2024 NHL Mock Draft: Final Edition

Here is the final edition of my 2024 NHL Mock Draft.

1. San Jose Sharks- Macklin Celebrini, Center, Boston University (NCAA): This is a slam dunk pick for the Sharks, who need a young star to build around for the foreseeable future. Celebrini has the experience of excelling against strong competition so he should fit right in.

2. Chicago Blackhawks- Artyom Levshunov, Defenseman, Michigan State (NCAA): Despite rumors of Ivan Demidov being the guy, the Blackhawksgo with perhaps the drafts best defenseman here in Levshunov. He has the NHL size already and he has a great two-way game too.

3. Anaheim Ducks- Anton Silayev, Defenseman, Torpedo (Rus.): The Ducks are still looking for longterm keepers, especially on defense and Silayev is a good start. He has great defensive upside due to his skating and range.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets- Cayden Lindstrom, Center, Medicine Hat (WHL): The Jackets at four go take the center in Lindstrom to go with the rest of their young forward group. Lindstrom is a physical presence who can produce, despite injury questions.

5. Montreal Canadiens- Ivan Demidov, Wing, SKA-St. Petersburg (Rus.): The Canadiens still are lacking many different things as they are still in their rebuild. Demidov is a super explosive player that has the skills to be around for a long time.

6. Utah Hockey Club- Zeev Buium, Defenseman, Denver (NCAA): The newest team in town that needs a completely fresh start gets a player that is a pretty safe bet in Buium. He has all the makings of a franchise D-man with his ability to put up points, defend his own end, and log up minutes.

7. Ottawa Senators- Sam Dickinson, Defenseman, London (OHL): The Senators take a safe bet at seven with Dickinson. Some scouts say he's like an NHL veteran with his defensive play and physicality and his offensive game broke out this past season too.

8. Seattle Kraken- Zayne Parekh, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL): Parekh is a prototypical offensive defenseman and the Kraken can use that type of player in its rebuild. As his defensive play improves, so would his value.

9. Calgary Flames- Tij Iginla, Center, Kelowna (WHL): Of course the final mock has legendary Flame Jarome's son going to Calgary. Iginla improved big time this past season with his great shot and willingness to go to tough areas with the puck.

10. New Jersey Devils- Cole Eiserman, Wing, U.S. NTDP (USHL): The Devils go with a fast rising forward here in Eiserman. His scoring ability is top notch, but his defensive play would keep him out of the top ten.

11. San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo Sabres)- Carter Yakemchuk, Defenseman, Calgary (WHL): As the Sharks trade up from fourteen, with their second pick they go defense here with Yakemchuk. He is super involved for a d-man with his play in transition and creating chances for teammates.

12. Philadelphia Flyers- Konsta Helenius, Center, HIFK (Fin.): The Flyers almost made the postseason last season, but they do still need more youth. Helenius is a very well rounded player with his ability to be ahead in the game and excels defensively.

13. Minnesota Wild- Beckett Sennecke, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): The Wild should go defense here, but they go offense here with Sennecke. He is a powerful player that overwhelms opponents with driving to the net.

14. Buffalo Sabres (from San Jose Sharks via Pittsburgh Penguins)- Berkly Catton, Center, Spokane (WHL): You can argue the Sabres should go defense here, but they go with a forward here in Catton. He excels in all facets of the game, with no glaring weaknesses whatsoever besides his lack of size.

15. Detroit Red Wings- Michael Hage, Center, Chicago (USHL): The Red Wings go with the young American center here with Hage. He excels in the rush and with give-and-go playmaking.

16. St. Louis Blues- Stian Solberg, Defenseman, Valerenga: The Blues need some more youth all around and Solberg is a fast riser on draft week. Solberg is an old school player that repels opponents and always is around the puck and moves well with it.

17. Washington Capitals- Adam Jiricek, Defenseman, Plzen (Cze.): This pick makes sense for the Capitals, who can use more young defense prospects. He isn't flashy, but his skillset can make him slide into a teams top 4.

18. Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders)- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Wing, Mora (Swe.): With their second first rounder, the Blackhawks go with an interesting prospect in Brandsegg-Nygard. He is a super physical player that excels in the offensive zone too.

19. Vegas Golden Knights- Liam Greentree, Wing, Windsor (OHL): The Golden Knights go with the forward with Greentree, which makes sense since the team needs some younger forwards. He’s constantly scanning, registering his options and the obstacles that would keep him from getting them the puck.

20. New York Islanders (from Chicago Blackhawks via Tampa Bay Lightning)- Sacha Boisvert, Center, Muskegon (USHL): The Islanders here go with the forward in Boisvert. He is an elite goal scorer and also is a great passer.

21. Los Angeles Kings- Trevor Connelly, Wing, Tri-City (USHL): The Kings need some youth in their system and Connelly is someone that's fast rising. He excels with the puck in space and makes good moves when defenders are around.

22. Nashville Predators- Ryder Ritchie, Wing, Prince Albert (WHL): The Predators need more youth in their system and Ritchie is someone who's stock is soaring as we head into draft night. Ritchie is both a scoring and playmaking threat that is great with crossovers.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs- EJ Emery, Defenseman, NTDP (USHL): The Maple Leafs take Emery here, who is also gaining momentum. Emery absorbs and erases opposing rushes with smooth backward strides and a stable, perfect posture.

24. Colorado Avalanche- Igor Chernyshov, Wing, Dynamo Moscow (Rus.): The Avalanche need more forwards in their system and Chernyshov makes sense here. He is great at beating defenders and building up speed below the puck.

25. Boston Bruins (from Ottawa Senators via Detroit Red Wings & Bruins)- Jett Luchanko, Center, Guelph (OHL): The Bruins The Bruins get their original first round pick back in the Linus Ullmark deal and go with the center in Luchanko. He is a very fast player and applies pressure on opponents.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Winnipeg Jets)- With their second first rounder, the Canadiens add to their youth of forwards here with Artamonov. He has a high motor, intelligent winger who can beat you with pace or skill.

27. Carolina Hurricanes- Terik Parascak, Wing, Prince George (WHL): The Hurricanes here take a fast rising forward here in Parascak.  He is a points machine, but his size isn't overwhelming.

28. Calgary Flames (from Vancouver Canucks)- Charlie Elick, Defenseman, Brandon (WHL): This would be a solid choice for the Flames, who go defense with their second first rounder. Elick is a physical and proactive player and is a great skater too.

29. Dallas Stars- Emil Hemming, Wing, TPS (Fin.): The Stars should go with best available here and they take a good one in Hemming. He is an explosive scorer as his shot types vary and can score from a distance.

30. New York Rangers- Dean Letourneau, Center, St. Andrew’s College (HIGH-ON): This would be an interesting pick for the Rangers as they go with an interesting prospect in Letourneau. He is a super physical player with decent skills.

31. Anaheim Ducks (from Edmonton Oilers)- Cole Beaudoin, Center, Barrie (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Ducks here go with the center in Beaudoin. He eats up the boards, grinds them, spins off opponents, drags the puck out of traffic, and gets it to the middle of the ice.

32. Philadelphia Flyers (from Florida Panthers)- Matvei Gridin, Wing, Muskegon (USHL): With their second first rounder, the Flyers take another forward in Gridin. He has good IQ and is a good skater but not a pure burner on open ice.