Two Quebecers performed well enough in the first half of the season to be considered in the first round of the next NHL draft, according to Central Recruitment, which unveiled its mid-season list on Friday.
Trois-Rivières forward Sacha Boisvert, who is playing in Muskegon of the USHL this season, is the highest-ranked player in Quebec. He ranks 17th among North American skaters on this list, which distinguishes players who play in North America from those who play in Europe. For his part, Chicoutimi Saguenéens winger Maxim Massé ranks 23rd on this list, again for players playing on this side of the Atlantic. He is also the highest-ranked QMJHL player.
With Raoul Boilard from Baie-Comeau Drakkar, a player who has been on the rise since the start of the season ends up in 34th place.
Cape Breton Eagles defenseman Tomas Lavoie is ranked 50th.
Another weak year for the QMJHL
It's also no surprise that so few players from Quebec – and from the QMJHL – can be found on the front pages of the Centrale rankings. Several recruiters have been repeating for some time that the 2024 class of the Cecchini circuit is not a great class, as was the case last year when 12 players were drafted from the “Q” in Nashville last June, the worst crop in history .
A sign that things won't necessarily be better this season: Only four of the 40 players invited to the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game, scheduled for January 24th in Moncton, are from the QMJHL: Massé, Boilard, Lavoie and Spencer Gill.
Ignored invites for this game, which had raised questions as he dominates the QMJHL's scoring charts, lands Drakkar forward Justin Poirier at No. 73 on the NHL Central recruiting list.
Celebrini is at the top of the list
Unsurprisingly, Boston University Terriers Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini tops this list in North America. He would have been in first place even if the list had included players from all over the world, Centrale director Dan Marr assured the official NHL website.
“The top five players in the class of 2024 are outstanding players, but there was no debate about who was No. 1. Celebrini is a star player in the making who has already demonstrated his skills and attributes on the international stage as a 17-year-old player with Canada at the last World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and leading Boston University in points.”
If there's a slight surprise at all, American winger Cole Eiserman, who was seen as Celebrini's competitor for the top spot at the start of the season, is eighth on the list in North America. Note that Finnish striker Konsta Helenius is at the top of the list of European skaters.
To access the different lists click here: