at the pro level playing on the wing due to his size. A gifted offensive player with plus awareness in the offensive zone, Titlbach seems to excel as both a playmaker and a scorer. He reads the play in the offensive zone well and finds linemates with accurate passes to put them in position for good scoring attempts. His shooting is a touch less impressive but still accurate, especially from in close. He should be given a chance to show scouts his offensive abilities as he slides into a top six and power play role for the Giants. (Adam Tate)

Tij Iginla, Winger, Kelowna Rockets

Traded by Seattle to the Rockets this past summer, Tij Iginla will get to show what he can do with expanded ice time. Playing bottom six forward minutes for the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, Iginla posted six goals and 18 points in 48 games. While those numbers don’t scream offensive force, there’s likely more to Iginla’s game than what’s been shown so far. The big bodied forward may not carry a line on his own at this stage, but I think he’ll be a strong support piece in the top six for Kelowna. Early preseason games suggest he’ll be given more of a chance to contribute offensively. (Adam Tate)

Cayden Lindstrom, Center, Medicine Hat Tigers

Like Catton, Cayden Lindstrom was a member of Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky team this summer. While he didn’t necessarily demonstrate high calibre offensive skills at that particular tournament, Lindstrom’s excellent WHL rookie season turned some heads. Since being drafted in the 3rd round at the 2021 WHL Draft, Lindstrom has improved significantly and has developed himself into a top-flight prospect for 2024. Even before last season, Lindstrom was a standout at the U17 Summer Camp, showcasing his dominant physical attributes over his peers. Those physical attributes— namely his powerful skating and size present a unique combination that can be overwhelming for defenders to handle, whether that be in offensive transition or on the forecheck. In transition, Lindstrom is hard to manage for defensemen as he is a lengthy, speedy player with a strong base. With these elements, he consistently gains clean zone entries. The main focus for Lindstrom in 2023-24 will be to improve the execution of his offensive abilities once he inevitably gains the offensive zone. His improvement in decision-making will be critical in determining if he works his way towards the first round or remains a later round pick. (Ben Misfeldt)

Andrew Basha, Wing, Medicine Hat Tigers

Andrew Basha improved leaps and bounds for Medicine Hat last season. Considering he wasn’t even a full-time WHLer at the start of 2021-22, it’s been encouraging seeing his development into an impact forward and potential high NHL draft pick. Basha is very shifty and uses his excellent skating to navigate to better positions on the ice. Combine the high-end skating with his relentless motor and strong passing ability and you have a highly effective and dynamic playmaking forward. In every viewing last season, Basha seemed to show more and more as the season went on and proved himself to be Medicine Hat’s best forward. Compared to fellow late 2005-born prospect Tanner Howe, Basha showed more high-end potential down the stretch with considerably less offensive talent around him. Look for him to build on last season’s progression in 2023-24 and potentially sneak into late first-round conversation. In order to improve on last season, Basha needs to add strength and find ways to navigate towards the centre of the ice, rather than limiting himself to the perimeter to make plays. (Ben Misfeldt)

Under the Radar “Sleepers:”

Josh Fluker, Defense, Swift Current Broncos

Fluker was not particularly good in his junior WHL season, but still possesses the tools that made him the seventh overall selection in the 2021 bantam draft, which should translate into a better sophomore campaign. He is truly a high-end skater, with magnificent agility, balance and footwork. At his best he is slippery and elusive, able to cleanly evade forecheck pressure and quickly kickstart breakouts. He is, however, small, light, and needs a ton of strength and conditioning work. His draft stock will be highly dependent on how well he can withstand the physical side of the sport. (Derek Neumeier)

Ismail Abougouche, Defense, Kelowna Rockets

While there is very little flash or flair to how Abougouche approaches the game, he is nonetheless still effective when he keeps things simple and plays to his strengths. A defender with workable size, strength, athleticism and sandpaper, he prioritizes off-puck and shutdown duties. He gaps well with his skating and long stick, and is happy to bring a physical element to make life harder on his opponents. His puck skills are quite rough, so it's probably for the best that he prefers to limit his offensive engagement. He'll have draft value if he can prove he can excel within his role. (Derek Neumeier)

Carson Wetsch, Forward, Calgary Hitmen

Selected for Team Canada in this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament, Carson Wetsch played a key role on the team’s top line as the grinder willing to battle for pucks and provide some physicality. He started off on the team’s fourth line but was quickly placed up at the top with the likes of Berkly Catton as clearly the team’s coaching staff saw a fit for Wetsch there. Additionally, Wetsch had a good rookie season in the WHL for Calgary, scoring 21 points in 45 games. While most of his offense, especially his goalscoring, comes from three feet outside of the crease, it will be interesting to see how Wetsch progresses as this season goes on. (Adam Tate)

Colton Roberts, Defence, Vancouver Giants

A player that had the opportunity to play almost a full season in the WHL as a 16 year old, Colton Roberts already has a solid base of skill to work from. A tall, big bodied defenceman listed this upcoming season at 6’3”, 195 lbs, the right-hander is already a good skater for his size. There is likely more offence to come as he continues to mature. His passing stood out last season and is a skill that could be further developed. Like most young defencemen, his decision making in his own end needs some improvement, but his instincts are solid. He could hear his name called in the middle rounds of the NHL Draft next summer. (Adam Tate)

Hiroki Gojsic, Wing, Kelowna Rockets

After playing the 2022-23 season as a member of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, Gojsic decided to make the move to the WHL over the off-season. Since Penticton was as stacked as it gets last season, Gojsic was limited to a just depth role. Despite this, he produced admirably in his bottom-six minutes and flashed real NHL upside. Gojsic is a tall winger with soft hands who especially succeeds around the net. In his draft season, Gojsic should have significantly more opportunity on the Kelowna Rockets than he did for Penticton last year. Some might be sleeping on Gojsic because his junior experience and pedigree is limited at this point but there’s NHL upside in his game and he will be able to demonstrate that more this season. (Ben Misfeldt)

Bryce Pickford, Defense, Seattle Thunderbirds

It’s not as exciting of a defensive crop for the WHL as compared to normal, especially when looking at the player’s coming out of the OHL for this draft. However, Bryce Pickford played a role on the WHL-winning Seattle Thunderbirds and even that is impressive given the other five regular defensemen are all NHL-drafted. While he is average sized and currently projects as an average skater, Pickford exceeds in many areas that contribute to winning. He is a very gritty defensemen who plays tougher and bigger than his stature. This style of play kept Pickford in the Thunderbirds lineup during the playoffs. Making the jump from AA hockey directly to the best team in the WHL is certainly difficult and takes an adjustment period. This relative rawness to high-end hockey is one reason for optimism towards Pickford’s continued development in 2023-24, especially with an expanded role for Seattle. (Ben Misfeldt)

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP – Tournament All Star Team – Honourable Mentions – 25 outstanding player performances

Jared Brown — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:16:19 +0000

Tournament All-Star Team

F - Berkly Catton (Canada)

Catton was I think, clearly this tournament’s MVP. He did it all for Canada, playing in all situations, driving the offense and creating chances for himself or his linemates, and setting the tone for his team early in their games by throwing his weight around on the forecheck. You could also give him the nickname “captain clutch” for how often he scored timely goals in this tournament for Canada. Catton isn’t a big player playing down the middle of the ice. But he’s a high-end skater with plus-level vision, who brings competitiveness, and intelligent hockey to the forefront which complements his offensive tools. He finished with the tournament lead in goals with eight, showcasing his quick release and accuracy on midrange shots. With his plus-level vision comes the soft hands which allow him to make plays under/over sticks with confidence. There didn’t seem to be a pass he couldn’t make in this tournament.

F - Trevor Connelly (USA)

Early 2024 draft rankings are going to have Trevor Connelly skyrocketing up the boards after the tournament performance he put on for scouts. I’d rank him as the best skater in this tournament. He showcased terrific speed, mechanics, and edgework in his skating ability. He’s incredibly shifty and evasive through his edgework and finds open spaces to skate into while separating himself from his defender. Connelly was a dynamic offensive threat on the powerplay and at even strength. On the man advantage, he utilized his footwork to shift penalty killers around to open up shooting/passing lanes. I like how he’s rarely ever stationary with the puck and is always on the move, searching for defensive holes in coverage. His puck control is above average, allowing him to handle pucks and finish in tight. Connelly also brought the pace and motor on the other side of the puck, showcasing his two-way play.

F - Adam Benak (Czechia)

Although Adam Benak was a year younger than everyone else on his team, he drove the bus offensively for Czechia through his speed and high-end playmaking ability. His skating is terrific and a major strength in his ability to create offense off the rush. He showcased strong stride mechanics and two-step acceleration in straight lines. He’s a talented playmaker. Patience is a virtue and Benak has it for days. He likes to delay and hold onto pucks to draw defenders to him which allows passing lanes to open up for him. His off-puck positioning as a centre is superb. He assists his defencemen through the middle on breakouts and regularly in close support during battles. He is on the smaller side which will cause some reserves of his future potential. But he’s not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2025 and showed me through his play in this tournament that he’s got some dynamic offensive upside.

D - Sam Dickinson (Canada)

Sam Dickinson is going to challenge for a top five selection and for the top defenceman in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. He’s big, strong, moves the puck efficiently in the defensive zone, and is mobile in the attacking end. He’s composed under pressure in the defensive zone and uses his powerful edges and solid agility to escape from attackers before moving the puck up ice. He can efficiently break the puck out with an accurate first pass or by carrying it out himself with confidence. In the offensive zone, he likes to stay in motion and make plays while on the move. Dickinson defends the rush with terrific mobility, gap control, and an active stick. He’s effective at getting his body in between the man and the puck. Defensively he was a wall in every game while also bringing a bit of an intimidating presence. This young man has the coveted tools already to be a top-pairing NHL defenceman.

D - Adam Jiricek (Czechia)

Adam Jiricek, like Sam Dickinson, didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but his well-roundedness, maturity, and skating all show signs of a potential top pairing defenceman at the pro level already. His game is already incredibly polished. He makes very few mistakes for you to critique. You can rely on him to log heavy minutes and play in all situations. He’s smart at processing what’s in front of him and the passing lanes that will open up. Then he will lay a flat, pinpoint accurate pass to his forwards for clean zone exits. Jiricek possesses elite edgework to work himself away from forecheckers or into more opportune passing/shooting lanes. Defensively he was a stalwart for Czechia, sacrificing his body to block shots on the penalty kill, and closing gaps quickly with his great mobility and defensive stick. He’s very efficient at stopping the cycle by using that big body of his to pin his opponents.

G - Carter George (Canada)

Carter George narrowly beat out Czechia goaltender, Jakub Milota, for my top goalie of the tournament. George took advantage of securing the crease for Canada after their disastrous opening game against Finland. He exhibits great poise and steady confidence through his technical play and positioning which gives his teammates and coaches confidence when he’s in between the pipes. He always looks in control of his movements and rarely loses his net or overplays his angles. He’s a good skater and moves smoothly side-to-side. George displays strong puck tracking ability, especially when the puck is in close around his crease. He’s got a solid glove hand where he consistently catches and traps pucks inside them with ease. His puck playing skills for his age was good and he showed comfort in coming out and moving the puck from behind his net. George doesn’t have that “ideal” size for a goaltender, but his composure, positioning, and technical play really impressed me.

Honourable Mentions

Canada

Malcolm Spence - Spence I thought got better through each game of the tournament. He was an effective penalty killer for Canada where he could use his speed to pressure and create offence. His stick checking impressed me as he was terrific at taking pucks off his opposition’s stick or poking pucks into an open space for him or a teammate to skate into. That puck-stealing skill was on display with his overtime winner.

Cole Beaudoin - Beaudoin emerged as a fantastic role player for Canada with his versatile toolbox. He played centre, wing, took important faceoffs on the penalty kill, and provided a heavy game to cause havoc while forechecking. He has a strong motor, busting his butt at both ends of the rink. He also displayed a finishing touch from in and around the home plate area.

Ryder Ritchie - Ritchie was Canada’s second most dangerous forwards after Berkly Catton. Ritchie showcased a ton of confidence with the puck in this tournament and an above average individual skillset to drive the offence. He likes to attack defenders and play through traffic. Solid puck skills and offensive instincts. His skating is quick and he possesses the acceleration to separate himself from defenders.

Michael Misa - Misa dominated in their game against Slovakia where he put up six points and, in that game, showed why he deserved exceptional status in the OHL. His awareness in the offensive zone is top-notch as he looks to set his teammates up in high-danger areas. His skating is explosive and his hands work in unison with his feet to make him a dynamic puck carrying threat in transition.

Henry Mews - I thought Mews was Canada’s best defenceman in the Gold Medal Game playing a solid two-way game. His skating and footwork are high-end and make him an elusive puck carrier in transition and inside the offensive zone. He displays excellent offensive instincts and loves to activate into the attack. Moves the puck very well on breakouts, showcasing terrific vision.

Charlie Elick - Elick was a defensive specialist for Canada and a massive contributor to their penalty kill. He’s got the tools to be a strong shutdown defenceman. He uses his size to play a physical game and separate his man from the puck. Does a good job of utilizing his range to minimize gaps and get his stick into shooting lanes at the last second. He showcased solid straight-line acceleration on his carries.

Czechia

Adam Titlbach - Titlbach surely made his mark on scouts through his offensive skills and production. He’s quick in his boots and takes advantage of open ice through the neutral zone to establish controlled entries. He protects the puck very well in his hip pocket while at full speed. He shoots the puck with a quick, snappy release and showed the soft skill to make plays underneath sticks.

Ondrej Kos - Kos was a perfect complement to Titlbach and Benak on Czechia’s top line. He’s a terrific north-south skater with great speed down the wing to turn defenders around. He plays with pace off the puck and forechecks using his speed and size. He’s a threat in transition and strong along the boards with his big frame, which still has a lot of room to fill out.

Tomas Galvas - Galvas showed great maturity and pro habits in his game. He was Czechia’s second-best defenceman for me, factoring in at both ends of the rink. He utilizes his quick feet and skating to activate into the rush and stay with his man defensively while he forces them out wide. He closes out his man well along the boards and showcases good patience while starting the breakout.

Jakub Milota - Milota didn’t have a bad game and was tremendous in the Gold Medal Game. He makes up for his lack of size with his quickness and athleticism. He comes out to the top of his paint to challenge shooters and cut down his angles. Routinely squares up to shooters. He showcased good rebound control on low shots and quick reflexes in his legs.

USA

Will Zellers - After Trevor Connelly, it was Zellers who looked to create the most chances for Team USA. He created most of his chances himself by working himself into the middle of the ice for a better scoring opportunity. He’s got the quick edges needed for a smaller forward to escape pressure in small spaces. I also liked his defensive hustle and awareness in his own end.

Will Felicio - Felicio finished tied-2nd for defenceman scoring but first in goals with three. He was most effective in the tournament on the powerplay and moving the puck on breakouts. He skates with an airy stride and is light on his feet to cut, twist, and turn away from pressure. Uses his offensive instincts to get himself into scoring positions and is accurate in sniping the puck above the goalies' shoulders.

Caleb Heil - Heil’s tournament numbers don’t stand out, but when you watch him play, you see an athletic goalie who recovers quickly and is exceptional at playing the puck for his age. He managed to put up two assists in the tournament. His lateral movement is swift and he’s quick to square himself after coming across. I like his reaction speed in corralling loose pucks after he doesn’t smother the first shot he faced.

Finland

Emil Hemming - Hemming was a scoring threat on the powerplay and showcased that he possesses a very powerful and quick release. One of the best shooters in this tournament. He’s got quick hands and creativity when attacking defenders 1-on-1 off the rush. His awareness in the offensive zone while surveying along the perimeter is strong. He’s got good size already and was willing to play physical on occasion.

Tuomas Suoniemi - Suoniemi had an impressive first game of the tournament against Canada where he scored a hat trick which included a highlight reel finish. He possesses skilled hands and great puck control while moving his feet. He recognizes open pockets he can attack through due to his constant heads-up awareness. Offensively has the skill to drive his line.

Sweden

Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Wallenius played a strong two-way style and showed a knack for making offensive plays off the blueline. He’s a strong skater with good puck carrying mobility. He loves to activate into the rush. Showcased a shoot-first mentality for the most part. Defensively uses his mobility to close off players along the boards. Keeps his feet moving and uses his strength to eliminate his opponents off the puck.

Linus Eriksson - Captain for Sweden and he showcased his leadership by playing a competitive game at both ends of the rink. He’s a shifty skater in transition who displayed the ability to sidestep opponents through the neutral zone without breaking stride. He frequently scans the ice when possessing the puck and identifies quick passing options. Showed a willingness to involve himself in battles and outwork his opposition for the puck.

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - The Swiss top defender did not disappoint. He’s got an all-around toolkit that allows him to play in all situations for his team. He loves to utilize his feet to carry pucks out and can do this due to his powerful skating. He’s excellent at using his edgework to escape pressure. Defensively he makes good defensive reads to intercept cross-ice passes. He’s strong defending along the boards and in defensive zone battles.

Leon Muggli - Muggli plays a bit of an old-fashioned style of defence. He’s rugged, tough, and likes to eliminate his man from the play through body contact. He’s strong on his man and was effective at breaking up cycles below his goal line. Muggli was a steady defender for the Swiss and Mr. Reliable on the backend for them.

Charlie Elick – 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 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Cayden Lindstrom

2 - Jackson Smith

3 - Luca Del Bel Belluz

4 - Pyotr Andreyanov

5 - Luca Marrelli

6 - Jet Greaves

7 - Jordan Dumais

8 - Luca Pinelli

9 - Guillaume Richard

10 - Charlie Elick

11 - Stanislav Svozil

12 - William Whitelaw

13 - Evan Gardner

14 - Corson Ceulemans

15 - Jack Williams

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

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

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1. Cayden Lindstrom

2. Denton Mateychuk

3. Gavin Brindley

4. Stanislav Svozil

5. Corson Ceulemans

6. Jordan Dumais

7. Charlie Elick

8. William Whitelaw

9. Luca Del Bel Belluz

10. Luca Pinelli

11. James Malatesta

12. Guillaume Richard

13. Andrew Strathmann

14. Jet Greaves

15. Evan Gardner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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