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Craig's List: Celebrini, Eiserman in tight race for top spot

Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman - IIHF Images
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The race for No. 1 at the 2024 NHL Draft is between a future No. 1 centre and an elite goal-scoring winger.

While TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has Boston University centre Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 on his list ahead of USNTDP winger Cole Eiserman, he believes the margin between the two players is razor-thin.

“I compare Celebrini to [Jonathan] Toews and I compare Eiserman to [Alexander] Ovechkin,” said Button. “I think they’re both game changers, difference makers in different ways.”

Celebrini, who is out until mid to late October after shoulder surgery in May, had 46 goals and 86 points in 50 United States Hockey League (USHL) games last season with the Chicago Steel. The Vancouver product took home USHL Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours for his efforts.

Eiserman will suit up for the US National Team Development Program U-18 squad this season after notching 69 goals and 104 points in 62 games in 2022-23 as a U-17 player at the NTDP. And he has a realistic chance at breaking Cole Caufield’s career US NTDP goal record of 126.

Russian winger Ivan Demidov comes in at No. 3. He started the season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, beating out 2023 seventh-overall pick Matvei Michkov for the 13th forward spot. Demidov, who is signed in the KHL through the 2024-25 season, has drawn comparisons to his fellow countryman but Button believes there is even more to come with the Sergiyev Posad, Russia native.

“He very well could be better than Michkov,” said Button of Demidov. “I think he has that [Nikita] Kucherov-esque game.”

At No. 4 is Finnish centre Konsta Helenius. The 17-year-old has one goal in five SM Liiga games this season with Jukurit. Internationally last season, he had two goals and 11 points in seven games at the U17s and had six points in five games at the U18s for Finland.

“Helenius reminds me of Brayden Point,” said Button. “Give him to me any day of the week. He’s high-end skilled and he thinks at a higher level. He’s got an elite IQ level.”

Rounding out the top five is Belarussian defenceman Artyom Levshunov, who will be skating with Michigan State in the NCAA this season. Of the 14 defencemen Button has ranked in his top 32 draft-eligible prospects, Levshunov has separated himself early on.

“He’s got the offensive ability,” said Button of Levshunov. “To me right now, he’s a little bit smoother, got a little bit more offensive dynamic to him than the other guys, and that’s what separates him for me.”

Two of the defencemen in Button’s top 32 have older brothers who are also prominent NHL defensive prospects. Adam Jiricek, who is ranked sixth on Button’s list, is the younger brother of David, the sixth-overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2022 draft. The No. 20-ranked Cole Hutson, is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens 2022 second-rounder Lane.

“I think David has more power, a bigger shot,” said Button. “[He’s] diligent, competitive. Adam is like that too. Adam is such a good player.

“When I watch Cole play, it’s hard not to see Lane. I would say Lane and Cole are very, very similar in their style of play. Cole is bigger at this age though. He’s a brilliant player, I have him ahead of [Aron] Kiviharju and I don’t even debate it. Kiviharju is a good player, but I think Hutson is a better player.”

Another player Button is intrigued to watch this season is Medicine Hat Tigers centre Cayden Lindstrom, who is No. 19 on the list.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, the 17-year-old had 19 goals and 42 points in 61 WHL games last season. Through two games to start the 2023-24 campaign, he has a goal and two assists. In August, he helped Canada capture gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

“Big, strong, skilled, competitive, he wants to impact the game,” said Button of Lindstrom. “I think when you look at potential, he is a fascinating player to watch over the course of this year for me.”

With the new season just getting under way, the players listed below are presented with their 2022-23 statistics. Craig’s List is TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button's own projection of draft prospects, based on their NHL potential 3-5 years out.

 

Craig's List - September 28

 
RK Player Team POS HT WT GP G P
1 Macklin Celebrini Boston (NCAA) C 5'11 ¾ 189 50 46 86
2 Cole Eiserman USA NTDP (USHL) LW 5'11 ¼ 190 62 69 104
3 Ivan Demidov St. Petersburg (KHL) LW 5'11 170 41 19 62
4 Konsta Helenius Jukurit (SM Liiga) C 5'10 ¾ 180 19 8 28
5 Artyom Levshunov Michigan State (NCAA) D 6'2 199 62 13 42
6 Adam Jiricek Omaha (USHL) D 6'2 ½ 178 41 12 29
7 Anton Silayev Nizhny Novogorod (KHL) D 6'6 203 41 2 8
8 Berkly Catton Spokane (WHL) C 5'11 169 63 23 55
9 Emil Hemming TPS (SM Liiga Jr.) RW 6'0 ¾ 201 22 7 16
10 Michael Brandsegg-Nygard Mora (SWE J20) RW 6'1 194 35 17 38
11 Trevor Connelly Tri-City (USHL) LW 6'0 ¾ 156 57 24 47
12 Zayne Parekh Saginaw (OHL) D 6'0 172 50 21 37
13 EJ Emery USA NTDP (USHL) D 6'3 185 60 2 12
14 Sam Dickinson London (OHL) D 6'2 ¾ 201 62 9 23
15 Veeti Vaisanen KooKoo (SM Liiga) D 6'0 177 37 3 22
16 Igor Chernyshov Moscow (MHL) LW 6'2 192 38 18 38
17 Will Skahan USA NTDP (USHL) D 6'4 211 60 1 11
18 Ryder Ritchie Prince Albert (WHL) C/RW 6'0 173 61 20 55
19 Cayden Lindstrom Medicine Hat (WHL) C 6'3 211 61 19 42
20 Cole Hutson USA NTDP (USHL) D 5'9 ¾ 158 61 10 68
21 Aron Kiviharju HIFK  (SM Liiga) D 5'9 ¼ 170 22 2 20
22 Zeev Buium Denver (NCAA) D 5'11 ¼ 177 63 5 40
23 Henry Mews Ottawa (OHL) D 6'0 181 55 12 31
24 Maxim Masse Chicoutimi (QMJHL) RW 6'1 185 65 29 62
25 Michael Hage Chicago (USHL) C/RW 6'0 ½ 190 13 5 10
26 Carter Yakemchuk Calgary (WHL) D 6'1 ¾ 188 67 19 47
27 Liam Greentree Windsor (OHL) RW 6'2 215 61 25 45
28 Carson Wetsch Calgary (WHL) RW 6'0 185 45 10 21
29 Niilopekka Muhonen Kalpa  (SM Liiga Jr.) D 6'4 ¼ 195 18 1 6
30 Beckett Sennecke Oshawa (OHL) RW 6'0 ¼ 164 61 20 55
31 Julius Miettinen Everett (WHL) C 6'2 ¼ 203 38 10 22
32 Sacha Boisvert Muskegon (USHL) C 6'2 165 57 17 45