Draft | 6/10/2024 2:25:16 PM
The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.
The USA Hockey National Team Development Program has an illustrious NHL Draft history developing some of the World’s top players throughout their history. In total the National Team Development Program has had 393 players selected in the NHL Draft, 91 of which were taken in the first round. Some of those first rounders include
Jack Hughes (New Jersey – 1
st overall in 2019),
Auston Matthews (Toronto – 1
st overall in 2016),
Patrick Kane (Chicago – 1
st overall in 2007) and many more.
This season 21 NTDP Players and alumni were named to the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings, three of which secured a spot in the top 30;
Zeev Buium (#4 amongst North American Skaters),
Cole Eiserman (#12 amongst North American Skaters) and
Kamil Bednarik (#29 amongst North American Skaters).
Top Prospects for 2024
Zeev Buium | Defense
Central Scouting Rank: #4
2023-24 Team: University of Denver
Zeev Buium, who helped lead the University of Denver to a NCAA national championship in his freshman season with the Pioneers in 2023-24, played two seasons with the USA Hockey NTDP, totalling 4-13—17 in 55 games (2021-23). The Laguna Niguel, Calif., native was named a NCAA First Team Al-American after registering 11-39-50 in 42 games with Denver and helped Team USA win a Gold Medal at the 2023-24 IIHF World Junior Championship in 2023-24.
Cole Eiserman | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #12
College Commitment: Boston University
Cole Eiserman finished the 2023-24 season with 24 goals and 9 assists for 34 points in 25 games in the USHL in 2023-24. He helped Team USA to a Silver Medal at the 2023-24 U18 World Junior Championship where he scored nine goals and had an assist for 10 points in seven games.
Kamil Bednarik | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #29
College Commitment: Boston University
A native of Elmhurst, Ill., and committed to Boston University, Bednarik had 30 points on 11 goals and 19 points in 27 USHL games in 2023-24. Bednarik had six points on two goals and four assists in seven games at the 2023-24 U18 World Junior Championships in helping Team USA to a Silver Medal.
Other USA Hockey NTDP players rated by NHL Central Scouting
| Rank |
Last Name |
First Name |
Team |
League |
USHL AFFILIATION |
| 39 |
EMERY |
ERIC (EJ) |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 43 |
PLANTE |
MAX |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 44 |
STIGA |
TEDDY |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 55 |
HUTSON |
COLE |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 56 |
SKAHAN |
WILL |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 59 |
ZIEMER |
BRODIE |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 71 |
HUMPHREYS |
CHRISTIAN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 75 |
VAN VLIET |
LUCAS |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 104 |
BAKER |
AUSTIN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 145 |
WHIPPLE |
JOHN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 147 |
MCMORROW |
BRENDAN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 148 |
LAURILA |
SAM |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 159 |
PILGRIM |
CARSON |
WARROAD |
HIGH-MN |
NTDP/TC |
| 198 |
LAPOINTE |
NOAH |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 201 |
EPPERSON |
KRISTIAN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 209 |
PARDUE |
CHARLES |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 2024 NHLCS Final Rankings | Goalies W/USHL Ties |
|
| RK |
Last Name |
First Name |
Team |
League |
USHL Affiliation |
| 4 |
KEMPF |
NICHOLAS |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
| 13 |
PARSONS |
JOHN |
USA U-18 |
USHL |
|
The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last six NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 1,041 of its players selected in total, including four first-overall picks, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981.