Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov headline top NHL prospects list

Every year, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler compiles a list of the top 100 drafted prospects in the NHL. He evaluates and ranks the top up-and-coming players across all teams under the age of 23 who are not full-time NHLers yet.

In his latest iteration, Wheeler lists 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks as the clear-cut top prospect in the NHL — in a class of his own, no less.

Celebrini, the youngest Hobey Baker award winner in NCAA history, led Boston University to the Hockey East Tournament final and an appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four this winter. Now, having signed his entry-level contract earlier this month, he’s set to lead the Sharks into Year 1 of their rebuild under first-year head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

“He has shown, again and again, that he has pretty well everything you look for in the mold of a center and has looked like a true star-forward prospect domestically and internationally,” Wheeler wrote. “…[His] tools, combined with excellent puck-protection skills and an aggressive approach, allow him to play a heavy-skill game. I expect him to become a frontline, star-level center for the Sharks.”

Everything from his staking, timing, puck tracking, offensive prowess and playmaking ability makes Celebrini feel like a can’t-miss prospect.

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov has a lot of the same skills as Celebrini. Some considered him the best pure goal-scorer in the 2023 draft, which is why Wheeler put him at No. 2 on his list.

The No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft, Michkov is set for his first season in North America in 2024 after a near-point-per-game campaign for HK Sochi in the Russian KHL.

“A Calder Trophy frontrunner for next season on talent, upside and pedigree, Michkov looks like he’s going to be a prolific, point-producing star in the NHL,” Wheeler wrote. “…I believe he has true point-per-game, lead-a-team-in-scoring NHL upside."

The rest of Wheeler’s top 10 is below:

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

2. Matvei Michokv, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

3. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

4. Artyom Levshunov, D, Chicago Blackhawks

5. Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

6. Zayne Parekh, D, Calgary Flames

7. Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils

8. Will Smith, C, San Jose Sharks

9. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

10. Brandt Clarke, D, Los Angeles Kings