2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round Results, Analysis. Place a bet now on the National Hockey League with the best odds and promos, only at YouWager.lv.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov

Number 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Artyom Levshunov.

The right-handed player (6-2, 205) won a berth on the All-Big 10 First Team and All-Freshman Team and was voted the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. The 18-year-old, who is currently the third-youngest player in men’s collegiate hockey, finished 38 games with 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists), ranking second among NCAA freshman defenseman and tying for ninth overall.

Playing on the top defensive pairing the whole season, he topped the Big 10 with a plus-27 rating. With forward Joe Murphy going first overall to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1986 NHL Draft and forward Craig Simpson going second overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1985 NHL Draft, Levshunov is attempting to become the third player and first defenseman from Michigan State to be taken among the top three picks.

3. Anaheim Ducks: Beckett Sennecke

Number 3 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Beckett Sennecke.

The 18-year-old regularly creates high-quality scoring opportunities because to his good size (6-3, 182), strength, and talents in addition to his hockey acumen. In 63 regular-season games, Sennecke led the Generals with seven game-winning goals, 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists), and seven power-play goals. With 10 goals in 16 games, he tied for fourth place in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. Sennecke is a 200-foot player that excels in all areas of the rink and has a strong work ethic.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cayden Lindstrom

Number 4 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Cayden Lindstrom.

Powerhouse Lindstrom (6-3, 213) missed the last 36 games of the regular season due to injuries to his hand and back, but he was still a top forward choice for the draft. Before coming off the bench on December 16, the 18-year-old has 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists) in 32 games. He returned on March 29th following back surgery, and in four Western Hockey League playoff games, he registered two points (one goal, one assist) and 17 shots on goal.

5. Montreal Canadiens: Ivan Demidov

Number 5 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was  Ivan Demidov.

Demidov can play center, left wing, or right wing because he is a superb skater and puck handler. In the MHL, Russia’s junior division, the left-handed shooter (6-0, 192) led St. Petersburg’s club with 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists), six game-winning goals, and 144 shots on goal in 30 games. Throughout the regular season, the 18-year-old averaged 18:06 of ice time and 4.8 shots on goal per game. In the 17 MHL playoff games, he recorded 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) and averaged 17:37 of ice time and 4.5 shots on goal. Additionally, Demidov participated in four Kontinental Hockey League games with SKA St. Petersburg, although he was pointless.

6. Utah Hockey Club: Tij Iginla

Number 6 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Tij Iginla.

On and off the ice, Iginla (6-0, 191), who turns 18 on August 4, has learned a lot from his father, Hockey Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla. Tij led the Rockets this season with 47 goals and finished second with 84 points and 11 power-play goals in 64 games, thanks to a combination of his skill and the fierce competitiveness that was so evident in his dad. Acknowledged as a goal scorer with a strong shot and good hands around the net, the left-handed shot led Kelowna in the Western Hockey League playoffs with nine goals and tied for the lead with 15 points in 11 games. His hockey sense and competitiveness are also important aspects of his game.

7. Ottawa Senators: Carter Yakemchuk

Number 7 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Carter Yakemchuck.

After 66 games during the regular season, the right-handed shooter (6-3, 202) finished seventh with 71 points and led Western Hockey League defenseman with 30 goals. Yakemchuk, along with Olen Zellweger (32, 2022-23) and Connor Hobbs (31, 2016–17), is one of three WHL defensemen to score 30 goals in the past ten seasons.

Yakemchuk also set a record for the most goals scored by a defenseman in a season in Calgary. In addition, Yakemchuk scored three game-winning goals and had 31 power-play points (10 goals, 21 assists). Since Ian White with Swift Current in 2001–02, the 18-year-old was the first defenseman eligible for the NHL draft to score 30 goals in a season in the WHL.

8. Seattle Kraken: Berkly Catton

Number 8 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Berkly Catton.

Catton (5-10, 175) led the Spokane team and finished fourth in the Western Hockey League with 116 points (62 assists, 54 goals) in 68 games this season. He became the third WHL skater eligible for the draft since 2000 to score more than 115 points in a season, after Nic Petan (120 in 2012–13) and Connor Bedard (143 points in 2022-23).

In addition, Catton ranked third on his club with 30 power-play points (13 goals, 17 assists), led the WHL with seven short-handed goals, and won 53.4 percent of his face-offs. The 18-year-old has excellent awareness in all three zones and creates a lot of scoring opportunities off the rush. In five games, Catton scored eight goals and provided two assists to help Canada win the gold medal in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The WHL U.S. Division Player of the Year award went to him.

9. Calgary Flames: Zayne Parekh

Number 9 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Zayne Parekh.

In January, Parekh (6-0, 178) moved up to No. 5 in Central Scouting’s midseason rankings from No. 10. He can lead the power play and is a transitional defenseman. In 66 regular-season games, the right-handed shooter led all defensemen in the Ontario Hockey League and set Saginaw records for goals (33) and points (96) by a defenceman.

In addition, Parekh scored six game-winning goals, two shorthanded goals, and ten power play goals. In 13 OHL playoff games, he recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists), and in five games, he contributed five points (one goal, four assists) to Saginaw’s Memorial Cup victory. The 18-year-old’s explosive offensive abilities have drawn comparisons to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson.

10. New Jersey Devils: Anton Silayev

Number 10 of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round was Anton Silayev.

In 63 regular-season games, Silayev (6-7, 211) was second on his club with 98 hits, 103 shots on goal, 74 blocked shots, and 11 points (three goals, eight assists). The left-handed shooter, who is eighteen years old and ranked second on Central Scouting’s midseason list in January, has the highest point total of any player under the age of eighteen in the history of the Kontinental Hockey League (10 points for Novosibirsk in 2008–09); Vladimir Tarasenko is second. What was perhaps most impressive was how Silayev, an average of 14:54 minutes of ice time per game as a teenager in the KHL, adjusted to the physical style of the game.

2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round: 11 to 20

Second in this analysis of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round, we have the players chosen from positions 11 to 20 overall:

11. San Jose Sharks: Sam Dickinson

After 68 regular-season games, the left-handed shooter (6-3, 203) was third with 11 power-play goals and fourth among Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists). Among London defenseman eligible for the draft, his 70 points placed him third, behind only Evan Bouchard (87 points, 2017–18) and Rob Ramage (73, 1976–77). With a roster already full of players selected by the NHL, the 18-year-old saw a lot of ice time. He also played point on the first power play unit for a club that had the top power play percentage in the OHL (32.6%). In 18 OHL playoff games, he also finished with 13 points (nine assists and four goals). Dickinson has excelled in his skating throughout the season. On January 23, he won the 30-meter forward and 30-meter backward skates with a puck at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He also placed second in the testing of all players for transition abilities.

12. Minnesota Wild: Zeev Buium

To move up one spot to take Buium, the Wild transferred a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers. With 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) in 42 games for the NCAA champion, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year topped NCAA defenseman and was seventh among all freshman. Also included in the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team was Buium (6-0, 186). In men’s college hockey, the 18-year-old was the second-youngest player behind center Macklin Celebrini of Boston University, who was selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks. In addition, Buium recorded a tournament-best plus-11 rating in seven games, three goals, and two assists for five points, which helped the United States capture the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

13. Philadelphia Flyers: Jett Luchanko

Luchanko (5-11, 187) won the William Hanley Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League’s most sportsmanlike player after leading Guelph with 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 68 games. With 30 power-play assists, he tied for second place in the OHL. His 663 face-off victories ranked him ninth. In the 2024 OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll, Luchanko placed second for Smartest Player, Hardest Worker, and Best Skater, and third for Best Shootout Shooter (where he went 2-for-4 this season). Luchanko also finished in the top three in four other categories. Moreover, the 17-year-old placed first in the January 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game fitness test, finishing in the top five in six of the ten on-ice categories. Some scouts have drawn comparisons between the right-handed shot and Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.

14. Buffalo Sabres: Konsta Helenius

The 18-year-old right-handed shooter (5-11, 189) averaged 16:57 of ice time per game while playing for Jukurit in Liiga, the highest professional men’s league in Finland, and finished with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) and five power-play goals. He also won 50.2% of his face-offs. This season, he led all under-19 players in Liiga in points. Helenius averaged 19:12 of ice time in a second-line role while contributing two points (one goal, one assist) and 13 shots on goal in seven games for Finland, which finished fourth in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. At the 2024 IIHF World Championship, he was the youngest player (17 years old), centering Finland’s top line alongside Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks and Valtteri Puustinen of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Some scouts have likened him to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brendan Point.

15. Detroit Red Wings: Michael Brandsegg

Despite playing for Mora in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier, Brandsegg-Nygard (6-1, 207) was born in Oslo, Norway. In 41 regular-season games, the 18-year-old scored 18 points (eight goals, ten assists). His 10 points in 12 Allsvenskan postseason games (four goals, six assists) set a record for an NHL draft-eligible player. At the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, he averaged 17:22 of ice time, finished with nine shots on goal, and recorded five points (two goals, two assists) in five games for Norway. With his selection over forward Marius Holtet, a Dallas Stars second-round pick (number 42) in the 2002 NHL Draft, Brandsegg-Nygard is now the highest-selected player of Norwegian descent in history. Brandsegg-Nygard is a skilled player who can skate well and shoot well.

16. St. Louis Blues: Adam Jiricek

At the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, on December 26, the right-handed shooter (6-2, 167) hurt his right knee while representing Czechia. He underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season. As for when the 2024–25 season begins, he plans to be ready. The 18-year-old Jiricek played in the top professional men’s league in the Czech Republic this season, recording one assist in 19 games. He is the younger brother of defenceman David Jiricek of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

17. Washington Capitals: Terik Parascak

In 68 regular-season games, Parascak (6-0, 179) led Western Hockey League rookies in goals (43), points (105) and short-handed goals (four). Since Pavel Brendl earned 134 points with Calgary in 1998–1999, it was the most points by a rookie in the WHL. Parascak led rookies in the WHL playoffs with six goals and finished second with 14 points in 12 games. The 18-year-old maintains composure under duress and has demonstrated a steady ability to convert scoring opportunities close to the goal.

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Sacha Boisvert

Next season, Boisvert will continue to grow at the University of North Dakota, where he could make history as the program’s first player from Quebec (Trois-Rivieres). Boisvert’s stature (6-2, 183) proved advantageous in his second Muskegon season. In 61 games, the 18-year-old tied for 11th place in the USHL with 68 points (36 goals, 28 assists), following a rookie season in which he finished with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 57 games.

19. Vegas Golden Knights: Trevor Connelly

Connelly (6-1, 160) is committed to play at Providence College. He finished second in the USHL with 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) in 52 games. The Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson is a possible NHL comparison, according to one scout. However, Connelly’s speed at entering the league will depend on how he responds to inquiries on his on- and off-ice behavior.

20. New York Islanders: Cole Eiserman

With USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team, Eiserman (6 feet, 197 pounds) scored 58 goals in 57 games this season and went on to become the program’s all-time leader with 127 goals in 119 games. In 12 games versus NCAA Division I opponents, he scored 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists), while in 24 games against USHL clubs, he scored 34 points (25 goals, 9 assists). Eiserman also helped the United States capture the silver medal in the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with 11 points (two assists and nine goals) in seven games.

Though there are doubts about the 17-year-old’s ability to complete his game, his explosive shot is what distinguishes him as a top-tier NHL prospect. The following season at Boston University, he would keep getting better in that area.The people closest to Eiserman think that his work ethic will help him improve his game to the point where it will enable him to succeed in the NHL.

2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round: 21 to 32

Third in this analysis of the 2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round, we have the players chosen from positions 21 to 32 overall:

21. Montreal Canadiens: Michael Hage

The 2024 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence went to the 18-year-old right-hander (6-1, 188) who most symbolizes the NHL draft prospect’s commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.

After suffering a dislocated right shoulder on the first day of training camp and losing over six months of time after surgery, Hage started his junior career with Chicago last season. In the end, he participated in 13 games. With 75 points (33 goals, 42 assists) in 54 regular-season games and four points (two goals, two assists) in two playoff games, he finished fourth in the league this season.

From No. 19 in the midterm ranking in January, he rose nine spots to No. 10 in Central Scouting’s final rating of North American skaters for the 2024 selection. Hage honored his father Alain, who passed away in a swimming pool accident last summer, by dedicating this season to him. He intends to play at the University of Michigan the following year.

22. Nashville Predators: Egor Surin

Surin (6-1, 197) finished 43 games in Russia’s junior league with 53 points (23 goals, 30 assists). Reputably diligent, the 17-year-old has already gained some experience from his three Kontinental Hockey League games with Yaroslavl.

23. Anaheim Ducks: Stian Solberg

The Ducks moved up to 23 and selected Solberg (6-1, 205), a competitive two-way left-handed shot who can play a hard game, by trading the No. 31 and No. 58 picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the top professional league in Norway, he scored five goals and ten assists for a total of 15 points in 42 regular-season games and added two goals and seven assists for nine points in 17 playoff games. Scouts have drawn comparisons between Solberg and Ivan Provorov, the defenceman with the Columbus Blue Jackets.2024–2025 will see the 18-year-old play for the Swedish Hockey League’s Farjestad.

24. Utah Hockey Club: Cole Beaudoin

The Colorado Avalanche received the No. 38 pick, the No. 71 pick, and a second-round pick from Utah in the 2025 NHL Draft. This allowed Utah to move up to the 24th spot and choose Beaudoin (6-2, 210), a physical specimen who impressed at the NHL Scouting Combine’s fitness testing. The 18-year-old scored 28 goals and 34 assists for a total of 62 points in 67 regular-season games, five goals and three assists in six playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League, and four goals and two assists in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Beaudoin models his play after Boone Jenner, the captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

25. Boston Bruins: Dean Letourneau

At the NHL Scouting Combine, Letourneau (6-6, 214) had the longest stature of any player at 83.25 inches. At the prep school level, he was a dominant player with 127 points (61 goals, 66 assists) in 56 games. However, assessing the 18-year-old was difficult due to concerns regarding the caliber of play he encountered. Scouts were impressed by his raw skills, though, and they will be put to the test when he enrolls at Boston College in the autumn.

26. Los Angeles Kings: Liam Greentree

Big forward Greentree (6-2, 215) has improved his ability to drive the net and locate open space so he can shoot the puck. The 18-year-old was appointed the 59th captain in Windsor history on January 15, demonstrating his leadership abilities. In the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on January 24, he was one of the more active players in the difficult areas of the ice and scored a goal.

Greentree had 90 points (36 goals, 54 assists) in 64 games, good for a tie for 11th place in the Ontario Hockey League. He also ranked fourth with four short-handed assists. Because of his skill and toughness combination—qualities that NHL scouts and general managers highly value—he might go higher in the draft than most anticipate. Before every game, Greentree drew a happy face on his sticks to remind himself to remain optimistic even though Windsor finished 19th out of 20 teams in the OHL.

27. Chicago Blackhawks: Marek Vanacker

After dealing picks Nos. 34 and 50 to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Blackhawks acquired another selection in the first round to choose Vanacker (6-0, 178), who led Brantford with 82 points (36 goals, 46 assists) in 68 games. At the World U-18s, the 18-year-old helped Canada capture the gold medal with one goal in six games. Most astonishingly, he managed to play nearly the whole season despite having a ruptured labrum in his left shoulder. Following surgery in June, he should recover in 4-6 months.

28. Calgary Flames: Matvei Gridin

In his native Kurgan, Russia, Gridin (6-1, 189) started playing hockey at the age of three. That’s where Andrey, his father, started teaching him the basics. After competing in Russia’s youth leagues for St. Petersburg and Omsk, Muskegon selected him in the 15th round (number 223) of the 2022 USHL draft.

With 83 points (38 goals, 45 assists) in 60 games, the 18-year-old topped the USHL. This is a significant increase from his 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 40 games during the 2022–2023 season. Gridin is a committed player who will play for the University of Michigan the next season. He is a playmaker with quick reflexes, intellect, and one of the fastest shot releases Muskegon coach Parker Burgess has ever seen.

29. Dallas Stars: Emil Hemming

Hemming (6-1, 205), who will turn 18 on June 27, finished his debut season in Liiga, Finland’s premier professional men’s league, with 11 points (seven goals, four assists), 73 shots on goal, and an average of 10:04 of ice time in 40 games with TPS. In addition, he scored nine points (four goals, five assists) for third-place Finland to tie for the team lead in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. He also scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 11 postseason games with TPS’s squad in Finland’s junior league.

30. New York Rangers: EJ Emery

In 61 games with the NTDP U-18 team this season, Emery (6-3, 183), who committed to the University of North Dakota in 2024–25, produced 16 assists, including six assists and a plus–15 rating that matched for the tournament lead in seven games for the US at the 2024 U–18 Worlds. Among the stay-at-home defensemen in this draft class, the 18-year-old is a model of consistency because he can transition well and uses his length and speed to shut and protect a lot of space.

31. Toronto Maple Leafs: Ben Danford

After scoring 33 points (one goal, 32 assists) in 64 regular-season games, Danford (6-1, 191) stepped up offensively in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 21 games. It is believed that the right-handed shooter, who is 18 years old, is a competent, trustworthy defensemen who has the potential to improve his offensive skills.

32. Edmonton Oilers: Sam O’Reilly

To obtain the final first-round selection this year, the Oilers transferred their first-round selection to the Philadelphia Flyers in either 2025 or 2026. They used it to acquire O’Reilly, a right-handed shooter who only switched to a forward role three years ago while competing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

O’Reilly was formerly a defenseman. O’Reilly (6-1, 184) scored 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 68 games to rank third among rookies in the Ontario Hockey League. With 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 16 games during the playoffs, the 18-year-old topped the OHL rookies and helped London win the league title.

 

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2024 NHL Draft 2024 First Round Results, Analysis, by YouWager.lv blog.