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Draft Preview 2024
In this year's edition of The Hockey News' Draft Preview, we give you the lowdown on the top 100 prospects available in the 2024 NHL draft. As we count them down from No. 1 to 100, we have in-depth scouting reports, bio info and stats for each youngster. Also, we have NHL Team Reports on all 32 clubs (including Utah!), which look at the short- and long-term needs of each team. And finally, you'll find feature stories on top-prospect Macklin Celebrini, as well as Taj Iginla, Cole Eiserman, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Dickinson, Michael Hage and more.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
THE SHARKS HAVE made nine picks in each of the past four drafts and are on the docket for another nine selections this year. That’s 10 additional prospects coming through the system in five years. With quantity eventually comes quality. Make no mistake, though, this rebuild will be long and slow. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: It’s not enough for the Sharks to tell their fans to be patient and that brighter days are ahead. They need solid, reliable veterans at every position to shelter the younger players and help make San Jose more difficult to play against. Proven pros such as Mikael Granlund, Anthony Duclair (before he was traded) and Jan Rutta did that this season. More poise and character are needed this summer. LONG-TERM NEEDS: The departures of Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson…
BULLET TRAIN
THE MID-OCTOBER MEETING between Boston University and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program’s U-18 squad wasn’t an audition for Cole Eiserman so much as it was a showcase. But there were any number of reasons the standout American sniper entered the game under the microscope. In part, it was a chance to prove he could be a future star for the Terriers, to whom he’d committed only weeks prior. It gave Eiserman the opportunity to go head-to-head with his former Shattuck-St. Mary’s teammate Macklin Celebrini, the consensus No. 1 pick heading into the June draft. And it was another occasion for Eiserman to prove he can perform on a big stage under the bright lights. “There were lots of pieces to that game,” said NTDP coach Nick Fohr, “and he just…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
A SURPRISE RISE to the top of the Pacific Division led Vancouver to go all-in this season. The Canucks don’t have their first- or second-round picks this year and will lose their third-rounder to Calgary if they advance to the conference final. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Vancouver’s rebuilt defense corps meshed well, and it’s a shame for the club that there’s bound to be significant changes in the off-season. Tyler Myers, Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov are all UFAs on a team that doesn’t have much salary-cap room. Shoring up the second and third pairings is of great importance if the Canucks are to remain in the upper tier. LONG-TERM NEEDS: Jonathan Lekkerimaki is the only can’t-miss forward prospect in the system, and he’ll be brought along gradually. The Canucks would be wise to…
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
AFTER A COUPLE of smaller draft classes, the Flyers went big with 10 picks in 2023, and they could have as many as 10 picks again this year. The pipeline is looking promising, and GM Daniel Briere made his mark right away in nabbing Matvei Michkov with his first-ever pick. The Flyers also weren’t afraid to stick to their list, taking two goalies in row because they were equally intrigued by Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Speaking of goaltending, the uncertainty around Carter Hart’s future meant Philadelphia had to change course midway through the season. Poor net play probably cost them a playoff spot, and they go into next season with Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov – both long on potential but short on experience. Are they enough, or…
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