NEWSLETTER
This is our first mock draft in which the top 23 selections are locked. The 2024 NHL Draft Lottery took place last night, so now we know the order of the top 16 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. And, because the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in the books, we also know the order for the next seven selections as well.
Congratulations to the San Jose Sharks for landing Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 overall!
No more using Tankathon to guess the order. No more guessing. Now, we know the order. And Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said a few things that got my attention after the lottery that influenced my selections for Chicago in the first two rounds of the draft.
So let’s mock the heck out of the first two rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft!
As a reminder: the Arizona Coyotes no longer exist, so we’re using Utah TBD for the yet-to-be-named franchise.
2024 NHL Mock Draft — ROUND ONE
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 officially own the top spot in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, giving 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)
Based on the comments made by Chicago GM Kyle Davidson after the draft lottery, I believe this pick could/should/will be Russian winger Ivan Demidov. As I’ve noted previously, he’s been compared to Nikita Kucherov and Karill Kaprisov frequently. He’s a potentially elite offensive force on the wing who would pair beautifully with Connor Bedard for years to come. If the Blackhawks are intent on going best player available, Demidov certainly appears to be that player.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, RHD
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 — Anton Silayev, LHD
6-7, 205
DOB: April 11, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Silayev is signed thru the 2025-26 season in Russia, which makes some sense here, too, considering how young the Blue Jackets are right now. They need to improve ASAP because they keep promising their fans it’s going to turn a corner. Silayev is an enormous prospect who is the top-ranked International Skater in the final rankings from NHL Central Scouting. His stock is up and down, depending on which rankings you read, but most analysts believe he’s an early pick in the first round.
5. Montreal Canadiens — 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. But how high will he climb? I absolutely love the idea of Catton learning the pro game from Martin St. Louis at some point, adding another dynamic forward to their stable. He isn’t big, but his numbers are and the Habs need to put the puck in the net.
6. Utah TBD — Zeev Buium, LHD
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. He, like Celebrini, skated in the Frozen Four; Buium won the championship, however. Buium is a defensively responsible player who also had a great offensive season. The artist formerly known as the Coyotes need some help on the back end and Buium appears to be the next defenseman in line to come off the board.
7. Ottawa Senators — Sam Dickinson, LHD
6-3, 195
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
The Sens continue telling us it’s time to take a step forward and become a playoff team, but they aren’t there yet. Dickinson is a really good, projectable defenseman who some feel might be the best defenseman in this draft. He makes a lot of sense to Ottawa here.
8. Seattle Kraken — Zayne Parekh, RHD
6-0, 181
DOB: Feb. 15, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Saginaw (OHL)
How about a record-breaking defenseman who just put up 96 points in 66 games in his pre-draft season in the OHL? Parehk is an offensive threat with the puck on the blue line and his performance has elevated him into the conversation for even the top five overall. Seattle needs a lot right now — including a head coach — but adding an offensive threat to their back end like Parekh looks like a great start to their 2024 draft.
9. Calgary Flames — Tij Iginla, F
6-0 185
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Kelowna (WHL)
The son of a Flames icon, Tij Iginla’s stock is skyrocketing right now. Where weeks/months ago it might have been a bit of a feel-good story to have him going home to Calgary, he’s now looking like a top-ten pick prospect. But I don’t think I’m alone in kinda hoping Tij gets to wear the same Flames sweater as his dad, Jarome, did for years.
10. New Jersey Devils — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-4, 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. He’s a big body center who plays a strong game all over the ice. I’ve seen a few people say he might wind up on the wing at the NHL level, but the Devils need a big body that plays responsible hockey to compliment their smaller stars up front.
11. 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, 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.
12. Philadelphia Flyers — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 176
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
I’ve seen a few scouts say they think Helenius might be the only NHL-ready player in the draft after Celebrini, which is interesting. The Flyers are continuing their rebuild and need to add talent. After trading Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim, there’s a need for young forward(s) in the pipeline. Helenius is no longer the top-ranked International Skater in the final rankings from NHL Central Scouting, but he’s still a very good, versatile forward who would fit what they’re trying to do in Philly.
13. Minnesota Wild — Beckett Sennecke, RW
6-2, 181
DOB: Jan. 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Oshawa (OHL)
I’ve had Sennecke in the 18-22 range in most of my longer mocks thus far, but his stock has a huge up arrow next to it thanks to an enormous postseason with Oshawa. He’s put up 22 points in 16 games, including 10 goals. He checks a lot of boxes for the Wild and could be a guy we see come off the board earlier than we might have thought previously.
14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Carter Yakemchuk, RHD
6-3, 195
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
The Penguins did not win the lottery and move up into the top ten, so San Jose officially owns two of the top 14 overall picks. 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.
15. Detroit Red Wings — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 195
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
Brandsegg-Nygård is the kind of prospect who helps the job security of the GM who drafts him. He’s a responsible forward who plays a full, 200-foot game with good size. This feels like the perfect player for Steve Yzerman to add to compliment his veteran lineup at some point as a potential eventual replacement for David Perron.
16. St. Louis Blues — Adam Jiricek, RHD
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. Washington Capitals — 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 team with The Great Eight on the roster might be a good spot for him to land.
18. New York Islanders — 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 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 the offensively-challenged Islanders to pass. There are concerns for their PR department, but the talent at 18 is a steal.
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
The Golden Knights haven’t shown a great deal of value in their draft picks in the history of the franchise, but at some point they’re going to need to start building a pipeline of prospects to matriculate to the NHL and help their aging roster. Hemming is a big wing who would fit their style of play.
20. Chicago Blackhawks (from TB) — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
The Blackhawks need scoring, and they need some size up front. How about a 6-2 wing who put up 90 points in 64 games for Windsor in the OHL this season? Liam Greentree scored 36 times this season and was the captain of the Spitfires. If he does slide to the Hawks at this point, he fits the mold of what Chicago’s been targeting in the draft since the new front office took over.
21. Los Angeles Kings — Michael Hage, C
6-1, 190
DOB: April 14, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)
A Michigan commit, Hage is a strong center who had decent size and plays a complete game. There has been a lot of talk about the Kings trying to find a way to move on from Pierre-Luc Dubois after a massively disappointing first season, but the Kings have said they will not go the buyout route this summer with seven years remaining on his contract. Drafting a good center who might eventually be a better middle-six fit here makes perfect sense.
21. Nashville Predators — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
Barry Trotz has openly talked about needing to be better down the middle. Even with the Preds having a somewhat surprisingly strong season, they’ll still likely be targeting centers in this draft. Boisvert has nice size and ability to step in eventually and be a solid addition to their middle-six forwards.
22. 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. I’ve had them taking Elick in almost all of my mock drafts. Elick is a big right-shot defenseman.
23. Anaheim Ducks (from EDM) — 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. With the Ducks going defense earlier in the draft and having picks coming in the second round, I think they take their best player available here instead of doubling-down on defense already.
25. 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, is considered an exceptional defensive center, and scored 28 goals in 67 games in the OHL in his pre-draft season. This would be a nice pick for the Avs. Of course, the way they’re playing in the playoffs they might be on the clock later than No. 25 overall by our later mock drafts…
26. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Henry Mews, D
6-0, 185
DOB: March 9, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Ottawa (OHL)
The Flames went with a power forward early in the first round, so coming back here with a solid defenseman balances their draft. Mews’ stock appears to be sitting around the mid-20s to mid-30s in most rankings at this point, so this isn’t a reach. He has decent size and was almost a point-per-game defenseman for Ottawa in the OHL this season (61 points in 65 regular-season games).
27. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) — Andrew Basha, LW
6-0, 185
DOB: Nov. 8, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
Basha is one of the better skaters in this draft, which might make him appealing to the Blackhawks if he slides into the early-second round. Ottawa is still stockpiling assets, though, and selecting him here makes a lot of sense for them. He had 85 points in 61 games in the WHL this season.
28. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Aron Kiviharju, D
5-10, 165
DOB: Jan. 25, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: HIFK (Liiga – Finland)
The Habs went with a stud center in Catton with their first pick in the first round, so here I have them coming back with the top defenseman on the board. Kiviharju’s rankings have him higher than 28 overall, but his lack of size may lead to a slide. This would be a nice addition to the blue line in Montreal for the future.
29. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — EJ Emery, D
6-3, 185
DOB: March 30, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: USNTDP Juniors
The Flyers went with a stable European forward earlier in the first round, so grabbing a good defenseman here provides some balance to the start of their draft. They’re still rebuilding, so assets are needed all over the organization. Emery being a right-handed defenseman with good size makes this a strong pick for Philly. He’s headed to North Dakota next year.
30. Carolina Hurricanes — Julius Miettinen, C
6-3, 207
DOB: Jan. 20, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Everett (WHL)
Carolina has a lot of financial decisions coming: they have ten forwards on their current NHL roster who are UFA or RFA this summer or next summer. And they aren’t going to be able to keep all of them; Seth Jarvis is going to get paid. So they’re going to need to add some bodies to their pipeline. Miettinen is a big center who could eventually replace Jordan Staal.
31. Dallas Stars — Jesse Pulkkinen, D
6-6, 216
DOB: Dec. 24, 2004
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: JYP (Liiga – Finland)
The Stars have some older players in a number of spots on their roster, but they have some really good young forwards making their way to the NHL. One thing the Stars love is size, and they get that in an overage defenseman here who might be one of the guys in this draft who starts to generate buzz because of his size. He’s a massive left-shot who feels like the kind of wagon the Stars would love to add to their pipeline on the back end.
32. New York Rangers — Jett Luchanko, C
5-11, 185
DOB: Aug. 21, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Guelph (OHL)
If the Rangers — who haven’t lost a playoff game yet — have the last pick in this mock 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 Sharks — Ryder Ritchie, RW
34. Chicago Blackhawks — Dean Letourneau, C
35. Anaheim Ducks — Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD
36. Philadelphia Flyers (from CBJ) — Nikita Artamonov, RW
37. Winnipeg Jets (from MTL) — Teddy Stiga, LW
38. Utah TBD — Maxim Masse, RW
39. Ottawa Senators — Marcus Gidlof, G
40. Seattle Kraken — Adam Jecho, RW
41. Calgary Flames — John Mustard, C
42. San Jose Sharks (from NJ) — Carter George, G
43. Buffalo Sabres — Yegor Surin, RW
44. Pittsburgh Penguins (from PHI) — Cole Hutson, LHD
45. Minnesota Wild — Lucas Pettersson, C
46. Pittsburgh Penguins — Simon Zether, C
47. Detroit Red Wings — Matvei Gridin, C/LW
48. St. Louis Blues — Miguel Marques, RW
49. Utah TBD (from WSH) — Mikhail Yegorov, G
50. New York Islanders — Tanner Howe, LW
51. Philadelphia Flyers (comp) — Will Zellers, LW
52. Washington Capitals (from VGK) — Dominik Badinka, RHD
53. Nashville Predators (from TB) — Ben Danford, RHD
54. Chicago Blackhawks (from LAK) — Harrison Brunicke, RHD
55. Nashville Predators — Christian Humphreys, C
56. St. Louis Blues (from TOR) — Alfons Freij, LHD
57. Edmonton Oilers — Adam Kleber, RHD
58. Montreal Canadiens (from COL) — Linus Eriksson, C
59. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) — Kamil Bednarik, C
60. Nashville Predators (from WPG) — Marek Vanacker, LW
61. Carolina Hurricanes — Jack Berglund, C
62. Chicago Blackhawks (from VAN) — Javon Moore, LW
63. Utah TBD (from FLA) — Kieron Walton, C
64. Calgary Flames (from DAL) — Colin Ralph, LHD
65. Seattle Kraken (from NYR) — Colton Roberts, RHD
