Originally posted on ClutchPoints
The Stanley Cup Final is on the horizon. The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will battle on the ice to stake their claim to hockey’s biggest prize. However, the calendar has also flipped to the month of June. The 2024 NHL Draft is now less than a month away. And as a result, it is time for another NHL Mock Draft.
A quick note before we begin. The order used for this mock comes from Tankathon. It includes the first 30 selections that are already confirmed, with the other two selections being placed in reverse order of regular season standing. With no further ado, ClutchPoints presents its fourth mock draft of the 2023-24 season.
Previous mock drafts: The way-too-early edition, The post-trade deadline edition, The NHL Draft Lottery edition
The Sharks begin the 2024 NHL Mock Draft with the obvious selection. Celebrini is the consensus top player in this year’s NHL Draft. He is a true franchise cornerstone who dominated college hockey en route to becoming the youngest ever Hobey Baker Award winner. It’d be a quite the shock if this pick does not become a reality on June 28.
The Blackhawks can go in a few different directions with this selection. Other mock drafts have Chicago selecting one of the top two defensemen in the class. However, in this scenario, they can’t bring themselves to pass on Demidov. He has legitimate game-breaking skill that would pair very well with Connor Bedard. He would give Chicago a frightening one-two punch moving forward.
The Ducks are up next in this NHL Mock Draft and take the first defenseman. Levshunov played at a very high level with Michigan State this past season. Anaheim doesn’t have a big weakness in their prospect pipeline. However, the trade of Jamie Drysdale earlier this season opens up room to add a defenseman in the NHL Draft.
Perhaps the first big surprise of this draft, the Blue Jackets go with a highly successful defenseman from the OHL. Parekh emerged as a legitimately elite offensive defenseman this season. And he recently led the Spirit to their first Memorial Cup championship, as well. He may go lower than this on draft night, but Parekh would be well worth the selection if Columbus goes in this direction.
Catton has seen his stock slip a bit in recent months. However, he is a highly skilled offensive force who projects, at the very least, to be a top-six center in the NHL. The Chiefs star scored 120 points this year and emerged as one of the best penalty killers in the WHL. The Canadiens have signaled that they want to add a forward through the draft. They get a high-potential one with this selection.
Utah takes advantage of how the board has fallen in this NHL Mock Draft. Silyaev is seen as one of the top two defensemen in this class. He stands 6’7″ and played important minutes for a top KHL team as a 17-year-old. He broke the league’s single season under-18 points record, and saw time on the power play. Utah grabs a potential top-pairing blueliner to kick off life in Salt Lake City.
The Senators are delighted to have Eiserman fall to them right here. There are legitimate concerns over Eiserman’s pro projection. The American winger brings little else beyond goal-scoring and a bit of playmaking. However, his shot is the best in this class by a long shot. And he is one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of the US National Team Development Program. Ottawa bets on their scouting department and snap up Eiserman with this selection.
Buium began the season as a mid-first-round pick but has shot up draft boards thanks to his performances. He turned in one of the best seasons from a collegiate draft-eligible defenseman in some time. Buium is an intelligent puck mover with the ability to quarterback a team’s power play. The Kraken bolster their blueline here after spending their previous top selections on forwards.
The last ClutchPoints NHL Mock Draft had the Flames taking Tij Iginla. However, the board fell in a way that the Flames decide to go in a different direction here. Calgary can’t pass on Lindstrom, whose stock has gone up and down a bit in recent weeks. He got off to a hot start to the season before injuries hindered him the rest of the way. When healthy, the Tigers star is a high-end center with the ability to play a physical game. Lindstrom could certainly become a top-six forward at the NHL level if injuries don’t become an issue.
Iginla won’t start his NHL career with the team his father led to the Stanley Cup Final in this mock. But the Rockets star still goes top-10. Some believe the younger Iginla can play center at the NHL level. But he projects better as a winger. Wherever he lines up, he is an intelligent offensive playmaker with impressive stick handling and a high-end shot. He could certainly find himself in the top-six at the next level.
The Sabres also take advantage of how this NHL Mock Draft has fallen. Buffalo grabs a defenseman in Yakemchuk who very well could go higher than this on June 28. Yakemchuk has game-breaking skill and is one of the flashier players in this draft. His skating is a bit of a concern, but he projects to be a minutes eater at the NHL level. He would give the Sabres one of the best young defensive cores in the league.
The Flyers could grab a defenseman or a center with this selection. At this point, their center depth is a bit more lacking. As a result, they grab Helenius with the 12th overall selection. He is a highly-skilled playmaker who can routinely make difficult passes. The Finnish forward is strong on and off the puck despite his lack of size, as well. He could be a great fit within the Flyers organization.
Dickinson is another player who could go higher than this on June 28. In this NHL Mock Draft, though, he falls to the Wild. He played major minutes for the OHL champion and Memorial Cup runners-up London Knights this season. Dickinson has the skill to enjoy a long career at the next level as a top-four defenseman. Furthermore, he could be a fixture on the power play alongside Brock Faber for years to come.
The Sharks are back up after selecting Macklin Celebrini first overall. This selection was acquired by San Jose in the Erik Karlsson trade from last summer. Here, they give their franchise cornerstone a winger to work with. Sennecke’s stock has risen thanks to a surge in the second half of the season. He has game-breaking skill and skates well for his size. Sennecke isn’t the most competitive or consistent player, but his puck skills will certainly help him rise draft boards.
The Red Wings already have one of the best prospect pipelines in the NHL. However, they lack high-end depth, especially on the right wing. Here, they take one of the more interesting prospects in the class. Brandsegg-Nygard is one of two Norwegian stars in the NHL Draft, and fits what Detroit is looking for. He has offensive skill and plays a complete two-way game. Furthermore, he is possibly the most competitive player in this draft. The Red Wings are delighted to add a future top-six winger in this NHL Mock Draft.
This is certainly an off-the-board pick. But Boisvert is a prospect who deserves a bit more credit than he gets. He brings size and offensive skill to the table. He isn’t the strongest playmaker, but Boisvert has a good shot and can win one-on-one battles with his size and speed. The Blues grab Boisvert and pair him with Dalibor Dvorsky to give them their potential top two centers of the future.
Solberg is the other Norwegian prospect that has made waves this season. Unlike Brandsegg-Nygard, he plays in the Norwegian top-flight. And he has boosted his draft stock with his performances this year. Notably, Solberg is an extremely physical defender who uses his size to make plays on the puck. He is one of the better defensive defensemen in this class. The Capitals could use some defensive depth and add it here in this NHL Mock Draft.
The Blackhawks acquired this selection after a trade with the New York Islanders. At this time, it appears Chicago will use this pick. And they add another intriguing winger to pair with Connor Bedard. Chernyshov skates well for his size and possesses incredible vision on the ice. He is a competitive player but it isn’t a defining trait. The Russian winger also has a promising shot that could trouble goalies at the next level.
The Golden Knights have some tough decisions to make this summer. While they seem to love trading their first-round picks, this is one Vegas may hold on to. The NHL Draft hosts decide to take a chance on a promising defender who struggled with injuries this year. When healthy, Jiricek is a highly competitive player who is a nightmare for opponents to face. That philosophy helped Vegas win a Stanley Cup last season, so this is a great fit.
The Islanders are up now after their trade with the Blackhawks. Moving down two spots doesn’t prevent them from addressing a big need, either. New York needs depth down the middle. Hage is a bit of a polarizing prospect in this NHL Draft. Some have him higher than this while others have a second-round grade on him. This NHL Mock Draft is more favorable to the Chicago Steel star. He is a skilled playmaker with a shot that can catch goalies by surprise if they aren’t paying attention. He projects as a middle-six forward at the next level.
Greentree is one of the more underrated players in this draft. However, he falls below the top-20 given how the board fell earlier in the NHL Mock Draft. The Spitfires star is a skilled winger who uses his size to make players. He is one of the more creative puckhandlers in the class, as well. The big concern here is his skating. But the Kings could lose a few of their wingers, including Arthur Kaliyev. They add a potential replacement with this selection.
Luchanko has popped up NHL Draft boards in recent weeks. The Storm star is one of the more explosive skaters in this draft. He competes at both ends of the ice, and his physicality can create offensive opportunities for his teammates. Luchanko doesn’t have a great shot or goal-scoring ability. But he projects as a middle-six forward who could give the Predators a jolt of energy.
This is another off-the-board selection in this NHL Mock Draft. The Maple Leafs could use depth on the wings and take an intriguing winger in Parascak. The Cougars star is a skilled offensive winger who can beat defenders one-on-one with his puckhandling. There is concern over his skating and athleticism. But on skill alone, Toronto is adding a potential middle-six winger with this pick.
Artamonov carved out a role on Torpedo this past season along with Anton Silayev. He has excellent hands and vision on the ice. The Russian winger is also a great skater who uses his speed to beat defenders. There are some concerns, particularly with his finishing and size. But Artamonov would bring middle-six depth and added playmaking to an Avalanche team that is looking for more impressive young talent.
The Senators are up with their second pick in this NHL Mock Draft. Ottawa acquired this pick from the Red Wings as part of the Alex DeBrincat trade from last summer. Elick brings size and impeccable skating ability to the table. Furthermore, the Wheat Kings star has a mean streak on the ice. His defense certainly stands out, as there are questions regarding his decision-making with the puck. Still, he gives the Senators a potential top-four right-shot blueliner, which teams definitely covet.
The Canadiens are back up with this selection they picked up from the Winnipeg Jets in the Sean Monahan trade. And Montreal doubles up on the center depth after picking Catton earlier. Beaudoin is a bit of a different player, though. He can create offense for his teammates, but his hallmark is his compete level. The Colts star is one of the hardest workers in the entire draft. And he projects as a reliable third-line center in the NHL.
Emery is very much a project defender for the Hurricanes. He plays a translatable game, especially on the defensive side of things. He uses his incredible size to make stops, finish checks, and close out on gaps. That said, his offense is very much a question mark. Emery does not have a great shot and his ability with the puck is not the best, either. Still, his defensive talent could see the American defender sneak into the back end of the first round.
The Flames have this selection thanks to the Elias Lindholm trade earlier this year. Here, they take an intriguing defenseman who some believe could go higher than this. Sahlin Wallinus lacks ideal size as a defenseman, but plays a solid two-way game. His skating ability allows him to carry the puck in transition and track back on defense especially well. Despite the lack of size, he finishes his checks hard. He could certainly carve out a regular role in the NHL.
Eriksson is another late-riser in this class. He played in the second division of Swedish hockey this year. While he wasn’t dominant, he played well against grown men. The Swedish center plays a well-rounded game who uses his speed and creativity to create offense. He has a respectable work ethic and was the captain of Sweden’s U18 team recently. Eriksson has the makings of a playmaking middle-six forward in the NHL.
Shuravin didn’t jump off the page at the junior level in Russia. However, he has a lot of traits that teams covet. For instance, he is a very mobile defender for someone who stands 6’3″. And he combines his size with intriguing puck-moving skill. He also plays a poised game, allowing him to keep his head in tense situations. Overall, Shuravin gives the Rangers a player that doesn’t have a major weakness despite not necessarily excelling at any one thing.
The Ducks are back up with the penultimate selection in this NHL Mock Draft. Anaheim acquired this pick from the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in the Adam Henrique deal. Badinka moved to Sweden after playing in Finland before this season. He is a good skater who usually makes good decisions with the puck. He isn’t exactly a playmaker, but the Czechian defender flashes the ability to play a two-way game. There is an outside chance he becomes a top-four defenseman at the NHL level.
Finally, we end this NHL Mock Draft with the Flyers. They acquired this pick in the Claude Giroux trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Letourneau dominated his level of hockey this season. He is a big center, standing 6’6″. And he uses this size to his advantage. He flashes some offensive skill, but there are questions about how that will carry over to the NHL. In any event, Letourneau has very impressive hands and skating ability for his size. At the high end, the St. Andrew’s star may end up being a diamond in the rough of the 2024 NHL Draft.
The post NHL Mock Draft 4.0: The Stanley Cup Final edition appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Originally posted on ClutchPoints
Published: 5 months ago
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