On the travel day in the middle of the Stanley Cup Final, it’s a good time for us to take a second to reflect on some of the takeaways from the Scouting Combine this past weekend in Buffalo and update our 2024 NHL Mock Draft. And there are some changes from our previous run(s) at the first two rounds.
The 2024 NHL Draft will begin on June 28, which means we’re two weeks from mock draft thoughts to become a reality. And I expect a lot to change between now and the end of the first round; both New Jersey and Buffalo are reportedly shopping their lottery picks already.
With that in mind, let’s get into it. Here’s how I see the first two full rounds playing out in a couple weeks when the names are called in The Sphere in Las Vegas. It’s mock draft season, folks.
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 will take Celebrini at No. 1 in this draft. He’s the best, most pro-ready pro🥀spect 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 S﷽harpie, folks.
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Artyom Levshunov, RHD
6-2, 200
DOB: Oct. 28, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Michigan State (NCAA — Big Ten)
I’m flipping the pick for the Blackhawks in this post-combine mock draft. I’ve been on the wagon for a few weeks, but the way talked about speaking with the Blackhawks throughout his freshman season at Michigan State leads me to think there might be something there. I do think Levhsunov will go back to MSU for a sophomore year, though. I also read from the Scouting Combine and concerns about Demidov and those are also very real — until he meets with NHL brass in Florida next week.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Zeev Buium, LHD
6-2, 180
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: University of Denver (NCAA – NCHC)
This would be a fantastic get for the Ducks, who are terrible defensively. I’ve been high on Buium for a while and that confidence is only increasing. I think the Ducks want to get someone who can impact their lineup sooner than later, and Buium might be able to join them after a sophomore year at Denver. He’s special.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Ivan Demidov, RW
5-11, 170
DOB: Dec. 10, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Columbus have a new front office and some tough decisions to make with their current roster. With that being said, the history of the Columbus franchise has been marked with the best players they’ve had not staying there since Rick Nash, so they need to draft and sign an elite prospect to build around. Demidov is the second-best forward in this draft class without question. They can wait to add him up front with Adam Fantilli and Co.
5. Montreal Canadiens — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-3, 218
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. The Habs need t꧟o add to their forward group so they aren’t drafting in th🐭e top ten for another decade. His size is a big selling point, the skill he brings with it keeps him in the top five in my mock draft.
6. Utah HC — 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? He played huge in the Memorial Cup, helping the hosts in Saginaw win the whole thing. I had him slide to 12 in my previous mock draft because not every team in the top ten is going to take a defenseman… but I think his offensive ability could help him stick in the top ten.
7. Ottawa Senators — 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, but I keep coming back to the reality that defensemen this big don’t come around very often. The Sens have a lot of young pieces on their roster already but are still transitioning into a new front office and ownership. They had Zdeno Chara at one point and might view this as the second coming.
8. Seattle Kraken — Sam Dickinson, LHD
6-3, 195
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
I l൩ike Seattle to address their blue line in the same way I see Ottawa taking the best defenseman on their board. Dickinson had a strong season for London and some think he could ultimatel🌊y be the best defenseman in this class. Good get for the Kraken and their new head coach 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 — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 176
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
The Devils have aꦰ new head coach and need to improve with a young core that massively underwhelmed this season. Helenius might be pro-ready now, so a sign and AHL season scenario might happen. He isnt’ a big center, and might project to the wing, but this is a good player to a team that needs to get better asap.
11. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Eiserman, LW
6-0, 198
DOB: Aug. 29, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
I think the Buffalo Sabres are reportedly shopping this pick for more immediate help, so keep an eye on this one. However, Buffalo has most of their blue line locked-up long term already (and they’re all still young) and they 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. Eiserman is one of thꩵe biggest enigma’s in this year’s 🐭mock draft world, but I think this is his floor.
12. Philadelphia Flyers — Carter Yakemchuk, RHD
6-3, 195
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
The Flyers are in a great spot at 12 to grab one of the really good defensemen in this draft when someone inevitably slides. Yakemchuk is a stud who could be one of the better defensemen in this class and could easily be a top-five pick. This would be a great star♑t for the Flyers.
13. Minnesota Wild — 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 consideration starting as high as Montreal in the top ten. But I see a bit of a slide now with defensemen climbing. If there’s 🌠a run on the blue line, this would be a great pickup for the Wild with their cap issues and a need for more scoring up front.
14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Adam Jiricek, RHD
6-2, 176
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: HC Plzeň
The Sharks go with a good right-handed defenseman here to balance their draft after getting Celebrini at No. 1 overall. They’ll have a few options if they go with someone to help their blue line, and Stian Solberg is certainly climbing. But I think they’ll go with the right-handed Jiricek, who might have been a top-ten pick if not for an injury this past season.
15. Detroit Red Wings — 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 mock drafts, but his stock might be climbing faster than anyone in this draft class right now. He 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. Detroit is a good fit for him.
16. St. Louis Blues — Stian Solberg, LHD
6-2, 201
DOB: Dec. 29, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Vålerenga (Norway)
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. Solberg has been flying up rankings of l﷽ate and, as a player who’sꦅ a bit older, could be ready sooner than later.
17. Washington Capitals — Igor Chernyshov, LW
6-2, 192
DOB: Nov. 30, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL – Russia)
Chernyshov might be a more talented, skilled player than falling to 17 would warrant, but the questions about KHL contract status and politics could cause a slide here. But the team with The Great Eight on the roster might be a good spot for him to land. He has good size and plays the game in a way that could translate to the NHL effectively. To be clear: this pick is not because Ovechkin is Russian. It’s because this is a good prospect who isn’t sliding any further.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 195
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
is the kind of prospect who helps the job security of the GM who drafts him. He’s a responsible f𒐪orward who plays a full, 200-foot game with good size. This feels like the perfect pick for 🐟the Blackhawks. Corey Pronman compared his game to Tyler Bertuzzi, and I love that addition up front.
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
The Golden Knights are a big team, so drafting a big forward makes sense. Greentree is a power forward who fits their꧒ NHL mold well. Now, whether or not he makes the NHL with Vegas is a question; they haven’t valued their prospects much as they went all-in right away.
20. New York Islanders (from CHI) — 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 an✨d then make the jump to the Islanders. They need offense, and he would be a nice addition to a thin prospect pool.
21. Los Angeles Kings — 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. publi𝔍shed a piece on those. But the Kings have a veteran roster and front office that wants to win sooner than later, and Connelly’s skill is too much for the♓m to pass this late in the first round.
22. Nashville Predators — Jett Luchanko, C
5-11, 185
DOB: Aug. 21, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Guelph (OHL)
If the Preds are hunting for a center, a run on them before this pick isn’t ideal. But Luchanko is another players whose stock is rising; I’ve had him going to🅰 the Rangers at the end of the round in most of my mock drafts to this point but he appears to be headed into the low-20s at this point. Barry Trotz wﷺants to be stronger down the middle and this would be a good get for him.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs — Charlie Elick, D
6-3, 200
DOB: Jan. 17, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Brandon (WHL)
I’m going back to the well here and mocking Elick to the Leafs. They need defensemen. They need tough guys. They need size. Elick is all of that. 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 — 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 — he’s an RFA this summer — 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. He was very impressive at the combine. This would be a nice pick for the Avs.
25. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
The Sens add a lot of size with their first two picks in our mock draft. Hemming is a big forward coming out of Finland and would give them more of that up front. I really like Hemming’s game and could see him sliding up closer to 20 overall, so this is a good value pick for Ottawa.
26. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
After going with a big power forward earlier in ou🌌r mock draft, the Habs come back with another center later in the round. They cou🍰ld use some size and the combination of Lindstrom and Boisvert could help them a lot in that regard. And Boisvert may stick at center longer than Lindstrom.
27. Carolina Hurricanes — 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. Carolina has a lot of coming: they have ten forwards on their current NHL roster who are UFA or RFA this summer or next summer. And now they have a new general manager to make those decisions.
28. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — EJ Emery, RHD
6-3, 185
DOB: March 30, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: USNTDP
I had the Flames taking Iginla earlier, so taking a big body to help their back end here makes sense to balance their first round. Emery is a strong 𝓡defenseman who will head to North Dakota this fall. He was very impressive at the combine, solidifying his first-round status in my mind. He could climb higher than 28 based on his workouts and interviews as well.
29. Dallas Stars — Ryder Ritchie, C/RW
6-0, 174
DOB: Aug. 3, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
The Stars got bounced from the playoffs in the conference final again and are losing at least Joe Pavelski this offseason (to retirement). They don’t have many picks this year so they need to hit, which they’ve done pretty well in recent years. Ritchie feels like a Dallas-type player.
30. New York Rangers — Julius Miettinen, C
6-3, 207
DOB: Jan. 20, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Everett (WHL)
The Rangers need to bolster their depth down the middle with some questions about Filip Chytil’s ability to come all the way back — and stay in the lineup. Miettinen is a bigger player than Luchanko who was still 𓆏very productive in the WHL this past season. A disappointing end to their season will have the Rangers looking to bolster their roster.
31. Anaheim Ducks (from EDM) — Dominik Badinka, RHD
6-3, 190
DOB: Nov. 27, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Malmö (SHL)
I’m going with two defensemen for the Ducks because they’re terrible on the back end. And being able to grab Badinka and Buium is a stellar first round in this mock draft. They both have a lot of ability to do things their current NHL blue line doesn’t, and that’s what they need to add.
32. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Aron Kiviharju, LHD
5-10, 172
DOB: Jan. 25, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: HIFK (Liiga)
The Flyers also go with two defensemen in the first round, but the value on Kiviharju here is too great to pass. He’s a guy who might grade more into the middle of the first round but lacks the size of many of the other defensemen coming out this year. This would be a great value puck for Philly in our mock draft.
2024 NHL Mock Draft — ROUND TWO
33. San Jose Sharks — Cole Hutson, LHD
34. Chicago Blackhawks — , C
35. Anaheim Ducks — Maxim Massé, RW
36. Philadelphia Flyers (from CBJ) — Sam O’Reilly, RW
37. Winnipeg Jets (from MTL) — Matvei Gridin, C/LW
38. Utah HC — Marcus Gidlof, G
39. Ottawa Senators — Yegor Surin, RW
40. Seattle Kraken — Adam Jecho, RW
41. Calgary Flames — Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD
42. San Jose Sharks (from NJ) — Ilya Nabokov, G
43. Buffalo Sabres — John Mustard, C
44. Pittsburgh Penguins (from PHI) — Linus Eriksson, C
45. Minnesota Wild — Tanner Howe, LW
46. Pittsburgh Penguins — Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD
47. Detroit Red Wings — Teddy Stiga, LW
48. St. Louis Blues — Mikhail Yegorov, G
49. Utah HC (from WSH) — Alfons Freij, LHD
50. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — , RHD
51. Philadelphia Flyers (comp) — Simon Zether, C
52. Washington Capitals (from VGK) — Harrison Brunicke, RHD
53. Nashville Predators (from TB) — Henry Mews, RHD
54. New York Islanders (from CHI) — Nikita Artamonov, RW
55. Nashville Predators — Niilopekka Muhonen, LHD
56. St. Louis Blues (from TOR) — Jack Berglund, C
57. Montreal Canadiens (from COL) — Ben Danford, RHD
58. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) — Ondřej Becher, C
59. Nashville Predators (from WPG) — Andrew Basha, LW
60. Carolina Hurricanes — Miguel Marques, RW
61. New York Islanders (from CHI) —Marek Vanacker, LW
62. Calgary Flames (from DAL) — Justin Poirier, RW
63. Seattle Kraken (from NYR) — Christian Humphreys, C
64. Edmonton Oilers — Matvei Shuravin, LHD
65. Utah TBD (from FLA) — Kamil Bednarik, C
