Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman each earned an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list, which was released Wednesday.
The list is a compilation of draft-eligible prospects from all the major development leagues throughout North America and Europe. It will be updated throughout the season as scouts evaluate players.
"They're both hitting on all cylinders right away, and the similar thing about them is they're competitors," NHL Central Scouting director David Gregory said. "You can tell how much these guys want to win and how much they're willing to do to make sure their team wins."
The players on the preliminary list with A ratings are considered potential first-round picks. Players with B ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices, players with C ratings are potential fourth- or fifth-round picks, and those with W ratings indicate a "watch" player for potential sixth- or seventh-round consideration, and first-time draft eligible "work in progress" players with a limited scouting history and games played.
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"NHL clubs provided feedback that they would prefer to have more separation with C grade prospects since there is a significant difference between a fourth- and sixth-round prospect,” Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr said. “There has been a 10-year history utilizing the PTW grading system and the timing was right to adapt and evolve to the bidding of the NHL clubs.”
Celebrini (6-foot, 189 pounds), a freshman at Boston University, had offseason shoulder surgery for an injury he sustained last season while playing with Chicago of the United States Hockey League, but the 17-year-old left-shot center began the season on time and leads the Terriers with five goals and six points in four games.
"I see Macklin as a playmaker first," Gregory said. "He can shoot the puck and he can finish, but he's going to create a lot of opportunities, draw attention to himself, and find his teammates in a good position to be the finishers. But when it's time for him to finish, he'll finish as well."
With Chicago last season, Celebrini became the first player in USHL history to win Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Forward of the Year in the same season. He led the league with 46 goals and 86 points in 50 games.
Eiserman (6-0, 197) leads the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 18 goals, 23 points and 52 shots on goal in 11 games. The 17-year-old right-shot forward had five points (three goals, two assists) in an 8-2 win at Boston University on Oct. 14.
"Cole is a finisher," Gregory said. "He's locked and loaded almost all the time, ready to shoot, and he gets himself into that soft spot. His teammates know to get him the puck because it's going in the net, which is pretty much guaranteed because if you get it enough times it's going to happen. You can look at the numbers he's put up already and the pace he's on. It's really incredible."
Eiserman, who will attend Boston University in 2024-25, had 72 points (43 goals, 29 assists) in 42 games with the NTDP U-17 team in 2022-23, and 32 points (26 goals, six assists) in 20 games after being promoted to the U-18 team. His 69 goals ranked second all-time in a single season, behind Cole Caufield (72 goals, 2018-19).
Among the A-rated skaters who are likely to be selected in the top half of the first round are defensemen Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State University, Sam Dickinson of London of the Ontario Hockey League, Zayne Parekh of Saginaw (OHL), Adam Jiricek of Plzen (Czech Republic), Aron Kiviharju of HIFK (Finland) and Anton Silayev of Torpedo (Russia), and forwards Ivan Demidov of SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) and Sacha Boisvert of Muskegon (USHL).
Levshunov (6-2, 208), a right-handed shot, has six points (three goals, three assists) in six games for the Spartans.
"His game has grown so much," Gregory said. "His game has matured to be a more complete player because he's so dynamic offensively, pushing the pace and creating the attack. Sometimes he's an F1 on the forecheck, but then he gets back if it gets turned over and still defends.
"Maybe this isn't a two-horse race at the top (with Celebrini and Eiserman) with the kind of year Levshunov may end up having."
Dickinson (6-3, 204) is tied for sixth among OHL defensemen with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 11 games for the Knights. Parekh (6-0, 178) is tied for fourth with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in eight games for the Spirit.
Jiricek (6-2, 178), a right-handed shot, is the brother of Columbus Blue Jackets rookie defenseman David Jiricek. He has no points in nine games with Plzen.
"He's got good size and is a fine physical presence," NHL director of European scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said of Jiricek. "He's still at his best in the defensive zone. (He) is an effective checker and stays with his man."
Earlier this month, Kiviharju (5-9, 170) had knee surgery that is expected to keep him out four months. However, he is a legitimate blue-chip prospect due to his physical strength and excellent feel for the game.
Similarly, Demidov (5-11, 181), who can play center or wing, is also expected to be out four months because of a knee injury.
Silayev (6-7, 211) might be the most polarizing draft prospect on the board this spring. He has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 21 games in his first season in the Kontinental Hockey League, where he is coached by former NHL forward Igor Larionov.
"He's a tower on ice, has improved a lot and is now used in all situations," Vuorinen said. "He's surprisingly mobile for a player his size, is active, alert and involved. A two-way defenseman who plays with intensity and a great winning attitude."
There are no A-rated goaltenders on the list at this time.
