While Lincoln's Adam Kleber headlines the list of USHL defensemen in the 2024 NHL Draft, several others could hear their name called in Las Vegas.
While Lincoln's Adam Kleber headlines the list of USHL defensemen in the 2024 NHL Draft, several others could hear their name called in Las Vegas.
Notable USHL alumni Artyom Levshunov and Zeev Buium will garner much of the attention within the first ten picks of the 2024 NHL Draft, and rightfully so. Levshunov, who spent the 2022–23 season with the Green Bay Gamblers, could go as high as No. 2 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Buium, who played two years for the NTDP U18 Team, is one of the most dynamic, highly-gifted playmakers along the blueline. He had a great 2023-24 season, winning a gold medal at the 2024 World Juniors and then a National Championship at the University of Denver.
Looking at the crop of defensemen in the USHL, Adam Kleber is likely to be the first player to have his name called in the 2024 NHL Draft. However, several other blueliners are likely to be added to NHL clubs' prospect pools. Let's look at the USHL's Top 10 defensemen.
1. Adam Kleber, RD (Lincoln Stars)
Big, right-shot defenseman are hard to come by in the NHL, and Adam Kleber fits the mold of what most scouts look for. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 214 pounds, the University of Minnesota-Duluth commit uses his long frame and reach to shut down plays. He is physically punishing in the corners. Kleber's offensive game is improving and is expected to continue to get better at the next level, especially after scoring five goals and 26 points this past season.
2. EJ Emery, RD (NTDP U18 Team)
What's better than one big, right-shot defenseman? How about two? EJ Emery is listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. He is more of a defensive defenseman at this point in his development and uses his big frame and stick details to keep everything to the outside. The North Dakota commit is a solid skater, but his offensive game continues to be a work in progress after tallying 16 points (all assists) with the NTDP U18 team last year.
3. Cole Hutson, LD (NTDP U18 Team)
Not just "the younger brother of Lane Hutson," Cole Hutson is making a name for himself after a big year with the NTDP U18 Team, where he was the top points-getter from the blueline. The Boston University commit skates well and senses moments when to attack. His offensive game came a long way this year, recording 15 goals and 51 points, including 13 points at the U18 Men's World Championship after returning from injury.
4. Will Skahan, LD (NTDP U18 Team)
Need a defenseman that can deliver a big hit? Will Skahan might be your guy. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound left-shot blueliner physically imposes his will on the ice and really shines on the penalty kill. Skahan's offensive game came along nicely in his second year in Plymouth, Michigan, recording five goals and 14 points.
5. Elliott Groenewold, LD (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders)
Groenewold is one of the most defensively-responsible blueliners in this draft class. The Quinnipiac commit, listed at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, does well anticipating where the opposition is going and assertively uses his body and stick details to keep the play to the outside. Known more for his defensive prowess, Groenewold also had five goals and 16 points for Cedar Rapids last year.
6. Xavier Veilleux, LD (Muskegon Lumberjacks)
Xavier Veilleux of Muskegon is one of the best puck facilitators along the blueline. He is skilled at both ends of the ice, excelling in breakouts and drawing a lot of attention before finding a teammate. Although he is not much of a shooter at this point in his development, with just a 5.5 percent shooting rate last year, he possesses a fantastic shot. Veilleux scored three goals and notched 32 points, with 20 of those points coming in a strong second half of the 2023-24 season.
7. Tanner Henricks, RD (Lincoln Stars)
At 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds, Tanner Henricks is a big-bodied defenseman and an excellent skater. Committed to St. Cloud, he is ranked No. 79 among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Henricks effectively uses his body to knock players off the puck and excels in facilitating breakouts in the defensive zone and making passes in the offensive zone. During the 2023-24 season with the Stars, he tallied nine points (all assists) and is expected to contribute more offensively in his second year.
8. Joona Vaisanen, RD (Dubuque Fighting Saints)
One of my favorite players, not only in the USHL but in this entire draft, is Joona Vaisanen. He successfully made the jump to North America this season. The 19-year-old is an intriguing re-entry candidate along the blue line because he finds the soft areas of the ice for scoring opportunities, shows excellent anticipation, and acts much like a fourth forward jumping into the rush.
9. Luke Osburn, LD (Youngstown Phantoms)
Another defenseman who likes to join the rush, Youngstown's Luke Osburn had a strong debut season in the USHL, scoring 23 points with eight goals and 15 assists. Standing at 6-feet and weighing 172 pounds, Osburn, who is committed to the University of Wisconsin, showed improvement as the season went on, demonstrating his skills as both a playmaker and a goal-scorer. He registered a shooting percentage of 10.3%, which was the third-highest among rookie defensemen in the USHL last year.
10. Tory Pitner, RD (Youngstown Phantoms)
Tory Pitner is a 6-foot-1, 183-pound defenseman known for his strong defensive skills, including sound instincts and positioning. He is adept at keeping plays to the outside and using poke checks to disrupt the opposing team's offense. Having shown leadership abilities, he captained South Kent in AAA and Team USA at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. This past season, his offensive performance improved, with eight goals and 24 points, thanks in part to a 10.1 percent shot rate.
Honorable Mentions: Finn McLaughlin (Fargo Force), John Whipple (NTDP U18 Team), Sam Laurila (NTDP U18 Team), Bauer Berry (Muskegon Lumberjacks), John Stout (Madison Capitols), Owen Keefe (Sioux City Musketeers), Noah Lapointe (NTDP U18 Team), Will Felicio (Waterloo Black Hawks)