Who doesn’t love some early draft content?
On Thursday, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis released their mid-season top 50 list for the 2024 National Hockey League draft, set to take place on June 28 and 29.
As of right now, the Calgary Flames only have one first-round pick. For this exercise, we’ll look at players ranked from 8-18 for this pick as the Flames are the 12th-last team in the league. With that being said, the Flames are just three points out of a playoff spot, so who knows where they will pick with the first-rounder.
Let’s dig in.
#8: Berkly Catton, Centre
This season, Berkly Catton has 28 goals and 65 points for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. The 18-year-old ranks as Daily Faceoff’s eighth-best draft prospect and is noted for being a play-driver. Teams can never have too many centres.
#9: Zayne Parekh, Right-Shot Defenceman
Another Canadian Hockey League product, Zayne Parekh plays for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. This season, the 17-year-old right-shot defenceman has 22 goals and 64 points in 42 games, this again as a young player in one of the best junior leagues in the world. It’s stated in his scouting report that Parekh can be compared to Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar, and will probably need to be paired with a defensive defenceman.
#10: Cayden Lindstrom, Centre
Another centre from the WHL, Cayden Lindstrom has 27 goals and 46 points with the Medicine Hat Tigers, already surpassing his 19 goals and 42 points he had in 2022-23. Daily Faceoff’s scouting report notes that the 6’4” centre likes to his size and can play both wing and centre.
#11: Zeev Buium, Left-Shot Defenceman
The first 2005-born player we’ll talk about in this article, Zeev Buium is a freshman at the University of Denver and has six goals and 32 points in 22 games. Of all 18-year-old defencemen to play in the NCAA, Buium’s 32 points already rank as the eighth-most of all time, with a whole lot of other notable NHL players ahead of him. Buium is a skilled defenceman with a great hockey IQ.
#12: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Right Wing
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has a chance to be the first Norwegian player to be selected in the first-round of the NHL draft. Playing for Mora IK in the second-tier of Swedish hockey, the 18-year-old has six goals and 12 points in 28 games. On top of that, he scored three goals and five points in five games at the World Juniors, but was unable to help keep Norway in the top division. Brandsegg-Nygård is noted for his work ethic and great shot.
#13: Tij Iginla, Left Wing
Jarome Iginla, the best Flame of all time, has a son who could be available where the Flames will likely pick. This season, Tij Iginla has 31 goals and 55 points in 40 games as a 17-year-old. The left-winger is a quick skater and is strong on the boards with a great work ethic.
#14: Carter Yakemchuk, Right-Shot Defenceman
Born two weeks too late to be available in the 2023 draft, Carter Yakemchuk plays in Calgary with the Hitmen, and has 18 goals and 42 points in 40 games. He’s just two goals and six points shy of surpassing his totals last season. The 18-year-old is skilled and has a good shot and a big frame, but has issues in his own end.
#15: Trevor Connelly, Left Wing
Trevor Connelly plays with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League, and has 12 goals and 39 points in 28 games this season. So far this season, the 17-year-old left-winger is on pace for 24 goals and 79 points, matching his goal total from 2022-23, but far surpassing his point total of 47. He’s scouted to be a great playmaker, which makes sense as he tied for fourth in assists this season in the USHL.
#16: Liam Greentree, Left Wing
Liam Greentree plays for the lowly Windsor Spitfire of the OHL, who are tied for the fewest number of points this season. It’s not for a lack of effort though, as the 18-year-old leads the team in points with 24 goals and 57 points, while the next two leading scorers were traded at the trade deadline. Greentree stands at 6’2” and weighs 198 lbs, so some scouts believe he could become your prototypical power forward as he continues to fill out his frame.
#17: Ryder Ritchie, Right Wing
Ryder Ritchie was injured in a mid-December game, but had 13 goals and 31 points in 34 games with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. The 17-year-old’s Daily Faceoff scouting report notes that “he can take over shifts with his high energy and workhouse attitude,” while also reporting a hard shot.
#18: Emil Hemming, Right Wing
Emil Hemming plays in Finland’s top league as a 17-year-old and has held his own, scoring six goals and eight points in 28 games. The right-winger also played for Finland in the World Juniors, picking up two assists in Finland’s seven games. He has a good shot and is a powerful skater.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D.
