Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The 2024 NHL draft was a spectacle in every sense of the word. Count me among those who wouldn’t mind seeing the event held at Sphere going forward. I understand wanting to spread league events around, but when you hit a grand slam like the NHL did here, don’t mess with what works.
In terms of the selection process itself, some teams had fantastic drafts, extracting value with each selection, while other teams left value on the table with the talent available.
When considering a grade for each team, the totality of their work was considered: quality of players drafted, selection value and value derived from trades. Here’s our grade for every front office, with insights on particular high-value picks and trades (as well as questionable ones).
Jump to a team:
ANA | BOS | BUF | CGY
CAR | CHI | COL | CBJ
DAL | DET | EDM | FLA
LA | MIN | MTL | NSH
NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT
PHI | PIT | SJ | SEA
STL | TB | TOR | UTA
VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG
ATLANTIC DIVISION
When you have only four draft selections and three are in the 100s, it is difficult to come away with much.
Dean Letourneau was a quintessential Boston pick, even if it was a bit of a reach. The potential for Tage Thompson 2.0 has to be enticing for a franchise that needs help down the middle. He’s going to take a few years, but there is a real chance Letourneau is a unicorn, and Boston took that swing.
Elliott Groenewold, Jonathan Morello and Loke Johansson don’t have NHL projections, but you don’t expect that from midround picks. It’s a long shot for those three to make it, but they are fine bets.
Boston Bruins
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25 | Dean Letourneau | C | CAN | 6-7 | 214 | St. Andrews College (HIGH-ON) |
4 | 110 | Elliott Groenewold | D | USA | 6-2 | 200 | Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
5 | 154 | Jonathan Morello | C | CAN | 6-2 | 178 | St. Michael’s (OJHL) |
6 | 186 | Loke Johansson | D | SWE | 6-3 | 214 | AIK Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
The Sabres managed to have another quality forward fall into their laps. Buffalo likely should’ve traded the No. 14 pick for immediate help, but Konsta Helenius should play sooner than many people expect. The two-way driver will be a key piece of the Sabres’ future.
Adam Kleber and Brodie Ziemer were good bets and should play NHL games in depth roles. Buffalo got good value with Ryerson Leenders in the seventh round; I expected him to be one of the first goaltenders off the board. It is fair to be disappointed in the Sabres for not acquiring immediate help, but Helenius is a player to be very excited about for the future.
Buffalo Sabres
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 | Konsta Helenius | C | FIN | 5-11 | 189 | Jukurit (FINLAND) |
2 | 42 | Adam Kleber | D | USA | 6-6 | 215 | Lincoln (USHL) |
3 | 71 | Brodie Ziemer | RW | USA | 5-11 | 196 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
4 | 108 | Luke Osburn | D | USA | 6-1 | 172 | Youngstown (USHL) |
4 | 123 | Simon-Pier Brunet | D | CAN | 6-2 | 196 | Drummondville (QMJHL) |
6 | 172 | Patrick Geary | D | USA | 6-1 | 185 | Michigan State U. (BIG10) |
7 | 204 | Vasily Zelenov | RW | RUS | 6-0 | 180 | RB Hockey Juniors (AUSTRIA-2) |
7 | 219 | Ryerson Leenders | G | CAN | 6-1 | 165 | Mississauga (OHL) |
The Red Wings need a high-end scorer, which many believed would be Jake Guentzel in free agency. It now seems like it may be Steven Stamkos.
In terms of picks, they left value on the board with Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, but got good value in the Ondrej Becher selection, and I liked the Max Plante selection. Brandsegg-Nygard should be a middle-six NHL player and an effective one at that. There’s nothing to write home about, but nothing to be too disappointed in, either. A perfectly fine draft.
Detroit Red Wings
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 | Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | RW | NOR | 6-1 | 207 | Mora (SWEDEN-2) |
2 | 47 | Max Plante | LW | USA | 5-11 | 177 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
3 | 80 | Ondrej Becher | C | CZE | 6-2 | 187 | Prince George (WHL) |
4 | 126 | Landon Miller | G | CAN | 6-5 | 193 | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
5 | 144 | John Whipple | D | USA | 6-1 | 192 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
6 | 176 | Charlie Forslund | LW | SWE | 6-3 | 212 | Falu IF (SWEDEN-3) |
7 | 203 | Austin Baker | LW | USA | 6-0 | 190 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
7 | 208 | Fisher Scott | D | USA | 6-2 | 179 | Dubuque (USHL) |
The Panthers had the best week in the NHL, as they won the Stanley Cup on Monday just four days before the draft. (And had quite a celebration on Sunday.)
Linus Eriksson and Matvei Shuravin are fun projects with NHL upside. Simon Zether has an intriguing package of skill and physicality combined with a two-way game. The path for each of these players is long, and none have confident NHL projections, but they are intriguing in their own rights. When you’ve won the Stanley Cup, you aren’t expected to have the best draft, but Florida made some nice selections.
Florida Panthers
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 58 | Linus Eriksson | C | SWE | 6-0 | 189 | Djurgarden (SWEDEN-2) |
3 | 97 | Matvei Shuravin | D | RUS | 6-4 | 218 | CSKA JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
4 | 129 | Simon Zether | C | SWE | 6-3 | 176 | Rogle (SWEDEN) |
6 | 169 | Stepan Gorbunov | C | RUS | 6-5 | 196 | Chelyabinsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
6 | 193 | Hunter St. Martin | LW | CAN | 6-1 | 174 | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
7 | 201 | Denis Gabdrakhmanov | G | RUS | 6-3 | 187 | Tyumen Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
The Canadiens were big winners on Friday night, getting both Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage. They are excellent value, and will be key pieces in the Canadiens’ top six. Getting the second-best player in the draft at No. 5, and a top-15 player in the 20s is tidy business.
The sentimentality of the Aatos Koivu pick (he’s Saku’s son) plays well with the fans, and he has a real shot to be an NHLer. Other selections with value and NHL attributes include Logan Sawyer, Owen Protz and Tyler Thorpe. It wouldn’t surprise me if this draft class yielded four regular NHLers, including two difference-makers. Demidov has a chance to be a superstar, and that alone should be very exciting to Habs fans.
Montreal Canadiens
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Ivan Demidov | RW | RUS | 6-1 | 192 | SKA Saint Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
1 | 21 | Michael Hage | C | CAN | 6-1 | 188 | Chicago (USHL) |
3 | 70 | Aatos Koivu | C | FIN | 6-1 | 170 | TPS Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
3 | 78 | Logan Sawyer | C | CAN | 6-1 | 173 | Brooks (BCHL) |
4 | 102 | Owen Protz | D | CAN | 6-1 | 213 | Brantford (OHL) |
5 | 130 | Tyler Thorpe | RW | CAN | 6-4 | 209 | Vancouver (WHL) |
5 | 134 | Mikus Vecvanags | G | LVA | 6-3 | 159 | HS Riga (LATVIA) |
6 | 166 | Ben Merrill | C | USA | 6-4 | 190 | St. Sebastian’s School (HIGH-MA) |
7 | 210 | Makar Khanin | RW | RUS | 6-0 | 161 | Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
7 | 224 | Rasmus Bergqvist | D | SWE | 6-2 | 181 | Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
Celine Dion announces Canadiens’ No. 5 pick in NHL draft
Celine Dion announces the Montreal Canadiens’ fifth overall pick, Ivan Demidov.
One thing was made perfectly clear this weekend: The current Senators regime has adopted the modus operandi of building a team that’s hard to play against, compared to their predecessors. Unfortunately, that includes drafting players who fit that mold ahead of other highly skilled players.
Ottawa Senators
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Carter Yakemchuk | D | CAN | 6-3 | 202 | Calgary (WHL) |
2 | 39 | Gabriel Eliasson | D | SWE | 6-7 | 206 | HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
4 | 104 | Lucas Ellinas | LW | CAN | 6-2 | 198 | Kitchener (OHL) |
4 | 112 | Javon Moore | LW | USA | 6-5 | 203 | Minnetonka (HIGH-MN) |
4 | 117 | Blake Montgomery | LW | USA | 6-4 | 180 | Lincoln (USHL) |
5 | 136 | Eerik Wallenius | D | FIN | 6-4 | 212 | HPK Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
Tampa Bay didn’t have a selection until the fourth round, which means they started behind the eight ball. However, they could’ve drafted the likes of Luke Misa or Aron Kiviharju with their selections; both players went less than five picks later and were considered excellent value. Hagen Burrows and Jan Golicic have the best chance to be NHLers if their skating can develop to NHL level.
Though the Lightning draft picks left something to be desired, their trade execution was much better. The real story was the deck-clearing and subsequent acquisition of Jake Guentzel’s negotiating rights. Adding Conor Geekie to the fold in the Mikhail Sergachev swap gives Tampa Bay a blue-chip prospect who will be ready sooner than anyone they would’ve drafted this weekend. J.J. Moser is a nice player who will fit in a fourth or fifth defenseman role at a team-friendly price.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 118 | Jan Golicic | D | SVN | 6-6 | 188 | Gatineau (QMJHL) |
4 | 128 | Hagen Burrows | RW | USA | 6-3 | 177 | Minnetonka (HIGH-MN) |
5 | 149 | Joona Saarelainen | C | FIN | 5-9 | 183 | Kalpa Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
6 | 181 | Kaden Pitre | C | CAN | 6-0 | 180 | Flint (OHL) |
7 | 195 | Joe Connor | LW | USA | 5-10 | 173 | Muskegon (USHL) |
7 | 199 | Noah Steen | LW | NOR | 6-1 | 187 | Mora (SWEDEN-2) |
7 | 206 | Harrison Meneghin | G | CAN | 6-3 | 164 | Lethbridge (WHL) |
The Leafs identified that a few of their first-round targets would be available in a trade-back scenario and were able to acquire a second-round pick by sliding back.
Trading for the rights to Chris Tanev solves the immediate issue and buys them time with Danford. There is little data on the rest of the class, but it is clear the MO was to get some big bodies into the pipeline, with six of eight selections coming in at 6-foot-2 or taller.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 31 | Ben Danford | D | CAN | 6-2 | 191 | Oshawa (OHL) |
4 | 120 | Victor Johansson | D | SWE | 5-11 | 137 | Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
5 | 151 | Miroslav Holinka | C | CZE | 6-1 | 185 | Trinec Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.) |
5 | 152 | Alexander Plesovskikh | LW | RUS | 6-2 | 174 | Khanty-Mansiysk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
5 | 157 | Timofei Obvintsev | G | RUS | 6-4 | 178 | CSKA JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
7 | 200 | Matt Lahey | D | CAN | 6-5 | 203 | Nanaimo (BCHL) |
7 | 216 | Sam McCue | LW | CAN | 6-2 | 187 | Owen Sound (OHL) |
7 | 225 | Nathan Mayes | D | CAN | 6-4 | 194 | Spokane (WHL) |
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Carolina Hurricanes had a great draft.
Carolina Hurricanes
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 34 | Dominik Badinka | D | CZE | 6-3 | 185 | Malmo (SWEDEN) |
2 | 50 | Nikita Artamonov | LW | RUS | 5-11 | 187 | Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA) |
3 | 69 | Noel Fransén | D | SWE | 6-0 | 183 | Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
4 | 124 | Alexander Siryatsky | D | RUS | 6-2 | 159 | Magnitogorsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
5 | 133 | Oskar Vuollet | LW | SWE | 5-11 | 173 | Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
5 | 156 | Justin Poirier | RW | CAN | 5-8 | 185 | Baie Comeau (QMJHL) |
6 | 168 | Timur Kol | D | RUS | 6-4 | 204 | Omsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
6 | 184 | Roman Shokhrin | D | RUS | 6-5 | 205 | LOKO-76 Yaroslavl (RUSSIA-JR.) |
6 | 188 | Fyodor Avramov | LW | RUS | 6-3 | 190 | Stupino Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
7 | 220 | Andrey Krutov | LW | RUS | 5-11 | 174 | Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
The Jackets couldn’t pull off the Martin Necas trade at the draft, but Cayden Lindstrom is going to be a rock-solid second-line center for years to come. A one-two punch of Adam Fantilli-Cayden Lindstrom brings size, speed, physicality and skill.
Getting Charlie Elick in the second round was good value as well. The Blue Jackets had a solid prospect pool entering this weekend and added two pieces that will be quality NHLers.
Perhaps the Blue Jackets will use their plethora of prospects to acquire more immediate help. Luca Marrelli has a fair NHL projection as a bottom-pair defender, with the potential to be a solid transition player. The first two picks are the ones to be very excited about.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | Cayden Lindstrom | C | CAN | 6-3 | 213 | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
2 | 36 | Charlie Elick | D | CAN | 6-4 | 202 | Brandon (WHL) |
2 | 60 | Evan Gardner | G | CAN | 6-0 | 175 | Saskatoon (WHL) |
3 | 86 | Luca Marrelli | D | CAN | 6-2 | 185 | Oshawa (OHL) |
4 | 101 | Tanner Henricks | D | USA | 6-4 | 206 | Lincoln (USHL) |
6 | 165 | Luke Ashton | D | CAN | 6-7 | 231 | Langley (BCHL) |
The Devils had a busy week, and had a fine draft, though they are likely disappointed that their 10th overall pick was unable to net them a player who could help them immediately.
Anton Silayev is fair value at No. 10 and fits the style that the Devils like on the back end. They want players who are difficult to play against to complement their skilled players, and Silayev is exactly that.
Herman Traff and Matyas Melovsky are good swings who provided value in the draft class. The trade for Paul Cotter that included Alexander Holtz was one they felt needed to be made, and the John Marino trade makes sense if they intend to sign Brett Pesce in free agency.
New Jersey Devils
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | Anton Silayev | D | RUS | 6-7 | 211 | Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA) |
2 | 49 | Mikhail Yegorov | G | RUS | 6-5 | 188 | Omaha (USHL) |
3 | 85 | Kasper Pikkarainen | RW | FIN | 6-3 | 197 | TPS Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
3 | 91 | Herman Träff | RW | SWE | 6-3 | 216 | HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
5 | 139 | Max Graham | C | CAN | 6-3 | 203 | Kelowna (WHL) |
5 | 146 | Veeti Louhivaara | G | FIN | 6-4 | 207 | JYP Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
6 | 171 | Matyas Melovsky | C | CZE | 6-2 | 190 | Baie Comeau (QMJHL) |
For what they had to work with, the Islanders had an excellent draft.
Jesse Pulkkinen and Kamil Bednarik are solid selections who drew positive reviews in the industry. Overall, a great weekend for the Isles.
New York Islanders
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 | Cole Eiserman | LW | USA | 6-0 | 197 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
2 | 54 | Jesse Pulkkinen | D | FIN | 6-6 | 219 | JYP (FINLAND) |
2 | 61 | Kamil Bednarik | C | USA | 6-1 | 187 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
4 | 115 | Dmitry Gamzin | G | RUS | 6-2 | 158 | Zvezda Moscow (RUSSIA-2) |
5 | 147 | Marcus Gidlöf | G | SWE | 6-6 | 212 | Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
6 | 179 | Xavier Veilleux | D | CAN | 6-1 | 189 | Muskegon (USHL) |
Walking away with EJ Emery must feel really good. Emery was a defenseman other teams were eyeing, hoping his lack of offensive production would see him slide to the mid-30s. Getting one of the best transition and shutdown defenders in the draft at No. 30 is great for New York.
Outside of that, it was largely disappointing for the Rangers, who left value on the board in favor of players lacking NHL projections. With four picks, three in the later rounds, you want to swing on skill; the Rangers did not.
The Flyers left a lot of value on the table by passing on Buium and Helenius in favor of trading back and ultimately selecting Jett Luchanko. He’s likely to be a middle-of-the-lineup player who plays in all situations. He’s worth getting excited about because of the development progression in his draft year.
Jack Berglund and Spencer Gill are most likely to make the NHL out of the rest of the draft class, with both topping out as depth players. This was an opportunity for Philly to draft higher-ceiling players, and they opted for safety instead. It wasn’t great, but not horrible.
Philadelphia Flyers
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | Jett Luchanko | C | CAN | 5-11 | 187 | Guelph (OHL) |
2 | 51 | Jack Berglund | C | SWE | 6-4 | 210 | Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
2 | 59 | Spencer Gill | D | CAN | 6-4 | 186 | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
4 | 107 | Heikki Ruohonen | C | FIN | 6-2 | 204 | Kiekko-Espoo Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
5 | 148 | Noah Powell | RW | USA | 6-2 | 201 | Dubuque (USHL) |
6 | 173 | Ilya Pautov | RW | RUS | 5-11 | 167 | CSKA JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
7 | 205 | Austin Moline | D | USA | 6-4 | 193 | Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN) |
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer calls 13th pick for Flyers
Philadelphia native Michael Buffer announces that Jett Luchanko is headed to the Flyers.
Lots of value extracted by the Pens in this year’s draft. The acquisition of Kevin Hayes raised eyebrows, but they got a second-rounder for their trouble, and perhaps playing with two Hall of Famers can help produce offensive contributions from the big veteran. An interesting weekend, but the Penguins should be happy with their additions.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 44 | Harrison Brunicke | D | ZAF | 6-3 | 196 | Kamloops (WHL) |
2 | 46 | Tanner Howe | LW | CAN | 5-10 | 184 | Regina (WHL) |
4 | 111 | Chase Pietila | D | USA | 6-2 | 186 | Michigan Tech (CCHA) |
6 | 175 | Joona Väisänen | D | FIN | 6-1 | 175 | Dubuque (USHL) |
7 | 207 | Mac Swanson | C | DEU | 5-8 | 167 | Fargo (USHL) |
7 | 223 | Finn Harding | D | CAN | 6-1 | 198 | Mississauga (OHL) |
Their draft picks get a C+, their trades get an A, for a combined grade of a B+.
Acquiring Andrew Mangiapane for what amounted to Beck Malenstyn is tidy business. Solidifying the goaltending tandem by acquiring Logan Thompson completed a good week for the on-the-fly rebuild in the nation’s capital.
Washington Capitals
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17 | Terik Parascak | RW | CAN | 6-0 | 179 | Prince George (WHL) |
2 | 43 | Cole Hutson | D | USA | 5-11 | 165 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
2 | 52 | Leon Muggli | D | CHE | 6-1 | 177 | Zug (SWISS) |
3 | 75 | Ilya Protas | LW | BLR | 6-5 | 198 | Des Moines (USHL) |
3 | 90 | Eriks Mateiko | LW | LVA | 6-5 | 216 | Saint John (QMJHL) |
4 | 114 | Nicholas Kempf | G | USA | 6-2 | 189 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
6 | 178 | Petr Sikora | C | CZE | 5-11 | 172 | Trinec Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.) |
7 | 212 | Miroslav Satan | C | SVK 6-7 | 190 | Bratislava Jr. (SLOVAKIA-JR.) |
CENTRAL DIVISION
The only reason this isn’t an A+ is because Chicago left value on the board with all of their first-round selections. Getting either Ivan Demidov or Cole Eiserman (or both) would’ve boosted the haul.
Chicago is clearly trying to build the fastest team in the NHL and will likely have at least three NHL players from this class, with an outside shot at five or six. Pretty tough not to be happy with that, even with the value left on the board.
Chicago Blackhawks
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Artyom Levshunov | D | BLR | 6-2 | 205 | Michigan State U. (BIG10) |
1 | 18 | Sacha Boisvert | C | CAN | 6-2 | 183 | Muskegon (USHL) |
1 | 27 | Marek Vanacker | LW | CAN | 6-1 | 178 | Brantford (OHL) |
3 | 67 | John Mustard | C | CAN | 6-1 | 186 | Waterloo (USHL) |
3 | 72 | Anthony Spellacy | RW | USA | 6-3 | 200 | Windsor (OHL) |
3 | 92 | Jack Pridham | RW | CAN | 6-1 | 177 | West Kelowna (BCHL) |
5 | 138 | Joel Svensson | C | SWE | 6-2 | 185 | Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
6 | 163 | Ty Henry | D | CAN | 6-2 | 197 | Erie (OHL) |
The Avalanche were on the prowl for goalies in this draft, and Ilya Nabokov was one of the best options available. Goalies are volatile and hard to project, so taking a few if you believe your pipeline lacks a solid goalie prospect isn’t the worst idea.
Their positional selections, however, left value on the board. William Zellers has a long runway and a decent ceiling, but the lack of play at a top level is concerning. Nothing to write home about for the Avs, who will likely need to wait four or five years to find out whether one of their goalies pans out.
Colorado Avalanche
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 38 | Ilya Nabokov | G | RUS | 6-0 | 179 | Magnitogorsk (RUSSIA) |
3 | 76 | William Zellers | LW | USA | 5-11 | 167 | Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN) |
4 | 121 | Jake Fisher | C | USA | 6-2 | 190 | Fargo (USHL) |
5 | 132 | Louka Cloutier | G | CAN | 6-2 | 168 | Chicago (USHL) |
5 | 137 | Ivan Yunin | G | RUS | 6-1 | 172 | Omsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
5 | 161 | Maxmilian Curran | C | CZE | 6-3 | 185 | Tri-City (WHL) |
6 | 185 | Tory Pitner | D | USA | 6-1 | 180 | Youngstown (USHL) |
7 | 215 | Christian Humphreys | C | USA | 5-11 | 164 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
7 | 217 | Nikita Prishchepov | C | RUS | 6-1 | 194 | Victoriaville (QMJHL) |
In three years, when we’re discussing Dallas hitting on players in the late first or middle rounds, Emil Hemming at No. 29 in 2024 is going to be a player we mention. The Stars continue to extract value out of their selections in that area.
Outside of that, the Stars had two picks in the late rounds that are unlikely to be NHL players. Trading the negotiating rights to Chris Tanev when it became clear he’d priced himself out of Dallas was shrewd, too. It wasn’t a busy weekend for the Stars, but Hemming is a quality player for the pipeline.
Dallas Stars
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 29 | Emil Hemming | RW | FIN | 6-2 | 205 | TPS (FINLAND) |
5 | 158 | Niilopekka Muhonen | D | FIN | 6-5 | 195 | Kalpa Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
7 | 222 | William Samuelsson | C | SWE | 6-0 | 176 | Sodertalje Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
The Wild would be getting an A if they’d done nothing but draft Zeev Buium, Ryder Ritchie and Aron Kiviharju. The value extracted, particularly with Buium and Kiviharju, cannot be ignored. There is a real chance that Minnesota drafted two top-four defensemen and a flashy middle-six forward.
Getting Buium at No. 12 was a top-five steal in this draft, as there is a real chance he is Brock Faber’s partner for the foreseeable future. Trading Vinni Lettieri for Jakub Lauko and a fourth-round pick swap helps the Wild get younger and swing on a player with a higher offensive ceiling. Overall, the Wild have to be happy with their trip to Las Vegas.
Minnesota Wild
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 | Zeev Buium | D | USA | 6-0 | 186 | Denver (NCHC) |
2 | 45 | Ryder Ritchie | RW | CAN | 6-1 | 177 | Prince Albert (WHL) |
4 | 122 | Aron Kiviharju | D | DNK | 5-10 | 184 | HIFK (FINLAND) |
5 | 140 | Sebastian Soini | D | FIN | 6-3 | 187 | Ilves Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
5 | 142 | Chase Wutzke | G | CAN | 6-2 | 158 | Red Deer (WHL) |
6 | 174 | Stevie Leskovar | D | CAN | 6-3 | 207 | Mississauga (OHL) |
The Predators got good value with a few of their selections and took swings on players with higher ceilings.
Egor Surin was a bit of a reach for me, but he’s likely to become an exciting NHL player, so it should be fine. Teddy Stiga and Miguel Marques were high-value picks, and both have serious NHL potential.
It is clear Nashville values skills and opts for high ceiling over safe players, contributing to their value selections. There’s not as much confidence in the players they selected making the NHL, but they have the potential to be impact players if they hit their ceilings.
Nashville Predators
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | Egor Surin | C | RUS | 6-1 | 197 | Yaroslavl Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
2 | 55 | Teddy Stiga | C | USA | 5-10 | 178 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
3 | 77 | Viggo Gustafsson | D | SWE | 6-2 | 194 | HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
3 | 87 | Miguel Marques | RW | CAN | 5-11 | 187 | Lethbridge (WHL) |
3 | 94 | Hiroki Gojsic | RW | CAN | 6-3 | 198 | Kelowna (WHL) |
4 | 99 | Jakub Milota | G | CZE | 6-1 | 170 | Cape Breton (QMJHL) |
4 | 127 | Viktor Norringer | LW | SWE | 6-3 | 192 | Frolunda Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
7 | 213 | Erik Påhlsson | C | SWE | 6-1 | 185 | Dubuque (USHL) |
I really liked the Blues’ draft. They needed defensemen and spent their first three picks on the position. Adam Jiricek has a chance to be a heist at No. 16 when the dust settles. There’s a real path for him to become a steady top-four defender with top-pairing upside.
Lukas Fischer was fair value at No. 56 and could be a bottom-pairing defender with some development. The real value came with Adam Jecho and Tomas Mrsic, who should’ve been second-round selections. Both players have legitimate chances to be NHL players; the Blues may have quite a few players from this class in their lineup down the road.
St. Louis Blues
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | Adam Jiricek | D | CZE | 6-3 | 167 | Plzen (CZECHIA) |
2 | 48 | Colin Ralph | D | USA | 6-5 | 226 | Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN) |
2 | 56 | Lukas Fischer | D | USA | 6-3 | 182 | Sarnia (OHL) |
3 | 81 | Ondrej Kos | LW | CZE | 6-3 | 176 | Ilves Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
3 | 95 | Adam Jecho | C | CZE | 6-5 | 201 | Edmonton (WHL) |
4 | 113 | Tomas Mrsic | C | CAN | 6-0 | 170 | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
5 | 145 | William McIsaac | D | CAN | 6-3 | 192 | Spokane (WHL) |
7 | 209 | Antoine Dorion | C | CAN | 6-1 | 190 | Quebec (QMJHL) |
7 | 211 | Matvei Korotky | C | RUS | 6-1 | 198 | SKA Saint Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
There is no other grade you can give Utah here. On the totality of their work, it was a brilliant weekend for the NHL’s newest club.
Using their plethora of picks over the next few years to trade up and acquire a second first-rounder was good business. Both Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin were good selections that will be key pieces of Utah’s forward core.
Losing Conor Geekie hurts but was palatable given the prospect pool depth. Acquiring Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino is tidy business, as both will be key players on Utah’s blue line. They’re going to surprise opponents next season.
Utah Hockey Club
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Tij Iginla | C | CAN | 6-0 | 191 | Kelowna (WHL) |
1 | 24 | Cole Beaudoin | C | CAN | 6-2 | 210 | Barrie (OHL) |
2 | 65 | Will Skahan | D | USA | 6-5 | 215 | USA U-18 (NTDP – USHL) |
3 | 89 | Tomas Lavoie | D | CAN | 6-4 | 220 | Cape Breton (QMJHL) |
3 | 96 | Veeti Väisänen | D | FIN | 6-1 | 188 | Kookoo (FINLAND) |
4 | 98 | Gregor Biber | D | AUT | 6-3 | 187 | Rogle Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
4 | 103 | Gabe Smith | C | CAN | 6-4 | 208 | Moncton (QMJHL) |
5 | 135 | Owen Allard | C | CAN | 6-2 | 199 | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
5 | 153 | Ales Cech | D | CZE | 6-3 | 196 | Mladá Boleslav (CZECHIA) |
6 | 167 | Vojtech Hradec | C | CZE | 6-4 | 202 | Mladá Boleslav (CZECHIA) |
6 | 190 | Ludvig Lafton | D | NOR | 6-2 | 187 | Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
Utah Hockey Club selects Tij Iginla with first-ever pick
Tij Iginla becomes the first player to be drafted by the Utah Hockey Club expansion franchise.
Without a first-round pick, and with 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty potentially on the way out via trade, it wasn’t a great weekend for the Jets. They were unable to trade McGroarty at the draft, which is something they wanted to accomplish.
Winnipeg Jets
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 37 | Alfons Freij | D | SWE | 6-1 | 197 | Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
4 | 109 | Kevin He | LW | CHN | 6-0 | 181 | Niagara (OHL) |
5 | 155 | Markus Loponen | C | FIN | 6-1 | 186 | Karpat Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
6 | 187 | Kieron Walton | C | CAN | 6-6 | 211 | Sudbury (OHL) |
PACIFIC DIVISION
The Ducks had two first-rounders and shocked the hockey world (and the player) when they selected Beckett Sennecke with the third overall pick. Sennecke will be a solid NHL player, but that was a bit of a reach.
Stian Solberg will be a solid NHL defender and was a big riser in the draft. Someone was going to take him ahead of defenders with better projections, but if anyone should be trusted to develop a defender to his full potential, it is the Ducks.
The Maxim Masse and Tarin Smith selections provided solid value, and both have decent NHL projections.
Anaheim Ducks
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Beckett Sennecke | RW | CAN | 6-3 | 182 | Oshawa (OHL) |
1 | 23 | Stian Solberg | D | NOR | 6-2 | 205 | Valerenga (NORWAY) |
2 | 35 | Lucas Pettersson | C | SWE | 6-0 | 173 | Modo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
3 | 66 | Maxim Massé | RW | CAN | 6-3 | 190 | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
3 | 68 | Ethan Procyszyn | C | CAN | 6-3 | 190 | North Bay (OHL) |
3 | 79 | Tarin Smith | D | CAN | 6-2 | 187 | Everett (WHL) |
4 | 100 | Alexandre Blais | C | CAN | 5-10 | 152 | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
6 | 182 | Austin Burnevik | RW | USA | 6-4 | 195 | Madison (USHL) |
7 | 214 | Darels Uljanskis | D | LVA | 6-2 | 194 | AIK Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
Beckett Sennecke has amazing reaction to being drafted No. 3 by the Ducks
Beckett Sennecke is chosen by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
In terms of value and quality of players selected, Calgary may have had the best draft. Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, Andrew Basha, Henry Mews, Luke Misa and Jacob Battaglia were fantastic selections and have legitimate shots to be NHL players in varying roles.
Parekh is their future power-play quarterback who is better defensively than many credit him. Basha, Mews and Misa were high-value selections who all have NHL projections with varying confidence. Flames fans should be very happy with how their team did in Vegas.
Calgary Flames
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | Zayne Parekh | D | CAN | 6-1 | 178 | Saginaw (OHL) |
1 | 28 | Matvei Gridin | RW | RUS | 6-2 | 189 | Muskegon (USHL) |
2 | 41 | Andrew Basha | LW | CAN | 6-0 | 187 | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
2 | 62 | Jacob Battaglia | RW | CAN | 6-1 | 202 | Kingston (OHL) |
3 | 74 | Henry Mews | D | CAN | 6-1 | 189 | Ottawa (OHL) |
3 | 84 | Kirill Zarubin | G | RUS | 6-3 | 178 | AKM Tula Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
4 | 106 | Trevor Hoskin | RW | CAN | 6-1 | 175 | Cobourg (OJHL) |
5 | 150 | Luke Misa | C | CAN | 5-10 | 174 | Mississauga (OHL) |
6 | 170 | Hunter Laing | C | USA | 6-6 | 205 | Prince George (WHL) |
6 | 177 | Eric Jamieson | D | CAN | 6-3 | 199 | Everett (WHL) |
The Oilers had a mixed-bag draft. Taking a swing on Sam O’Reilly with the last pick of the first round may prove to be a good one given his performance in the playoffs for the London Knights. His development has been fun to watch, and London is a good spot for him to develop into a player who will be a middle-six contributor in the NHL.
Eemil Vinni was a solid value pick and one of the best goaltenders in the draft class. Dalyn Wakely had an excellent season as an overage player and is worth the late-round shot. He’s physical, wins puck battles and saw his production more than double season over season. If he’s a victim of COVID development delay, the Oilers may have gotten a sneaky steal here.
Edmonton Oilers
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 32 | Sam O’Reilly | RW | CAN | 6-2 | 184 | London (OHL) |
2 | 64 | Eemil Vinni | G | FIN | 6-3 | 187 | Jokipojat (FINLAND-2) |
5 | 160 | Connor Clattenburg | LW | CAN | 6-2 | 198 | Flint (OHL) |
6 | 183 | Albin Sundin | D | SWE | 6-2 | 198 | Frolunda Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
6 | 192 | Dalyn Wakely | C | CAN | 6-0 | 198 | North Bay (OHL) |
7 | 196 | William Nicholl | C | CAN | 6-0 | 184 | London (OHL) |
7 | 218 | Bauer Berry | D | USA | 6-4 | 198 | Muskegon (USHL) |
Greentree brings a lot to the table as a modern power forward who should fit well with L.A.’s roster going forward. George is someone the industry was high on, with many pointing out that he has the tools to be a solid NHL goalie. Woolley is another player who flew under the radar because he played Junior B until midway through the season. He’s expected to play a much bigger role for the London Knights next season. The Kings should feel pretty good with their selections.
Los Angeles Kings
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 | Liam Greentree | RW | CAN | 6-3 | 215 | Windsor (OHL) |
2 | 57 | Carter George | G | CAN | 6-1 | 194 | Owen Sound (OHL) |
6 | 164 | Jared Woolley | D | CAN | 6-5 | 207 | London (OHL) |
7 | 198 | James Reeder | RW | USA | 5-10 | 168 | Dubuque (USHL) |
Anytime you’re adding two cornerstones to your lineup, you’ve had a great weekend. Add in the value of Igor Chernyshov and Leo Sahlin Wallenius — who should be good middle-of-the-lineup players — and the Sharks added quality pieces to their organization.
The Sharks’ pipeline needed defense, and they were able to grab at least two players that should be reliable NHLers; in Sam Dickinson’s case, they added a potential difference-maker. When you’re coming home with a future top-line center and top-four defenseman, you’ve had a great weekend.
San Jose Sharks
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Macklin Celebrini | C | CAN | 6-0 | 197 | Boston University (H-EAST) |
1 | 11 | Sam Dickinson | D | CAN | 6-3 | 203 | London (OHL) |
2 | 33 | Igor Chernyshov | LW | RUS | 6-3 | 204 | Dynamo Moscow (RUSSIA) |
2 | 53 | Leo Sahlin Wallenius | D | SWE | 6-0 | 180 | Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) |
3 | 82 | Carson Wetsch | RW | CAN | 6-1 | 203 | Calgary (WHL) |
4 | 116 | Christian Kirsch | G | CHE | 6-3 | 174 | Zug Jr. (SWISS-JR.) |
5 | 131 | Colton Roberts | D | CAN | 6-4 | 204 | Vancouver (WHL) |
5 | 143 | Nate Misskey | D | CAN | 6-4 | 210 | Victoria (WHL) |
7 | 194 | Yaroslav Korostelyov | G | RUS | 6-1 | 161 | SKA Saint Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) |
Macklin Celebrini on being taken No. 1: ‘A dream come true’
Macklin Celebrini reflects on being selected with the No. 1 pick by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL draft.
Seattle would’ve been better served taking one of the quality defensemen available to them at No. 8, but Berkly Catton’s offensive tools and ceiling were too tantalizing. He’s going to create and score in a top-six role at the NHL level; the Kraken should be confident in that. They have a lot of young, two-way players, and Catton brings dynamic offensive skill.
Julius Miettinen is a good selection with third-line potential. Jakub Fibigr should’ve been long gone by the time the Kraken selected him at No. 202, and while he doesn’t have a strong NHL chance, he has a better chance than a lot of players who went before him. A good weekend for the Kraken.
Seattle Kraken
Round | Overall | Name | Pos | Country | Ht | Wt | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Berkly Catton | C | CAN | 5-11 | 175 | Spokane (WHL) |
2 | 40 | Julius Miettinen | C | FIN | 6-3 | 201 | Everett (WHL) |
2 | 63 | Nathan Villeneuve | C | CAN | 5-11 | 193 | Sudbury (OHL) |
3 | 73 | Alexis Bernier | D | CAN | 6-2 | 197 | Baie Comeau (QMJHL) |
3 | 88 | Kim Saarinen | G | FIN | 6-5 | 176 | HPK Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) |
4 | 105 | Oliver Josephson | C | CAN | 6-1 | 190 | Red Deer (WHL) |
5 | 141 | Clarke Caswell | LW | CAN | 5-11 | 170 | Swift Current (WHL) |
7 | 202 | Jakub Fibigr | D | CZE | 6-0 | 171 | Mississauga (OHL) |
The Canucks got good value considering they didn’t have a selection to make until the third round.
They strayed from their typical MO of functional toughness in favor of soft skill. Melvin Fernstrom’s production in Sweden this season indicates he’s got a fair shot to play in the NHL if his skating improves. Riley Patterson was a good bet in the fourth round, with good speed and flashes of offensive upside. Anthony Romani was great value in the sixth, even as an overage player. The offensive tools are there, and the underlying numbers suggest potential to become a late-round steal.
The hosts certainly got down to business at the draft.
Their trades netted them swapping out Logan Thompson for Akira Schmid as well as Alexander Holtz for Paul Cotter, while netting an extra third-round pick. That’s good asset management. Vegas gets younger in both positions and hopes that Bruce Cassidy can unlock the potential of 2020 No. 7 pick Holtz.
Combine the draft and the trades together, and it’s a net positive weekend for the Golden Knights.