Macklin Celebrini is all but 100 per cent certain to be the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
“I do think it’s close enough ,” the scout said. “If the team that wins the lottery is already loaded with young talent at forward, and really needs a building block on defence, could I see that team having to make a decision? I think I could.” It’s one thing to note Silayev’s physical stature, outstanding mobility, ability to impact the game at both ends of the ice and sky-high potential. But as one scout duly noted: “I’d be hard pressed to find an NHL GM who would ever take a Russian defenceman who has only ever seen on video over a Canadian kid who most everyone believes is the top guy and who’s going to be a No. 1 NHL centre.”
A teammate of Celebrini’s at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school, Eiserman’s more immediate challenge may be nailing down a spot in the top five rather than knocking Celebrini from the presumed No. 1 pedestal. The consensus seems to be that Celebrini is not considered generational — certainly not McDavid and maybe not Bedard either — but there are equal amounts of support for him being a franchise player or being at the superstar level.
“For a player with his level of talent, he works so hard at all aspects of his game, so he’s similar to Sidney in that regard,” a scout said. “He is not Crosby, but he plays a similar, well-rounded game at a very high level.” Is it conceivable that as talented as Celebrini is, he might return to BU next season rather than play in the NHL immediately?
In our mid-season rankings, two of the top three prospects are defencemen, four in the top 10, and seven in the top 14. No guarantee it shakes out exactly like that, but it’s notable each of the seven in the top 14 is 6 feet or taller.Putting aside the Russian factor and how soon or far of he is to being available for NHL teams— he’s a striking package of size, strength, mobility, offence and defence.
Five of 10 scouts surveyed by TSN listed Silayev at No. 2 and the lowest ranking he received was a No. 6. He scored a pair of goals Saturday night, giving him 34 in 31 games for the U.S. U-18 squad. He has 103 career goals in the U.S. National Development Team Program, which leaves him one shy of Phil Kessel’s career output and 23 from“He has not developed any kind of backup game to his scoring,” one scout said. “He’s so one dimensional, so interested in just getting his goals that it’s sometimes a detriment to his play.