2024 NHL DRAFT: AN EARLY LOOK AT TOP PROSPECTS 11-32

In my last blog, I had a list of my top 10 prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft, now I will list the prospects ranked 11 through 32.

Next: 2024 NHL DRAFT AN EARLY LOOK AT TOP 10 PROSPECTS

11. Maxim Massé, RW, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Maxim Massé is a good-sized player at 6 foot 1, 181 pounds, with a great shot and solid playmaking ability. He took the QMJHL by storm as a rookie, nearly averaging a point a game, and was named to the CHL All-Rookie team. Massé was the Rookie of the Year in the QMJHL during the 2022-23 season, and was a crucial part of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, playing in all 68 games for the Sags, finishing atop all league rookies in both goals (29) and points (65) this season. The right-winger finished with the second most points on his team, scoring six game-winning goals and collecting twenty of his points while on the power play. He sits outside of the top 10 for now, but there is a big change he works his way into the top 10 due to the fact that this year is heavy in good Defensive prospects and low on high-quality forwards. Expect him to be the centerpiece of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens this season and be a driving force on offense for the 2023-24 season. Maxim Mass has the potential to be a high-end top 6 forward if given the opportunity.

12. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Zayne Parekh is what your ideal offensive defenseman, who has all the tools to one day be a great puck-moving defenseman, who puts up points from the back end. Though not a big defenseman, standing at only 6 feet, 170 pounds, his skill level and what he can bring to the offensive side of the puck is tough to overlook. Playing for the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL, Zayne Parekh was already opening eyes with his performance in his rookie season, by breaking scoring records as just a 16-year-old defenseman. Parekh had no goals and two assists through his first nine games of the 2022-23 season, but after Parekh played for Canada in the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded 5 points in 7 games, he had 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 46 games, and set an OHL record for most goals by a 16-year-old defenseman when he scored his 20th in a 6-2 win at Soo on Feb. 15. Parekh ranks fourth in goals among OHL defensemen this season and first among league rookie defensemen. He’s the third-leading goal scorer among all OHL rookies and third in goals for Saginaw. He’s an elite skater, he’s got great vision, he’s got a good set of hands, he’s got a really good shot. Zayne Parekh has the potential to be a top 4 offensive defenseman in the NHL.

13. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, C/RW, Mora IK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is looking to be the first Norwegian-born player ever picked in the first round of the NHL, and it looks the chances of that happening are pretty high. Brandsegg-Nygard has good size, at 6 foot 1, 194 pounds, and his an extremely versatile forward, capable of playing both Center and Wing. He is great skating, and shooting ability, and has the tools to be a good goal scorer. The Norwegian-born forward played in Sweden during the 2022-23 season, playing in the J18, J20, and the HockeyAllvenskan leagues. He only played 4 games in the J18 league, but he put up 5 goals and 10 points before getting promoted to the J20 league, where he put up 17 goals and 38 points in 35 games. Brandsegg-Nygard finished the season in HockeyAllsvenskan, where he had 3 points in 11 games. This is a really talented player who has the potential to be a top 6 goal-scoring forward in the NHL.

14. Igor Chernyshov, LW, MHK Dynamo Moskow (MHL)

Igor Chernyshov is a talented and dynamic offensive force, who has all the tools to one day dominate the NHL. At 6 foot 6, 192 pounds, Cherynshov has the ideal NHL frame, coupled with his vision and scoring ability, which makes him a very sought-after player in this year’s draft. Playing for MHK Dynamo Moskva of the MHL, Igor tallied 18 goals, 20 assists, and 38 points in 38 games, while also putting up 1 point in 5 games with Dynamo Moskva of the KHL. Cherynshov is especially a weapon on the powerplay with his lethal quick release on his one-timer when lined up on the left side. Igor Shernyshov has the potential to be a top 6 goal-scoring forward at the NHL level.

15. Cole Hutson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)

Although Cole Hutson stands at only 5 foot 8, 143 pounds, he is a dynamic puck-moving defenseman, who could end up being one of the top defensemen in this entire draft. Hutson dominated with the US National U17 team, putting in 8 goals, and 42 points in 42 games before getting promoted to the US National U18 team, where he recorded 26 points in 19 games. He also appeared in 32 games with the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL, tallying 25 points in 32 games. Hutson represented the US at the U17 WHC and the U18 WJC; at the U17 WHC, he had 9 points in 7 games, helping USA win the Gold Medal and at the U18 WJC, he had 12 points in 7 games, en route to a Gold Medal. While there is no doubt about the ability of Cole Hutson to produce offensive, there are questions about his defensive ability at the next level. Cole Hutson could be like Torey Krug in the NHL, a great top 4 offensive defenseman, who specializes in the powerplay.

16. Adam Jiricek, RHD, HC Plzeň U20 (Czechia U20)

The Younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, David, Adam Jiricek is amongst the top defensive prospects in this year’s draft. Although a little less developed than other prospects in this draft, Adam Jiricek is a good puck-moving defenseman with good size at 6 foot 2, 152 pounds, this Right Handed defenseman started the season playing for HC Plzeň U17 scoring 13 points in 8 playoff games. He spent the majority of the season with HC Plzeň U20, where he played 40 games, tallying 12 goals, which was the most by a defenseman in the Czechia U20, and 29 points. Jiricek even saw 12 games of action in the Czechia pro league, where he recorded 2 points. Adam was an alternate captain for Czechia at the U17 WHC, putting up 2 points in 6 games, and 1 point in 5 games at the U18 WJC. If Adam Jiricek can improve his shot and become more of a shooting threat from the point, he could be an elite offensive defenseman in the league one day.

17. Becket Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Bennet Sennecke is a well round Winger with a 6 foot 2, 181-pound frame, and is one of the best skaters in the 2024 draft and is tremendous at supporting along the boards and along the cycle. Sennecke is also a good playmaker and passer and has the ability to set up his teammates with excellent scoring chances constantly. In his rookie season with the Oshawa Generals, Becket Sennecke scored 20 goals, 35 assists, and 55 points in 61 games; his 35 assists were the most by a rookie in the OHL. For his efforts, Sennecke was named to the OHL’s second All-Rookie team. He played for Canada at the U17 WHC, putting up 3 points in 5 games. Becket Sennecke has demonstrated the ability to be an impactful player and should be a solid top 6 playmaking forward in the NHL.

18. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Ryder Ritchie took the WHL by storm by putting up 20 goals, and 55 points in 61 games during his rookie season with the Prince Albert Raiders, and was awarded the Jim Piggott Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year. Ritchie is a good-sized player at 6 foot, 174 pounds with excellent agility, puckhandling, and passing skills, to go along with a solid shot and good skating ability. If he improves his shot, he can be an even more lethal offensive weapon because it would open up space for him to exploit passing lanes. Ryder Ritchie has the potential has potential to be a top 6 playmaking winger at the NHL level.

19. Charlie Elick, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Charlie Elick is a solid two-way defenseman who has a great frame at 6 foot 3, 190 pounds, with good strength, and puck skills, along with good passing skills. He isn’t a defenseman who you should rely upon for offensive production, but rather to log heavy minutes, and to kill penalties. With the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, Elick had 11 points in 56 points, and at the U17 WHC, he put up 2 points in 6 games. This is exactly the type of player you should target in the middle rounds of the draft, a solid two-way defenseman, with high offensive upside.

20. Will Skahan, D, USA U18 (NTDP)

A large 6 foot 4 defenseman, Will Skahan is the picture-perfect player for a playoff team that is looking for a project pick who could take several years to develop. As one of the younger players in the draft, Skahan isn’t committed to the University of Wisconsin until the 2025-26 season, but he has already shown tons of promise with his overall defensive ability. Skahan had 11 points in 60 games playing for the US National U17 team and 6 points in 38 games for the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL. He helped the USA win gold at the U17 WHC, putting up 1 point in 7 games. Will Skahan may get picked in the top 20 purely due to his size and upside. Will Skahan has the potential to be a top 4 defensive defenseman in the NHL.

21. Zeev Buium, D,USA U18 (NTDP)

An undersized 5 foot 11 defenseman, Zeev Buium, overcomes this by being one of the more reliable two-way defensemen in this year’s draft. Zeev played in 63 games for the US National U18 team, putting up 40 points, while also putting up 12 points in 23 games for the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL. He helped the USA win Gold at the U18 WJC, putting up 6 points in 7 games. Zeev Buium is a smooth-skating defenseman with good puckhandling ability and has the potential to be a top 4 two-way defenseman in the league.

22. Simon Zether, C, Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Simon Zether is a big 6 foot 3 Swedish-born center, who played the majority of the season with Rögle BK J20 of the J20 Nationell, putting up 8 goals, 38 points in 37 games, along with 6 goals, 8 points in 6 playoff games. Zether had the most goals in the J20 Nationell playoffs (8) to help lead the team to the J20 SM Gold Medal. With Sweden at the U18 World Junior Championships, Zether had 2 points in 7 games to help them to a silver medal. Simon Zether has all the tools to be a top 6 goal-scoring center in the NHL, it is also possible that he ends up playing on the Wing at the NHL level.

23. Alexander Zetterberg, C, Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell)
24. Emil Hemming, LW/RW, TPS (Liiga)
25. Veeti Väisänen, LHD, KooKoo (Liiga)
26. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
27. Anthony Cristoforo, RHD, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
28. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
29. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
30. Jakub Chromiak, RHD, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
31. Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
32. Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)