2024 NHL Draft: Top 20 players still remaining after first round

Day 1 of the 2024 NHL Draft was as perfect as it gets.

The hype was real at the Sphere, bringing all the glitz and glamor you’d expect from a city like Vegas. The animations were incredible, the vibes were outstanding, and there was no shortage of exciting moments.

With the first 32 picks done and dusted, here’s a look at 20 of the top prospects still on the board, while showing their ranking from our top 120 draft board:

17. Teddy Stiga, LW (USNTDP)

Stiga brings boundless energy to every shift, buzzing through the ice like his life depends on it. After putting him as a mid-second rounder last time, I feel confident pushing him up because he has been my favorite draft-eligible USNTDPer way too often this year not to. I think he’s a middle-six player in the NHL, but he can play with anyone and in just about any role. That type of versatility makes him very useful, and every team can use him.

22. Igor Chernyshov, LW (Dynamo, KHL)

At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, Chernyshov has good size and isn’t afraid to use it. A typical power forward, Chernyshov played more than half the season in the KHL but was also a stout offensive threat in the MHL. For the most part, I like how he has matured this year. He doesn’t make as many poor decisions with and without the puck as last year and doesn’t seem to struggle under pressure. Chernyshov does a great job of working his tail off without the puck, and he’s not afraid of anything. He just moves all the time, something coaches love to see.

23. Nikita Artamonov, RW (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)

Artamonov became one of my favorite wingers due to his high-end hockey IQ and his ability to get into scoring positions. Artamonov stepped into KHL duty and immediately started producing, which is something very few scouts expected after watching him last year. His energetic motor is noticeable, even if he’s just an average skater at best. He’s not a big kid, but he battles so hard and plays a nice physical game. That dog-on-a-bone mentality, mixed in with his hockey IQ, makes him an exciting option.

26. Aron Kiviharju, LHD (HIFK, Liiga)

After missing most of the season due to an injury, Kiviharju returned in time for the U-18s and had a fine, yet unspectacular tournament. That’s to be expected, given his significant time off, so it’s hard to say if he hurt or helped his stock. Once considered one of the top prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft, he fell even before his injury, but I still think there’s top-pairing potential there. Kiviharju had some bumps in the road a year ago against men, but his upside as a minute-munching, puck-moving defender will still make teams interested.

27. Charlie Elick, RHD (Brandon, WHL)

I really like Elick, although I’m not sure where he’ll end up in the draft. The team that drafts Elick is getting someone with size, physicality and good defensive zone awareness. Offense? Nope, although he’s got better abilities with the puck than some might give him credit for. Elick moves well for a 6-foot-3 defenseman and many WHL players consider him one of the toughest defensemen to beat in 1-on-1 situations. There isn’t high-end upside here, but he’s got the makings of a guy who’ll have a good 10-12 year career being effective in his own zone.

28. Andrew Basha, LW (Medicine Hat, WHL)

Basha had a tremendous year with Medicine Hat, picking up the slack while Lindstrom was injured. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 85 points in 63 games, building upon a campaign that saw him post one of the best goal totals of any Draft-1 players in the CHL last year. He won’t blow you away in the NHL with his skill, but he brings good energy and is strong defensively. Basha’s hockey sense will take him far, and his ability to play a variety of different roles helps, too.

33. Ryder Ritchie, RW (Prince Albert, WHL)

Ritchie loves the puck on his stick, so it only makes sense that he has a great shot release. He can be flashy, but we saw him at the U-18s play a more reserved role while bringing some solid energy and playing a bit more physical than we’re used to. An injury kept him out of play for about two months, really dampening what was just a fine first half of the year. Prince Albert’s best player in the playoffs ended the year strong after putting up some great numbers at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The raw talent is there, but he just has to put it together on a nightly basis if he’s going to be effective in the NHL.

34. Alfons Freij, LHD (Vaxjo, Sweden U-20)

I thought Freij looked really solid at the U-18s where he was easily one of the better defenders. He’s good in so many elements but not exceptional in anything. Freij has the ability to be elusive with the puck and run a power play, but I do see some second-pairing potential while putting up 30ish points a year. With just some refinement, the 6-foot-1 defenseman could really take the next step in his development. His numbers have been great internationally and he’s one of the best offensive defensemen in the Swedish U-20 league.

35. Dominik Badinka, RHD (Malmo, SHL)

There’s a lot to like here about Badinka, who took a chance on himself by leaving home a few years ago to get the best opportunity to shine in Sweden. Badinka has a good 6-foot-3 frame and solid hockey sense, and he doesn’t crumble under pressure. His mobility is solid, he’s elusive and makes things happen with the puck more often than not. If he can add some extra top speed, he’ll be golden because he’s got the own-zone play figured out.

37. Cole Hutson, LHD (USNTDP)

Man, Hutson is fun to watch. He was named top defenseman at the U-18s after leading all blueliners in points, which helped him become the all-time USNTDP scoring leader in his position. He’s defensively flawed, can get too fancy with the puck at the wrong times and isn’t particularly big. But the upside here is still huge. Like his older brother Lane, Cole has tremendous hockey IQ and can elude attackers as well as anyone. I feel like his shot has improved over the past 18 months, mostly in terms of accuracy and overall power, but it’s still a work in progress. I think he’s a good value pick if taken after No. 25.

38. Henry Mews, RHD (Ottawa, OHL)

I love Mews’ offensive abilities, and he put them on full display at the U-18s. Defensively, I feel like he was physical, cut off angles well and did a good job of keeping the puck in the zone in all situations. Mews made some smart decisions with the puck and was the team’s top power-play quarterback, a role I expect him to thrive in once he’s an NHLer. The decision-making with the puck still needs to work, even if I felt it was a bit more refined here.

39. Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD (Vaxjo, Sweden U-20)

LSW is a skilled defenseman who plays at a high pace – but, sometimes, he outpaces himself. The offensive instincts are there, and he’s been able to rip apart opponents at the U-20 level. But you can catch him making unforced errors with the puck that put him in a bad spot. I liked him at the U-18s a bit more than some others but I feel like he still gets caught making dumb mistakes too often. That can be worked on, though.

40. Lucas Pettersson, C (Modo, Sweden U-20)

As a centerman, Pettersson plays a stout two-way game and has really shown more confidence as the season has worn on. The U-18 World Championship was an excellent opportunity for Pettersson to step up for Sweden, helping them win bronze after putting in some great performances in the playoff round. Pettersson can fly around the ice and has gotten better at using that to steal pucks in tight. He’s also a solid penalty killer, too.

41. Linus Eriksson, C (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

I continue to find new ways to like Eriksson’s game the more I watch him. A potential second-round pick, Eriksson is a smart forward who builds his game on speed and offensive awareness. He’s great with the puck, has excellent hockey IQ and can grind shifts out like a bottom-six player. I don’t think he’s got the scoring touch to play a bigger role in the NHL, but I could see him becoming a third-line player who can step up if needed. He’s just so well-rounded.

42. Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD, 19 (JYP, Liiga)

The top overage player in the draft this year, Pulkkinen played around 18 minutes a night with JYP, which isn’t always easy for a 19-year-old. Against U-20 kids, he played more than 25 minutes most nights, including a whopping 31:29 on March 17. Nothing tops his 38:09 in Mestis play back in November, though. Pulkkinen can handle significant pressure well and has the offensive and physical chops to battle older, stronger competition. Don’t be surprised if a team reaches for him late in the first.

43. Tanner Howe, LW (Regina, WHL)

I don’t know what to think here anymore. Howe can clearly produce, with and without Connor Bedard, his most common linemate over the first two years of his junior career. Howe was a high-end scorer again this year, and he loves to compete, but his skating and smaller frame don’t help. Despite that, Howe battles for pucks and has the energy that can make him more valuable if he isn’t cast into a scoring role. Im just not sure he has what it takes to be an all-around player at the next level. There are some raw elements to his game, but nothing that screams a lock to be an NHLer without some refinement and more commitment to 200-foot play.

44. Harrison Brunicke, RHD (Kamloops, WHL)

Brunicke could become the second South African-born player drafted in the first round, although I don’t feel too confident about it given the depth of options right now. I do know there’s a ton of interest from teams looking for a big, right-handed defenseman who can play a bunch of different roles. He’s quite smart with the puck, and I feel like his offensive abilities are better than his numbers suggest. With a 6-foot-3 frame, projectable traits and some budding offensive potential, there’s a lot to like here – and a decent showing at the U-18s doesn’t hurt.

45. Maxim Masse, RW (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)

There aren’t many draft-eligible goal-scorers out of the QMJHL, but the 6-foot-2 winger led Chicoutimi with 36 goals and 75 points. He was a shot generation machine, registering five or more quite often this year. Masse is a good two-way player with good energy. His skating is lacking compared to others this high in the draft, but there’s been an improvement over the past 12 months.

48. John Mustard, C (Waterloo, USHL)

A high-flying skater, Mustard went from playing AAA a year ago to becoming one of the USHL’s best freshmen. He led Waterloo in scoring while being a hard-working, two-way threat who seemed to play better whenever he was granted extra responsibilities out there. Mustard isn’t flashy, but I could see his work ethic allowing him to get the job done in a team’s bottom six. Once projected as a seventh-round pick to start the year, Mustard feels like a sure-fire second-round bet.

49. Julius Miettinen, C (Everett, WHL)

I really, really like Miettinen. The Silvertips star plugged away at a point-per-game pace all season long, his first in North America. He’s big at 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, and he’s not afraid to use his frame any time he can. Miettinen protects well, skates solidly and is difficult to take the puck off of. His season started slowly, but once he got more comfortable in his new environment, he started to really look good.