He scored 22 points through 43 regular season and playoff games with Dallas, and should be a serious contender for the Calder Trophy next season. For my money, he was the most talented offensive creator on the backend in the 2024 Draft, however, Parekh’s defensive game leaves a lot to be desired. Some may be worried about his lack of production in the WHL, but anyone who saw Danielson play in the NHL Preseason last Fall should know he’s well on his way to becoming a high-end NHLer. He’s got the size, skating, shot, and skill to be an impactful player in all areas of a hockey game and I will be a massive Danielson apologist until he’s a full time NHLer in the near future. Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson.
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Oliver Bonk is a strong two-way defender who has the size and skating NHL teams look for, and the hockey sense to be a meaningful contributor in the modern NHL. He anticipates play really well, and is vocal with his teammates, coordinating play at both ends of the ice. Bonk isn’t a highly skilled defender so I don’t think he’ll be fighting for lots of power play minutes with Jamie Drysdale, but I expect he’ll be a strong second pairing defender who can tilt the ice in Philly’s https://gambibet.org/ favor. He has the size that NHL general managers dream of, and he has great puck skills and shooting mechanics for a player of his size. His skating has grown on me over the past two seasons, with enough speed and agility to really use his size to his advantage, powering through defenders and protecting the puck well. It may be a little while before we see him playing in the NHL, but I’m sure Utah is more than willing to wait as they look to establish themselves in the league.
- Before we get into the top 100 prospect ranking update, here are a few notes on the criteria and content of this list.
- Carson Rehkopf is a well-rounded forward with the size, skating, skill, and shot of an NHL player.
- He can complement the top centers on the Devils very well, and back to the physicality, is one of the only top players to bring a good amount of hits to the table.
- There is a good argument for Jaccob Slavin in the conversation of the best pure defensive player in the NHL.
- He has shown that he only gets better when the games get important, which is an invaluable attribute to have as someone who projects as a top-nine winger in the NHL.
- He was good for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, though the stat sheet might not give you the best idea of how impactful he was.
Gustav Forsling, D Florida Panthers
Brandt Clarke boasts some of the best offensive smarts and decision-making with the puck as a defenseman in the world. Selected eighth overall in 2021, Clarke can take control of a shift or lead a rush chance whenever he’s on the ice with his skating and speed. He’s great at identifying the open lanes and attacking with force to take advantage of an opportunity.
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This season, Clarke has been the best offensive defender in the entire AHL, earning himself a callup to the NHL in January. Clarke will likely never be the best defensive defender, but the amount of offense he provides will make that an afterthought for most of his NHL career. Gauthier has great size, skating, and has the effort and ability to become a great defensive forward. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a right-handed offensive defenseman who has been an offensive leader in the SHL as a teenager. Sandin Pellikka had a great showing for Sweden at the World Juniors in his draft year, improving his draft stock considerably.
Prospects #60-51
He joined Sweden again for this past World Juniors as well, and was named the tournament’s top defender thanks to some timely goals in the knockout rounds. He is a force on offense but don’t let that fool you, he is a hard-working defender who makes a lot of stops despite his 5-foot-11 frame. The Buffalo Sabres were lucky enough to have three selections in the first round of the 2022 Draft, picks nine, 16, and 28.
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Adam Jiricek is very engaged physically, and has a penchant for taking big point shots. Jiricek produces a ton of chances on offense from the blueline, readily activating into play to support his teammates and keep the puck moving. Unfortunately, his excitement to join the play offensively means that he takes a lot of risks, leaving himself in really poor positions to recover defensively if things don’t go according to plan. Jiricek is really great at scanning the play off puck and he persists through pressure quite well so I think he will be able to cut down on the over-the-top risks in time. I like him as a two-way defensive prospect and his right-handed shot and 6-foot-2 frame will help him out on draft day. Hunter Brzustewicz is an offensive defender who skates incredibly well and has a lot to give offensively.
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably effective in the NHL someday. Sam Dickinson is a big two-way defender with a tool kit that NHL General Managers dream of. He’s a 6-foot-3 defender who defends well, has shown flashes of great puck skills, and competes incredibly hard. Dickinson skates well for his size which bodes well for his NHL projection, though he will need to put in some work for his offensive game to be worthy of power play minutes in the NHL someday.
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The 24-year-old is coming off a second consecutive 40-goal campaign, finishing with over 100 points for the first time in his career. Along with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, the smooth-skating winger forms the most dominant forward trio in hockey. He combines size and aggression with slick skill, showcasing some of the best hands in the league while not being afraid to muck things up. After he was acquired by the Panthers last summer, he emerged as the face of the franchise, posting his second consecutive 100-point season. Tkachuk’s clutch run in the playoffs was the cherry on top of a sensational first season in Florida.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
Not only was he an excellent defensive option, he also led the Rangers in playoff scoring with 20 points in 16 games. He had challenged for the top center spot on the team, and at the very least, gives them the ability to have a fantastic tandem of centermen at the top of the lineup. Strong offensive production numbers have placed Kevin Fiala on the list, and he has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the past three years. 30 goals, 70 points, and strong defensive play is a combination that makes a winger very valuable. He is a fantastic complimentary piece to any of the top three centers the LA Kings have, and his versatile playstyle allows him to be deployed in nearly any situation. Drafted ninth overall by the Sabres at the 2022 draft, Matthew Savoie is a highly creative centreman with a high-end skill set.
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He brings great offensive skills and has some of the best possession metrics on his team last season. Playing with some more high-end forwards on the Predators will likely see his goal total drop to closer to 30 goals, but he will be in a great position to set personal point-total records. Sanderson will likely jump higher on this list over the next few years, and he has decent offense with 70 points in his first two years, but his skating and defending are his best assets.
Goyette reads opposing defenses very well which allows him to attack in a wide variety of ways. He can charge through soft spots, deke through defenders to make space, or draw tons of attention before passing to a teammate who is wide open. Goyette was one of the best players in the OHL last season and I think he has a chance to be an excellent pro player next season with the Firebirds in the AHL.
- Dating back to last season, the Florida winger has displayed a knack for scoring in key moments and is a key reason for a number of Panthers wins.
- I do think he’s a solid defender when he’s properly engaged, cutting off passes and angling opponents toward the boards.
- He isn’t a physical player, but with his 6-foot-5 frame, he will learn to use it better when carrying and protecting the puck.
- I’m very excited to see this team on the ice, not necessarily because I think they’ll be better than recent years but because I do think they’ll be more interesting.
- A very disappointing year by Tage Thompson’s standards didn’t stop voters by much on this one.
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Konsta Helenius is an excellent playmaker who competes hard enough to succeed in the Finnish Liiga as a 17-year-old. Helenius is level-headed under pressure and makes remarkable passes look routine, setting his teammates up for success. He was good for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, though the stat sheet might not give you the best idea of how impactful he was. Helenius’ two-way play against pros as a teenager has been very impressive, especially in transition where he is able to keep up with the pace of play both physically and mentally. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential despite a bit of an underwhelming season back in the NL.
Mackie Samoskevich, LW/RW, Florida Panthers
- He is in every conversation for the best defensemen in the league, and if he can take a bigger step offensively, he will have a great chance of winning the Norris Trophy over the next few years.
- In that two-year stretch, only two wingers in the league have managed to outscore Rantanen, and only one’s managed to rack up more goals than the Colorado stalwart.
- Helenius’ two-way play against pros as a teenager has been very impressive, especially in transition where he is able to keep up with the pace of play both physically and mentally.
- The Winnipeg Jets still chose Chaz Lucius 18th overall in the 2021 Draft despite him losing a lot of time in his draft year rehabbing a knee injury.
- His talent alone can help elevate the ceiling of the Philadelphia Flyers this season.
- But as the season begins and expectations are all over the place, rosters could be more malleable.
- Roy is incredibly competitive, responsible defensively, and protects the puck extremely well.
Also adding to the case file was that they seduced Matthew Wood, a former 1st round pick who has been a very strong collegiate performer, to transfer from UConn. With Snuggerud, Wood, and Oliver Moore up front, the Gophers boast three first round picks who have the ability to form what could be the conference’s best scoring line. Draisaitl trails only McDavid for the most points in the playoffs with 28 in 18 games. His 10 goals are tied for second out of all skaters, and his 14 power-play points rank first.
Aleksander Barkov, F, Florida Panthers
Edstrom didn’t have the strongest showing at last year’s World Juniors but he’s eligible to return next year where I expect him to be one of the better players in the whole tourney. After being sent to Nasvhille in the Yaroslav Askarov trade, I think Edstrom can realistically project into the Pred’s third-line center slot in due time. Gabe Perrault looks like someone who could be a power play specialist at the next level with great skill and smarts in the offensive zone.
- However, this is likely the most lethal offense that he has faced throughout the postseason.
- He has gone a long way to putting that question to rest this year so keep an eye on Cowan as he finishes his junior career and enters the pros very soon.
- Edstrom didn’t have the strongest showing at last year’s World Juniors but he’s eligible to return next year where I expect him to be one of the better players in the whole tourney.
- The best NHL players in 2024 are not only dominating the ice with their extraordinary performances, but they are also redefining what it means to be elite in the sport of hockey.
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- The Canucks knew they had a lethal shooter on their hands in Pettersson, but Vancouver’s face of the franchise has flourished into one of the best two-way centers in the league.
- Early returns have been good as Mesar has had back-to-back great showings at the World Juniors over the past 12 months and has already shown a ton of improvement in two seasons in the OHL.
Complete Projections
Brock Faber finished the season averaging just shy of 25 minutes per game, which ranks sixth in the entire league. Not only was he a minute-eating rookie with offensive upside, but he played a strong defensive game, including his 150 blocked shots, which ranked 50th in the league. He wasn’t very physical, landing just 65 registered hits, but as he continues to develop, his 6-foot-1 frame could allow him to play a more physical game. What a shock it is to see the best hockey player in the world at the top of this list. McDavid simply plays the game at a different speed than everyone else, and that has been clear in these playoffs. He has 26 assists in just 18 games after posting 100 assists in the regular season, and he is feeding teammates in high-danger areas.
Although he isn’t the generational type of prospect Connor Bedard is, he still has all the makings of a quality player and core peace for the San Jose Sharks. He was the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award and had a draft-year production similar to that of Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli. He will automatically be a top-six center for the Sharks and show many fans his dynamic two-way ability with the potential to become a franchise player. Arturs Silovs made an incredible debut in the NHL playoffs last season after being called up to relieve the injured Thatcher, Demko and Casey Smith in the playoffs for the Vancouver Canucks.
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He can break up plays, make a brilliant break-out pass, carry the puck on his own, and work wonders in the offensive zone. There is an argument for the best defenseman behind Makar, but after the season he just had, having Hughes here makes sense. Adam Fox is one of the best defensemen in the game, and on top of his offensive skills, he has great defending skills as well.
After being traded one-for-one to the Jets, Yager looks poised to remain in the Canadian Prairies for the foreseeable future. He grew up in Saskatchewan, played his junior hockey there (in Moose Jaw), and will likely make the jump straight to the NHL after one final year in the WHL. Noah Östlund is one of the best pure playmakers on this list as his ability to keep track of his teammates’ locations all over the ice leads to plenty of brilliant passes that nobody else seems to see coming. His ability to anticipate the play and make the right play to maximize the scoring chance for his team is remarkable.
And with Thatcher Demko still unavailable to start this NHL season, he has the potential to become the Canucks starting goaltender. A lot of high expectations will be placed on him after his incredible performances in the playoffs, but luckily for him, he has an outstanding defense in front of him in Vancouver. The 6’4” Latvian goaltender has the skill and athleticism to prove he belongs in the NHL. I am notoriously harsh on the boring veteran types who get 40 to 50 points a year in their sleep, such as J.T. You’ll see some rookies who aren’t even guaranteed to make their teams ranked higher than them.
Firkus is so quick to adapt to what the defense is showing him that bigger and stronger defenders don’t often have much of an advantage despite his 5-foot-11 frame. Bradly Nadeau had a dominant draft season in the BCHL, with the goals and points accumulating until they were impossible to ignore. He led the league in goals, assists, and points as a 17-year-old and he’s got a wicked shot and the speed to be an absolute terror in transition. The only thing standing in the way of Nadeau becoming a goalscoring top-six winger will likely be his size, standing at 5-foot-10, though his skating and compete level give me hope that he could make it work. Nadeau’s game has translated well to the NCAA so far, scoring 46 points in 37 games played. Sacha Boisvert is another in a growing line of Canadian prospects who opted for the USHL/NCAA route rather than playing in the CHL.
