Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The 2024 NHL Draft is finally here, with Round 1 kicking off on Friday night from The Sphere in Las Vegas. That will be followed by Rounds 2-7 starting Saturday morning and into the afternoon hours.
Very similar to last year's draft with a sure-fire No. 1 prospect available atop the class, the 2024 class is highlighted by center Macklin Celebrini, who has been expected to go first overall in the draft since before the 2023-24 season started.
While Celebrini is not looked at as a "generational talent" like Connor Bedard was, the youngster is still very highly regarded as a franchise-altering player with his No. 1 center potential at the highest level.
This past season saw Celebrini jump to the collegiate level of hockey as a 17-year-old with Boston University, where he put up an astounding 64 points in 38 games played as a Freshman. That helped Celebrini earn the Hobey Baker Award as the best college hockey player this past season, becoming the youngest player to ever win the award.
After Celebrini at No. 1, it is a complete crapshoot as to how the first round will play out.
There are a number of players that could go at No. 2 to the Chicago Blackhawks, including forwards like Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom, or stellar defensive prospects like Artyom Levshunov or Anton Silayev. The next group of players after Celebrini from Pick 2 to Pick 16 could be slotted in anywhere, with some players maybe falling nicely into the laps of the Buffalo Sabres, who pick 14th overall in the first round.
How may the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft play out Friday in Las Vegas? Let's have some fun projecting the picks with my one-and-only first-round mock draft:
***For this exercise there will not be any potential mock trades that could happen in the first round.
1.) San Jose Sharks
SELECTION: Macklin Celebrini - Center - Boston University (NCAA)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 190 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: June 13, 2006
2023-24 stats: 38 GP, 32 G, 32 A, 64 P, 18 PIM, +25
Another clear-cut No. 1 prospect atop his NHL Draft class.
Celebrini is a well-rounded forward with a ton of offensive upside. Many draft and league pundits already feel Celebrini is capable of sliding into a top role for whoever is luck enough to draft him with the first overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft.
As a 17-year-old, Celebrini took college hockey by storm with his 64 points in 38 games played, finishing second in scoring behind only soon-to-be fellow Sharks teammate and 2023 first-round pick Will Smith from Boston College. His 32 goals this season was also second in college hockey behind Anaheim Ducks prospect Cutter Gauthier’s 38, also with Boston College.
Those totals were good enough for Celebrini to win the Hobey Baker Award, making him just the fourth Freshman to win the award.
In addition, Celebrini made the Team Canada roster this year at the IIHF World Junior Championship, and performed well as one of Canada’s best players in the entire tournament. Despite the team coming up short in the quarterfinal round, Celebrini stepped up with four goals and eight points in five games played.
While Celebrini may not be as highly touted of a prospect as Connor Bedard last year, his skill set and what he brings to the table still puts him into the top echelon of his class.
What stands out right away with Celebrini is his vision and decision making with and without the puck on his stick. He’s constantly got his head up, surveying the ice for the right play to start a breakout from his own end, make a lead pass, find open space with the puck, and creating scoring chances at the net. He’s also incredibly patient with the puck on his stick, utilizing the vision and Hockey IQ to make the best play in order to give his team a significant advantage.
With the puck on his stick, he’s got soft and crafty hands to make clean, crisp passes, or curl his wrists in order to let go of a quick shot on goal.
While he’s not the fastest skater, he’s very light and smooth on his feet, and controls the puck very well as he shifts around the offensive zone. While he can control the pace of play with his skating, he can also get to where he needs to go in order to score a goal, or make a pass to set up his teammates.
In addition, Celebrini is not afraid to throw around his body in an effort to play a more physical game, despite lacking some strength that he still has room to grow into at the next level. That strength will help additionally when it comes to winning more battles in the dirty areas, as well as the faceoff circle.
And although Celebrini, at times, may have a tendency to try and force some plays, thus leading to turnovers the other way, he has ascended to the task at every level thus far. It seems like Celebrini will be ready to take that next leap again when he cracks the NHL lineup to start the 2024-25 season in San Jose.
2.) Chicago Blackhawks
SELECTION: Artyom Levshunov – Defense – Michigan State University (NCAA)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 209 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Belarus
Birthday: Oct. 28, 2005
2023-24 stats: 38 GP, 9 G, 26 A, 35 P, 44 PIM, +27
Right off the bat, Levshunov stands out from the rest of a strong defensive group for a couple of reasons: His size from the blue line and the fact he’s a right-shot defenseman, a hot commodity for NHL teams across the spectrum.
While Levshunov is not the flashiest of skaters from the blue line, he keeps things so simple in his game with his long and smooth strides to help him in transition and on the rush. His strength in his skating also helps him generate good bursts in order to be a threat from the blue line, when able to jump into the rush.
In addition, he is a cerebral skater, being able to cover all areas of the ice while not looking out of place.
Where Levshunov will need to improve is his decision making when deciding to make the jump up the ice. From time-to-time, he will make a jump up the ice at an inopportune time, thus creating an odd-man situation heading the other way once the offensive rush breaks down.
However, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year has a good overall arsenal of tools to his game that make him a good two-way threat.
Levshunov is a very good passer with heads up all the way, especially in transition. He’s able to make accurate and crisp lead passes to not only start a transition from his own end, but also hit teammates in stride to start a scoring rush. He can serve as a good setup man from the point as a power play quarterback, or occasionally let a shot go from the point that finds the back of the net.
In his own end, Levshunov does not panic and is a stabilizing presence with and without the puck. He’s not afraid to get in front of shots or take the body in front of his own net, but with a man of his size and strength, it may be better for him to show some more consistency in that area of his game.
Overall, though, there is an argument to place Levshunov atop the list of defensive prospects in a stronger list of prospects in the class. Another year at Michigan State University would certainly do him very well in refining his two-way game and becoming one of the better overall presences from the back end.
3.) Anaheim Ducks
SELECTION: Cayden Lindstrom – Center – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 216 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Feb. 3, 2006
2023-24 stats: 32 GP, 27 G, 19 A, 46 P, 66 PIM, +12
There is a lot to like about the potential of what Lindstrom could be at the top level.
Immediately what stands out for the 18-year-old is his size at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds playing as a power forward down the middle. His size and strength make him an imposing presence up front, especially when he’s got the puck and is barreling toward the opposing net. He’s very strong on his feet, and can protect the puck well as he looks to cash in on a scoring chance.
That size up also allows Lindstrom to possess one of the strongest shots in this draft, as he’s able to put a ton of torque into his stick to blow a puck past the opposing goalie. On top of possessing a strong wrist and snap shot with his strength, he’s got the hands to get the shot off quickly and pick his spots.
When it comes to his skating, Lindstrom is a bit of an awkward case with a more upright posture. However, it matters not, as Lindstrom is actually a very strong skater, again, using his strength to power his way down the ice with good acceleration.
While he played only about half the 2023-24 season due to injury, Lindstrom proved this year he can be more of an all-around offensive player with his ability to distribute the puck with some crisp passing plays.
Where Lindstrom will need some refining over the next couple of seasons is his overall two-way play, as well as some consistency when it comes to solid play at both ends of the ice. While he may be a couple of years away from playing in the NHL, his upside is massive, both figuratively and literally.
4.) Columbus Blue Jackets
SELECTION: Ivan Demidov – Right Wing – SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: Dec. 10, 2005
2023-24 stats: 30 GP, 23 G, 37 A, 60 P, 20 PIM, +47
As the 2023-24 season wore on, Demidov developed and set himself up nicely to being one of the best offensive prospects in the 2024 draft class.
While Demidov showed little in his four-game period in the Kontinental Hockey League - Russia’s top professional league - this season, he progressively grew his game and became a more well-rounded player while playing at the junior ranks with SKA St. Petersburg’s program. His production at the MHL level this past season was also among the best from any player in their draft year.
Demidov is the most dangerous on the ice when the puck is on his stick. He’s quick to process what’s developing in transition and while on the attack offensively. In addition, he can be just as effective in distributing the puck as he is when shooting the puck and creating scoring chances. He’s able to use his soft hands to control the puck well, and keep defenders guessing as to what his next move is.
With his great vision and anticipation, Demidov is a great puck distributor with soft hands to feather pucks to where his teammates are going to be for a chance on the net. He also moves the puck with conviction, hitting teammates in stride or on the tape for quick opportunities to capitalize.
Demidov is just as dangerous shooting the puck, as his quick release can be deceptive to an opposing goaltender. He’s also able to stickhandle very well in close quarters, which is especially handy right around the net front.
The Russian winger is incredibly shifty on his feet, and uses great edge work and positioning to not only win puck battles, but also beat defenders on rushes by either muscling his way to a scoring chance, or using a burst of speed to get free. While he doesn’t blow anyone away with his speed, his acceleration allows him to thrive offensively.
While his style of play will need to adjust to the professional level, mainly with trying to force plays (whether it’s the KHL or NHL), he also possesses a willingness to aggressively pursue the puck in all three zones, showing no quit even when he makes a mistake.
Demidov has risen quite a bit to where could go as high as the second overall pick in the NHL Draft. Any team is going to be very pleased to have a skilled player like Demidov when he makes the jump to North America.
5.) Montreal Canadiens
SELECTION: Berkly Catton – Center – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 163 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Jan. 14, 2006
2023-24 stats: 68 GP, 54 G, 62 A, 116 P, 41 PIM, +15
Catton may certainly be one of the more entertaining prospects available in the 2024 NHL Draft. If Catton were, say, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds heading into the draft, it’s possible he may get much more of a look as one of the top prospects overall, right there with the likes of Celebrini and Demidov.
Despite being a smaller center at just 5-foot-11 and 163 pounds, Catton can be a really nice well-rounded center that is very difficult to play against with his deception, skill, and two-way tenacity to his game.
Catton is not the fastest skater on the ice, but he plays the game incredibly fast, and his quick thinking and vision allow him to be one step ahead of the competition. He’s always reading how plays are developing on the fly or how opposing defenders are reading an oncoming attack, and is able to quickly turn a rush into a scoring chance for his team.
The 18-year-old is very smooth and shifty on his feet, utilizing his edges to create space for himself and also generating bursts of speed and acceleration to gain the upper hand on the other team. He’s also very sturdy with and without the puck, making it hard for an opposing player to take him out of the play.
While Catton is not known to be a shooter, he’s got a very nice shot in his arsenal with the ability to get pucks off his stick in a timely fashion, and through traffic to pick his spots on goal.
What makes Catton a dynamic playmaker is his ability to utilize his deception and vision to find the best play possible to create a scoring chance. His deception with the puck can help draw defenders to him in certain situations, which allows him to find an open man with space to the net. He’s also able to thread the needle with strong passes in tight quarters to guys in space for a shot on goal.
Catton is not only the type of player to control the pace of play with the puck on his stick, but he is also quite the reliable presence at both ends of the ice. He was often utilized as a threat on the power play as a quarterback along the wall, but also as a key defender on the penalty kill or in late-game situations to close out a win.
While maybe not as strong of a forechecker and puck pursuit player like a Zach Benson, Catton could be a similar player who may surprise many in making a push to be an unexpected presence at the NHL level ahead of schedule. He’s got a strong drive to excel and make a difference in all three zones, and it could bleed well into the NHL game within a year or two.
Catton is certainly an intriguing prospect with some high-end potential, especially if he can string it all together over the next few years.
6.) Utah Hockey Club
SELECTION: Zeev Buium – Defense – University of Denver (NCAA)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 183 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: United States
Birthday: Dec. 7, 2005
2023-24 stats: 42 GP, 11 G, 39 A, 50 P, 20 PIM, +33
As a Freshman on the University of Denver blue line, Buium put up one of the most productive seasons from a defenseman in their draft year in college hockey history. The 18-year-old put up 50 points in 42 games on a Pioneers team that ended up winning the National Championship in 2024. Buium was also named the NCHC’s Best Offensive Defenseman and the conference’s Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Arguably Buium’s best trait on the ice is his controlled and smooth skating in all three zones of the ice. He’s not afraid to jump up on the rush, he’s good on his edges to evade a defending player, and is also strong enough to protect the puck and stay in a play. He’s not a blazer, but his soft edges allows him to not only take a puck to open space for a scoring chance, but also pursue the puck or get back into the play defensively.
Even at 18-years-old in the college environment, Buium exudes confidence in his game. He’s not afraid to chance an offensive opportunity because of his ability to make a play defensively in quick succession. This confidence also showed at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden, where the youngest player to make the gold medal-winning U.S. roster scored three goals and added a pair of assists for five points in seven games.
While Buium is more of a puck-moving defenseman, he has got a decent wrist shot and slap shot from the point, accounting for nine goals from the back end while at Denver. He’s also got a good ability to thread pucks through traffic, thus creating some troubles for the opposing goalie.
Speaking of his passing, Buium is a very gifted player using his vision and anticipation to draw in opposing players, leaving teammates open for scoring chances. He’s then able to hit those teammates in space for a quality scoring chance on goal. And while Buium likes to control the puck in transition out of his own end, he’s also reliable when hitting guys on the breakout.
Where things go from here with Buium, he just needs to build some additional strength to make him that much more tougher to play against, while also refining his overall two-way play to help him be that much more effective at both ends of the ice.
Like Levshunov, another season of collegiate hockey will only help Buium on his way to potentially being a top candidate to win the Hobey Baker Award from the blue line.
7.) Ottawa Senators
SELECTION: Anton Silayev – Defense – Nizhny Novogorod (KHL)
Height: 6' 7"
Weight: 207 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: April 11, 2006
2023-24 stats: 63 GP, 3 G, 8 A, 11 P, 10 PIM, -9
At the age of 17 playing in, arguably, the next-best professional level of hockey outside of the NHL, Silayev was able to get some quality playing time to help better his development, and get some eyes glued to him ahead of the draft. However, there is still plenty of room for Silayev to grow his game.
What immediately stands out with Silayev is his size from the blue line at 6-foot-7 and 207 pounds. His size, and the strength he was able to showcase at his age will likely make more than a few teams salivate at the potential of what he may bring to the table once he grows into his body a bit more.
Silayev is a solid presence in his own end, showing good physicality and strength to keep defenders to the outside and making it a living hell for positioning in front of the net. He also uses his stick well to not just defend well along the boards, but also to gain leverage and not allow an opposing get the upper hand.
For a player of his size, Silayev is a very smooth and solid skater, especially in his own end. He uses his strength to his advantage, while remaining soft on his feet not to get himself twisted inside out. He doesn’t have blazing speed, by any means, but he’s also efficient in transition both ways.
While Silayev is not a high offense player from the blue line, he’s still a willing combatant to contribute. He’s effective with firing pucks through traffic and able to get pucks to the net from distance. He doesn’t have the strongest shot, yet, but his size and strength could play to his advantage if he untaps some of that potential offensively.
Silayev is also a strong passer, especially in transition. He has good enough vision to see stretch pass options, and is pretty good at hitting those long outlet passes.
However, Silayev plays at a slower pace than some, and gets himself into trouble when the pressure gets turned up around him. If he can pick up the pace to his game as he matures in Russia, and eventually North America, it can really open up a whole ‘nother dimension to his game.
While Nizhny Novogorod is not the strongest of programs in the KHL, Silayev will continue to get more ice-time as he ages in Russia, which will hopefully continue that positive development progression as each year passes.
8.) Seattle Kraken
SELECTION: Zayne Parekh – Defense – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Feb. 15, 2006
2023-24 stats: 66 GP, 33 G, 63 A, 96 P, 64 PIM, +39
Parekh is, arguably, the most gifted and exciting offensive defenseman not just in this draft class, but perhaps in several years. Many draft pundits like to compare Parekh to the likes of Erik Karlsson, not just because he’s a right-shot defenseman, but because he’s got a stacked tool box offensively from the blue line.
His 96 points (33+63) in 66 games played for the Saginaw Spirit this past year in the OHL is the best points per-game mark for a defenseman in their draft year, ever. At 1.45 points per-game in his draft year, Parekh beat out the likes of Tony DeAngelo (1.39 PPG) and Evan Bouchard (1.30 PPG) during their draft year in the OHL.
Where Parekh immediately stands out with his game is his skating. He’s so crafty on his edges, allowing him to maneuver around the ice with ease and into open space for quality scoring chances. His straight-line speed is something he could improve upon, but still exhibits strong burst and acceleration with the puck on his stick.
While he doesn’t possess the strongest shot, Parekh can pick his spots to shoot with precision thanks to his vision and his soft, but quick hands on the release. The puck also comes off his stick with confidence and authority.
Parekh’s skating, vision and offensive instincts allows him to be a gifted passer, finding players in open space with crisp tape-to-tape passes at all areas of the offensive zone. He also does a nice job drawing defenders his way before firing a pass for a quality scoring chance.
Then there’s the defensive side of Parekh’s game, which will need some work and maturity. With such strong offensive instincts, he tends to pinch up on the play often, which can get himself into trouble, especially when the play quickly turns back to the defensive end. Parekh is also not as competitive in the defensive zone, which results in plenty of puck watching, and a lack of compete in puck battles along the boards.
While the offensive upside is, arguably, at levels not seen from a defensive prospect in some time, he needs to become a better two-way defender to shore up his overall game at the next level. Still, expect Parekh to go in the top-end of the first round of the draft.
9.) Calgary Flames
SELECTION: Tij Iginla – Center – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Aug. 1, 2006
2023-24 stats: 64 GP, 47 G, 37 A, 84 P, 35 PIM, +17
Fitting, right?
The son of Pro Hockey Hall-of-Famer and longtime Flames forward Jarome Iginla, Tij has climbed the rankings quite a bit this season thanks to some stellar play in the Western Hockey League in Kelowna this season.
Where Iginla excels is with his wicked shot, arguably one of the best releases overall in this year’s draft class. The 17-year-old exploded for 47 goals this season after just 19 in his 2022-23 campaign, and really displayed his full arsenal with the Rockets this year. He’s strong and quick on his wrist shot, while quite strong on his snap and slap shots, getting plenty of power behind his stick.
Iginla also has great patience with the puck, allowing for a play to develop just right before either letting a shot go, or distributing the puck to a teammate for a scoring chance.
While Iginla can get a little stronger physically, he shows the willingness to compete in the dirty areas along the boards and in front of the opposing net.
Iginla he will need plenty of additional time to really fine tune his overall game, especially when it comes to his play at both ends of the ice and his skating. While Iginla shows some good bursts and acceleration on the fly, he could improve his overall stride and technique to make him just a bit more consistent.
The good news is Iginla is very young, in fact, one of the youngest prospects available in this year's draft class. There seems to be much more to his game than what many have seen to this point, which bodes well for his future projections.
10.) New Jersey Devils
SELECTION: Cole Eiserman – Left Wing – United States National Team Development Program
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 196 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: United States
Birthday: Aug. 29, 2006
2023-24 stats: 57 GP, 58 G, 31 A, 89 P, 34 PIM, +23 // 24 GP, 25 G, 9 A, 34 P, 6 PIM, +6
Arguably the top goal scorer of the entire 2024 NHL Draft class.
Despite being one of the youngest players available in the 2024 NHL Draft, Eiserman still ranks as one of the most tantalizing prospects of this class.
His shot and the ability to score at will is what makes Eiserman a hot commodity. This past year saw the winger scoring a combined 58 goals with the U.S. National Team Development Program, adding to his 69 goals from last year in the program.
His 127 career goals in the program set an all-time mark in USA Hockey’s Under-18 program, eclipsing Montreal Candiens’ 2019 first-round pick Cole Caufield’s mark of 126 goals set between 2017 and 2019.
When it comes to his release, his soft hands allow him the ability to pick and choose where we wants to put the puck on net, but he fires the puck with conviction and authority. He’s got the shoot-first mentality with the puck on his stick, and can get off shots from anywhere on the ice, whether it’d be a wrist shot, snap shot or slap shot. However, his shot selection could be better, as he does tend to fire pucks too often that end up blocked or missing the net.
Despite Eiserman being a shot-first type of winger, he does have good vision to get the puck off to a better option if the shot is not there.
When it comes to Eiserman’s skating, he has good bursts of speed and acceleration to get the upper hand on his opponents, especially when it comes to the transition game. While he’s not the fastest or smoothest skater, it’s an area he can certainly improve upon to make him that much more unpredictable.
Where the detractors have come into Eiserman’s play overall that has led to a drop in his preseason ranking is with his consistency. Yes, while he’s a scoring menace and one of the most dangerous prospects offensively, there are some nights where he may be all over the ice and posing as a dominant threat, other nights there is some questioning with his compete.
Eiserman is built quite well for his size, and shows the willingness to compete physically from time-to-time, he may take a couple of shifts off here-and-there, which can cost his team a scoring chance against.
In addition, his defensive play does tend to be heavily criticized, despite making it up by being such a presence on the offensive side of the puck.
If Eiserman is able to shore up some of his consistency problems in all three zones of the ice, he may develop into one of the most dangerous threats any time he steps onto the sheet of ice at the NHL level. The hope is he can clean that up and focus on the all-around aspect of his game at Boston University under the tutelage of former NHLer Jay Pandolfo.
It’s still possible he falls out of the top-10 in the 2024 NHL Draft, similar to how Caufield dropped to the Canadiens in 2019, making him a potential steal in this year’s draft.
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11.) San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo Sabres)
SELECTION: Carter Yakemchuk – Defense – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 194 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Sept. 29, 2005
2023-24 stats: 66 GP, 30 G, 41 A, 71 P, 120 PIM, -6
One of the oldest players in the 2024 NHL Draft class, Yakemchuk is one of the top offensive defensemen available for selection, and probably does not get enough attention for his play from the blue line.
Yakemchuk has great size for a more offensive defenseman at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds, and is certainly a player that is not afraid to throw the body around. He also uses his size well and physical play well to keep opposing players to the outside, while also winning some puck battles.
Offensively, Yakemchuk has the hands of a forward from the blue line. The 18-year-old finished his 2023-24 season with 71 points, 30 of which were goals. His 30 tallies led the entire WHL among defensemen, and his 71 points put him in the top-five of defensive scoring overall.
The poise Yakemchuk shows with the puck is impressive, as he has the patience to either allow for the best lane to open up for a shot, or draw the defenders his way to feed a wide-open teammate across the ice. The puck comes off his stick with authority, and he is not afraid to take action to make a play.
In addition, Yakemchuk has a nice deceptive shot that can fool any goaltender coming off the stick, especially if he finds that lane through traffic.
While Yakemchuk can get himself into trouble from time-to-time pinching too deep in the offensive zone, he does have some decent speed in order to get back on the defensive side of the play. However, he was often seen as an offensive catalyst for the Hitmen, who was a team that did not have much going offensively throughout the season and missed the playoffs.
While his skating can use some fine tuning, Yakemchuk does have some good edge work that allows him to be effective offensively, while sturdy defensively to allow him to stick with an attacking player.
What may hurt Yakemchuk’s draft stock is him playing on a Calgary team that saw him being the second-leading scorer on the team, both in goals and points. If there can be some more stability around Yakemchuk and he can prove to be more of a complete defenseman, a team picking in the early-to-mid first round may find themselves with a gem.
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12.) Philadelphia Flyers
SELECTION: Konsta Helenius – Center – Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Finland
Birthday: May 11, 2006
2023-24 stats: 51 GP, 14 G, 22 A, 36 P, 10 PIM, -3
There are two elements to Helenius’ game that make him one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft: His smarts and his confidence.
As a 17-year-old playing in Finland during his draft year, Helenius was able to forge a pivotal spot for himself in the top professional league playing with Jukurit. He even spent most of his age 16 season playing professionally in Finland amongst many grizzled veterans.
This past season, Helenius produced 36 points (14+22) in 51 games played, which is some of the best production from any prospect coming out of Finland during their draft year. Only Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Laine put up better points per-game numbers in their draft year in the Finnish Liiga.
Helenius is beaming with confidence whenever the puck hits his stick. He becomes an X factor on the ice with his ability to control the pace of play thanks to some great vision and natural instincts. He’s also not afraid to take pucks to the net, be a physical presence in the dirty areas, and compete to win puck battles using his instincts in all three zones.
While Helenius has a very good shot, his hands allow him to be a very gifted passer, putting pucks that help his teammates either get going on the rush, or finding them in prime scoring position for a chance on net.
Where Helenius may be a bit weaker is his explosiveness. While he’s got a motor and can play a faster style of play, he doesn’t have that the greatest bursts of energy to escape a defending player or blow by an opposing player. However, that can be improved upon once he gets to the smaller ice surfaces of North America.
While he will never be a flashy player on the ice, Helenius does a number of smaller things very well, and he seems confident enough to potentially make a jump to the NHL sooner rather than later.
13.) Minnesota Wild
SELECTION: Sam Dickinson - Defense - London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 194 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: June 7, 2006
2023-24 stats: 68 GP, 18 G, 52 A, 70 P, 30 PIM, +56
Dickinson is one of the more intriguing defensemen available in this year’s draft class.
The 18-year-old has a ton of upside for a defenseman who wants to constantly contribute offensively. He’s always looking up ice to create rushes, whether he sends his teammates away or he’s jumping up from the blue line himself.
Dickinson has very good speed for his size. While he may need to just refine his skating overall at the next level, Dickinson can motor up the ice for a rush, but then has the ability to get back into the defensive play, if necessary.
While his offensive instincts will likely make some teams salivate, he does tend to pick very inopportune times to try and create offense when it may be best to tend to the defensive side of the game first. If Dickinson can continue to grow and show maturity in that aspect, it may make him one of the better two-way defenders with more of an offensive edge.
When on the attack, though, Dickinson is very good instinctually with good vision and an eye for the net. He can join a rush as a trailer or a lead man to create offense, he can feather pucks to teammates for scoring chances on the fly, or he can fire a shot on goal with a very strong slap shot or nice-touch wrist shot.
In his own end, Dickinson is not afraid to use his size and frame to win puck battles along the boards, while also using a good stick to defend well.
Another area of maturity for Dickinson over the next few years is his patience with the puck. While it is good to be a player with a constant motor to go-go-go, he does often try to force plays and get himself into trouble if a bounce does not go his way. In addition, there are times he will just flip pucks down the ice or try a lead pass to a forward when he hasn’t given his teammates enough time to establish themselves and be in good position to start a rush.
The upside with Dickinson is sky-high, but a couple more years of fine tuning and maturing will greatly boost his stick going forward. There’s a chance Dickinson could find himself going as a top-five pick, or a player that falls a bit atop the class.
14.) Buffalo Sabres (from San Jose Sharks via Pittsburgh Penguins)
SELECTION: Beckett Sennecke – Right Wing – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Jan. 28, 2006
2023-24 stats: 63 GP, 27 G, 41 A, 68 P, 67 PIM, +33
Heading into the 2023-24 season, Sennecke might have been seen as a second or third-round prospect, but he quickly became the highest-rising player in this draft class with the improvement in his overall play.
To start, Sennecke has seen an incredible growth spurt since starting out with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL. He has grown 4-to-5 inches since arriving in Oshawa, and also put on some additional muscle to become a stronger and filled out player. While he’s still growing his game into his frame, there’s plenty to like about what Sennecke may offer at the top level.
Sennecke does a really nice job with drawing the attention of defending players to himself, which then opens up opportunities for his teammates to get into open space for a quality scoring chance. He’s deceptive with the puck on his stick, leaving opposing players guessing what he’s going to do.
That deception is also an advantage for Sennecke, who is very crafty with the puck and can dangle through an opposing player, or use his size and frame to protect the puck and beat them that way. His puck control is very good, he’s confident with the puck, but there may be times he will try to skate his way through defenders by himself, which is more difficult to do as the levels of hockey get more difficult.
His shot has improved over the course of the year, as he’s able to quickly let go of the puck in space when he gets an opportunity for a shot on goal.
Sennecke is a solid skater with good edges to his game, allowing him to maneuver around the ice with ease. He displays decent speed and burst, but there is still plenty of growth to his game when it comes to refining his overall skating abilities.
And like most draft eligible players at the OHL level, Sennecke’s two-way game and consistency could use some improvement as time moves on. However, playing with a very solid Oshawa program will help him continue to see success over the next couple of seasons.
Certainly Sennecke could be seen as a steal for the right team in the draft, and could even find himself off the board in the top-half of the first round.
15.) Detroit Red Wings
SELECTION: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard – Right Wing – Mora IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 198 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Norway
Birthday: Oct. 5, 2005
2023-24 stats: 41 GP, 8 G, 10 A, 18 P, 19 PIM, +3
16.) St. Louis Blues
SELECTION: Liam Greentree – Right Wing – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 207 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Jan. 1, 2006
2023-24 stats: 64 GP, 36 G, 54 A, 90 P, 33 PIM, -14
17.) Washington Capitals
SELECTION: Adam Jiricek – Defense – HC Plzen (Czechia)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 168 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Czechia
Birthday: June 28, 2006
2023-24 stats: 19 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, 2 PIM, -10
18.) Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders)
SELECTION: Michael Hage – Center – Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 190 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: April 14, 2006
2023-24 stats: 54 GP, 33 G, 42 A, 75 P, 53 PIM, +17
19.) Vegas Golden Knights
SELECTION: Trevor Connelly – Left Wing – Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 161 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: United States
Birthday: Feb. 28, 2006
2023-24 stats: 52 GP, 31 G, 47 A, 78 P, 88 PIM, +1
20.) New York Islanders (from Chicago Blackhawks via Tampa Bay Lightning)
SELECTION: Stian Solberg – Defense – Valerenga (Norway)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Norway
Birthday: Dec. 29, 2005
2023-24 stats: 42 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P, 47 PIM, +2
21.) Montreal Canadiens (from Los Angeles Kings)
SELECTION: Cole Beaudoin – Center – Barrie Colts (OHL)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: April 24, 2006
2023-24 stats: 67 GP, 28 G, 34 A, 62 P, 27 PIM, +2
22.) Nashville Predators
SELECTION: Aron Kiviharju – Defense – HIFK (Liiga)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Finland
Birthday: Jan. 25, 2006
2023-24 stats: 7 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, 0 PIM, -2
23.) Toronto Maple Leafs
SELECTION: Igor Chernyshov – Left Wing – Dynamo Moskva (KHL)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 196 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: Nov. 30, 2005
2023-24 stats: 34 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 P, 2 PIM, -3 // 22 GP. 13 G, 15 A, 28 P, 18 PIM, +15
24.) Colorado Avalanche
SELECTION: Terik Parascak – Right Wing – Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 179 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: May 28, 2006
2023-24 stats: 68 GP, 43 G, 62 A, 105 P, 41 PIM, +49
25.) Boston Bruins (from Ottawa Senators from Detroit Red Wings via Boston Bruins)
SELECTION: E.J. Emery - Defense - United States National Team Development Program
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: United States
Birthday: March 30, 2005
2023-24 stats: 61 P, 0 G, 16 A, 16 P, 61 PIM, +34 // 27 GP, 0 G, 6 A,6 P, 30 PIM, +5
26.) Los Angeles Kings (from Montreal Canadiens via Winnipeg Jets)
SELECTION: Sacha Boisvert – Center – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 179 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: March 17, 2006
2023-24 stats: 61 GP, 36 G, 32 A, 68 P, 86 PIM, +5
27.) Carolina Hurricanes
SELECTION: Jett Luchanko – Center – Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 183 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Aug. 21, 2006
2023-24 stats: 68 GP, 20 G, 54 A, 74 P, 36 PIM, -13
28.) Calgary Flames (from Vancouver Canucks)
SELECTION: Charlie Elick - Defense - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 198 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Jan. 17, 2006
2023-24 stats: 65 GP, 4 G, 23 A, 27 P, 71 PIM, +4
29.) Dallas Stars
SELECTION: Emil Hemming – Right Wing – TPS (Liiga)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 194 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Finland
Birthday: June 27, 2006
2023-24 stats: 40 GP, 7 G, 4 A, 11 P, 0 PIM, +3
30.) New York Rangers
SELECTION: Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Defense - Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 183 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Sweden
Birthday: April 10, 2006
2023-24 stats: 43 GP, 11 G, 31 A, 42 P, 38 PIM, +20
31.) Anaheim Ducks (from Edmonton Oilers)
SELECTION: Teddy Stiga – Left Wing – United States National Team Development Program
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 176 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: United States
Birthday: April 5, 2006
2023-24 stats: 61 GP, 36 G, 43 A, 79 P, 42 PIM, +47 // 27 GP, 18 G, 20 A, 38 P, 18 PIM, +20
32.) Philadelphia Flyers (from Florida Panthers)
SELECTION: Matvei Gridin - Right Wing - Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: March 1, 2006
2023-24 stats: 60 GP, 38 G, 45 A, 83 P, 51 PIM, +14
