2024 NHL Mock Draft: San Jose Sharks set for top talent

It’s time to get set for the 2024 NHL Draft, and like last year, there's a clear consensus top pick.

Let’s get into our 2024 NHL Mock Draft and find out how we expect things to go.

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

The clear #1 overall pick looks destined to be Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University - the reigning and youngest-ever winner of the Hobey Baker Award for the top collegiate men's hockey player - to help aid a San Jose Sharks team coming off a historically bad season.

2. Chicago Blackhawks - Ivan Demidov (LW, SKA St. Petersburg)

Picks two and three are where many analysts are divided, but we’re expecting the Blackhawks to give Bedard a winger to partner with in Ivan Demidov out of SKA St. Petersburg. He’s a left winger that would pair perfectly with how well Bedard shot the puck this past season.

3. Anaheim Ducks - Artyom Levshunov (D, Michigan State)

The second half of the debate with Demidov is Artyom Levshunov out of Michigan State. The defenseman would join the Ducks organization's plethora of top forward prospects and would bring solidity to a team that allowed the most and third-most goals per game the past two seasons.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Anton Silayev (D, Torpedo)

Like the Ducks, we have the Blue Jackets taking a defenseman as well. They've had goaltending struggles due to their defense allowing far too much pressure on their netminders, as they’ve allowed the second-most shots per game the past two seasons.

5. Montreal Canadiens - Berkly Catton (C, Spokane Chiefs)

The Canadiens need to work on both sides of the ice, but with their young talent on offense, it’s worth building around a center like Catton. They already locked up 23-year-old Cole Caufield to a long-term deal, and elite centers are hard to come by.

6. Utah - Cayden Lidstrom (D, Medicine Hat Tigers)

Back to defense. With the Utah franchise - formerly the Arizona Coyotes - looking to build from the ground up, it’s the most logical place to start. Given the prospects in this draft, the approach should be to find a goaltender in free agency instead.

7. Ottawa Senators - Sam Dickinson (D, London Knights)

Some analysts prefer Sam Dickinson over the defenseman we’ve already named, and it’s certainly not ridiculous to think so. Regardless, the Senators are a team that can score just fine led by Brady Tkachuk, so it’s their defense that they need to improve.

8. Seattle Kraken - Tij Iginla (C/LW, Kelowna)

After an improbable run in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Seattle Kraken missed the postseason altogether in 2024 and fired their coach. To rebuild, we’re looking for them to snatch versatile forward Tij Iginla from his hometown Flames.

9. Calgary Flames - Zeev Buium (D, University of Denver)

Since the Flames rid themselves of Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm, things haven't looked good. However, they have offense with Jonathan Huberdeau and company, so that’s why we have a national champion defenseman out of an elite collegiate program going here.

10. New Jersey Devils - Zayne Parekh (D, Saginaw Spirit)

The Devils had one of the best year-to-year turnarounds last season to one of the worst this year. Their goaltending dropped off immensely, and we’d like to see them put some help in front of the net by taking a defenseman with professional experience.

11. Buffalo Sabres - Konsta Helenius (RW, Jukurit)

Admittedly, the Sabres do just fine scoring the puck and could bolster their defense as well, but they seem higher on their goaltender room than most. So, why not add to the explosiveness of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch?

12. Philadelphia Flyers - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (C, Allsvenskan)

The Flyers had an absolutely epic collapse at the end of the season that saw them miss the playoffs altogether, but they have two first-round picks. They need to produce more goals first and foremost, so a ready-made center is the way to go.

13. Minnesota Wild - Adam Jiricek (D, HC Plzen)

Some fans may consider this pick a bit of a reach, but the Wild need to do something drastic after arguably the most disappointing season in the NHL. Kirill Kaprizov can lead their offense, so it’s time to improve the blue line.

14. San Jose Sharks - Beckett Sennecke (RW, Oshawa Generals)

After getting the #1 overall pick, the Sharks have yet another pick, and they need it. This time, rather than going the collegiate route, we have them grabbing a right-winger that just scored 22 points in 16 OHL playoff games.

15. Detroit Red Wings - Carter Yakemchuk (D, Calgary Hitmen)

If Sennecke is still here, the Red Wings would be smart to snag him, but if not, Carter Yakemchuk from the WHL is the way to go. He’s a big hitter that the Red Wings could use to bring more physicality to their game.

16. St. Louis Blues - Liam Greentree (RW, Windsor Spitfires)

Speaking of physicality, that is what the Blues have generally been known for. So, let’s add some mobility and finesse with Liam Greentree, who should bring more balance to a team looking to get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

17. Washington Capitals - Trevor Connolly (Tri-City Storm)

18. Chicago Blackhawks - Cole Hutson (NTDP)

19. Vegas Golden Knights - Michael Hage (Chicago Steel)

20. New York Islanders - Stian Solberg (Valerenga)

21. Los Angeles Kings - Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)

22. Nashville Predators - Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts)

23. Toronto Maple Leafs - EJ Emery (NTDP)

24. Colorado Avalanche - Alfons Freji (Vaxjo Lakers)

25. Ottawa Senators - Henry Mews (Ottawa 67’s)

26. Montreal Canadiens - Sacha Boisvert (Muskegon Lumberjacks)

27. Carolina Hurricanes - Andrew Basha (Medicine Hat Tigers)

28. Calgary Flames - Nikita Artamonov (Torpedo)

29. Dallas Stars - Emil Hemming (TPS)

30. New York Rangers - Yegor Surin (Loko Yaroslavl)

31. Anaheim Ducks - Aaron Kiviharju (HIFK)

32. Philadelphia Flyers - Igor Chernyshov (MHK Dynamo Moskva)