Here are some names to watch over the course of the 2023-24 season, and at the World Juniors this year, in advance of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Forwards
MACKLIN CELEBRINI, C
5’11”, 189lbs
2022-23 Season: Chicago Steel (USHL)
50GP, 46G, 40A, 86pts, 61PIM
Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini took the USHL by storm last season, racking up numerous awards and accolades along the way. The current betting favourite to hear his name called 1st overall, Celebrini brings a polished 200 foot game to the table. While no one will be making the argument that he’s a generational talent like Bedard was, the Chicago Steel standout is nevertheless progressing by leaps and bounds. He’s committed to play with Boston University, and will look to continue his development under Jay Pandolfo and his staff. Expect for him to star for Team Canada at this year’s World Juniors.
COLE EISERMAN, LW
5’11”, 191lbs
2022-23 Season: USNDT
32GP, 28G, 16A, 44pts, 18PIM
A true sniper, Eiserman will be a top six forward throughout his NHL career. While he doesn’t offer much in terms of a two-way game at the moment, elite level goal scorers are tough to come by. Some scouts are starting to speak of him with the same regard they had for Auston Matthews prior to his draft year. While it may be unfair to make that kind of lofty comparable, it speaks to how highly hockey minds think of the Massachusetts native.
IVAN DEMIDOV, F
5’11”, 168lbs
2022-23 Season: SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
41GP, 19G, 43A, 62pts, 16PIM
Fresh off setting the points record in an MHL season for a 17 year old, Demidov is the latest high level Russian forward to enter the draft over the last few seasons. Much like his fellow countrymen, there’s a great deal of secrecy around him at the moment. Some scouting services have him listed as a right-winger, others a centre. Frankly there’s just not much tape on him, to the point where depending which service you believe, some think he’s a right handed shot while others have him listed as a left shot forward. Expect a similar draft process to that of Matvei Michkov to play out here in 2024. There’s no denying the skill, but he may slip based on the “Russian factor” and not knowing when he’ll be NHL ready.
KONSTA HELENIUS, RW
5’10”, 167lbs
2022-23 Season: Jukurit Mikkeli (SM-Liiga)
32GP, 3G, 8A, 11pts, 8PIM
Helenius was Liiga’s youngest player last season, but still managed to post a respectable 11pts playing against grown men. When pitted against players his own age, he dominated at both the U17 & U18 events representing Finland. With a strong season, you could see him flirt with top 3 status at next year’s draft. But should he show signs of regression, he could also see a Brad Lambert like drop, making him one of the class’ most volatile prospects.
TANNER HOWE, LW
5’10”, 182lbs
2022-23 Season: Regina Pats (WHL)
67GP, 36G, 49A, 85pts, 74PIM
NHL front offices are more than familiar with Howe at this point. Skating shotgun on Connor Bedard’s wing last year meant that he was consistently playing in front of capacity crowds, and usually full scouting sections. A cerebral player, Howe knows how to find the open areas of the ice. He’s just as comfortable scoring as he is setting up teammates, which will make him hard to pass up on come draft night.
Defensemen
SAM DICKINSON, D
6’3”, 195lbs
2022-23 Season: London Knights (OHL)
62GP, 9G, 14A, 23pts, 12PIM
While he’s unlikely to quarterback a power play at the next level anytime soon, Dickinson brings an NHL ready frame to the table and is one of the most responsible defenders in the 2024 class. He makes good choices in his own end, and makes smart first passes. Coming from a powerhouse program in London also doesn’t hurt his stock either, as the Knights seem to pump out high levels prospects year in, year out.
ARTYOM LEVSHUNOV, D
6’2”, 199lbs
2022-23 Season: Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
62GP, 13G, 29A, 42pts, 38PIM
The CHL’s ban on Belarussian and Russian prospects at the import draft meant Levshunov was off to Green Bay for the 2022-23 campaign. There he demonstrated good two-way skills, and a smooth skating technique. He brings an offensive upside that Dickinson doesn’t currently possess, but also doesn’t have the same mean streak in him that his OHL counterpart does.
ARON KIVIHARJU, D
5’8”, 165lbs
2022-23 Season: TPS Turku (SM-Liiga)
21GP, 0G, 3A, 3pts, 2PIM
Finland doesn’t often bring 16 year olds to the World Juniors, but they made an exception for Kiviharju in 2023. Playing against men in the Liiga has scouts excited to see what he’ll do in his upcoming draft year, as he flashed some game breaking potential at times, but was also very clearly a teenager at others with TPS Turku. If he puts together a strong campaign he could be in line for a top 10 selection in 2024.
ADAM JIRICEK, D
6’1”, 152lbs
2022-23 Season: Plzen HC (Czech)
12GP, 0G, 2A, 2pts, 6PIM
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Adam is the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets blue liner David Jiricek. A coveted RHD, Jiricek is perhaps a step behind where his brother was at the same age, but has shown the ability to dominate the junior ranks in Czechia. Unfortunately his play tailed off slightly when called up to play in the senior league with Plzen HC. Expect David’s younger brother to play a large role for Czechia on the international stage leading up to the 2024 draft.
COLE HUTSON, D
5’8”, 143lbs
2022-23 Season: USNDT
32GP, 4G, 21A, 25pts, 52PIM
Another prospect with some draft pedigree to his name. Cole is the younger brother of Habs prospect Lane Hutson, and shares the same extraordinary on ice vision, and smooth skating as his older brother. Evidently height doesn’t run in the family as Cole is also an undersized blue liner, currently listed at a generous 5’8″. Lack of size saw Lane fall to 62nd overall in 2022, but given his status as one of Montreal’s top prospects, teams may not make the same mistake again when it comes to letting another Hutson slip through the first round.
Goalies
Eemil Vinni
6’2″, 180lbs
2022-23 Season: HIFK Helsinki (SM-Liiga)
2GP, 6.38GAA, .737 SV%
Eric Olsson
6’3″, 181lbs
2022-23 Season: Orebro HK Jr. (SWE-Jr.)
26GP, 2.60GAA, .909SV%
It’s unlikely either is a first round pick at this stage of their development. Barring a breakout campaign from someone else however, they’re likely the two goaltenders that scouts are paying the most attention to at the moment. Both are on the right side of 6′ tall, and have worked their way up from the junior ranks to join their senior men’s teams in both SM-Liiga and the Swedish Elite League respectively. Both will be looking to prove they belong at the next level with strong showings at the World Juniors and in their domestic leagues this season. How far they slip beyond the first round likely hinges on how they perform over the next few months.
Honourable Mentions:
Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Veeti Vaisainen, D, KooKoo Kouvola (SM-Liiga)
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Brandon Zeman. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.