Celebrini tops FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2024 NHL Draft

Macklin Celebrini, a forward with Boston University, has topped FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2024 NHL Draft.

Celebrini was a unanimous choice for No. 1 in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking after he earned an ‘A’ Grade in FCHockey’s Preliminary ranking for the 2024 draft back in October.

The 17-year-old center, an initial nominee for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, has 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 22 games as a freshman in Hockey East.

“He’s as complete a forward as you’ll find in the 2024 draft,” FCHockey managing editor Aaron Vickers said. “He checks every box that you’re looking for in a top draft prospect, and his pro-ready maturity will have him making an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. He has the high-end offensive skill required of a potential No. 1 pick, including an impressive shot, elite playmaking ability, in-zone awareness befitting of a top prospect, and he couples it all with a compete-level and desire that’ll rival any in the class. He can be a cornerstone piece relied on to help turn a franchise’s fortunes.”

FCHockey released its Midterm ranking on Friday. A final 300-player ranking for the 2024 draft will be released in May.

Ivan Demidov is second in FCHockey’s ranking for the 2024 draft, scheduled for June 28-29 in Las Vegas. The Russian forward, regarded as potentially the most dynamic all-round offensive player in the draft, has 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 23 games with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in the MHL, and has earned action in both KHL and VHL games this season.

“Demidov’s ability with the puck/offensive perception and skating ability are very mature,” FCHockey crossover scout Jake Janso said. “He makes pro-level reads and connects on some absurd passes all while in motion and usually at a faster pace than those defending him. He’s always steps ahead of players his own age and looked competitive at the KHL level. Not only does this make him the most talented Russian prospect in the draft, but these skills are at a high enough level that they make him firmly a top prospect in my eyes.”

Anton Silayev of Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL slots in at third and is FCHockey’s top-ranked defenseman for the 2024 draft. The 17-year-old has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 55 games this season.

“Silayev possesses a tantalizing combination of physical maturity and above-average four-way mobility that results in a player who can effectively defend in the KHL at 17, and he still displays untapped potential for more,” Janso said. “Ultimately, his lack of offensive involvement may be his biggest limiter, but the sky is the limit for a prospect with tools like his.”

Konsta Helenius of Jukurit in Finland’s top men’s league, Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League, Sam Dickinson of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Cayden Lindstrom of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, Zeev Buium of the University of Denver, Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State University in the NCAA, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard of Mora IK in HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden round out the top-10 on FCHockey’s Midterm list.

Emil Vinni of HIFK is the top-ranked goaltender at No. 64.

“Vinni is a very complete goaltending prospect,” FCHockey scout David Phillips said. “He’s decently sized with above-average athleticism, and his standout trait is his technical understanding of the game. He has precise and powerful footwork mixed with smart movement decisions makes him my No. 1 goalie for this year’s class.”

In all, 12 defensemen slot inside the first round of FCHockey’s Midterm ranking. The first round also consists of seven centers, seven right-wingers, and six left-wingers.

“There’s no doubting the depth of the defensive presence the 2024 draft class has,” Vickers said. “There’s an argument to be made, and has been in our camp, that upwards of seven defensemen garnered consideration for a position amongst our top-10. There’s variety, too, ranging from offensive-minded rearguards to players with true two-way potential to others that show significant potential as defense-first defensemen with great transition ability.”

The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the first 16 picks in the draft will be announced at a later date.

Below are the top 32 players in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2024 draft. To view the top-100 players, click HERE.

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