2024 NHL Draft Rankings: The First Watch List

Mack Celebrini and Cole Eiserman lead the charge, but some other intriguing names have joined them near the top.

Welcome to the new prospect season. As some of 2023's top draft picks make their way to NHL training camps, we set our sights on 2024, where an excellent 1-2 punch of Mack Celebrini and Cole Eiserman sit at the top, followed by a pretty impressive cohort featuring a bunch of defensemen. That's a switch from last year where top-end blueliners were in short supply, but it just shows how cyclical things are in the hockey world.

What follows is my initial 32 for the 2024 draft, with some caveats that this should be taken more as a watch list than a straight-up ranking. I'm pretty happy with my top 10, but after that we're getting into murkier territory: Let's face it, outside of the Hlinka-Gretzky summer tournament and some early games in Europe, we don't have much of a book on what these kids are like yet. Development curves could have gone in completely different directions in the off-season, but I know you want names to watch, so names I shall provide. Here's a first look at the 2024 draft.

1. Mack Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): Incredibly skilled, Celebrini makes his linemates better and he plays the game the right way. He was still 16 when he won the USHL's player of the year award and that is simply amazing. Now he's going straight to college, though he might miss a game or two at the start while recovering from a shoulder injury.

2. Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL): Simply put, we haven't seen a pure goal-scorer like this in a long time. What makes Eiserman particularly dangerous is that he can score from anywhere - he doesn't have an "office" per se. Committed to the University of Minnesota, Eiserman has a legit shot at becoming the NTDP's all-time goals leader this season.

3. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-St. Petersburg (Rus.): After absolutely wrecking the Russian junior circuit last year, Demidov has already played four KHL games this season, but ice time should determine where he plays. He's incredibly talented and should continue to put up points - if he gets the right opportunities. I'd rather see him play in junior than sit on the bench against men.

4. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL): Catton has been on the radar since going first overall in the WHL bantam draft, but I loved how he played for Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. Not only did Catton lead the tourney in goals and tie for first in points, but he was also the captain for the gold medallists. Catton blends skill and smarts, making him very dangerous.

5. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (Rus.): The most buzzed-about draft prospect around right now, Silayev is a 6-foot-7 defenseman with great mobility and offensive instincts. He's nearly a point-per-gamer in the KHL, where he's getting great minutes and being put in pressure situations. His length and skating gives him a huge advantage when defending.

6. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA): After taking the USHL by storm last year, Levshunov has headed straight to Michigan State for his draft campaign. Big, strong and capable of playing at both ends of the ice, he's the best blueliner to come out of the USHL since Owen Power.

7. Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL): What I like the most about Dickinson is how rare his skill set is for his age. Big, strong and defensively responsible, he's got that physical game that keeps attackers at bay in the offensive zone. As an added bonus, he can put some points himself, too.

8. Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (Cze.): The younger brother of Columbus prospect David Jiricek may not be as big as his sibling, but he's still listed at 6-foot-2 and has time to add weight and muscle to his frame. His two-way game was apparent at the Hlinka-Gretzky, where he helped the Czechs earn silver.

9. Konsta Helenius, C, HIFK (Fin.): A playmaking center who was good enough to get an invite from Finland to play for them at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan this summer, Helenius is a faceoff ace who didn't look out of place going against older competition.

10. Henry Mews, D, Ottawa (OHL): Playing for a great 67's program, Mews is a smart, mobile defender who loves to have the puck on his stick. He was one of the top-scoring defensemen at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, helping Canada win gold.

11. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Fin.)

12. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)

13. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (Rus.)

14. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)

15. Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)

16. Christian Humphreys, RW, NTDP (USHL)

17. Maxim Masse, LW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

18. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL)

19. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Swe.)

20. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)

21. Charlie Elick, D, Brandon (WHL)

22. Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)

23. Anthony Cristoforo, D, Windsor (OHL)

24. Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)

25. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)

26. Maximilian Curran, C, Tri-City (WHL)

27. Will Skahan, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

28. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City (USHL)

29. Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)

30. E.J. Emery, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

31. Adam Jecho, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

32. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Fin.)

33. (Top Goalie) Caleb Heil, G, Sioux Falls (USHL)