The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will take place on June 28-29 at Sphere in Las Vegas. The first round is scheduled for June 28 at 7 p.m. ET (broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS), and rounds 2-7 will occur on June 29 starting at 11:30 a.m. ET (available on ESPN+, NHLN, SN, SN1). NHL.com is providing comprehensive coverage leading up to the draft, including profiles on top prospects, podcasts, and more. Today's focus is on the top eligible goalies. For full draft coverage, visit NHL.com.
Mikhail Yegorov's ranking as the No. 1 North American goalie by NHL Central Scouting isn't solely based on his stats with Omaha in the USHL this season but rather on his continuous development despite a challenging season.
Yegorov posted an 8-25-3 record, a 3.86 goals-against average (GAA), and a .892 save percentage in 43 games for an Omaha team that finished last in the USHL.
Unfortunately, he played on a weak team this year, facing a lot of quality shots," said Al Jensen of Central Scouting. "When he's on, he covers the net quickly and efficiently. I see a huge upside in him, which made it an easy choice to rank him No. 1.
Yegorov (6'5", 188 lbs) improved significantly as the season progressed, allowing three goals or fewer in nine of his last 10 games and achieving a .906 save percentage. He is expected to return to Omaha next season and then move on to Boston University in 2025-26.
He's smart, with a technically sound game. For his size, he moves well and has great structure in his game," Jensen added. "There's significant potential for growth in the next 4-6 years
Here are NHL.com's top 10 goalies available for the 2024 draft:
1. Mikhail Yegorov, Omaha (USHL)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 (North American goalies)
- Yegorov showed remarkable improvement, and his technical game and intelligence are notable. Expected to play for Boston University in 2025-26.
2. Carter George, Owen Sound (OHL)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 (North American goalies)
- George (6'1", 194 lbs) had a 3.30 GAA, .907 save percentage, and four shutouts in 56 OHL games. He helped Canada win gold at both the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2024 IIHF World U-18 Championship, where he was named the tournament's best goalie.
3. Eemil Vinni, Jokipojat (FIN-2)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 (International goalies)
- Vinni (6'3", 187 lbs) posted a 2.72 GAA and .891 save percentage in Finland’s second-highest professional league and helped Finland win bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
4. **Nicholas Kempf, USA U-18 (USHL)**
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 (North American goalies)
- Kempf (6'2", 189 lbs) was 23-7-2 with a 2.99 GAA and .897 save percentage for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Committed to play at Notre Dame next season.
5. Ilya Nabokov, Magnitogorsk (RUS)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 (International goalies)
- Nabokov (6'0", 179 lbs) excelled in the KHL playoffs, helping Magnitogorsk win the Gagarin Cup with a 1.82 GAA and .942 save percentage. He was also named KHL rookie of the year.
6. Pavel Moysevich, SKA St. Petersburg (RUS)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 (International goalies)
- Moysevich (6'4", 187 lbs) performed well at multiple levels in Russia, including the KHL, VHL, and MHL, showing strong statistics across all leagues.
7. Kim Saarinen, HPK Jr. (FIN-JR)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 3 (International goalies)
- Saarinen (6'4", 176 lbs) was named the best goalie in Finland's junior league and made his debut in Liiga with impressive numbers.
8. Evan Gardner, Saskatoon (WHL)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 7 (North American goalies)
- Gardner (6'0", 175 lbs) led the WHL with a 1.91 GAA and .927 save percentage. He performed well in the playoffs, helping Saskatoon reach the third round.
9. Dawson Cowan, Spokane (WHL)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 5 (North American goalies)
- Cowan (6'2", 186 lbs) had a challenging season but showed resilience and skill, maintaining solid stats for a Spokane team that struggled defensively.
10.Lukas Matecha, Tri-City (WHL)
- NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 3 (North American goalies)
- Matecha (6'3", 196 lbs) moved from the Czech Republic to play for Tri-City, posting a 3.42 GAA and .901 save percentage after being overlooked in the 2023 draft.aa
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