2024 NHL mock draft: Post-lottery projections for picks 1-32

Rachel Doerrie, ESPNMay 10, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

CloseRachel Doerrie is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.

The 2024 draft lottery is in the rearview mirror, and for the first time, it was a chalk lottery. The teams that were supposed to get the top two picks — the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks — received the top two picks.

Apart from some playoff seeding that could rearrange the draft order a little bit at the bottom, we know who is picking where. While my first mock draft required a bit of projecting for the draft order, now the mock drafts get a little more real as picks are locked in. The first round of the 2024 NHL draft will be held in Las Vegas at the Sphere on Friday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+). Rounds 2-7 will be on Saturday, June 29 (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+).

Let’s jump in with the obvious choice at No. 1.

Macklin Celebrini, F, Boston University (NCAA)

The San Jose Jr. Shark is going to be a San Jose Shark. Celebrini and his family are keeping their cards close to the vest, but make no mistake, the Celebrini family and Sharks are over the moon that the top prospect in this year’s draft will be playing in California to start his career. Rick Celebrini spoke about the possibility of Macklin playing for the Sharks, and while there is no guarantee the Hobey Baker winner leaves school for the NHL, it feels more likely than not.

In Celebrini, the Sharks are getting a 200-foot player who seems destined for stardom. The combination of Celebrini and Will Smith up the middle will be fun to watch for years to come. For his part, Celebrini has the ability to impact the game next season, and he would likely be the Sharks’ best offensive threat. He drives play, understands defensive responsibilities, plays through contact and, most…


Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/40114470/nhl-mock-draft-2024-lottery-top-predictions-players-order-best

Author : Rachel Doerrie

Publish date : 2024-05-13 16:10:03

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