161 CHL Players included on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to announce that 161 CHL players have been identified on the NHL Central Scouting’s ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2024 NHL Draft. The 161 CHL players listed were the most of any hockey development league in the world, and they accounted for over 50% of the 305 North American players that were identified by NHL Central Scouting on Wednesday.

Of the CHL players on the list, 63 of them came from the Western Hockey League (WHL), 62 of them came from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), while 36 of them hail from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

12 skaters received an ‘A rating’ which indicates a first round candidate. Each league had ‘A’ ranked representatives, with the WHL featuring six, the OHL including five, and the QMJHL with one.

The WHL’s top ranked talent includes forwards Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs, Tanner Howe of the Regina Pats, Adam Jecho of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Cayden Lindstrom of the Medicine Hat Tigers, and Ryder Ritchie of the Prince Albert Raiders, along with defenceman Carter Yakemchuk of the Calgary Hitmen.

The OHL’s ‘A’ ranked talent consists of forwards Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires and Bennett Sennecke of the Oshawa Generals, along with defencemen Sam Dickinson of the London Knights, Henry Mews of the Ottawa 67’s, and Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit.

The QMJHL’s lone ‘A’ ranked skater is forward Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, who won both the 2023 CHL and QMJHL Rookie of the Year awards after he finished second in both goals (29) and points (65) among rookies in the CHL last season.

22 skaters and two goaltenders received a ‘B rating’ which indicates second/third round candidates, while 47 skaters and four goaltenders received a ‘C rating’ which indicates fourth/fifth round candidates. Moreover, 60 skaters and 13 goaltenders received a ‘W rating’ which indicates a 6th / 7th round candidate, and a first time Draft eligible “Work in Progress” players with limited scouting history and games played. Lastly, one WHL skater received a ‘LV rating’ which indicates injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized.

In total, 58 of 60 CHL clubs are represented in the ‘Players to Watch’ list led by Mississauga Steelheads who had seven players on this year’s list. Right behind them is the Spokane Chiefs who trail close behind with six players, while both the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Rimouski Océanic led QMJHL clubs with four each.

80 CHL players were selected in the 2023 NHL Draft, including 11 players chosen in the first round. Dating back to 1969, the CHL has seen 10 or more of its players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft  – a streak that now runs at 55 consecutive drafts.

NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List (October 25, 2023)

Players have been identified using the following criteria, which displays the revised grading system for the 2023-24 season:

• ‘A’ Rating – Indicates a 1st round candidate
• ‘B’ Rating – Indicates a 2nd / 3rd round candidate
• ‘C’ Rating – Indicates a 4th / 5th round candidate
• ‘W’ Rating – A “Watch” player indicating 6th / 7th round candidate, and first time Draft eligible “Work in Progress” players with limited scouting history and games played
• ‘LV’ (Limited Viewing) Rating – Injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.