Four Americans players listed on NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list
Kennewick, WA – NHL Central Scouting released their preliminary players to watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft Wednesday morning, and Americans forward Maxmilian Curran has been named a B-ranked skater.
Forwards Jake Gudelj and Deagan McMillan, along with goaltender Lukas Matecha, were also listed as W-rated players to watch throughout the 2023-24 season.
NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes five categories. The ‘A’ category indicates players projected to be first-round candidates. The ‘B’ rating indicates players projected to be second- or third-round candidates, and the ‘C’ rating indicates players projected to be fourth- or fifth-round candidates. New this year, NHL Central Scouting has introduced the ‘W’ rating, which indicates players projected to be sixth- or seventh-round candidates. Finally, the ‘LV’ rating represents players who have not had sufficient viewings, due to injury.
Curran, from Praha, Czechia, was drafted 39th overall by the Americans in the 2023 CHL Import Draft. He spent the majority of the 2022-23 season split between HC Slavia Praha’s U17 and U20 teams, recording 37 points (15-22-37) in 18 games with the U17 team and 27 points (9-18-27) in 18 games with the U20 team.
Curran represented Czechia at the 2023 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup this past summer, scoring a goal and adding two assists as Czechia picked up the silver medal.
Through nine games with the Americans, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Curran has posted seven points (1-6-7).
The 2024 NHL Draft is slated for June at a location to be determined.
