Maclin Celebrini, one of the leading candidates to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is among former Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Columbus Blue Jackets rookie forward Adam Fantilli at the next level. It was reported that there may be a combination. Sportsnet NHL Draft Analyst Jason Bucala.
“He's like a combination of Jonathan Toews in his detail, his leadership, the way he plays the game, but he also has Fantilli,” Bucala said on the latest edition of the “NHL Draft Class” podcast. “There are nights I look at him and think, 'Does he look like Nathan McKinnon?' But that's pretty extravagant. I don't want to put that on his plate.
“But Chebrini is responsible, quick and plays in a variety of ways, so he’s pretty comfortable with the Toews-Fantilli combo.”
The Boston University freshman center is tied for third among NCAA Division I players with 48 points and second with 26 points in 30 games. He is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midseason list of North American skaters eligible for the 2024 draft, and No. 1 on NHL.com's midseason list of this season's top draft-eligible players.
Bukala also named several top 2024 draft prospects, including forward Ivan Demidov of SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian Junior League, defenseman Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State University and defenseman Zeev Buium of the University of Denver. I touched it.
”[Demidov] “It has the most dynamic upside,” Bukala said. “He has the highest floor and definitely the highest ceiling. In my opinion, this player is better than Matvey Mitchkov (7th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Philadelphia Flyers) .”
Demidov leads SKA with 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists) in 30 games, which ranks second in the Russian Junior League.
Hosts Adam Kimmelman and Mike G. Morreale also discussed other top prospects expected to be selected early in the 2024 draft. The draft could be held June 28th and 29th at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
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