Prospect Info: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Soli]

The Oilers are on the upswing/pacing-the-same-through-as-many-games-as-last-season and the WJC are in full swing so probably about time we get this thread up. This is likely the very last NHL draft in its format as we know it since the draft is becoming decentralized as soon as next year. They're going out with a bang, hosting the draft at the Las Vegas sphere that opened this past fall.

At the time of this posting in December, the Oilers have a 1st, 2nd, 5th, and two 6ths. It's unlikely we have the same munitions come draft day, but we'll see how things play out.

This will be the first draft for the Oilers after the dismissal of Tyler Wright. Let's hope Rick Pracey does less damage than his predecessors.

Some early rankings to peruse for those interested:






---


Some draft storylines with Oiler tie-ins:

• Coming off a Frozen-Four appearance, no other program has the calibre of draft eligibles than the Boston University Terriers. Freshman Macklin Celebrini is having an Adam Fantilli-esque season and is the engine of the Canadian WJC offense. He jockeys for the 1st overall spot against future Terrier and projected #2 overall pick Cole Eiserman. Also committed to BU for the '24-'25 season is draft eligible defender Cole Hutson, Lane Hutson's younger brother. Of note for Oilers fans is 2021 6th round selection Shane Lachance, who features on the 1st unit PP with Celebrini and L. Hutson.
  
  
• Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is looking to be the highest Norwegian born player to be selected in the draft surpassing Marius Holtet (42nd, 2002). His CHL rights were picked up by Beau Akey's Barrie Colts.
  
  
• The Oil Kings bottomed out last season as they entered the famine part of the junior hockey cycle. Draft eligible Gavin Hodnett led the Oil Kings with 43 points last season and the Oil Kings brought in help via big Czech import Adam Jecho. Jecho had a good start to the season playing down the middle producing 9-10-19 in 20 games and had recently returned from a LBI that likely cost him a WJC appearance.
  
  
• In the unlikely scenario that we keep our 1st rounder, I'm prognosticating we select from the strong crop of blueliners. I think as many as 6-7 blueliners could go in the Top-15 and then we're debating the merits of LD Aron Kiviharju vs. LD Cole Hutson vs. RD Adam Jiricek perhaps. Kiviharju has been heralded but tumbling, Hutson is getting the draft shine from his brother’s proof of concept, and Jiricek's season is over after a knee injury in his first WJC game.
  
  
• Looking back at our development camp invites, we may have missed out on Nate Misskey. He's leading the Royals in defenseman scoring; over Arizona 5th rounder Justin Kipkie, whom a few of us liked as a sleeper d last draft. And after a change of scenery from Gatineau, Antonie Verreault is leading the Huskies in scoring.
  
  
• Miroslav Satan's son and namesake is draft eligible. Satan Jr. is 6'6 tall.
  

Discuss.

Click to read more...

 

[McDNicks17]

I see Levshunov over Dickinson a lot, but I think a team would be making a huge mistake taking any D over Dickinson.

He's the full package.

 

[PKSpecialist]

I see Levshunov over Dickinson a lot, but I think a team would be making a huge mistake taking any D over Dickinson.

He's the full package.

Agreed on Dickinson over Levshunov at this point. I think a lot are sleeping on Zayne Parekh. I have him as my top D right now. The way he dicatates pace and his offensive IQ drives the play. I think he is a game changer for an organization. Obviously wish the Oilers would have a shot at him, but I don't think that's going to happen. I'd be shocked if he doesn't end up top 10, and a good chance he pushes into the top 5 for me.

 

[Soli]

Central Scouting with their midterm rankings.


Interested to see how the defense gets ranked over the course of the season. Was hoping playing on a bad team and being an older player in the draft would shave some of Yakemchuk's stock. Dickinson losing ground. I hope Jiricek loses ground into our range. Elick and Mews losing shine but tell me more about the Vancouver Giant's 6'4 RHD Colton Roberts ranked above them. A bit surprised to see Cole Hutson down at 57. Nate Misskey at 66.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Central Scouting with their midterm rankings.


Interested to see how the defense gets ranked over the course of the season. Was hoping playing on a bad team and being an older player in the draft would shave some of Yakemchuk's stock. Dickinson losing ground. I hope Jiricek loses ground into our range. Elick and Mews losing shine but tell me more about the Vancouver Giant's 6'4 RHD Colton Roberts ranked above them. A bit surprised to see Cole Hutson down at 57. Nate Misskey at 66.

Kevin He at 89 is a HUGE mistake. On pace for 35 goals after a bad start to the season. He might even score 40. I know for a fact that a lot of scouts are basing this off of early viewings. He can't slip beyond the 3rd round...

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

SATAN, MIROSLAV

SATAN, MIROSLAV

www.nhl.com

Oilers must draft

 

[Stoneman89]

If Ken continues with his recent history of trading away picks for players to help us, we should be focusing on the 4th round and lower.

 

[Canovin]

It's a shame with McDavid on the Oilers, Edmonton hasn't been a host for the draft,

 

[joestevens29]

SATAN, MIROSLAV

SATAN, MIROSLAV

www.nhl.com

Oilers must draft

Think the Devils are in on him. Messed up never getting the old man

 

[joestevens29]

Another scout said: “If he’s as good as we think he is — geez, I really wish we could be there in the rink to see him live instead of just on video or getting reports from our Russian scouts — he’s going to be a No. 1 defenceman, maybe in the same sort of universe as a Victor Hedman. If he’s not quite what we think he is, with that size and mobility, I still think he’ll be really good top-pairing guy or outstanding 2-3.”
So this is with regards to Silayev, but regardless of who it was I found this very intriguing that there isn't necessarily a lot of Russian scouting going on. Any team with scouts in Russia could hit some jackpots especially if guys start to fall or even later in the draft.

Putting aside the Russian factor and how soon or far of he is to being available for NHL teams— he’s a striking package of size, strength, mobility, offence and defence.

Then of course this comment really makes things interesting as well lol.

Macklin Celebrini the unanimous No. 1 prospect in Bob McKenzie's mid-season draft ranking | TSN

Ten out of 10 NHL team scouts surveyed by TSN have the 17-year-old Boston University freshman centre at No. 1. Almost all of them can’t see anyone other than Celebrini going first overall on June 28.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Slats432]

Since our 1st pick is going to be in the 60s (Hopefully 65), there are three goalies there, Leenders, George and Vinni. For a forward, Marques, Mustard or Koivu.

 

[belair]

Since our 1st pick is going to be in the 60s (Hopefully 65), there are three goalies there, Leenders, George and Vinni. For a forward, Marques, Mustard or Koivu.

Leenders is a goalie that's looked good for a couple of years now. His size is a little worrisome though. I like his backup even better though. Ivanovic is really good and likely goes pretty high next year.

This draft, I'll throw out their teammate Luke Misa as a player I like. Undersized but fast.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Took in Kelowna v Victoria which was a really good game. Two Saskies were involved in the GWG with elite 16 year old Cole Reschny (07) burning Caden Price (who was excellent until he wasn't) with a turnover goal that undressed the defender. Watch for Reschny who is killing his age 16 rookie year good enough to get first line PP minutes and second unit PK. Article here: Meet the 16-year-old standout stepping up big for the Victoria Royals

Was a chance to see Tij Iginila (06) who had a goal albeit a bit of a weak one on a slapper from the slot that dribbled through the Royals tender. Added a cheap knee penalty. Mirror opposite of daddy the kid is a left shot, right wing. Similar game with hard skill. Very animated player directing teammates where to go and be on the ice. Interesting to see that confidence and assertiveness in a draft eligible player. Strong on his skate and a powerful stride. Powerful build. Looks to be as advertised.

Really liked Caden Price (05), Seattle draft pick, a mobile two-way defender who played big minutes and all situations. Switched pretty effortlessly between off-shooting side RD to LD throughout the game. Looks bigger than listed at 6'1" 190.
The NHL scout in front of me was looking at Reggie Newman (05) who had a strong game with 2 G's and a fight. Good heavy game. The fight came after he buried a Kelowna player with a huge hit and a teammate stepped up to fight Newman. Stupid stuff on a great clean hit and then got beaten up by Newman for stepping into it. Newman is not drafted.

Another interesting draft eligible was Hiroki Gojsic (06) who is a big kid with a swooping skating and play style that screamed Euro import but surprisingly is a lower mainland BC kid. 6'3" 198 with strong skating and puck skills but not necessarily a guy that looks to play in traffic though he has 47 PIMS. Looks like he's ranked 94th: https://x.com/TheWHL/status/1752910184752808107?s=20

Always great to get back to a junior game and rink. Miss it!

 

[Fourier]

Saw this thread and it gave me both a sense of nostalgia and a bit of ptsd. How many years did we go through where by late February this thread was perhaps the most important. And I'd be watching all sorts of OHL games to check guys out. Now from the Oilers perspective the main question might be who is the best sleeper with a 5th round pick because there is a legitimate chance that that is the earliest the Oilers may be drafting this year,

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Don’t care. Anyone we pick after we trade our top 3-4 picks this year in a weak draft won’t help us win a cup this year or probably ever.

 

[smokersarejokers]

Saw this thread and it gave me both a sense of nostalgia and a bit of ptsd. How many years did we go through where by late February this thread was perhaps the most important. And I'd be watching all sorts of OHL games to check guys out. Now from the Oilers perspective the main question might be who is the best sleeper with a 5th round pick because there is a legitimate chance that that is the earliest the Oilers may be drafting this year,

Yeah. And then they proceeded to draft big guys who can't skate, BCHL overagers, or goalies with like a 4 GAA.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Haha. Seems funny to contribute to a dormant thread figuring I'd add to it after seeing a game and come back to see waxing nostalgic for the bad old days of Oiler rebuild(s). Draft threads are still a worthwhile time capsule regardless of how the Oilers will finally not have any relevance in.

 

[Fourier]

Haha. Seems funny to contribute to a dormant thread figuring I'd add to it after seeing a game and come back to see waxing nostalgic for the bad old days of Oiler rebuild(s). Draft threads are still a worthwhile time capsule regardless of how the Oilers will finally not have any relevance in.

I actually enjoy the draft talk. It gives me a chance to catch up on top young players since I don't have much tome these days to follow the players. The big change for me is the emotion I place in the discussion.

 

[BarDownBobo]

I’d really like to see the Oil reach into their own back yard and take a flyer on Gavin Hodnett from the Oil Kings with a later pick. He’s top 10 in scoring from under 18 players in the WHL but somehow is getting completely overlooked by scouting services, ranked in the 200s it seems. He’s tiny(5’8”, 160lbs) but his offensive tools are elite.

 

[Soli]

NHL Central Scouting has released their final rankings.

Let's say a blended rankings would have a 3:1 ratio of North American to European skaters. Now cut the top 30 and the top 15 from the NA and Euro lists respectively. Who do you like?

If this is how things fell before our pick in the 2nd round and it was up to me, I like a bunch of RHD in that cluster.