2024 NHL Draft Prospect Preseason Rankings

Hockey season is right around the corner which means there are plenty of prospects ready to show their skill for the 2024 NHL Draft. Teams will be researching these players all year long so let’s take a look at the best of the best moving into the 2023-24 season.

1. Macklin Celebrini, Forward, Boston University

Projected to be the number one prospect in this upcoming draft, Celebrini has the skills to validate that argument. Last season, he played with the Chicago Steel of the USHL and he dominated, posting 46 goals in 50 games while totaling 86 points. During the U18 Worlds, Celebrini matched Canada’s scoring record with 15 points in 7 games.

Celebrini plays with a ton of confidence and has a high hockey IQ both with the puck and away from it. He is always looking to attack the puck and create chances for his team. He always knows how to find open ice, making him an elite center. With Boston University’s talent, adding Celebrini has them in the Frozen Four conversation yet again.

2. Cole Eiserman, Forward, USA National Team Development Program

Eiserman is a challenger for the number one overall spot and his ceiling will keep him in the conversation all season long. He is a scoring powerhouse who will be showing up in goalies’ nightmares for years to come. Between the development team and the USHL team, Eiserman potted 54 goals in 52 games at just 16 years old.

You could even compare him to talents like Auston Matthews and Cole Caufield with his ability to rip it with a lot of accuracy. He’s got great edge work and is smart when it comes to guarding the puck. Eiserman is headed back to the USA team for another season and has committed to play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2024-25 season.

3. Ivan Demidov, Forward, SKA St. Petersburg

After seeing Matvei Michkov get drafted in 2023, Russia’s next young star, Ivan Demidov is ready to take center stage. In the MHL last season, Demidov tallied 62 points in 41 games, mainly with his 43 assists. Those points were the most ever recorded in the junior league, more points than players like Nikita Kucherov have recorded in a single season.

He is very creative with the puck on his stick, with good hands and feet. He’s got a stutter-step move that he likes to utilize to get defensemen off their game. He loves playing mind games with the opposing team, always being deceptive. That skill alone will keep him in conversations with Celebrini and Eiserman.

4. Artyom Levshunov, Defenseman, Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans have a new weapon and his name is Artyom Levshunov. He played for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL and put up 42 points in 62 games. Being from Belarus, Levshunov had to adjust to North American ice, but so far he has had no problem carrying his high-octane play overseas.

He can see plays develop before most players do, catching the attention of scouts. His skating makes him stand out, his howitzer of a shot is elite. He can quarterback a power play very well and there have already been signs of an improved defensive game to complete his 200-foot game.

5. Aron Kiviharju, Defenseman, HIFK

Meet Finland’s next special talent. Kiviharju’s hockey sense and maturity make him stand out against older competition. His mobility allows him to excel in all three zones of the ice. He is a bit smaller for his position, standing at 5 feet 10 inches, but his offensive-mindedness has put Kiviharju’s name on the map for the past few years.

You can compare him to players like Quinn Hughes, who can work around attacking players, move the puck up the ice and create scoring chances. The defenseman class of the 2024 class is very solid, and players like him and Levshunov are the reason why.

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.