Get To Know Bob McKenzie’s Top-16 2024 Draft Prospects

If you’re a San Jose Sharks fan who’s paying more attention to the 2024 Draft than the actual team on the ice, Bob McKenzie’s pre-season top-16 Draft rankings are out.

Here’s the lowdown on his top-16, vetted by 10 NHL scouts.

Keep in mind that these rankings change dramatically in-season. For example, last year, the Bobfather had Calum Ritchie at No. 6 (went No. 27 to the Colorado Avalanche), Cam Allen at No. 8 (went No. 136 to the Washington Capitals), Ethan Gauthier at No. 12 (went No. 37 to the Tampa Bay Lightning), and Kasper Haltunnen at No. 16 (went No. 36 to the San Jose Sharks).

That’s no discredit to McKenzie and his sources – for prospects, it’s just the nature of the all-pivotal, fast-shifting Draft year.

One thing that’s striking? McKenzie’s top-three are all forwards, but eight of the next 13 on his list are defensemen. So half this list is blueliners.

1) Macklin Celebrini: 6-foot-0 Chicago Steel center should be a two-way franchise player. The ex-Jr. Shark would look great in a San Jose Sharks uniform.

2) Cole Eiserman: 6-foot-0 USNTDP left winger could be best goal-scorer in Draft.

3) Ivan Demidov: Some think 5-foot-11 SKA right winger could be better than Matvei Michkov.

4) Artyom Levshunov: 6-foot-2 Green Bay Gamblers defenseman is right-handed, should run a top power play unit.

5) Sam Dickinson: The 6-foot-3 London Knights blueliner could be best all-around defender in this Draft.

6) Berkly Catton: 5-foot-11 Spokane Chiefs center should rack up the assists in the NHL if he lives up to potential.

7) Konsta Helenius: Skilled 5-foot-10 Jukurit center-right winger plays bigger than his size.

8) Adam Jiricek: David is his older brother, 6-foot-3 HC Plzen blueliner is rising quickly in the rankings.

9) Anton Silayev: 6-foot-6 Nizhny Novgorod defender has gotten off to a quick offensive start in KHL.

10) Aron Kiviharju: The long-hyped 5-foot-9 TPS blueliner could be long on offense, short on defense.

11) Trent Connelly: California native 6-foot-1 left winger had outstanding Hlinka Gretzky Cup but owns checkered past.

12) Igor Chernyshov: 6-foot-2 Moskva left winger has a lot of offensive tools.

13) Carter Yakemchuk: 6-foot-2 Calgary Hitmen blueliner is big and enjoyed a very productive pre-Draft year.

14) Zayne Parekh: 6-foot-0 Saginaw Spirit defenseman has loads of offensive potential.

15) Michael Brandsegg-Nygard: 6-foot-1 Norwegian right winger tearing it up for Mora’s J20 side.

16) Henry Mews, defenseman: 6-foot-0 Ottawa 67’s blueliner has “excellent” hockey sense.