Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the 2023-24 season, our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you 2024 draft class profiles and various other articles. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Today, we have the third part of our first 2024 NHL draft rankings!
You can find part one here, part two here, and part three here.
2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Part Four (16-20)
16.) Cole Hutson, Defenceman, U.S. National U18 Team (USHL)
Starting off this part of the 2024 NHL draft rankings, one of the best options in this draft for teams looking for a puck-moving defenceman with elite skating is Cole Hutson. The younger brother of Lane Hutson has turned his season around and has 23 points in 25 games. Eleven of which were in his last ten games. A lot of these come from just how electrifying and smooth his skating is. In many ways, it feels more fine-tuned than Lane’s skating was in his draft year. He scans the ice well and is an excellent powerplay quarterback, who also uses his skating to create space for passing or shots.
Adding to his skating and offence, Cole Hutson is also slightly bigger and more physical than Lane. Both traits should make him more palatable to NHL GMs. However, where he does struggle is in the same areas as his brother. His defensive awareness and capabilities do leave a lot to be desired, and while he is an excellent offensive defenceman and puck-mover, his stickwork and positioning in the defensive zone can be costly. He does try to get closer to the forward and with his skating often can disrupt the puck carrier. The downside is that he can be too aggressive and leave space for the pass behind him. If he can get better defensively and maybe develop his shot a bit, Cole Hutson could be a prospect with the same sky-high upside as his brother.
17.) Cayden Lindstrom, Centre, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Cayden Lindstrom is a mix of size, aggression, skill and speed. In terms of raw talent, he has everything you could dream of in a power forward. With 26 goals and 16 assists in 30 games so far in the WHL, he has been a monster with season. And for good reason, since he is a 6-foot-5 centre, with a solid two-way game, excellent skating for his size and a goalscoring touch. Especially in front of the net, where he hounds rebounds and loose pucks. What more could a team want from a player in the middle of the first round?
In terms of raw talent, there is not much more you could want from a player like Lindstrom. However, the reason he isn’t higher up on the boards comes from his lack of hockey sense. While he is extremely skilled, he often relies heavily on it to bail him out of bad decisions. Both in terms of when to pass and when to shoot, but also in his overall movement without the puck. It’s overly simple and not creative enough to get open without players around him to create the space. He also can get caught up ice in aggressive pinches, which turns to chances against.
However, if he can understand the game at a higher level and find open space without the puck, Lindstrom could end up as a top-six centre in the future.
18.) Tij Iginla, Centre, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Tij Iginla, the son of one of the all-time best players, Jarome Iginla, started the season with a bang. He was red hot at the start of the season, and, despite cooling off slightly, is still poised for a great season with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. Currently, Iginla has 23 goals and 14 assists in 30 games. A strong record for the sniper, who also possesses excellent work rates. His off-the-puck movement, hard forechecking and backchecking and an active stick make him a very reliable forward. He also scans the ice well and finds the open room, where he can utilize his great shot.
The acceleration does need improvements, as he lacks the dynamic explosiveness to truly come alive and dominate. He isn’t a terrible skater and has decent balance, but the power to truly get open makes him slightly one-dimensional as a sniper at times. With a bit more time to refine his first steps this is a very solvable area, and with it would come a very strong overall middle six player.
19.) Aron Kiviharju, Defenceman, HIFK (Liiga)
Another Finish prospect from the top men’s league in Finland is Aron Kiviharju. A player who already sees the game at an extremely high level, which has earned him a roster spot for HIFK. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed his season, and he has only played seven games so far. The injury sees the talented defenceman out until around February which could affect his draft stock.
However, when healthy Kiviharju is a player with an emasculate hockey sense and offensive awareness. He is a near-perfect powerplay quarterback, with great patience and IQ. On top of that, he is a brilliant skater, who moves well both with and without the puck on his stick. This also allows Kiviharju to be effective on both ends despite an extremely offensive and aggressive style where he will jump into the open space and look to get the puck. When he is on top of his game he is among the most impactful players of this draft class.
The concern comes from his lack of size and now injury history. This does make Kiviharju a bit of a gamble, but if he can adapt to the more physical North American game, the upside is there for something truly unique. The adaptability will be crucial, but it has the potential to be a gamble worth taking in the first round.
20.) Zeev Buium, Defenceman, Univ. of Denver (NCAA)
The last player in the 2024 NHL draft rankings top 20 is defenceman Zeev Buium. His move from the USNTDP to the NCAA and the University of Denver has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 18 games he has 25 points. More than a point per game and it’s seen him be one of the fastest risers on every draft board out there.
The key to Buium’s success in the NCAA is his mobility and great skating. On top of that, he has added a layer of deceptiveness and creativity to his game that allows him to be much more effective in almost any situation. Off the rush, his speed allows him to pick and choose where he wants to be on the ice first, and with his good hockey sense, it’s often the right place. When it’s more within the setup and cycle he can use the new creativity to find the open lanes and execute with pinpoint accuracy. Even defensively he has looked very reliable in the NCAA, as he has become far better at judging the gap and using an active stick to create turnovers.
The greatest weakness is the lack of muscle and physicality that Buium brings to the table. It’s something good enough for the junior leagues but would struggle against NHL-caliber physicality. If he can bulk up and grow into his frame, while retaining the mobility and elusiveness, Buium has all the makings of a top 4 defenceman in the NHL.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
