NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary watch list for the 2024 NHL draft. Tony Ferrari gives his initial reactions, followed by a list of the 28 'A' ranked players.

Every year, NHL Central Scouting publishes a few lists throughout the year for the upcoming NHL draft and it is almost always a big debate. Every junior team fanbase feels like their guy should be higher and every casual draft fan thinks that NHL Central Scouting has a specific player too high.

These are the debates and conversations we can rely on every year when NHL Central Scouting releases their lists. As has been the case, the preliminary list isn’t a number ranking. It is closer to a tier list with grades given to players in large groupings.

Players have been identified using the following criteria:

- A Rating – Indicates a first-round candidate

- B Rating – Indicates a second- or third-round candidate

- C Rating – Indicates a fourth- or fifth-round candidate

- W Rating – Indicates a sixth- or seventh-round candidate

The new ‘W’ designation is new this year as NHL clubs asked for a way to differentiate between a fourth-round candidate and a sixth- or seventh-round player. The ‘W’ is essentially a “player to watch” for any number of reasons, such as a limited scouting history.

Let’s take a look at a few of the interesting things from the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary list.

28 Players Given ‘A’ Ratings Led by Celebrini and Eiserman

It was interesting to read some of the comments from those in NHL Central Scouting on the best players in the class. It seemed to be clear that, as of right now, the top spot is a two-horse race between the more well-rounded do-it-all center in Celebrini and the uber-talented top-level finisher in Cole Eiserman. The two should be battling it out all season for the top spot. Celebrini having a season similar to Adam Fantilli's last year in the NCAA would go a long way to solidifying his name atop the list as Eiserman is gunning for the goal-scoring record with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

For the full list of 'A' rated prospects, keep reading along.

NTDP Has Just One ‘A’ Rated Player

As mentioned, Eiserman is among the top players in the draft class, but with center James Hagens and defenseman Logan Hensler eligible for the 2025 NHL draft, the NTDP’s top players beyond Eiserman aren’t listed. They have seven players with ‘B’ ratings, led by Kamil Bednarik, Christian Humphreys, and Cole Hutson.

Many expected Hutson to be given an ‘A’ rating, but the defensive issues have been noticeable this season, and his offensive production hasn’t been as impressive as expected. There is room for other NTDP players to join Eiserman in the ‘A’ tier of players, but for now, he sits atop the list.

Canadian High Schooler Dean Letourneau Given ‘B’ Rating

There is always one or two names that stick out as players who haven’t received much hype in the public draft world. This year, it’s Dean Letourneau of St. Andrews College. The 6-foot-6 center racked up 65 points in 53 games last year and will look to have a massive season this year. He is a hulking forward who brings some impressive skill and scoring ability. Letourneau is committed to Northeastern University for the 2025-26 season. It will be interesting to see just how dominant he is this year for St. Andrews.

Ryerson Leenders and Carter George Top Goalies with ‘B’ Rating

We haven’t had an elite goalie prospect in the last couple of years, with the top goalies going in the early second round in each of the last two drafts. That seems to be the case this year as well, as Leenders and George are both off to good starts but have ‘B’ ratings to open the year.

Leenders has been the best goalie in the OHL, helping the Mississauga Steelheads to the top of the OHL standings. George’s numbers are just as impressive, but his team hasn’t had the same results to start the season. Neither goalie has the size NHL teams love in a goalie, but the results have been unreal so far. It will be interesting to see who ends up being the first netminder at the end of the season.

Noel Fransen Left Off the List

There are always names left off the NHL Central Scouting list, and usually, there is an easy explanation. For instance, Elias Straume Vatne is a very good Norwegian player playing in Sweden, but he is very undersized, and his statistics don’t jump off the page. The biggest omission from the NHL Central Scouting List is Vatne’s teammate, Farjestad J20 defender Noel Fransen.

Fransen is lighting the J20 league on fire with 21 points in 17 games from the back end, but it’s his well-rounded game that impresses the most. He is an intelligent defender with impressive raw tools. Fransen is an instinctual offensive attacker from the back end and a calm, cool and collected defender who kills play with his feet and stick before quickly turning the puck back up ice. Expect to see Fransen on the next list for Central Scouting. 

Full List of 'A' Rated Prospects

Here's the full list of 'A' rated prospects on the NHL Central Scouting list, listed alphabetically by last name:

- Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL), 6-foot-2, 178 pounds 

- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Swe. 2), 6-foot-1, 194 pounds

- Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA), six-foot, 183 pounds

- Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL), 5-foot-10, 170 pounds

- Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston Univ. (NCAA), six-foot, 190 pounds

- Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow Jr. (Rus.), 6-foot-2, 192 pounds

- Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL), six-foot, 156 pounds

- Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg Jr. (Rus.), 5-foot-11, 181 pounds

- Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL), 6-foot-2, 204 pounds

- Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP), 5-foot-11, 197 pounds

- Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL), 6-foot-2, 211 pounds

- Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Fin.), 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

- Emil Henning, RW, TPS (Fin.), six-foot, 201 pounds

- Tanner Howe, LW, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-9, 182 pounds

- Adam Jecho, C, Edmonton (WHL), 6-foot-4, 201 pounds

- Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (Cze.), 6-foot-2, 178 pounds

- Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Fin.), 5-foot-9, 170 pounds

- Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA), 6-foot-2, 208 pounds

- Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL), 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

- Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL), 6-foot-1, 192 pounds

- Henry Mews, D, Ottawa (OHL), six-foot, 183 pounds

- Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL), six-foot, 178 pounds

- Lucas Pettersson, C, Modo Jr. (Swe. Jr.), 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

- Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert (WHL), 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

- Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL), 6-foot-2, 175 pounds

- Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Jr. (Rus. Jr.), 6-foot-3, 195 pounds

- Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL), 6-foot-7, 211 pounds

- Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL), 6-foot-2, 190 pounds