2024 NHL DRAFT: TOP DEFENSEMAN THIS DRAFT

There are many high-quality defensemen available in the first round of the 2024 NHL draft, but which defensemen have separated themselves from the pack and put themselves in a position to be a top 10 pick? With that in mind, here are the top defenseman in the 2024 Draft, who are worthy of being selected with a top 10 pick in next year’s draft.

Arytom Levshunov, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Many scouts have Artyom Levshunov pegged to be the first defenseman taken in the 2024 draft because of how dominant he was in the USHL last season. He put up 42 points last year, which is remarkable for a Draft+1 defender. He’s an excellent two-way defenseman with good hands and hockey IQ. He’s a modern-day blueliner that can punish you both physically and on the scoresheet. Levhsunov’s mobility, transitional play, and two-way game instantly stand out. He’s such a smooth skater and has the ability to walk the line effectively when in the offensive zone. He has great awareness and IQ in the offensive zone, knowing when to jump into the play for a shot or keep plays alive along the boards. He’s a big, strong, right-shot defenceman who has significant upside offensively. He shoots the puck hard and accurately and finds ways to get them on goal, through traffic, from range. His spatial awareness ranges defensively at times, though, so that’s an area he will need to pay more attention to next season. Levshunov is committed to Michigan State University for the 23-24 season, where he is expected to make a huge impact. Expect him to be one of the first two defensemen off the board in 2024.

Sam Dickerson, London Knights (OHL)

At 6-foot-3, Dickinson is as big as they get among top-flight, mobile defenders. He’s a strong skater, a smart puck-mover, can shoot the disk accurately and his defensive game is consistent and reliable. Dickinson doesn’t give you much room to work with, which makes him so effective. Dickinson didn’t light the OHL on fire with his scoring – with just 23 points in 62 games – but he’s mobile, comfortable with the puck, and shows poise in his own end. He plays well with the puck, though he may not be the type of visionary playmaker that one can expect to quarterback a power play or score a nifty end-to-end goal. He’s a mobile 6-foot-3 defender with a high motor and offense in his game. I wouldn’t call him the most instinctive puck-mover in the world, but he has good skill and can make some plays. He’s also a shot threat. Dickinson is an exciting prospect to watch develop. He has a solid enough playoff run with London this year, but will likely have more responsibility next season. Sam Dickerson should be one of the top two defensemen selected in the 2024 Draft.

Aron Kiviharju, HIFK (SM-liiga)

No Finns were drafted in the first round this year, but Kiviharju is expected to keep it at a one-year drought. It’s rare for a 16-year-old to play in the world juniors, especially for an identity-over-talent program like Finland, but that’s what Kiviharju did in the 2023 tournament. Once there, he got into three games and collected a pair of assists. It’s also rare for a player Kiviharju’s age to play a top-four role at various points in the Liiga with TPS last season.
Kiviharju manages to play in front of him with incredible poise and comfort, directing and influencing play all the way down the ice. He’s a joy to watch advance play under pressure inside his own zone, effortlessly side-stepping forecheckers to headman pucks. He’s an excellent skater, elusive on the offensive blue line, and jumps to space effectively on defense. Kiviharju has the look of an “offenceman” — a combination forward/defender. His hockey sense is outstanding, and he creates a ton of offense due to his brain, skill, and elusiveness. He has NHL PP1 abilities, but his 5-foot-9 frame, and good but not amazing skating ability will be major questions on how well his game translates to the NHL as a Top 4 Defenseman. Aron Kiviharju’s offensive upside makes him a top-10 worthy selection, even if he is undersized.

Henry Mews, D (Ottawa 67s)

Henry Mews is a strong all-around defender that’ll give you 100 percent effort every night. He knows when to push on the attack without getting himself out of position, and he’s got enough speed to get him back after a rush. Mews is trending toward the type of prospect that excels in heavy minutes. Mews is an athletic, right-handed shot who is capable of consistently driving and tilting play from the back end. When he’s at his best, he dictates play by regularly looking to activate into the rush or off the line, and by defending hard when spacing allows. Mews makes a ton of tough plays with the puck and creates a lot with his passing. He has an excellent shot and can run a power play well. He’s not that big, but he’s a competitor who brings it every night and a player coaches can rely on in all situations. After an impressive showing with Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Henry Mews heads in the 2023-24 season as one of the
top defensive prospects in the 2024 draft, who should be a top 10 pick.

Cole Hutson US-U18 (USNTDP)/USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

You’ve heard about his brother, but could Cole be the better prospect? He’s slightly taller at 5-foot-10 and is coming off of a 68-point season – the best total ever from a USNTDP defenseman, regardless of age. There’s a reason why Cole is playing so much so early. He excels against quality competition. And thanks to his brother, scouts might have learned their lesson and not passed on Cole because he’s on the smaller size. Cole fits many of the same traits as his brother, Lane, with hockey IQ to make use of his creativity and puck skills. That’s got lots of eyes on him, and he’s been turning heads despite being undersized at 5-foot-10. He generates a burst of speed through the defensive and neutral zone and can attack the offensive with great intensity. He has excellent puck control and sees the ice very well in regard to his high-end playmaking abilities. There is little to no doubt about his offensive instincts and ability, however, there are questions about his abilities as a defenseman in the NHL, which could cause him to fall in the draft. In terms of raw talent, Cole Hutson is a top-10 caliber player in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Adam Jiricek, HC Plzen (Czechia)

The younger brother of Blue Jackets prospect, David, Adam is a right-handed defenseman from Czechia. His game is built off of two-way play and skating, and he’s shown that he can light up his age group to the tune of 29 points in 41 games. Adam’s got good four-way mobility, an active disposition, balanced shooting mechanics, an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, and legit skill with the puck. He feels a little rawer than the defensemen in front of him here to me, but there are some who are higher. However, he has comparatively struggled when called up to Czechia’s top pro league. If Jiricek can replicate his age-group success against bigger, faster, and stronger competition in the men’s league this coming season, he could be one of the top names out of Europe next June.