The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler included all three BU recruits in his analysis of World 18U Tournament Standouts and Risers.
Macklin Celebrini, C, Canada (2024): Celebrini was Canada’s best and most consistent player as an under-ager. His speed was noticeable. I liked him on the penalty kill and the power play. He was seeing and executing through seams with a lot of crispness. He is so, so strong/thick for his age and absorbs and plays through bumps extremely effectively, staying over pucks and extending sequences. Those tools combine with excellent puck protection skills to allow him to play a heavy-skill game. He’s just a quietly powerful player for a 6-foot kid. He’s not going to bully his way around the ice, but he commands play and imposes himself. He let the one-timer rip harder than I remember. It was fitting that it was him who scored the bronze-medal-winning goal in overtime. You can forget that he’s 16 when you watch him and I thought he widened the gap with fellow top 2024 prospect Cole Eiserman (who filled the net but also really frustrated throughout) in the tournament.
Cole Hutson, LHD, USA (2024): This Team USA didn’t have a horse that they’d lean on for 20+ minutes a night, but Hutson always found a way to make an impact playing 17-19 minutes in more of a rotation that gave him fresh legs to use his mobility. He was the most impressive 2024 defenceman in the tournament for me. He quickly identifies second and third options, often a step ahead of opposing structures. The way he shows one thing and does another is pretty unique. His little hesitations in control into quick, decisive attacking moments grab your attention and allow him to make plays. He had the puck on a string at times. I think he’s a better skater than his big brother (he snakes his way through gaps in coverage so effortlessly and his lateral agility on cuts is a major strength). He executed some beautiful stretch passes. He’s got great touch and feel on his backhand as well as his forehand. And he holds his own defensively despite being tiny.
Tom Willander, RHD, Sweden (2023): A horse for the Swedes, Willander was on my all-star ballot despite having been ejected for the third period of their semifinal win over Canada. He was consistently impactful at both ends. He played confident and decisive. And boy is he ever a beautiful, balanced skater (one of the best-skating D in the draft), both on his heels and moving forward. He pulls away or retreats from pressure with ease but is also an excellent outlet passer, which combine to contribute to a proficient game on zone exits. His head is always up. He got his shots through. He was just a two-way monster, as he has been with the national team all year. He’s a potential first-round pick for me at this point.