Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, and Frederik Frandsen on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! Today we bring you our Scouting Report on prospects ranked 41st to 50th for the upcoming 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
2024 NHL Draft Scouting Reports
2024 NHL Draft Scouting Reports: Ranked 41-45
41.) Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Defenceman, Vaxjo, J20 Nationell
It’s a weak draft for Swedish hockey, who compared to last year doesn’t have a plethora of first-round talent. The only ones that might be taken are Alexander Zetterberg and Leo Sahlin Wallenius. What gives Wallenius a chance at the first round is his great skating and mobility. There are possibly two things that are typical of Swedish defencemen, and Wallenius has plenty of both in spades. His offensive creativity is decent, and his game is reminiscent of Miro Heiskanen. However, the talent isn’t nearly at the level of the Finnish superstar. While he is awesome, he lacks the same physicality and great decision-making to really excel as a superstar. He can also become overrun in his own run and is raw against rushes and speedy forwards. This makes Wallenius a long-term project, but he has the talent to be a solid top-four defenceman in the league, capable of being a great offensive power play weapon.
42.) Teddy Stiga, Left Wing, USNTDP, USHL
Teddy Stiga is a skilled energy forward, with fast skating and a great work ethic. He always keeps his feet moving, making himself options to help his teammates. He takes a lot of attention and is hard to cover due to his movement, and always goes to the areas where you can get a chance. Stiga is fearless and opportunistic in everything he does. He always seems to find ways to create his own luck, which creates a lot of chaos around him.
This can be both good and bad, since his compete level and constant movement, mean he is chasing a lot. He lacks awareness following what is happening around him and almost just flies around the ice aimlessly at times. This is fine in the juniors but will eat him alive in the pro game. Therefore, it has to change to be a lot smarter if he is to make it as an undersized two-forward. The potential is there but it needs structure.
43) Charlie Elick, Defenceman, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Yet another defenceman in this defence-heavy draft, with the aspiration to be a first-round selection is Charlie Elick. A defence first defenceman, who plays with a refreshing mix of physicality and speed. His cap control is excellent due to his reach and skating, as he can close caps and force players to the outside. It’s not flashy with Elick, but it’s simple and effective off the puck.
However, with the puck, his lack of hockey IQ get the better of him, as he is susceptible to turnovers. His puck skills are non-existent and it feels like he is handling a grenade. Moreover, his decision-making and lacking offensive qualities on top of that, and it clear there is a long way to go for the youngster. He is a project that needs a ton of fine-tuning. Especially mentally. Conversely, if he can improve, there is a strong shutdown defender to be found in a player like Elick.
44) Leon Muggli, Defenceman, EV Zug, NL
Leon Muggli is one of the youngest players in the draft, being only 17 years old going into the draft. A fact that makes it even more impressive is that he spent most of the season playing in the professional Swiss league for EV Zug. His skating is strong, although lacks fine-tuning to maximize his top speed. His puck movement is at a high level and he is very reliable in his own zone. This especially comes down to his ability to read the ice well and stay in the right position to make a play. His size is decent and he regularly wins battles against former NHLers. Defensively there isn’t a lot to complain about in the grand picture. Especially not for a player his age.
However, the reason he is found in the middle of the second round of our ranks is his lack of offence. It’s hard to see a huge upswing and all he really has is a powerful shot. A shot that can cause problems but isn’t enough to make a difference. Therefore his potential caps out as a fourth or fifth, shutdown defender in the NHL.
45) John Mustard, Forward, Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL
Aside from having a nickname that needs some catching up to do to be among the elite, John Mustard is an extremely capable two-way forward. Especially in the defensive zone, where his high understanding of the opponent’s movement is on display. Combined with great timing with his stick work and strong skating, it makes him hard to beat. When it comes to his skating it is smooth and nimble which allows him to turn and jump into lanes when danger is afoot. The problem is that a lot of things are incredibly raw and inconsistent. He will be able to make a fantastic read one moment, and in the next shift looks lost.
Offensively it’s more of the same. The raw talent is there as he uses decent enough skating to get in on the forecheck and isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas to create chances. He works well down low, and a very underrated feature, is a great finisher. However, with the puck, he tends to bubble it or make inconsistent reads which kills the momentum of the attack. With time to develop and getting more mature with the puck, Mustard could be a great middle-six player.
2024 NHL Draft Scouting Reports: Ranked 46-50
46) Matvei Gridin, Forward, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL
Matview Gridin is a sniper of the purest hockey form. With that comes a shot that is incredibly dangerous, potent, and able to beat any goalie on the planet. A very formidable weapon to control. The release is instant, his accuracy is deadly, and his power is up there with the best. Everyone on the ice knows how much of a threat he is, therefore, he needs ways to get up. Fortunately, he sees the ice well and has great ways to get open. He is also a dual threat as his playmaking is excellent. He has quick hands can make smart passes all around the ice, and is willing to work to get open.
This begs the question as to why he is a middle second-round pick in the ranking. The simple answer is that he is a pure offensive player with a nonchalant approach to defence. He will cheat and look lazy, while playing on the perimeter, waiting for a chance to get a chance to score. A red flag thats hard to ignore as that is the sign of a player that scores in the junior but flops in the NHL and AHL. This makes Gridin a boom or bust prospect. If he booms he could be a point-per-game sniper, and be the steal of the draft. But it’s a big if.
47) Jesse Pulkkinen, Defenceman, JYP, Liiga
The first overage player on our boards is Finnish defenceman, Jesse Pulkkinen. A player with one of the most unique mixes of qualities in the draft. The first thing you notice when watching Pulkkinen is his incredible size at 6’6″ and 220 lbs. Along with the size comes the skating of a player nearly 6’1″, as it is both powerful and nimble. He ability to turn on a dime is impressive, although his top speed is limited due to his weight which could grow stronger over the next few seasons of his development. His hands are very good and he handles the puck with an above-average control and skillset. His shot is strong and able to cause damage and he plays with a good amount of swagger and physicality.
Playmaking and passing need time to grow along with his hockey sense, but in terms of raw talent, there is a lot to like. Both defensively and well, defensively. The biggest worry is that he is such an enigma as a player, whose comparisons we would make rarely reach the NHL. Pulkkinen could break the trend if all pans out and be a similar type of player to Zdeno Chara
48) Ben Danford, Defenceman, Oshawa Generals, OHL
Ben Danford gets the honour of being the last defenceman in our rankings. A defender who loves to throw his weight around and make a hit. On top of that Danford is also a very capable skater, so has a fine balance between when to hit and when to use his stick. He can however, be a bit undisciplined, taking a few not-so-great penalties this season. On the other hand, apart from staying out of the box, he is a strong and a good defensively-minded option at the draft.
The issue is thatwhile he is a mobile and strong skater, the offence he brings to the table can be described as lacklustre at best. His passing lacks precision, and his shot creativity, and a gameplan need adjustments. This makes him a very safe pick due to his translatability but also a very boring one with no real upswing for more than a respectable and reliable third pair guy, with a physical presence. Those guys win you championships, but are extremely difficult to predict, and given the position in the draft as a whole.
49) Simon Zether, Centre, Rögle, SHL
At 6’3″, one would think it would be hard for Simon Zether to play any bigger than his actual size. However, that is far from the case for this essentially physical monster, even against much older opposition. A very big compliment to give someone. He also uses his body well and with a high hockey IQ, is able to make the most of his size. His skating is a project that will require years of work before he is ready. While he works hard, it’s slow, and without any explosiveness. He also tries too much at times which can lead to turnovers. These are things that are a concern for his ability to make an impact in the NHL and why he isn’t found in the first round.
However, almost every other aspect of his game is solid. He is a strong passer in the offensive zone when he keeps things simple, with quick and smart passes. Zether also has a great ability to find space to get into scoring chance opportunities either from passes or rebounds. He is also very reliable defensively and all this makes him a guy that has a lot of upside to his game. This can invariably turn him into a diamond in the round, found in the second or third round of the draft.
50) Pavel Moysevich, Goaltender, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL
Rounding out our 2024 NHL Draft scouting reports this year’s exclusive top-50 is the first and only goaltender in our rankings. A congratulations in order? Pavel Moysevich is a giant, even among other goalies at 6’5″ and displayed his size and skill in all of the Russian leagues this season. From the VHL to KHL where he played 13 games with a whooping .942 save percentage. At this rate, that should land him somewhere between Ilya Sorokin ad Igor Shesterkin. A season that has I’m as one of the top netminders in the draft, despite being an overeager.
The reason for his great season comes from major improvements in his position. He is far more square to the puck and his anticipation allows him to be a far less chaotic goalie. His rebound control also saw improvements, and he is limiting second chances. There still are times when he will be unable to cover a puck fast enough, which gives up unnecessary chances and goals in tight. Everything can still do with more improvements, but with this season’s upward trajectory, he would be worth a second-round pick for teams looking for a potential goalie of the future. Lots of NHL teams can make room for a potential starting goalie.
Main photo credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
