McKeen's Hockey Midseason 2024 NHL Draft Rankings

[Brock]

We recently released our mid season draft rankings for 2024.



The video from our new YT channel.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN'S MID-SEASON TOP 32 - Celebrini sits comfortably on top - Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking - Strong defense group defines this draft class

McKeen's Hockey releases its top 32 ranking for the 2024 NHL Draft.

www.mckeenshockey.com

The write up and top 32 free. Top 100 is only for subscribers.

Here's the top 10:

1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06

As always, happy to discuss certain placements or answer any questions.

Click to read more...

 

[Juxtaposer]

Dickinson at 2nd is a bold take. I take it you see him as having true #1D upside?

 

[LeProspector]

Man, Eiserman is sinking hard

 

[Michoulicious]

Finally Dickinson getting some recognition.

 

[Brock]

Dickinson at 2nd is a bold take. I take it you see him as having true #1D upside?

Personally...no, not really. But members of my team? Yes.

I see Dickinson settling into more of a solid #2-3 role similar to guys like Brady Skjej or Darnell Nurse. That has a ton of value, but number 2? I'd have other preferences.

But therein lies the issue. The guys ranked #2-9 are pretty damn interchangeable right now IMO. When we discussed as a team, pretty much everyone had a different preference. So how do we figure out #2? Dickinson was chosen because he's such a safe bet to be an impact defender in some regard. The size, skating ability, and IQ will play. He's going to be a minute eater. The others in that #2-9 range? The risk is greater. In some instances, the reward could also be greater, but mitigating risk is critical.

 

[Brock]

Man, Eiserman is sinking hard

He is, but as I just mentioned, that grouping from 2 to 9 is pretty interchangeable still. We certainly haven't written off Eiserman.

The concern for us is the plateau in development. You never like to see that. Would anyone honestly say that Eiserman is a better player this year compared to last year? Where are those steps forward that show that his game can continue to develop?

I saw an interesting article a few months ago that talked about how players who mature later were finding more success as impact NHL players. Those who plateau early were those "disappointments or busts." That's the concern with Eiserman. You see guys like Lindstrom or Silayev who have immense potential because of their physical tools. You see guys like Helenius, Demidov, etc, who have taken their games to another level this year. Then you have Eiserman.

All that said, I thought he had a very good 5 Nations and a very good All American Top Prospect's Game. He was more engaged in transition. He was way more physical than I've seen him be this year. If he can continue to be that engaged in pursuit and really show more consistency in other components of his game heading into the U18's, it bodes well for him moving back up.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Personally...no, not really. But members of my team? Yes.

I see Dickinson settling into more of a solid #2-3 role similar to guys like Brady Skjej or Darnell Nurse. That has a ton of value, but number 2? I'd have other preferences.

But therein lies the issue. The guys ranked #2-9 are pretty damn interchangeable right now IMO. When we discussed as a team, pretty much everyone had a different preference. So how do we figure out #2? Dickinson was chosen because he's such a safe bet to be an impact defender in some regard. The size, skating ability, and IQ will play. He's going to be a minute eater. The others in that #2-9 range? The risk is greater. In some instances, the reward could also be greater, but mitigating risk is critical.

Makes sense, I feel very similarly. I don’t see true #1D in Dickinson, but like you said I think he’s pretty much a guaranteed top-4 two-way guy who can eat 22+ minutes a game. Like you, I can’t rank him 2nd, but I have a hard time ranking him any lower than 5th.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Great work! I'm starting to see some bolder rankings for Alfons Freij who I see as this year's "Tom Willander" from Sweden. Exceptional skater and all around strong game. (though Willander was more defensive and Freij more offensive...) Also a fan of Herman Traff who was buried in the SHL. 6'3" and skates very well. Don't see the Tarascek first round either as you noted. Not a good skater. I hope you are right about Colton Roberts. I would love the Blues to walk away with him in the 2nd round, but I think he creeps in the 1st. Thank you and always great work.

 

[Mr Bop]

Top 32

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06

 

[samsagat]

Catton at 6 before Helenius?

Personally, I prefer Helenius involvement and motor that never stops.

Catton, on the other hand, is constantly waiting for the play to come at him instead of provoking things.

He's got plenty of skills and offensive IQ, but his overall commitment and desire seem so so.

Helenius is a player that his teammates seem to track on the ice, to pass him the puck.
That's revealing, because the kid is playing with grown ups in one of the better pro league of Europe.

 

[Czechboy]

I'm noticing a trend where Jiricek seems to be a lock for round 1 as he's in 95% of the draft rankings in round 1 between 10 and 25. He's not playing so he seems to be locked in.

Badinka has been a polarizing one for the Czechs... most prefer Galvas but Badkinka seems to be showing up more and more in round 1 predictions. That combo of RHD, playing full time in SHL and big is making him first round riser. So, who knows, maybe 2 Czech D go in round 1. Doubt that has happened in a very long time.

Shame to see Jecho dropping but he seems very unlikely for round 1 lately.

 

[Brock]

Catton at 6 before Helenius?

Personally, I prefer Helenius involvement and motor that never stops.

Catton, on the other hand, is constantly waiting for the play to come at him instead of provoking things.

He's got plenty of skills and offensive IQ, but his overall commitment and desire seem so so.

Helenius is a player that his teammates seem to track on the ice, to pass him the puck.
That's revealing, because the kid is playing with grown ups in one of the better pro league of Europe.

I really like Helenius, but I couldn't disagree more about Berkly Catton. He's extremely tenacious and is a very versatile player because his work rate is excellent. While excelling on the penalty kill is not necessarily a terrific marker of strong two-way play, I do believe that Catton's success as a PK'er this year is a great example of this. He leads the WHL in shorthanded goals and scoring. A lot of that is driven by how competitive he is off the puck.

I'm noticing a trend where Jiricek seems to be a lock for round 1 as he's in 95% of the draft rankings in round 1 between 10 and 25. He's not playing so he seems to be locked in.

Badinka has been a polarizing one for the Czechs... most prefer Galvas but Badkinka seems to be showing up more and more in round 1 predictions. That combo of RHD, playing full time in SHL and big is making him first round riser. So, who knows, maybe 2 Czech D go in round 1. Doubt that has happened in a very long time.

Shame to see Jecho dropping but he seems very unlikely for round 1 lately.

Regarding Jecho, our Western scouts do really like him. It's just that lack of consistency that pushed him JUST outside of our first round. The size and skill package is still extremely alluring.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Dickinson at 2nd is a bold take. I take it you see him as having true #1D upside?

As bold as it is I agree, it’s more understandable than Silayev at 2 like on the bleacher report haha

 

[samsagat]

I really like Helenius, but I couldn't disagree more about Berkly Catton. He's extremely tenacious and is a very versatile player because his work rate is excellent. While excelling on the penalty kill is not necessarily a terrific marker of strong two-way play, I do believe that Catton's success as a PK'er this year is a great example of this. He leads the WHL in shorthanded goals and scoring. A lot of that is driven by how competitive he is off the puck.

Mmm, we don't have the same definition of tenacity then.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't see someone who's really engaged, his body language projects boredom.
He skates full throttle only when he sees an offensive opportunity.

He plays a lot on the perimeter and seems to let the "dirty jobs" of playing along the boards/painful spots to his wingers.

I see "Jonathan Drouin" kind of player here: lots of skills, smarts, but unequal involvement and desire to do what it takes to win.

He'll do what it takes defensively... as long as it doesn't hurt too much...

But, at the end of the day, your appreciation is worth mine.

The answer in a few years.

 

[wetcoast]

Man, Eiserman is sinking hard

I think Dobber had him dropping to the high teens but all it takes is one team on draft day.

 

[MNRube]

As bold as it is I agree, it’s more understandable than Silayev at 2 like on the bleacher report haha

McKenzie interviewed 10 scouts a month ago and half of them had Silayev at #2. He’s legit

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

Obviously no Russian Factor consideration. The calibration is Michkov dropped from 2nd to 7th on pure talent mocks. Demidov may fall further with all the D options and the rumoured 5 year mandatory stay VP wants to impose…

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

McKenzie interviewed 10 scouts a month ago and half of them had Silayev at #2. He’s legit

I know I saw that. No doubt he’s legit. Just sounds like yet another guys draft stock skyrockets because of size. I personally don’t feel he is the all around package as say Dickinson or Lev. I feel we see this every year

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I know I saw that. No doubt he’s legit. Just sounds like yet another guys draft stock skyrockets because of size. I personally don’t feel he is the all around package as say Dickinson or Lev. I feel we see this every year

He's 6'7 and is a good skater. You rarely ever see that kind of profile. Not to mention the offense he did show in the KHL earlier in the year. I have him behind Levshunov and Dickinson, but I can completely understand why scouts love him. Even if the offense doesn't translate, you can turn him into a defensive beast with that size, skating, and reach ability.

 

[kmwtrucks]

Obviously no Russian Factor consideration. The calibration is Michkov dropped from 2nd to 7th on pure talent mocks. Demidov may fall further with all the D options and the rumoured 5 year mandatory stay VP wants to impose…

were did you read the 5 year mandatory stay?

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

He's 6'7 and is a good skater. You rarely ever see that kind of profile. Not to mention the offense he did show in the KHL earlier in the year. I have him behind Levshunov and Dickinson, but I can completely understand why scouts love him. Even if the offense doesn't translate, you can turn him into a defensive beast with that size, skating, and reach ability.

Agreed he will most likely be a nightmare to play against. I just don’t see top three picks go to guys that haven’t dominated their league. I would have seen Slaf in a similar light tbh, but his Olympics and Worlds performances showed me that he was legit.

In the end it’s all opinion, I simply feel top three picks should come with a full package unless the draft is weak. Which this one is not

 

[cheechoo]

McKenzie interviewed 10 scouts a month ago and half of them had Silayev at #2. He’s legit

Link please.

I'd love to know more about him.

 

[TLEH]

Mmm, we don't have the same definition of tenacity then.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't see someone who's really engaged, his body language projects boredom.
He skates full throttle only when he sees an offensive opportunity.

He plays a lot on the perimeter and seems to let the "dirty jobs" of playing along the boards/painful spots to his wingers.

I see "Jonathan Drouin" kind of player here: lots of skills, smarts, but unequal involvement and desire to do what it takes to win.

He'll do what it takes defensively... as long as it doesn't hurt too much...

But, at the end of the day, your appreciation is worth mine.

The answer in a few years.

Couldn't disagree more. He drives the center of the ice. Board battles, is constantly on the right side of the puck. He fought and beat the shit out of Tij Iginla... so not sure he is soft? He is constantly engaged and is a line driver while also committing defensively. He's on a bad team and contributes on over 45% of their goals. I see a guy who is going to play center at the next level.

Only time will tell but I'm just not sure if we are watching the same player?

 

[Peasy]

Link please.

I'd love to know more about him.

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

Five of 10 scouts surveyed by TSN listed Silayev at No. 2 and the lowest ranking he received was a No. 6.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

were did you read the 5 year mandatory stay?

MSN​