That is my remaining projection for a way I believe the primary spherical of the 2024 NHL Draft will form out. That is primarily based largely on my understanding of the gamers’ talent units, factoring in what the league generally tends to worth by way of participant type and positions, what particular groups are inclined to worth and a few rumors about which gamers might be linked to sure golf equipment too.
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NHL Draft Information: Prospect rankings, mock drafts and extra
For the final two years, the highest 10 of my remaining mock has had a good accuracy mark. I can guarantee you that’s largely luck. So, a caveat: I don’t know what’s going to occur — I’m simply making educated guesses.
1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston College (NCAA (H-EAST))
I’m 99.99999 p.c positive they’re taking Celebrini. Subsequent.
2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA (BIG10))
Our Chicago reporter Scott Powers thinks that is right down to Levshunov or SKA winger Ivan Demidov. That’s what the league thinks as nicely, despite the fact that Cayden Lindstrom is usually talked about with Chicago too. Nevertheless, as one NHL scout put it, “I might wager for at the very least half the league, they don’t have Levshunov/Demidov 2/3 on their checklist in some order.” That’s not a criticism of Chicago, it’s simply the extensive open nature of the highest of the draft class, in that if the crew order had been totally different, the group of gamers being mentioned would change notably (I’ve talked to at the very least one crew that doesn’t have both participant of their high 5). Most of my league sources appear to suppose Levshunov is the seemingly wager right here. Demidov impressed when groups met him. He’s a bit taller than anticipated and interviewed nicely, however I nonetheless suppose Levshunov’s toolkit and place, and familiarity with the participant will persuade Chicago to take him. The way in which most groups are inclined to suppose is that if it’s shut, take the defenseman. And I’ve been led to imagine that for Chicago, they suppose it’s shut.
3. Anaheim Geese: Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA)
Silayev checks a whole lot of containers for the Geese apart from his nationality. He’s precisely the type of participant their administration covets along with his dimension, compete and hockey sense. He enhances the younger defensemen they’ve completely too and he suits right here on expertise. Lots of people within the NHL observed when Pat Verbeek was following round Oshawa winger Beckett Sennecke in North Bay late within the season. He’s typically the title talked about right here by different groups because the potential “shock” within the high 5 despite the fact that that title has turn into much less of a shock within the draft lead-up. Possibly in the event that they commerce Trevor Zegras earlier than the draft Sennecke comes extra into play. If Chicago passes on Levshunov, I don’t know which of him or Silayev can be Anaheim’s lean. I don’t suppose Verbeek would love the thought of taking a Russian at No. 3, however he has a powerful relationship with Silayev’s coach Igor Larionov, who informed The Athletic he’s talked to Verbeek fairly a bit in the course of the season about Silayev.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medication Hat (WHL)
I’m not a physician, and I don’t play a physician both. All I can say is that a number of NHL groups have vital issues about Lindstrom’s again damage — he had a disk herniation in the course of the season. It doesn’t imply they’re involved to the purpose they wouldn’t draft him, or not draft him excessive, however that’s a serious dialogue level for any crew within the combine for him. My understanding, although, is that groups have been assured by medical doctors he’s typically wholesome and may play, and it’s extra concerning the long-term dangers of drafting an enormous child who has had again issues. I believe Columbus is excessive on this participant, and if the medical doctors clear him he’s the favourite to go at No. 4. In the event that they don’t, then it will get fascinating. Sennecke and Silayev appear to be the commonest names urged right here as alternate options by different golf equipment. I believe they like Demidov quite a bit however I don’t suppose he’s their favourite choice at No. 4.
5. Montreal Canadiens: Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA (NCHC))
If this situation performs out, it will likely be robust on Montreal. I don’t know the place the Canadiens would lean between Buium and Demidov, whom I believe they each like quite a bit. They like a ahead. Nevertheless, they might be far more acquainted with Buium even when they did get stay views on Demidov. I believe most NHL groups of their footwear, in the event that they suppose Buium could be a premium NHL defenseman and so they suppose the gamers are shut on expertise, would lean to the defenseman in opposition to the Russian winger. I believe it could come right down to how they mission the 2 gamers, and the way a lot or little of a expertise hole they suppose there’s relative to the place. Lindstrom being out there at No. 5 seemingly implies that the groups selecting earlier than Montreal had vital issues on his again. That doesn’t imply each crew will. I’ve heard sufficient tales of groups crossing off guys from their checklist on account of medical points that different groups had no points with. Nevertheless, it could be a variable, and if the medical evaluation is extra damaging than I’m led to imagine there are some within the NHL who suppose Lindstrom might fall on draft day. That stated, I believe if Lindstrom is out there at No. 5, and Montreal’s medical doctors green-light him, then he can be the choose. If he isn’t, your guess is nearly as good as mine. I believe Montreal has a whole lot of curiosity in Silayev as nicely if he had been to begin sliding.
6. Utah Hockey Membership: Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL)
Utah likes huge guys and desires defensemen in its pipeline, but in addition wants guys who can present offense. I might see Buium right here if he will get to No. 6, in any other case lots of people within the league suppose they might lean to somebody like Dickinson. Silayev can be an important match right here if he began to slide as nicely, though folks across the league marvel if the crew would take one more Russian at No. 6 in Silayev or Demidov given it took two within the high 12 final 12 months.
7. Ottawa Senators: Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
As we’ve gotten nearer to the draft the Sennecke hype practice has continued to chug alongside. I believe it’s gotten a bit excessive for a participant who didn’t have a tremendous common season and has some minor angle questions amongst groups, however he’s tremendous gifted and I get the highest 10 case for positive. Round No. 7 it begins to turn into extra of a severe dialog for Ottawa even when it could favor a defenseman. Sennecke is likely one of the premium skills within the draft with true game-breaking capacity. I’ve heard Ottawa linked to Dickinson and Carter Yakemchuk as nicely. I don’t see the Senators selecting Demidov or Silayev if out there to them.
Seattle has a urgent want for a defenseman in a defense-deep draft. Yakemchuk and Zayne Parekh can be the final of the premium skills out there to them on this situation. Demidov can be within the combine right here too, however my intestine is they might nonetheless lean towards one of many high protection prospects, particularly if gamers like Dickinson or Buium can be found and I don’t suppose GM Ron Francis is an enormous fan of Russians excessive within the draft. I believe Yakemchuk is extra well-liked within the league than he’s in public discourse as nicely.
9. Calgary Flames: Ivan Demidov, RW, Ska St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
Demidov helped his standing with some NHL groups (and within the eyes of my analysis as nicely) by measuring in formally at almost 6-foot-1, however for NHL groups which have already been deep diving into him, it wasn’t stunning information. Flames GM Craig Conroy met with Demidov in Florida final week together with a pair different managers with excessive picks. I believe within the pre-draft course of Calgary has needed to steadiness the truth that Tij Iginla might be out there to them at No. 9 versus the nice younger facilities and defensemen out there to them who it desperately wants. This situation might throw these plans out, although — the Flames might simply take the potential star winger and determine the remaining later. If Demidov goes fifth to Montreal, it could open up issues for the extra mentioned eventualities similar to Iginla right here, or Buium/Parekh.
10. New Jersey Devils: Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)
New Jersey and Buffalo can be in an analogous state of affairs with Catton. He’s the most effective participant out there on expertise seemingly at this choose, however they each have a whole lot of small forwards. Catton is a tier forward of fellows like Iginla or Konsta Helenius, so I believe you chew the bullet on him and determine it out later as a result of he’s the most effective asset.
11. San Jose Sharks: Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)
Groups take the most effective participant out there sometimes, however I might be shocked if the Sharks didn’t take a defenseman at 11 given how tilted their rebuild is towards younger forwards at present. Parekh is the title nominated by scouts because the likeliest title thought-about a high 10 prospect to fall out of the highest 10. Even when that’s the case I don’t see him lasting too lengthy within the teenagers. In some unspecified time in the future, his offense turns into too tempting even when there are issues about his protection. At No. 11 that turns into the purpose for San Jose. I might see Stian Solberg or Yakemchuk right here as nicely. One title groups have questioned about if the Sharks did determine to go the ahead route is Cole Eiserman right here.
12. Philadelphia Flyers: Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (FINLAND)
Philly has a urgent want so as to add on the middle place on this draft, and it feels just like the Flyers are going to have a possibility to get one in all Catton or Helenius on this draft. There are different prospects at 12, however it’s beginning to really feel more and more seemingly it will likely be a type of two gamers at this choose.
13. Minnesota Wild: Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)
Iginla would match the excessive compete type that Invoice Guerin likes to focus on in his draft picks whereas additionally including a whole lot of talent and goal-scoring. I believe Minnesota can be extremely tempted by Parekh or Yakemchuk right here because the Wild don’t have a real top-end protection prospect of their pipeline if both began to slip a bit.
14. Buffalo Sabres: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (SWEDEN-2)
Buffalo has drafted a whole lot of smaller, extremely expert forwards in recent times. The Sabres have a deep steady of expertise at each ahead and protection, however up entrance they might use some forwards with chew and dimension, and Brandsegg-Nygaard has a few of that. I might see Solberg or Adam Jiricek right here as nicely in the event that they went the protection route.
15. Detroit Crimson Wings: Stian Solberg, D, Valerenga (NORWAY)
I believe ideally the Crimson Wings would like so as to add a ahead at 15, however Solberg is so good, suits their identification too nicely and it’s no shock he’s been a reputation rumored with Detroit. He’s an enormous, cellular defenseman who may be very bodily and performed nicely versus males. MBN, Cole Eiserman or Michael Hage might match right here in the event that they go the ahead route.
16. St. Louis Blues: Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (CZECHIA)
With the Blues seemingly in place to take one of many second tier of defenders in Solberg or Jiricek and that being a urgent want for them it looks as if an excellent probability that a type of two will likely be their choose right here. I’ve heard Jett Luchanko’s title talked about right here by some as a risk too.
There’s a whole lot of helium behind Hage proper now after an important second half within the USHL and he has an excellent probability to be a high 20 choose. If Jiricek or Solberg received to Washington I believe they might be very blissful so as to add a possible top-four defenseman after drafting so many forwards, however I believe they like Hage and he’d make sense on expertise right here too.
18. Chicago Blackhawks: Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph (OHL)
It feels virtually seemingly at this level that Luchanko goes within the high 20. The league loves his two-way recreation, his skating and his compete. He suits the profile of the kind of ahead Chicago has focused and has that profile in spades. I believe Jiricek or both of the Norwegian gamers match right here too in the event that they make it to 18.
That is the vary the place Eiserman begins changing into very tempting. He’s gotten beat up by NHL groups this season and I haven’t gotten an important sense of the place he’s going to go given the overtly damaging tone about him. In some unspecified time in the future, it will get to overthinking and 19 is when he begins to appear to be a strong wager as somebody who’s going to play within the NHL and rating objectives. He’s the type of participant Vegas might attempt to wager on.
Beaudoin is a really likeable participant and scouts typically rave about his well-rounded recreation and compete stage. His inventory has solely gone up after an important U18s for Canada and I anticipate him to go proper round this space. The Islanders have a transparent want for a legit younger middle expertise and he’d match right here on expertise too.
21. Los Angeles Kings: Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)
Greentree’s inventory received hit following his U18 worlds, however I nonetheless anticipate him to be a first-round choose. He has a ton of talent and scoring capacity and good dimension, even when his play with out the puck isn’t nice. The Kings might transfer on from Arthur Kaliyev sooner or later, and Greentree can be a possible improve on that type of participant.
22. Nashville Predators: Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-Metropolis (USHL)
Connelly has been the topic of great debate this season with groups doing a whole lot of background work on the participant’s character. There are groups extremely within the participant, who’s seen as a high 10 participant on capacity on this class, however there are many groups who’ve little interest in him as nicely. My guess is across the 20 spot is when the expertise drop-off is so vital that he would be the final extremely rated participant on crew boards. Nashville is a company keen to wager on high-end expertise. The opposite widespread candidates are Vegas, the Islanders and Carolina.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs: Egor Surin, C, Yaroslavl Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
Surin is a popular participant within the league on account of a sky-high compete stage and his inventory is excessive following an important playoff in Russia’s junior stage. He’s a participant with the traits that Toronto has tended to focus on in latest drafts.
24. Colorado Avalanche: Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)
Boisvert might not have the numbers of Hage or Connelly within the USHL, however he’s a popular participant by NHL groups on account of his dimension and well-rounded play down the center. I believe early to mid 20s is his vary proper now. Colorado can be excited so as to add to their middle depth alongside Calum Ritchie.
25. Boston Bruins: Dominik Badinka, D, Malmo (SWEDEN)
Badinka is well-liked within the league on account of his dimension and mobility and with the ability to transfer the puck. He performed nicely towards the tip of the 12 months within the SHL and a whole lot of decision-makers had been entering into to observe him. He might be a late first to a crew like Boston.
26. Montreal Canadiens: Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (RUSSIA)
Chernyshov is a gifted participant, however he had some damage points this season and with him being within the KHL, I do suppose there could also be some threat elements that trigger him to go decrease than the highest 20 the place his expertise dictates. With a second choose within the first spherical, Montreal takes a swing on the large, quick scorer with some energy in his recreation.
27. Carolina Hurricanes: Nikita Artamonov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA)
Carolina has not proven hesitation to take Russians over the previous few drafts and the Hurricanes will seemingly be positioned with a late first to pick out a powerful Russian prospect. Artamonov can be a high-end talent winger so as to add, however there’s a probability Surin or Chernyshov get to their choose too. Carolina is seen as a flooring for Connelly as nicely by different groups.
28. Calgary Flames: Julius Miettinen, C, Everett (WHL)
Calgary added a dynamic winger at No. 9, so at 28 the Flames can look so as to add to the premium positions by taking an enormous middle in Miettinen, who can skate and supply some secondary offense.
29. Dallas Stars: Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (OHL)
Vanacker is a straightforward participant to love on account of his nice compete stage and translatable recreation to the NHL. His U18s weren’t good for Canada, however his inventory stays excessive within the league and I get the sense there’s a average probability he could be a low first-round choose.
30. New York Rangers: Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrews School (HIGH-ON)
The Rangers would love so as to add some dimension to their pipeline and to their middle depth. By taking Letourneau, they’ll handle each. He’s a long-term wager, however he’s an enormous man who can skate and has good puck expertise and can be a possible third-line middle of the longer term for them.
31. Anaheim Geese: Charlie Elick, D, Brandon (WHL)
Elick damage his inventory on the U18s, as groups nonetheless have notable issues on his hockey sense. That is the vary of the draft or early on Day 2 the place it turns into extra seemingly for him to go. He’s extraordinarily cellular for a 6-foot-3 defender and performs laborious, and alongside Silayev, he would add a whole lot of dimension and toughness to Anaheim’s draft.
32. Philadelphia Flyers: Sam O’Reilly, RW, London (OHL)
O’Reilly is a reputation I’ve heard quite a bit as a late first-round candidate within the lead-up to the draft. It’s a story as outdated as time — a London prospect having a late rise. He’s seen as a powerful two-way middle and has a whole lot of traits an NHL crew will search for.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photographs: Richard T Gagnon, Michael Miller / ISI Pictures / Getty Photos)