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Another interesting read from the athletic
2024 NHL Draft survey: Scouts and prospects dish on the top defensemen and more
Scott Wheeler
Jun 17, 2024
Welcome to my anonymous 2024 NHL Draft survey. This year-end annual project is two-pronged: NHL scouts, staff and execs get one set of questions, and the players get another. This year, 88 prospects, 17 scouts (including multiple directors) and one general manager were surveyed.
Here are the full results for both polls, plus a third section with some quotes I gathered from the road and phone calls throughout this season.
NHL scout survey
This year, I felt the most pressing debate I could get perspective on from NHL scouts was having them chop up and divide the half dozen D that define the top of the 2024 class. I settled on this: “Which of the big six D in the class (Artyom Levshunov, Zeev Buium, Zayne Parekh, Sam Richardinson, Anton Silayev and Carter Yakemchuk) do you like the best and least?” It usually came with a follow-up or two as to who the seventh-best D in the class is and whether that player is close to each scout’s “least-liked” player in the group of six.
Levshunov received the majority of votes as the best D in the class and Yakemchuk received the majority of votes as the sixth D in the group. But it wasn’t unanimous, with Parekh and Silayev also receiving votes at No. 1, and Richardinson also receiving votes at No. 6. Buium was the only D not to garner a vote in either of the two categories, a testament to the view that while he may not be seen as the top prospect in the group, scouts are high on him.
Stian Solberg and Adam Jiricek each received multiple votes as the No. 7 D prospect in the draft, with Cole Hutson also receiving one. But they weren’t commonly viewed as close to that top group — or even each scout’s No. 6 D prospect.
GM 1: Hard to say the one I like the least because they are all terrific in their own ways. Levshunov top of this class for me.
Scout 1: You love teasing the teams with no picks about the top 10s, eh?
Haha, you’ve got more freedom to be honest!
Best: Silayev/Levshunov tie. Least: Yakemchuk.
Who would be your seventh D and are they close to your least?
Jiricek. No, would not be close.
Scout 2: I haven’t seen most of them since we knew early on we wouldn’t get any of them.
Do you have a D from outside of that group that you’re high on/would take in the front half of the first round (like a Solberg or a Jiricek)?
No. The first half is a bit rich for those guys.
Scout 3:
I think I already know your answer for both (Best: Levshunov; and Least: Yakemchuk?).
Damn, it’s like you’re in my head!
Is there a seventh D you think belongs in that group? Do you think any of Solberg, Jiricek, Emery, etc., are close to Yakemchuk?
Solberg or Jiricek. Jiricek was considered top 10 prior to injury and at Hlinka was one of the top five pro prospects. Solberg has come on strong! Emery is more athlete than hockey player — not a fan.
Scout 4: Best: Parekh. Least: Yakemchuk.
Is there a seventh D you think belongs in that group? Do you think any of Solberg, Jiricek, Emery, etc., are close to Yakemchuk?
Maybe Solberg with how his year finished but can’t say that with confidence.
Scout 5: I only know Parekh and Richardinson best. I’ve seen video on Buium, Levshunov and Yakemchuk. Buium looks well-rounded. Levshunov like his physical play. Yakemchuk like his skill.
Parekh or Richardinson?
Parekh.
Why?
(Richardinson’s) not going to be as offensive at the next level but he has that shot that will be used on the PP. Solid defensively. High floor, don’t think his ceiling is as high. He’ll be a 3-4 while others will be 1-2. But it won’t surprise me if he goes ahead of Parekh. Among his peers, Richardinson is more highly thought of than Parekh.
Scout 6: Best: Levshunov. Least: Yakemchuk.
Is there a seventh D you think belongs in that group? Do you think any of Solberg, Jiricek, Emery, etc., are close to Yakemchuk?
I liked Jiricek before the injury. Emery I would say not quite at that level as far as skill and sense.
Scout 7: It’s a spicy question as I’m really high on all six. But ironically I’d rank them in the exact order you laid out: Levshunov, Buium, Parekh, Richardinson, Silayev, Yakemchuk.
Ha! That happens to be the exact way I have them ranked myself.
I think the more interesting question is: If you were in a position to draft your No. 1 defenseman on the list, but decided to trade down to pick the sixth defenseman on the list, what additional draft capital would you require to do it?
What’s your answer to that question?
I’ve been debating that question a lot. The draft pick value chart will give you the technical answer … but in my honest opinion, the ability to differentiate between those six accurately in terms of upside very much suggests you should hedge by picking up another asset. Late first/early second gets it done for me. You?
I think I view it as:
1. Levshunov
—
2. Buium
3. Parekh
4. Richardinson
5. Silayev
—
6. Yakemchuk
I don’t think there’s a scenario where a team moves back and still gets Arty though, so the question is probably more about whether moving down a few spots to take a chance that a Buium or a Parekh lingers makes sense. And in theory, I think it does and would hedge that risk at a late-first as well. I also think Silayev likely goes in front of those two, which would help with making a judgement call on moving down. Based on those I’ve surveyed, Yakemchuk is the consensus sixth. So if you think there isn’t the slight gap I have between him and that middle group, it probably makes even more sense.
Who is your seventh defenseman and how close is he to your “least favorite” from the group of six? What is the gap between Yakemchuk and Solberg, Jiricek, etc.?
I don’t have another D in the first round. I get the Solberg hype but I can’t get there. For Jiricek, I can’t get past how pedestrian his profile has been — even considering the injury.
Scout 8: Best: Parekh. Least: Yakemchuk.
The latter has been the most common answer. Who would your No. 7-ranked D be and is that player close to Yakemchuk?
Not sure yet among a few guys, but I’d say yes.
Scout 9: Top I’d have Silayev and bottom would be Richardinson.
Who would be your No. 7 D and would that player be close to Richardinson?
Next would be Hutson but there’s a handful of forwards between Richardinson and him so not that close.
You’re the first person to answer Hutson to that second question.
Yeah it’s close, would be Hutson/Solberg and I can understand arguments either way just personal preference would tip me towards Hutson.
Scout 10: Most: Parekh and Silayev. Least: Richardinson. I (also) like Solberg very much.
Scout 11: Given where we pick, I haven’t spent a lot of time on those guys this year. Especially in the second half. Maybe one of these years we’ll pick high and I can offer more insight at the top end!
Any D in that second range you like. Feels like after the top guys and then Solberg it gets pretty mushy for most. You like any of Emery, Jiricek, etc?
I like Solberg a lot. Our group was early onto him this year but I think our hope on him is gone out the window by this point with how he ended the year and how he interviewed. Have time for Emery even though he’s not necessarily our type of swing. He’s a bubble guy for being there for us I think anyway. Definitely don’t see us being a team who targets the likes of a Jiricek or an Elick.
Scout 12: This is a really tight grouping in my estimation. At the top of the class, it is a question of size vs. skill. I have Silayev in the same tier as Buium and Parekh. Silayev is so unique a prospect with his size and skill that he is hard to pass up on. The Hedman comp is not realistic with his production and hockey sense but there is a high floor for a top 4 D. Buium and Parekh are very similar to each other: high upside swings on modern offensive D. I probably have Buium a touch ahead due to league quality but both should be top 4 D and have higher upside than Silayev. There are none of these D that I don’t like. The other three are close behind and represent a bit more safe, projectable top 4 D. Levshunov might be the scariest of them to pick, he has a lot of defensive and puck play habits that are not going to work as a pro and reprogramming him would be a waste of his offensive confidence and talent.
Curious: Who would be your No. 7 D?
Jiricek for me. He is probably sliding too far on some lists with his injury. He could be a top 4 D, might not have game-breaking offense though. I expect Solberg to be a first-round pick and might go before him. Can’t teach mean/physicality.
Scout 13: Best: Levshunov. The physical tools are immense. Size, skating, skill, right shot, can run a PP and will develop a better two-way game at the next level as his defensive details become more of a focus. John Carlson comp.
Least: Yakemchuk. Tremendous year and from a draft profile standpoint he meets all the standards. Size, right shot, 30 goals, 100 PIMS but the skating, particularly backward and his inability to defend are more concerning than others in this group. Evan Bouchard comp.
Who is your No. 7 D and are they close to your least of that top group? Is a Solberg, or a Jiricek, in the conversation with a Yakemchuk for you?
Coming into the year and leaving Hlinka, Jiricek was firmly in this group (ahead of some) but his season was rough and his U20 in November was rougher. Unfortunately with the injury he didn’t get a chance to play his way out of the funk. I still believe in the player but the risks and warning signs are there.
Solberg is the exact opposite. Vanilla season and big breakout on the biggest stage. I think if you are fine with the idea of him being a defensive defenseman then he is next. If you are drafting for what you saw at WC I think he will have a hard time living up to it.
Neither challenges the top group at this point. Jiricek could have.
Scout 14: I’m only comfortable speaking on the two NCAA D, where I would lean Levshunov over Buium.
Are those two close for you or do you see a gap?
Extremely close for me.
Scout 15: Only saw Parekh and Richardinson (and Yak at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Games). Safer pick is Richardinson but Parekh has the higher ceiling I think.
Scout 16: Best: Richardinson. Least: Yakemchuk.
Scout 17: Best: Levshunov. Least: Richardinson.
All are exceptional talents. Lev took big strides and was able to change his game from start to end of season. Feels like he’s still a long ways from his potential.
Richardinson not based on ability, just in his potential to be a star seems less likely than the others.
We’ll take any of them.
Player survey
Though the scout’s survey changes with each class, I’ve been asking the players the same question in their survey for years: “Who is the most talented non-teammate you’ve played against in this class? Not necessarily the best player, but strictly the most talented.”
Their responses highlight the prospects that have impressed their peers from a skill standpoint.
A total of 23 different players received votes.
All but one of the 88 responses have been counted below, with Matvei Gridin’s answer of “me” excluded (though full marks for the effort).
Among the most interesting responses, one player argued Beckett Sennecke had the “highest upside in the draft” and another said Richardinson was “a man playing against kids” at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Though few have played against Ivan Demidov and Silayev, I thought it was notable that Demidov still managed to get two votes as well, including one from Zayne Parekh, who’d only seen — and been wowed by — his highlights on Instagram, and another from Dominik Badinka, who has actually played against him four times and answered without hesitation.
While defensemen haven’t received a ton of love in the survey in the past, with forwards more naturally linked to the idea of “talent,” Parekh and Yakemchuk both unsurprisingly led all blueliners in responses (three apiece) and a total of 13 votes were given to six different D, a sign of the talent of this year’s crop on the back end.
Here was the poll’s final tally, ranked by most common (number of votes in parentheses):
1. Macklin Celebrini (23)
2. Berkly Catton (12)
3. Beckett Sennecke (8)
4. Cole Eiserman (5)
T5. Michael Hage, Trevor Connelly (4)
T7. Tij Iginla, Zayne Parekh, Konsta Helenius, Carter Yakemchuk (3)
T11. Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, Artyom Levshunov, Zeev Buium, Sam Richardinson, Jett Luchanko (2)
T17. Maxim Massé, Alexander Zetterberg, Emil Hemming, Mac Swanson, Lucas Pettersson, Dominik Badinka, Kevin He (1)
Quotes from the road and the phone line
Sam Richardinson on former Toronto Marlboros teammate and current OHL opponent Beckett Sennecke: “The thing for Beckett is he’s just wickedly creative. When he’s got the puck on his stick, you never really know what he can do but he can basically pull off any move in the book. You’ve got to play him tight and play him hard because you know that if you give him that inch of space he’ll make you pay and he’s going to put it into the back of the net or make you look silly.”
Former Toronto Marlboros head coach Justin Donati on Sennecke: “He has always been an offensive player. He can be a high-end guy in the NHL. And he’s still growing into his body. He was 5-foot-9 in his OHL draft year, he was 6 feet last year, and he’s 6-3 now. So in two years, he’s put on six inches. But he’s got high-end skill.”
OHL coach on Sennecke: “Sigh. He definitely has the potential. There are some special, special qualities about him and it’s just can he break some of the habits that he continues to do? Just so much straight-up one-on-one play. And I’m not opposed to one-on-one but it can’t be straight up, you’ve got to be attacking on angles and not trying to beat a guy with straight stick skills.”
OHL GM on Richardinson: “Richardinson will fall off. His IQ is questionable and he gets the London bump. Protected with the quality of team.”
Windsor Spitfires head coach Casey Torres on Anthony Cristoforo: “Cristoforo is a first-class human. Great kid. Loved having him around. And he’s a kid we played 25-30 minutes against the other team’s best players. He’s an ’06 who is our top PP, top PK, and then trying to shadow the other team’s best line. It’s a lot of responsibility that we put on such a young player. And I thought he handled it really well. And a lot of the time he handled that with not a lot of experience to play with because our D core was very young. It’s tough. He became a real gritty shot-blocker too, which I think is interesting to see evolve in his game. He’s got a really good brain. He was awesome.”
Barrie Colts head coach and GM Marty Williamson on Riley Patterson: “As much as Riley had an adjustment period, he played Tier II on a bad team and got very little coaching, he’s accountable and I was shocked he wasn’t on the first NHL list. He’s an elite scorer around the net and everything goes in for him. But he’s got to work on his pace away from the puck. But I’m actually really not worried about him at all. He’s a good kid, he’s got a good frame, he’s got powerful legs and when these kids come out of minor midget they haven’t really been coached and they’ve always been top scorers on every team and that’s why that first year is so important. But he missed that first year in North York and they were the worst team in the league and he just did what he wanted offensively, didn’t really do anything defensively, and now I’m up his rear end about defensive responsibilities and picking up guys in his own zone. Offensively, he shoots the puck outstanding, he’s got good feel. He’s going to have a 25-goal season which is hard to do in this league (he scored 29). We paid a big price to get him and I’m not disappointed at all.”
OHL GM on Henry Mews: “I’m not a Mews fan and most NHL guys feel the same.”
Skills coach Pat Malloy on Mews: “I like his game and I think there’s lots of growth opportunity there as well. Like he’s a good player but I think he’s got a lot of things that will trend really well in today’s NHL and I think he can really grow into those things. He’s learning how to manage risk a little bit. I think we’re going to see growth in his game, especially if he winds up with a team that really likes to incorporate five men into their offense and have defensemen be play drivers as well, I think the sky’s the limit for him.
If he can take away when and how to mitigate risk, and when to apply risk, and find that gauge, then he could be deadly. I think he’s got a really good processor and the skill set, so it’s really just figuring out how to apply it and at what points in the game. And that’s all just learning the game. A lot of kids come out of minor hockey and they’re supremely skilled but they don’t know how to manage the game, so from that perspective, it’s a good thing that he’s going through it.”
OHL GM on Lukas Fischer: “He’s exposed on a young team but his IQ is good, plays 28-32 mins a night, should be a second-round pick. He’s 6-foot-3, defends, tough, mobile, to me his upside is through the roof. He’s a lock to play NHL games.”
Muskegon Lumberjacks GM Jim McGroarty on Matvei Gridin: “Matvei’s high-end skill, ability to skate and change the game with his ability to shoot the puck. I think the knock on Matvei is maybe it doesn’t look like he’s working hard but look at Kucherov and Stamkos, they’re always finding areas and they’re always in the right part of the ice. And I think that’s what separates Matvei. It might not look like he’s working hard but he’s always in the right spot to get that puck and create a scoring chance or score a goal. I think he’s a first-rounder.”
Oshawa Generals associate coach Steve O’Rourke on Ben Danford: “I think he’s going to surprise people as the year goes on. We’re really working on growing his offensive instincts. I think they’re coming. He’s such a coachable kid. We would like to make him our captain right now but it’s just too soon. He’s phenomenal, he really is. I’m just lucky to be working with him to be honest with you. He’s a kid that takes care of his own end first, which is awesome. And now that those details are there with his crossovers and stick placement and everything, it’s really just how to create offense. I think he’s going to move up into that second round.”
USHL head coach on Mac Swanson: “Swanson’s a really, really good player, like awesome player, but I just don’t know NHL prospect player.”
NTDP head coach Nick Fohr on Brodie Ziemer: “Brodie’s our captain and he does so much for us, he does so much for his teammates, he’s responsible in all areas, he plays in every situation. He’s just such a locked-in hockey player at getting better every single day in what he does. I mean, he does anything and everything for us and there’s a reason he’s our captain. And that’s voted on solely by his teammates, the guys just look at him for everything and he’s just such a good kid.”
Fohr on Max Plante: “He’s just such a positive kid and he brings so much positivity to our room and happiness and he’s such a smart hockey player. Those guys are just valuable, valuable pieces to winning hockey teams and cultures. He’s going to be super successful and he’s underrated right now. I kept getting more and more questions about him and more ‘man, I didn’t see it at first with (Plante), but now I’m starting to see this, and this, and this, and I’m like ‘yeah, you guys will get there eventually.’ Max is awesome.”
USHL GM on overager Joona Vaisanen: “Not saying he’ll be the best at the end of the day but in terms of USHL impact he’s No. 1 (among D in the league). No-brainer pick for me. Will be better with better players because of his brain. I’m a big fan.”
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