2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Gabriel Foley’s Springtime Top 100

Photo courtesy of Garrett James/Langley Events Centre

The U18 World Championship has rolled around, marking the exciting time of season where players wind down and scouts wind up. That’s only amplified this season, with the 2024 NHL Draft boasting one of the heaviest top-15s in recent memory and carrying impactful options through the third round.

I don’t know if it’s the reminiscence of finals season or the excitement of springtime hockey – but the passion to dive deep into as many prospects as I can always shine through this time of year. So in addition to over 14,000 words about my Top 100 below, I also covered my Top 50 American-affiliated prospects recently. Check out both to get more than enough of me blabbing about my favorite names this season. As always, let’s start out with ground rules…

1. First and foremost, these rankings are not indicative of where I think these players will actually land come draft day. These are my rankings of where I think each player deserves to go, based on current talent and future potential.
2. Each player will have a brief scouting report attached to them. If you’d like to know more in-depth thoughts about any player in the class, I encourage you to reach out to me on Twitter (@NHLFoley)!
3. Jump straight to a table of the ranking by clicking here! From there, click on player names to be directed to their analysis!

With that out of the way, let’s dive in…

Gabriel Foley’s Springtime Top 100 2024 NHL Draft Rankings

1. Macklin Celebrini

Position: C, League: H-EAST, Team: Boston University, Date of Birth: 6/13/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 190lbs, Nationality: Canadian

College hockey hasn’t seen a skater as young as Macklin Celebrini in decades. He faced an incredible step moving to the NCAA as early as he did. And, like when he moved to juniors, he not only matched expectations but went as far as winning the league’s MVP award. He orchestrates plays from behind the scene, using incredibly hockey IQ to find the perfect positions to be in to make impacts. He’s incredibly quick with the puck once it comes his way, capable of dancing through a defense to get to the net. And his passing is incredible, with Celebrini showing a fantastic understanding of how to open and exploit even the smallest of windows between defenders. He’s a special playmaker, with a mind that’s simply next level. And his readiness for pros is through the roof – I mean, he’s Steve Nash’s godson after all. I fully expect Celebrini to have a smash season in the NHL next year – rivaling the Calder by racking up the assists.

2. Ivan Demidov

Position: RW, League: RUSSIA-JR., Team: Ska St. Petersburg Jr., Date of Birth: 12/10/2005, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 181lbs, Nationality: Russian

Ivan Demidov is as good of a #2 as a class can have. He’s an incredibly aggressive attacker, with great heft and lateral agility making him a formidable forechecker. And he’s simply dazzling on the puck, capable of driving the puck 200-feet or working in tight space in the corners without losing any finesse. He sacrifices defiant breakaway speed for good heft and puck protection abilities. Demidov creates space and fights for lanes as well as anyone in this class – even if his league competition isn’t nearly as strong as some.

3. Konsta Helenius

Position: C, League: FINLAND, Team: Jukurit, Date of Birth: 5/11/2006, Height: 5′ 10.75, Weight: 180lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Konsta Helenius rounds out a top-three that hasn’t changed all season. I can’t help but get excited over this kid – he is as tireless of a worker as you can find, capable of playing faster, stronger, and harder than anyone on the ice. He processes play instantly and has the next-level skating and puck-control needed to make things happen quick. There was a sense earlier in the year that Helenius would fall maybe even past 15. I think that’s healed up since, and rightfully so – Helenius is pro-ready and seems to offer everything a team could want from their top-end supporting cast.

4. Zeev Buium

Position: D, League: NCHC, Team: Denver, Date of Birth: 12/7/2005, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: American

Zeev Buium proved what type of defender he could be this season, taking college by the horns and dominating minutes at the ‘defense U’ that is Denver University. He was really special this season, showing a keen understanding of how to make plays in the danger areas around the blue-lines, and working wonders to create space when walking the blue. There are few players, across the board, who understand how to both create and utilize space quite like Buium, and that’s the skill that’s thriving in the NHL right now. And he’s plenty good on the defensive side as well, showing off great reach and understanding of how to keep opponents outside. With how fast, calculated, and effective his offense was this season, it’s hard to think Buium is still just 18 – and of just how big his NHL impact could end up being.

5. Trevor Connelly

Position: LW, League: USHL, Team: Tri-City, Date of Birth: 2/28/2006, Height: 6′ 0.25, Weight: 156lbs, Nationality: American

Trevor Connelly is a fascinating player on the ice. He’s almost fidgety off of the puck, constantly adjusting his positioning and assessing what’s going on around him. And he always knows what he’s going to do next – always prepared to make a play. That’s a hard, hard skill to teach, and it’s one that’s pivotal to succeeding when the margin for error disappears at the pro level. And Connelly is a dang powerhouse on the puck, driving downhill with solid power-skating and good heft, making him intimidating to engage physically. He has been a backbone of the Tri-City Storm since joining, and showed a really unique ability to prolong play and create space this season. He’ll be a special player if he can maintain that confident playmaking and puckhandling into the next levels.

6. Sam Dickinson

Position: D, League: OHL, Team: London, Date of Birth: 6/7/2006, Height: 6′ 2.5, Weight: 199lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Sam Dickinson is a classic style of defender – with a beefy frame, heavy skating, and hard long-range passing. He has all of the vision and playmaking instinct to go with that style, excelling at shutting down opponents, settling possession, and sparking movement back up the ice. His sense of space in the offensive zone is strong as well, giving Dickinson plenty of room to unleash what is a booming slapshot. I have an ever so slight concern that keeping up with opponents in the defensive zone could be a challenge for Dickinson in pros, but he’s proven plenty athletic and even just a bit more agility would go a long way. Otherwise, he’s a heavy, downhill defenseman that’s built for a long pro career.

7. Artyom Levshunov

Position: D, League: BIG10, Team: Michigan State, Date of Birth: 10/28/2005, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 208lbs, Nationality: Belarusian

I think Artyom Levshunov presents a very interesting lesson for public scouts. Because, listen –  is he a player I’m gonna trade for in NHL 25 or something? No, he’s not my type. And while it can be easy to dock him for not being my ideal here or there, I simply can’t deny that he is absolutely a pro defenseman. The adaptability he showed in his quick shift to a major role at Michigan State – and the sheer rate of his development since moving to America just last season – are just too impressive. Levshunov is a rangy, high-tempo defender with good aggression through the neutral zone and the ability to command play. That’ll be enough to earn him a start in pros. The sky is the limit from there. 

8. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

Position: C, League: SWEDEN-2, Team: Mora, Date of Birth: 10/5/2005, Height: 6’1, Weight: 198lbs, Nationality: Norwegian

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is a ferocious attacker. He drives hard into the offensive zone on the forecheck, showing an impressive ability to make plays in stride and attacking sticks (an important focus!!). He’s just as dazzling when carrying the puck into the zone, using fantastic stickhandling and scanning to move into space and create strong chances. There are areas for Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to improve, but the impact he leaves is incredibly mature. The sky would be his limit in the right role, though he’s a smart enough, and well-rounded enough, player to  make a mark in any assignment. My sense is that Brandsegg-Nygård is a genuine candidate to fall on draft day, He could(is) change(-ing) that with a dominant international tour. That’s gonna make for an exciting draft day steal, especially since I’d hear out arguments for ranking Brandsegg-Nygård even higher than this!

9. Tij Iginla

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Kelowna, Date of Birth: 8/4/2006, Height: 5′ 11.75, Weight: 182lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Tij Iginla has found exactly what works for him this season. He’s significantly improved his leash, not running out of position nearly enough and staying much more focused on the puck than he was in his first juniors season. That added poise has made Iginla much more effective when he does push out of spot. He’s on the puck more this year and it is a blessing, because Iginla is a joy to watch when he’s making plays. He has a sixth-sense for what options are available, finding ways to exploit defenders and open lanes from any spot. He’s a dangerous scoring threat any time he nears the slot, and while I want to see quicker decision-making on the perimeter, it’s hard to ask for much more from Iginla’s offense. He is going to be a great NHL player for a long time – and he’s worth taking at most spots in the top 10.

10. Cayden Lindstrom

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Medicine Hat, Date of Birth: 2/3/2006, Height: 6′ 3.25, Weight: 210lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Cayden Lindstrom is flashy on the puck. Pressure is no thing to him in the offensive zone. He can make plays in the tightest of windows and has a killer snapshot that’s dangerous in any spot in the offensive end. I mean, he could score from the goal-line. Lindstrom doesn’t lack one bit of finesse, but he does lack a bit of poise and consistent engagement. It’s nothing worse than what you’d expect from a player this age, but it’s worth mentioning in a top 10 rife with talent so far beyond its years. I’m not concerned at all by his injuries, and think he’s bound for an incredible WHL season next year.

11. Cole Eiserman

Position: LW, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 8/29/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 195lbs, Nationality: American

At the end of the day, ‘rankings’ are just one of many tools scouts/teams can use. And just like any other tool, they don’t work in every situation. Cole Eiserman is somewhere where rankings don’t matter much. Ultimately, the team to take Eiserman will be prepared to take Eiserman, in the same way that the team to take Matvei Michkov had to be ready to take Michkov. Both players faced a lot of swirling questions around their draft, and could or couldn’t be absolutely generational for their own reasons. So while I rank Eiserman at 11, it’s more for the sake of featuring the players above him than it is a slight against. Ultimately, this is a situation where I’d need to have in-depth conversations with my GM, and the family, to assess fit and lay out an action plan for a player that is (and always has been) historically-talented.

12. Michael Hage

Position: C, League: USHL, Team: Chicago, Date of Birth: 4/14/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 187lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Michael Hage has improved significantly at smoothly flowing from off-puck to on-puck this season. He’s mcuh more aware of how to flow into passing lanes and create momentum behind his rushes. It’s a fantastic layer behind Hage’s incredibly skilled style. His puck-control is fantastic, controlling it on a string in all shooting and passing. He is a bit behind in development – as you’d expect after the turbulence he’s had to endure in juniors – but Hage’s eye for the game is special. He sees, and attacks, even the smallest of lanes, and consistently makes it work. I’d be confident that he’ll only continue seeing the game different at the next levels.

13. Berkly Catton

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Spokane, Date of Birth: 1/14/2006, Height: 5′ 10.0, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Berkly Catton is, to some, the second-best player in this class. And I totally see why – his ability to play the puck into space is next-level. He works around opponents beautifully and doesn’t miss when he gets a scoring chance. It’s certainly impressive, but I’ll admit I just haven’t seen it with him yet. I’ve found myself hoping to see more tempo or energy, especially off of the puck. He may not need those layers at this level, but they’ll have to come at the next steps. Now, Catton could – and I’m sure will – add those beautifully. But I don’t want to be disingenuous – I’ll leave the hyping to the scouts bearish enough to give this STAR scorer the love he deserves!

14. Zayne Parekh

Position: D, League: OHL, Team: Saginaw, Date of Birth: 2/15/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 179lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Zayne Parekh is a special, special player on the puck. Everything about his puck-control, edgework, ability to create chances, ability to finish chances… it’s all fantastic. And he could find stardom on that alone. This really is a great draft, isn’t it? But I find Parekh’s off-puck a bit too disengaged. He loses a lot of sharpness when he’s defending one-on-one and doesn’t force turnovers as consistently as I’d hope for. He has a lot of maturing and discipline to add to his game, and I hope his elite puck-skills persist through the growth. If they do, he could be a very, very exciting pro.

15. Carter Yakemchuk

Position: D, League: WHL, Team: Calgary, Date of Birth: 9/29/2005, Height: 6′ 2.75, Weight: 201lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Carter Yakemchuk is both always on the puck, and very hard to knock off the puck. He’s burly, with a strong and gritty frame that lets him push through hits and drive play with plenty of pace. And while his defensive awareness certainly needs some boosting, he quick to engage physically and usually wins his battles. His ability to fight for the puck and quickly turned up ice has commanded an offense in the WHL. I’m not sure it’ll stay as sharp in the pros, but Yakemchuk’s gritty edge and strong play-driving could be very translatable.

16. Igor Chernyshov

Position: LW, League: RUSSIA, Team: Dynamo Moscow, Date of Birth: 11/30/2005, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 192lbs, Nationality: Russian

Igor Chernyshov is a generally reserved forward, who sits behind play and waits for his chances to strike. He’s extremely effective when he does, with a strong first-step and good speed, though he could improve at attacking opponents’ sticks and consistently winning the puck. Either way,  Chernyshov is fantastic when the puck does end up in his team’s possession, showing a great understanding of systems and how to become an option without straying out of position. Chernyshov’s reserve can make him a bit anticlimactic at times, and he will have to learn to play further up the ice at the next level. But he’s said he’ll come to North America right away – and I expect he’ll develop very well against an AHL backdrop.

17. Liam Greentree

Position: RW, League: OHL, Team: Windsor, Date of Birth: 1/1/2006, Height: 6′ 2.25, Weight: 207lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Liam Greentree is a fantastic example of how to make an impact in the neutral zone. He moves through space and defends the puck well, fighting around defenders and connecting with teammates to make zone entries easy. He drives into the offensive zone with strength and knows how to fight off contact to get the puck into the slot – though attacking the middle of the ice more directly is an area he could improve. Regardless, Greentree plays a mature style that lends itself to a consistent impact on working the puck up the ice. He might not be the flashiest prospect, but he looks as translatable as they come.

18. Anton Silayev

Position: D, League: RUSSIA, Team: Nizhny Novgorod, Date of Birth: 4/11/2006, Height: 6′ 7.0, Weight: 211lbs, Nationality: Russian

Anton Silayev has had a hot-and-cold season, showing flahses of looking lab-grown – a 6’7 defenseman with smooth agility, fantastic puckhandling, a great drive up the ice, and engagement in scoring chances. Those have been juxtaposed by long dry-spells, where Silayev has looked much more reserved and slow-to-react. Now, Torpedo’s season as a whole was inconsistent, and Silayev isn’t the only draft-eligible in the KHL to have an up-and-down year. That caveat could be enough to convince an NHL team they could bring the best out of what is a unicorn skillset – but my confident is elsewhere right now.

19. Eric Bürger

Position: D, League: SWEDEN, Team: Orebro Jr., Date of Birth: 38715, Height: 6’0, Weight: 181lbs, Nationality: Swedish

I really like Eric Bürger. He certainly needs some reigning in (really, he just never stops moving) but he’s so quick and smooth, and knows how to direct play based on his positioning. I’ve also really enjoyed how he’s improved his on-puck ability this season, going from tepidly handling the breakout to showing real poise under pressure and a strong ability to quickly assess all of his options. While his strengths might not shine through the scoresheet, he’s a really effective two-way defender that knows how to create plays for his team and take them away for his opponents. And I think his slick playmaking could really benefit in North American play. There might be a long road ahead for Burger, but I’m confident it’s one that will end in him playing impactful NHL minutes.

20. Sacha Boisvert

Position: C, League: USHL, Team: Muskegon, Date of Birth: 3/17/2006, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 176lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Sacha Boisvert is a player with thorns. He’s got plenty of grit and strength in his hefty frame and uses it to blaze paths to the net. He’s hard to stop, and even when teams manage to slow him down, Boisvert has a hard and accurate shot that’s always dangerous. He will need to add a good deal of direction and focus as he approaches the next levels, which could leave some scouts bearish. But Boisvert’s spiky frame and powerful skating make me think he’s bound for pro games in some capacity. That floor has me buying early.

21. Daniil Ustinkov

Position: D, League: SWISS, Team: Zurich, Date of Birth: 8/26/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 198lbs, Nationality: Swiss

I love Daniil Ustinkov. He is a feisty defender who uses a strong understanding of how to play the dots to force opponents wide and close out play on the boards. He engages physically and reacts quickly when the puck turns over, with the puck-control needed to drive play up the ice and a strong vision for passing lanes. And most excitingly, Ustinkov is aggressive. He doesn’t hesitate to jump into the rush, drive into the zone, and use nifty moves to take advantage of chances. He will need to become much more consistent with his high-tempo impact – and we saw at the World Juniors what happens when he’s off his game. But Ustinkov is one of the youngest players in this draft, playing hard hockey in Switzerland – the poise will come.

22. Matvei Gridin

Position: RW, League: USHL, Team: Muskegon, Date of Birth: 3/1/2006, Height: 6′ 1.25, Weight: 182lbs, Nationality: Russian

I think people undercut just how much Matvei Gridin has grown this year. He’s become significantly more dynamic off the wings and added a lot more pace. Gridin is actively searching out play now, after trying to force things (or simply not engage) earlier in the year. He’s taking time to create space on the boards, opening lanes before cutting to the middle. He is even working with his defenders more in the offensive end. It has been substantial growth, and turned Gridin into one of the USHL’s dangerous players after a modest start last year. I always support drafting players with wind behind their sails, especially when they’re a dynamic winger headed to Michigan.

23. Lucas Pettersson

Position: C, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Modo Jr., Date of Birth: 4/17/2006, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 168lbs, Nationality: Swedish

I’ve been surprised to not see many others high on Lucas Pettersson. I’ve been consistently encouraged by his playmaking, with Pettersson always fighting to find open space and become an option for teammates. He coordinates play well on the puck, earning plenty of time to make decisions with strong puck-protection and stickhandling and making clean and crisp passes. He could benefit from a bit more drive to the net, but Pettersson shows an understanding of space and play-creating that’s mature beyond his years. There might be some growing pains along the way, but Pettersson’s ability to boost up his teammates should only grow as he enters North American pros.

24. Hagen Burrows

Position: RW, League: HIGH-MN, Team: Minnetonka, Date of Birth: 10/13/2005, Height: 6′ 1.5, Weight: 174lbs, Nationality: American

Hagen Burrows has dominated at every level he’s played at this year. He was the big surprise of the early USHL season, returned to high school where he picked up the Mr Hockey award while leading Minnetonka to their class finals, and then picked up where he left out with a smash return to Sioux City. He’s a powerful skater who excels at creating space off the boards and driving into the slot. His puck-control and shot make him dangerous in open ice and lift up a real knack for moving the puck between lanes. Burrows certainly needs more time against top competition before he’ll be fully projectable. But his powerful, high-tempo style and keen awareness of space give him a very high ceiling.

25. Justin Poirier

Position: RW, League: QMJHL, Team: Baie-Comeau, Date of Birth: 9/4/2006, Height: 5′ 7.25, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: Canadian

I hesitated for a bit midseason about Justin Poirier. He had slowed down a bit and I was nervous his dynamic playmaking wasn’t as legit as I had thought. But he’s completely relieved my worries in the postseason, showing every ounce of the creative, shifty drive that makes him so effective. Poirier knows how to cut between lanes and find his way to the net, or score off high-tempo entries. His hands are lightning fast and combine with impressive ability to see plays through traffic to make Poirier great offensively. His play-driving is surprisingly strong, but Poirier’s off-puck play on the wrong-side of the neutral-zone is certainly uninspiring. Still, while he might need some support along the way, I’m sure Poirier’s knack for offense will earn him a strong role eventually.

26. Beckett Sennecke

Position: RW, League: OHL, Team: Oshawa, Date of Birth: 1/28/2006, Height: 6′ 2.25, Weight: 177lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Beckett Sennecke has been able to solve any issue this season,  finding a way to outwork his opponents wherever he might not be able to out-skill them. He’s a reliable winger who sees and addresses problems or holes quickly in all three zones. And his puckhandling has only gotten better as he’s become more confident, with a lot of Sennecke’s improvements this year coming in the neutral zone. While no aspect of his game excites me more than the rest, Sennecke’s well-rounded skill and ability to fill so many holes should earn him meaningful pro minutes some day.

27. Maxim Massé

Position: RW, League: QMJHL, Team: Chicoutimi, Date of Birth: 4/7/2006, Height: 6′ 1.75, Weight: 186lbs, Nationality: Canadian

It has been an up-and-down year with Maxim Massé. He’s a hefty forward who can fight for space on the goal-line or operate in Ovi’s office, with a powerful shot and hard passing. But there have been times where his tempo looks like it may not translate to the next stages. That’s a serious issue, because when Massé isn’t moving downhill, he can be awfully slow. He’s an exciting, powerful prospect worth taking high, but he’ll need to make sure he gets a better handle on his pace and drive more in the next steps.

28. Stian Solberg

Position: D, League: NORWAY, Team: Valerenga, Date of Birth: 12/29/2005, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 194lbs, Nationality: Norwegian

Stian Solberg has worked tirelessly this season. He’s filled every role he’s needed to on defense – from slick puck-mover, to stout defender with a long reach, to heavy-hitter. – and he’s served them each incredibly well. But his array of tasks this season makes it hard to see what style really works best for Solberg. That makes him hard to project, even if he’s already shown he can thrive in hard pro leagues. He’s getting a much-needed move to Sweden next season, which will go a long way in helping scouts see his full potential. Friends in Europe are saying it could be quite high – and while I don’t know just how excited I am about him, his ability to fill so many spots, and play upwards of 30-minutes a night, makes him an undeniably-valuable option.

29. Emil Hemming

Position: RW, League: FINLAND, Team: Tps, Date of Birth: 6/27/2006, Height: 6′ 0.75, Weight: 201lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Emil Hemming is a heavy-framed, effective systems player with a powerful drive off of the puck. And while his puck-carrying and play-driving have always left me wanting a bit more, Hemming’s ability to use quick passes and smart skating to work with his teammates has only improved as the year has gone on. He’s figuring out more-and-more how to find space and become an option for his teammates. That understanding, combined with strong hockey IQ, should make Hemming worth a pro deal after a couple of years of developing.

30. Terik Parascak

Position: RW, League: WHL, Team: Prince George, Date of Birth: 5/28/2006, Height: 5′ 11.5, Weight: 173lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Terik Parascak has developed a good deal of flashy, sharp stickhandling this season that’s let him dance around opponents and attack the slot much more consistently. He’s done well with it, showing fantastic finish in-tight and the ability to work well off teammates low in the zone. It’s been impressive to see, though a lot of Parascak’s attacks have come from the same boards-and-in approach. He’ll need to build out his creativity in attacking as he approaches tougher levels, though nothing about his skillset suggests he isn’t talented enough to take that on.

31. Ryder Ritchie

Position: RW, League: WHL, Team: Prince Albert, Date of Birth: 8/3/2006, Height: 5′ 11.75, Weight: 175lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Ryder Ritchie has a great energy for pursuing opponents and forcing turnovers. He’s incredibly persistent and makes up for a lackluster top speed with great lateral agility and a consistent motor. He’s plenty strong on the puck, making quick plays and showing off plenty good stickhandling. But I find that Ritchie never strives to make himself the main piece of plays – which he really could afford to do. He should be an effective player in his current, more supportive style – but there’s an exciting future if Ritchie finds a way to add another layer of tempo and independent play-driving to his game.

32. EJ Emery

Position: D, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 3/30/2006, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: American

E.J. Emery is a smart, smart defender with a great skating posture and eye for passing lanes. He works beautifully with his teammates in moving the puck up the ice and holds the blue-line well in the offensive end. And then there’s Emery’s defense – the point everyone is raving about. He keeps a long, active reach and knows how to divide-and-conquer opponents, so to speak. But man… there are times where Emery’s decisions can look a bit silly. It almost looks like he’s uncomfortable with them too, pulling out of position unnecessarily or forcing passes a bit too much. I imagine a pro team will be able to pull that bad habit out of him, and his stout defense and ability to play a fast game should earn him great chance from there.

33. Andrew Basha

Position: LW, League: WHL, Team: Medicine Hat, Date of Birth: 11/8/2005, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 174lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Andrew Basha is as smart as they come. He reads opponents with ease and reacts quickly, forcing puck battles and often winning the puck back for his team. That’s been a fantastic compliment for the puck-savvy Lindstrom, and Basha showed an added layer of playmaking during Lindstrom’s absences. But pros will be a big step in physicality, and I worry Basha could struggle to maintain his hard-nosed forecheck through the transition. He needs to let go off a bit of his north-south drive, and add some east-to-west playmaking, before I can get too excited about his projectability.

34. Aatos Koivu

Position: C, League: FINLAND-JR., Team: Tps Jr., Date of Birth: 6/22/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Aatos Koivu deserves much more attention if you ask me. He’s a shifty playmaker with a great ability to read opponents’ plays as they’re developing. He reacts quickly in picking off passes and sets up plays quickly when he regains possession. There’s a layer of confidence to Koivu’s game that goes a long way. He never looks concerned under pressure and he knows how to find ways to make an impact in all three zones. He’s certainly still young, and will need a good layer of polish before he’s 100% effective, but Koivu’s ability to find consistent ways to be effective, and orchestrate his teammates offensively, seems very promising.

35. Noel Fransén

Position: D, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Farjestad Jr., Date of Birth: 12/7/2005, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Noel Fransén is an exciting defender who pushes his positioning to challenge opponents with a long reach, quick skating, and a strong sense of attacking angles. That mindset left him a bit susceptible earlier in the year, but he’s improved substantially at basing his attacks on strong starting positions and not overcommitting, making him much more controlled in all three zones. He now needs to refine that poise, and find ways to capitalize on more of his chances. Fransén’s aggression is mature and reeled in – he should only go up from here.

36. Yegor Surin

Position: C, League: RUSSIA-JR., Team: Yaroslavl Jr., Date of Birth: 8/1/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 192lbs, Nationality: Russian

Yegor Surin is a high, high energy forward who excels when his team is playing at full pace – but benefited a lot from opponents not being able to match that pace. He creates plays in the danger areas around the blue and knows how to attack off the boards, but struggles to put himself on the puck or always work cohesively in the passing game. I really like his forechecking, and think he’s just too effective in high tempo environments to doubt. But there’s no denying that his lack of ability to maintain that effectiveness at slower speeds is concerning.

37. Marek Vanacker

Position: LW, League: OHL, Team: Brantford, Date of Birth: 4/12/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 174lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Marek Vanacker boasts some of the best raw-talent in this class. He is dazzling on the puck, excelling at attacking defenders head on and finding ways around them. He drives the net hard and doesn’t lose any puck-control in tight, capable of finding how to create chances from seemingly anywhere. And he has plenty of perks off-puck as well, with great grit and strength making him hard to go into a board-battle with. But Vanacker can really struggle to find ways to get engaged off the puck. He doesn’t transition from off-puck to on-puck smoothly, meaning Vanacker always needs an extra second to get up to speed in any quick movement up the ice. He’s incredibly talented, in a way that very much looks translatable to the pro levels. But he’ll need to add much more maturity and poise to his play in the defensive end if he wants to use his flash at the top stage.

38. Nikita Artamonov

Position: LW, League: RUSSIA, Team: Nizhny Novgorod, Date of Birth: 11/17/2005, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 187lbs, Nationality: Russian

Nikita Artamonov is another KHL draftee to struggle with consistency this year. He was hot-and-cold, showing a flashy ability to blend with his teammates on zone entries and excelling at finding openings off the wing. He was constantly moving and thrived in tempo. But his cold spells were marked by incredibly disengaged play, where Artamonov struggled to get on the puck or fit cohesively with play moving up the ice. When he’s at his best, he’s maybe a Top 15 player in this class on skill and projectability. But when he’s cold, he’s susceptible to long scoring droughts. Maybe I just have cold feet, but I’m steering away from my extremely bullish rankings from earlier this year.

39. Jesse Pulkkinen

Position: D, League: FINLAND, Team: Jyp, Date of Birth: 12/27/2004, Height: 6′ 5.0, Weight: 214lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Jesse Pulkkinen has built out a very mature and professional style. He’s hefty and patrols the middle of the ice well. And he’s become plenty effective on the puck, capable of carrying out of his own zone and finding creating time and space with his passes in the offensive end. There are, without a doubt, pro games in Pulkkinen – but I have my concerns about his decision-making and reactions when he decides to step up on opponents. It makes me think that he could have a limited upside, even if his impact feel surefire.

40. Matvei Korotky

Position: C, League: RUSSIA, Team: SKA St. Petersburg Jr., Date of Birth: 38709, Height: 6’2, Weight: 190lbs, Nationality: Russian

Matvei Korotky is the name I’m not seeing anywhere that I can’t get enough of. Seriously, watch this kid! He has exciting poise in the offensive end, capable of filling any role on the forecheck and showing great poise in offensive setups, never forcing plays and showing a keen understanding of how to gain space. And while his skating can be a bit lanky, he’s quick and agile enough to stick with, or beat, opponents in all three zones. He’ll need to refine his game quite a lot to be impactful in North American pros, but I am confident there is the foundation of a strong middle-six forward here.

41. Keith McInnis

Position: D, League: BCHL, Team: Brooks, Date of Birth: 1/8/2006, Height: 6′ 1.25, Weight: 192lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Keith McInnis fell into a very defense-focused role in the USHL over the last two seasons. He served in it well enough, using a long reach and boxy-frame to challenge opponents at the blue. But he always seemed to have a spark missing. So, McInnis bet on himself this year, moving to the AJHL/BCHL and embracing much more of an offensive role. And I think he’s transitioned beautifully. He hasn’t lost an ounce of the defensive reliability that Waterloo loved, but is now much more confident at carrying the puck out of the zone and connecting with his teammates. While his playmaking isn’t always dazzling, it’s encouraging to see the energy that he’s able to bring to the offensive rush. His ceiling might not be sky-high, but McInnis could carve out a real nice role if he continues adding offensive awareness to his behind-the-blue style.

42. Linus Eriksson

Position: C, League: SWEDEN-2, Team: Djurgarden, Date of Birth: 3/23/2006, Height: 5′ 11.75, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Linus Eriksson is a shifty forward with a great understanding of how to play a full 200-feet – engaging physically to force turnovers in the defensive zone and quickly turning up ice to join the rush after a successful breakout. He’s strong on the puck, capable of beating defenders and opening space in the offensive end, though his attacking can get a bit tunnel-visioned, leaving Eriksson without many options when things fall apart. His style is projectable and can leave a mark in all three zones. That should earn him plenty of time to round out his weaknesses.

43. Charlie Elick

Position: D, League: WHL, Team: Brandon, Date of Birth: 1/17/2006, Height: 6′ 3.25, Weight: 194lbs, Nationality: Canadian

I have always felt like Charlie Elick was a bit too reserved. He’s strong on the puck,  makes the right plays with the puck, and knows how to square up opponents before they’re even out of the defensive zone, helping him shut down transition or throw open-ice hits. He’s not overwhelmingly great, but he’s strong enough in all three zones and brings the same impact every shift. He’d be a relief to coach, because you know exactly what you’re getting in his quiet and consistent impact. I do wonder if there’s another gear in Elick’s future too. He seems far too reserved for his skill level as it stands – he could find a new and better style as he adjusts to pro pace.

44. John Mustard

Position: C, League: USHL, Team: Waterloo, Date of Birth: 8/16/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 180lbs, Nationality: Canadian

John Mustard is an absolute workhorse. He never stops moving, showing great power on the forecheck and the speed to make plays as soon as pucks are turned over. It’s strong power-skating that makes him so quick, with Mustard boasting sharp edgework and comfortable hips. He has strong vision and knows how to create plays from the perimeter, or fight for space in the slot, though there are times where he can turn off for some shifts, entirely halting Mustard’s groove. He absolutely has the work ethic – now he’ll need to learn how to find the best play instead of the first play.

45. Topias Hynninen

Position: C, League: FINLAND, Team: Jukurit, Date of Birth: 12/19/2005, Height: 5′ 10.0, Weight: 164lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Topias Hynninen plays a mature style in the middle lane, controlling high-slot-to-high-slot well and using quick passes to work with his wingers up the ice.  He doesn’t have the quickest of reactions, but makes up for it by never straying far from play, and always being ready for the puck to come his way. Hynninen can struggle to see his next step at times, and could benefit from adding more assurance to his play-driving. If he can become more confident fighting to be on the puck, Hynninen has the style and the skill to carve out a day-to-day role.

46. Alfons Freij

Position: D, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Vaxjo Jr., Date of Birth: 2/12/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 187lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Alfons Freij is a lightning bolt. He is such a dynamic skater, with the fantastic puck-handling to match. And he uses those traits very well when attacking opponents head-on, using head fakes and nifty puck-plays to beat defenders and absolutely excelling at creating space. But it seems his skill works best moving north-to-south, and I question whether it’ll stay when he’s having to walk the blue or attacking across the neutral zone. It’s all a part of maturing for players in this style, and Freij undeniably has the skill to be something fantastic. But his lack of physical engagement and need for growth have me picking elsewhere first.

47. Melvin Fernstrom

Position: RW, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Orebro Jr., Date of Birth: 2/28/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: Swedish

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Melvin Fernstrom. He is fantastic on the puck, with smooth and length skating, very controlled stickhandling, and the instincts to punch-stop and change play quickly if things don’t seem to be working. He’s a nifty enough player to create plenty of space, even if he doesn’t always intend to make as much room as he does. And his shot is strong enough to beat most goalies one-on-one. But Fernstrom’s smarts run out a bit when he’s off of the puck, and it can take teammates setting him up to really get him going again. He’ll need to learn how to get himself involved with play much more as he moves forward, although his on-puck talents really do impress me.

48. Kamil Bednarik

Position: C, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 5/26/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: American

Kamil Bednarik has filled the role of the NTDP’s yearly high, high-tempo multitool. He is fantastic on the forecheck and makes plays out of the corners quickly. Really, his passing as a whole is strong – with Bednarik looking plenty encouraging making plays off the boards as well. It’s Bednarik’s slot play that makes me hesitant. He has strong puckhandling and knows how to body-up defenders, but he’s not a cerebral playmaker in-tight and can struggle to finish the high-tempo chances that he creates. I personally love Bednarik – I’ve been high on him all year – but I think his impact is much more Ike Howard than Oliver Moore.

49. Gabriel Eliasson

Position: D, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Hv71 Jr., Date of Birth: 9/9/2006, Height: 6′ 6.25, Weight: 192lbs, Nationality: Swedish

I’m a big fan of Gabriel Eliasson, and not just because he has the best name you can get. Eliasson offers a ton of speed, mobility and shiftiness in his big frame,  helping him match pace and keep attackers from burning him. He’s smooth in picking up the puck and generally reliable in driving it down the ice, though he’s a bit slow to move laterally with the puck and can struggle to read all of his passing options. Eliasson is certainly unrefined – but his mobility, frame, and ability to support the rush are very enticing.

50. Sam O’Reilly

Position: RW, League: OHL, Team: London, Date of Birth: 3/30/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 178lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Sam O’Reilly is fast, stops on the puck, and has a strong understanding of fundamentals that make him effective in all three zones. His on-puck isn’t overly inspiring, but he’s able to coordinate rushes with his linemates and find his way into open space consistently – even if he could improve at taking advantage of chances he’s given. It’s always hard for very well-rounded players to bring all of their skills up to the next levels with them, and I think O’Reilly will need some polishing before he can do that, but his impact is reliable and consistent on offense and defense, with the nifty passing and hockey IQ needed to put up points. He projects as a player who can serve a reliable, quaint role and eat up penalty kill minutes.

51. Jett Luchanko

Position: C, League: OHL, Team: Guelph, Date of Birth: 8/21/2006, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 180lbs, Nationality: Canadian

There is a lot of praise for Jett Luchanko. And I see it – he’s an effective winger who’s constantly fighting to stay open for teammates, and doesn’t falter when the puck is on his stick. There’s no denying that Luchanko is effective. But, to me, he’s lacking a finesse that keeps him game very individualized, even when he’s working off his teammates. Luchanko isn’t always the one driving plays, even if he’s a great supporting cast. I would also like to see him more engaged physically, because he’s hard to project without some kind of bite to his game. Luchanko is plenty effective, always open to teammates and ready to make a play, but I’d like to see him take his skills to the play more often.

52. Miguel Marques

Position: RW, League: WHL, Team: Lethbridge, Date of Birth: 3/8/2006, Height: 5′ 10.5, Weight: 173lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Miguel Marques is ferocious, with a frame that seems much bigger than it is and an energy that overwhelms opponents. He’s hard on the puck and willing to get gritty in corner battles if it means he comes out with possession. It’s exciting to see a player in Marques’ frame fighting for his space. That, combined with strong power-skating, quick feet, and cerebral decision-making on the puck, make Marques dangerous in any applications on the attacking side of the red. But he can slow down a bit on the other end, losing some of his direction when attacking opponents. He’ll need to set his game back a bit more, and become more of a threat in the neutral zone, if he wants to continue his aggressive, high-energy style into the next steps.

53. Teddy Stiga

Position: C, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 4/5/2006, Height: 5′ 9.75, Weight: 174lbs, Nationality: American

I’ve loved to see the excitement over Teddy Stiga grow. He’s a fantastic kid who could earn the ‘Most Improved’ award for his two years at the NTDP, if such an accolade exists. He’s added a fantastic layer of finesse and direction to his high-skill stickhandling and skating, becoming much more dynamic and effective when driving into the offensive zone. But his decision making still looks a bit too naiive for my liking. Stiga will have to learn a bit more poise before I’m as bullish as some of my peers. His skill and dedication to improving are absolutely worth a pick, but some immature decision making and lacking cohesion with teammates has me making the pick a little bit later.

54. Kambryn Hendrickson

Position: G, League: High School, Team: Chanhassen, Date of Birth: 38726, Height: 6’2, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: American

Kambryn Hendrickson has a special layer of clutch. He knows how to win in the spotlight, and consistently performs big when his team needs him. He’s an incredibly quick goaltender who doesn’t lose his crease despite big movements. And while Hendrickson can get caught being overaggressive or slightly off angle, his great hands and admirable rebound control more than make up for any absences. He is the only goalie I am ranking for a reason – I want to make it clear that this is THE GUY this year.

55. Raoul Boilard

Position: C, League: QMJHL, Team: Baie-Comeau, Date of Birth: 1/7/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 188lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Raoul Boilard serves such an admirable role in the middle lane, always in open space for his teammates on the flanks and weaving between lanes well when entering the O-zone to create openings and chances. That’s an admirable role, and plenty enough to set a player on the right track, but I’ll admit I was hoping to see more on the puck from Boilard. He has strong stickhandling and creative playmaking when he gets the chance, but seems to need a boost in confidence in his decision-making. Being linemates with Justin Poirier can certainly confine a player to just the middle lane, but I’m encouraged that Boilard has more to add than what we’ve seen this season.

56. Leo Sahlin Wallenius

Position: D, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Vaxjo Jr., Date of Birth: 4/10/2006, Height: 5′ 11.5, Weight: 176lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Leo Sahlin Wallenius plays a rangy style of defense that’s very focused on making plays between the red and blue lines and quickly working the puck to teammates who can drive it up ice a bit better. He’s by no means inefficient with the puck, showing strong puck-control and pace through the neutral zone, but he isn’t always sharp enough to find the right plays quickly. Still, his ability to shut down opponents as they attack is strong, and will earn Sahlin Wallenius some sort pro role one day, even if he does seem a little more built for European pros.

57. Luke Misa

Position: C, League: OHL, Team: Mississauga, Date of Birth: 11/25/2005, Height: 5′ 10.0, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Luke Misa is faaaast. He looks like he’s playing at 1.5x speed, pivoting on a dime and using incredibly quick feet to get to top speeds in a blink. But his small frame makes it hard for Misa to beat defenders head-on, meaning he has to rely on dump-ins or teammates to support his entries even when he is on the puck. With that said, Misa’s speed goes a long way towards creating chances off the rush, when he’s able to simply beat defenders in a foot race. He’s a smart player that finds teammates in the offensive end – he just needs that teammate support to reach his full ability.

58. Ollie Josephson

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Red Deer, Date of Birth: 7/22/2006, Height: 6’0.0, Weight: 178 lbs, Nationality: Canadian

I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen from Ollie Josephson. He’s a strong skater who’s persistent on the puck, with a keen understanding of how to use his frame to engage sticks and forcing loose pucks. He’s athletic on the puck too, with a good understanding of how to change pace and make plays in faster speeds. But Josephson has some fundamentals to touch up. He could improve his physicality and improve the paths he takes in the offensive end. But the athleticism and processing at speed makes Josephson an effective playmaker. It’s a style I always buy into.

59. Dean Letourneau

Position: C, League: HIGH-ON, Team: St. Andrews College, Date of Birth: 2/21/2006, Height: 6′ 6.0, Weight: 210lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Dean Letourneau is a unicorn of a prospect – showing off smooth and fluid skating and stickhandling despite a monstrous frame. He knows how to position himself to be an option and doesn’t miss with a hard, hard shot. But he needs to become a bit more intuitive and lean into being able to calmly fight for space and find teammates. He’ll go high come draft day – the bigger they are, the higher they go – but I’m reserving my excitement until I see another step or two.

60. Ondrej Kos

Position: LW, League: FINLAND-JR., Team: Ilves Jr., Date of Birth: 3/7/2006, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 167lbs, Nationality: Czech

Ondrej Kos is a heavy, heavy winger that’s hard to move in the low slot or knock off the puck. And he doesn’t move like a heavy forward, bending his knees and driving through his strides well, making him as quick as any of his peers. But Kos doesn’t inspire much play on his own, more operating alongside his teammates than finding his own chances. It’s not something that limits his impact right now, but it could keep him from translating to NA pros as seamlessly as I’d like.

61. Tanner Howe

Position: LW, League: WHL, Team: Regina, Date of Birth: 11/28/2005, Height: 5′ 9.5, Weight: 175lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Tanner Howe has proven that he can play without the best player of a generation on his side. Howe hasn’t lost any pace or drive, though he has seemed to struggle more with creating chances without a partner that he can rotate off of. That leaves him looking a bit stuck out on his line, and his impact in the neutral or defensive zones isn’t sharp enough to make up for the lack of play-creating. Howe needs to continue defining what style he wants to play after not having to worry much about it last year.

62. Will Skahan

Position: D, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 5/14/2006, Height: 6′ 4.25, Weight: 209lbs, Nationality: American

Will Skahan is a hefty, hard-hitting defender with strong, rangy passing that can push his linemates up the ice well. Those traits make him effective on his own side of the red, and especially on the breakout, but Skahan hasn’t added strong or quick enough skating to drive play as well as I hoped he would. It really seems like he’s missing a layer that I hope he’ll add in college – but for now, he’s a bruiser defensive-defenseman with slick enough passing to spark his linemates. That’s certainly projectable, it’s just not always exciting.

63. Tomas Galvas

Position: D, League: CZECHIA, Team: Liberec, Date of Birth: 2/11/2006, Height: 5′ 10.5, Weight: 148lbs, Nationality: Czech

Tomas Galvas is fantastic at getting square to attackers and match their movements – making him fantastic at defending the rush and, on the same coin, strong at beating defenders head-on with the puck. But he really commits to the puck, and will chase out of position pretty easily. It’s never much of a worry, because he’s quick enough and slick enough to win the puck, but it’ll burn him at the next levels. He’ll need to become more reserved, and then carve out the style of defender he wants to be, before he’ll be fully ready for the top levels, but I imagine his development could lend itself to a high ceiling.

64. Ben Danford

Position: D, League: OHL, Team: Oshawa, Date of Birth: 2/6/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 188lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Ben Danford is a poised defender with strong puckhandling, fitting him into the role of regroup quarterback or play-creator quite well. He sees his options clearly and knows how to get his teammates moving, though he can easily overshoot passes or get too focused on scanning to notice attacking forwards. His defense is rooted in good fundamentals but needs a layer of finesse and speed before he’ll be able to keep up with the pros. But Danford’s poise with the puck and ability to command transition are mature – and could easily lead to top-level success.

65. Veeti Vaisanen

Position: D, League: FINLAND, Team: Kookoo, Date of Birth: 2/15/2006, Height: 6′ 0.0, Weight: 177lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Veeti Vaisanen is a smart and mobile defender who positions himself well to make impacts on all plays. He makes good decisions when teammates need his support and engages opponents as well as anyone else at this age, but he’s lacking a bit of oomph behind his decisions. It’s the confidence in going down for a block or throwing a hit that makes all the difference. That’s the piece Vaisanen is missing, though his ability to stick with play and support his teammates keep him involved and impactful even despite the assuredness.

66. Brodie Ziemer

Position: RW, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 2/22/2006, Height: 5′ 10.75, Weight: 190lbs, Nationality: American

Brodie Ziemer has every ounce of energy needed to develop well. He’s a hard worker, positive, level-headed, and a great leader in the locker room. His game is built around fast-tempo offense and using skillful puckhandling to create space at the top of the slot. Unfortunately, he’s had a tougher time translating those traits to the NTDP than I had expected. He’s certainly learned and grown plenty, but I don’t think he’s found how to implement his skillful style in a way that works for him. His upside is really boundless – I mean, Ziemer was a STUD at Shattuck – but he’ll need to learn what he wants to be quickly, because it’s only getting harder from here.

67. Julius Miettinen

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Everett, Date of Birth: 1/20/2006, Height: 6′ 2.5, Weight: 203lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Julius Miettinen’s value really comes on the defensive side of the puck. He controls the low slot and supports his defense well, using a long reach and strong frame to square up defenders. But he can struggle to carry his effective defense outside of the D-zone,  getting pulled out of position and beat pretty consistently. With that said, I think he was far too often the first man in on a forecheck. Miettinen is reserved and not quick enough to keep up with quicker forwards – but his core stick-checking and ability to apply pressure are genuinely strong. A more reserved forechecking role could allow him more time to size up opponents outside the D-zone and better calculate his attacks. I have a vision, so I’m buying on him a bit early.

68. Adam Jecho

Position: C, League: WHL, Team: Edmonton, Date of Birth: 3/24/2006, Height: 6′ 4.75, Weight: 197lbs, Nationality: Czech

Adam Jecho is a beefy forward who’s excelled at pressuring opponents and forcing turnovers. Unlike many other players in his style, Jecho can make his pressure felt no matter if he’s the first, second, or third man in on the rush. That speaks to just how overwhelming Jecho can be for opponents, although his lack of speed keeps him from ever being too dangerous. So does a lack of inspiring play-creating on the puck, which has followed Jecho for a bit now. He is absolutely worth pro consideration, but I can’t get too excited without more creativity in his offense.

69. Sebastian Soini

Position: D, League: FINLAND-JR., Team: Ilves Jr., Date of Birth: 6/10/2006, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Sebastian Soini is a positional defender who makes all of the plays from all of the spots – hammering heavy slapshots from the top of the zone, pressuring opponents well at the red line, and using a long reach in the lower third of the D-zone. But he appears to be more focused on making sure that he’s down and ready to fully process plays, which can leave him caught off-guard when play quickly comes his way. He needs to relax his game a bit and feel the flow of play more. That should take him far, because Soini is impressive when he really gets aggressive.

70. Spencer Gill

Position: D, League: QMJHL, Team: Rimouski, Date of Birth: 8/17/2006, Height: 6′ 3.5, Weight: 185lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Spencer Gill is a smooth-skating, well-positioned defender who fills his roles just as well as he needs to. He has strong passing and gets into the groove of plays with teammates, which can lead to flashy puck-movement headed up the ice. But his decision making just a bit too slow, and his impact is never too overwhelming. He’s not a high ceiling pick, but he’s absolutely worth it for his ability to fill his role every single shift.

71. Colin Ralph

Position: D, League: HIGH-MN, Team: Shattuck – St.Mary’S Prep, Date of Birth: 10/4/2005, Height: 6′ 4.0, Weight: 216lbs, Nationality: American

Colin Ralph has slowly found his way into a very pro style this season. He’s become much more poised along both blue-lines, pressuring opponents with more confidence and looking more assured in his passing. But his game is a bit pushed up against the boards, and I’d like to see him find ways to both protect the middle more on defense and work the puck through the middle more on offense. He’s come a long way for a player with such little juniors experience, and will very likely find a new groove at the collegiate level, I just can’t get excited too quick.

72. Timur Kol

Position: D, League: RUSSIA-JR., Team: Omsk Jr., Date of Birth: 8/23/2006, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 198lbs, Nationality: Russian

Timur Kol is a bit robotic, in a good way. He’s smooth in his movements – knees are always bent, hips are always engaged, his hands are even always out! And he’s dang quick because of it, keeping up with forwards much smaller and using his long reach to force pressure. And while he’s a strong passer, he seems to prefer being off the puck and floating into open space to create quick chances. Either way, he’s a fairly consistent impact… but there’s something a little off. It seems like you can see him thinking when faced with attackers on the rush or quick plays in the O-zone. And he doesn’t react much when he’s thinking, leaving him a bit stunned for a second before jumping into play. I’m not sure if he needs to trust his gut more, or improve reaction speed. Either way – Kol’s other traits help him to plenty of good impact already, so improving his decision-making should only make him an even more worthwhile pick! And with such a young birthday, he certainly has the time.

73. Luca Marrelli

Position: D, League: OHL, Team: Oshawa, Date of Birth: 10/4/2005, Height: 6′ 1.25, Weight: 181lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Luca Marrelli does well at staying reserved and aware any time he’s on the ice, not overcommitting to plays and always ready to make a quick play. His handles are smooth and his passing is crisp, but Marrelli doesn’t often jump into creating plays on his own. He’s much more a support, though one capable of totally facilitating transition. If he can adjust his style to the pros, I’d be confident that Marrelli will at least warrant a strong minor-league role.

74. Christian Humphreys

Position: C, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 2/4/2006, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: American

Christian Humphreys has a shot that’s stood out with the NTDP. He’s sharp and dangerous anywhere around the slot, and knows how to use fakes and angling to open passing lanes. But he hasn’t found his groove just yet, lacking a bit of energy and confidence in his decision-making, despite strong enough skill to make anything work. He’s bound for a Michigan program that should build out his style much more, though Humphreys will still need to focus on becoming a more dynamic and energetic play-creator at the next level if he wants to push into a pro role.

75. Javon Moore

Position: LW, League: HIGH-MN, Team: Minnetonka, Date of Birth: 12/7/2005, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 190lbs, Nationality: American

Javon Moore is a beefy forward who’s thrived at using a wide stance, active stick, and quick lateral agility to shut down defenders’ options. And he’s hard to knock off the puck once he gets it, with a strong stance and great puck-protection. Moore’s big focus will become finding creative ways to take advantage of the possession he forces – an understandable weakness for a player with such little juniors experience. More USHL play (More of Moore?) should be very telling.

76. Matvei Shuravin

Position: D, League: RUSSIA-JR., Team: Cska Jr., Date of Birth: 3/22/2006, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 195lbs, Nationality: Russian

Matvei Shuravin is a smart defender that follows play well – with smooth skating, a quick stick, and strong puck-carrying making him effective in most areas. But his game lacks a layer of burst or explosivity that could take it to a new height. He’s certainly a talented player, with the skills needed to fit right in with a pro offense, but he’ll need a layer of refining and a stronger first step before he hits those heights.

77. Harrison Brunicke

Position: D, League: WHL, Team: Kamloops, Date of Birth: 5/8/2006, Height: 6′ 2.5, Weight: 184lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Harrison Brunicke is a rangy, two-way defenseman who’s best traits come on the back of a great stick. His reach is long and he finds passes well, able to make strong two-line passes and hit teammates on the breakout consistently. But his decision-making can be a little slow and uncertain, and Brunicke can easily get pulled into awkward positioning in his own end. They’re not major flaws, but enough to get forwards around him a bit more than I’d like. He’ll need to improve his lateral agility and ability to square up to opponents, but his reach and passing are strong enough to warrant attention.

78. Cole Beaudoin

Position: C, League: OHL, Team: Barrie, Date of Birth: 4/24/2006, Height: 6′ 2.0, Weight: 209lbs, Nationality: Canadian

I haven’t seen the light with Cole Beaudoin. He’s a plenty effective winger, making up for slower skating with heavy hitting and a strong shutdown role along the boards. His puckhandling is strong and his shot is heavy and mature – but Beaudoin doesn’t create chances to use either nearly as much as I’d like. He’s instead fairly secondary in his team’s attack, leaving his biggest impacts to come off of the puck. That’s what I have to think Beaudoin carries into the next levels – and while he has a strong frame and burly style that should translate well, I fear his upside could be limited.

79. Simon Zether

Position: C, League: SWEDEN, Team: Rogle, Date of Birth: 10/18/2005, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 187lbs, Nationality: Swedish

It’s been hard to see Simon Zether at times this season, but that’s because he’s carved out an admirable role on a dazzling Rogle team. He’s still adjusting to the pace of the SHL but has significantly improved at putting himself in a position to make plays and getting rid of the puck quickly. He’s a pass-first winger who moves the puck through the neutral zone well, and finds effective passing lanes in the O-zone quickly. But he’s a long way from his top traits shining through – with his lack of pace really pushing him behind his (pro) competition. There’s reason to be optimistic, and Zether certainly has his supporters, but I’m staying bearish for now.

80. Dominik Badinka

Position: D, League: SWEDEN, Team: Malmo, Date of Birth: 11/27/2005, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: Czech

Dominik Badinka is a player built on aggression. He has a second-sense for when the right time to strike is, and uses a strong-enough first step, quick footwork, and strong stick play to force turnovers and move the puck up the ice quickly. From there, he doesn’t hesitate to dip into the zone or drift out of position as he seeks out open lanes. And it’s hardly ever a detriment – with Badinka getting back to his spot quickly if he ever extends too far. But he struggled a good deal with the fundamentals in each zone when he received SHL minutes. He almost looked overwhelmed, and while that is completely normal for a teenage pro, it makes me hesitant to buy into a package that’s all aggression.

81. Kasper Pikkarainen

Position: RW, League: FINLAND-JR., Team: Tps Jr., Date of Birth: 8/7/2006, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 194lbs, Nationality: Finnish

Kasper Pikkarainen plays the neutral zone trap perfectly, with good scanning and active defending helping him square up and strip attackers before they can get past the red. He doesn’t stay on the puck often but knows how to make quick plays to his teammates, who he then supports well with his offensive positioning. It’s hard to think exactly how Pikkarainen will translate to NA, but his defense is very strong for a young forward and could give him the fundamentals needed for an impactful pro role.

82. Jacob Battaglia

Position: RW, League: OHL, Team: Kingston, Date of Birth: 3/17/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 196lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Jacob Battaglia isn’t the most skillful player on the ice at any given point – but there’s a good chance he’s the hardest worker. He hits the ice with speed every time he jumps over the boards, and has a real impressive knack for finding ways to get involved in any kinds of play. He makes an impact every shift, even if it’s small or ultimately inconsequential. But finding ways to make those small marks is something a lot of players at this age need to work on – and Battaglia has done a lot to improve at it this year.

83. Oskar Vuollet

Position: LW, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Skelleftea Jr., Date of Birth: 12/3/2005, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 173lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Oskar Vuollet is a bullet on the ice. He drives downhill with great heft and tempo, and knows how to make plays at full speed. He’s commendable in most aspects – engaging physically, making smart plays, and holding his position well. But his game is far too north-south, limiting Vuollet’s ability to really blend with his linemates or adjust to quick changes in play. His style is smart and effective in its current setting, but he’ll need to become a bit more dynamic if NA pros.

84. Ilya Protas

Position: LW, League: USHL, Team: Des Moines, Date of Birth: 7/18/2006, Height: 6′ 3.5, Weight: 184lbs, Nationality: Belarusian

Ilya Protas is by no means the most refined player. But he’s dang effective, squaring up to opponents well and shutting down lanes with an active stick. He takes smart attacking angles and works quickly with teammates on turnovers, though Protas’ transition from off-puck to on-puck certainly needs some work. Still, he plays a strong, shutdown style that boosts his teammates’ offensive traits up. With the right work ethic, he’ll be on his way to a modest – but important – pro role.

85. Max Plante

Position: LW, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 2/20/2006, Height: 5′ 10.75, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: American

Max Plante is a fantastically smart player, showing a real keen ability to find the right position to impact play. He can make a mark anywhere on the ice and has the speed to play at any tempo. But I’ve found he’s not much of an on-puck driver, not often taking play into his own hands and instead serving as very strong support for better linemates. That’s a similar issue to what older brother Zam faced, and has since overcome, and Max will certainly be an all-zones pro if he takes on more touches – but I don’t want to bet on the apple falling close.

86. Cole Hutson

Position: D, League: NTDP, Team: Usa U-18, Date of Birth: 6/28/2006, Height: 5′ 10.25, Weight: 165lbs, Nationality: American

Cole Hutson is rivaling the record for all-time scoring among NTDP defenders. And yet, I worry he may be a bit too buckled for my taking. He’s lacking an agility that keeps him from looking entirely smooth at any point, even as he’s setting up dazzling plays. Hutson is also fairly removed from the physical game, making him very difficult to project against pro competition. There is no arguing that Hutson is skilled – he has been a dazzling prospect for a long time on the back of great stickhandling and a stellar eye for creating plays. But hesitations about the jump to pros have me waiting a bit longer to call his name.

87. Logan Sawyer

Position: C, League: BCHL, Team: Brooks, Date of Birth: 5/6/2006, Height: 6′ 1.0, Weight: 173lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Logan Sawyer is a tenacious, high-risk forward that’s exciting to watch when he’s on his game. He moves quickly downhill and excels at making sharp moves with the puck. He drives the net well and and attacks creative lanes, willing to fight through some contact to create a chance. But Sawyer is still learning how to keep that engagement every single shift. He can really turn off for some shifts, and while his positioning never makes him a liability, he certainly stops standing out. I think his tenacity will go a long way if he’s able to bring the grit every single shift, though Sawyer will have to commit to development to really pay off.

88. Herman Traff

Position: RW, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Hv71 Jr., Date of Birth: 12/31/2005, Height: 6′ 3.0, Weight: 203lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Herman Traff is an athletic, well-framed winger with the ability to handle really anything tossed at him. He’s a smooth skater that stays down on the puck, making him hard to knock down and giving him plenty of oomph behind his shots and passing. But Traff makes a decision before he makes the right decision, and can be slow to react when he turns the puck over. Traff doesn’t drive play independently enough for me to look past his lack of burst, leaving me a bit more doubtful than my peers.

89. Kaden Shahan

Position: RW, League: USHL, Team: Sioux City, Date of Birth: 5/24/2005, Height: 5′ 10.75, Weight: 168lbs, Nationality: American

Kaden Shahan has continued to build out his profile as an absolute Bullet Bill. He drives down ice hard with or without the puck and has only added more pace and speed to his game this season. He’s an impressively-quick thinker and sets up his teammates well, though I’ve been more excited by the growing confidence he’s building in shooting the puck on his own. There’s a long way ahead of Shahan, who will undoubtedly face an uphill battle to maintain his physical drive at the next level. But he’s shown just how hard he’s willing to work – and it’s clearly paid off so far.

90. Noel Ohgren

Position: D, League: SWEDEN, Team: Djurgarden, Date of Birth: 38965, Height: 5’10, Weight: 161lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Noel Ohgren doesn’t stand out until he’s jumping into the offensive rush. But his sharp skating and ability to attack a lane are hard to miss – he can be the x-factor needed to capitalize on broken plays or long stints in the zone. He makes quick plays in tight and gets the puck off his stick quick. But his play in outside of the O-zone, while completely serviceable, isn’t always inspiring. He’ll need to bring his speed to off-puck as well if he wants to transition to NA pros, though I totally think that could come with time.

91. Charlie Cerrato

Position: C, League: USHL, Team: Youngstown, Date of Birth: 3/10/2005, Height: 5′ 11.0, Weight: 186lbs, Nationality: American

Charlie Cerrato was on a mission this season. He did everything he needed to in Youngstown – driving in hard on the forecheck, using strong stick-battles and hitting hands to force turnovers, and then finding teammates quickly when he regained the puck. I think he found a style that really works for him this year, and looked excited to take it on… which ultimately took away from his play when he wasn’t the first-man-in. Cerrato needs to translate his nifty puck-skills and play-creating to when he’s off-puck as well, though his play was certainly exciting enough to earn heavily boost his draft stock.

92. Carson Wetsch

Position: RW, League: WHL, Team: Calgary, Date of Birth: 5/4/2006, Height: 6′ 0.25, Weight: 190lbs, Nationality: Canadian

I’ve found that Carson Wetsch can lack some direction or positional awareness, but man is he fun to watch regardless. He’s a hefty winger not scared to throw the body around and fight for space in front. He has a grit that’s becoming rarer to see and is (generally) pretty disciplined. He projects well as a hefty checking-forward – an easy role to land for those built for it – but it’ll be how he adjusts to big jumps in pace that determine his long-term impact.

93. Benjamin Poitras

Position: RW/LW, League: USHL, Team: Sioux City, Date of Birth: 38551, Height: 5’11.0, Weight: 181lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Benjamin Poitras came to the USHL ready to fill any role he needed to in order to get a lineup spot. And he learned a lot in doing it, adding great tertiary skills like strong stick-checking and the ability to make plays in the danger areas around the blue-lines. He attacks off the boards and works with his teammates well, though he doesn’t inspire much drive through the neutral zone on his own. I’m not sure how close Poitras is to his ceiling but he’ll carve out a fine pro role if he can continue adding to the reliable, entry-support role he developed this year.

94. Tory Pitner

Position: D, League: USHL, Team: Youngstown, Date of Birth: 3/6/2006, Height: 6′ 0.5, Weight: 180lbs, Nationality: American

Tory Pitner plays an effective, blue-to-blue style of hockey, using an effective reach and quick closeout speed to challenge opponents head-on. While his play in the offensive or defensive zone isn’t always inspiring, Pitner knows how to use quick passes and smart positioning to work off teammates and never be much of a deficit. But he’s a bit boxy of a skater, which makes me worried that he could lose one of his safety nets at the next level. If he can avoid that, or develop elsewhere to make up for it, at the next level will say a lot towards his long-term upside.

95. Will Felicio

Position: D, League: USHL, Team: Waterloo/Madison, Date of Birth: 38856, Height: 5’10.0, Weight: 161lbs, Nationality: American

Will Felicio can be really exciting. He’s great on the puck, pairing confident handles with great edgework to create space and fool defenders. He’s got good vision in the O-zone, seeing lanes well and makes strong passes. But his impact doesn’t come out every single shift, and it seems Felicio is still learning exactly what style feels right for him. I’ve been high on Felicio for a long time, and I’m confident that his development will take off at Denver, but I’ll save any kind of bullish ranking for my finals in June.

96. Adam Kleber

Position: D, League: USHL, Team: Lincoln, Date of Birth: 3/24/2006, Height: 6′ 5.0, Weight: 207lbs, Nationality: American

Adam Kleber has gained a lot of popularity since moving to juniors, with teams encouraged by his hefty, hard-hitting frame. I certainly see what they’re getting at – Kleber squares up and shuts down opponents incredibly well, and knows how to work with his partner to clean up any loose pucks. But I’ve been underwhelmed by his ability to take play into his own hands. I’d love to see Kleber lean into more puck touches, driving play through the neutral zone and using his strong vision more offensively. He may be able to find a path to pros even without that offense, though that’ll require him to maintain his strong physicality and add a good deal of pace to his game over the next few years.

97. Karl Sterner

Position: LW, League: SWEDEN-JR., Team: Frolunda Jr., Date of Birth: 3/29/2006, Height: 6′ 3.25, Weight: 192lbs, Nationality: Swedish

Karl Sterner is a lanky winger who uses a long reach and strong frame to disrupt defenders and win possession. He plays pucks to his teammates quickly, and doesn’t have the quick handles needed to challenge defenders on his own, but he makes up for it with a strong ability to work into strong positioning to support the puck-carrier. His shot is heavy and he’s plenty dangerous when given space, though he doesn’t seek out that space as much as I’d like him to. I like his style but think he needs a bit of an upgrade before he’s fully translatable. Adjusting to Swedish pros should be a good place to get the polish he needs.

98. Anthony Romani

Position: RW, League: OHL, Team: North Bay, Date of Birth: 7/12/2005, Height: 6′ 0.25, Weight: 183lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Anthony Romani went on a scoring tirade this season. He simply couldn’t stop putting the puck in the net. His finish any time he was close to the slot was nearly absolute. And yet, I find myself a bit wary of ranking him much higher. While a dominant finisher, Romani didn’t drive a lot of play himself, and didn’t always look sharp in his offensive positioning or decision-making. Clearly it didn’t matter – he scored great regardless – but I think he’ll struggle to produce similarly at the next levels if he doesn’t either become more of a play-driver or become more confident at establishing space in the low-slot.

99. Clarke Caswell

Position: LW, League: WHL, Team: Swift Current, Date of Birth: 2/2/2006, Height: 5′ 10.75, Weight: 170lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Clarke Caswell is a shifty, dynamo of a forward who zooms beneath defenders with quick feet and nifty stickhandling. There’s no attacking angle that he can’t create from, working in-tight well and fighting through contact well. But the size is a genuine concern here – and he could lose a lot if he can’t keep his shifty puckhandling through the next levels. It will be interesting to see just how dynamic Caswell is as he adjusts to the next steps.

100. Lukas Fischer

Position: D, League: OHL, Team: Sarnia, Date of Birth: 9/9/2006, Height: 6′ 2.75, Weight: 173lbs, Nationality: Canadian

Lukas Fischer matches opponents well, keeping an active stick and understanding how to keep attackers at bay in his own zone. He’s most confident on the puck when his team has possession, showing a strong ability to read options and drive play up the ice with his passing. But Fischer is missing a layer of engagement, and is far too committed to playing his man – to the extent of really wandering out of spot – in the defensive end. He has strong attributes and a profile of making a consistent impact, but there’s a missing oomph that keeps me from getting too excited. Luckily, Fischer’s eye for the ice will absolutely translate, and could serve as the reason for a much-needed boost of confidence down the road.