2024 NHL Draft: Mid-season rankings
We’re halfway through the scouting season. This time of year is also synonymous with updating the top prospect rankings for the annual draft. The TSLH Prospects analysts have come together in a 5h55 podcast to present their respective rankings, but also to introduce you to the different profiles of these NHL prospects.
Over the past few years, TSLH Prospects has built up a solid reputation in the amateur scouting community in french. Our analysts conduct numerous viewings before producing their official rankings. By mid-season, the rankings begin to look like the final product. In the weeks leading up to the NHL draft, TSLH Prospects will be releasing its prospect profiles to give you an in-depth look at tomorrow’s top hockey players. A few days before the 2024 draft, TSLH Prospects will present its annual draft guide with exclusive content about all the scouted prospects this year.
The 2024 class could be described as brimming with good defensemen. At the top of the TSLH Prospects rankings, there are several top-quality d-man such as Sam Dickinson, Artyom Levshunov, Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium and Carter Yakemchuk. On the other hand, we also note the presence of elite talents such as Macklin Celebrini, Ivan Demidov and Cole Eiserman. In the case of the latter, he represents THE polarizing choice of the 2024 draft. Indeed, some scouts will appreciate his elite scoring qualities, while others will point out his lack of involvement without the puck. Although the three players mentioned fit into an elite category, there will be no Connor Bedard this season. As good as they are, Celebrini and Demidov are not generational players. Nor Cole Eiserman.
There are also several interesting projects. Anton Silayev, a 6’7 defenseman in the KHL, is likely to come out very high in the draft. But is he seen as a potential long-term franc by our observers? Cayden Lindstrom (6’4, 216) is a big, fat center currently developing in Medicine Hat. The latter is also likely to emerge very high due to the mobility, offensive talent and hustle he offers on the rink.
The QMJHL
Will the QMJHL do well in the 2024 draft? According to our analysts, the Quebec and Maritime Junior Hockey League’s crop could be disappointing in the first round. With top prospects in the name of Maxim Massé, Raoul Boilard, Tomas Lavoie and Justin Poirier, we may have to wait until the 2nd round to hear the name of one of these. Maybe like last year, when the first name to emerge from the QMJHL in 2023 was Ethan Gauthier in the 37th round.
Goaltenders
The 2023 draft was full of good goalkeepers. No goalie was selected in the first round, but in the 2nd round, 5 goalies heard their names on the rostrum. This season, I expect the first goalie to come out in the middle of the 2nd round, maybe even in the 3rd round. This isn’t a goalie year like last year. What’s more, the depth of the draft between ranks 15 and 50 favors the selection of a forward or a defenseman.
Our analysts’ mid-season rankings
Pascal Lapointe
Mathieu Paradis
Simon Servant
Seb Gagné
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