NHL Central Scouting releases final rankings for 2024 Entry Draft

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Cooper Godin
April 16, 2024 (1:36 PM)

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With the National Hockey League's 2024 Entry Draft just over two months away, their Central Scouting department has released their final rankings which include Macklin Celebrini atop the North American Skaters category.

Starting with the North American Skaters category, as mentioned, Macklin Celebrini comes in at first. He had a strong year for Boston University, helping them to the semi-finals of the Frozen Four where they would go on to lose to the University of Denver. In 38 games in his first and probably only NCAA season, Celebrini had 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists), 18 penalty minutes and was a plus-25. At the end of the season, Celebrini was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award.

"Macklin Celebrini has had a remarkable freshman season at Boston University accumulating the NCAA Hobey Baker and Hockey East Player and Freshman of the Year award," said Dan Marr, Vice President of NHL Central Scouting. "He possesses that rare, elite ability to thrive with his skills and smarts while competing with a consistent passion to face every challenge head-on and generate results, all the while making himself a better player."

Let's take a look at the rest of the top-five for the North American Skaters:

2) Artyom Levshunov (D) - Michigan State (NCAA)
3) Cayden Lindstrom (C) - Medicine Hat (WHL)
4) Zeev Buium (D) - Denver University (NCAA)
5) Zayne Parekh (D) - Saginaw (OHL)

Leading the way in the International Skaters category is Russian defenceman Anton Silayev. The 18-year-old took some huge strides this season playing in the KHL with Nizhny Novgorod and there's no doubt he'll be one of the nominees for Rookie of the Year. Silvayev is big at 6'7" but is mobile and skates well and is arguably the best puck mover in this draft class. In 63 games in the KHL this season, Silayev had 11 points (three goals, eight assists), 37 penalty minutes and was a minus-nine.

"It's not often that there is a 6'7», 211 lb. defenseman who is a fluid skater and has the puck skills, attributes, and intangibles to be considered a franchise-type prospect," says Marr. "He has quick smarts, instincts, and composure to read and react on the play and has a very efficient transition and puck movement game. His play this year displayed a level of compete and maturity that will transcend to the NHL game and his ceiling is projected to be the highest of any player on our international ranking."

Coming in at second on the International Skates list Russian forward Ivan Demidov, followed by Finnish forward Konsta Helenius at third, Czech defenceman Adam Jiricek at fourth and Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard at fifth.

It's going to be interesting to see how the draft shapes up once Macklin Celebrini is off the board because there are easily three or four different players who could be selected second overall.

The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is set for Friday, June 28th and Saturday, June 29th at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Source - NHL Central Scouting: Celebrini Remains Atop List of North American Skaters as NHL Releases Final Draft Rankings

POLL
Assuming Celebrini is picked 1st overall, who do you think will go second?
Ivan Demidov	18	25.4 %
Zayne Parekh	18	25.4 %
Artyom Levshunov	21	29.6 %
Anton Silayev	14	19.7 %
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