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The 2024 NHL Draft is only a few weeks away, and there’s no more hockey to be played for those looking to get selected in Vegas. There’s nothing left to change a player’s season now. So at this point, we’ve got a good idea of the best of the best in all the biggest categories.

Today, we’re going to look at who stands out the most in many important player traits. Who defends the best? Who can snipe like an NHL superstar? Who wants to crush everyone in his way?

Let’s take a look at which prospects stand out the most in some key areas of the game:

Highest Ceiling: Ivan Demidov, RW

Other notables: Zayne Parekh, Macklin Celebrini, Beckett Sennecke, Trevor Connelly

A few players had a chance to fill this spot, but I went with the player I considered to be the most purely skilled in the draft. Demidov is an outstanding puckhandler with great hockey sense, with no player in the draft having better hands or vision. He pulls off highlight-reel goals consistently and did a fantastic job of carrying SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in the MHL this year with his ability to dominate games with the puck. His skating is average, but the right coaching can take that up a step. I know some feel like he will fall in the draft – I think that’s a mistake. I always bet on skill, and Demidov has it in spades.

Meanwhile, Connelly could end up becoming one of the most exciting prospects in this draft. Against his peers, he rarely wasn’t in control of the play and was easily one of the most impressive players in all of junior international hockey. He’s a top 10 talent in this draft, but off-ice issues from the past will knock him down in the rankings. If a team believes in him, I can see him becoming a top-line goal-scorer in the NHL, but they also need to be sure he’s the right fit in the dressing room.

Best Offensive Defenseman: Zayne Parekh, RHD (Saginaw, OHL)

Other notables: Carter Yakemchuk, Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov, Cole Hutson

Saginaw Spirit defenseman Zayne Parekh — *Zayne Parekh (Eric Young)*

It’s hard to beat a 33-goal, 96-point season – especially since it’s one of the best stat lines ever recorded by a 17-year-old in the OHL. Parekh is a gifted offensive talent who showed promising signs from a young age, but never to the extent that he pulled off this year. Those are numbers you expect from a goal-scoring winger, not a defenseman. His elusiveness with the puck, his vision, and his hockey IQ, mixed with a solid wrist shot, make him such a dangerous threat every time he touches the puck, and I have no reason to believe he won’t be a 70-point player in the NHL one day.

Yakemchuk is equally fascinating but for a slightly different reason. He had 30 goals and 71 points in 66 games with the Calgary Hitmen, but also had 120 penalty minutes to make him such a feared presence. His skating might be what holds him back from being a true high-end defenseman, but that can be worked on. His combination of size, skill and tenacity makes him so much fun to watch, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team took a chance on him really early.

Best Shutdown Defenseman: Anton Silayev, LHD (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)

Other notables: EJ Emery, Charlie Elick, Stian Solberg, Ben Danford

If Silayev went in the top three, I wouldn’t be surprised. He lacks the offensive skills that some of the other top prospects might have, but when it comes to actually playing defense, he’s excellent. The 6-foot-7 blueliner played some important minutes in the KHL while blocking shots, landing hits and showing off great skating for his size. There aren’t a whole lot of big defenders that can skate as well as Silayev does, and his ice time in the KHL is something that has never been seen by someone his age. He’s going to be a star in a few years.

Emery, though, is a close second. I think he did an excellent job of playing alongside the more skilled, puck-moving stylings of Cole Hutson with the USNTDP, often being the calming presence in USA’s zone. He skates well for a 6-foot-3 defender and does a tremendous job cutting off angles, even on the bigger ice in international tournaments. He has top-four potential written all over him for the way he makes life difficult for anyone who tries to beat him in 1-on-1 situations.

Best Two-Way Forward: Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University, NCAA)

Other notables: Konsta Helenius, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Jett Luchanko, Cole Beaudoin

*Macklin Celebrini (Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports)*

He’s the best forward, period, but one of the biggest reasons is his two-way play. Compared to the likes of Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, Celebrini is so committed to retrieving the puck from his own zone and isn’t afraid to mix it up physically with anyone. He has one of the best shots, is an elite-level puckhandler, has outstanding hockey sense, and is a dynamic skater, too. The San Jose Sharks have a future NHL star – maybe not someone who’s going to challenge for scoring titles, but he’s going to do so well in so many facets of the game that he’s going to be a game-changer.

And then there’s Helenius, who hasn’t gotten enough love this year. He’s not going to dazzle with pure offense or skill, and his game can be boring at times. But Helenius still put up one of the most productive seasons by a 17-year-old in Liiga history this year and managed to become one of just a handful of players to participate in the World Juniors, U-18 World Championship and Men’s World Championship in the same season. He’s defensively responsible, skates well and beats you with his stick work if you try and get too fancy.

Best Power Forward: Cayden Lindstrom, C (Medicine Hat, WHL)

Other notables: Igor Chernyshov, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Liam Greentree, Adam Jecho

The 6-foot-4 forward is so good in so many elements of the game. He’s an outstanding skater, has one of the best shots in the draft class, passes so well, has great hockey sense and can play through a wall. While he’s not a goon, he really brings a physical element to his game that reminds you of Roope Hintz or, to a lesser extent, Eric Lindros. He’s a good two-way player that can make magic happen with the puck and would have likely broke the 100-point barrier if a back injury didn’t limit him to just 32 games during the regular season. Expect him to go early because there isn’t a forward in the first round that brings his combination of skill and power.

But another intriguing option is Chernyshov out of the KHL. At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, he has good size and isn’t afraid to use it. A typical power forward, does a great job of working his tail off without the puck, and doesn’t back down from anyone. He just moves all the time, which is something coaches love to see. He’s more of a late first-rounder, but he’d fit perfectly into the pipeline for many teams.

Best Skater: Berkly Catton, C (Spokane, WHL)

Other notables: Macklin Celebrini, Trevor Connelly, AJ Spellacy, John Mustard

*Berkly Catton (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

If you’re not going to be a big center, you might as well be a speedy one. Catton is quick, can start and stop on a dime and he generates a ton of power for a player south of sixth-foot. His footwork, mixed in with his quick hands, allow him to be a true ankle-breaker, and he plays at such a good pace. Transitionally, too, he’s a top-talent in this draft.

A team looking to add some energy and good straight-line speed outside of the first round could get tremendous value out of Mustard. He relishes in the opportunity to win battles with his skating and makes it hard for others to catch up to him. While I’m not sure if he’s got the pure skill to be a difference-maker in the NHL, I can see him becoming a third-line player who can help on the power play and has the hockey IQ and energy to thrive.

Best Shot: Cole Eiserman, LW (USNTDP)

Other notables: Justin Poirier, Macklin Celebrini, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Cayden Lindstrom

*Cole Eiserman (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

This isn’t even particularly close. Eiserman has one of the best shots we’ve seen in quite some time. He can do a bit of everything with the puck – he can release it on a one-timer, snipe it top corner, or even show a bit of deception before beating the goalie with a shot they never saw coming. Eiserman’s release has been compared to the likes of Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, and while his two-way game needs some work for sure, there’s no question he’s going to be a goal-scorer in the NHL because Eiserman’s ability to shoot from just about anywhere and at high speed and power give him something every player craves.

The player with the most fascinating shot might actually be Poirier, though. The 5-foot-8 forward is a high-end offensive player who became the first 17-year-old to score 50 goals since Sidney Crosby two decades ago. He’s not a two-way player by any means and his skating is average at best, but like Eiserman, Poirier has the ability to put the puck where he wants it consistently.

Most Physical: Gabriel Eliasson, LHD (HV71, Sweden U-20)

Other notables: Stian Solberg, Carter Yakemchuk, Charlie Elick, Yegor Surin

*Gabriel Eliasson (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

While it can get him into trouble at times, few players bring the violence like Eliasson does. He’s a massive presence at 6-foot-7 and he makes sure to throw his body around as much as possible. Whether it be big hits along the boards, simple pushes to regain puck possession, or massive, open-ice blows, Eliasson doesn’t want you to have the puck. In 36 games with HV71’s U-20 team, he finished with 103 penalty minutes and upped the ante with 10 minor penalties in seven U-18 World Championship games with Sweden, too. The University of Michigan commit needs to keep his game in check if he’s going to make it work, but he’s a mobile defender with size and that will intrigue someone in one of the middle rounds on Day 2.

Solberg, meanwhile, is a fascinating defenseman because as the season wore on, he figured out how to use his size more to his advantage. That was especially true at the World Championship, where it didn’t seem like anybody scared the Norwiegan out there. Once projected to be more of a third-rounder, Solberg’s defensive and physical play has really helped him stand out.

Most Athletic: Cole Beaudoin, C (Barrie, OHL)

Other notables: Ollie Josephson, EJ Emery, AJ Spellacy, Stian Solberg

*Cole Beaudoin (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

If you’ve ever seen Beaudoin off the ice, you’ll be shocked with just how physically jacked he is. Beaudoin scored well during the combine drills and showed why scouts are excited about him as a potential bottom-six forward. He put up good numbers in the OHL with Barrie, but it was his play at the U-18s where he skated as a fourth-line center that he showed how physically dominant he can be while also killing penalties and causing havoc in front of the net. He’s built like a tank and does an excellent job of hitting hard, and you could rely on him late in the game to still bring the energy. Beaudoin’s versatility will be fascinating to watch.

Another player who looked sharp at the combine was Ollie Josephson, who was one of the top performers in many of the key physical categories. He’s a shutdown forward, but he’s got a motor and will wear you down until there’s nothing left. That’s what you’re looking for in a third-round pick, someone who can play a role and play it very, very well.

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