Today we will be examining the goaltenders that will be available for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The list will be in the order of NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings and will contain some goaltenders who are not ranked. Below, I have included a few brief thoughts.
Carter George – Owen Sound Attack – NHL Central Scouting: 1
George is an exceptional goalie with excellent technical skills. He remains calm and confident in the net, which has a positive influence on his teammates. Although he is not a big-bodied goaltender, he works hard to see the puck through traffic and has great anticipation skills. He excels at controlling rebounds and handling the puck. However, his foot speed could use some improvement, although he is quick to challenge the shooter by moving out on top of the blue paint. He could also improve his lateral movement to become more agile.
Ryerson Leenders – Mississauga Steelheads – NHL Central Scouting: 3
Leenders is a talented goaltender who often makes remarkable saves, earning him recognition as the OHL’s save of the night or week. Although he may not possess the same level of technical skill as George, Leenders’ athleticism and determination allow him to battle for every puck, like Michael DiPietro’s style of play. While he needs to improve his rebound control and ability to navigate through traffic, I am confident that with better coaching, he will continue to progress and reach his full potential.
Landon Miller – Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds – NHL Central Scouting: 17
Miller is a bigger goalie than both George and Leenders and is currently serving as a backup for the Soo. As a result, he doesn’t see as many pucks as the other guys. However, there’s no doubt that he’s the goalie of the future for the Greyhounds. In fact, at times, he has outperformed the current starter, Charlie Schenkel. Miller is an agile goalie, especially considering his size. Although he needs to work on some technical aspects of his game, such as his positioning and rebounds, coaching can easily help him with those. Overall, Miller has the potential to become an excellent goalie.
Karsen Chartier – Sarnia Sting – NHL Central Scouting: 23
It can be challenging to evaluate a goaltender like Chartier on a young and rebuilding team. Often, he is left to fend for himself, facing a significant number of high-quality scoring opportunities against him. To gain a complete understanding of his abilities, it is necessary to observe him consistently. If you only watch him on his off nights, you might miss his potential. However, if you also observe him on his good nights, you can see the skills he possesses. Chartier is a large, athletic goaltender who takes up a lot of space in the butterfly position. Although his technical game requires some fine-tuning, he has the potential to improve with the right guidance.
Zachary Bowen – Peterborough Petes – NHL Central Scouting: 30
Bowen is a draft re-entry with a save percentage of less than .900 in his OHL career. However, he faces a lot of shots on goal and has a calm demeanor that keeps him from getting rattled. Bowen has good glove and blocker hands with quick reflexes. He is quick to move out of the net to the top of the paint and is also fast post-to-post. Although his technique is a work in progress, he has the potential to improve his rebound control.
Sam Hillebrandt – Barrie Colts
Many people were surprised when he received an invitation to Team USA camp for the WJC and was expected to be named the third goalie. However, he demonstrated the right attitude when he said, “My main goal is to just go there and win the number one job.” He has proven people wrong at every level, moving from Junior C to the OHL to the WJC in short order. Despite his size, he compensates with excellent positioning and technical skills. His movements are fluid and controlled, but he needs to work on his rebound control and become stronger on second-chance opportunities.
Owen Willmore – London Knights
As difficult as it is to judge a young goaltender like Chartier on a young and rebuilding squad, perhaps it’s just as difficult doing the same with a young goaltender such as Willmore on a powerhouse London Knights team. Willmore came to the forefront in last year’s playoffs after injuries forced him into action. That was also his first year of draft eligibility. The youngster’s poise, calmness, and confidence exuded from him, and it carried over to this season. A big goaltender who is positionally sound and athletic, he isn’t on many people’s draft list the second time around.
OHL Writers 