Celebrini, Helenius highlight NHL Central Scouting’s updated 2024 NHL Draft list

The NHL Central Scouting Service has updated its 2024 NHL Draft list, and, as expected, Macklin Celebrini has topped the list for North American skaters.

The list features 224 skaters and 32 goaltenders based in North America, as well as 135 skaters and 15 goaltenders from Europe for a total of 406 players.

Celebrini leads a North American top five containing Artyom Levshunov, Cayden Lindstrom, Zeev Buium and Trevor Connelly. In net, Owen Sound Attack goaltender Carter George leads the way ahead of Nicholas Kempf, Ryerson Leenders, Mikhail Yegorov, and Dawson Cowan.

Among the international players, Finnish center Konsta Helenius tops the list, with Anton Silayev, Ivan Demidov, Adam Jiricek and Emil Hemming making up the top five. Kim Saarinen is the top international-based goaltender, with Eemil Vinni, Ilya Nabokov, Pavel Moysevich and Veeti Louhivaara rounding out the top of the list.

Some notable overage prospects include Victoria’s Nate Misskey (NA66), Madison’s Austin Burnevik (NA80), JYP’s Jesse Pulkkinen (EU15) and Nabokov, a goaltender with Magnitogorsk (EU3).

Of note, Cole Eiserman – projected by many to go in the top five in 2024 – is ranked eighth. Ivan Demidov, a top Russian prospect, dealt with injuries earlier in the year and sits in third. Demidov ranks just ahead of Jiricek, who is done for the season with a leg injury suffered at the world juniors.

The update comes just days before the USA Hockey All-American Top Prospects Game in Plymouth, Michigan on Jan. 15. The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will take place in Moncton, New Brunswick on Jan. 24. The 2024 NHL Draft will take place from Jan. 28-29 at the Sphere in Vegas. The draft combine will take place a few weeks before in Buffalo, with the date of the draft lottery still to be determined.