We’re now into the middle of February and the NHL standings are shifting on a daily basis. Which means the order of selections in the 2024 NHL Draft is also moving frequently, as are team needs based on injuries and trades. Since our last mock draft, the Winnipeg Jets moved their first-round pick this year to the Canadiens for forward Sean Monahan.
The top pick in the draft is as certain this year as it was last year: Macklin Celebrini will be the guy. The drama between now and Celebrini stepping onto the stage at the draft in Vegas is which team’s front office he’ll join to put on the jersey. Right now, before the draft lottery answers that question, the team with the best odds is the same team that owned the top pick last year: the Chicago Blackhawks.
As we jump into our updated mock draft, a few things to consider and keep in miꦫnd. has published their mid-term prospect rankings already. And we’ve seen three prominent p🌌rospect analysts offer mid-term draft rankings.
For this mock draft, I locked in the standings as of the morning of — Valentine’s Day, because I do love me a good mock draft.
2024 NHL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Blackhawks — Macklin Celebrini, C
6-0, 190
DOB: June 13, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Boston University (NCAA — Hockey East)
Celebrini might not be considered a transformational prospect to the degree that Connor Bedard was a year ago, but he has every trait of a future NHL superstar. So him skating on the same team as Bedard to start his NHL career? Give me all of that! And with Bedard missing time because of an injury has played a big role in Chicago sinking to the bottom of the standings — and rising to the top of the draft order.
2. San Jose Sharks — Anton Silayev, D
6-7, 205
DOB: April 11, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
After drafting center Will Smith fourth overall last year, the Sharks willꦅ have the opportunity to balance the top of their prospect pipeline with their choice of excellent defensemen. Silayev is an enormous defensemꦐan playing well against men in Russia who will be a prospect lots are talking about before the draft. Defensemen this size don’t come around frequently, and the Sharks desperately need help on the back end.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, D
6-2, 200
DOB: Oct. 28, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Michigan State (NCAA — Big Ten)
The Ducks traded defenseman Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia earlier this season and still have plenty of young forwards; they added Cutter Gauthier in the Flyers trade. Levshunov is having a terrific 💃season at Michigan State against real🌳ly good competition in the Big Ten. That, plus being a right-shot, will likely elevate him into the top three picks.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Ivan Demidov, RW
5-11, 170
DOB: Dec. 10, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
The Blue Jackets making a huge front office change this week makes their approach to the 2024 NHL Draft more intriguing. Demidov has one year left on his contract in the KHL but that shouldn’t scare the Blue Jackets, who are trying to build something (still) and he could be th♉e 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. I’m becoming increasingly confident he’ll be a top-five pick, however. This is a wild card player going to a team that, now, is also a wild card here at No. 4 overall.
5. Ottawa Senators — Cole Eiserman, LW
6-0, 198
DOB: Aug. 29, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Ottawa being in the top five picks would be a huge disappointment after they thought this was a year to take a big step forward, and that might lead to more changes to their roster before the trade deadline and into the summer. But the opportunity to take a legit scorer in Eiserman will💧 likely be too tempting to pass on if he’s available. They could be heading into some significant player movement if their new ownership and front office wants to shake things up.
6. Buffalo Sabres — Cayden Lindstrom, C
6-5, 218
DOB: Feb. 3, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
The Sabres already have some big forwards. But they also have many of their young defensemen locked-up long-term already. So while adding a good defenseman might be tempting here, adding a 6-5 center who plays a responsible game could be the pick. Lindstrom could go anywhere from 2-10 in the draft, but he feels 🦋like a fit here in our mock draft.
7. Arizona Coyotes — Sam Dickinson, D
6-3, 195
DOB: June 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: London Knights (OHL)
By virtue of a six-game losing streak, the Coyotes have sprinted into the top ten picks and are heading the wrong direction. They have a nice young forward group, so adding a legit top-pair defenseman makes too much sense here. Some scouts believe Dickinson will eventually be the b💜est defenseman in this draft class.
8. Montreal Canadiens — Carter Yakemchuk, D
6-3, 195
DOB: Sept. 29, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Calgary (WHL)
The Canadiens need help defensively. They did select David Reinbacher in the first round last year, but the top forwards in this draft class are alread🦹y off the board and it might be a reach here for the Habs to think forward with Berkly Catton. With that being said, Yakemchuk is a really good defenseman coming out of the WHL. With his size and being a right-shot, the fit seems right. I would be surprised if the Habs don’t strongly consider one of the top defensemen in the draft here.
9. Seattle Kraken — Zayne Parekh, D
6-0, 181
DOB: Feb. 15, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Saginaw (OHL)
The Kraken are having a disappointing season after making the playoffs last year. They’re still trying to build their organization organically, which makes drafting an impact defenseman an even bigger need. Seattle has only seen 16 NHL games from a defenseman they’ve drafted over their three drafts thus far. Parekh is a legit talent and top-ten caliber player who would immediately be the best defenseman they’ve ever drafted.
10. Minnesota Wild — Zeev Buium, D
6-2, 180
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: University of Denver (NCAA – NCHC)
Buium’s stock is skyrocketing as he puts up great numbers as a freshman at Denver and looked terrific for the US at the World Junior Championship. The Wild have their star defenseman in Brock Faber, who plays the right side. Pairing him with a player like Buium is the foundation for a great blue line for years to come. They might need to convince the Minnesota-Duluth fans that it’s okay to cheer for a Denver Pioneer, though.
11. Calgary Flames — Berkly Catton, C
5-11, 163
DOB: Jan. 14, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Spokane (WHL)
The Calgary Flames are an organization in transition; they’ve already traded away a couple players and will probably move more before the trade deadline arrives. With those moves, they may slide up into the top ten, which would give them more options and possibly land them one of the top defensemen. But Catton is a terrific offensive prospect who is the best player available at this point.
12. Washington Capitals — Konsta Helenius, C/RW
5-11, 176
DOB: May 11, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Jukurit (Liiga — Finland)
The Capitals not making the playoffs would be tough, but it looks more likely every week. And part of their demise has been lack of center depth; with all due respect to Dylan Strome, he’s not Nick Backstrom. Helenius is the top-ranked European skater in this draft class and would be a nice add to a Caps system that needs a lot of help.
13. Nashville Predators — 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. The Preds are hanging around the edges of the playoff conversation in the Western Conference so they’ll be an interesting team to watch before the deadline. Connelly’s stock is up and he would be a nice addition to their system.
14. New York Islanders — Tij Iginla, F
6-0 185
DOB: Aug. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Kelowna (WHL)
I don’t think I’m alone in kinda hoping Tij gets to wear the same Flames sweater as his dad, Jarome, did for years. But he would be a reach in the top ten overall. In the mid-teens, however, he’s a very good value and would be a terrific get for the Islanders, who need to add some offensive spark to their lineup soon.
15. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW
6-1, 195
DOB: Oct. 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Mora IK (Sweden)
I’ve liked Brandsegg-Nygård for a while. He plays a strong, complete game and would be a very nice complementary piece for any team in the top half of the draft. With the Sharks landing Will Smith last year and 𓆏then going with a big defenseman in the top ten, getting him here is terrific value and a perfect🃏 fit.
16. New Jersey Devils — Igor Chernyshov, LW
6-2, 192
DOB: Nov. 30, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL – Russia)
Chernyshov was ranked the No. 18 overall prospect by both McKenzie and Wheeler, so somewhere in the late teens makes sense to start looking for landing spots for him. The Devils have a lot of young players all over their roster, but they had hoped to be in the playoff picture — if not winning their division — at this point. Taking a guy who might be a few years away is a good lottery ticket for them, but this pick might be moved for a goaltender before the deadline.
17. St. Louis Blues — Adam Jiricek, D
6-2, 176
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: HC Plzeň
The Blues need help on the blue line. Desperately. Jiricek might have been in play for the top ten if an injuryꦑ suffered at the World Juniors didn’t end his season, making this good value for St. Louis. He has good size and is a right-shot defenseman, so the fit of the player and the need of the team lead us to this making a lot of sense in this mock draft.
18. Detroit Red Wings — Emil Hemming, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: June 27, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: TPS (Liiga — Finland)
The Red Wings have invested a lot of draft capital in defensemen in recent years, so theyꦰ’ll likely be looking for forward help when their aging veterans move on. Hemming has good size and is playing in the top league in Finland. Steve Yzerman has plenty of experience getting quality players out of Europe.
19. Los Angeles Kings — Liam Greentree, RW
6-2, 198
DOB: Jan. 1, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Windsor (OHL)
The Kings have already made a change with their head coach and are desperately trying to right the ship quickly to get back into solid playoff position. Where they draft — read: how their record ends up — will likely impact who makes this selection; if you’ve already fired a coach, the GM is usually the next guy on the hot seat. Greentee is a nice forward with good size and the Kings have historically liked guys with good size.
20. Chicago Blackhawks (from TB) — Beckett Sennecke, RW
6-2, 181
DOB: Jan. 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Oshawa (OHL)
The Blackhawks need scorers. They have some coming in the system, but they’re still in a position in their rebuild to take the best player on their board. Sennecke is in the midst of a second straight season in the OHL in which he’s nearly a point per game player. He has goo🗹d size for the wing and would add another element to Chicago’s system to compliment their incredible forward depth. I don’t see a right-shot defenseman here that would be a good value and fit what they’re doing in Chicago, so they’ll add more forward help.
21. 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 an ideal player if he’s available when Philadelphia is on the clock for the first time; they have two picks in the first round. Hage has good size and all the tools to be a guy considered in the top 20 overall. I could see the Blackhawks giving him a long look because he’s playing in their back yard in the USHL (and they know the Michigan program well).
22. Toronto Maple Leafs — Aron Kiviharju, D
5-10, 165
DOB: Jan. 25, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: HIFK (Liiga – Finland)
The Leafs need to add defensemen to their system desperately. They have for years. While they would likely prefer to add a guy with some size here, Kiviharju is a really good prospect who’s likely the best defenseman on the board when the Leafs are on the clock.
23. Carolina Hurricanes — Sacha Boisvert, C
6-2, 180
DOB: March 27, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Muskegon (USHL)
If you ask Carolina fans what they need, scoring will likely come up quickly. They’ve won games with their defense for years, but they are going to have some tough roster decisions to make this summer both on the blue line and up front. Boisvert might be an eventual replacement for Teuvo Teravainen, who’s a free agent this summer. He has good size and the ability to eventually be a middle-six center option for the Canes.
24. Vegas Golden Knights — Ryder Ritchie, RW
6-0, 174
DOB: Aug. 3, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
The defending champs won’t own that title when the 2024 NHL Draft takes place (unless they repeat). They’ve mortgaged a lot of draft capital over the years to build an NHL roster that can win now, and that paid off with a championship in 2023. Ritchie is probably the best forward on the board at this point and would be a good add to their system.
25. Edmonton Oilers — Charlie Elick, D
6-3, 200
DOB: Jan. 17, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Brandon (WHL)
The Oilers need to add defensive depth to their system, and get some guys who can start filling the gaps affordably in the next couple years. Elick is a big right-shot defenseman who would help their system. The way the Oilers are playing, they might be later than 25 overall when the du🌸st settles in June.
26. Colorado Avalanche — Andrew Basha, LW
6-0, 185
DOB: Nov. 8, 2005
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Medicine Hat (WHL)
Basha has decent size and is consistently ranked in the mid-20s by analysts in their draft rankings, so this would be nice value for the Avs here. He has 44 assists and 23 goals in 48 games this season in the WHL; he’s a productive player which is what the Avs can always use. He’s likely the best player available at this point.
27. New York Rangers — Cole Beaudoin, C
6-2, 201
DOB: April 24, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: Barrie (OHL)
The Rangers have some really nice pieces on their NHL blue line already and some of them are already locked-up for the long-term. Centers are always a need for NHL teams, and the Rangers might be looking at a need to replace Filip Chytil this summer as he deals with bad concussion issues that ended his 2023-24 season eꦉarly. Beaudoin is a bigger center who would likely be a good target here for that role.
28. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — 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 73 points in 52 games. With Montreal going defense in the top 🔥ten overall, they come back here and target a player who can put the puck in the neಞt. The Habs got this pick in the Monahan trade.
29. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Cole Hutson, D
5-10, 160
DOB: June 28, 2006
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: US National Development Program
Maybe the whole BU thing could be a double win for the Flyers after their last top prospect at Boston College bailed on them? Hutson isn’t a big guy but he can skate and move the puck as well as any prospect in the college ranks right now. I’ve got the Flyers going forward earlier, so a potential power play quarterback for their future here is a nice get.
30. Dallas Stars — Dominik Badinka, D
6-3, 183
DOB: Nov. 27, 2005
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Malmö (SHL)
The Stars’ forwards are getting older, but getting a right-shot defender with good size here makes sense as well. Badinka would be a guy who can slide into their blue line in a year or two and help them stay string on the back end.
31. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) — Maxim Massé, RW
6-1, 181
DOB: April 7, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Massé scored 29 goals last season and was named the the CHL’s rookie of the year. This year hasn’t been quite as productive as some had thought it could be after such an impressive age-16 season in the QMJHL, but he’s still a strong, productive player. If the Sens add Eise🔯man and Massᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚé, they would have a couple building blocks to help them in the event the new front office decides to move on from some of their young forwards to change the culture.
32. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Henry Mews, D
6-0, 185
DOB: March 9, 2006
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Ottawa (OHL)
The Flames got this pick in the trade that sent Elias Lindholm to Vancouver just before the All-Star Game. I’ve got the Flames going with a center earlier in the first round, so helping rebuild their blue line here makes sense. Mews is a nice player having a good season in the OHL.
