Larry Fisher
Registered User
It’s been an interesting draft year, to say the least, with wide-ranging opinions beyond the consensus top prospect in Macklin Celebrini, who went wire-to-wire as No. 1 and will be selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks on June 28 at The Sphere in Vegas!
Here are my final rankings — my Top 350 for the 2024 NHL Draft:
I’m confident Ivan Demidov is the second-best prospect in this class but, from there, my tiers have never been bigger — starting with 3-15! And, of course, sticking with Cole Eiserman at No. 3 is going to be controversial but I’m not convinced anybody else in that tier has a higher ceiling or the potential to be more impactful than the high-scoring Eiserman. Sure, he could be trend similar to Oliver Wahlstrom and he won’t be Auston Matthews, but Eiserman still projects as the best shooter in this class and could be a perennial 30-plus goal-getter alongside the right playmaker. I’m thinking Brock Boeser or Alex DeBrincat, perhaps a prime Phil Kessel if he becomes more a driver. Regardless, it’s called conviction — and time will tell, as always!
It’s a strong year for defencemen with as many as six expected to go in the Top 10 and certainly within the Top 15! There are also risers like Tij Iginla and Beckett Sennecke, who both had impressive playoff showings to bolster their stock within than tier!
The next wave of defenders will be intriguing, with smaller puck-movers like Aron Kiviharju, Cole Hutson and Alfons Freij competing with bigger but still mobile options like EJ Emery and Stian Solberg, who might be the biggest riser of all! They are all in the next big tier of first-round contenders from 16-58, which may seem extreme but any of those names could be called on Day 1 of the draft! Or go on to outperform their peers who earn that first-round distinction!
It’ll be even more of a crapshoot outside the Top 50, with my 59-128 tier realistically vying for the tail end of the second round! And I honestly wouldn’t be stunned if somebody from my 129-186 tier wound up cracking the Top 65! It’s going to be one of those years where you’ll want to familiarize yourself with as much talent as possible ahead of the draft to limit those ‘who?’ surprises! I’m also curious to see how many of my Top 186 go undrafted and how many prospects are taken from off my Top 350 list!
We’ll get those answers — and those surprises — in 17 more sleeps … and I can’t wait to watch it all play out. Stay tuned!
As always, your feedback is welcomed and appreciated. Then we can wait and see what happens in Vegas and over the coming seasons before drawing any conclusions!
Here are my final rankings — my Top 350 for the 2024 NHL Draft:
Fisher’s 2024 Final Rankings: Top 350 |
Tiers: 1, 2, 3-15, 16-58, 59-128, 129-186, 187-350 |
First Round |
1) Macklin Celebrini (LC/LW, Canada, Boston University NCAA) |
2) Ivan Demidov (RW/LC, Russia, SKA St. Petersburg MHL) |
3) Cole Eiserman (LW, USA, NTDP U18) |
4) Zeev Buium (LD, USA, Denver NCAA) |
5) Artyom Levshunov (RD, Belarus, Michigan State NCAA) |
6) Anton Silayev (LD, Russia, Torpedo KHL) |
7) Tij Iginla (LW, Canada/USA, Kelowna WHL) |
8) Carter Yakemchuk (RD, Canada, Calgary WHL) |
9) Sam Dickinson (LD, Canada, London OHL) |
10) Zayne Parekh (RD, Canada, Saginaw OHL) |
11) Berkly Catton (LW/LC, Canada, Spokane WHL) |
12) Cayden Lindstrom (LC/LW, Canada, Medicine Hat WHL) |
13) Konsta Helenius (RC/RW, Finland, Jukurit Liiga) |
14) Trevor Connelly (LW/LC, USA, Tri-City USHL) |
15) Beckett Sennecke (RW, Canada, Oshawa OHL) |
16) Adam Jiricek (RD, Czechia, Plzen) |
17) Aron Kiviharju (LD, Finland, HIFK Liiga) |
18) Cole Hutson (LD, USA, NTDP U18) |
19) Michael Hage (RC, Canada, Chicago USHL) |
20) Igor Chernyshov (LW, Russia, Dynamo Moskva MHL) |
21) EJ Emery (RD, USA/Canada, NTDP U18) |
22) Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (RW, Norway, Mora Allsvenskan) |
23) Emil Hemming (RW, Finland, TPS Liiga) |
24) Stian Solberg (LD, Norway, Valerenga Norway) |
25) Jesse Pulkkinen (LD, Finland, JYP Liiga, overager) |
26) Nikita Artamonov (RW, Russia, Torpedo KHL) |
27) Liam Greentree (RW, Canada, Windsor OHL) |
28) Sacha Boisvert (LC, Canada, Muskegon USHL) |
29) Yegor Surin (LC/RW, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL) |
30) Ryder Ritchie (RC/RW, Canada, Prince Albert WHL) |
31) Terik Parascak (RW, Canada, Prince George WHL) |
32) Andrew Basha (LW/LC, Canada, Medicine Hat WHL) |
Second Round |
33) Alfons Freij (LD, Sweden, Vaxjo J20) |
34) Leo Sahlin Wallenius (LD, Sweden, Vaxjo J20) |
35) Jett Luchanko (RW, Canada, Guelph OHL) |
36) Raoul Boilard (LC, Canada, Baie-Comeau QMJHL) |
37) Teddy Stiga (LW, USA, NTDP U18) |
38) Matvei Gridin (LW, Russia, Muskegon USHL) |
39) Dominik Badinka (RD, Czechia, Malmo SHL) |
40) Alexander Zetterberg (RW/RC, Sweden, Orebro J20) |
41) Lucas Pettersson (LC, Sweden, MoDo J20) |
42) Adam Jecho (RW, Czechia, Edmonton WHL) |
43) Brodie Ziemer (RW/RC, USA, NTDP U18) |
44) Cole Beaudoin (LC, Canada, Barrie OHL) |
45) Henry Mews (RD, Canada, Ottawa OHL) |
46) Justin Poirier (RW, Canada, Baie-Comeau QMJHL) |
47) Dean Letourneau (RC, Canada, St. Andrew’s College CAHS) |
48) Charlie Elick (RD, Canada, Brandon WHL) |
49) Tanner Howe (LW, Canada, Regina WHL) |
50) Julius Miettinen (LC/LW, Finland, Everett WHL) |
51) Sam O’Reilly (RC, Canada, London OHL) |
52) Luke Misa (LC, Canada, Mississauga OHL) |
53) Carter George (G, Canada, Owen Sound OHL) |
54) Tomas Galvas (LD, Czechia, Olomouc U20) |
55) Leon Muggli (LD, Switzerland, Zug NL) |
56) Matvei Shuravin (LD, Russia, CSKA Moskva KHL) |
57) Spencer Gill (RD, Canada, Rimouski QMJHL) |
58) Harrison Brunicke (RD, Canada, Kamloops WHL) |
59) Miguel Marques (RW/RC, Canada, Lethbridge WHL) |
60) Max Plante (LC, USA, NTDP U18) |
61) John Mustard (F, USA, Waterloo USHL) |
62) Alexandre Blais (LW, Canada, Rimouski QMJHL) |
63) Maxim Masse (RW, Canada, Chicoutimi QMJHL) |
64) Marek Vanacker (LW, Canada, Brantford OHL) |
Third Round |
65) Sebastian Soini (RD, Finland, Ilves Liiga) |
66) Tuomas Suoniemi (LC, Finland, Kiekko-Espoo Mestis) |
67) Ollie Josephson (LW/LC, Canada, Red Deer WHL) |
68) Tarin Smith (LD, Canada, Everett WHL) |
69) Ben Danford (RD, Canada, Oshawa OHL) |
70) Will Skahan (LD, USA, NTDP U18) |
71) Veeti Vaisanen (LD, Finland, KooKoo Liiga) |
72) Niilopekka Muhonen (LD, Finland, KalPa U20) |
73) Aatos Koivu (RC, Finland, TPS U20) |
74) Melvin Fernstrom (RW/RC, Sweden, Orebro J20) |
75) Jack Berglund (LW, Sweden, Farjestad SHL) |
76) Linus Eriksson (LC, Sweden, Djurgardens J20) |
77) Lukas Fischer (LD, Czechia/USA, Sarnia OHL) |
78) Will Felicio (LD, USA, Waterloo USHL) |
79) Colin Ralph (LD, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep) |
80) Mikhail Yegorov (G, Russia, Omaha USHL) |
81) Mac Swanson (LW/LC, USA, Fargo USHL) |
82) Topias Hynninen (RW, Finland, Jukurit Liiga) |
83) Eemil Vinni (G, Finland, HIFK Liiga) |
84) Ilya Nabokov (G, Russia, Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL, overager) |
85) Yegor Graf (LC, Russia, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg MHL) |
86) Simon Zether (RC, Sweden, Rogle SHL) |
87) Noel Fransen (LD, Sweden, Farjestad J20) |
88) Ondrej Kos (LW, Czechia, Ilves U20) |
89) Eriks Mateiko (LW, Latvia, Saint John QMJHL) |
90) Anthony Romani (RC/RW, Canada, North Bay OHL, overager) |
91) Ondrej Becher (RW, Czechia, Prince George WHL, overager) |
92) Carson Wetsch (RW/RC, Canada, Calgary WHL) |
93) Clarke Caswell (LW/LC, Canada, Swift Current WHL) |
94) Christian Humphreys (RW/RC, USA, NTDP U18) |
95) Kamil Bednarik (LC, USA, NTDP U18) |
96) Adam Kleber (RD, USA, Lincoln USHL) |
Fourth Round |
97) Jakub Fibigr (LD, Czechia, Mississauga OHL) |
98) Jakub Chromiak (RD, Slovakia, Kingston OHL) |
99) David Svozil (LD, Czechia, Ilves U20) |
100) Daniil Ustinkov (LD, Switzerland/Russia, ZSC Lions NL) |
101) James Reeder (RW, USA, Dubuque USHL) |
102) Will Zellers (F, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep) |
103) Aidan Park (RW/RC, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep) |
104) Hagen Burrows (RW, USA, Minnetonka USHS) |
105) Javon Moore (F, USA, Minnetonka USHS) |
106) Marcus Gidlof (G, Sweden, Leksands J20) |
107) Kim Saarinen (G, Finland, HPK U20) |
108) Mitja Jokinen (LD, Finland, TPS U20) |
109) Gian Meier (RD, Switzerland, GCK Lions U20) |
110) Herman Traff (LW/RW, Sweden, HV71 SHL) |
111) Gabriel Eliasson (LD, Sweden, HV71 J20) |
112) Eric Burger (LD, Sweden, Orebro J20) |
113) Owen Allard (LW/LC, Canada, Soo OHL, overager) |
114) Ryerson Leenders (G, Canada, Mississauga OHL) |
115) Jakub Milota (G, Czechia, Cape Breton QMJHL) |
116) Tomas Lavoie (RD, Canada, Cape Breton QMJHL) |
117) Alexis Bernier (RD, Canada, Baie-Comeau QMJHL) |
118) Jack Pridham (RW, Canada, West Kelowna BCHL) |
119) Tomas Mrsic (LC, Canada, Medicine Hat WHL) |
120) Maxmilian Curran (LC, Czechia, Tri-City WHL) |
121) Colton Roberts (RD, Canada, Vancouver WHL) |
122) Nate Misskey (RD, Canada, Victoria WHL, overager) |
123) Nathan Villeneuve (LC, Canada, Sudbury OHL) |
124) Jacob Battaglia (RW, Canada, Kingston OHL) |
125) Frankie Marrelli (LD, Canada, Ottawa OHL) |
126) Jonathan Morello (LC, Canada, St. Michael’s OJHL) |
127) John Whipple (LD, USA, NTDP U18) |
128) Nicholas Kempf (G, USA, NTDP U18) |
Fifth Round |
129) Pavel Moysevich (G, Belarus, SKA St. Petersburg KHL, overager) |
130) Vladimir Mikhalyov (RW, Russia, Sibir Novosibirsk KHL, overager) |
131) Matyas Melovsky (RC, Czechia, Baie-Comeau QMJHL, overager) |
132) Niks Fenenko (LD, Latvia, Baie-Comeau QMJHL, overager) |
133) Tommi Mannisto (RW, Finland, Michigan State NCAA, overager) |
134) Jere Lassila (LC, Finland, JYP Liiga, overager) |
135) Kasper Pikkarainen (RW, Finland, TPS Liiga) |
136) Joona Vaisanen (RD, Finland, Dubuque USHL, overager) |
137) Charlie Cerrato (F, USA, Youngstown USHL, overager) |
138) Joe Connor (LC, USA, Muskegon USHL, overager) |
139) Gavyn Thoreson (F, USA, Waterloo USHL, overager) |
140) Kaden Shahan (F, USA, Sioux City USHL, overager) |
141) Hannes Hellberg (F, Sweden, Vasteras Allsvenskan, overager) |
142) Oskar Vuollet (LW/LC, Sweden, Skelleftea SHL) |
143) Karl Sterner (RW, Sweden, Frolunda J20) |
144) Kirill Zarubin (G, Russia, AKM Tula MHL) |
145) Timur Kol (LD, Russia, Omskie Yastreby MHL) |
146) Artyom Shchuchinov (LD, Russia, Traktor KHL) |
147) Matvei Babenko (RW, Russia, Tolpar Ufa MHL) |
148) Matvei Korotky (RC, Russia, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg MHL) |
149) Heikki Ruohonen (LC, Finland, Kiekko-Espoo U20) |
150) Joona Saarelainen (LC, Finland, KalPa U20) |
151) Kasper Soini (LD, Finland, Jukurit Liiga, overager) |
152) Daniel Nieminen (LD, Finland, Pelicans U20) |
153) Viggo Gustafsson (LD, Sweden, HV71 J20) |
154) Darels Uljanskis (LD, Latvia, AIK J20) |
155) Diego Buttazzoni (LW/LC, Canada, Portland WHL) |
156) Luke Mistelbacher (LW, Canada, Swift Current WHL) |
157) Adam Titlbach (LC, Czechia, Vancouver WHL) |
158) Dominik Rymon (LW/LC, Czechia, Everett WHL, overager) |
159) Lukas Matecha (G, Czechia, Tri-City WHL, overager) |
160) Jan Spunar (G, Czechia, Portland WHL, overager) |
Sixth Round |
161) Riley Patterson (RC, Canada, Barrie OHL) |
162) Gabriel Frasca (LC, Canada, Kingston OHL) |
163) Kevin He (LW, Canada, Niagara OHL) |
164) AJ Spellacy (RC, USA, Windsor OHL) |
165) Ethan Procyszyn (RC, Canada, North Bay OHL) |
166) Anthony Cristoforo (RD, Canada, Windsor OHL) |
167) Harrison Meneghin (G, Canada, Lethbridge WHL, overager) |
168) Evan Gardner (G, Canada, Saskatoon WHL) |
169) Dawson Cowan (G, Canada, Spokane WHL) |
170) Chase Wutzke (G, Canada, Red Deer WHL) |
171) Tyler Thorpe (RW/RC, Canada, Vancouver WHL, overager) |
172) Carlin Dezainde (F, Canada, Prince George WHL, overager) |
173) Hiroki Gojsic (RW, Canada, Kelowna WHL) |
174) Tristen Doyle (RD, Canada, Lethbridge WHL) |
175) Bryce Pickford (RD, Canada, Seattle/Medicine Hat WHL) |
176) Tanner Henricks (RD, USA, Lincoln USHL) |
177) Tory Pitner (RD, USA, Youngstown USHL) |
178) Xavier Veilleux (LD, Canada, Muskegon USHL) |
179) Marcus Kearsey (LD, Canada, Charlottetown QMJHL) |
180) Jared Woolley (LD, Canada, London OHL) |
181) Cole Davis (LW, Canada, Windsor OHL) |
182) Kieron Walton (LW/LC, Canada, Sudbury OHL) |
183) Christopher Thibodeau (RC, Canada/USA, Kingston OHL) |
184) Felix Lacerte (LC, Canada, Shawinigan QMJHL) |
185) Lucas Van Vliet (LC, USA, NTDP U18) |
186) Elliott Groenewold (LD, USA, Cedar Rapids USHL) |
187) Caleb Heil (G, USA, Sioux Falls USHL) |
188) Landon Miller (G, Canada, Soo OHL) |
189) Zach Pelletier (G, Canada, Gatineau QMJHL) |
190) Ilya Ivantsov (LC, Russia, Severstal Cherepovets KHL, overager) |
191) Ruslan Gazizov (LW, Russia, London OHL, overager) |
192) Peter Repcik (LW/LC, Slovakia, Drummondville QMJHL, overager) |
Seventh Round |
193) Markus Vidicek (LC, Canada, Halifax QMJHL, overager) |
194) Antonin Verreault (LW, Canada, Rouyn-Noranda QMJHL, overager) |
195) Andon Cerbone (F, USA, Quinnipiac NCAA, overager) |
196) Connor Hvidston (LW, Canada, Swift Current WHL, re-entry) |
197) Asanali Sarkenov (F, Kazakhstan, Snezhnye Barsy Astana MHL) |
198) Arsen Taimazov (RD, Russia, Dynamo Moskva MHL) |
199) Miroslav Holinka (RC/RW, Czechia, Ocelari Trinec Czechia) |
200) Jamiro Reber (LC, Switzerland, HV71 J20) |
201) Edvin Nilsson (LD, Sweden, HV71 J20) |
202) Keith McInnis (LD, Canada, Brooks BCHL) |
203) Keets Fawcett (RW, Canada, Calgary WHL) |
204) Gavin Hodnett (LW/LC, Canada, Edmonton WHL) |
205) Josh Zakreski (RW, Canada, Portland WHL) |
206) Kenta Isogai (LW/RW, Japan, Wenatchee WHL, overager) |
207) Shane Smith (LC/LW, Canada, Medicine Hat WHL, overager) |
208) Mats Lindgren (LD, Canada/Sweden, Red Deer WHL, re-entry) |
209) Mazden Leslie (RD, Canada, Vancouver WHL, overager) |
210) Ryder Thompson (LD, Canada, Portland WHL, overager) |
211) Tanner Adams (RW/RC, USA, Providence NCAA, overager) |
212) Dylan Hryckowian (RW, Canada, Northeastern NCAA, overager) |
213) Isaac Gordon (RW, Canada, Michigan Tech NCAA, overager) |
214) Benjamin Poitras (RC, Canada, Green Bay USHL, overager) |
215) Jake Fisher (LC, USA, Fargo USHL, overager) |
216) Austin Burnevik (F, USA, Madison USHL, overager) |
217) Jake Livanavage (LD, USA, North Dakota NCAA, overager) |
218) Ben Robertson (LD, USA, Cornell NCAA, overager) |
219) Francesco Dell’Elce (LD, Canada, Penticton BCHL, overager) |
220) Connor MacPherson (RW, Canada, Penticton BCHL, overager) |
221) Callum Hughes (LC, USA, West Kelowna BCHL) |
222) Jackson Silverberg (G, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep) |
223) Gennadi Chaly (RD, Russia, Sioux Falls USHL, overager) |
224) Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev (G, Slovakia/Russia, Muskegon USHL, overager) |
Honourable Mentions |
225) Veit Oswald (F, Germany, Munich DEL, overager) |
226) Filip Sitar (RC, Slovenia, Malmo SHL, overager) |
227) Jiri Tichacek (LD, Czechia, Kladno, overager) |
228) Tomas Cibulka (LD, Czechia, Val-d’Or QMJHL, overager) |
229) Daniel Alexander Jencko (LW/LC, Slovakia, Youngstown USHL, overager) |
230) Erik Pahlsson (RW, Sweden, Dubuque USHL, overager) |
231) Teodor Munther (G, Sweden, Djurgardens J20) |
232) Ivan Yunin (G, Russia, Omskie Yastreby MHL) |
233) Petteri Rimpinen (G, Finland, Kiekko-Espoo U20) |
234) Christian Kirsch (G, Switzerland/Germany, Zug NL) |
235) Thatcher Bernstein (G, USA, Tri-City USHL) |
236) Mathis Rousseau (G, Canada, Halifax QMJHL, overager) |
237) Thomas Desruisseaux (LC, Canada, Chicoutimi QMJHL) |
238) Justin Gendron (RW, Canada, Victoriaville QMJHL) |
239) Jack Good (LW, Canada, St. Andrew’s College CAHS/Brooks BCHL) |
240) Liam Danielsson (RW, Sweden, Orebro J20) |
241) Hugo Zetterlund (LW, Sweden, Skelleftea J20) |
242) Arvid Westlin (RW/LW, Sweden, Linkoping SHL) |
243) Kuzma Voronin (RW, Russia, Youngstown USHL) |
244) Artemi Nizameyev (F, Russia, Tri-City USHL) |
245) Ethan Whitcomb (RW, Canada/USA, Muskegon USHL, overager) |
246) Carson Pilgrim (F, USA, Warroad USHS/Tri-City USHL) |
247) Sam Scheetz (LC, USA, Minnetonka USHS/Omaha USHL) |
248) Drake Murray (RD, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep) |
249) Landon Watson (RD, USA, New Jersey Rockets 18U) |
250) William McIsaac (RD, Canada, Spokane WHL) |
251) Hunter Laing (RW, Canada, Prince George WHL) |
252) Samuel Drancak (LC, Czechia, Red Deer WHL) |
253) Simon Lovsin (RW, Canada, Seattle WHL) |
254) Parker Von Richter (RD, Canada, Mississauga OHL) |
255) Matthew Virgilio (LD, Canada, Soo OHL) |
256) Beau Jelsma (LW/LC, Canada, Barrie OHL, overager) |
257) Trent Swick (LW, Canada, Kitchener OHL, overager) |
258) Kaden Pitre (LC, Canada, Flint OHL) |
259) Nathan Aspinall (LW, Canada, Flint OHL) |
260) Luca Testa (LC, Canada, Brantford OHL) |
261) Brayden Edwards (RC, Canada, Lethbridge WHL, overager) |
262) Simon Meier (LW/LC, Switzerland, Penticton BCHL, overager) |
263) Yegor Klimovich (LW, Russia, Sibir Novosibirsk KHL, overager) |
264) Svante Sjodin (LC, Sweden, Orebro SHL, overager) |
265) Martin Haronik (G, Slovakia, Team Slovakia U18) |
266) Samuel St-Hilaire (G, Canada, Sherbrooke QMJHL, overager) |
267) Riley Mercer (G, Canada, Drummondville QMJHL, overager) |
268) Viliam Kmec (RD, Slovakia, Prince George WHL, overager) |
269) Marek Rocak (RD, Czechia, Kelowna WHL, overager) |
270) Dmitri Utkin (LW, Russia, Loko-76 Yaroslavl MHL, overager) |
271) Isac Born (LW/LC, Sweden, Frolunda SHL, overager) |
272) Hugo Fransson (LD, Sweden, HV71 SHL, overager) |
273) Hugo Havelid (G, Sweden, Djurgardens Allsvenskan, overager) |
274) Noa Vali (G, Finland, TPS Liiga, overager) |
275) Niklas Nykyri (LD, Finland, HIFK U20) |
276) Samuel Urban (G, Slovakia, Sioux City USHL, overager) |
277) Jack Parsons (G, USA, NTDP U18) |
278) Keegan Warren (G, Canada, Moncton QMJHL) |
279) Joonas Paqvalin (LW, Finland, Jokerit U20) |
280) Elias Straume Vatne (F, Norway, Farjestad J20) |
281) Mathias Dehli (RC, Norway, Lorenskog Norway) |
282) Jan Dorthe (F, Switzerland, Vasteras J20) |
283) Hjalte Kruse Thomsen (F, Denmark, Malmo J20) |
284) Roman Kechter (F, Germany, Nuremberg DEL, overager) |
285) Paul Mayer (LD, Germany, Adler Mannheim DEL) |
286) Edwin Tropmann (RD, Germany, Kolner DNL U20) |
287) Herman Liv (G, Sweden/Poland, Orebro J20) |
288) Eric Olsson (G, Sweden, Omaha USHL) |
289) Vladislav Bryzgalov (G, USA/Russia, Alberni Valley BCHL) |
290) Miroslav Satan Jr. (LC, USA/Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava U20) |
291) Jiri Klima (LW, Czechia, Shawinigan QMJHL) |
292) Austin Baker (LW, USA, NTDP U18) |
293) Kristian Epperson (LW, USA, NTDP U18) |
294) Eliot L’Italien (LC, Canada, Blainville-Boisbriand QMJHL) |
295) Maxime Lafond (LW, Canada, Drummondville QMJHL) |
296) Jesse Heslop (LW/LC, Canada, Everett WHL) |
297) Colin Frank (RW/RC, USA, Dubuque USHL) |
298) Theo Kiss (LW/RW, Slovakia, Des Moines USHL) |
299) Isac Hedqvist (LC/LW, Sweden, Lulea SHL, overager) |
300) Adam Hesselvall (RC/RW, Sweden, Sodertalje J20) |
301) Viktor Olofsson (LW, Sweden, HV71 J20) |
302) Nikita Surayev (RW, Russia, SKA-Yunior Krasnogorsk MHL, overager) |
303) Mikhail Grass (LC, Russia, Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL, overager) |
304) Alexander Shen (LC/RW, Russia, Mamonty Yugry MHL) |
305) Maxim Velikov (F, Russia, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva MHL) |
306) Alexei Dontsov (LC, Russia, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva MHL) |
307) Danila Poroshkov (RW, Russia, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva MHL) |
308) Janne Naukkarinen (LC/LW, Finland, SaiPa Liiga, overager) |
309) Maxim Eliseev (RW, Finland/Russia, Jokerit U20) |
310) Roope Vesterinen (LW/RW, Finland, HPK U20) |
311) Matti Butkovskiy (LW, Finland, Jukurit U20) |
312) Wilmer Lindfors (LD, Sweden, Skelleftea J20) |
313) Max Grundstrom (LC, Sweden, Frolunda J20) |
314) Zaki Crookes (RW, Sweden, Leksands J20) |
315) Jonas Taibel (LC/LW, Switzerland/Austria, Winterthur SL, overager) |
316) Adam Bares (RW/LW, Czechia, Pelicans Liiga, overager) |
317) Dominik Petr (LW/LC, Czechia, Brandon WHL, overager) |
318) Miles Muller (LC, Switzerland/Canada, Moncton QMJHL, overager) |
319) Mitch Young (LD, Canada, Sarnia OHL, overager) |
320) Easton Adrian (LD, Canada, Blackfalds BCHL, overager) |
321) Ales Cech (LD, Czechia, Mlada Boleslav Czechia, overager) |
322) Daniel Kral (G, Czechia, Bili Tygri Liberec Czechia, overager) |
323) Ondrej Maruna (LC, Slovakia, Charlottetown QMJHL) |
324) Loic Goyette (LW, Canada, Quebec QMJHL) |
325) Jeremy Leroux (RC, Canada, Chicoutimi QMJHL) |
326) Jordan Forget (RW, Switzerland/Canada, Shawinigan QMJHL) |
327) Quentin Bourne (LD, USA, Red Deer WHL) |
328) Tyson Buczkowski (LD, Canada, Regina WHL) |
329) Owen Phillips (RD, Canada, Halifax QMJHL) |
330) Noah Lapointe (LD, USA, NTDP U18) |
331) Landon Ward (LW, Canada, Lethbridge WHL) |
332) Trae Wilke (LW, Canada, Lethbridge/Red Deer WHL) |
333) Brayden Dube (RW, Canada, Prince Albert WHL) |
334) Matej Kubiesa (RW, Czechia, Prince Albert WHL) |
335) Logan Crosby (RW, Canada, Halifax QMJHL) |
336) Kody Dupuis (LC, Canada/USA, Shawinigan QMJHL) |
337) Benjamin Wilmott (F, USA/Canada, Chicago USHL) |
338) Tobias Pitka (RC, Slovakia, Victoria BCHL) |
339) Patrick Murphy (RW, USA, Cranbrook BCHL) |
340) Tyron Fevry (LC, Canada, Brantford GOJHL) |
341) Noah Urness (F, USA, Cranbrook BCHL) |
342) Jack Sadowski (F, USA, Kimball Union Academy USHS) |
343) Tyler Chiovetti (RC, USA, St. Andrew’s College CAHS) |
344) Roarke Gilmour (LD, Canada, St. Andrew’s College CAHS) |
345) John McNelis (F, USA, Sioux Falls USHL) |
346) Cam Briere (LC, USA/Canada, Tri-City USHL) |
347) Ryan Smith (RW, USA, Tri-City USHL) |
348) Matthew Frost (F, USA, Waterloo USHL/Coquitlam BCHL) |
349) Rylan Bonkowski (RD, Canada, Surrey BCHL) |
350) Landon Stringfellow (LD, USA, Andover USHS) |
I’m confident Ivan Demidov is the second-best prospect in this class but, from there, my tiers have never been bigger — starting with 3-15! And, of course, sticking with Cole Eiserman at No. 3 is going to be controversial but I’m not convinced anybody else in that tier has a higher ceiling or the potential to be more impactful than the high-scoring Eiserman. Sure, he could be trend similar to Oliver Wahlstrom and he won’t be Auston Matthews, but Eiserman still projects as the best shooter in this class and could be a perennial 30-plus goal-getter alongside the right playmaker. I’m thinking Brock Boeser or Alex DeBrincat, perhaps a prime Phil Kessel if he becomes more a driver. Regardless, it’s called conviction — and time will tell, as always!
It’s a strong year for defencemen with as many as six expected to go in the Top 10 and certainly within the Top 15! There are also risers like Tij Iginla and Beckett Sennecke, who both had impressive playoff showings to bolster their stock within than tier!
The next wave of defenders will be intriguing, with smaller puck-movers like Aron Kiviharju, Cole Hutson and Alfons Freij competing with bigger but still mobile options like EJ Emery and Stian Solberg, who might be the biggest riser of all! They are all in the next big tier of first-round contenders from 16-58, which may seem extreme but any of those names could be called on Day 1 of the draft! Or go on to outperform their peers who earn that first-round distinction!
It’ll be even more of a crapshoot outside the Top 50, with my 59-128 tier realistically vying for the tail end of the second round! And I honestly wouldn’t be stunned if somebody from my 129-186 tier wound up cracking the Top 65! It’s going to be one of those years where you’ll want to familiarize yourself with as much talent as possible ahead of the draft to limit those ‘who?’ surprises! I’m also curious to see how many of my Top 186 go undrafted and how many prospects are taken from off my Top 350 list!
We’ll get those answers — and those surprises — in 17 more sleeps … and I can’t wait to watch it all play out. Stay tuned!
As always, your feedback is welcomed and appreciated. Then we can wait and see what happens in Vegas and over the coming seasons before drawing any conclusions!
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