The world juniors typically provide great context to participating draft eligibles.
First-year draft eligibles are usually two years younger than the rest of the competition. While some of them compete in the college ranks or the European pro ranks, coming back closer to the peer group can create additional stress above and beyond that which is created by competing for your country.
With a number of rankings available publicly and access to video platforms, more hockey fans are paying more attention to the NHL Draft. The scrutiny of 17-year-old and 18-year-old players has never been more intense.
Performing well at the world juniors can go a long way in setting a player’s path forward. The documented pressure is one thing, but scouts getting a lengthy look at players in a best-on-best tournament provides an opportunity to corroborate what has been seen previously in league play. What skills translate, how does the skating stack up and, in general, can players do at the world juniors what they do in league play? It is definitely not the lone determinant in a player’s draft fate, but it does elicit great, projectable information.
With that said, we saw some great performances from a number of the draft eligibles in the tournament. Macklin Celebrini added another checkmark on his way to being the first player selected in the final in-person NHL Draft. Konsta Helenius and Emil Hemming played major minutes for a Finnish team that wasn’t as talented as what we’re used to seeing. Zeev Buium definitely took a step forward for the gold medal-winning Americans. Norwegian budding star Michael Brandsegg-Nygard met expectations, while injured Czechia defenceman Adam Jiricek left us with more questions than answers after being injured 10 minutes into the first game.
All told, scouts came away with a plethora of information and a few new players to track for the rest of the season. All of that information must now be digested and presented the next time their respective teams meet.
There are a number of events for scouts to take in during the next month. The Chipotle All-American Game goes in Plymouth, Mich., on Monday. A short time later, the top 40 draft-eligible players from the CHL will gather in Moncton, N.B., for the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Each of those events will be well attended by scouts, AGMs and, in many cases, general managers as they try to get a sense of what the 2024 draft class looks like in person. The first week of February will also see a number of scouts converge in Plymouth for the U18 Five Nations tournament. The USNTDP U18 team will host top draft eligibles from Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and Czechia.
It’s important to reiterate the number of high-end defencemen available in this group. Because it’s a more coveted position, a few of the more talented forwards will get pushed down the ladder and there will be a number of teams that will be conflicted about whether or not to reach on a defenceman or stick with one of the forwards available. The goalie picture remains unchanged as it pertains to the first round. At this point, no one netminder has bolted his way into the top 32.
The forward group will provide plenty of scuttlebutt in draft circles. After Celebrini, there are a number of ways teams can lean. Is it the nifty, highlight-making Ivan Demidov? The super sniping Cole Eiserman? How about the leadership of Berkly Catton or the size of Cayden Lindstrom? It will be fun seeing which of the forward group can gain momentum in the second half of the season.
Until then, here are our post world juniors 2024 NHL Draft rankings for the month of January.
1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): His three-zone play against the best the world has to offer was more than impressive for Canada at the WJC.
2. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): Has the unique ability to make plays mid puck-handle. He’s got great top-end speed, and he’s light on his skates.
3. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL): Ice time and production have dipped considerably but big, rangy defencemen are en vogue right now in the NHL, and he’s the biggest in class.
4. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL): An elite skater in a sizeable package who is an effective all-situation player.
5. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA): Can transport the puck not only because of his skating ability, but his handles are elite for a big defenceman.
6. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL): Multi-faceted offensive player who can back defenders off with speed, but also pace himself accordingly to create space.
7. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): There’s nothing in the game that he can’t do well. Doing it night in and night out will be the task to complete in the second half.
8. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP: Still operating at a goal-per-game pace mid-season. Defensive play and play away from the puck are the areas of concern.
9. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga): Based on minutes played, would’ve liked to have seen more production at the world juniors, but he’s a multi-talented player who’s not afraid to be in the fight.
10. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL): He’s so electric offensively that you can live with some of the defensive deficiencies. Will be interesting to see how he handles the addition of two high-end offensive defencemen to the Saginaw roster.
11. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan): No surprise he was a leading player for Norway at the world juniors. Withstanding the rigours of the second half of the Allsvenskan season is the next big challenge.
12. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): Continued success to the tone of eight multi-point efforts in his last 10 games. Occupying a top-10 spot is not out of the question by year’s end.
13. Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA): Significant contributor to Team USA’s gold medal efforts at the world juniors. Played over 18 minutes per game, while putting up five points and a team-best plus-11 rating.
14. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Good, old-fashioned hockey player who has some stubbornness in his game. Has been out with a lower-body injury for almost a month.
15. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Liiga): Further back in his development, he gets a higher ranking based on having a high ceiling. A more rounded game that relies less on his NHL-like ability to shoot the puck is advised.
16. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL): A gifted playmaker who’s elusive in tight quarters. Can beat defenders wide with speed, and can also get it done driving the middle lane.
17. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): Skating is unorthodox but he always manages to get there. Plays a hard, physical game on both sides of the puck and is plenty skilled.
18. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL): Not afraid to get involved physically, Chernyshov can power through the opposition
19. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL): While there are some warts in his game, there are three things that excite NHL scouts: his size, shot and puck skills.
20. Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL): There’s no doubting his offensive abilities, but he’s at a point where he has to understand he can’t just defend with his feet.
21. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL): The days where teams overlook previous transgressions are over. There are definitely teams that have him on a no-draft list.
22. Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga): Injury after one game at the world juniors does leave doubt based on his Extraliiga play before joining the national team.
23. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Liiga): A projected four-month absence would make the Five Nations tournament in early February as a return to play target and that would be the perfect venue to kickstart a run to the end of the season.
24. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): Fun player to watch because you’re never sure what trick he’s going to pull out of his bag to create offence for himself or his linemates.
25. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA (MHL): Has had at least two games at three different levels in the last month alone, making it hard to get a true read. He’s never been a high-end producer, but there’s plenty of room for the complimentary player who keeps it simple.
26. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL): Can evade defenders utilizing size and reach. Can also beat defenders one-on-one with soft hands and good puck skills.
27. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): Proving that his torrid start was no fluke. Since Dec. 3, has points in 13 of 15 games. The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be a great test.
28. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL): With the shoulder issue well behind him, his offensive production is starting to match his elite skating ability.
29. Tanner Howe, C, Regina Pats (WHL): A player who leads by example, he’s consistently in the fight. He won’t be left behind at the next level, but he may not produce at a rate projected based on more than point-per-game numbers in junior.
30. Charlie Elick, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Starting to figure out how he will be most effective at the next level. Defencemen who move pucks effectively and are nasty to play against have a chance to play for a long time.
31. Maxime Masse, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL): Continues to show flashes of brilliance, but it may not be enough to keep him in the first round by the time June rolls around.
32. Alfons Freij, D, Vaxo J20 (Sweden): Jumped back into the consciousness of scouts at the World Jr. A Challenge where he recorded the most points of any defenceman. League play has yielded solid numbers as well.
