Logan Horn's Top 100 February 2024 Draft Rankings & 5 First-Round Draft Targets for the Maple Leafs
We're gearing up for the 2024 NHL Draft! Who are the top-rated prospects and some of the best late-first-round options?
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Welcome to the THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our great team of writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at The Hockey Writer’s latest 2024 Draft ranking from Logan Horn, the Maple Leafs’ best options for their first-round pick, some potential options to solve the New Jersey Devils’ disastrous goaltender situation, and much more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
2024 NHL Draft Rankings – Horn’s Top 100 for February
February 8, 2024 by Logan Horn
Now that the 2023-24 season is well underway, it’s time to dive back into some rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. Some of these prospects competed in the World Junior Championship this December so this is an early chance to react to their play on the big stage as well as the play of some other prospects through the first half of their draft years.
At this point, the high-end of the 2024 Draft class seems pretty strong, with a great number-one prospect and a really solid group of talent through the first 12 or 13 picks. I’d say it’s an above-average group, with at least six or seven guys who look like they could absolutely be future stars in the NHL.
5 First-Round Draft Targets for the Maple Leafs
February 7, 2024 by Peter Baracchini
As we’re now in the second half of the NHL season and the trade deadline is fast approaching, the shift then quickly moves to the NHL Entry Draft. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, their draft capital is very low compared to other teams. With the notion of possibly not being buyers at this year’s deadline, general manager Brad Treliving could very well end up keeping the Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick if there’s no substantial deal in place.
The Maple Leafs are nowhere near to being contenders for top pick Macklin Celebrini, but they’re once again in the middle of the pack in the 17-25 range with their pick. While the top of the draft is defense heavy, there aren’t many later in the first-round. Though, there are still some highly regarded forwards with great upside. Here are five early options for the Maple Leafs with their first-round pick.
Devils’ Goaltending Prospects Showing Promise
February 7, 2024 by Daniel Amoia
The New Jersey Devils’ goaltending situation has been a train wreck. They’ve given up the fourth-most goals per game in the league, with 3.55. The trio of Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid, and Nico Daws has combined for a dreadful minus-17.7 goals saved above expected (via MoneyPuck). That’s nearly one goal worse than last season, and it’s the primary reason the Devils were sixth in the Metropolitan Division heading into the All-Star Break.
In a recent press conference, when asked about the goaltending situation, general manager Tom Fitzgerald stated, “I’m not going to say I’m cool with it.”
Available goalies on the market are extremely scarce, and it remains unknown whether Fitzgerald will opt to salvage the season with an external acquisition. While it’s not what everybody wants to hear, the Devils have a talented young core whether or not they parlay this season into any success. With that, the two netminders in their system have turned heads lately – at last, some positive goaltending news.
7 Ducks’ AHL Call-ups Post-Trade Deadline
February 8, 2024 by Corey Abbott
After the NHL trade deadline on March 8, the Anaheim Ducks may look like a completely different team. Pending unrestricted free agents Adam Henrique, Jakob Silfverberg, Sam Carrick, and Ilya Lyubushkin could be playing for different teams. Other clubs have also expressed interest in Frank Vatrano and John Gibson, both of whom have been mentioned in their fair share of trade rumours this season.
The Ducks have numerous in-house options that could potentially fill any gaps in the roster, rather than relying on receiving players back in trades made by general manager Pat Verbeek before the deadline. Following a poor start to the America Hockey League (AHL) season, the San Diego Gulls have registered a 6-2-2 record in their past 10 outings. The trade deadline will present an opportunity to evaluate some promising players in the NHL while taking advantage of their recent success at the same time.
Rangers’ Adam Sýkora: Developing Star & Trade Deadline Asset
February 8, 2024 by Sam Henes
The New York Rangers selected Adam Sýkora with the 63rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was chosen from HK Nitra, where he accumulated 17 points across 46 games during his draft year in the Slovak Extraliga. As one of the youngest players in that year’s draft – his birthday being merely eight days shy of the Sept. 15 cut-off – had he been born after the cut-off, he likely could have been a first-round pick in 2023.
In his draft plus one season, Sýkora improved his performance by securing 25 points in the subsequent season with Nitra. At the end of last season, he transitioned to the American Hockey League (AHL), joining the Hartford Wolf Pack, posting one point in four playoff games.
Flyers’ Samu Tuomaala Becoming Exactly What Team Hoped
February 7, 2024 by Justin Giampietro
It’s been fun to monitor the emergence of the Philadelphia Flyers this season, but their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms has had some individuals take some big strides. Most notably, 21-year-old Samu Tuomaala is having an exceptional season for them in his first full season in North America.
It wasn’t always pretty for Tuomaala, though. Very early, the 2021 second-round pick for the Orange and Black looked to be a miss. He had serious bust potential but has since turned it around and become one of the Flyers’ best prospects. How did this happen?
More Draft & Prospects stuff from THW:
Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs’ Prospect Report: Riding Cowan & the AHL All-Stars
Bruins - Bruins Rookie Spotlight: Matthew Poitras
Coyotes - Coyotes Prospect Report: Räty, Lipkin & Kipkie
Draft History - Blue Jackets’ 2013 Draft Failure Was Result of Mismanagement
Around the AHL - Griffins Notebook: Win Streak, Kasper, Cossa & More
Prospect Rankings - The NHL’s Top 100 Prospects - Midseason Rankings
Draft Coverage - Baracchini’s Top 64 January Rankings
2024 NHL Mock Draft - Horn’s Early Top-16 Mock Draft