Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day we brought you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL 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”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our 2024 NHL Draft Grades.
The big day has come and gone, and now we look back to see how each team did in the NHL Draft. Look, we know that it is way too soon to evaluate a draft and that the true evaluation will be seen four or five years from now. However, we don’t want to wait, instead, we follow our yearly tradition and do our NHL Draft Grades now.
To be clear, our 2024 NHL Draft Grades are based on the quality and quantity of total talent added in the draft. It is not based on getting value for where you pick. For example, a team that lacks picks are likely to be given a very poor grade for this year’s draft regardless of how they use them.
LWOS 2024 NHL Draft Evaluation and Grades Part 3
Note: VALUE PICK does NOT mean the best player drafted. It means the best value. For example, Macklin Celebrini was the first player taken in this draft. However, he is not our best value pick for the San Jose Sharks. Why? Because anyone can take the best player with the first overall pick, we are looking for value here, what steal did the team get in the draft that went later than we thought he would? If it was merely an exercise in naming the best player drafted, might as well just name the team’s first pick, as that is who their own scouts felt was their best player.
Our grades are based on every player in the class, even where the later picks are not mentioned in the write-up. Of course the higher the pick, the more he will affect the grade though.
Click Here for Part One, and Here for Part Two
New Jersey Devils: B+
Value Pick: Anton Silayev
The Devils must have been thrilled when Anton Silayev fell to the 10th overall pick. The 6-foot-7 defender is an excellent skater for his size. Silayev shows some offensive skills. However, his production has been somewhat limited to date. He concentrates on playing a disciplined defensive game and does not take a lot of chances or risks. There may be room for growth here though. The bread and butter of Silayev’s game is his excellent defence. He uses his size and skating ability to be an absolute menace on the back end. If an attacker comes down his side of the ice with his head down, Silayev can explode into a devastating hit. He is disciplined though and picks his spots, not getting out of position to make such a hit.
While this was a weaker-than-usual goalie class, Mikhail Yegorov was the best of the bunch. He has an ideal size of 6-foot-4. Yegorov also has strong technique, tracking the puck well and getting in and out of the butterfly quickly. His rebound control could use some work though. Yegorov is an athletic goalie and recovers well when he gets caught out of position. One further selection, Herman Traff, has size and is a powerful skater. He plays a very direct style of game. It isn’t fancy but it is effective.
New York Islanders: A-
Value Pick: Cole Eiserman
Last year at this time, Eiserman was seen as a top-two pick in this draft. He fell to the Islanders at 20. There is a lot of talk about the flaws in Eiserman’s game, and they are legitimate concerns. His defensive play and movement without the puck are issues. However, Eiserman is also one of the best pure goal scorers in this class. He has an outstanding shot and a great release. He also has the quick hands to finish in tight to the net. The Isles development team will work with him on rounding out his all-around game, but the goal-scoring ability is something that comes naturally and can’t be taught.
Jesse Pulkkinen is a big defender who makes a good first pass and can create offence in transition. He is also physical in his own end and strong defensively, using his size to win battles on the boards and in front of the net. Kamil Bednarik is a strong skater and a good defensive player. There are questions about his offensive skills but could still make the league as a third-line centre if he can further develop.
New York Rangers C-
Value Pick: E.J. Emery
The Rangers draft grade suffers from having just four picks in the draft, and only one in the first three rounds. E.J. Emery might be the best defensive defenceman in the draft. Plays go to die on his side of the ice. He is an outstanding athlete as well and the Rangers hope that this will help him to develop his offensive game. He will have time as the US NTDP product is headed to the University of North Dakota next season. Next, Raoul Boilard plays a smart two-way game. He is direct in his attacks. He is also quick to move the puck setting up give-and-goes with his teammates through quick passes. Lastly, for the Rangers, Nathan Aspinall is 6-foot-6 but just 185 pounds. The big winger has a heavy shot. He needs to fill out his frame and continue to improve his skating to excel at the pro level.
Ottawa Senators: B
Value Pick: Lucas Ellinas
Carter Yakemchuk is an offensive blueliner. He is an excellent goal scorer. His slapshot and one-timer are powerful and accurate. He can also score with his wrist shot. Yakemchuk is also a good playmaker, capable of quarterbacking the power play. He will need to improve his discipline, both in picking his spots to join in offensively and in taking penalties in his own end. Gabriel Eliasson is a 6’7” defender who is best known for his defensive game. He hits everything that moves. Like Yakemchuk, he needs to be more disciplined as he takes some bad penalties. One more pick for the Sens, Lucas Ellinas, is a strong two-way forward who is willing to get involved in battles in both the offensive and defensive end. His relentless motor and strong work ethic could see him be a bottom-six forward despite his lack of high-end offensive skill.
Philadelphia Flyers: B-
Value Pick: Spencer Gill
Jett Luchanko is an extremely strong skater was a bit of a surprise pick when the Flyers selected him, going a bit higher than we expected. He uses his speed to carry the puck through the neutral zone and create effective zone entries. His ability to create space and passing lanes allows him to set up scoring opportunities for his teammates. He’s also quick to get in on the forecheck.
Jack Berglund is a power forward who loves to take the puck to the net and is effective in controlling the play on the boards in the offensive zone. The son of Christian Berglund, he plays a mature defensive game and can kill penalties. Spencer Gill has all the tools but needs to put it all together still. He has excellent size. His skating and his footwork are improving. His play with the puck can be great, or he can make silly giveaways. He can be dominant defensively at times, but will puck watch and lose his man. A high-risk/high-reward type of pick.
Pittsburgh Penguins: B
Value Pick: Tanner Howe
Harrison Brunicke has ideal size at 6-foot-3 and is an excellent skater. He is good at breaking the puck out of his end with a strong first pass and the ability to stickhandle past forecheckers. His defensive game is also solid. There seems to be some offensive skill there, but Brunicke seems to stay at home when he has the opportunity to help generate offence. If he gains confidence, his game could explode.
We had Tanner Howe as a first-round-rated prospect. He is an excellent playmaker off the wing. He also plays a strong defensive game. Howe is the type of player who will make life miserable for the opponent’s best players and still chip in with some points. Passed over in two previous drafts, Chase Pietila is a solid all-around defender. He isn’t flashy but his hockey IQ and solid fundamentals have made him an effective player at the NCAA level.
St. Louis Blues: B-
Value Pick: Lukas Fischer
Adam Jiricek‘s bread and butter comes in his own zone where he dominates. Almost everything about his defensive game is excellent. His awareness and gap control is mature and showcases elite intelligence. His stick is active and able to get in the way of lanes and disrupt attacks off the rush. Offensively, he has a very powerful shot. He could improve his skating though.
Colin Ralph is a physical defensive defender who put up good numbers with Shattuck St. Mary’s. It remains to be seen if this offence will continue against better opposition though. Next, is the Blues value pick, Lukas Fischer, the son of Jiri Fischer, has great size and very good skating ability. He has a strong shot and gets it through to the net, keeping it low and giving his teammates the chance to get deflections and rebounds. He needs some continued work on his agility and footwork, especially in the defensive end.
San Jose Sharks: A++
Value Pick: Sam Dickinson
The Sharks got the undisputed best player in the draft in Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini has every attribute that a team would want in a top prospect. He is a talented stickhandler, who can make plays with the puck while moving at top speed. He is also creative and gritty. Celebrini is not afraid of tight spaces or physical contact. He will make plays close to the goal and down low in the offensive zone. Celebrini is a hard worker who is not afraid to battle for the puck along the boards or in front of the net. Once there, he has the soft hands to deke a goal, as well as the quickness and hand-eye coordination to get tip-ins, bury rebounds, and one-time short passes into the net. He can also facilitate for his teammates as a playmaker and is excellent defensively.
Moreover, the Sharks best value pick, Dickinson, is an excellent skater in both directions. This allows him to play big minutes and in all situations. He is effective both offensively and defensively and was our top-rated defender in the draft. With the top forward and top defenceman on our board, the Sharks lead the way in our 2024 NHL Draft Grades. Next, we have Igor Chernyshov, who has all the skills to be a power forward in the NHL. He is willing to drive the net and play in the dirty areas of the ice. He can score goals in tight and from further out with good hands and a strong wrist shot. Leo Sahlin Wallenius is an undersized defender but makes up for it with his great skating and his offensive skill. He will need to bulk up and be a bit better defensively to excel at the next level.
Click here for our 2024 NHL Draft grades of the last eight teams.
Main photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
