Now that the primary 16 picks of the 2024 NHL Draft have been finalized following Tuesday night time’s draft lottery, let’s check out a few of the high prospects on this 12 months’s class.
Right here’s 5 gamers to know not named Macklin Celebrini, the presumed 2024 No. 1 decide.
Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
The No. 2-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Levshunov is taken into account by many to be essentially the most NHL-ready participant within the 2024 draft class. The 18-year-old blue-liner scored 9 objectives and 35 factors in 38 video games throughout his freshman season at Michigan State, good for Tenth-most amongst NCAA defensemen.
Levshunov has prototypical dimension for an NHLer (he’s 6-foot-2 and 208 kilos), and he’s a bodily defender who hits and shoots exhausting. He has plus-upside offensively, and he tasks as a future top-pairing defenseman.
Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 Saint Petersburg (MHL)
Demidov is NHL Central Scouting’s No. 2-ranked European skater, and a few have even debated if he’s a greater prospect heading into his draft 12 months than Matvei Michkov was final 12 months when he went No. 7 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 5-foot-11 winger tallied 23 objectives and 60 factors in solely 30 video games in Russia’s Maritime Junior Hockey League, and he tasks as a top-line ahead within the NHL. Demidov excels at driving offense, and he’s bought a excessive hockey IQ and elite puck-handling expertise with a penchant for making massive performs.
Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U18 (USNTDP)
The No. 2-ranked left winger in North America, Eiserman is without doubt one of the extra intriguing gamers within the 2024 class. Relying wherein scouting service you consider, he may both be a top-five decide or slip to the 15-20 vary.
The 17-year-old ahead scored 25 objectives and 34 factors in 24 video games within the USHL, and he logged one other 58 objectives and 89 factors in 57 video games with the U.S. Nationwide Crew Improvement Program. He’s a gifted scorer with a knack for being across the web and firing off pictures from wherever on the ice. Scouts rave about Eiserman’s capturing means and shot accuracy.
Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)
An offensive defenseman, Parekh’s 33 objectives and 96 factors in 66 video games within the OHL this season are the very first thing most discover in regards to the 6-foot defender, who’s drawn comparisons to Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, arguably the highest offensive defenseman within the NHL.
Parekh is a future power-play quarterback and top-pairing blue-liner, with nice consciousness, sturdy puck smarts and skill to generate offense off the frenzy. He generally is a load to deal with within the offensive zone the place he’s often driving the web and creating scoring probabilities like Roman Josi and Cale Makar do.
Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)
The son of Calgary Flames nice Jarome Iginla, Tij performs with the identical fiery edge his father did. He had a breakout 12 months with the Kelowna Rockets, notching 47 objectives and 84 factors in 64 WHL video games, he might have seen essentially the most development in his improvement from the start of the season to now.
Iginla has a robust shot, wonderful skating, and he works properly from the center of the ice. Scouts have spoken extremely of his creativity and skill to constantly win one-on-one battles and discover scoring probabilities from wherever he’s on the ice.
