2024 NHL Mock Draft: Fourth Edition

Here is the third 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): The Blackhawks have plenty of choices of fine defenseman here and they chose 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- Ivan Demidov, Wing, SKA-St. Petersburg (Rus.): The Jackets here go with another forward to go with their young group in Demidov. He is a super explosive player that has the skills to be around for a long time.

5. Montreal Canadiens- Cayden Lindstrom, Center, Medicine Hat (WHL): The Canadiens at five take the center in Lindstrom to go with Nick Suzuki down the middle. He is a physical presence who can produce, despite injury questions.

6. Utah Hockey Club- Sam Dickinson, Defenseman, London (OHL): The new Utah franchise needs an entirely new rebirth and Dickinson is not a bad place to start. 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.

7. Ottawa Senators- Zayne Parekh, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL):Parekh ís a prototypical offensive defenseman and the Sens can use that type of player in its rebuild. As his defensive play improves, so would his value.

8. Seattle Kraken- Berkly Catton, Center, Spokane (WHL): Catton here at 8 for the Kraken is a reach and quite frankly, they should go defense here. Catton excels in all facets of the game, with no glaring weaknesses whatsoever besides his lack of size.

9. Calgary Flames- Tij Iginla, Center, Kelowna (WHL): Of course the first 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- Konsta Helenius, Center, HIFK (Fin.): The Devils need forward prospects badly and here I have them taking Helenius. He's a very well rounded player with his ability to be ahead in the game and excels defensively.

11. Buffalo Sabres- Carter Yakemchuk, Defenseman, Calgary (WHL): There are many directions the Sabres can go, and defense makes sense. Yakemchuk is super involved for a d-man with his play in transition and creating chances for teammates.

12. Philadelphia Flyers- Zeev Buium, Defenseman, Denver (NCAA): This would be a great selection for a Flyers team that needs more young building blocks on defense. Buium has all the makings of a franchise D-man with his ability to put up points, defend his own end, and log up minutes.

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. San Jose Sharks (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Cole Eiserman, Wing, U.S. NTDP (USHL): The Sharks get another forward with their second first rounder in Eiserman. His scoring ability is top notch, but his defensive play would keep him out of the top ten.

15. Detroit Red Wings- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Wing, Mora (Swe.): The Red Wings cam oh so close to breaking their playoff drought and they add to their young collection of talent here with Brandsegg-Nygard. He is a super physical player that excels in the offensive zone too.

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

17. Washington Capitals- Michael Hage, Center, Chicago (USHL): The Capitals go with the young American center here with Hage to go with the rest of their young forwards. He excels in the rush and with give-and-go playmaking.

18. Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders)- Sacha Boisvert, Center, Muskegon (USHL): With their second first rounder, the Blackhawks get depth behind Connor Bedard with another center in Boisvert. He is an elite goal scorer and also is a great passer.

19. Vegas Golden Knights- Trevor Connelly, Wing, Tri-City (USHL): The Knights can go anywhere here, but some may argue Connelly here is somewhat of a reach. Connelly excels with the puck in space and makes good moves when defenders are around.

20. New York Islanders (from Tampa Bay Lightning via Chicago Blackhawks)- Liam Greentree, Wing, Windsor (OHL): The Islanders go with the forward with Greentree, which makes sense. He’s constantly scanning, registering his options and the obstacles that would keep him from getting them the puck.

21. Los Angeles Kings- Terik Parascak, Wing, Prince George (WHL): The Kings need more youth in the pipes as Parascak is gaining momentum as a first rounder. He is a points machine, but his size isn't overwhelming.

22. Nashville Predators- Igor Chernyshov, Wing, Dynamo Moscow (Rus.): The Predators need some more youth in their system and Chernyshov is an interesting choice here. He is great at beating defenders and building up speed below the puck.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs- Stian Solberg, Defenseman, Valerenga: There's a chance Solberg goes higher than this, so the Leafs getting him here at 23 is really good. Solberg is an old school player that repels opponents and always is around the puck and moves well with it.

24. Colorado Avalanche- Andrew Basha, C/W, Medicine Hat Tigers: The Avalanche need more young forwards and Basha is a fast riser in draft week. He’s average sized, but he has a good competitive drive and provides enough upside with his skill and hockey sense that he could be a nice late-first pick.

25. Boston Bruins (from Ottawa Senators via Detroit Red Wings/Bruins)- Cole Beaudoin, Center, Barrie (OHL): The Bruins get their original first round pick back in the Linus Ullmark deal and 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.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Winnipeg Jets)- Emil Hemming, Wing, TPS (Fin.): With their second first rounder, the Habs take another forward in Hemming. He is an explosive scorer as his shot types vary and can score from a distance.

27. Carolina Hurricanes- Jett Luchanko, Center, Guelph (OHL): The Hurricanes should go best player available and they get a steal here in Luchanko. He is a very fast player and applies pressure on opponents.

28. Calgary Flames (from Vancouver Canucks)- EJ Emery, Defenseman, NTDP (USHL): The Flames here take a super, fast rising defense prospect in Emery, which in this range may not be a reach after all. Emery absorbs and erases opposing rushes with smooth backward strides and a stable, perfect posture.

29. Dallas Stars- Marek Vanacker, Wing, Brantford: The Stars here go with a fast riser in Vanacker. He could have gone higher than this if it weren't for an injury, but he's versatile and is a point producer.

30. New York Rangers- Nikita Artamonov, Wing, Torpedo (Rus.): The Rangers add to their youth of forwards here with Artamonov. He has a high motor, intelligent winger who can beat you with pace or skill.

31. Anaheim Ducks (from Edmonton Oilers)- Sam O'Reilly, Center, London (OHL): The Ducks with their second first rounder go with the talented forward in O'Reilly. He is a relentless shutdown defensive centre with physicality, details, and a clever quick-touch passing game.

32. Philadelphia Flyers (from Florida Panthers)- Charlie Elick, Defenseman, Brandon (WHL): This would be a solid choice for the Flyers as they double down on defenseman. Elick is a physical and proactive player and is a great skater too.