NEWSLETTER
Macklin Celebrini (and Blackhawks prospect Ryan Greene) and the Boston University Terriers will play Blackhawks prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel with the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday. Will they be teammates in the future? If the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery works out for Chicago, it’s possible. But, for now, they’re opponents with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line.
Celebrini has had a terrific season, but it’s nearing its end. All of the CHL leagues are in their playoffs now as well. So we’re getting close to having complete, final statistics for the top prospects entering the NHL draft this summer. With big games coming this weekend, let’s take another run at two full rounds of a mock draft!
For the purposes of this mock draft, I locked in the standings thru games on Tuesday, March 26. With a few losing skids in the lottery, the Pittsburgh Penguins moved down to 11th in the league in point percentage, which means the San Jose Sharks own that pick; the Sharks get the pick from the Erik Karlsson trade, but it’s top-ten protected.
Let’s get after it!
2024 NHL Mock Draft
1. San Jose Sharks — Macklin Celebrini, C
6-0, 190
DOB: June 13, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Boston University (NCAA — Hockey East)
The Sharks still sitting — now, comfortably — in the top spot gives them the chance to add Celebrini to a collection of prospects that already includes Will Smith and Quentin Musty, San Jose’s top two picks in last year’s draft. The Sharks have used all five of their first-round picks since the 2020 draft on forwards, but that shouldn’t keep them from making the obvious choice here.
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Ivan Demidov, RW
5-11, 170
DOB: Dec. 10, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
I’ve changed my thinking here. Ivan Demidov has another year left on his contract in the KHL, but I believe playing with Connor Bedard would be enough incentive for him to jump when that ends. That means the Blackhawks would have four years until they would need to sign him to a second contract, which would be two years after Bedard’s next contract kicks in. That extra year buys the organization some time to matriculate other prospects to the NHL. And Demidov is a dynamic offensive threat that would be top-line caliber immediately.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, D
6-2, 200
DOB: Oct. 28, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Michigan State (NCAA — Big Ten)
When the Ducks traded Jamie Drysdale to Philly earlier this season, it opened a spot for a puck moving, right-handed defenseman — which is perfect for Levshunov to fill soon (maybe next season). Add to that how awful the Ducks are defensively and, in a draft that’s very strong on the back end, this pick should absolutely address their needs on the blue line. This feels like a perfect fit.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Sam Dickinson, D
6-3, 195
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
The Blue Jackets used their top two picks on forwards from the University of Michigan — Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley — last year. They also used two top-12 overall picks on defensemen the year before. So they have plenty of young players up front and on the back end. Some believe Dickinson will be the best defenseman in this draft class. The Jackets need that more than anything else. Take the no-brainer, especially if it’s relatively safe for a new GM.
5. Arizona Coyotes — Anton Silayev, D
6-7, 205
DOB: April 11, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Arizona has a nice collection of forwards already, so adding to their blue line is a need. And having a player many feel is one of the top 3-4 players in this class here at No. 5 would be a huge win for the Coyotes. Silayev is signed thru the 2025-26 season in Russia, which makes some sense here, too, so the Coyotes can figure out where they’ll be playing home games in the next couple years.
6. Ottawa Senators — Zayne Parekh, D
6-0, 181
DOB: Feb. 15, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Saginaw (OHL)
Ottawa has plenty of issues, but they really enjoyed the offensive production they got from the back end when Erik Karlsson was there. Parekh broke records this season, putting up 96 points in 66 regular-season games for Saginaw in the OHL. Want the second coming of Karlsson? This is your guy. His offense might elevate him into the consideration this high in the draft.
7. Montreal Canadiens — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-5, 218
DOB: Feb. 3, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
Lindstrom’s recent rankings from analysts have him as a viable top-four option in this draft, which is why I have had him going to Chicago at No. 2 a few times. But with the Hawks going Demidov, Lindstrom might slide a bit. Montreal would love to have a big, defensively-responsible center (cough, it ain’t Kirby Dach, cough) so grabbing Lindstrom here is a great fit.
8. Calgary Flames — Berkly Catton, C
5-11, 163
DOB: Jan. 14, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Spokane (WHL)
Catton is a stud and appears to be a lock to go in the top ten overall. Calgary’s recent slide has them moving up into the top eight, which is too high for them to make my fantasy of the next generation of the Iginla family call the Flames home too much of a reach. So the Flames take the best forward available.
9. Seattle Kraken — Zeev Buium, D
6-2, 180
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: University of Denver (NCAA – NCHC)
Buium’s stock has continued to skyrocket as he put up great numbers as a freshman at Denver and looked terrific for the US at the World Junior Championship. Seattle is still building and could use anything/everything. A young defenseman with Buium’s skillset here would be a marvelous addition to the Kraken. He’ll be on the ice with DU tonight.
10. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Eiserman, LW
6-0, 198
DOB: Aug. 29, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Eiserman’s stock appears to be falling right now, though he’s still considered one of the better pure scorers in this draft class. And I think the Buffalo Sabres, who have most of their blue line locked-up long term already (and they’re all still young) could see his ability to put the puck in the net as a need filler. He’ll probably play at least one year of college hockey, but the Sabres get a sniper here.
11. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Carter Yakemchuk, D
6-3, 195
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
With the Penguins sliding back out of the top ten, San Jose owns two of the top 11 overall. With Celebrini coming at No. 1, they will now look to bolster their blue line. Yakemchuk is a very good right-shot defenseman with good size. These two in the first round make this draft another win for their rebuild.
12. New Jersey Devils — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 176
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
The Devils need to be better on the back end, but they already have a stockpile of defensemen in the NHL or getting close. So they take the top-rated European skater and the next-best forward on the board. Helenius being able to play down the middle or on the wing is nice versatility for a Devils team that expected to be in the playoffs this year.
13. New York Islanders — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 195
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
I have had the Islanders taking Trevor Connelly in recent mocks, but this might be too high for them to take a player with some character concerns. Brandsegg-Nygård is a big, responsible forward with a 200-foot game that would fit their model well.
14. Minnesota Wild — Igor Chernyshov, LW
6-2, 192
DOB: Nov. 30, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL – Russia)
Chernyshov was ranked the No. 18 overall prospect by both McKenzie and Wheeler, so somewhere in the mid to late teens makes sense to start looking for landing spots for him. A talented Russian comes with the questions about KHL contract status and politics, but the Wild already having a Russian star forward might help them get him to the NHL more quickly.
15. Detroit Red Wings — Trevor Connelly, LW
6-0, 161
DOB: Feb. 28, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Tri-City (USHL)
A Providence College commit, Connelly has had some off-ice issues that could cause him to slide. The Athletic recently published a detailed piece on the concerns with social media posts from his past potentially being a huge red flag for NHL clubs. But his offensive ability might be too much for Steve Yzerman to pass up in the middle of the first round.
16. St. Louis Blues — Adam Jiricek, D
6-2, 176
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: HC Plzeň
The Blues need help all over the place, but they primarily need to rebuild their blue line. Jiricek is the next defenseman on the board here, but he also happens to play a good game and has decent size. His season was cut short by an injury suffered at the World Junior Championship but he’s a solid prospect for the Blues to add.
17. Philadelphia Flyers — Tij Iginla, F
6-0 185
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Kelowna (WHL)
Iginla might go closer to the 10-12 range, but in this mock I think he’s a great piece for the Flyers to add to their rebuild. Philly’s front office is full of former players, many of whom played with or against Jarome during his brilliant career. Taking his son at No. 17 is both terrific value but also a great player to add to their future plans.
18. Washington Capitals — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
I’m sure the Caps would love to get a shot at Chernyshov, but they need a lot of help at center. Since Nik Backstrom left the lineup, they’ve struggled to get consistency at the dot. Boisvert is the next center on my board and would be a nice addition to the Caps lineup when he’s ready. But will that be soon enough to help Alex Ovechkin chase the goal record?
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
Vegas hasn’t valued their picks much since coming into the league, but at some point they need to start thinking about the future and how they can replenish their lineup with internal options. Greentree has a big frame already and is putting up good numbers in the OHL. If Vegas wants to stay a big, physical team, he would be a good fit.
20. Chicago Blackhawks (from TB) — Michael Hage, C
6-1, 190
DOB: April 14, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)
Michael Hage, a Michigan commit, is a strong center who had decent size and plays a complete game. There have been some thoughts he might be in the mix to go around 15 now, but I have him in this range. The Blackhawks might opt for more size in a player like Beckett Sennecke or Emil Hemming, but they value having a lot of players on the roster who can take a faceoff so Hage being a center — and going to a program they trust next year — makes him the pick for me here.
21. Los Angeles Kings — Beckett Sennecke, RW
6-2, 181
DOB: Jan. 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Oshawa (OHL)
The Kings like big players, and Sennecke has that. At some point LA is going to need to look at bolstering their blue line with some players to be there in 2-4 years, but I think adding another forward with size here makes more sense than taking Charlie Elick or Henry Mews.
22. Nashville Predators — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
The Preds are the hottest team in the NHL right now, so they might be picking lower than 22 when the actual draft takes place. But Barry Trotz likes to have bigger forwards and could use some size up front. Hemming is the next guy to check that box on the list, so he heads to Nashville.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs — Charlie Elick, D
6-3, 200
DOB: Jan. 17, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Brandon (WHL)
I’m going to continue having the Leafs taking a defenseman in my mock drafts because it’s an area of need and this is a good draft in that regard. Elick has good size and is a right-shot, which makes this selection make more sense.
24. Anaheim Ducks (from EDM) — Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D
6-0, 176
DOB: April 10, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Vaxjo (Sweden)
The Ducks landed a big defenseman early who’s a righty, so let’s balance that with a lefty from Sweden here later in the round. Again, Anaheim is miserable defensively right now so taking a couple defensemen early in this draft makes sense. They need all the help they can get — and they get some good help in this mock draft.
25. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Ryder Ritchie, C/RW
6-0, 174
DOB: Aug. 3, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
The Habs went with a big center in the top ten, so there is a thought they might go with a defenseman here to balance their picks. Aron Kiviharju and Henry Mews would absolutely be considerations here. But grabbing a forward with the toolkit of Ritchie here is another piece with better size than some of their existing NHL forward group to help them turn things around.
26. Carolina Hurricanes — Aron Kiviharju, D
5-10, 165
DOB: Jan. 25, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: HIFK (Liiga – Finland)
This is a fascinating prospect for me heading into the draft. He’s considered a very good defenseman and ranked higher than coming off the board at 26, but he doesn’t have the size of some other blue line prospects in this class. If size is a factor in a slide, the Canes would probably be thrilled to get him here.
27. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Henry Mews, D
6-0, 185
DOB: March 9, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Ottawa (OHL)
The Flyers grabbing a good right-shot defenseman who’s climbing draft rankings as we get later in the process here to go with Iginla makes this first round a home run for Philly. Mews is a good prospect who would be one of the better defensemen in the organization immediately.
28. Colorado Avalanche — Cole Beaudoin, C
6-2, 201
DOB: April 24, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Barrie (OHL)
The Avs have been searching for a second-line center since Nazem Kadri left. They did add Casey Mittelstadt at the deadline, but he doesn’t have the size of Beaudoin. This kid has really good size and has scored 27 goals in 61 games in the OHL in his pre-draft season. This would be a nice pick for the Avs.
29. Dallas Stars — Maxim Massé, RW
6-1, 181
DOB: April 7, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Massé scored 29 goals last season and was named the the CHL’s rookie of the year. This year didn’t start as well for him, but he finished his regular season with 36 goals and 39 assists in 67 games. He has pretty good size, which Dallas likes, and is a scorer. They need to continue grabbing young forwards because Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski aren’t going to play forever (well, Pavelski might…).
30. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) — Terik Parascak, RW
5-11, 180
DOB: May 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince George (WHL)
Parascak has been a very productive player in the WHL this season, posting 105 points — including 43 goals — in 68 games. He isn’t the biggest player, and is a wing, so that makes him likely to be available still when we get to this part of the first round but Ottawa going with a defenseman early and Parascak here makes this a very productive first round for the Sens.
31. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — EJ Emery, D
6-3, 185
DOB: March 30, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
The Flames took Catton in the top ten, so balancing their draft with a big right-shot defenseman here makes sense. Emery has good size and will head to North Dakota next season for at least one year of college hockey. Calgary is just starting a rebuild so taking good players is a need. Emery is a solid pick late in the first round for the Flames.
32. New York Rangers — Jett Luchanko, C
5-11, 185
DOB: Aug. 21, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Guelph (OHL)
If the Rangers have the last pick in the draft, that means they’re the Stanley Cup champions — 30 years after winning it the last time. They have a lot of nice pieces on their NHL roster already and some young players like Brennan Othmann just getting to the NHL now, so they will have the luxury of taking the best player on their board and letting him mature. The Rangers grab a potential replacement for Filip Chytil here in one of the younger players in the draft.
2024 NHL Mock Draft — Round Two
33. San Jose — Cole Hutson, LHD
34. Chicago — Tanner Howe, LW
35. Anaheim — Dean Letourneau, C
36. Philadelphia (from CBJ) — Nikita Artamonov, RW
37. Arizona — Yegor Surin, RW
38. Ottawa — Andrew Basha, LW
39. Winnipeg (from MTL) — Matvei Gridin, C/LW
40. Calgary — Adam Jecho, RW
41. Seattle — Marek Vanacker, LW
42. Buffalo — Lucas Pettersson, C
43. Pittsburgh — Dominik Badinka, RHD
44. San Jose (from NJ) — Marcus Gidlof, G
45. NY Islanders — John Mustard, C
46. Minnesota — Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD
47. Detroit — Alfons Freij, LHD
48. St. Louis — Kamil Bednarik, C
49. Pittsburgh (from PHI) — Simon Zether, C
50. Arizona (from WSH) — Stian Stolberg, LHD
51. Philadelphia (comp) — Julius Miettinen, C
52. Washington (from VGK) — Luke Misa, C
53. Nashville (from TB) — Tomas Lavoie, RHD
54. Chicago (from LAK) — Adam Kleber, RHD
55. Nashville — Miguel Marques, RW
56. St. Louis (from TOR) — Matvei Shuravin, LHD
57. Anaheim (from EDM) — Carter George, G
58. Nashville (from WPG) — Ben Danford, RHD
59. Carolina — Leon Muggli, LHD
60. Arizona (from FLA) — Kieron Walton, C
61. Montreal (from COL) — Will Skahan, LHD
62. Calgary (from DAL) — Christian Humphreys, C
63. Anaheim (from BOS) — Eriks Mateiko, LW
64. Chicago (from VAN) — Javon Moore, LW
65. Seattle (from NYR) — Spencer Gill, RHD
