Celebrini, who can become the fourth NCAA player selected first overall in the NHL Draft and just the second U.S. college forward to do so (Joe Murphy in 1986: Michigan State to Detroit), leads a Boston University team in scoring that includes 13 players already drafted to the NHL. Celebrini (4-4—8 in 5 GP) also led Team Canada in points at the 2024 World Junior Championship.

“Macklin Celebrini was the unanimous No.1-ranked player, having displayed his NHL skills and attributes on the world stage as a 17-year-old at the World Junior Championship while also leading Boston University and Hockey East in scoring,” said Dan Marr, Vice President of NHL Central Scouting. “Macklin plays at a level all his own and it's truly impressive to see how he thrives in every environment he competes in.”

Joining Celebrini among the top-five North American skaters are fellow college freshmen No. 2-ranked Artyom Levshunov (Zhlobin, Belarus), a defenseman from Michigan State, as well as No. 4-ranked Zeev Buium (San Diego, Calif.), a defenseman from the University of Denver. There have been only two draft years in NHL history in which three U.S. college players were selected among the top 10 picks: 2015 and 2021.

Rounding out the top five are No. 3-ranked Cayden Lindstrom (Dawson Creek, B.C.), a center from Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League and No. 5-ranked Trevor Connelly (Tustin, Calif.), a left wing from Tri-City of the United States Hockey League.

Konsta Helenius (Ylojarvi, Finland), a center playing for Jukurit in Finland’s top men’s league, ranks first among international skaters. Helenius (8-12—20 in 29 GP), who does not turn 18 until May 11, has the most points by an under-19 player in Liiga this season and the second most points among any teenager in the league.

“Konsta Helenius is a highly talented center playing his second pro season with Jukurit in Finland,” said Marr. “He is deceptively quick, skilled and clever yet plays with the poise of a veteran. While Helenius is not big in stature, he stands out with his compete and battle game. He was a top line center for Finland at the World Junior Championship at age 17 and continues to trend higher in the rankings.”

The remaining members of the top-five on the international skaters list include: No. 2-ranked Anton Silayev (Sarov, Russia), a 6’ 7” defenseman from Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA); No. 3-ranked Ivan Demidov (Sergiyev Posad, Russia), a right wing from Ska St. Petersburg’s junior team; No. 4-ranked Adam Jiricek (Klatovy, Czechia), a defenseman from Plzen (CZECHIA) and brother of Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek; and No. 5-ranked Emil Hemming (Vaasa, Finland), a right wing for TPS (FINLAND).

Carter George (Thunder Bay, Ont.) of Owen Sound (OHL) is the No. 1-ranked North American goaltender and Kim Saarinen (Hameenlinna, Finland) of HPK Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) tops the list of international goaltenders.

The mid-season rankings feature the top 224 skaters and 32 goaltenders in North America as well as the top 135 skaters and 15 goaltenders internationally.

In its 49th year of operation, NHL Central Scouting provides evaluation and scouting of draft-eligible players to NHL member clubs. Headed by Vice President of Central Scouting Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting employs eight full-time scouts throughout North America. To report on prospects playing internationally, the NHL employs the services of J-P Vuorinen and his staff at European Scouting Services based in Finland.

For NHL Draft history visit https://records.nhl.com/draft.