2024 and 2025 Prospects....

[Brewin Flames]

2024 NHL Draft: A very early top 32 ranking

Steven Ellis

Jul 3, 2023

 

 

 

Connor Bedard hasn’t even been a Chicago Blackhawk for a week, and half the teams haven’t even seen their prospects hit the ice for development camps yet.

But it doesn’t mean it’s too early to look at the next NHL Draft.

Compared to the 2023 selection process, the 2023 draft lacks a generational talent. And that’s OK. At the top, Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman are both high-end talents that would challenge for a top three spot in the 2023 draft class. The highlight of the draft class is the high-end defensive talent, led by USHL superstar Artyom Levshunov, OHL standout Sam Dickinson and Finnish phenom Aron Kiviharju.

We don’t even know the date of the 2024 draft, and the official city hasn’t been announced yet – although just about everyone expects it to be in Vegas. So much can change, including the top consensus prospect, before the real thing kicks off next June. But let’s take a look at an early top 32 ranking of the top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft.

 

1. Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University, NCAA)

Dynamic. Dangerous. Deceptive. Take your buzzword of choice. He’s not Connor Bedard, but Celebrini is one hell of a prize for whoever snags the first overall pick. Celebrini had one of the most remarkable rookie seasons we’ve ever seen in the USHL, recording 46 goals and 86 points to lead the league. He won the league’s player and rookie of the year awards and then capped off the season by scoring the game-winning overtime goal for Canada at the U-18 World Championship. Shoulder surgery will keep him out of action with Boston University to start the year, but the 17-year-old center will obliterate the college ranks once he’s ready. Expect him to compete for a spot on Canada’s world junior roster, too.

2. Cole Eiserman, LW (USNTDP)

Easily the most lethal shooter in the class, Eiserman stood out at the U-18 World Championship against older competition. His chemistry with top 2025 prospect James Hagens was remarkable, with Eiserman finishing the year with 69 goals and 104 points in 62 games. That’s good for third in team scoring this year and second behind Jack Hughes’s 116-point season among U-17 USNTDP skaters ever. Eiserman is as pure of a goal-scorer as it gets, with the American star drawing comparisons to Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin thanks to his unstoppable release.

3. Artyom Levshunov, D (Green Bay, USHL)

From discussions during the NHL Draft, a few scouts I talked to said Levshunov would be the first defenseman taken in 2023 had he been available. That’s how confident some people are about the dominant USHL defenseman. He put up 42 points last year, which is remarkable for a Draft+1 defender. He’s an excellent two-way defenseman with good hands and hockey IQ. He’s a modern-day blueliner that can punish you both physically and on the scoresheet. We know NCAA schools are courting him for the 2023-24 season, which could spice things up.

4. Ivan Demidov, RW (SKA-1946 St. Petersburg, MHL)

Whoever drafts Demidov won’t have to wait as long as Philly will for Michkov. Demidov plays for the same SKA St. Petersburg team and has a deal until 2025, so just one year after getting drafted. Demidov obliterated the top Russian junior league with 62 points in 41 games, earning MVP honors. He also made his KHL debut while getting into a game with Russia’s U-18 team. The skilled winger

5. Berkly Catton, C (Spokane, WHL)

After putting up some truly dominant numbers at a young age, Catton hit the ice at full attack as a rookie with Spokane this past year. He had 55 points in the WHL, and was among the best players at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in November. He had a quiet, yet effective U-18 World Championship to cap the season off, showing a good mix of speed and skill. Catton is a hard worker with a solid payoff often due to his skill around the net. He might be the smartest prospect in the draft class.

6. Sam Dickinson, D (London, OHL)

At 6-foot-3, Dickinson is as big as they get among top-flight, mobile defenders. He’s a strong skater, smart puck-mover, can shoot the disk accurately and his defensive game is consistent and reliable. Dickinson doesn’t give you much room to work with, which makes him so effective. I wanted to see a bit more with him this year, but I expect a huge year for Dickinson, who’ll eat minutes for breakfast every game.

7. Aron Kiviharju, D (TPS, Liiga)

Heading into last year, Kiviharju’s name was the one on top of everyone’s mind. But some growing pains have dropped him in some scouts’ opinions, and being a defenseman always makes it harder to go No. 1. But it’s incredible that he has spent nearly half the season in the top Finnish pro league. He’s not playing insignificant ice time either, averaging around 21 minutes a night. He’s been ridiculously good against U-20 competition and was tremendous at the U-18 World Championship. Kiviharju still projects to be a high-end prospect that should go early.

8. Konsta Helenius, RW (Jukurit, Liiga)

Helenius stood out at the U-17 World Challenge last fall, and he didn’t stop there. He played many minutes in the top Finnish league and finished with 11 points in 33 games – that’s quite special for a 16-year-old. His physical play, speed and overall skill make him dominant, even at 5-foot-10. I could see Helenius creeping up into the top five, maybe even challenging for a top three spot.

9. Henry Mews, D (Ottawa, OHL)

Keeping the defensive train alive, Mews is a strong all-around defender that’ll give you 100 percent effort every night. He knows when to push on the attack without getting himself out of position, and he’s got enough speed to get him back after a rush. Mews is trending toward the type of prospect that excels in heavy minutes.

10. Cole Hutson, D (USNTDP)

You’ve heard about his brother, but could Cole be the better prospect? He’s slightly taller at 5-foot-10 and is coming off of a 68-point season – the best total ever from a USNTDP defenseman, regardless of age. There’s a reason why Cole is playing so much so early. He excels against quality competition. And thanks to his brother, scouts might have learned their lesson and not pass on Cole because he’s on the smaller size. But like his brother, Cole struggles in his own zone. The offense is there, but let’s see some defensive improvements.

 

11. Maxim Massé. RW (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)
12. Zayne Parekh, D (Saginaw, OHL)
13. Tanner Howe, C/LW (Regina, WHL)
14. Igor Chernyshov, LW/RW (Dynamo, MHL)
15. Adam Jiricek, D (HC Plzen, Czechia)
16. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW (Mora IK, Sweden U-20)
17. Ryder Ritchie, RW (Prince Albert, WHL)
18. Becket Sennecke, RW (Oshawa, OHL)
19. Charlie Elick, D (Brandon, WHL)
20. Zeev Buium, D (USNTDP)
21. Veeti Vaisanen, D (KooKoo, Finland U-20)
22. Will Shakan, D (USNTDP)
23. Anthony Cristoforo, D (Windsor, OHL)
24. Liam Greentree, RW (Windsor, OHL)
25. Alexander Zetterberg, C (Orebro, Sweden U-20)
26. Emil Hemming, LW/RW (TPS, Finland U-20)
27. Carter Yakemchuk, D (Calgary, WHL)
28. Andrew Basha, LW (Medicine Hat, WHL)
29. Jakub Chromiak, D (Sudbury, OHL)
30. Sacha Boisvert, C (Muskegon, USHL)
31. Justin Poirier, RW (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
32. Michael Hage, C (Chicago, USHL)

[Brewin Flames]

2025 NHL Draft: Very early top 12 players to watch

Steven Ellis

Jul 4, 2023

 

 

 

Heck, why not?

On Monday, I released my initial rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. While it lacks a true superstar like 2023, there’s some solid depth at all skater positions, giving the team some nice variety.

And through watching games all season long, there were a handful of other high-end talent for the 2025 NHL Draft that caught my attention. A few players have been in the spotlight for years – I followed Michael Misa, William Moore and Malcolm Spence quite closely during the 2022 OHL Draft season – while others have excelled internationally.

I’m not considering this a ranking because, obviously, we’re dealing with a draft two years away. Some of these players haven’t even played junior hockey yet. But it’s an initial list of players to watch, with many set to feature prominently in domestic and international competition in the coming months:

Michael Misa, C (Saginaw, OHL)

Taken first overall at the 2022 OHL Draft after earning exceptional status, Misa broke the OHL Cup scoring record last year that was held by Connor McDavid for a decade. Not many U-16 players have ever had an impact in the OHL – it requires exceptional status, after all. John Tavares’ 77-point season in 2005-06 after becoming the first to earn ES is still the gold standard, but Misa scoring 22 goals and 56 points this year was extremely notable. Misa, 16, had 22 goals and 56 points in 45 games as a rookie this season, tying Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv for the team’s scoring lead. Saginaw is hosting the 2024 Memorial Cup, and, if all goes well, Misa will show the hockey world why he’s a coveted prospect.

James Hagens, C (USNTDP)

It was ridiculous just how good Hagens was with the USNTDP this year. He had 85 points alongside Cole Eiserman all year, including a record-breaking 21 points at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. An incredible setup man, Hagens is an underrated shooter that can drive the net, generate scoring chances and use speed to his advantage. It’s worth noting that he’s uncommitted to NCAA, but the London Knights own his rights – could we see a trip up north ahead of the 2025 draft?

Malcolm Spence, LW (Erie, OHL)

Spence is one of Misa’s best friends, with the pair growing up together and winning the 2022 OHL Cup with the Mississauga Senators. Unlike Misa, Spence didn’t need exceptional status – he just had a late 2006 birthdate. The 6-foot-0 forward was a force with Erie, registering 42 points with one of the worst teams in the league. The team is in better hands next year after adding top 2023 OHL Draft prospect Matthew Schaefer, but Spence will still do a lot of the heavy lifting. Scouts have been amazed with just how much he can get out of his linemates, and he’s only going to get better with an extra year of development.

William Moore, C (USNTDP)

Set to embark on a run with the USNTDP, Moore – who also was a standout on that same Senators team as Misa and Spence – is ready for the big show. The London Knights draft pick had two points per game through 30 GTHL games with the Marlboros this season and is expected to play a big role with the US program this season. He’s big, physical and has excellent hockey IQ.

Jordan Gavin, C (Canada Black)

Gavin had a remarkable rookie season in the WHL, scoring 22 goals and 54 points in 62 games with Tri-City this year. The Surrey, B.C. native was taken second overall in the 2021 WHL Draft after dominating every level he competed in and major junior was no different. He’s not a physical player, with just six penalty minutes in 68 games between the regular season and playoffs this year, but he has enough skill and offensive awareness to burn.

Gabriel D’Aigle, G (Victoriaville, QMJHL)

Goaltenders are hard to get a guage on, especially two years out. But D’Aigle is a big 6-foot-4 goaltender that went second overall to Victoriaville at the 2022 QMJHL Draft – a rare accomplishment for a goaltender to go that high. D’Aigle was named to the U-17 World Challenge all-star team after taking Canada Red to silver and also was in net to win bronze at the U-18 World Championship a few months ago. It’s hard to get starts as a 16-year-old in the Q, but D’Aigle will see a nice bump from his 21 games played this season.

Porter Martone, RW (Mississauga, OHL)

Martone was acquired from Mississauga by Sarnia, and it was with the Steelheads that everything started to come together. He finished with 13 goals and 22 points in 32 games with the Fish before scoring at a point-per-game rate in six playoff games. Martone really shined at the U-17 World Championship with seven goals and 12 points, but he also had six points against older competition at the U-18 World Championship. Scoring dominance has followed Martone everywhere he has gone, and if that continues in the O, he’ll get selected early.

Logan Hensler, D (USNTDP)

We haven’t seen a standout defender for this class yet, but Hensler – a big, 6-foot-5 defender with incredible reach – is near the top. He had a solid 28-point season with the U-17 USNTDP squad but it’s how he thinks the game taht stands out. He uses his body to his advantage, and he skates exceptionally well for his size. Big defensemen that can skate well are popular with NHL teams.

Adam Benak, C (Plzen, Czechia U-20)

Benak is a small, yet skilled forward that’ll likely be the first Czechian-born player taken in 2025. A standout in international play, Benak also had over a point per game in the U-20 league and had 24 points in 12 games in the U-17 league. He has played against older competition throughout his career, and it he could very well skate with HC Plzen in the top Czech pro league at some point next year.

Love Härenstam, G (Lulea, Sweden U-20)

Let’s throw another goalie out there, because why not? Härenstam was lights out with Lulea’s U-18 team, going 10-1-0 with three shutouts and a .936 save percentage in the J-18 Region league. He also got into his first U-20 league play and was tremendous with the Swedish U-16 team. Plus, at 16, he already has decent size at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. There’s something here, for sure.

Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Sweden U-18)

William’s little brother is ready to carve his own path. Eklund had 25 points in 14 games with Djurgardens’ U18 team and even got into some U-20 action, too. His national team success was quite limited, and he’s small at 5-foot-9, but he has good speed and is a solid playmaker. Djurgardens knows a thing or two about developing quality talent.

LJ Mooney, C (USNTDP)

Seriously, this kid is good. The USNTDP prospect put up 33 goals and 80 points against U-16 competition this year, with his lethal wrist shot being a massive strength of his. He’s small, but shifty, smart and a proven finisher already. He’s been at the top of his class at every level thanks to his incredible hockey sense.

 

Other notables: Viggo Nordlund, LW (Skelleftea, Sweden U-18), Oscar Davidsson, LW (HV71, Sweden U-20), Brady Martin, C (Soo, OHL), Roger McQueen, C (Brandon, WHL), Zachary Morin, C (Youngstown, USHL)

[Brewin Flames]

Ya, i know it's probably silly to post this, but it gives us players to watch and discuss...

[Brewin Flames]

Celebrini leads NHL.com ranking of top 32 prospects for 2024 Draft

Boston University center is 'special player and belongs in that special category'

© Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images

ByMike G. Morreale

@mikemorrealeNHL NHL.com Senior Draft Writer

March 01, 2024

The 2024 NHL Draft will be held June 28-29, reportedly at Sphere in Las Vegas. NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch. This week, NHL.com's top 32 players eligible for the 2024 draft:

 

Macklin Celebrini has done everything possible to make the decision for the team holding the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft an easy one.

 

The Boston University freshman center is tied for third among NCAA Division I players with 48 points, and he's second with 26 goals in 30 games. He's No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of North American skaters eligible for the 2024 draft, and No. 1 on NHL.com's midseason list of top draft-eligible players this season.

 

The 17-year-old has 23 points (16 goals, seven assists) in 15 games since returning from the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden, where he led Canada with eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games as the team's youngest player. He also won 51.4 percent of his face-offs (35 for 68), second for Canada among players to take at least 25 face-offs.

 

"He certainly is the consensus No. 1 at this point, and he's earned that," Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. "He's a special player and belongs in that special category because in every environment, every situation he goes, he can excel and that's hard to do as a 17-year-old."

 

 

 

 

With 32 picks in the first round, here's a look at NHL.com's top 32 prospects (height/weight according to NHL Central Scouting):

 

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): Celebrini (6-foot, 190 pounds) has shown enough to this point to be projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. He relishes big moments and has been able to excel as the youngest player in NCAA Division I men's hockey. All eyes will be on him at the Hockey East Men's Tournament, which begins March 13.

 

2. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA): The Belarus-born right-handed shot leads Michigan State defensemen with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 32 games as an 18-year-old freshman. Levshunov (6-2, 208) defends well, exhibits poise along the blue line, and gets shots through on the power play. He's the third-youngest player in Division I men's hockey and his plus-24 rating is tied for fifth among all players. His ceiling is tremendous for a player at his position and that's the reason he claims this spot.

 

3. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUS-JR): The 18-year-old left-handed shot is one of the most naturally skilled players in this draft class. He possesses smarts and adapts well in stride. He's a good skater and fantastic playmaker who seems to have a sixth sense with the puck on his stick. Demidov (5-11, 181) leads SKA and is second in Russia's junior league with 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists) in 30 games.

 

4. Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (RUS): The left-handed shot plays an active role while averaging 14:54 in ice time in 63 games as a 17-year-old in the Kontinental Hockey League, and at 6-7, 211 pounds, has excellent strength and a long reach that he uses to his advantage. He has 98 hits and 74 blocked shots, and has chipped in with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and 103 shots on goal.

 

5. Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA): Buium (6-0, 183) is second among NCAA defensemen with 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 30 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot is an exceptional skater with a high-end IQ. He had five points (three goals, two assists) and a tournament-best plus-11 rating in seven games to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2024 WJC.

 

6. Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL): A powerful and elusive skater capable of playing big minutes and producing offensively, Dickinson (6-3, 204) quickly is climbing the ranks because of his strong play in the second half of the season. The 17-year-old left-handed shot is third among Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 63 points (17 goals, 46 assists) and tied for third with 10 power-play goals in 58 games.

 

7. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL): Lindstrom (6-3, 210) has been out since Dec. 16 recovering from surgery to repair an upper-body injury, but scored 27 goals in 32 games prior to getting injured. The 18-year-old projects to be a power forward with a booming shot. He also can pass the puck with accuracy and is hard in the tough areas of the ice. Every scout I've spoken with thinks highly of Lindstrom despite the time he's missed.

 

8. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL): Catton (5-11, 170) plays a hard-driving game, is relentless in puck pursuit and has a compete level too good to ignore. The 18-year-old is poised under pressure and can make smart plays in stride. A left-handed shot, he's fifth in the Western Hockey League with 93 points, fourth with 43 goals, and first with six short-handed goals in 57 games.

 

9. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL): Now in his third season in the league, the 18-year-old is positionally sound, knows where to go to make himself available, has an advantageous reach and is good in battles along the boards. Yakemchuk (6-3, 190) leads WHL defensemen with 26 goals and is tied for fourth with 60 points in 56 games.

 

10. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL): The 17-year-old son of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla is a dynamic offensive talent with speed, quickness, and natural instincts you can't teach. Iginla (6-0, 186) is tied for seventh in the WHL with 40 goals in 54 games.

 

11. Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP): Eiserman (6-0, 197) has one of the best shots of any player in the draft class and doesn't shy from utilizing that big asset every shift from anywhere in the offensive end. The 17-year-old leads USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 39 goals, 61 points, 13 power-play goals, five game-winning goals and 183 shots on goal in 38 games.

 

12. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL): Parekh (6-0, 178) leads OHL defensemen in goals (28) and points (81) in 55 games, each a Saginaw single-season record for a defenseman. The 18-year-old right-handed shot moves the puck well, plays with an edge and exhibits confidence on the power play, evidenced by his 32 power-play points (10 goals, 22 assists).

 

13. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (FIN): Helenius (5-11, 180) is skilled and quick with a high compete level. The right-handed shot had two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games playing a middle-six role for fourth-place Finland at the 2024 WJC. The 17-year-old has 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) and five power-play goals in 46 games in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.

 

14. Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL): Greentree (6-2, 211), Windsor's captain, leads the team in goals (30), assists (50), points (80) and power-play goals (10) in 53 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot can protect the puck, goes hard to the net and is very nimble and creative for a player his size.

 

15. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (SWE-2): Born in Norway, Brandsegg-Nygard (6-1, 198) plays in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second division, and is a hard-working two-way player with good first-step quickness, decision-making and vision. The 18-year-old right-handed shot has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 38 games, and five points (three goals, two assists), nine shots on goal and averaged 17:22 of ice time in five games for Norway at the 2024 WJC.

 

16. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL): Big, strong, and ultra-competitive, Boisvert (6-2, 178) was born in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and is expected to further his development at the University of North Dakota next season, where he would become the first Quebec-born player with the program. The 17-year-old takes pride in his two-way game and success on face-offs. Boisvert is tied for second in the United States Hockey League with 29 goals and tied for sixth with 51 points in 46 games.

 

17. Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL): His game is predicated on speed, skills, vision and compete. Connelly (6-1, 156), who turns 18 on Wednesday, is tied for third in the USHL with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 38 games, and his average of 1.42 points per game is third (minimum 20 games). He is committed to play at Providence College next season.

 

18. Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (CZE): Jiricek (6-2, 178) sustained a season-ending injury to his right knee while playing for Czechia in the first game of the 2024 WJC on Dec. 26. The right-handed shot had one assist in 19 games in Czech Extraliga, the nation's top professional league, but remains a top draft prospect. Teams certainly, though, will want an update on his condition when they meet with him during the NHL Scouting Combine in June. The 17-year-old is the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek.

 

19. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (FIN): A natural sniper with a good physical presence, Hemming (6-1, 201) plays a power forward-type game. The 17-year-old right-handed shot is strong on his skates and difficult to contain down low. He has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) and averages 10:01 of ice time in 39 games as a rookie in Liiga, and had two assists, eight shots on goal and averaged 8:45 of ice time in seven games for Finland at the 2024 WJC.

 

20. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (RUS): Chernyshov (6-2, 192) has four points (three goals, one assist) in 34 KHL games, and 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 22 games with Dynamo in Russia's junior league. The 18-year-old right-handed shot, who thrives on his off wing, has the look of a playmaking wing or center with power-forward potential at the next level.

 

21. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert (WHL): Ritchie (6-0, 175) is highly competitive with good hands, quick acceleration, a big shot and keen vision with the puck on his stick. The 17-year-old right-handed shot, who returned to the lineup Feb. 22 after missing two months because of a lower-body injury, has 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games.

 

22. Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL): Hage (6-0, 190), considered a two-way player with a lot of creativity, is tied for the team lead with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 40 games this season, after a torn labrum in his right shoulder sustained in September 2022 limited him to 13 games last season. The 17-year-old right-handed shot is committed to play at the University of Michigan next season.

 

23. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL): Basha (5-11, 184) has a knack for finding open lanes and open teammates with his skating ability, puck skills and relentlessness, and the 18-year-old has a well-stocked toolbox of skills. He has 72 points (25 goals, 47 assists) and 23 power-play points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 53 games.

 

24. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (FIN): Kiviharju (5-9, 170), who is expected to return to the lineup later this month after sustaining a lower-body injury in October, has an excellent feel for the game and possesses a lot of strength in the tough areas of the ice. The 18-year-old left-handed shot had two points (one goal, one assist) and was averaging 13:29 of ice time in seven Liiga games before his injury.

 

25. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL): Sennecke (6-2, 175) has a nice combination of size and strength, plays a 200-foot game and has a solid work ethic. The 18-year-old right-handed shot has 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists), five game-winning goals and 18 power-play points (six goals, 12 assists) in 53 games.

 

26. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL): Parascak (5-11, 176) is capable of contributing on the power play and penalty kill because of his speed, vision and intelligence on the ice. The 17-year-old leads WHL rookies in goals (34) and points (85) in 58 games, and is tied for the lead in power-play goals (10) and short-handed goals (three).

 

27. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Jr. (RUS-JR): Shuravin (6-3, 195) defends well in his zone and uses his big frame and reach to an advantage in the corners and behind the net. The 17-year-old left-handed shot will challenge skaters at the point of attack, quarterbacks one of the power-play units, and has great compete. He has seven assists and is plus-2 in 22 games in Russia's junior league.

 

28. Henry Mews, D, Ottawa (OHL): Mews (6-0, 183) is a well-conditioned, offensive-minded defenseman with good hockey sense, a high compete level and can get shots through to the net from the point. The 17-year-old right-handed shot has been a big contributor on the power play with 19 points (one goal, 18 assists). Mews leads Ottawa defensemen with 51 points (11 goals, 40 assists) in 53 games.

 

28. Nikita Artamonov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod (RUS): Artamonov (5-11, 187) is a prototypical power forward capable of doing a lot of the grunt work to retrieve pucks in the offensive end and get to the net to create screens and seek rebounds. The 18-year-old has shown impressive skating, vision and playmaking ability to complement his physical style, and has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 54 KHL games.

 

30. Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL): Masse (6-2, 192) leads Chicoutimi in goals (31), points (63) and power-play goals (11) in 57 games. The 17-year-old has carried the offensive load with great hands, puck skills and a goal-scoring touch. He had 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 10 games in February.

 

31. Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon (USHL): Born in Kurgan, Russia, Gridin (6-1, 185), who turns 18 on Friday, is in his second season in North America. He has a fantastic combination of skill, strength and speed, and is a threat almost every shift with his quick release and high compete level. Committed to the University of Michigan next season, he is tied for the USHL lead with 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) in 46 games, and is tied for second with six game-winning goals.

 

32. Spencer Gill, D, Rimouski (QMJHL): Gill (6-4, 185) is a consistent puck transporter from the back end with an improved defensive game, and scouts have compared him to Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews. The 17-year-old right-handed shot has 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 56 games, sees the ice well, finds options when pressured, and can transition effectively from his own end. He'll need to increase his strength for the next level, but the elements are all there.