NEWSLETTER
We’ve almost made it, folks. The 2024 NHL Draft begins tomorrow! So let’s put a wrap on our mock draft season with one final take on the first two rounds. How will the draft play out? Undoubtedly differently than anyone predicts — especially after the first pick (which is a lock). Nobody gets it all right. But here’s my best guess at how the first two rounds will play out, with Round One starting tomorrow night in Vegas.
A few trades that have impacted the draft order since our previous mock drafts:
Let’s get into one final mock draft before the start of the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night!
2024 NHL Mock Draft — ROUND ONE
1. San Jose Sharks — Macklin Celebrini, C
6-0, 197
DOB: June 13, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Boston University (NCAA — Hockey East)
The Sharks will take Celebrini at No. 1 in this draft. He’s the best, most pro-ready prospect in the class and they didn’t even hide who’s coming to San Jose after they won the draft lottery. This one’s in Sharpie, folks. He *officially” came in a quarter-inch under six-foot, but that’s not a deal-breaker for me or the Sharks.
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Ivan Demidov, RW
6-0.5, 192
DOB: Dec. 10, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
After being primarily on the Demidov Train in my mock drafts, I’m putting my flag in the ground and officially going that route in my final mock draft. He’s a dynamic forward who brings elite playmaking ability to a prospect pool that has Connor Bedard and some really nice players… but nothing like Demidov. He would move guys like Frank Nazar, Nick Lardis, Gavin Hayes and Oliver Moore down the lineup, which makes the Blackhawks’ future deeper, more skilled and certainly more dangerous. This isn’t a knock on Levshunov in any way; I think he could become a very good defenseman in the NHL (potentially top pair). But you can’t get elite playmakers on the open market very often.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, RHD
6-2, 205
DOB: Oct. 28, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Michigan State (NCAA — Big Ten)
The Ducks are terrible defensively, so they should take the best defenseman on the board here. If it happens to be a player who could be a top pair RHD, even better. I’m going to continue putting defensemen (plural) to Anaheim in my mock draft between now and when the names are called. Levshunov is the best available here.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Zeev Buium, LHD
6-0, 186
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: University of Denver (NCAA – NCHC)
Buium is a helium prospect whose stock continues to climb the charts. He’s got a World Juniors gold and an NCAA championship on his resume and some scouts consider him the best defenseman in the draft. Columbus has a new GM and will have a new head coach, but they also have a stockpile of young forwards to build around. Taking a top-pair defenseman here makes sense. It also works that Buium is a lefty and David Jiricek is a righty.
5. Montreal Canadiens — Berkly Catton, C
5-10, 175
DOB: Jan. 14, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Spokane (WHL)
I believe the Habs will go forward here, and I’m torn between Catton and Cayden Lindstrom. But here’s what has Catton going here in my mind: only four draft-eligible CHL players have recorded at least 50 goals and 115 points in their pre-draft seasons since 2000. That list: Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Connor Bedard and Catton. Montreal needs someone to upgrade their offense and I think Catton does that best. I think he could be the No. 1 center in Montreal, so he goes to the Canadiens in my mock draft.
6. Utah HC — Sam Dickinson, LHD
6-3, 203
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
I’ve had the Fightin’ Utah TBDs taking a defenseman pretty consistently in my mock drafts, and I’m settling on Dickinson being the guy. Utah reportedly took a group of players including Berkly Catton, Beckett Sennecke, Tij Iginla and Dickinson out for dinner at the Scouting Combine. From that list, the need-filler is Dickinson.
7. Ottawa Senators— Zayne Parekh, RHD
6-0, 178
DOB: Feb. 15, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Saginaw (OHL)
Parekh is a really good, well-rounded defenseman with exceptional offensive ability (he put up 96 points in 66 games in his pre-draft season in the OHL). Ottawa has some good young defensemen but none of them have the offensive upside that Parekh brings to the table; he could be the Erik Karlsson for the next generation in Ottawa. They’ll be tempted to consider a few others here, including Iginla, but I’m sending a good RHD to the Sens.
8. Seattle Kraken — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-3, 213
DOB: Feb. 3, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
Lindstrom’s a big power forward who plays the game with strength and can move. I am sure the Kraken would love to grab a top defenseman here, and they might with a few of the names who are still available. But skating Lindstrom with Matty Beniers has a lot of potential to be a dynamic duo at the top of their lineup. I think Seattle goes with the power forward here.
9. Calgary Flames — Tij Iginla, F
6-0 185
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Kelowna (WHL)
This spot makes sense for Iginla based on his play, and his last name makes this a dream come true for lots of Flames fans. This might be the fastest any GM gets to the podium after the Sharks select Celebrini at No. 1 overall.
10. New Jersey Devils — 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 doesn’t help the Devils immediately. However, the Devils already gave up Kevin Bahl (6-6, 230) in the deal to acquire goaltender Jacob Markstrom and they haven’t quite gotten what they paid for out of Dougie Hamilton. By the time Silayev — whose size is hard to duplicate — is ready to come to the NHL, the Devils’ will have a handful of decisions to make and many of them will be sorting out their defensive group. He’s the best player available, and is a next layer of depth if/when the Devils sell from their stockpile to improve elsewhere.
11. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Eiserman, LW
6-0, 197
DOB: Aug. 29, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
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 Eiserman’s 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 — Carter Yakemchuk, RHD
6-3, 202
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
The Flyers have multiple picks in the first and second rounds this year, so they’ll be able to add a few bodies to their pipeline to turn around their rebuild. The big news this week that Matvei Michkov is coming to the NHL for the 2024-25 season opens the door for the Flyers to look at helping their blue line here. Yakemchuk has a huge shot and would change their power play the moment he arrives in the NHL. A big, right-handed defenseman is too much to pass on here, even with some good forwards available.
13. Minnesota Wild — Beckett Sennecke, RW
6-2, 181
DOB: Jan. 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Oshawa (OHL)
Sennecke has good size and plays a good, pro-quality game. But a playoff run of 10 goals and 12 assists in 16 games for Oshawa has him looking more and more like a guy who’s going to be off the board in the top 15 overall. He’s the kind of home run the Wild desperately need up front in this draft.
14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Stian Solberg, LHD
6-1, 205
DOB: Dec. 29, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Vålerenga (Norway)
The Sharks go defense here after selecting Celebrini first overall. Solberg has been flying up rankings of late and, as a player who’s a bit older, could be ready sooner than later. That timeline could benefit the Sharks quickly as they bring young players into the NHL roster beginning this season with Will Smith and, likely, Celebrini. Solberg is another helium prospect in this mock draft who plays with an edge, which the Sharks need.
15. Detroit Red Wings — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 189
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
The Red Wings came up short of the postseason this past year and want to make sure they’re in the dance in 9 months. Helenius is a really good prospects who I think a lot of folks are sleeping on; he’s been mentioned as being one of the very few who might be pro-ready now. He could easily be the best player available for Detroit, who acquired an additional second-round pick in their Tuesday trade with Nashville.
16. St. Louis Blues — Adam Jiricek, RHD
6-2, 176
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: HC Plzeň
The Blues need to improve their blue line and Jiricek is the best defenseman available here. They’ll be tempted by some of the offensive options still available, but grabbing a defenseman makes too much sense for St. Louis in this mock draft.
17. Washington Capitals — Igor Chernyshov, LW
6-2, 192
DOB: Nov. 30, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL – Russia)
Chernyshov has consistently been mocked in this range, from the Red Wings to the Golden Knights. He has good size and a lot of offensive upside. Washington desperately needs to begin stockpiling talent for the post-Ovechkin era, but it wouldn’t hurt to have him in your lineup when you try to convince Chernyshov to come over asap.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 207
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is a very good prospect I think some Blackhawks fans are sleeping on because we’ve heard his name frequently. In Scott Wheeler’s draft prospect superlatives piece, he had Brandsegg-Nygård in the top ten for best shot (10), most physical (4), most competitive (3) and most well-rounded forward (2nd). This would be an excellent pick for the Blackhawks.
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
I keep mentioning that Vegas has a track record of using their picks/prospects to add NHL-ready players who can impact the team now. So this pick could be theirs… or not. But if they stay put, Boisvert would be a great add to their system. A center with some size makes sense for how the Golden Knights have constructed their roster.
20. New York Islanders (from TB) — 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 piece on those. I’ve mocked Connelly to the Isles before because I think there are very few GMs in the league with the intestinal fortitude of Lou Lamoriello to make the pick. He’s a very talented player. The Islanders needed players like Connelly up front. And Lou can handle the blow back from media/fans.
21. Los Angeles Kings — Jett Luchanko, C
5-11, 185
DOB: Aug. 21, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Guelph (OHL)
The Kings moved Pierre-Luc Dubois out of town already this offseason, which could open the door for Quentin Byfield to get some run back at center. But… he was really good on the wing this past season. Luchanko profiles as a really good middle-six center who could give the Kings the ability to let Byfield stick on the wing at some point.
22. Nashville Predators — Michael Hage, C
6-1, 190
DOB: April 14, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)
Hage, a Michigan commit, is a strong center who could spend a year or two in college and then make the jump to the Preds. He has good size and is a dynamic playmaker who could go all the way up around the 16-18 range (including the Blackhawks). He’s the kind of player Barry Trotz loves. Nashville acquired a big RHD in their trade with Detroit earlier this week, so I think they’ll look for a center early. Hage is a good one.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs — EJ Emery, RHD
6-3, 185
DOB: March 30, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: USNTDP
I’m going back to the well here and mocking Emery and Charlie Elick to the Leafs. They need defensemen. They need tough guys. They need size. It seems like Emery’s stick is rising right now, so I’m going to have him going to the Leafs in this mock draft. If a front office under fire can check all of the boxes with their first-round pick, it’s a win. And this does that for Toronto.
24. Colorado Avalanche — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 215
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
Greentree is a power forward who fits their NHL mold well. The Avs re-signed Casey Mittelstadt on Tuesday at a really nice number for the player, so I’m flipping my pick here to a winger who the Avs probably would be surprised to see still available at this point. With the future of Valeri Nichushkin in question, the Avs need to bolster their forward group.
25. Boston Bruins — Cole Beaudoin, C
6-2, 210
DOB: April 24, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Barrie (OHL)
The Bruins got this pick back in the Linus Ullmark deal with Ottawa, and I believe they’ll use it on a player to help them down the middle in the near future. I really like Beaudoin’s game a great deal; he has the size and physical approach that fit Boston, and he’s a defensively responsible center as well. This pick makes a lot of sense for the Bruins.
26. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Maxim Massé, RW
6-2, 190
DOB: April 7, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
I have the Habs taking a top-line center candidate early and coming back here with a winger with some size. Massé has scored 65 goals in 132 games over the past two seasons in the QMJHL. I have previously had the Habs going with a defenseman with one of their first two picks (with Winnipeg owning their pick early in the second round) but I like the fit of this player in their organization.
27. Carolina Hurricanes — Charlie Elick, D
6-3, 202
DOB: Jan. 17, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Brandon (WHL)
It sounds like the Canes could lose a big chunk of their roster this summer with some important RFAs needing new paper and other players looking to cash in on the UFA market. Carolina is a team that has been built to play good defense under Rod Brind’Amour and Elick feels like the kind of player who would excel in his systems.
28. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD
6-6, 216
DOB: Dec. 27, 2004
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: JYP (Liiga)
Calgary went with Iginla early in the first round. I like them to come back with a defenseman here, and I’m leaning on the Swede who plays a good all-around game. Hunter Brzustewicz, Jeremie Poirier and Etienne Morin are all in the neighborhood of 6-0 to 6-1 and 170-190 range. So… how about drafting a monster on the back end to add a little size? Pulkkinen is polarizing because of his size, but I could see the Flames rolling the dice on him here.
29. Dallas Stars — Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD
6-0, 180
DOB: April, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Vaxjo Lakers Jr. (Sweden)
Dallas has a really nice collection of young forwards and they’re working on retaining Chris Tanev this week. But Tanev, like Ryan Suter, won’t be around forever and Dallas could use some depth on the back end. The skill package of Sahlin Wallenius says 29 is a good start for him to come off the board; his size relative to some of the other players in this draft puts him in a next tier on the blue line.
30. New York Rangers — Yegor Surin, C/RW
6-1, 192
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL/KHL)
Surin is rising right now as one of the top Russian prospects in the draft. He has good size and is a dynamic offensive player who, like Demidov, put up really good numbers in the MHL. He’s signed in Russia thru the 2025-26 season, which gives the Rangers some time to sort out some of their young forwards like Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil.
31. 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. I have had the Ducks going with two defensemen in the first round in most of my mock drafts because they need a lot of help on the back end, but this is a nice fit offensively who could eventually step into a middle-six role.
32. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
This would put a close on a fun first round with a productive, bigger forward heading to Philadelphia. Keep in mind that the Flyers are getting Michkov earlier than expected, so bringing in some size in Hemming would be a nice add to their pipeline.
2024 NHL Mock Draft — ROUND TWO
33. San Jose Sharks — Dominik Badinka, RHD
34. Chicago Blackhawks — Dean Letourneau, C
35. Anaheim Ducks — Ryder Ritchie, RW
36. Philadelphia Flyers (from CBJ) — Julius Miettinen, C
37. Winnipeg Jets (from MTL) — Marek Vanacker, LW
38. Utah Hockey Club — Cole Hutson, LHD
39. Ottawa Senators — Andrew Basha, LW
40. Seattle Kraken — Matvei Gridin, LW
41. Calgary Flames — Sam O’Reilly, RW
42. San Jose Sharks (from NJ) — John Mustard, C
43. Buffalo Sabres — Nikita Artamonov, RW
44. Pittsburgh Penguins (from PHI) — Linus Eriksson, C
45. Minnesota Wild — Teddy Stiga, LW
46. Pittsburgh Penguins — Henry Mews, RHD
47. Detroit Red Wings — Harrison Brunicke, RHD
48. St. Louis Blues — Aron Kiviharju, LHD
49. Utah Hockey Club (from WSH) — Tanner Howe, LW
50. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Adam Kleber, RHD
51. Philadelphia Flyers (comp) — Alfons Freij, LHD
52. Washington Capitals (from VGK) — Will Skahan, LHD
53. San Jose Sharks (from TB) — Adam Jecho, RW
54. New York Islanders (from LAK) — Simon Zether, C
55. Nashville Predators — Christian Humphreys, C
56. St. Louis Blues (from TOR) — Jack Berglund, C
57. Montreal Canadiens (from COL) — Max Plante, C
58. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) — Carson Wetsch, RW
59. Nashville Predators (from WPG) — Justin Poirier, RW
60. Carolina Hurricanes — Miguel Marques, RW
61. New York Islanders (from VAN) — Ben Danford, RHD
62. Calgary Flames (from DAL) — Lucas Pettersson, C
63. Seattle Kraken (from NYR) — Colton Roberst, RHD
64. Edmonton Oilers — Marcus Gidlof, G
65. Utah Hockey Club (from FLA) –Mikhail Yegorov, G
