By the numbers: 2024 NHL Draft Facts and Figures

Starting Friday evening, the 2024 NHL Draft will have a two-day residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nev., where the best and brightest budding talents will first hear their name called as the latest batch of NHL recruits.

Of those making the weekend trip to the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ is the dynamic, WHL trio of Cayden Lindstrom, Berkly Catton, and Tij Iginla. The triad of soon-to-be selections at the NHL Draft head into the weekend as the highest-ranked Western League skaters listed on the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings.

Led by Cayden Lindstrom, Berkly Catton, and Tij Iginla, 57 WHL players have been named to the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings ahead of the 2024 #NHLDraft in June.

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 16, 2024

Rated the third-best North American skater ahead of the NHL Draft looms six-foot-four, 215-pound forward, Cayden Lindstrom. A true power forward, Lindstrom made a home on the top line of a crafty Medicine Hat Tigers roster – recording 46 points (27 goals–19 assists) in 32 regular season appearances. Despite missing time with an injury, the Chetwynd, B.C. product remains an essential pick for clubs selecting early in the draft. On June 1, Lindstrom was also the recipient of the CHL’s Top Draft Prospect Award.

Sitting eighth on the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings list is Spokane Chiefs star, Berkly Catton. As the only 2024 draft-eligible Western Leaguer to record over 110 points during the 2023-24 regular season, Catton’s hockey IQ and scoring prowess are must-have traits that are leaving NHL clubs salivating. The 18-year-old is joined by teammates William McIsaac (93rd-ranked), Nathan Mayes (107th-ranked), and Dawson Cowan (fifth-ranked – NA Goaltenders) as the four Chiefs representatives listed on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings.

Second-generation WHL star and WHL Champion Tij Iginla is positioned as the ninth-ranked skater. The son of Kamloops Blazers alumnus, Calgary Flames legend, and Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, Tij rose through the NHL Draft ranks during his first full season with the Kelowna Rockets. Acquired via trade from the Seattle Thunderbirds in June 2023, Iginla proved to be a crucial member of the Rockets’ roster. In 64 appearances in ‘K-Town,’ the Lake Country, B.C. product collected 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points.

In total, the WHL boasts 51 skaters and six goaltenders on the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings – including 10 skaters in the top 32. Joining Lindstrom, Catton, and Iginla as part of the ranking’s 32-best is Calgary Hitmen defenceman Carter Yakemchuk (11th-ranked), Prince George Cougars rookie Terik Parascak (15th-ranked), Everett Silvertips import Julius Miettinen (18th-ranked), 2023 WHL Rookie of the Year Ryder Ritchie (19th-ranked), Edmonton Oil Kings forward Adam Jecho (22nd-ranked), Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha (26th-ranked), and Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Charlie Elick (31st-ranked).

Two WHL netminders were also rated in the top five of North American-based puckstoppers according to NHL Central Scouting. Tri-City’s Lukas Matecha heads to Las Vegas as the third-ranked North American goaltender while Spokane’s Dawson Cowan sits two positions back as the fifth-ranked.

This won’t be the first time the WHL has produced top-of-the-class talent at the NHL Draft, either.

Last year, exceptional status player and Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard headlined the 2023 NHL Draft as the first-overall pick. Selected by the Blackhawks in Nashville, Tenn., Bedard became the ninth player in WHL history to go first overall at the NHL Draft. The Blackhawks star followed in the footsteps of Red Deer Rebels alumnus Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who was taken first overall by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2011 NHL Draft.

CONNOR BEDARD, WELCOME TO CHICAGO pic.twitter.com/z4scGfUZ4I

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 28, 2023

Alongside Bedard, five more skaters hailing from the WHL were also selected in the first round. Former Brandon Wheat Kings captain and current Portland Winterhawks forward Nate Danielson (9th Overall – Detroit Red Wings) was next up, followed by Zach Benson (13th Overall – Buffalo Sabres), newly-minted WHL Champion Brayden Yager (14th Overall – Pittsburgh Penguins), Vancouver Giants forward Samuel Honzek (16th Overall – Calgary Flames), and Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk (24th Overall – Nashville Predators).

At the conclusion of the second day, a total of 33 WHL players were selected at the 2023 NHL Draft, with 17 being called in the opening three rounds. And, out of the 80 players selected from clubs in the Canadian Hockey League, 41 per cent came from the WHL.

The sixsome of 2023 first-round selections also marked back-to-back years where the WHL saw six players called in the opening round.

Led by eventual WHL Champion Kevin Korchinski, the Western League was represented on six occasions at the 2022 NHL Draft. Korchinski was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Blackhawks and was soon followed by former teammates Matthew Savoie (9th Overall – Buffalo Sabres) and Conor Geekie (11th Overall – Arizona Coyotes), 2024 WHL Defenceman of the Year Denton Mateychuk (12th Overall – Columbus Blue Jackets), Swift Current Broncos defenceman Owen Pickering (21st Overall – Pittsburgh Penguins), and Seattle Thunderbirds forward Reid Schaefer (32nd Overall – Edmonton Oilers). WHL alumnus, Finnish import, and 2023 WHL Champion Brad Lambert was also selected 30th overall by the Winnipeg Jets at the same draft.

While set to grow at the conclusion of the 2024 NHL Draft, a total of 2,162 players representing the WHL have already been selected at the NHL Draft since 1967. Of the 2,000 plus selections, 339 have come in the first round.

Round One of the 2024 NHL Draft will begin at 5 p.m. MT on Friday, June 28 live from the Sphere in Las Vegas, while Round Two is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. MT on Saturday, June 29.