Courtesy of the NHL
Many said this year's NHL draft class is not as good as last years, which in some cases may be true when you look at the talent in the top three alone. However the 2024 draft class was an exciting, unpredictable, and interesting one. Once the first pick was in, the rest of the picks may have come as a surprise to some. Here are the top 10 2024 NHL draft picks.
Courtesy of Dave Sandford
Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks
The 18 year old forward from North Vancouver, BC played his freshman year for the Boston University Terriers this past season. He played 38 games for the Terriers, scoring 32 goals and recorded 32 assists for a total of 64 points. Celebrini became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker at 17 years old after finishing his freshman year. He is described as a playmaker and a dynamic two way center.
Artyom Levshunov - Chicago Blackhawks
The 18 year old right handed defenseman played his freshman year for Michigan State. He played 38 games for the Spartans, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists. He was +27 in plus/minus for the season. Levshunov is the highest drafted player from Belarus. He is described as a two way defenseman who is quick and nimble.
Beckett Sennecke - Anaheim Ducks
A surprise third place pick, the 18 year old forward played 63 games for the Oshawa Generals, scoring 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points. He also had 22 points in 16 playoff games. Sennecke is described as a playmaker and an ankle breaking dangler who can play on both ends of the ice.
Courtesy of Jeremy Champagne
Cayden Lindstrom - Columbus Blue Jackets
The 18 year old forward from Chetwynd, BC only played 32 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL due to an injury but scored 27 goals and had 19 assists. Lindstrom is 6 '3 and described as a fearless power forward with a heavy shot.
Ivan Demidov - Montreal Canadiens
With one of the coolest pick announcements in draft history, read by Celine Dion, Demidov is an 18 year old from Sergiyev Posad, Russia playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the MHL. In 30 games, the forward scored 23 goals and put up 37 assists for 60 points. He also played 17 playoff games and put up 28 points. He is described as a cerebral tactician and an elite puck handler.
Courtesy of Ethan Miller
Tij Iginla - Utah Hockey Club
With Utah’s first ever draft pick, Iginla becomes the second in his family to be drafted in the NHL behind his father, Hall of Famer Jerome Iginla. The Kelowna Rockets forward put up 84 points, 47 goals, and 37 assists. The 17 year old is described as a playmaker, first to the puck, and someone who is not afraid to initiate contact with his opponent.
Carter Yakemchuk - Ottawa Senators
The 18 year old from Fort McMurray, AB led the WHL in goals as a defenseman with 30 in 66 games, registering 41 assists for 71 points. Standing at 6’3, he is a right handed shot, which can be a hard thing to come by in the NHL. Yakemchuk is described as a two way defenseman with elite hands, and a heavy hitter.
Berkly Catton - Seattle Kraken
The Saskatoon, SK native played 68 games for the Spokane Chiefs, putting up 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points in the WHL. The 18 year old is a left handed forward who is described as a speedster and an intelligent shooter. Catton is an alternate captain for his WHL team.
Courtesy of Natalie Shaver
Zayne Parekh - Calgary Flames
A Memorial Cup champ with the Saginaw Spirit, Parekh is a right handed, 18 year old defenseman from Nobleton, ON. He played 66 regular season games putting up 33 goals and 63 assists for 96 points. He played 13 games in the playoffs and had 11 points. Parekh is described as a dynamic player who can be surprising with the puck going forward but plays with a poise and calmness to his game.
Anton Silayev - New Jersey Devils
Standing at 6 '7, Silayev is an 18 year old left handed defenseman from Sarov, Russia. He played 63 games for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL where he had 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points. He is described as a fast, physical defenseman who has the ability to cover all areas of the ice.
Edited by Giana Robertaccio