In Las Vegas, the latest cohort of young hockey players were drafted in the first round of the NHL’s entry draft on Friday night. The next round of players on whom the hopes, dreams, expectations, demands, criticism, praise, and honor will be heaped by fans, owners, management, coaches, and teammates. 
1. San Jose Sharks — Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 (North American skaters)
Celebrini was third in the NCAA with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games as a freshman at Boston University and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s player in NCAA ice hockey, becoming the youngest player to win the award and the fourth from Boston University, joining Jack Eichel (2015), Matt Gilroy (2009) and Chris Drury (1998). Celebrini, the youngest player in NCAA hockey this season, didn’t turn 18 until June 13 but was named rookie of the year and player of the year in Hockey East, becoming the fourth player to win both awards in the same season, joining Eichel (2015), Paul Kariya (1993) and Brian Leetch (1987). Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Celebrini opted to advance his development playing Tier 1 AAA hockey for the San Jose Junior Sharks, prep school hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Minnesota and with Chicago of the United States Hockey League before joining BU this season. He’ll determine whether or not he’ll return to college after the draft.
“He competes with himself, competes with others, but that’s just how he is,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “I think that’s what makes him a special player, but I think that’s going to serve him very well in the National Hockey League.”
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 (North American skaters)
The right-handed shot (6-2, 205) was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, and earned spots on the All-Big 10 First Team and All-Freshman Team. The 18-year-old, the third-youngest player in men’s college hockey, ranked second among NCAA freshmen defensemen and tied for ninth among all defensemen with 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 38 games. He led the Big 10 with a plus-27 rating while playing on the top defense pair all season. Levshunov looks to become the third player and first defenseman from Michigan State to be selected among the top three picks after forward Joe Murphy went No. 1 to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1986 NHL Draft, and forward Craig Simpson went No. 2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1985 NHL Draft.
“He’s a player who can be defensive and also bring offense and I think that’s why he brings so much value,” Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said. “He’s very gifted offensively. He’s very good on the power play, he’s got deception, he can shoot through screens and put it on guys’ tape. But he really values defending. He wants to play in the NHL and wants to play meaningful minutes, and to play meaningful minutes you got to do it on both sides of the puck.”
3. Anaheim Ducks — Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 13 (North American skaters)
The 18-year-old has good size (6-3, 182), strength and skills, and those combined with his hockey sense help him consistently generate quality scoring opportunities. Sennecke had 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists), scored seven power-play goals and led the Generals with seven game-winning goals in 63 regular-season games. During the Ontario Hockey League playoffs he tied for fourth with 10 goals in 16 games. Sennecke is an all-around 200-foot player with a positive work ethic at both ends of the ice.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 3 (North American skaters)
Lindstrom (6-3, 213) is a powerhouse who remained a top forward option for the draft despite missing the final 36 regular-season games because of injuries to his back and hand. The 18-year-old had 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists) in 32 games prior to leaving the lineup Dec. 16. After recovering from surgery for a back injury, he returned March 29 and had two points (one goal, one assist) and 17 shots on goal in four Western Hockey League playoff games.
“Lindstrom is an elite NHL prospect that any NHL club would covet, and the NHL projection does not change due to the fact that he has missed time due to injuries that were not deemed to impair his future career,” Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. “Central Scouting chose to rank him in the same position because he remains one of the best prospects in this class and we haven’t filed any reports to displace him.”
5. Montreal Canadiens — Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUS-JR)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 (International skaters)
Demidov is a tremendous skater and excellent puck-handler capable of playing right wing, left wing and center. The left-handed shot (6-0, 192) led St. Petersburg’s team in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, with 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists), and had six game-winning goals and 144 shots on goal in 30 games. The 18-year-old averaged 18:06 of ice time and 4.8 shots on goal per game during the regular season, and had 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) and averaged 17:37 of ice time with 4.5 shots on goal in 17 MHL playoff games. Demidov also played four games with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League but did not have a point.
“I think he’s a better player than [Matvei] Michkov (Philadelphia Flyers, 2023 NHL Draft, No. 7),” TSN director of scouting and NHL analyst Craig Button said. “He’s [Nikita] Kucherov to me. He can pass, he can shoot. He’s brilliant. Like Kucherov, they [both] step out onto the ice and they’re immediately dangerous. The puck ends up on their stick and it’s like, buckle up, pay attention, you’re going for a ride.”
6. Utah Hockey Club — Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 9 (North American skaters)
Iginla (6-0, 191), who turns 18 on Aug. 4, has taken many lessons from his father, Hockey Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla, on and off the ice. Combined with his skill and the competitive verve that was so prevalent in his dad, Tij led the Rockets this season with 47 goals and was second with 84 points and 11 power-play goals in 64 games. The left-handed shot, who led Kelowna in the Western Hockey League playoffs with nine goals and tied for the lead with 15 points in 11 games, is recognized as a goal-scorer with a big shot and good hands around the net. His competitiveness and hockey sense also are big attributes of his game.
7. Ottawa Senators — Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 11 (North American skaters)
The right-handed shot (6-3, 202) led Western Hockey League defensemen with 30 goals and was fifth with 71 points in 66 regular-season games. Yakemchuk set a Calgary record for most goals in a season by a defenseman and is one of three WHL defensemen in the past 10 seasons to score 30 goals, along with Olen Zellweger (32, 2022-23) and Connor Hobbs (31, 2016-17). Yakemchuk also had 31 power-play points (10 goals, 21 assists) and three game-winning goals. The 18-year-old was the first NHL draft-eligible WHL defenseman to score 30 in a season since Ian White with Swift Current in 2001-02.
8. Seattle Kraken — Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 8 (North American skaters)
Catton (5-10, 175) led Spokane and was fourth in the Western Hockey League this season with 116 points (54 goals, 62 assists) in 68 games. He was the third draft-eligible WHL skater since 2000 to top 115 points in a season, joining Connor Bedard (143 points in 2022-23) and Nic Petan (120 in 2012-13). Catton also won 53.4 percent of his face-offs, led the WHL with seven short-handed goals and was third on his team with 30 power-play points (13 goals, 17 assists). The 18-year-old generates plenty of scoring chances off the rush and possesses great awareness in all three zones. Catton had 10 points (eight goals, two assists) in five games to lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was named the WHL U.S. Division Player of the Year.
9. Calgary Flames — Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 5 (North American skaters)
Parekh (6-0, 178), climbed to No. 5 from No. 10 in Central Scouting’s midterm rankings in January. He’s a transitional defenseman who can quarterback the power play. The right-handed shot led Ontario Hockey League defensemen and set Saginaw records for goals (33) and points (96) by a defenseman in 66 regular-season games. Parekh also scored 10 power-play goals, two short-handed goals and six game-winning goals. He had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 13 OHL playoff games, and had five points (one goal, four assists) in five games to help Saginaw win the Memorial Cup. The 18-year-old has been compared to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson because of his dynamic offensive skills.
“His upside is huge,” Nick Smith of Central Scouting said. “He never gets rattled, is full of poise and confidence, and has the skills and the brain … just a smart, smart player. He can score, he’s got a good touch, he’s got good vision, and he competes. A real high-end prospect.”
10. New Jersey Devils — Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (RUS)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 (International skaters)
Silayev (6-7, 211) had 11 points (three goals, eight assists), 103 shots on goal, 74 blocked shots and was second on his team with 98 hits in 63 regular-season games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot, who was No. 2 on Central Scouting’s midterm list in January, had the most points by an under-18 player in Kontinental Hockey League history; Vladimir Tarasenko is second (10 points for Novosibirsk in 2008-09). Perhaps most impressive was how Silayev adapted to the physical style of the game as a teenager in the KHL while averaging 14:54 of ice time per game.
“He seems to always be alert and able to quickly get pucks to his forwards in transition,” NHL director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “He can carry the puck and has a great release. His personal skills are still a bit raw, but his ceiling is high.”
11. San Jose Sharks (from BUF) — Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 7 (North American skaters)
The left-handed shot (6-3, 203) finished fourth among Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists) and third with 11 power-play goals in 68 regular-season games. His 70 points ranked third among draft-eligible defensemen from London, behind Evan Bouchard (87 points, 2017-18) and Rob Ramage (73, 1976-77). The 18-year-old logged a ton of ice time for a team already stocked with NHL drafted players, and played the point on the first power-play unit for a team that had the best power play in OHL at 32.6 percent. He also had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 18 OHL playoff games. Dickinson displayed his outstanding skating all season, including at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 23, when he finished first in 30-meter forward skate with puck and 30-meter backwards skate with puck, and second in transition ability among all players tested.
“One of the things I noticed with him this year is that he’s really improved his defensive zone exits,” Central Scouting’s David Gregory said. “He likes to skate it out, but when that passing opportunity is there, he finds it and he can do it on the backhand as good as anyone I’ve seen.”
12. Minnesota Wild (from PHI) — Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 (North American skaters)
The Wild traded a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up one spot to take Buium. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year led NCAA defensemen and was fifth among all freshmen with 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) in 42 games for the NCAA champion. Buium (6-0, 186) also was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. The 18-year-old was the second-youngest player in men’s college hockey after Boston University center Macklin Celebrini, who was taken No. 1 by the San Jose Sharks. Buium also had five points (three goals, two assists) and a tournament-best plus-11 rating in seven games to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
13. Philadelphia Flyers (from MIN) — Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 20 (North American skaters)
Luchanko (5-11, 187) led Guelph with 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 68 games, and won the William Hanley Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player in the Ontario Hockey League. He tied for second in the OHL with 30 power-play assists was ninth in face-off wins (663). Luchanko finished in the top three in four categories in the 2024 OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll, placing second for Smartest Player, Hardest Worker and Best Skater, and third for Best Shootout Shooter (he went 2-for-4 this season). The 17-year-old also finished first in the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game fitness testing in January, placing among the top five in six of 10 on-ice categories. The right-handed shot has been compared by some scouts to Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.
14. Buffalo Sabres (from PIT via SJS) — Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (FIN)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 3 (International skaters)
The 18-year-old right-handed shot (5-11, 189) had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) and five power-play goals, won 50.2 percent of his face-offs and averaged 16:57 of ice time in 51 games for Jukurit in Liiga, Finland’s top professional men’s league. He had the most points by an under-19 player in Liiga this season. Helenius had two points (one goal, one assist) and 13 shots on goal in seven games for fourth-place Finland at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, averaging 19:12 of ice time in a second-line role. He was the youngest player (17 years old) at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he centered Finland’s top line with Mikael Granlund (San Jose Sharks) and Valtteri Puustinen (Pittsburgh Penguins). He’s been compared by some scouts to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point.
“He’s a complete hockey player, a coach’s dream in many cases, because you can trust him in several situations,” said Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen, NHL director of European Scouting.
15. Detroit Red Wings — Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (SWE-2)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 5 (International skaters)
Brandsegg-Nygard (6-1, 207) was born in Oslo, Norway, but plays for Mora in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second division, where the 18-year-old had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 41 regular-season games. His 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 12 games during the Allsvenskan playoffs were a record for an NHL draft-eligible player. He had five points (three goals, two assists), nine shots on goal and averaged 17:22 of ice time in five games for Norway at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Brandsegg-Nygard is the highest-selected Norway-born player ever, surpassing forward Marius Holtet, a second-round pick (No. 42) of the Dallas Stars in the 2002 NHL Draft. Brandsegg-Nygard plays an advanced game, skates well and has a great shot.
“He plays a very mature game and is one of the best prospects from Norway in many years,” NHL director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “He’s physically strong to play men’s games, is hard-working and has a great attitude. He wants to be a difference-maker.”
16. St. Louis Blues — Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (CZREP)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 (International skaters)
The right-handed shot (6-2, 167) sustained a right knee injury while playing for Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26, had surgery and missed the remainder of the season. He expects to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season. Jiricek, who turned 18 on Friday, had one assist in 19 games in the top professional men’s league in the Czechia this season. He is the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek.
17. Washington Capitals — Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 15 (North American skaters)
Parascak (6-0, 179) led Western Hockey League rookies in goals (43), points (105) and short-handed goals (four) in 68 regular-season games. It was the most points by a WHL rookie since Pavel Brendl had 134 with Calgary in 1998-99. During the WHL playoffs, Parascak led rookies with six goals and was second with 14 points in 12 games. The 18-year-old is composed under pressure and has shown a consistent ability to finish scoring chances around the net.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 16 (North American skaters)
Boisvert will further his development at the University of North Dakota next season and possibly become the program’s first Quebec-born player (Trois-Rivieres). Boisvert’s size (6-2, 183) paid off during his second season with Muskegon. The 18-year-old was fifth in the United States Hockey League with 36 goals and tied for 11th with 68 points in 61 games, after he had 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 57 games as a rookie in 2022-23.
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 6 (North American skaters)
Connelly (6-1, 160) was second in the United States Hockey League with 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) in 52 games and is committed to play at Providence College. One scout said an NHL comparable could be Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, but how Connelly answers questions about his on- and off-ice discipline could determine how quickly the 18-year-old reaches the NHL.
“He’s an explosive player that seems to impact every game he plays,” Central Scouting’s Pat Cullen said. “… I’ve not walked away from any games with Trevor in the past two years where I was disappointed. He’s a guy that when you go to the rink, it’s fun to watch him play because he can score, he can skate, he’s unselfish. He just has a lot of qualities that make him a really attractive forward for NHL clubs to be looking at.”The past is the past. We don’t get involved in that. He’s just a really, really good, complete player and he’s done it at every level the last couple years.”
20. New York Islanders (from TBL via CHI) — Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U-18 (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 12 (North American skaters)
Eiserman (6-foot, 197 pounds) scored 58 goals in 57 games with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team this season, and became the program’s all-time leader with 127 goals in 119 games. He had 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 12 games against NCAA Division I competition and 34 points (25 goals, nine assists) in 24 games against teams in the United States Hockey League. Eiserman also had 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in seven games to help the United States win the silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. His dynamic shot is what makes him a top-end NHL prospect, but there is concern about whether the 17-year-old can round out his game. He’ll continue to improve that area next season at Boston University.Those who know Eiserman best believe his work ethic will allow him to get his game where it needs to be to have success in the NHL.
“Whether it’s fair or not, he’s been labeled as a one-dimensional player, but it’s a very important dimension,” Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. “In the National Hockey League, scoring is one of the best parts of the game. That’s what he’s going to bring to the table with the team.
“When I look down the road, I can see him impacting an NHL club like a Chris Kreider. A guy that can score goals on a consistent basis, score timely goals, help teams win games. I think he just needs to be coached up a bit and he’ll get that in college hockey. That just comes with experience and maturity.”
21. Montreal Canadiens (from LAK) — Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 10 (North American skaters)
The 18-year-old right-hand shot (6-1, 188) won the 2024 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, given to the NHL draft prospect who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism. Hage began his junior career with Chicago last season by sustaining a dislocated right shoulder on his first day of training camp and missing more than six months following surgery. He eventually played 13 games. This season he was fourth in the league with 75 points (33 goals, 42 assists) in 54 regular-season games and had four points (two goals, two assists) in two playoff games. He climbed nine spots to No. 10 in Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters for the 2024 draft, from No. 19 in the midterm ranking in January. His father, Alain, died in a swimming pool accident last summer, and Hage dedicated this season in his honor. He’s committed to play at the University of Michigan next season.
“I think what stands out to me about Michael is he has the size, he has the speed, he has the skill, he has the shot, but he’s competitive,” Chicago coach/general manager Mike Garman said. “He’s a really high-IQ player on top of it. He has, I think, a really unique combination of so many amazing assets.”
22. Nashville Predators — Egor Surin, C, Yaroslav Jr. (RUS-JR)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 22 (International skaters)
Surin (6-1, 197) had 53 points (23 goals, 30 assists) in 43 games in Russia’s junior league. The 17-year-old is considered a hard-worker who already got some experience playing three games in the Kontinental Hockey League with Yaroslavl.
23. Anaheim Ducks (from TOR) — Stian Solberg, D, Valerenga (NOR)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 20 (International skaters)
The Ducks traded the No. 31 pick and No. 58 pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs to move up to 23 and select Solberg (6-1, 205), who is a competitive two-way left-handed shot capable of playing a physical game. He had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 42 regular-season games and nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 playoff games in Norway’s top professional league. Solberg has been compared by some scouts to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov. The 18-year-old is expected to play for Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League in 2024-25.
24. Utah Hockey Club (from COL) — Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 25 (North American skaters)
Utah traded the No. 38 pick, No. 71 pick and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Colorado Avalanche to move up to 24 and take Beaudoin (6-2, 210), who is a physical specimen who stood out during the fitness testing at the NHL Scouting Combine. The 18-year-old had 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists) in 67 regular-season games, five points (two goals, three assists) in six Ontario Hockey League playoff games and helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games. Beaudoin patterns his game after Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner.
“He just has an unmatched work ethic,” Nick Smith of Central Scouting said. “Nobody’s outworking that kid. And he does the elite things well. He’s already a pro the way he approaches the game. Especially at a young age. He’s got underrated hockey sense with some offensive skills that teams overlook. They maybe see him as a hard-working kind of guy, but he puts up numbers and score goals and is just a great kid.”
25. Boston Bruins (from OTT via DET and BOS) — Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrews College (HIGH-ON)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 23 (North American skaters)
Letourneau (6-6, 214) led all players at the NHL Scouting Combine with at 83.25 inches. He was a dominant player at the prep school level with 127 points (61 goals, 66 assists) in 56 games, but questions about the level of play he faced made evaluating the 18-year-old challenging. However scouts were intrigued by the raw skills they saw, which will be challenged when he starts at Boston College in the fall.
“I think it’s hard to find a player with his size and length to have soft hands and good feet,” Nick Smith of Central Scouting said. “He can make plays with sense and vision with a scoring touch around the net. He still has a ton of filling out to do as well.”
26. Los Angeles Kings (from WPG via MTL) — Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 14 (North American skaters)
Greentree is a big forward (6-2, 215) who has become effective at driving the net and finding space to shoot the puck. He’s also a proven leader; the 18-year-old was named the 59th captain in Windsor history on Jan. 15. He scored a goal and was one of the more active players in the tough areas of the ice in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 24. Greentree was tied for 11th in the Ontario Hockey League with 90 points (36 goals, 54 assists) and was fourth with four short-handed assists in 64 games. He could go higher than most expect in the draft because of his combination of toughness and skill, assets NHL scouts and general managers covet. Greentree worked on keeping a positive mindset as Windsor finished 19th among 20 teams in the OHL by drawing a smiley face on his sticks before each game.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from CAR) — Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 17 (North American skaters)
The Blackhawks got another pick in the first round by trading picks Nos. 34 and 50 to the Carolina Hurricanes to take Vanacker (6-0, 178), who led Brantford with 82 points (36 goals, 46 assists) in 68 games. The 18-year-old scored one goal in six games to help Canada win the gold medal at the World U-18s. Most impressive was he played almost the entire season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He had surgery in June and is expected to need 4-6 months to recover.
28. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 21 (North American skaters)
Gridin (6-1, 189) began playing hockey at age 3 in his hometown of Kurgan, Russia. It was there his father, Andrey, began teaching him the fundamentals. He played for St. Petersburg and Omsk in Russia’s development leagues before being chosen by Muskegon in the 15th round (No. 223) of the 2022 United States Hockey League draft. The 18-year-old led the USHL with 83 points (38 goals, 45 assists) in 60 games, a vast improvement on the 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) he had in 40 games in 2022-23. Committed to play at the University of Michigan next season, Gridin knows how to play to his strengths, which include his intelligence, playmaking and one of the quickest shot releases Muskegon coach Parker Burgess said he has ever seen.
29. Dallas Stars — Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (FIN)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 6 (International skaters)
Hemming (6-1, 205), who turned 18 on June 27, had 11 points (seven goals, four assists), 73 shots on goal and averaged 10:04 of ice time in 40 games with TPS in his first season in Liiga, Finland’s top professional men’s league. He also had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games with TPS’ team in Finland’s junior league, and had nine points (four goals, five assists) for third-place Finland to tie for the team lead at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.
“Emil is a scorer by nature and a natural sniper, always hungry to find a way to score,” NHL director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “He has size, a good physical presence, is hard to knock off the puck, and likes to shoot it. He has a quick release and knows where to target his shots.”
30. New York Rangers — EJ Emery, D, USA U-18 (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 39 (North American skaters)
Emery (6-3, 183), committed to the University of North Dakota in 2024-25, had 16 assists in 61 games with the NTDP U-18 team this season, including six assists and a plus-15-rating that tied for the tournament lead in seven games for the United States at the 2024 U-18 Worlds. The 18-year-old is a model of consistency among stay-at-home defensemen of this draft class, can transition well and knows how to close and defend while covering a lot of space with his length and speed.
31. Toronto Maple Leafs (from ANA via EDM) — Ben Danford, D, Oshawa (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 35 (North American skaters)
Danford (6-1, 191) stepped up offensively in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 21 games, after he had 33 points (one goal, 32 assists) in 64 regular-season games. The 18-year-old right-handed shot is viewed as a smart, dependable defenseman who could develop the offensive side of his game.
2. Edmonton Oilers (from PHI via FLA) — Sam O’Reilly, RW, London (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 24 (North American skaters)
The Oilers traded their first-round pick either in 2025 or 2026 to the Philadelphia Flyers to snag the last pick of the first round this year. With it, they took O’Reilly, a right-handed shot who only made the shift to forward three years ago, moving from defenseman to right wing while playing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. O’Reilly (6-1, 184) was third among Ontario Hockey League rookies with 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 68 games. The 18-year-old led OHL rookies during the playoffs with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 16 games to London win the league championship.
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