2024 NHL DRAFT MOCK DRAFT: RYAN PIKE AND SHANE ‘FLASH’ STEVENSON PROJECT THE FIRST ROUND
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft takes place this week from the Sphere in Las Vegas, with the first round kicking off Fri., June 28 at 5 p.m. MST.
The Calgary Flames hold two picks in the first round, pick number nine earned from their own place in the standings and pick 28 from the Elias Lindholm trade courtesy of the Vancouver Canucks.
FlamesNation editor Ryan Pike agreed to go head-to-head with myself in a mock draft where we alternated picks back and forth. We give some thoughts on each pick all the way from pick 1 through 32.
Pike had the odd numbered-picks, while I had the even-numbered picks. Without further adieu – the results:
1st overall – San Jose Sharks – Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University – NCAA
Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks have not been very secretive since the draft lottery on what their plans are. This isn’t a matter of if, only when.
2nd overall – Chicago Blackhawks – Artyom Leshunov, RHD, Michigan State – NCAA
The consensus number one defenceman for a reason. If Celebrini wasn’t in this draft class he would have a high percentage chance of going first overall. Tremendous numbers as a freshman he can step right into the (weaker) Blackhawks roster and make an immediate difference.
3rd overall – Anaheim Ducks – Ivan Demidov, RW, St. Petersburg – MHL
They have a ton of good defence prospects already, adding another top end forward prospect isn’t a bad thing. He plays a different role and style to that of MacTavish and Carlsson, should fit in no problem.
4th overall – Columbus Blue Jackets – Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw – OHL
The Blue Jackets have depth everywhere in the organization allowing them to take the best player of the next tier. The Memorial Cup champion is a fantastic pick to pair off with Denton Mateychuk.
5th overall – Montreal Canadiens – Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat – WHL
Montreal, like the Jackets before them, have good prospect depth at every position. They take the big western Canadian center with no expectations or need to rush him into the NHL.
6th overall – Utah Hockey Club – Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver – NCAA
Utah brings one of the deepest prospect pools we’ve ever seen in a franchise move – and Buium would instantly go to the top of their charts as a player ready to impact the team soonner rather than later.
7th overall – Ottawa Senators – Sam Dickinson, LHD, London – OHL
Ottawa’s defence picks of recent years haven’t been panning out, but a new regime is in charge behind Steve Staios. Sam Dickinson gets the nod over Silayev as a “safer” offensive option.
8th overall – Seattle Kraken – Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit – Liiga
The top player out of Europe sometimes gets overlooked with all the North American leagues. Helenius is a crafty centre that could give Beniers and Wright a run as the best prospect the Kraken have.
9th overall – Calgary Flames – Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna – WHL
It comes down to Iginla or Catton and the size advantage gives the Flames the son of the franchise player. If Tij ends up being a winger that size difference could provide more opportunities.
[Note from Ryan: I considered Iginla, Catton and Silayev here. The Flames have more defensive depth than forward depth now in their forward group, which nudged me towards forwards, and then Iginla’s size – and how he scores his goals – pushed me towards him.]
10th overall – New Jersey Devils – Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. National Development Program – USHL
The Devils already have the cornerstone pieces everywhere in the lineup. They take the best pure goal scorer to complement the roster they have. The Devils are in a spot where they can risk the defensive lapses in his game and capitalize on the top end benefits.
11th overall – Buffalo Sabres – Berkly Catton, C, Spokane – WHL
Shades of Zach Benson falling to the Sabres here Sabres get whats seemingly another home run player. The depth on D makes this an easy choice.
12th overall – Philadelphia Flyers – Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo – KHL
He screams like he fits in to a Philadelphia team developing a new mindset under John Tortorella. Silayev could turn into something impactful so long as Danny Briere keeps the defensive guru at the helm of his hockey club.
13th overall – Minnesota Wild – Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary – WHL
The Minnesota Wild already have their top RD of the future in Brock Faber, Yakemchuk can develop at whatever pace he needs in order to become a top 4 defender of the future for the Wild.
14th overall – San Jose Sharks (via PIT) – Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City – USHL
The Sharks get yet another high end offensive player in Connelly. They have their centres in Celebrini and Smith – getting the natural winger will have its benefits.
15th – Detroit Red Wings – Teddy Stiga – LW, U.S. National Development Program – USHL
Stiga is fantastic. Incredibly skilled and more than capable of translating his game into success in any way you need him. A chameleon that can change his game when needed – Detroit gets an energetic utility man.
16th overall – St. Louis Blues – Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa – OHL
Sennecke rides the wave of momentum his strong second half has given him into a mid first round choice by the Blues. St. Louis projects to have holes at RW by the time Sennecke will be ready to jump. He fits what the Blues need.
17th overall – Washington Capitals – Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora – Allsvenskan
Has pro experience against men already. Plays the style the Caps typically like. Emery was tempting here but Brandsegg-Nygard’s talent is too much to pass on.
18th overall – Chicago Blackhawks (via NYI) – Michael Hage, C, Chicago – USHL
From their own backyard the Chicago Blackhawks continue to pick players with high offensive ceilings. With Bedard in town and Levshunov from earlier the Blackhawks can add Hage to a complimentary group that already has Korchinski and Nazar.
19th overall – Vegas Golden Knights – Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon – USHL
If Vegas is going to make a draft pick they should take a centre. Boisvert is a promising young prospect the Knights will probably trade away for a superstar at some point. If they don’t he could be the prime piece in their prospect system.
20th overall – New York Islanders (via CHI/TBL) – EJ Emery, RHD, USNTDP
The combination of size and talent here is too much for Lou to pass on. Dobson will be the number one guy on the Island for a while they can let Emery take his time to hone his skills.
21st overall – Los Angeles Kings – Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor – OHL
Best scorer left with the only problem being some mobility issues. Putting that concern aside you are getting a player that knows how to fill the net with pucks.
22nd overall – Nashville Predators – Adam Jiricek, RHD, Plzen – Czechia
Nashville has long been a defence factory – taking defenceman with good potential and maximizing what they can get out of them. Jiricek gets to go to an organization run by Barry Trotz – it would be exciting to watch him develop.
23rd overall – Toronto Maple Leafs – Stian Stolberg, LHD, Valerenga – Norway
Of the valuable prospects the Leafs do have most of them are all forwards. Stolberg would join Niemela as the best defence prospects the Leafs have with hopes he could turn out more impactful than Liljegren or Sandin have/had been.
24th overall – Colorado Avalanche – Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert – WHL
Avalanche take a player with a motor that doesn’t quit. When you have your top end talent you can take the guys who have high end role playing attributes. The son of former Flame Byron Ritchie projects to be a fantastic forechecking winger.
25th overall – Ottawa Senators (via BOS/DET) – Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon – WHL
Another defenceman for the Senators but this time with a different play style. Elick has more of a defensive edge to him giving the Senators a couple of great, but different tools out of the first round.
26th overall – Montreal Canadiens (via WPG) – Emil Hemming, RW, TPS – Liiga
The Habs have enough defence and centre prospects so they can afford to take a winger that shines in his forechecking abilities as well. Hemming will not be out muscled or out worked for the puck – something I think head coach Martin St. Louis could do wonders with.
27th overall – Carolina Hurricanes – Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie – OHL
Carolina takes a forward with a record of having a scoring touch. Showing you can score in the OHL is a good sign for future NHL success and the large centre has no problem in that department.
28th overall – Calgary Flames (via VAN) – Nikita Artamonov, RW, Torpedo – KHL
Another player that never gets outworked, Artamonov is also extremely smart. Knows how to position himself for success all over the ice. The Flames new regime has shown they are not scared to have Russian players in the system and they get one of the country’s best after Demidov.
29th overall – Dallas Stars – Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat – WHL
Hanna boy Jim Nill gets a player that showed he could be “the guy” for awhile when Lindstrom was injured. Basha has great offensive instincts and can add to a tremendously talented young group in Dallas.
30th overall – New York Rangers – Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s – Prep Hockey Conference (PHC)
The 6’7″ player that can carry the puck like someone a lot smaller was not going to fall out of the first round. Some may hope he turns into a Tage Thompson type but the Rangers only need to bet on the size. Lots of roles in the NHL for a big guy with good hands and decent mobility.
[Editor’s note: We conducted the mock draft before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and, with that series tied, we reverted to standings order and gave Edmonton the 31st pick and Florida the 32nd pick.]
31st overall – Edmonton Oilers – Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo – KHL
Chernyshov falling this far is a steal for the Edmonton Oilers. They take the consensus best player left to add a key piece to a weakened prospect cupboard. If the win the STanley CUp tonight they won’t care about that.
32nd overall – Philadelphia Flyers (via FLA) – Lucas Pettersson, C, Modo – Sweden U-20
Philly already has a great defenceman in Silayev and now they get a speedy centre who has a great two-way game. He just flies around the ice and can use that speed to get himself out of jams – something I think Coach Tortorella would love.
Sound off in the comments below who you want the Flames to pick, your thoughts on the draft, and anything else prospect related!
Shane “Flash” Stevenson has been a Nation Network contributor for three years, he can be followed on Twitter @Flash_33 // Ryan Pike is the editor for FlamesNation, he can be followed on Twitter @RyanNPike
Want more articles like this? Follow Flamesnation on MSN to see more of our exclusive NHL content.
More must-reads:
2024-06-24T20:19:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd