TORONTO – National Hockey League Central Scouting (NHLCS) announced Wednesday its preliminary ‘Players to Watch’ list as a prelude to the 2024 NHL Draft and 15 individuals from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) are among those who have been listed.
Of the group, three have been tabbed with a ‘C’ rating, which identifies them as a potential fourth or fifth round selection.
They are centre Logan Sawyer of the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) along with centre Jonathan Morello of the St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL) and goaltender Sebastian Gatto of the Leamington Flyers (OJHL).
The remaining 12 have all been ‘W’ rated and a possible sixth or seventh round NHL draft pick.
Of the entire group, 10 are forwards in the CJHL, four are defencemen and one is a goaltender.
The following is the names of CJHL players named to the NHL Central Scouting preliminary ‘Players to Watch’ list:
RANK | PLAYER | NAME | POS. | TEAM | LEAGUE |
C | Jonathan | Morello | C | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
C | Sebastian | Gatto | G | Leamington Flyers | OJHL |
C | Logan | Sawyer | C | Brooks Bandits | AJHL |
W | Easton | Adrian | D | Drumheller Dragons | AJHL |
W | Nathan | Free | RW | Brooks Bandits | AJHL |
W | Gavin | Garland | C | Calgary Canucks | AJHL |
W | Diego | Johnson | RW | Sherwood Park Crusaders | AJHL |
W | Lucas | Lemieux | D | Camrose Kodiaks | AJHL |
W | Coy | Pighin | C | Drumheller Dragons | AJHL |
W | Mathieu | Taillefer | D | Brooks Bandits | AJHL |
W | Ryan | Zaremba | C | Sherwood Park Crusaders | AJHL |
W | Caton | Ryan | C | Carleton Place Canadians | CCHL |
W | Nathan | Brown | LW | Niverville Nighthawks | MJHL |
W | David | Green | D | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
W | Matthew | Van Blaricom | RW | Humboldt Broncos | SJHL |