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Craig’s List: Celebrini, Eiserman top rankings ahead of World Juniors

Mack Celebrini Mack Celebrini - IIHF Images
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The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship is fast approaching and there are a handful of draft-eligible prospects expected to play big roles in the upcoming tournament.

TSN’s Director of Scouting Craig Button has Boston University centre Macklin Celebrini and United States National Team Development Program forward Cole Eiserman remaining at No. 1 and No. 2 on his list, and he expects both players to star at the tournament in Sweden.

Celebrini is expected to crack Team Canada’s roster and play a prominent role. As a 17-year-old at Boston University this season, he has nine goals and 22 points in 13 games. At the U18s in April, he had six goals and 15 points in seven games to lead Canada to bronze.

An elite two-way centre, Button is confident Celebrini will make an impact for Canada in December.

“His on-ice maturity is outstanding,” said Button of Celebrini. “He knows where his game is. He doesn’t get waylaid if certain areas of his game aren’t prominent. He can do so many things in the game and he doesn’t get deterred.”

Similarly, Eiserman projects to play a starring role for the Americans who look to improve on last year’s bronze-medal finish. He has 25 goals and 40 points in 19 games with the USNTDP this season.

“The way I would describe Cole is he’s not intimidated by the competition,” said Button. “I think for a 17-year-old player going to play at the World Junior, you can’t be in awe, you can’t be intimidated. He’s sure of his capabilities.”

While Finnish forward Konsta Helenius drops one spot from No. 4 on September’s list to No. 5, he is now the third highest ranked forward on Button’s list, jumping ahead of Russian forward Ivan Demidov, who falls to No. 6. Helenius is also expected to be on the Finnish roster for the World Juniors.

“He’s smooth, he’s smart, he makes the game look easy,” said Button of Helenius. “He’s so smart – elite hockey sense."

Helenius, 17, has eight goals and 17 points in 23 games playing in the SM-Liiga with Jukurit.

Expected to join Helenius in Sweden is winger Emil Hemming, who is No. 12 on Button’s list. Hemming has four goals and two assists in 22 games playing for TPS in SM-Liiga.

“He’s a mature player that’s already played some games in the SM-Liiga and he’s had some success,” said Button.

The draft-eligible player projected to play the biggest role for his team is Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Ranked No. 18 on the list, the 18-year-old has one goal and four assists in 19 games with Mora IK in Sweden this season but will play heavy minutes for Norway at the World Juniors as the country plays in the tournament for the first time since 2014.

Defenceman David Reinbacher played on a weak Austrian team in last year’s tournament that was eventually relegated but it didn’t hurt his draft stock as he was taken fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in June. Like Reinbacher, Brandsegg-Nygard will be evaluated a little differently than his draft peers playing in the tournament.

“There’s going to be a lot of one-on-one assessment, what he’s doing individually,” said Button. “His skills are really good, but [when] you’re watching him, you want to see him doing things that are helpful to a team. But he’s not going to get the support back. They’re not good enough.”

Debuting at No. 19 and No. 27 respectively on Button’s list in September, forwards Cayden Lindstrom and Liam Greentree aren’t expected to be on the Canadian roster for the World Juniors. However, both have made big leaps on this list with strong play so far this season, jumping to No. 9 and No. 11 respectively.

Lindstrom is one of the biggest players in the draft at 6-foot-5, but his game isn’t all about size. He has 18 goals and 33 points in 24 games with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers this season. As a rookie, he had 19 goals and 42 points in 61 games.

“I don’t know where you find big, powerful players like that,” said Button. “He’s got a skill set. He’s got a will set. And a physical attributes set.”

Like Lindstrom, Greentree is quickly closing in on his rookie season totals. He has 16 goals and 34 points in 21 games on a Windsor Spitfires team that is one of the worst in the Ontario Hockey League with just six wins so far this season in 24 games.

“He’s not just playing well on that team, he’s their best player,” said Button.
 

Craig's List - Nov. 30 

 
RK Player Position Shot Height Weight Current Team GP Goals Assists Points
1 Macklin Celebrini  C L 6'0 190 Boston University (NCAA) 13 9 13 22
2 Cole Eiserman LW L 5'11 ¾ 197 USA NTDP (USHL) 19 25 15 40
3 Artyom Levshunov D R 6'2 208 Michigan State Spartans (NCAA) 16 4 11 15
4 Anton Silayev D L 6'7 211 Nizhny Novogorod (KHL) 35 3 7 10
5 Konsta Helenius C R 5'10 ¾ 180 Jukurit (SM Liiga) 23 8 9 17
6 Ivan Demidov LW L 5'11 181 SKA 1946 (MHL) 6 2 4 6
7 Adam Jiricek D R 6'2 ½ 178 HC Plzeň  (Czechia) 19 0 1 1
8 Sam Dickinson D L 6'2 ¾ 201 London Knights (OHL) 24 5 14 19
9 Cayden Lindstrom C L 6'3 211 Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 24 18 15 33
10 Zayne Parekh D R 6'0 172 Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 22 8 20 28
11 Liam Greentree RW L 6'2 215 Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 21 16 18 34
12 Emil Hemming RW R 6'0 ¾ 201 TPS Jr. (SM Liiga Jr.) 8 9 6 15
13 Berkly Catton C L 5'11 169 Spokane Chiefs 22 14 18 32
14 Igor Chernyshov LW R 6'2 192 Dynamo Moscow (MHL) 14 6 6 12
15 Trevor Connelly LW L 6'0 ¾ 156 Tri-City Storm (USHL 18 6 16 22
16 Carter Yakemchuk D R 6'1 ¾ 188 Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 23 11 14 25
17 Zeev Buium D L 6'0 183 Denvor Pioneers (NCAA) 14 4 14 18
18 Veeti Vaisanen D L 6'0 177 KOOKOO (Sweden- Allsvenskan) 21 1 4 5
19 Michael Brandsegg-Nygård RW R 6'1 194 Mora Jr.  19 1 4 5
20 Ryder Ritchie C/RW R 6'0 173 Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 27 12 14 26
21 Terik Parascak RW R 5'11 ½ 176 Prince George Cougars (WHL) 25 22 16 38
22 Tij Iginla LW L 5'11 ¾ 186 Kelowna Rockets(WHL) 24 19 9 28
23 Maxin Massé RW R 6'1 ¾ 192 Chicoutimi Sagunéens (QMJHL) 26 11 14 25
24 Ej Emery D R 6'3 185 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 0 5 5
25 Cole Hutson D L 5'9 ¾ 158 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 5 14 19
26 Leo Sahlin Wallenius D L 5'11 ½ 176 Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden - J20 Nationell) 25 5 16 21
27 Sacha Boisvert C L 6'2 165 Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) 20 13 7 20
28 Aron Kiviharju D L 5'9 ¼ 170 HIFK  (SM Liiga) 7 1 1 2
29 Michael Hage C/RW R 6'0 ½ 190 Chicago Steel (USHL) 18 6 12 18
30 Henry Mews D R 6'0 181 Ottawa 67's (OHL) 19 3 13 16
31 Beckett Senecke RW R 6'2 ¼ 175 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 19 7 13 20
32 Matvei Shuravin D L 6'3 195 Krasnaya Armiya (MHL) 14 0 3 3
                     
33 Adam Jecho RW R 6'4 ¾ 201 Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) 19 8 10 18
34 Andrew Basha LW L 5'11 ¼ 184 Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 24 11 20 31
35 Will Skehan D L 6'4 211 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 1 4 5
36 Niilopekka Muhonen D L 6'4 ¼ 195 Kalpa (SM Liiga Jr.) 17 1 5 6
37 Leon Muggli D L 5'11 ¾ 165 ZUG (Suisse - NLA) 22 1 4 5
38 Sam O'reilly RW R 6'1 186 London Knights (OHL) 24 7 10 17
39 Lucas Pettersson C L 5'11 168 Modo Jr. (Sweden - J20 Nationell) 23 12 13 25
40 Simon Zether RW/C R 6'2 185 Rogle Jr. (Sweden - J20 Nationell) 17 11 16 27
41 Luke Misa C L 5'10 175 Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) 22 7 26 33
42 Raoul Boilard C L 6'1 ¼ 184 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 28 11 18 29
43 Christian Humphreys C R 5'10 ¾ 170 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 10 17 27
44 Luca Marrelli D R 6'1 ¼ 185 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 22 1 14 15
45 Tanner Howe LW L 5'9 ¾ 182 Regina Pats (WHL) 26 15 15 30
46 Kamil Bednarik C L 6'0 186 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 11 14 25
47 Charlie Elick D R 6'3 ¼ 200 Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 27 3 10 13
48 Julius Miettinen C L 6'2 ¾ 205 Everett Silvertips (WHL) 28 7 10 17
49 Cole Beaudoin C L 6'1 ¾ 209 Barrie Colts (OHL) 21 8 6 14
50 Matvei Gridin LW L 6'1 185 Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) 20 11 11 22
51 Carson Wetsch RW L 6'0 ¼ 187 Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 23 8 9 17
52 Justin Poirier RW R 5'7 ¼ 185 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 28 23 8 31
53 Max Plante LW L 5'10 ¼ 170 USA NTDP (USHL) 10 3 11 14
54 Daniil Ustinkov D L 6'0 198 Zurich (Suisse - NLA) 13 0 1 1
55 Colton Roberts D R 6'4 198 Vancouver Giants (WHL) 25 5 10 15
56 Ondrej Kos LW L 6'2 167 KOOVEE (Finland - Mestis) 14 3 2 5
57 Spencer Gill D R 6'3 ¾ 185 Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 26 5 9 14
58 Tuomas Suoniemi C L 5'10 ½ 163 TPS Jr. (SM Liiga Jr.) 18 3 11 14
59 Will Zellers LW L 5'10 ¼ 163 Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHSW) 23 23 20 43
60 Ben Danford D R 6'1 194 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 22 1 13 14
61 Austin Baker LW L 5'11 ¾ 191 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 7 9 16
62 Tomas Lavoie D R 6'3 ½ 220 Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) 26 2 8 10
63 Brodie Ziemer RW R 5'10 ½ 192 USA NTDP (USHL) 20 6 15 21
64 Lucas Van Vliet C L 6'1 ¼ 181 USA NTDP (USHL) 18 7 3 10