After the CHL announced the 40 players headed to the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Tuesday, NHL draft expert Tony Ferrari breaks down who did and didn't make it.

Every year, the CHL hosts the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, a showcase event to give NHL clubs a chance to see many of the best players from around the CHL on the same stage. 

This year, the NHL's clubs selected 40 players to play in the game on Jan. 24, 2024, at the Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B. The CHL announced the rosters on Tuesday.

The WHL and OHL are both heavily represented, with 18 players selected from each league. The WHL contingent features Cayden Lindstrom of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs and Tij Iginla of the Kelowna Rockets.

The OHL’s representation stars the London Knights’ Sam Dickinson, the CHL’s top-rated defenseman, along with forwards Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires and Mississauga Steelheads’ leading scorer, Luke Misa.

The QMJHL has lagged behind in recent years in comparison to the other CHL leagues. This year, they have just four representatives heading to the event. Forward Maxim Masse of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens leads the QMJHL group along with forward Raoul Boilard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) and defenders Spencer Gill (Rimouski Oceanic) and Tomas Lavoie (Cape Breton Eagles).

The 40 players will be assigned to either Team Red or Team White in the new year. Captains and alternates for both clubs will also be announced in January. Practices and on-ice skill testing will be held in the days before the event as always, giving scouts and analysts an opportunity to gauge players against each other in various events, measuring speed, agility, and puckhandling, among other skills.

Every year, there are omissions and players who fans and analysts feel should be there. This year is no different. Some of these players may find their way onto the roster as injuries and other things could take players out of the event.

With so few players chosen from the QMJHL, there are a number of players who could have made the roster. Charlottetown Islanders defenseman Marcus Kearsey stands out as he has been the most productive draft-eligible blueliner in the QMJHL. His mobility and playmaking have been noticeable throughout the season. Baie-Comeau Drakkar winger Justin Poirier leads all QMJHL players in goal-scoring and sits third across the CHL. His exclusion was a bit of a shock to some as well.

In the OHL, Greentree’s Windsor teammate Anthony Cristoforo was a surprise omission. The undersized defender hasn’t had a great start to the season, but his track record of impressive play and puck-moving ability earned him the call with Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup over the summer and the U-17 World Challenge last year. Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs) and Jacob Battaglia (Kingston Frontenacs) sit second and third in draft-eligible goal-scoring among OHLers and didn’t earn an invite, either.

The depth of talent in the WHL meant players, such as electric forward Miguel Marques of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and slick playmaking center Clarke Caswell of the Swift Current Broncos, were left at home. The same can be said for Everett Silvertips defenseman Tarin Smith, who's impressed through the first couple of months in the WHL season.

Even with all of those omissions, the talent at the Top Prospects Game will be impressive, and the event should be must-see TV for those who can’t make it to Moncton in the new year.

2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Roster

Goaltenders

Dawson Cowan - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Carter George - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Ryerson Leenders - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Lukas Matecha - Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Defensemen

Harrison Brunicke - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Ben Danford - Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Sam Dickinson - London Knights (OHL)

Charlie Elick - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Lukas Fischer - Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Spencer Gill - Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

Tomas Lavoie - Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL)

Luca Marrelli - Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Henry Mews - Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

Zayne Parekh - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Colton Roberts - Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Carter Yakemchuk - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Forwards

Andrew Basha - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Cole Beaudoin - Barrie Colts (OHL)

Raoul Boilard - Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Berkly Catton - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Maximilian Curran - Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Gabriel Frasca - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Liam Greentree - Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Tanner Howe - Regina Pats (WHL)

Tij Iginla - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Adam Jecho - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Ollie Josephson - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

Cayden Lindstrom - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Jett Luchanko - Guelph Storm (OHL)

Maxim Masse - Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Julius Miettinen - Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Luke Misa - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Sam O’Reilly - London Knights (OHL)

Terik Parascak - Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Ethan Procyszyn - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Ryder Ritchie - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Beckett Sennecke - Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Marek Vanacker - Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Kieron Walton - Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Carson Wetsch - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)