2024 NHL Draft prospects: Corey Pronman's midseason ranking (2024)

Celebrini has been a top player in college hockey this season and a leader for a top team in the country. He checks every box you want in a top prospect, and is one of the few players I've scouted where it's hard to see any noticeable weakness. He skates very well. He has a very powerful stride and first few steps and is able to get by a lot of defenders. He's extremely skilled and creative with high-end offensive sense. Celebrini makes a ton of difficult plays with the puck on the move and from a standstill. He has a bullet shot and projects to run a first power play in the NHL. He's average-sized, but Celebrini is highly competitive, wins a lot of battles and projects as a two-way center in the NHL. He has all the makings of a potential superstar.

Tier 1

C

NCAA (H-EAST)

Silayev has gotten a regular shift with power-play time on a good KHL team this season as a 17-year-old. He is a unique type of prospect who's easy to dream of. Silayev is a 6-foot-7 defenseman who skates well and plays a very physical brand of hockey. He projects to be a premier shutdown type of defenseman in the NHL who will make life very difficult on opposing forwards with how fast and hard he closes on pucks. He can skate pucks out of his zone well, makes a good first pass and shows strong hockey sense at the offensive blue line. His offensive play won't blow you away, but it's good enough to move pucks in the NHL. He can provide enough with the puck to go with elite defensive play to be a potential No. 1 defenseman one day.

Tier 2

D

RUSSIA

Yakemchuk has been a top defenseman in the WHL this season. There is so much to like about his game and he's often looked dynamic in his time in the WHL. He's a 6-3 right-shot defenseman who has legit game-breaking skill. That he skates well and can attack with his skill makes him so difficult to stop as he often dances by checkers with his puckhandling. Yakemchuk has a bullet shot from the point, too. He is more of a shot than a pass threat, and while he can see the ice, his vision isn't at the same level as his shot or stickhandling. His skating can break down at times, but he has power in his stride and can pull away from pressure. He can make stops due to his feet, length and physicality but his defensive play and consistency can use work. Yakemchuk has star potential and projects to be a major minutes player in the NHL with a lot of offensive upside.

Tier 2

D

WHL

Lindstrom's game has taken off this season; he's become a big part of why Medicine Hat's offense has been dominant. He's an elite athlete. He has the quick twitch feet of a smaller forward, and can get by opposing defenders. He's a big, powerful center with a ton of physicality in his game. Lindstrom has good offensive skills, and can score goals. His playmaking was something I questioned at times, but this season he's shown good instincts with the puck and the ability to create chances for himself and others. He has the potential to be a star No. 1 center if he hits.

Tier 2

C

WHL

Levshunov has been a top player for a top college team this season. He has the production and toolkit of a premier pro prospect. He is extremely skilled and creative, both as a puckhandler and passer. He skates well and can play an up-tempo style in how he attacks with his skill. He has the offensive sense to potentially run a PP1 in the NHL and has a good point shot, too. His defensive play doesn't stand out as much, particularly because he tries to attack so much, but he can make stops due to his athleticism and has physicality in his game. He has the potential to be an impact NHL defenseman who scores at a premium level.

Tier 2

D

NCAA (BIG10)

Catton has been a top player in the WHL this season and was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer. He is a well-rounded center and a high-end skater, with powerful edge work that will make him very difficult to check in the NHL. His footspeed is strong, but not at the same level as his edges. He's a very skilled puckhandler and a great passer. Catton makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and has a lot of pace in his game. He's not overly physical, but he competes. He wins pucks, gets to the net and can kill penalties. He projects as an excellent top-six center with a chance to be a No. 1 center.

Tier 3

C

WHL

Dickinson has been a major minutes player on a great London team. It's easy to envision him having a long NHL career. He's a 6-foot-3 defenseman who is one of the best skaters in the draft. He has an explosive, fluid stride that easily picks up power. He breaks up plays easily and creates so much possession time due to his skating. Dickinson is very skilled at handling the puck, and often creates chances due to the combo of his skating and skill. He also has a hard slap shot from the point and projects to score a good number of goals in the NHL. He has offense, but Dickinson isn't a natural puck-mover who sees the ice at a high level. Even with that in mind, in terms of what he could be in the league, I see PP2 potential with a major even-strength impact.

Tier 3

D

OHL

Demidov has been the best player in Russia's junior league over the last two seasons. He has game-breaking skill and is extremely creative in making plays with the puck. He has a strong motor and competes hard to win pucks. Demidov isn't that big, but he gets to the hard areas of the ice to create chances. While he can run a power play and create when the game slows down, he makes a lot of plays on the move. He's a powerful but awkward-looking skater and he's not the biggest winger so there is some question about how his game will translate to higher levels. I see a potential top-line winger who will score a lot, but who may never be the best forward on an NHL team.

Tier 3

RW

RUSSIA-JR.

Eiserman may be the best goal scorer the U.S. NTDP has seen, and they just recently graduated Cole Caufield. He isn't the best playmaker in the world, but he has game-breaking qualities with his one-on-one play and shot when the puck is on his stick. He sees the ice well enough and can make tough passes occasionally, although he absolutely prefers to shoot and tends to overshoot the puck. He's a strong skater who can create his own shot and doesn't shy from going to the net to score as well. His effort off the puck isn't the best and he can be a frustrating player to watch at times, but he's also a goal-per-game player in junior, so you ride the wave with Esierman. He has the potential to be a top-line winger.

Tier 3

LW

NTDP

Parekh is an extremely talented offensive defenseman. He has a ton of skill and hockey sense, and when the puck is on his stick, his brain is operating differently from other players on the ice in how he sees the play develop and tries to create offense. He skates well and can attack with speed. He also has an excellent point shot, scoring over 20 goals in the OHL as a 16-year-old. The big issue with Parekh is his play away from the puck. He gives half efforts at times defensively and cheats for offense. The degree of offense he brings may be so significant that it doesn't matter, but that will be the debate on his game as the season progresses.

Tier 4

D

OHL

Helenius has been very good at the Liiga level and was a top player for Finland's U20 team. He is an excellent playmaker who can make a lot of difficult passes consistently. He skates well and creates a lot of offense with pace for himself and others. Helenius isn't a big center, but he gives strong efforts off the puck, doesn't shy from going to the net and has an edge to his game. Is he the most dynamic 5-11 center I've ever seen? No, but there are a lot of positives in his game and he could be a strong top-two-line center in the NHL.

Tier 4

C

FINLAND

Buium has been one of the top scoring defensem*n in college as a draft eligible. He is a very intelligent puck-mover who can run a power play like an NHL player. He makes high-end plays routinely and can break shifts open with his puckhandling. Buium is a strong enough skater who can activate off the blue line and create off the rush. His defense is good enough at the amateur level, but he isn't very physically imposing, and whether he can make a lot of NHL stops will be a debate. His feet are good enough that with his hockey sense at both ends, I think he can survive enough defensively at even strength to make the most of his offense and be a top defenseman for an NHL team.

Tier 4

D

NCAA (NCHC)

Jiricek was one of the best players at the Hlinka Gretzky in the summer. His play in the top Czech league wasn't as impressive, and then he got injured in the opening game of the world juniors. The knee injury cost him the rest of the season. When healthy, he's a 6-3 right shot who skates quite well. His skating allows him to make a lot of stops and be strong going back to retrieve pucks. Jiricek uses his big body well and competes for pucks. Offensively he doesn't stand out, but he has some skill and moves pucks efficiently. It's hard to tell which version of Jiricek we saw this season is the real one, but it's probably somewhere in the middle. That Jiricek still looks like a potential big-minutes NHL defenseman.

Tier 4

D

CZECHIA

Connelly has been a top player in the USHL this season and at the two tournaments he's played in for Team USA. He's a dynamic offensive player. He's a fantastic skater, with the edge work and top speed to evade and get by NHL checkers consistently. Connelly has a lot of skill and can attack at top speed. That combination allows him to be a force at even strength at times. His playmaking isn't as good as his one-on-one play, but it's good enough. Connelly also competes well off the puck, attacks the net and can be a reliable defensive forward.Some NHL teams have some character based concerns about drafting Connelly, particularly after Connelly admitted to posting a picture of a swastika on Snapchat when he was 16. Connelly apologized for the incident. He was also accused of using a racial slur against an opponent; he was suspended for the incident but the suspension was not upheld, and Connelly has denied the allegation.

Tier 5

LW

USHL

Iginla has been excellent this season in the WHL for Kelowna and has emerged as a top NHL prospect. The son of Jarome Iginla, Tij is a very talented offensive player. His stickhandling displays stand out constantly. He beats defenders one-on-one at a high rate, and improvises very well with the puck. He skates well and can make high-skill plays with his feet moving. Iginla had a strong shot, scoring a lot of goals this season, and projects to beat pro goalies from range. His pure sense and playmaking don't stand out like the rest of his game, and I wouldn't call him a high-compete type, but he works hard enough. He has the makings of a potential strong top-six wing.

Tier 5

C

WHL

Brandsegg-Nygard is the clear best prospect Norway has ever produced for the NHL Draft. He has been very good at the Swedish junior level although his play versus men has been less consistent. He is a well-rounded forward but I don't think any aspect of his game gets you truly excited. He's a good skater. He has strong puck skills. He has great a shot and is often a threat to score from range. His frame is average-sized, but he plays hard and has physicality in his game. He thinks the game well and sees plays develop, but I don't think his playmaking is his main asset. Brandsegg-Nygard has a game that should lend itself to success versus men, eventually as a good NHL forward and potentially in a top six.

Tier 5

RW

SWEDEN-2

Chernyshov has been very good at the junior level in Russia and earned ice time up in the KHL with a regular shift for a top team in Dynamo Moscow. He's a big, powerful winger who skates well and has a lot of offensive creativity. He beats defenders routinely with his one-on-one plays, sees the ice well and can create at the net. He's not going to run players over with his physical play, but he uses his body to create offense. He has the ability to control play at even strength due to his variety of tools and looks the part of a potential strong top-six winger in the NHL.

Tier 5

LW

RUSSIA

Elick is a very intriguing pro prospect. He is one of the best skaters in the draft, with a smooth and powerful skating stride. When those feet are combined with his 6-3 frame, strong compete and a little mean streak, he has the potential to be a top shutdown defenseman in the NHL. Elick isn't a natural puck-mover and can make some questionable puck decisions. He will need to clean that up, but he has good hands and isn't a negative with the puck on his stick. In a role where he just needs to defend well and make a basic outlet, he could potentially be a top-four NHL defenseman.

Tier 6

D

WHL

Hage's play has been inconsistent at times in the USHL, but when he's on he can take over the game due to his dynamic qualities. He is a good-sized center who skates well and has a ton of skill. The high-end one-on-one plays he can make at full flight are clear NHL quality and he has the ability to break open a shift. Hage's playmaking and finishing are good enough, but don't match the caliber of his feet and hands. I don't think he lacks compete and I think he gets to the middle of the ice well enough, but if I had to pick one area of concern, that would be it. Hage has the potential to be a top-six forward in the NHL.

Tier 6

C

USHL

Hutson, the younger brother of Montreal's Lane Hutson, has been the U.S. NTDP's best defenseman this season. He's very offensively skilled and an outstanding puck-mover with a high-end offensive brain who can run a power play like a pro. He makes so many tough plays from the offensive blue line due to his skill and the shiftiness in his feet. He's about 5-10, but plays hard and has enough physicality in his game to give him a real chance to defend as a pro. Defense will never be his calling card, but his strong skating plus compete could be OK enough, given his very good offensive abilities, for an NHL career.

Tier 6

D

NTDP

Surin is an easy player to like and has been a top player in Russia's junior league this season. He's a skilled forward who can create a lot of offense. He displays quality vision and finishing touch and skates well, too. Surin's compete and the energy he brings to shifts is what makes me optimistic about his NHL projection. He brings it every game, and has a lot of tempo in how he creates offense. He is quite physical and can play both ways. Surin has mostly played wing this season, but he has the traits to be a pro center.

Tier 6

C

RUSSIA-JR.

Boisvert has been a highly productive USHL player over the last two seasons. He has a lot of appealing tools for the NHL. He's a 6-2 center who can skate and has legit offensive abilities. He is very skilled and creative with the puck. He's able to beat defenders with pace as well. Boisvert has an excellent shot and is a threat to score from the faceoff dots. I don't love his playmaking as he's certainly more of a shoot-first type of player but he can make tough plays. His compete is fine. He's not going to be known for that aspect of his game but he wins enough battles and uses his size. He could be a middle-six forward in the NHL.

Tier 6

C

USHL

Beaudoin is a very likable player. He's a very hardworking center, with NHL size and skill. He is constantly noticeable throughout the game in how many pucks he wins and the amount of plays he makes. He is quite physical and doesn't shy from getting to the tough areas of the ice. He can create offense in junior, but with a heavy skating stride, the debate is in how his game will translate to the pros. I've seen him get by enough defenders and think his compete is so good that his game will work in a potential third-line center role.

Tier 6

C

OHL

Sennecke's pure point totals don't jump out at you this season but when you watch him play it's clear his talent level is massive. He's 6-2, skates quite well for his size and has a ton of skill. He's one of the more creative puckhandlers in the CHL, and that he can make those difficult plays at full speed makes him highly intriguing for the NHL level. So why isn't he getting more points? I think there is a question of whether he's a natural finisher or not. I also think while he can make plays to his teammates, he's much more of a carry-and-create type. His effort level is fine as well, but not a selling point. All that being said, he has a lot of pro potential to be a scoring winger.

Tier 6

RW

OHL

Kiviharju has been on the prospect radar for several years after playing up age groups. That length of time watching him will be relevant as he'll miss almost his entire draft season due to a lower-body injury. He's an exceptionally smart puck-mover. He sees the ice at a unique level and always has his head up looking to make a play. He is a highly skilled puckhandler who can make the toughest passes seem routine. The big debates on Kiviharju will come down to his defensive play. As a junior, he defends well. As an NHL player, it will be a question. He's notably undersized, and while he competes fine he's not overly physical. He skates well but doesn't have the elite small-guy feet that make you think he will translate seamlessly to the NHL. I think he plays but he may need to be used in a very specific way by a coach.

Tier 6

D

FINLAND

Sahlin Wallenius isn't the biggest defenseman but he's a very solid two-way player, primarily because he's one of the best skaters in the draft. He has a powerful and efficient stride that allows him to easily evade pressure and skate pucks up ice. He closes on checks well and is great coming back on pucks in a way that should translate to pro hockey. Sahlin Wallenius has good hands and vision and can shoot the puck well, too, even though he doesn't project as a major scorer at the higher levels. The sum of his parts looks like a regular NHL defenseman.

Tier 6

D

SWEDEN-JR.

Artamonov has played a notable role on a quality KHL team, including as an important part of Torpedo's power play. He's a forward with excellent hands, sense and vision and can make a lot of creative plays. That he's a strong skater and able to create offense with pace is what has helped his game translate versus men so quickly, as he has often beaten KHL defensem*n with his skill. You rarely see KHL draft eligibles help a team, never mind two on the same club in him and Silayev. But Artamonov isn't that big, he isn't a natural finisher, and while he competes well enough, I wouldn't call him the type of competitor you'd love to have in a small winger. It's why he projects more as a middle-six scorer.

Tier 6

LW

RUSSIA

Badinka moved from Finland to Sweden this season, where he's become an SHL regular after a strong start in the J20 level. He was cut from Czechia's world junior team, though. He has a lot of NHL attributes between his size, mobility and ability to make offensive plays. His pure playmaking doesn't excite you, although I see secondary offense coming from him in the NHL. Badinka defends well enough but he isn't going to run guys over, which leaves some scouts wondering if he's going to be a tweener as a pro. I think his two-way game is strong enough to be a potential No. 4-5 defenseman in the NHL.

Tier 6

D

SWEDEN

Kleber's game has developed well as the season has progressed. He is a very athletic defenseman who projects to be a strong pro defender. He's 6-5, skates well for a big man and competes hard. He will be quite difficult for even NHL forwards to get by or try to gain footing around the net. Kleber's offensive play is what has sold me on him. I didn't originally think he was a true puck-mover, but he's shown enough sense with the puck this season for me to think he can have an NHL career.

Tier 6

D

USHL

Howe put up huge numbers in the WHL in previous seasons, playing alongside Connor Bedard. But the offense has remained even with Bedard's NHL departure. I don't think he is the flashiest or most creative player you'll ever see, but Howe has legit NHL-level speed and skill. He can make and finish plays. His size is an issue, but his calling card is his fantastic compete level. He's a tenacious player who throws his weight around constantly and plays the game with a high motor. He has the ingredients to play in the league as an undersized player and I think he could be a middle-six wing.

Tier 6

LW

WHL

Greentree has been a top-scoring winger in the OHL this season, following up a great 16-year-old season for Windsor. The appeal of his game is that he's a large winger with legit offensive skills. He makes difficult plays often with the puck as a handler and passer. He competes well enough and can use his size to get to the net. He can score at the net and is able to finish from the faceoff dots. The main concern on Greentree is his skating. He lacks NHL footspeed and he will need to prove the rest of his game is good enough to overcome those issues. Given his size/skill combo, I think he will, but it will be a question about his game as he advances levels.

Tier 6

RW

OHL

Emery is a talented defenseman who hasn't had an amazing season, but his projection is very intriguing. He's 6-3 and skates quite well. He is strong on gaps and retrievals and has the potential to make a lot of NHL stops. He can attack with his feet and often jumps up into the rush. Emery's offense is a question, as his pure production won't excite you. But I think his sense and skill are good enough and better than his numbers reflect, even though I don't think he's a natural offensive type. If that part of his game doesn't click, he may be a tweener, but if it does he could be a regular NHL defenseman.

Tier 6

D

NTDP

Ritchie was the best rookie in the WHL last season and a top player for Canada's U18 team this summer but his season to date in Prince Albert hasn't been as impressive. He is an average-sized winger, but he brings a ton of skill to the table. He is a very elusive forward due to his skating and hands and can make a lot of tough plays with pace. His effort is fine but his consistency could be better. I also don't think he's a dynamic playmaking winger but instead a very good one. He could be a middle-six wing.

Tier 6

RW

WHL

Jecho has been a point-per-game player in the WHL. His development hasn't taken off like some scouts hoped when we saw him years ago, but he remains a very good pro prospect. He's a huge winger who skates quite well for a guy his size even if he's not a blazer. Jecho has good hands and can shoot the puck well from range. He tends to fade into the background at times, whether due to a mixture of sense or compete issues — I think it's mostly the former. He's a guy you have to dream on a bit, but his athletic toolkit is hard to find and if he scores enough at higher levels, coaches will play him regularly.

Tier 6

C

WHL

Shuravin's production in Russia's junior league won't jump out at you, but he has a lot of traits that NHL teams will be looking for and has looked good versus juniors and men this season. He's a 6-3, mobile defenseman with puck-moving skill, and those are always highly sought after. Shuravin has a low panic threshold and, with his skating, has a smooth, effortless game style that leads to a lot of puck possession for his team. He is good on retrievals and generates a lot of controlled exits and entries. Shuravin also competes well enough and doesn't shy away from physical play.

Tier 6

D

RUSSIA-JR.

Gidlof has had a very good season in Sweden as a top goalie in their junior league. His pro projection is highly intriguing as a 6-6 goalie who moves well for his size. His pure quickness side to side isn't explosive, but he can make tough saves and is difficult to beat laterally. Gidlof tracks the play well and often stays square with the puck. He plays aggressive as well. Some nitpick that his technique breaks down too much, he can scramble too much in the net and he let a few too many long-range shots past him. He has legit starting-goalie tools if he cleans up a few details.

Tier 6

G

SWEDEN-JR.