Boston University center and recent Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini remains the number one prospect in North America in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for the 2024 draft. La Centrale NHL Scouting released the list Tuesday.
Celebrini is a dynamic multi-purpose center who checks all the boxes teams are looking for. He is an elite offensive player who competes and can also play with the puck at a high level.
Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov was second, followed by center Cayden Lindstrom of Medicine Hat.
Levshunov is a mobile 6-foot-2 defenseman who offers a ton of offensive skills and hockey sense. He was one of the best players in his conference and could become a potential number one defenseman in the NHL.
Macklin Celebrini (@TerrierHockey) remains at the top of the list of crowned North American skaters by winning the 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award last week. #NHLDraft
Full rankings: pic.twitter.com/Xq5aUDc8je
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2024
Defensemen Zeev Buium of Denver and Zayne Parekh of Saginaw round out the top five.
On the international side, 6-foot-7 defenseman Anton Silayev of Russia’s Torpedo organization tops the list, followed by Russian winger Ivan Demidov of SKA and Jukurit center Konsta Helenius. Silayev is very mobile for a giant, coupled with a lot of physicality and good puck-moving ability. He has the potential to become a star in the league.
Forwards Michael Hage of the Chicago Steel and Tij Iginla of Kelowna were the biggest winners, as their strong seasons propelled them into the top ten players in North America.
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(Photo: Richard T. Gagnon / Getty Images)