Five of the top NHL prospects took to the stage Friday evening, appearing in front of media ahead of Saturday’s fitness testing at the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine. Macklin Celebrini, the undisputed #1 overall draft pick, spoke alongside Artyom Levshunov, Zayne Parekh, Cayden Lindstrom and Zeev Buium.
Here’s what they had to say, ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft coming up later this month in Vegas.
Macklin Celebrini
“At the end of the day, you never know what’s going to happen. I don’t think I’m getting too ahead of myself. I don’t think anyone else is gonna get too ahead of themselves. For right now, I’m just gonna enjoy these last couple days of the Combine and enjoy this experience, because I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve really, really enjoyed my time here.” – Celebrini on likely being the #1 draft pick
“I loved my year in college. It was amazing, I had a lot of fun.” – Celebrini on his year at BU
“He’s been amazing for me. He’s… my best friend. I live every day with him, I fight with him, I joke with him. Throughout this year, but also through my childhood, he’s always been there for me, whatever I need. Obviously, his experience with this kind of stuff also helps.” – Celebrini on having his older brother alongside him in their first season at BU (his brother was also drafted in 2023)
“I feel like it would just give me a little more time to develop. There’s never really shame or there’s nothing wrong with taking your time and improving a little bit more, getting stronger, getting bigger and fast. I feel like in those ways, another year would benefit me, just to get more physically ready & make sure I’m very fit and strong when I try to make that jump.” – Celebrini on what he has to gain from another year of college, if he chooses to go back
“Stay present. I’ve been told that time flies by and before you know it, I’ll be here and then before you, it’s five years later and wherever you are. That’s something that I’ve definitely had to learn: just stay present and try to enjoy it.” – Celebrini on the best advice he’s ever been given
Artyom Levshunov
“I spent one season in the USHL, then I decided to go to college. I just decided that this would be good for me, good for my development.” – Levshunov on his decision to come to North America to play for the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers before going to college at Michigan State
“I talked with them a lot of times. We went to dinner with them last night. It was a good conversation, it was good to meet with them. We’ll see, you never know.” – Levshunov on meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks
“Actually, I wanted to play in the CHL before the USHL, but unfortunately it [the import draft] was cancelled for Russian & Belarusian players. So I had the option to play in the USHL and then I had the option to go to college. I just wanted to chase my dream.” – Levshunov on how he reached the USHL
“I’m a very simple player. I just try to play hockey and do my job. I try to play fast and play smart, and try to help the team win.” – Levshunov on how he describes himself as a player
Zeev Buium
“With the NTDP, you get to play college games your 18s year, so you kind of get a little taste of it. Going into college, I kind of knew a little bit what to expect. Obviously, I have a great coach and staff and a lot of good players around me to kind of help me through the changes itself. For me, it was a pretty smooth transition.” – Buium on what college hockey has been like & how it reached his expectations
“There’s a lot of great players. For me, it’s more about the team and the organization, more than what number. I want to go to a team that wants me for me, and who I am as a person and a player.” – Buium on potentially being the first defenseman taken in the draft
“I like to be where my feet are, and right now that’s Denver. But you know, you never know what can happen with the draft and if a team really wants you to come in. For me, it’s just moreso up for discussion with whatever organization I get drafted to.” – Buium on when he’ll be ready for the NHL
“My ability to defend different kinds of players, and just consistency with my defense. I say it all the time, but I want to be the guy that can play the big moments at the end of the game when you know we need to kill a play. ” – Buium on how his game improved this year
“I’m a two-way, more offensive-minded defenseman. I use my hockey IQ with everything I do.” – Buium on what kind of player he is
Zayne Parekh
“The biggest question for me was, can I defend in the National League? My answers were the same – I truly believe that I’m gonna get to the point where I’m a capable defender. It might take a little bit for me, but I believe in myself and believe in my ability.” – Parekh on his conversations with NHL teams
“There’s a lot of good defensemen. For myself, I think I play a different style of hockey than most of them. All good and capable defensemen there. The way I play, I like to drive pace and make plays. I’m prety creative in terms of the way I play. A different style from everyone. Teams know that, I know that. At the end of the day, it’s going to be who they fall in love with the most throughout these next few weeks.” – Parekh on what separates him from other D in the draft class
“I talked to Becker [Owen Beck] Tuesday and asked him what to expect going into this. Then, I talked to Jorian [Jorian Donovan]. A lot of the message is the same: they’re gonna be on your case. They’re gonna ask you tough questions, and they’re looking to see how you respond. Just being the confident kid I am and expressing that.” – Parekh on what advice he got from fellow Saginaw teammates
“There’s kids that look up to me every day, so I’m trying to set a good example and conduct myself in the right way all the time. For kids out there, it doesn’t matter what race you are. This sport is for everyone. If you’re working hard, you can make it to any level you want to.” – Parekh on being a role model for POC in hockey
“I believe in the way I play. I believe it’s a translatable syle of hockey. I was just trying to compete every night… I really honed in on my game defensively, really tried to compete in corners. I was just trying to show what type of player I was, how competitive I am and that I want to win every night.” – Parekh on his play and the jump he made in the Central Scouting rankings.
Cayden Lindstrom
“I’m feeling great. I’m working out five or six times a week, and skating three or four times a week. Everything’s going well, healing up pretty quickly.” – Lindstrom on his injuries from this past season
“It means a lot, showing that anyone can do it, whether of color or not, and just showing younger kids of color and without color even, just that if you put in the work and just grind every day, you can get to wherever you want… in sports or in life.” – Lindstrom on being a role model for POC in hockey
“Guys like Roope Hintz and Nathan MacKinnon… power skill forwards. I try and pick up things from their game, speed and power wise and how they really create space for themselves in the corners and through the neutral zone, build up speed.” – Lindstrom on who he tries to model his game after
“My family has played a huge role. Growing up, all the sacrifices they made for me, driving to different practices, out of town… different expenses, driving 14 hours just for a little summer hockey tournament. Little sacrifices like that. They’ve supproted me all the way, and they’ve never complained or anything.” – Lindstrom on having the support of his family