The amateur scouting season begins in August every year at the annual Hlinka/Gretzky summer tournament. It concludes in Buffalo, at the draft combine, after the Memorial Cup winner has been crowned.
I’ve travelled throughout North America chasing prospects in the regular season and tournament games. I’ve also tallied a couple hundred player reports from international contests, including the World Junior Championship in Sweden and U18 Men’s World’s in Finland.
With the final in-person NHL draft now only weeks away, it’s time for me to reveal my final rankings for the 2024 draft class.
Before I get started, here are a couple of reminders:
• The list you are about to read is my own. I don’t poll scouts on the tour.
• I’ve tried to view the prospects live as much as possible.
• I supplement live viewings with video scouting.
With that, here’s my final draft ranking for this season, starting with in depth descriptions of my top 50 prospects:
No. 1: Macklin Celebrini, F, Boston University (NCAA)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 190 pounds
No. 2: Ivan Demidov, F, SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 181 pounds
Season Stats: 47GP–34G–54A (+66)
Demidov is an elite offensive talent. He started the season at the KHL level, but was sidelined with a knee injury in the fall and missed some time. Demidov has one more year left on his contract in Russia before he becomes eligible to come to North America. He’s a top line prospect who plays with pace and skill. His hockey sense is off the charts offensively, but he’s also the kind of player who extends plays along the boards and drives to the crease.
NHL Projection: Top Line Scoring Forward
No. 3: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 205 pounds
Season Stats: 38GP–9G–26A (+27)
Levshunov is a highly coveted right shot defenceman who produces offence. He was deployed in all situations at Michigan State. Levshunov is very aggressive pinching down to extend plays in the offensive zone. He always seems to have the green light to lead the rush or join as an extra layer. His defending is a work in progress, but not an area of weakness. Despite his stature Levshunov isn’t the most physical defender. Having said that, when opponents run into him gapping up they definitely feel the full force of his large frame.
NHL Projection: Top Pairing. Even Strength/Power play
No. 4: Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 186 pounds
Season Stats: 42GP-11G-39A (+33)
Buium led all NCAA defencemen in scoring as a freshman. He’s a proven winner who won a national championship at the college level and a world junior gold for Team USA. Buium’s an excellent skater. He’s aggressive offensively and defensively. Buium never backs down physically in addition to providing offence.
NHL Projection: Top Pairing. Deployed in all situations
No. 5: Tij Iginla, F, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 185 pounds
No. 6: Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL)
Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 211 pounds
Season Stats: 63GP-3G-8A (-9)
Silayev is an absolute giant of a defender. Despite his stature he’s extremely agile and mobile. His length assists with killing plays defensively. Silayev projects as a match-up/shut-down defenceman at the NHL level. He’s capable moving pucks, but he won’t provide much offence.
NHL Projection: Top Pairing. Shut Down/Match-up “D”
No. 7: Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 178 pounds
Season Stats: 66GP-33G-63A (+39)
The best way I can describe Parekh is he’s a “rover” or “offenceman” (which isn’t actually a word or a position, but it’s the best I can come up with for a combination forward/defenceman). He’s a power play quarterback, play driver and risk taker. A comparable is Erik Karlsson on projection. Parekh has to improve his detail defensively as he matures.
NHL Projection: Top Pairing. Transitional “D”. Power play QB
No. 8: Berkly Catton, F, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 163 pounds
No. 9: Cayden Lindstrom, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 213 pounds
Season Stats: 32GP-27G-19A (+12)
Lindstrom brings a combination of power and finesse. He’s a shooter more than a distributor and exceptionally hard to defend in the trenches with his stature and strength. His season was cut short due to injury, but he returned in the playoffs and interviewed with teams in Buffalo at the combine. The reason I have Lindstrom at nine is due to the fact I’m not sure if he is a centre at the NHL level. Rather, I see him on the receiving end of passes from a playmaking centre who moves him the puck in high danger areas, leaving him to score goals accordingly.
NHL Projection: Top line/second line. Power forward goal scorer
No. 10: Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 203 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-18G-52A (+56)
Dickinson logged a ton of minutes at the OHL level skating for the London Knights. He was deployed in all situations. Dickinson has an extra gear in open ice. He can transition pucks on his own or join the rush as an extra layer offensively. He shoots the puck with authority and has proven he can beat goalies from range. Dickinson is the kind of defenceman who has the hockey sense, size and skill to log minutes as a top pairing defenceman in the NHL. There are moments I’d like to see him play with more assertiveness defensively, but with the amount of ice time he logs he has to pace himself at times at the junior level.
NHL Projection: Top pairing. Deployed in all situations
No. 11: Beckett Sennecke, F, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 182 pounds
Season Stats: 63GP-27G-41A (+33)
Sennecke has room to add more weight to his frame. He’s likely still growing. He extends plays with his reach and shields pucks with his stature. Sennecke has the pace to be threatening off the rush and he’s not shy about taking pucks to the paint. He has a massive impact on the power play from the weak side flank or bumper position.
NHL Projection: Second line skill forward with power
No. 12: Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight 170 pounds
No. 13: Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 202 pounds
Season Stats: 66GP-30G-41A (-6)
Yakemchuk brings a combination of skill, speed, and physical push back. He can play the game a variety of ways. He’s proven he can score off the rush or rip pucks from distance on the power play. He keeps opponents honest around his crease with his physical presence.
NHL Projection: Second pair. Potential to be used in all situations
No. 14: Konsta Helenius, F, Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 189 pounds
Season Stats: 51GP-14G-22A (-3)
Helenius played for Jukurit in Finland’s Elite League and benefited from experience with both the U18 and men’s national teams. He’s a diminutive play driver who leads the power play breakout and pushes opponents back with his speed through the neutral zone. Helenius is creative in small areas and hard to defend. He has the ability to slip off checks along the boards to make plays.
NHL Projection: Second line offensive forward
No. 15: Cole Eiserman, F, USNTDP
Height: 6-feet Weight: 197 pounds
Season Stats: 57GP-58G-31A
Eiserman is easily defined. He’s a pure shooter with arguably the best shot in the entire draft class. NHL teams are always on the look out for more goal scorers. The issue with Eiserman is his risk/reward approach. He has a long way to go playing with 200-foot detail that the pro game requires from even the top scorers. He’s fast enough and strong enough for the NHL.
NHL Projection: Second line goal scorer. PP shooter
No. 16: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, F, Mora (Allsvenskan)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 207 pounds
Season Stats: 40GP-8G-9A (+2)
Brandsegg-Nygard played for Mora in Sweden’s second division. Some of his best hockey came at the hardest time of year in the playoffs. He also suited up for Norway at the world juniors and Men’s World Championships. Brandsegg-Nygard is plenty strong and has proven he can play at pro pace this season. His ability to shoot the puck in motion, off the rush, is an asset he has when he beats opponents up ice. He’s smart, skilled, and competitive.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Potentially better than secondary offence
No. 17: Liam Greentree, F, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 215 pounds
Season Stats: 64GP-36G-54A (-14)
Greentree has a power forward type frame. He leans goal scorer/shooter more than natural playmaker overall. He complements smaller, more darting linemates. Greentree is difficult to defend in the trenches. His size, strength, and skill allow him to extend plays that generally lead to offence.
NHL Projection: Second line power. Scoring winger
No. 18: Igor Chernyshov, F, HC Dynamo Moscow (KHL-MHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 198 pounds
Season Stats (MHL): 22GP-13G-15A (KHL): 34GP-3G-1A
Chernyshov is a strong skater with high-end vision in the offensive zone. He reads where to be off the puck and finds quiet ice in the process. His combination of size and skill project him as a top two line scoring winger who leans shooter/finisher more than distributor.
NHL Projection: Top six forward
No. 19: Trevor Connelly, F, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 16o pounds
Season Stats: 52GP-31G-47A (+1)
Connelly joined team USA at the U18 Worlds at the end of the year and fit right in with the group. He’s an elusive offensive talent who’s always in motion. Connelly’s difficult to check and contain. He’s a combination play driver, distributor, and shooter who does have some work to do on the defensive side of the ledger.
NHL Projection: Second line scoring forward
No. 20: Michael Hage, F, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 188 pounds
Season Stats: 54GP-33G-42A (+17)
Hage is a University of Michigan commit, and past first round pick of the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. Hage is a strong skater who’s a threat off the rush. He’s a massive threat to score goals and create offence on the power play. His clear cut element is his offensive upside. Defensive detail is a commitment that Hage has to work on as he matures.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Power-play specialist
No. 21: Andrew Basha, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 185 pounds
Season Stats: 63GP-30G-55A (+6)
Basha leads by example. He’s a relentless competitor who’s difficult to contain. His ability to slip off checks and extend plays with his approach is infectious. Basha brings more than just offence, however. He can be used in a variety of roles. Basha isn’t the tallest player in the draft class, but he plays bigger than his size.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Potential to be used in all situations
No. 22: Terik Parascak, F, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 179 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-43G-62A (+49)
Parascak is one of the more intriguing players in the back half of the first round for me. His offensive stats stand out, but the way he goes about his business is unique. Parascak isn’t a burner in open ice, but he sees the ice and makes plays. He complements faster linemates with his approach. His hockey sense in the offensive zone is an element that stands out above some of his peers.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Better than secondary offence
No. 23: Stian Solberg, D, Valerenga (Norway)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 201 pounds
Season Stats: 42GP-5G-10A (+2)
Solberg is a massive riser on my list. In addition to his time playing for Valerenga, he suited up for Team Norway at the world juniors and men’s World Championships. Solberg is a two-way defenceman with reliable hockey sense and understated offensive upside. Solberg is a solid skater and plenty strong in battles areas. He sees the ice and distributes the puck responsibly. It feels like he’s just scratching the surface of his upside.
NHL Projection: Second pairing defenceman
No. 24: Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen HC (Czech)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 178 pounds
Jiricek missed the entire back half of the season healing a knee injury he suffered at the world juniors in December. His best hockey, arguably, was played last spring at the U18 Worlds as an underage prospect. He was struggling to produce offence at the pro level before being injured. Jiricek is a two-way defenceman who leans distributor more than shooter. He’s versatile, smart, and competitive. In time he will add more strength to his frame and should approach 200 pounds. His hockey sense and secondary offence project him as a top four NHL defender in time.
NHL Projection: Second pairing. Two-way “D”. Skill set to be used in all situations
No. 25: Sacha Boisvert, F, Muskegon (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 183 pounds
Season Stats: 61GP-36G-32A
Boisvert is a tall, lean, offensive talent who is difficult to contain. He has the ability to make plays in small areas and slip off checks in the process. He leans goal scorer more than distributor. Boisvert’s skating has come a long way since last season. He’s more of a consistent threat off the rush.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. First unit power play
No. 26: Cole Hutson, D, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 165 pounds
No. 27: Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 178 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-36G-46A (+7)
Vanacker recently had a procedure to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He played through the injury this past season. Overall, Vanacker was a riser this season as well. He reads the play very well off the puck, finds open space effectively, and has a very quick “catch and release” directing pucks on net in scoring areas. His pace and three-zone detail is also reliable.
NHL Projection: Second line forward
No. 28: Teddy Stiga, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 176 pounds
No. 29: Yegor Surin, F, Yaroslavl (KHL-MHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 176 pounds
Season Stats: 64GP-27G-48A (+50)
Surin is another prospect who’s young for the draft class (Aug. 1, 2006). Surin is always in motion. He brings a mix of speed, skill, and determination. He doesn’t only produce offence. He’s difficult to play against and always involved.
NHL Projection: Second line forward
No. 30: Ryder Ritchie, F, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 177 pounds
Season Stats: 47GP-19G-25A (-1)
Ritchie brings reliable compete in all three zones. He works the full 200 feet. When he gets a look at the net in the offensive zone he has the ability to one-time pucks with authority. He’s the kind of player who’s always around the play. Ritchie doesn’t sacrifice defence to produce offence.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Secondary offence
No. 31: Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 180 pounds
Season Stats: 43GP-11G-31A (+20)
Wallenius is another in a long line of Swedish defencemen who are outstanding skaters, transition players, and power play quarterbacks. He leans distributor more than shooter in the offensive zone. Wallenius is smart enough to be used in all situations. He’s the kind of defender who can eat heavy minutes with his approach to the game.
NHL Projection: Second pairing. Deployed in all situations
No. 32: Julius Miettinen, C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 201 pounds
Season Stats: 66GP-31G-36A (+27)
Miettinen brings a combination of size, power and skill. He’s a solid skater in open ice and a shooter on the power play. He gives opponents all they can handle along the boards and net front in the offensive zone.
NHL Projection: Second line forward. Power goal scorer
No. 33: Nikita Artamonov, F, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 187 pounds
Season Stats: 54GP-7G-16A
Artamonov is a quick strike scorer with a deceptive shot and release. He reads how the play is developing and pounces to create turnovers and scoring chances. He’s stocky and strong with better than average battle along the boards. Artamonov executes very well on the power play.
NHL Projection: Second line forward
No. 34: Alfons Freij, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 197 pounds
Season Stats: 40GP-14G-19A (0)
Freij has some similarities to teammate Wallenius (No. 31). He too is a fantastic skater who’s quick and agile. Freij quarterbacks the power play and produces offence. His detail defensively ranges at times, but he has time on his side to work on being more consistent in his zone.
NHL Projection: Second pairing. Two-way Transitional defenceman
No. 35: EJ Emery, D, USNTDP
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 185 pounds
No. 36: Cole Beaudoin, F, Barrie Colts
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 210 pounds
Season Stats: 67GP-28G-34A (+2)
Beaudoin is a hulking forward who provides a mix of power and finesse. His skating will be scrutinized, and certainly has room to improve, but he arrives on time in all three zones. Beaudoin has the hockey sense to be used in all situations. He absorbs contact to extend plays. When time and space open up he has a heavy shot that gives goalies all they can handle.
NHL Projection: Second line forward
No. 37: Emil Hemming, F, TPS Turku (Liiga)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 205 pounds
Season Stats: 40GP-7G-4A
Hemming elevated his game in the back half of the season. His playoffs were very productive playing in the Liiga for TPS. Hemming is a heavy-set shooter who’s an occasional threat off the rush, but has room to improve his explosiveness out of the blocks overall.
NHL Projection: Middle-six forward
No. 38: Brodie Ziemer, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 196 pounds
Season Stats: 61GP-27G-43A (+40)
Ziemer is a darting player who competes up and down the ice. He can be deployed in a variety of roles up and down the lineup and provides better than secondary offence.
NHL Projection: Middle-six forward
No. 39: Maxim Masse, F, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 190 pounds
Season Stats: 67GP-36G-39A (-4)
Masse has some Brock Boeser and Tyler Toffoli in his game. He isn’t going to blow anyone away in transition, but he has fantastic puck touch and the ability to extend plays below the hash marks in the offensive zone. Masse leans goal scorer. He’s especially dangerous on the power play setting up in the bumper position or net front looking for tips and rebounds.
NHL Projection: Middle six at even strength. PP#1 or PP#2
No. 40: Tanner Howe, F, Regina Pats
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 184 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-28G-49A (-11)
Howe rode shotgun with Connor Bedard last season in Regina. He was left out on his own island this year as the Pats looked to rebuild their team. Howe’s top element is clearly his potential to produce offence. He has the skill set to complement a play-driving centreman.
NHL Projection: Middle-six forward. Power-play. Secondary offence
No. 41: Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 189 pounds
Season Stats: 65GP-15G-46A (+16)
Mews is a playmaking, power play quarterback. He grew up playing forward then switched to defence full time before entering the OHL. There’s some risk/reward with his approach, but there’s also no denying he can be a difference maker offensively.
NHL Projection: Third pairing at even strength. Power play quarterback
No. 42: Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK Helsinki (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 184 pounds
Season Stats: 14GP-2G-2A (-4)
Kiviharju suffered a knee injury early in the season and ended up playing less than 20 games. The undersized defender quarterbacks the power play. He’s a passer more than a shooter. Kiviharju’s reliable in all three zones. His hockey sense is in place. For his stature I’m concerned about his pace. He isn’t exceptionally fast.
NHL Projection: Third pairing at even strength. Power play quarterback
No. 43: Jesse Pulkkinen, D, JYP (J20 and Liiga)
Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 219 pounds
Season Stats (Liiga): 29GP-2G-6A (-1)
Age-wise, Pulkkinnen is on the other end of the spectrum for this draft. He’s a late bloomer who was born in December of 2004. The first thing that stands out is his stature. The second thing is his ability to lead the rush and attack the net. He has great puck touch on his backhand and forehand side. His defending is a work in progress overall. There are times he reads the play, but doesn’t jump to take away time and space efficiently.
NHL Projection: Third pairing
No. 44: Dominik Badinka, D, Malmo (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 185 pounds
Season Stats Malmo J20 Team: 17GP-2G-11A (+8) Pro: 33G-1G-3A (-9)
Badinka is an active two-way defenceman. He seems to always be in motion off the puck. He has a somewhat unusual upright skating stride, but he arrives everywhere on time, or ahead of opponents. His approach can be a bit hectic at times, but he competes and contributes some depth offence.
NHL Projection: Third pairing
No. 45: Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s College
Height: 6-foot-6, 214 pounds
Season Stats: 56GP-61G-66A
Letourneau is a massive forward who is a Boston College commit, starting school in the fall. Letourneau is a good skater who can use his frame to his advantage. He leans shooter more than distributor overall. There’s a ton of potential upside in his game, but the level he played this past season is well below some of his counterparts on this list.
NHL Projection: Middle-six forward
No. 46: Lucas Pettersson, F, MODO J20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 173 pounds
Season Stats: 44GP-27G-30A (+27)
Pettersson is the kind of forward who can be used in a variety of roles. He provides offence, but can also check top lines and take key face-offs in the defensive zone.
NHL Projection: Middle-six forward
No. 47: Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Russia (KHL/MHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 195 pounds
Season Stats: 30GP-0G-9A (+5)
Shuravin dealt with injury and a bout with chickenpox this past season. He was limited to 30 games overall. Shuravin is a reliable distributor, but he’s at his best when he keeps things simple and takes limited risk. He’s tall, rangy, and uses his long reach to his advantage.
NHL Projection: Bottom pairing. Two-way defenceman
No. 48: Max Plante, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 170 pounds
No. 49: Matvei Gridin, F, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 189 pounds
Season Stats: 60GP-38G-45A (+14)
Gridin is a calculating player in the offensive zone. He lurks, then pounces on pucks to direct high danger shots on goal. He leans shooter more than playmaker and plays at his own pace.
NHL Projection: Third line forward. Secondary offence
No. 50: Sam O’Reilly, F, London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 178 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-20G-36A (+32)
O’Reilly was a useful player for the London Knights this season. He proved he can be relied upon to provide a second layer of offence and roll over the boards on the penalty kill. O’Reilly is still raw in some categories. He’s scratching the surface of his overall ability. His small area agility and edges have room to improve, but it doesn’t hold him back at this stage of his development.
NHL Projection: Third line utility forward. Variety of roles
THE REST OF THE LIST: 51-70
For the rest of this list, we’ll take a quicker look at the basics to give us 70 players to head into the draft with.
No. 51: Kamil Bednarik, F, USNTDP
Height: 6-foot Weight: 187 pounds
Season Stats: 61GP-26G-39A (+21)
No. 52: Linus Eriksson, F, Djurgardens (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 189 pounds
Season Stats U20: 25GP-5G-16A (+15)
No. 53: Luke Misa, F, Mississauga (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 174 pounds
Season Stats: 66GP-26G-55A (+35)
No. 54: Leon Muggli, D, Zug (Switzerland)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 176 pounds
No. 55: Adam Jecho, F, Edmonton (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 201 pounds
Season Stats: 54GP-23G-24A (-7)
No. 56: Charlie Elick, D, Brandon (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 202 pounds
Season Stats: 65GP-4G-23A (+4)
No. 57: John Mustard, F, Waterloo (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 186 pounds
Season Stats: 60GP-29G-27A (+15)
No. 58: Carter George, G, Owen Sound (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 185 pounds
No. 59: Veeti Vaisanen, D, Kookoo (Liiga)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 188 pounds
Season Stats: 50GP-2G-8A (+1)
No. 60: Raoul Boilard, F, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 189 pounds
Season Stats: 68GP-27G-40A (+27)
No. 61: Carson Wetsch, F, Calgary (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 201 pounds
No. 62: Spencer Gill, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 186 pounds
Season Stats: 65GP-12G-34A (+8)
No. 63: Harrison Brunicke, D, Kamloops (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 196 pounds
Season Stats: 49GP-10G-11A (-12)
No. 64: Frank Marrelli, D, Ottawa (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 187 pounds
Season Stats: 60GP-9G-16A (+30)
No. 65: Christian Humphreys, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 164 pounds
Season Stats: 52GP-23G-35A (+14)
No. 66: Daniil Ustinkov, D, Zurich (Switzerland)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 198 pounds
Season Stats: 60GP-2G-20A
No. 67: Eriks Mateiko, F, Saint John (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 216 pounds
Season Stats: 49GP-23G-20A (+0)
No. 68: Jack Berglund, F, Farjestad (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 210lbs
Season Stats: 50GP-18G-19A (+5)
No. 69: Ben Danford, D, Oshawa (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 191 pounds
Season Stats: 64GP-1G-32A (+27)
No. 70: Alexander Zetterberg, Orebro J20 (Sweden)
Height: 5-foot-7 Weight: 158 pounds
Season Stats: 44GP-20G-36A (+25)
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This year’s draft has the potential to be one of the most interesting in recent memory. This class of prospects offers a wide range of intriguing skill sets. Every NHL team evaluates players differently. Some have an analytical slant, while others rely heavily on a “boots on the ground/eye test” approach.
I can’t recall such a wide range of opinions on players. It’s going to be interesting to watch if teams with multiple picks trade up to secure the prospect they value most in the first round. Conversely, this could be a draft where a team has several names in an area of their list and elect to trade back to pick up extra picks in future drafts.
