By DraftPro Staff
The draft picture is becoming clearer as we headed through the holiday break and international events.
Prospects are starting to separate themselves, starting to shine causing scouts to track them even closer, and some are showing that they are not what many first thought they were.
Our scouts have been busy over the last couple months watching junior club games all over the world in various leagues as well as all the international tournaments of November and December to provide this input on this next wave of future NHL talent.
There have been some impressive performances that have seen some names rocket up the draft list as well as prolonged droughts that have done the alternative to the names attached to those who have not played well or have shown red flags in their developments.
Below is a little update on some from around the various league who have risen or dropped based on recent performance.
Rising
Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA), DOB 12/7/2005, 5’11”, 165, L, USA
“My biggest riser is Denver defenseman Buium. Just destroying the NCAA as a minute munching, puck rushing, freshman defender, driving the bus for the Pioneers powerplay, and also enjoying success at the World Juniors leaves very little doubt we are looking at a future top four NHL defender. His intelligent, deceptive hands and skating ability, and elite playmaking vision make him dangerous whenever he touches the puck.” – Dan Stewart
Tij Iginla, RW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), DOB 8/1/2006, 6’0″, 181, L, CAN
“Iginla has been one of the biggest risers in the early season with his obvious goal scoring ability and improved 2-way game. Son of hall of famer Jarome Iginla, he has caught the attention of fans long before his draft year. Like his father, TIj is known for his excellent release and ability to find the net through traffic. What stands out from watching his games, is his improved ability in the defensive zone and foot speed. It is safe to say that the move to Kelowna as certainty paid off as he is also one of the league’s top powerplay contributors with six powerplay goals. Iginla’s draft stock has risen significantly.” – Kayden Ruda
Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL), DOB 2/15/2006, 6’0″, 181, R, CAN
“A big riser thus far is Saginaw Spirit defenseman Parekh. He is an offensive defenseman with breathtaking skating and puck skills. He looks like he is walking on water he is so fluid. He ranks second amongst all OHL draft-eligible players in points this season. His high-end player comparable is Erik Karlsson. He will have ample opportunity to continue increasing his stock with a guaranteed appearance in the Memorial Cup as the Saginaw Spirit hosts the event.” – Andreus Kostopoulos
Tomas Galvas, D, Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia), DOB 2/11/2006, 5’10”, 148, L, CZE
“Another high-flying blueliner that is rising up draft boards is Czechia rearguard Galvas. His skating ability, smart decision making, and puck control make him very dangerous, but it is his willingness to engage and play a complete 200-foot game despite being rather underdeveloped that make him a bit of a high upside wildcard. Looked good at the WJC play as well. If he can add some much needs pounds, he could end up being one of this drafts top blueliners.” – Dan Stewart
Falling
Maximillian Curran, C, Tri-City Americans (WHL), DOB 8/27/2006, 6’3″, 181, L, CZE
“Regardless of his hulking frame – the Czech import has struggled to score so far this season. He only has four goals to his name averaging only two shots a game. While his playmaking and transition ability has shown improvement, this start is a major red flag for his draft stock. While he has been preforming below expectation, his draft stock remains a mid-second round draft pick due to his physical tools and upside.” – Kayden Ruda
Jakub Chromiak, D, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL), DOB 11/2/2005, 5’11”, 183, R, SVK
“Chromiak has yet to find his way this season. He was dealt from the Sudbury Wolves to the Kingston Frontenacs in the past few weeks as the Wolves needed to open an import roster spot for star forward Dalibor Dvorsky. The Frontenacs defenseman began this season with first-round pick aspirations. He does not provide much offensively, even if his numbers have improved with Kingston, and his defensive game has not been overly consistent. He commits too many turnovers and spends a lot of time in his own end.” – Andreus Kostopoulos
Paul Mayer, D, Adler Mannheim (DEL), DOB 9/25/2005, 6’2″, 192, L, GER
“Starting the season as the top German prospect heading into the 2024 draft and Mayer has fallen off those expectations as his season has gone from bad to worse. He was playing limited minutes in the DEL with Adler Mannheim but has since been loaned out to the Bietigheim Steelers in the DEL2 due to poor play and loosing the confidence of his coach. He has good physical tools like his size, shot, and skating but his decision making has been called into question as he has moments of being a turnover machine in his own zone. Is it a confidence issue that just needs time or will his stock continue to fall? That is the question.” – Dan Stewart
While there is still much hockey to be played this season our evaluators seem to have a pretty good handle on the 2024 crop. If you are looking for more in-depth information and reports, be sure to pick up your digital or physical copy of the DraftPro 2024 Preview Magazine available now.
Below is the Draft Prospects Hockey January Top 64 for the 2024 NHL Draft.
| RANK | NAME | POS | 2023-24 TEAM | 2023-24 LEAGUE | BORN | HT | WT | HAND | NAT |
| 1 | Macklin Celebrini | C | Boston University | NCAA | 6/13/2006 | 6’0″ | 190 | L | CAN |
| 2 | Cole Eiserman | LW | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 8/29/2006 | 6’0″ | 196 | L | USA |
| 3 | Ivan Demidov | RW | SKA St. Petersburg | KHL | 12/10/2005 | 5’11” | 168 | L | RUS |
| 4 | Artyom Levshunov | D | Michigan State University | NCAA | 10/28/2005 | 6’2″ | 198 | R | BLR |
| 5 | Berkly Catton | C | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 1/14/2006 | 5’11” | 163 | L | CAN |
| 6 | Sam Dickinson | D | London Knights | OHL | 6/7/2006 | 6’3″ | 194 | L | CAN |
| 7 | Konsta Helenius | C | Jukurit | Liiga | 5/11/2006 | 5’11” | 176 | R | FIN |
| 8 | Anton Silayev | D | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 4/11/2006 | 6’7″ | 207 | L | RUS |
| 9 | Cayden Lindstrom | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 2/3/2006 | 6’5″ | 205 | L | CAN |
| 10 | Henry Mews | D | Ottawa 67’s | OHL | 3/9/2006 | 6’0″ | 185 | R | CAN |
| 11 | Emil Hemming | RW | TPS U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 6/27/2006 | 6’2″ | 196 | R | FIN |
| 12 | Zayne Parekh | D | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | 2/15/2006 | 6’0″ | 181 | R | CAN |
| 13 | Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | RW | Mora IK | HockeyAllsvenskan | 10/5/2005 | 6’1″ | 194 | R | NOR |
| 14 | Aron Kiviharju | D | HIFK | Liiga | 1/25/2006 | 5’10” | 165 | L | FIN |
| 15 | Trevor Connelly | C | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 2/28/2006 | 6’1″ | 161 | L | USA |
| 16 | Zeev Buium | D | University of Denver | NCAA | 12/7/2005 | 5’11” | 165 | L | USA |
| 17 | Adam Jiricek | D | HC Plzen | Czechia | 6/28/2006 | 6’2″ | 176 | R | CZE |
| 18 | Liam Greentree | RW | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | 1/1/2006 | 6’2″ | 198 | L | CAN |
| 19 | Maxim Massé | RW | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | QMJHL | 4/7/2006 | 6’1″ | 181 | R | CAN |
| 20 | Tanner Howe | RW | Regina Pats | WHL | 11/28/2005 | 5’10” | 181 | L | CAN |
| 21 | Sacha Boisvert | C | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | 3/17/2006 | 6’2″ | 176 | L | CAN |
| 22 | Beckett Sennecke | RW | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 1/28/2006 | 6’2″ | 181 | R | CAN |
| 23 | Michael Hage | C | Chicago Steel | USHL | 4/14/2006 | 6’1″ | 181 | R | CAN |
| 24 | Carter Yakemchuk | D | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 9/29/2005 | 6’2″ | 194 | R | CAN |
| 25 | Cole Hutson | D | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 6/28/2006 | 5’10” | 159 | L | USA |
| 26 | Ryder Ritchie | C | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 8/3/2006 | 6’0″ | 174 | R | CAN |
| 27 | Charlie Elick | D | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | 1/17/2006 | 6’3″ | 198 | R | CAN |
| 28 | Igor Chernyshov | LW | MHK Dynamo Moskva | MHL | 11/30/2005 | 6’2″ | 192 | R | RUS |
| 29 | Will Skahan | D | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 5/14/2006 | 6’4″ | 212 | L | USA |
| 30 | Veeti Väisänen | D | KooKoo | Liiga | 2/15/2006 | 6’0″ | 163 | L | FIN |
| 31 | Tij Iginla | RW | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 8/1/2006 | 6’0″ | 181 | L | CAN |
| 32 | Christian Humphreys | C | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 2/4/2006 | 5’11” | 170 | R | USA |
| 33 | Adam Jecho | RW | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 3/24/2006 | 6’5″ | 198 | R | CZE |
| 34 | Tomas Galvas | D | HC Olomouc U20 | Czechia U20 | 2/11/2006 | 5’10” | 148 | L | CZE |
| 35 | Nikita Artamonov | RW | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 11/17/2005 | 5’11” | 187 | L | RUS |
| 36 | Justin Poirier | RW | Baie-Comeau Drakkar | QMJHL | 9/4/2006 | 5’8″ | 181 | R | CAN |
| 37 | Alexander Zetterberg | C | Örebro HK J20 | J20 Nationell | 4/27/2006 | 5’8″ | 159 | R | SWE |
| 38 | Tomas Lavoie | D | Cape Breton Eagles | QMJHL | 3/31/2006 | 6’4″ | 225 | R | CAN |
| 39 | Leo Sahlin Wallenius | D | Växjö Lakers HC J20 | J20 Nationell | 4/10/2006 | 6’0″ | 176 | L | SWE |
| 40 | Melvin Fernström | C | Örebro HK J20 | J20 Nationell | 2/28/2006 | 6’1″ | 185 | R | SWE |
| 41 | Terik Parascak | RW | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 5/28/2006 | 5’11” | 174 | R | CAN |
| 42 | Simon Zether | C | Rögle BK J20 | J20 Nationell | 10/18/2005 | 6’3″ | 187 | R | SWE |
| 43 | Dominik Badinka | D | Malmö Redhawks J20 | J20 Nationell | 11/27/2005 | 6’3″ | 183 | R | CAN |
| 44 | Luke Misa | C | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | 11/25/2005 | 5’10” | 165 | L | CAN |
| 45 | Daniil Ustinkov | D | GC/Küsnacht U20 | U20-Elit | 8/26/2006 | 6’0″ | 198 | L | SUI |
| 46 | Frankie Marrelli | D | Ottawa 67’s | OHL | 2/16/2006 | 5’11” | 185 | L | CAN |
| 47 | Colton Roberts | D | Vancouver Giants | WHL | 7/8/2006 | 6’4″ | 183 | R | CAN |
| 48 | Maxmilian Curran | C | Tri-City Americans | WHL | 8/27/2006 | 6’3″ | 181 | L | CZE |
| 49 | Adam Kleber | D | Lincoln Stars | USHL | 3/24/2006 | 6’5″ | 203 | R | USA |
| 50 | Karl Sterner | RW | Frölunda HC J20 | J20 Nationell | 3/29/2006 | 6’3″ | 187 | L | SWE |
| 51 | Anthony Cristoforo | D | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | 2/23/2006 | 5’11” | 181 | R | CAN |
| 52 | Luca Marrelli | D | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 10/4/2005 | 6’2″ | 179 | R | CAN |
| 53 | Nathan Villeneuve | C | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 4/13/2006 | 6’0″ | 183 | L | CAN |
| 54 | Andrew Basha | LW | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 11/8/2005 | 6’0″ | 183 | L | CAN |
| 55 | Ben Danford | D | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 2/6/2006 | 6’0″ | 176 | R | CAN |
| 56 | Petr Sikora | C | HC Oceláři Třinec U20 | Czechia U20 | 1/2/2006 | 5’11” | 172 | L | CZE |
| 57 | Sam O’Reilly | C | London Knights | OHL | 3/30/2006 | 6’1″ | 176 | R | CAN |
| 58 | Paul Mayer | D | Adler Mannheim | DEL | 9/25/2005 | 6’2″ | 192 | L | GER |
| 59 | John Whipple | D | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 1/20/2006 | 6’1″ | 194 | L | USA |
| 60 | Kamil Bednarik | C | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 5/26/2006 | 6’0″ | 185 | L | USA |
| 61 | Raoul Boilard | C | Baie-Comeau Drakkar | QMJHL | 1/7/2006 | 6’2″ | 190 | L | CAN |
| 62 | EJ Emery | D | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 3/30/2006 | 6’3″ | 185 | R | USA |
| 63 | Aidan Park | RW | Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep | USHS-Prep | 1/6/2006 | 6’0″ | 185 | R | USA |
| 64 | Ryerson Leenders | G | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | 6/1/2006 | 6’1″ | 179 | L | CAN |