NEWSLETTER
Let’s take a look at the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft now that we’re in the middle of January, a couple weeks away from the NHL All-Star Game and inching closer to the trade deadline every day. There’s a lot of intrigue in this class, but none of it surrounds who will go first. That’ll be Macklin Celebrini without question. But after that it’s really a guessing game.
As an FYI, the standings I’m using for this mock draft were locked in through games played on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Obviously games happen and standings change, but that’s the order I’m using for this endeavor.
Let’s take another run at the first round of this summer’s selections with an updated NHL mock draft.
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)
Celebrini will go No. 1 in the draft, the only question is which team wins the draft lottery. Because I’m not employing Tankathon’s lottery simulator and we’re using the standings, congratulations are in order for the San Jose Sharks. If Celebrini lands in San Jose it would be a nice story anyway; his dad works in the front office of the Golden State Warriors.
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-5, 218
DOB: Feb. 3, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
I’ve flipped on the Blackhawks’ pick at No. 2 overall. Chicago has a really good crop of defense prospects at various stages of development, from Sam Rinzel in college to Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro in the AHL and Alex Vlasic and Kevin Korchinski in the NHL. Picking a big center who plays a complete 200-foot game here fills a need for the organization with a player who is a legitimate consideration for this spot no matter the team making the second pick.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, D
6-2, 200
DOB: Oct. 28, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Michigan State (NCAA — Big Ten)
After trading away young RHD Jamie Drysdale to get Cutter Gauthier already, this is a perfect replacement pick for the Ducks. He’s a little bit older for this draft class and will have one full season in the Big Ten under his belt when he’s drafted. This would be a great fit for the player and the organization.
4. Ottawa Senators — Sam Dickinson, D
6-3, 195
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
Ottawa has two picks in the first round and is back in the lottery because, well, they haven’t done a good job developing their players. They have plenty of needs, but taking arguably the best defenseman in this class makes too much sense. Dickinson, with Jake Sanderson, would be a building block on their back end.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets — Zeev Buium, D
6-2, 180
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: University of Denver (NCAA– NCHC)
Buium is flying up draft rankings with a stellar freshman season at Denver and superb World Juniors on his resume. NHL Central Scouting had him ranked the No. 4 North American Skater in their mid-term release. Columbus has plenty of issues but a really good, dynamic defenseman is a smart play after taking Adam Fantilli up front last year.
6. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Eiserman, LW
6-0, 198
DOB: Aug. 29, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Buffalo being back in the top ten was not where they wanted to be as an organization after sniffing the playoff chase last year. They’ve used plenty of recent picks on defensemen and have three of their core blue line pieces locked-up long term. So why not take the best pure scorer in this year’s class? Eiserman was considered a top-two prospect for a long time but hasn’t had the best season.
7. Minnesota Wild — Anton Silayev, D
6-7, 205
DOB: April 11, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Minnesota has massive cap issues, and they have been compounded by injuries this season. They need to restock their pipeline quickly and rebuild their defense. Taking an enormous defenseman here makes sense for them; Silayev could be gone as early as the second overall pick.
8. Montreal Canadiens — Berkly Catton, C
5-11, 163
DOB: Jan. 14, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Spokane (WHL)
Catton’s not a big player but he can motor and score. The Habs need just about everything at this point and might not be thrilled with their current mix up front, so taking a player of this caliber here if they aren’t sold on the next tier of defenseman might simply be a best player available move. Carter Yakemchuk could also easily be in play for Montreal here, however.
9. St. Louis Blues — Carter Yakemchuk, D
6-3, 195
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
The Blues need to rebuild their blue line and Yakemchuk is the right guy to start that process. A big, right-handed shot who a lot of scouts have locked into being a top-ten pick, he would fill an organizational need and probably also be the best player available on the Blues’ board here.
10. Calgary Flames — Tij Iginla, F
6-0 185
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Kelowna (WHL)
This pick feels like it has to happen, right? The Flames taking the son of their legendary leader? Iginla is legitimately in play for a top-ten pick so it wouldn’t be a crazy reach for the Flames to take him this high. If the Flames orchestrate a tear-down that many think they should between now and the trade deadline, they might have additional first round assets before the end of Day One of the 2024 NHL Draft.
11. Seattle Kraken — Ivan Demidov, RW
5-11, 170
DOB: Dec. 10, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Demidov has one year left on his contract in the KHL but that shouldn’t scare the Kraken, who are trying to build something (still) and this would easily be the best player available at this point. Demidov is considered a top-ten overall talent, but not seeing him play against the other top players his age because of the IIHF ban might hurt his stock and cause him to slide.
12. Arizona Coyotes — Zayne Parekh, D
6-0, 181
DOB: Feb. 15, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Saginaw (OHL)
Arizona has plenty of really good, young forwards. So how about a productive right-handed defenseman from the OHL to help them start stockpiling players to help them defensively? Parekh is a solid prospects whose stock is moving up right now.
13. 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. But NHL Central Scouting had him the No. 5 North American Skater, making this great value and a pick that fills a need for the Isles. They need dynamic forwards and Connelly fills that bill.
14. Nashville Predators — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 176
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
Barry Trotz has had a good time with some European players in the NHL at his various stops as a head coach, so landing NHL Central Scouting’s No. 1 European Skater here is a nice get for a team that needs centers.
15. Chicago Blackhawks (from TB) — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 195
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
I’ve had Brandsegg-Nygård to the Blackhawks with Tampa’s pick now for a while, and think as long as that picks lands somewhere in the 12-16 range it’s possible the marriage happens. He’s a really good skater and plays a responsible game. He would compliment any of the young forwards already in the Blackhawks’ system.
16. New Jersey Devils — Adam Jecho, RW
6-5, 201
DOB: March 24, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Edmonton (WHL)
The Devils have a lot of young players already on their NHL roster and might look to replace the two defensemen — Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk — they traded to San Jose for Timo Meier last year. But the Devils desperately need some size up front, and Jecho checks that box big time.
17. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Adam Jiricek, D
6-2, 176
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: HC Plzeň
After taking Celebrini first, adding a defenseman here makes sense. Jiricek has been mocked as high as the top ten overall, but a knee injury suffered at the World Juniors ended his season. So he might slide. If he does, the Sharks should be more than happy to call his name here. A right-shot with his size and game is a nice pick here.
18. Washington Capitals — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
If you ask Alexander Ovechkin what the Caps’ biggest need is, he’ll probably tell you they desperately need a replacement for Nicklas Bäckström at center. At this point in this draft, Boisvert is the best option for Washington to do that. He’s a nice center who’s committed to play at North Dakota next year.
19. Detroit Red Wings — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
The Red Wings have invested a LOT of draft capital in defensemen in recent years; they took three defensemen in the first two rounds of last year’s draft and in the first round of two of the previous three drafts. So let’s focus on offense here with a forward who brings good size and scoring ability.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs — Charlie Elick, D
6-3, 200
DOB: Jan. 17, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Brandon (WHL)
Surprise! I once again have the Maple Leafs selecting a big, right-handed defenseman in the first round of a mock draft. At some point they’re going to address their blue line, and the need is going to become even greater now that they signed William Nylander to an expensive, long-term extension. Affordable defenseman are going to be a must in Toronto, and drafting them is the easiest way to accomplish that mandate.
21. Los Angeles Kings — Colton Roberts, D
6-4, 198
DOB: June 8, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Vancouver (WHL)
I think the Kings might be tempted to look at Roberts’ 6-4 body and right-shot and see a guy they can put on a big blue line with Brandt Clarke and Jakub Dvorak. The Kings are a pretty good team that’s made some aggressive moves in recent years.
22. Edmonton Oilers — EJ Emery, D
6-3, 185
DOB: March 30, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
The Oilers need to address their blue line at some point and Emery is a big right-shot who’s committed to North Dakota next year. I’m going to continue mocking defenseman to Edmonton and Toronto until they actually start drafting good guys early.
23. Philadelphia Flyers — Michael Hage, C
6-1, 190
DOB: April 14, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)
Hage, a Michigan commit, would be the first of two picks for the Flyers in the first round. He’s a good center with solid leadership qualities that make him feel like a smart play for Philly. They’re back on the clock again soon…
24. Carolina Hurricanes — Beckett Sennecke, RW
6-2, 181
DOB: Jan. 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Oshawa (OHL)
Carolina needs to add dynamic scoring up front with some size. Sennecke has a good body and could be a player to help their offense in the coming years. The way Carolina is playing recently, they might be picking lower than 24 overall, though.
25. Vegas Golden Knights — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
Hemming to the Golden Knights feels like a fit. He has good size, he’s young and is playing well in Finland. We really don’t know how Vegas will plan to re-stock their system because… they haven’t really done it much yet. They’ve been in win-now mode since they entered the league.
26. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Cole Hutson, D
5-10, 160
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Grab a good center who’s headed to Michigan with one pick, how about a productive defenseman who’s headed to Boston University with the other? Maybe the whole BU thing could be a double win for the Flyers after their last top prospect at Boston College bailed on them?
27. Dallas Stars — Cole Beaudoin, C
6-2, 201
DOB: April 24, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Barrie (OHL)
Dallas needs to continue adding young forwards to their system because, at some point, they’re going to need to replace guys like Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Beaudoin has good size for a center and could be a nice addition to their system as a potential middle-six player for them down the road.
28. New York Rangers — Ryder Ritchie, RW
6-0, 174
DOB: Aug. 3, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
The Rangers have a lot of good, young players up front and on the back end. But they don’t have some of their recently drafted forwards signed long-term yet. So back-filling the system with potential replacements if/when the time comes that they have to move on from a few of them makes sense this late in the first round. Ritchie is a solid prospect.
29. Colorado Avalanche — Kamil Bednarik, C
6-0, 185
DOB: May 26, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Another Boston University commit, Bednarik is a nice center with good size. The Avs have a lot of everything but don’t have a truckload of cap space and might have even less if/when they try to extend Mikko Rantanen in a couple years. So affordable players down the middle makes sense, especially when they’re still trying to replace Nazem Kadri two years later.
30. Vancouver Canucks — Terik Parascak, RW
6-0, 176
DOB: May 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince George (WHL)
If the Canucks are drafting in the 30s, this remarkable season ended in an enormously positive turn from the previous two dumpster fire campaigns. So they’ll take the best player available at this point, and I think that might be Parascak. A winger with good size, he might be a long-term replacement for Brock Boeser when they need that in a few years.
31. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) — Maxim Massé, RW
6-1, 181
DOB: April 7, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
The Sens get a second pick in the first round from Boston, and they already went defense so let’s grab a talented wing with some good size out of the QMJHL. Again, the Senators are breaking in a new coaching staff, new front office and new ownership all at once this season so we really don’t have any tendencies to look at with that franchise right now. But this is a nice player with a clear first round grade.
32. Winnipeg Jets — Andrew Basha, LW
5-11, 184
DOB: November 8, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
The Jets picking last in the first round means they ended Canada’s Stanley Cup drought, so congrats! If that happens, they’ll likely need to put their beers down to make a pick here and Basha is a nice player with a good first round grade who could make sense for them. But the parade might still be happening during the draft if they win it all.
