2024 NHL Mock Draft: Post-draft lottery top 24

Credit: Rich Gagnon/BU Athletics

Congratulations on winning the Macklin Celebrini sweepstakes, San Jose Sharks.

The NHL held its annual draft lottery on Tuesday night, helping to set the order for the top 16 teams for the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas on June 27-28. Picks 17-23 were filled by teams knocked out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the order for the remaining eight teams to be settled over the next few weeks as the postseason grind continues.

The timing for this was perfect – the U-18 World Championship just ended in Finland on Sunday, and the IIHF World Hockey Championship is set to begin on Friday with various draft prospects on display.

With lots of hockey to still be played before the draft kicks off at the Sphere, here’s Daily Faceoff’s latest mock draft after Tuesday’s lottery process:

1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C (Boston University, NCAA)

The prized choice. Celebrini will transform the Sharks into a contender one day, even if it’s still a few years down the road. He’s the unanimous top prospect, someone with the potential to become one of the NHL’s top young stars. The youngest Hobey Baker Award winner in NCAA history, Celebrini has drawn comparisons to Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews for just how good of a two-way player he is. He’s strong, skilled, has speed and lays it all on the line every shift. San Jose, you’ve got a future superstar.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivan Demidov, RW (St. Petersburg, MHL)

A lower-body injury ended Demidov’s incredible MHL playoff run, where he was averaging two points per game. The skilled playmaker would be a perfect fit alongside Connor Bedard, entering the draft as the forward with the purest skill of anyone. Compared to the same point last year, Demidov’s overall game has taken positive steps forward, especially from a work ethic perspective. I have no doubts whatsoever that he won’t become a game-changing winger in the NHL.

3. Anaheim Ducks: Artyom Levshunov, RHD (Michigan State, NCAA)

Levshunov was an absolute beast this year, especially in the second half of the NCAA campaign. He’s just got everything scouts want in a high-end defender – size, mobility and puck-moving skills, just to name a few quality traits. He led the Spartans in scoring after putting up one of the most impressive Draft+1 seasons by a defenseman in recent USHL history. Levshunov will be a top-pairing defender sooner rather than later, which might help to take off some of the pressure off Olen Zellweger if he does indeed get drafted by the Ducks.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Konsta Helenius, C (Jukurit, Liiga)

There’s a realistic chance that Helenius will crack the NHL next year. And having a No. 1-2 center duo of Adam Fantilli and Helenius would make the Blue Jackets incredibly fun to watch. They’re a team with a good young foundation, which includes Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Gavin Brindley, and Dmitri Voronkov, among others. But Helenius would bring the reliable two-way center presence that would give the team another desirable matchup option.

5. Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Lindstrom, C (Medicine Hat, WHL)

I’ve got my concerns with Lindstrom. He didn’t look particularly good in the WHL playoffs and scouts didn’t get a good look at him in the second half. There’s too much uncertainty with picking Lindstrom this high. But that being said, there’s so much potential, too. You don’t get creative power forwards at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds often, and his size would make him a perfect No. 2 center behind Nick Suzuki. This just feels like a pick Montreal would want, although I think Cole Eiserman or Berkly Catton would be better pickups.

6. Utah: Zeev Buium, LHD (University of Denver, NCAA)

A 50-point freshman season, World Junior gold and a national title? It’s hard to beat a freshman season like that for Buium, who has the potential to become Utah’s first true star defenseman. He took his offensive production to new heights this year, showing so much confidence with and without the puck. He’ll be a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL sooner rather than later.

7. Ottawa Senators: Zayne Parekh, RHD (Saginaw, OHL)

Parekh finished the OHL regular season with 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games to lead all U-18 OHLers. It was the third most productive U-18 season ever by an OHL defender, and he’s one of just two that age to crack 80 points in the 21st Century – the other being Ryan Ellis, who delivered an 89-point season in 2008-09. Sound good, Sens fans?

8. Seattle Kraken: Anton Silayev, LHD (Torpedo, KHL)

At 6-foot-7 and over 200 pounds, it’s hard to miss Silayev out there. And he’s got a great opportunity to become a long-term top-pairing blueliner for a Kraken that doesn’t have many high-end options to choose from. He’s mobile, has some decent offensive instincts and power to kill. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the first defender taken.

9. Calgary Flames: Tij Iginla, LW (Kelowna, WHL)

If the Flames pick Iginla, it’s not because of nepotism; Iginla is legitimately great. He didn’t dominate at the U-18s like many hoped but he showed how deep his game can be. Iginla is more than just a goal-scorer; he works so hard, he can defend and he has made a habit of being extremely difficult to play against. Will that all translate to the NHL? I know some aren’t totally sure. But if the marketing department has any say, they’ll make this happen.

10. New Jersey Devils: Cole Eiserman, LW (USNTDP)

Could you imagine Jack Hughes setting up Eiserman like he used to with Cole Caufield? Eiserman is a finisher with the best shot in the draft, and having a responsible, two-way presence in Hughes – or even Nico Hischier – would alleviate some of the issues with Eiserman’s game. He’s better defensively than I think a lot of people give him credit for, but I know there’s still concern about his all-around game here. I just think he should go higher because the potential for him to be a 50-goal scorer can’t be ignored.

11. Buffalo Sabres: Sam Dickinson, LHD (London, OHL)

I think no matter what, Buffalo is thinking defense here. They’ve got some good young ones in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, but adding a dynamic, two-way threat like Dickinson would be massive. I love his game – he’s great with the puck, hits hard and has the size and mobility teams are looking for. It’s a tough crop of young defenders this year, and he’d go higher in most other seasons. But that could benefit the Sabres in a big way here.

12. Philadelphia Flyers: Berkly Catton, C (Spokane, WHL)

Losing Cutter Gauthier hurt, but adding Catton into the fray would give the team another legitimate top scoring prospect. He finished fourth in WHL scoring this year and was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. All he does is make magic with the puck, and if Michkov ends up becoming Philly’s No. 1 RW, Catton would be an excellent center to pair him up with, given how creative and smart he is with the puck. He’s not a big forward and that knocks him down a peg, but I’d argue he’s a top-five prospect.

13. Minnesota Wild: Carter Yakemchuk, RHD (Calgary, WHL)

Ok, so Calen Addison didn’t work out. Will Yakemchuk? The 6-foot-3 defender had 30 goals, 71 points and over 100 penalty minutes on a mid-level Hitmen team – a pretty rare feat. He’s so confident with the puck, can run a power play and has an excellent shot that looks pro-ready already. His defensive game can lack a bit too much, but there’s so much upside. If he falls outside the top 15, that’s a mistake.

14. San Jose Sharks (via PIT): Adam Jiricek, RHD (HC Plzen, Czechia)

A bit off the board here, given he got hurt at the World Juniors and never returned. But with San Jose still years away from being a truly competitive franchise, I think it’s worth betting big on potential with their second pick. Jiricek is a good puck-mover who just dealt with some bad luck in the top Czech league. But like his brother, David, the raw potential is there. He has tons of skill with the puck and played pro at a young age because of how he handles pressure. This is higher than I’d take him, but with the second first-rounder, it’s worth adding a high-end defenseman to the stable.

15. Detroit Red Wings: Trevor Connelly, LW (Tri-City, USHL)

Before his ejection in the gold-medal game ultimately sank USA at the U-18 World Championship, Connelly was one of USA’s top players. He’s so good with the puck, cycling at pace and putting up some key points alongside 2025 draft prospect LJ Mooney. Connelly’s high-end talent is undeniable – but there’s the off-ice concerns that scouts are worried about. From a skill perspective, though, this would be a big pickup for Detroit.

16. St. Louis Blues: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW (Mora, SHL)

MBN has proven he can take over against his own age group, and he’s a point-per-game player with Norway’s men’s national team, too. He had just under half a point per game with Mora IK in the second-tuer Swedish league, but he made a name for himself for just how much of a workhorse he is out there. It seems like he’s giving it his all every shift and he’s got a pro-quality shot already. He might not be flashy, but Brandsegg-Nygård will be a good NHLer.

17. Washington Capitals: Igor Chernyshov, LW (Dynamo Moskva, KHL)

Chernyshov didn’t play much when he was in the KHL, but he got better as the season wore on. Among his age group, Chernyhsov was one of the best of the best. What stands out here is just how strong he is and how he leverages that to become a noticeable power forward. The 6-foot-2, 196-pind winger attacks defenders with purpose and has a nice toolkit to build upon. He’s still raw, but Chernyshov has some middle-six potential.

18. New York Islanders: Michael Hage, C (Chicago, USHL)

Hage would instantly become the Islanders’ top prospect, giving them a big boost in an otherwise low-end pipeline. The 6-foot-1 center had to overcome injuries that knocked him out of most of his USHL rookie season but he was easily one of the league’s top players in his first full campaign. So much so that scouts I’ve talked to think he could have easily been a top 10 pick if there was more of a sample size to build upon. The University of Michigan commit is already a dangerous center with a great shot, high-end skating, and a detail-oriented work ethic.

19. Vegas Golden Knights: Liam Greentree, RW (Windsor, OHL)

Greentree had a disappointing U-18s, but there’s still some significant potential here. Greentree has a great shot, can overwhelm defensemen with his pace and works hard along the boards. Few first-year draft-eligible prospects were better in the OHL, with his 90 points giving him a 24-point cushion over second on the Windsor Spitfires. He can drive the play with the puck, gets physical and his teammates think he’s a great leader. The issue for me is that when he isn’t scoring, he isn’t as good, but the upside is still apparent.

20. Chicago Blackhawks (via TBL): Beckett Sennecke, RW (Oshawa, OHL)

Has there been a more impressive draft prospect in the 2024 CHL playoffs? He has 22 points in 16 games, building off a second half that saw him finish as one of the best second-half players in the OHL. Sennecke benefited from having Cal Ritchie by his side, but it only helped amplify just how skilled of a player he was when he didn’t have to focus on driving a line by himself. Sennecke is a great puck handler with confidence and he would give the Blackhawks even more scoring depth down the line.

21. Los Angeles Kings: Sacha Boisvert, C (Muskegon, USHL)

It was a great year for Boisvert, who had 36 goals and 68 points in 61 USHL games to put himself near the top of the scoring race. The University of North Dakota commit just does so many things well – he’s athletic, plays a ton of minutes, has an accurate shot release, and reads plays very well. Boisvert has speed but can get beat in short-area rushes. Will a quiet playoff run hurt his stock? It shouldn’t but I like him at this pick.

22. Nashville Predators: Terik Parascak, RW (Prince George, WHL)

Here’s a chance for the Predators to swing for the fences. Parascak was one of the WHL’s biggest surprises this year, going from AAA last year to a 105-point producer as a rookie in Prince George. Parascak had some excellent linemates, no doubt, but he’s an excellent dual threat as a shooter and a passer, and the results speak for themselves. I think they’d take a center if Boisvert or Hage were still available, but if not, they’d be betting on the upside here.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs: Aron Kiviharju, LHD (HIFK, Liiga)

After missing nearly the entire season with a knee injury, Kiviharju jumped back into the swing of things with Finland at the U-18 World Championship. You can tell he was rusty, not having anywhere near the same impact he did the previous two years as an underager. Still, the performance was understandable given the long layoff, but we did see the glimpses of genius with the puck and the skating that made him such an intriguing prospect heading into the season.

24. Anaheim Ducks (via EDM): Teddy Stiga, LW (USNTDP)

This pick is the only one unconfirmed so far, but we’re throwing it in there, simply, to make for a cleaner number. Stiga is someone who would fit the Ducks so perfectly. Thanks to his speed, hockey IQ, and work ethic, he proved how dangerous he could be playing alongside top 2025 NHL Draft prospect James Hagens. The Ducks have some solid centers down the middle, but I think Stiga could play alongside Leo Carlsson or Cutter Gauthier in a few year’s time. As one scout told Daily Faceoff, “Every team needs a Teddy Stiga.”