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2024 NHL Draft

Macklin Celebrini Tops Central Scouting Final NHL Draft Rankings

Macklin Celebrini Tops Central Scouting Final NHL Draft Rankings

Macklin Celebrini topped the final rankings released by NHL Central Scouting Services, leading a list that was littered with USHL players past and present.

Apr 16, 2024 by Ryan Sikes
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NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings in advance of the 2024 NHL Draft, a list that includes several USHL players who saw their draft stock increase.

NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. Since the preliminary watch list in October, Boston University's Macklin Celebrini remains the top-ranked player for the 2024 NHL Draft.

After his record-breaking year with the Chicago Steel, where he earned USHL Player, Forward, and Rookie of the Year honors, Celebrini went on to enjoy a remarkable freshman campaign at BU.

The North Vancouver native recorded 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points and was the only player in the country to eclipse the 30-goal, 30-assist mark. At 17 years of age, Celebrini also became the youngest recipient to win the Hobey Baker Award.

Here is the complete list of players with USHL ties in Central Scouting's final rankings.

USHL Players Ranked On NHL Central Scouting's Final Draft Rankings

1. Macklin Celebrini, F, Boston University (Chicago Steel)

2. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (Green Bay Gamblers)

4. Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (USA NTDP)

6. Trevor Connelly, F, Tri-City Storm

10. Michael Hage, C, Chicago

12. Cole Eiserman, F, NTDP U-18 Team

16. Sacha Boisvert, F, Muskegon Lumberjacks

21. Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon

27. John Mustard, F, Waterloo

28. Kamil Bednarik, C, NTDP U-18 Team

34. Adam Kleber, D, Lincoln

39. EJ Emery, D, NTDP U-18 Team

43. Max Plante, LW, NTDP U-18 Team

44. Teddy Stiga, F, NTDP U-18 Team

49. Ilya Protas, F, Des Moines

54. William Zellers, LW, Shattuck-St. Mary's (Green Bay)

55. Cole Hutson, D, NTDP U-18 Team

56. Will Skahan, D, NTDP U-18 Team

59. Brodie Ziemer, F, NTDP U-18 Team

66. Elliott Groenewold, D, Cedar Rapids

68. Hagen Burrows, F, Sioux City

71. Christian Humphreys, C, NTDP U-18 Team

74. Xavier Veilleux, D, Muskegon

75. Lucas Van Vliet, F, NTDP U-18 Team

79. Tanner Henricks, D, Lincoln

83. Joona Vaisanen, D, Dubuque

87. Luke Osburn, D, Youngstown

90. Tory Pitner, D, Youngstown

91. Aidan Park, F, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Green Bay)

92. James Reeder, F, Dubuque

97. Jake Fisher, F, Fargo

101. Blake Montgomery, F, Lincoln

104. Austin Baker, F, NTDP U-18 Team

113. Austin Burnevik, F, Madison

115. Kaden Shahan, F, Sioux City

118. Joe Connor, F, Muskegon

121. Nolan Roed, F, Tri-City

132. Finn McLaughlin, D, Youngstown

140. Tanner Adams, F, Providence College (Tri-City)

145. John Whipple, D, NTDP U-18 Team

147. Brendan McMorrow, F, NTDP U-18 Team

148. Sam Laurila, D, NTDP U-18 Team

152. Mac Swanson, F, Fargo

154. Bauer Berry, D, Muskegon

156. Kuzma Voronin, F, Youngstown

159. Carson Pilgrim, F, Warroad (Tri-City)

165. John Stout, D, Minnetonka (Madison)

167. Andrew Dellasalla, F, Omaha

168. Landon Resendes, F, Cedar Rapids

173. Jake Sondreal, F, Dubuque

175. Charlie Cerrato, F, Youngstown

177. Erik Pahlsson, F, Dubuque

182. Owen Keefe, D, Sioux City

190. Luke Goukler, D, Cushing Academy (Chicago)

198. Noah Lapointe, D, NTDP U-18 Team

199. Lee Parks, F, Fargo

201. Kristian Epperson, LW, NTPD U-18 Team

209. Charlie Pardue, F, NTDP U-18 Team

211. Erik Kald, D, Cedar Rapids

214. Ethan Gardula, F, Sioux City

221. Zack Sharp, D, Cedar Rapids

Which USHL Goalies Were Ranked On NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings?

1. Mikhail Yegorov, Omaha

4. Nick Kempf, NTDP U-18 Team

13. John Parsons, NTDP U-18 Team

15. Louka Cloutier, Chicago

17. Thatcher Bernstein, Tri-City

21. Samuel Urban, Sioux City

23. Caleb Heil, Sioux Falls

32. Kam Hendrickson, Chanhassen (Omaha)

Analysis

Which USHL Players Were The Biggest Risers On NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings?

John Mustard, F, Waterloo

In anticipation of these final rankings being released, I was wondering where Mustard might land. Originally a 6th/7th round projection in October's preliminary watch list, the Black Hawks forward has boosted his draft stock throughout his rookie USHL season. In January, Mustard was elevated to a second-round projection, and now, Central Scouting has him in the first round. The probable USHL Rookie of the Year finished with 29 goals and 53 points, including seven game-winning goals.

Teddy Stiga, F, NTDP U-18 Team

Stiga checked in as a third-round projection in January's mid-term rankings. The Boston College commit was elevated to a second-round pick in the final rankings after potting 29 goals and 36 assists in 53 games. Stiga's 65 points were the third-most on the NTDP roster.

James Reeder, F, Dubuque

Reeder had a similar trajectory as Mustard and checked in as a third-round projection in the final rankings. The Denver commit had a breakout performance at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge, recording a team-best eight goals. Reeder's 10 points were the second-most on the team. With Dubuque, he had a rather quiet end to the year, but there is still plenty to like about his skill set.

Brendan McMorrow, F, NTDP U-18 Team

Another Denver commit, McMorrow exuded more offensive ability in the second half of the 2023–24 season. Overall, the 18-year-old finished with eight goals and 22 points in a bottom-six role for the NTDP U18 team. He was elevated from a seventh-round pick in January to a fifth-rounder in the final rankings.

Joe Connor, F, Muskegon

Connor was one of my breakout players to watch in the preseason. His skill set was evident, and the Northeastern commit backed it up all year long with the Lumberjacks. Connor finished the year with 31 goals and 60 points, with 41 coming in the second half.

Mikhail Yegorov, G, Omaha

The numbers do not really tell the story for Yegorov, who ascended to the No. 1-ranked North American goaltender in the final rankings. The Boston University commit has a huge frame—listed at 6-foot-5 and 179 pounds—and he will continue to fill out as he physically matures. There is so much to like about Yegorov.

Notable Omissions From NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings

Noah Powell, F, Dubuque

I kept waiting for Powell’s name to appear as I scrolled through the rankings, but it never did. The 19-year-old led the USHL in goals (43) and power-play markers (16). That's not to say Powell will not be selected in the 2024 NHL Draft, but those numbers are hard to ignore. 

Charlie Major, F, Chicago

Major looked like a completely different player when I saw him in the Steel's Development Camp over the summer. He looked primed for a breakout year. Update: The Cornell commit went off for 30 goals and 70 points.

Gavyn Thoreson, F, Waterloo

Mustard's linemate engineered a tremendous season, tallying 22 goals and 65 points for the Black Hawks.

J.J. Wiebusch, F, Sioux Falls

Wiebusch is another player who probably should have been ranked. The Penn State commit led the Stampede in goals (29) and points (63).

Cody Croal, F, Muskegon

Croal's speed is undeniable, and he put it all together for the Lumberjacks this season. The North Dakota commit racked up 23 goals and 60 points, with 14 of those coming on the power play.

Michael Hagens, D, Chicago

Hagens is a smooth-skating defenseman who possesses a hard shot from the blueline. The Boston College commit wrapped up the 2023-24 season with seven goals and 25 assists, making his 32 points the ninth-most among USHL defensemen. Perhaps a team takes a chance on him near the end of the draft. 

Will Felicio, D, Waterloo

After a trade request sent him from Madison to Waterloo, Felicio's offense picked up but not enough to stay in the rankings after landing as a seventh-round pick in the preliminary and mid-term rankings. Might the Denver commit return for a third season after finishing with 10 goals and 29 points in 54 games?

When Is The 2024 NHL Draft?

The 2024 NHL Draft will be held on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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