2024 NHL Draft Notebook: Macklin Celebrini, Noel Fransen and Nikita Artamonov

NHL draft expert Tony Ferrari opens his scouting notebook to give readers a peek behind the curtain on Macklin Celebrini, Noel Fransen and Nikita Artamonov.

Ahead of the 2024 NHL draft, I want to give more insight into how I track eligible players throughout the year. 

Through numerous views, live and in person, I do my best to evaluate what I see on the ice from players, whether it's their big flashy plays or minor details such as board play or off-puck tracking.

Throughout the season, I maintain a “notebook” with scouting reports on players throughout the year. While I don’t write a game report for every game I watch of a player, I attempt to do so for most views I have on a player. This gives me an excellent chance to track a player's development throughout the season and note improvements in their play – or the lack thereof.

This week, as I open my notebook for a peek behind the curtains, we examine potential No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini of Boston University (NCAA), Noel Fransen with Farjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell), and Nikita Artamonov of Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).

Oct. 13, 2023, vs. New Hampshire - Although Celebrini had two goals in this game, it was one of the sloppier overall performances I’ve seen from him over the last couple of seasons. 

He endured stretches, particularly in the late second and early third periods, when his passing was hitting feet or not connecting by mere inches. The vision and planning were there, but the execution was just a bit off in this game. 

Celebrini is a powerful skater who can gash defensive units by cutting across laterally or attacking north-south before making a lateral cut. 

His first goal was an excellent identification of how a play was set to develop. A failed drop pass by an opposing forward left the loose puck for Celebrini’s teammate. As soon as he identified the only man who could get to the puck was his teammate, Celebrini broke up ice with a head of steam. The play resulted in a 2-on-0 in which Celebrini buried a give-and-go passing play.

Celebrini displayed an advanced understanding of when to change speeds as a puck carrier, holding up just inside the blueline to find a trailing teammate or thread a pass through layers of defensive coverage. 

He was creative in his passing, specifically in the neutral zone and on the breakout. He performed several hook passes or saucer passes to teammates, and although not all of them worked, he was consistently looking to create as a facilitator. 

Celebrini’s hands were fully displayed in this game, both in open space and along the wall. Sometimes, he got pinned up against the boards, but he had the footwork and puck skill in the tight space to slip out with possession. 

Celebrini’s second goal came on an excellent off-puck play in which he lurked behind the defenders after a zone entry was brought in deep. He stayed high in the zone to cover a pinching defender but then pounced on the pass to the high slot and wired a shot home, showcasing his wicked release. 

Celebrini showed excellent defensive awareness against the University of New Hampshire as well, consistently covering for defenders and playing low in the zone as the center. Celebrini uses his offensive instincts to read the opposing team defensively, cutting off passes and winning puck battles. 

Despite being a freshman in college, Celebrini routinely showed he has the strength to hang. This wasn’t the most refined game from a passing perspective, but the intuitive hockey Celebrini plays with was constantly on display. It will be tough to overtake Celebrini at the top of this draft class.

Oct. 15, 2023, vs. Oskarsthamn Jr. - Playing against one of the lesser teams in the J20, Fransen put his full skill set on display and absolutely stood out in this game.

Defensively, the young Swede was instinctual in reading his opponent’s rush and cutting off the play or keeping an attacker to the outside. His stick was precise when poking the puck away, using his feet to keep up with the attacker to ensure he wouldn’t get his stick tangled up in their feet. 

When defending in the zone, his mobility and anticipation were evident almost every time. He cut off lanes to the net, angled players to the outside and consistently closed on puck carriers. 

His ability to quickly identify passing options on the breakout while eluding pressure is a major asset in his game, and he showcased it consistently in this game. Fransen was a willing and able puck carrier, using his high-end edge work to weave through traffic in the neutral zone and safely work the puck into the offensive zone. Once there, Fransen was a roving attacker who defaulted to the blueline but rarely stayed stagnant in his positioning. His pulsating action on the far side of the offensive zone constantly presented his teammates with a new passing option, and he got under opposing defenders to gain body position off the puck. 

When the puck was on his stick, he was constantly in motion to open up passing lanes for himself. If presented with a skating lane toward the slot, Fransen attacked the space and got himself into a high-to-medium danger shooting position rather than settling for low-danger shots from high in the zone. 

He scored a goal on the power play in which he crept into space on the lower half of the left faceoff circle and received a pass. He moved laterally up to the inside hashmark to present as a shooting threat while moving and then sniped the puck as soon as an opening presented itself in the goalie's movement. 

Both of his assists in this game were secondary assists from his activity in transition, acting as a bumper and outlet option before finding a streaking teammate with a crisp pass. 

Fransen’s ability to affect the game positively in all three zones, incorporating intelligent defending with creative passing and playmaking, could make him one of the most exciting players to watch throughout this draft season. At this point, he is a clear first-round talent through multiple viewings.

Oct. 7, 2023, vs. Dynamo Moskva - It’s not often a player plays a significant role for a KHL team in their draft year, so when they do, it’s notable. 

It’s even less often that a player looks like the most effective player on his line or pairing at the KHL level, but Artamonov has done exactly that. Artamonov played just under 13 minutes in this game, and while that may not seem like a lot, it’s a very solid opportunity in the KHL. 

The young Russian plays with pace and speed while maintaining excellent habits and intelligent processing. He understood spacing at an advanced level, rotating with teammates in the offensive zone to ensure he was on the right side of the puck. 

When a teammate was in a board battle, Artamonov would support the attack side of the high side of the puck or maintain an outlet if multiple linemates were involved in the scrum. Although he wasn’t an overly physical player, he was a highly effective forechecker, putting himself between the puck and the retreating defender by winning the foot race. His ability to continuously find excellent body position was a major asset in the cycle game as well. 

Artamonov consistently tried to feed teammates in the slot or as they attacked the net. His ability to feather a saucer pass over a stick or fire a crisp pass through a defender's feet was noticeable. The skill that Artamonov plays with is noticeable, using his quick hands and feet in cohesion for the most part. He could shoot more often, but it’s nitpicking a largely good outing for Artamonov. 

His production in the KHL should have people on notice, but it’s his play on and off the puck that impresses the most.