PHR’s 2024 NHL Mock Draft
The 2024 NHL Draft is just days away, taking the NHL to the illustrious Vegas Sphere and connecting the hockey world to a highly anticipated 2006 age group. This year’s star talent has been hotly discussed as far back as the 2016 Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament, which paved the way for players like Michael Hage and Cole Eiserman to reach star acclaim.
They’ve since been joined by talent from across the world, building a class that fits nicely among a five-year streak of strong drafts – between 2023 and 2027. This year’s contribution to the zeitgeist comes in the form of a loaded defensive group that could drive a lot of highly skilled offensive talent outside of the top 10. That potential has sparked plenty of trade talk around this year’s top picks, building up to a draft that should have plenty to match the excitement of its host city.
2024 NHL Draft Mock First Round
1. San Jose Sharks – Macklin Celebrini (C) / Boston University (Hockey East, NCAA)
In a year full of debate, the first overall pick is as guaranteed as they come. Celebrini has been the unrivaled top prospect in this draft class for years now, as he’s torn up every stage of USA Hockey. One year after winning both the USHL ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘MVP’ awards, Celebrini became the youngest player to both be nominated for and win the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Trophy on the back of a dominant 32 goals and 64 points in just 38 games.
Celebrini is a dynamo in the middle lane. He’s one of the few players whose standout trait is how quickly he processes and responds to play. He’s hard to shut down and has built a career out of elevating the players around him.
After a year of historical performance in college, Celebrini has no stops between him and the NHL. Luckily, he’s plenty prepared for the spotlight – having spent part of his childhood around sports legends, including godfather Steve Nash and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. It’s now Celebrini’s turn to chase a legendary career – as the frontman of a resurging San Jose Sharks.
Other Options: N/A
2. Chicago Blackhawks – Artyom Levshunov (RHD) / Michigan State University (Big Ten, NCAA)
It seems the debate has come down to two options – rounding out the defense with Artyom Levshunov or finding Bedard’s partner-in-crime with winger Ivan Demidov. The latter seems to have a camp of supporters in Chicago, but it’s the former who’s won the admiration of seemingly all of USA Hockey after absolutely thriving in an unexpected pre-season move from the USHL to Michigan State’s top defender role.
Levshunov became the choice pick of popular head coach Adam Nightingale, lauded as his pick for the team’s top defender role ahead of the season. That’s exactly what Levshunov achieved in East Lansing, validating a slow start to the year with a standout role in the team’s second half.
Despite a late-summer swap to college, Levshunov was able to carve out more than 25 minutes a night entering the Big Ten playoffs, posting 35 points in 38 games along the way. It was a fantastic performance, with Levshunov showing off a great ability to work off his teammates with powerful skating, smart and aggressive position, and excelling at carrying the puck through the neutral zone with tempo.
He’s a transition specialist at his core, with admitted off-puck flaws that could make a transition to the pros bumpier than some hope for. But even with growing pains looming, Levshunov’s game is certainly strong enough, mature enough, and smart enough to challenge an NHL roster spot next season.
Other Options: Ivan Demidov (RW/C)
3. Anaheim Ducks – Cayden Lindstrom (C) / Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
A second-half injury derailed Cayden Lindstrom’s truly incredible draft season. He was among the most potent scorers in the league’s first half, posting 46 points through just 32 games – flexing effortless stickhandling, great heads-up play-creating, and a strong ability to create space off of the boards and in the high slot. Lindstrom also boasts one of the most built-out frames of any forwards in the class.
It seems that the latter point will be what excites Anaheim, who has also been connected to big-frame defenders like Levshunov, Anton Silayev, and Sam Dickinson. Continuing to build out a defense corps rife with star prospects would be a dream for Anaheim but with trade rumors surrounding Trevor Zegras – it’s hard to think the team will pass on a player who possesses very similar traits to what’s made Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish, the star prospects Anaheim is deciding to build around – so prolific.
To boot, the Ducks have a serious knack for drafting out of the CHL. Seriously, only six of their last 25 picks were selected from outside of Canada. While Levshunov falling past second overall could tempt the Ducks, their opting for one of Canada’s most popular forwards feels like the right call.
Other Options: Anton Silayev (LHD), Beckett Sennecke (RW), Tij Iginla (LW)
4. Columbus Blue Jackets – Anton Silayev (LHD) / Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL, Russia)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have quickly become hard to predict, overturning both their general manager and head coach in the last month. That sudden shift could push them in all sorts of directions on draft day, though Columbus has been among the top teams on the proclaimed unicorn of the draft: Russian defenseman Anton Silayev.
It’s certainly clear to see what the Blue Jackets see in the 6’7” defenseman, who boasts skating and stickhandling as smoothly as any of his peers. Silayev is a simply imposing presence, excelling at corralling the puck up his stick and commanding transition up the ice, showing a strong instinct for when and how to dip into the offensive zone.
Silayev’s frame and play-driving abilities make him an exciting prospect, though he’s certainly unrefined. That may be enough to dissuade a Blue Jackets team that already has plenty of left defense. Should it be, they’ll be top candidates for an exciting forward pick – with Don Waddell potentially getting a chance to take his choice of Cayden Lindstrom, Ivan Demidov, Beckett Sennecke, or Tij Iginla.
Other Options: Ivan Demidov (RW/C), Beckett Sennecke (RW), Tij Iginla (LW)
5. Montreal Canadiens – Ivan Demidov (RW/C) / SKA St. Petersburg (MHL, Russia)
The Montreal Canadiens seemed to make a franchise-defining decision in their choice of David Reinbacher over Matvei Michkov with the 2023 fifth-overall selection. Neither player has pulled ahead of the other just yet, though Montreal could have a quick chance to have their cake and eat it too – once again facing the chance to take a star Russian prospect in Ivan Demidov.
Demidov hasn’t accomplished nearly as much as Michkov on the KHL or international stages, but his skill is readily apparent. He attacks defenders head-on, with a mix of great offensive awareness and truly elite puckhandling, making it easy for him to beat defenders and work out of tight spots.
His talents seem cut from a different cloth, though his biggest drawback is his lack of a true test – spending all year in the MHL, Russia’s U21 league. He’s so far played in just six KHL games, failing to score in any of the appearances. Ideal development would have him in a prominent KHL role next season, though it seems there’s no way for NHL teams to guarantee that.
Demidov is among the most talented players in this test, though far from the most proven. In taking him, Montreal would be taking a major swing on the upside, albeit one cushioned by their possession of a second first-round pick. Should Montreal shy away from Demidov, they’ll have no lack of secondary options – with rumored interest in defenders Sam Dickinson and Zeev Buium, as well as power forward Beckett Sennecke.
Other Options: Sam Dickinson (LHD), Zeev Buium (LHD), Beckett Sennecke (RW/C)
6. Utah Hockey Club – Zeev Buium (LHD) / University of Denver (NCDC, NCAA)
While J.J. Moser has settled into a routine NHL role, and Sean Durzi certainly vindicated his summer acquisition, the ‘Hockey Club’ is still lacking a truly elite defenseman to go with the many star prospects they’ve gathered on offense. Utah seems fully prepared to rectify that issue with pick six, expressing interest in each of the top defensemen in the draft class.
But of the list, there’s none closer than Zeev Buium. Literally – Buium spent the season pursuing a National Championship with the University of Denver, even closer to Salt Lake City than the Hockey Club’s old stomping grounds in Phoenix.
That will no doubt support his case for an early selection, as will his fantastic 11 goals and 50 points in 42 games this season. Buium thrives at moving the puck through the neutral zone, establishing possessions in the offensive end with confidence, and excels at creating openings while walking the blue line.
His game blossomed with David Carle’s Pioneers, giving Buium plenty of momentum heading into the draft. That should be enough to convince Utah, though Silayev, Zayne Parekh, and Sam Dickinson could each fill important roles.
Other Options: Zayne Parekh (RHD), Anton Silayev (LHD), Sam Dickinson (LHD)
7. Ottawa Senators – Zayne Parekh (RHD) / Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
The Ottawa Senators are in a very similar spot to Utah, stuck looking for a final piece on their blue line after not finding a perfect match with trade acquisition Jakob Chychrun. But unlike Utah, the Senators will have to draft with handedness in mind – with Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot filling the meaningful minutes on the left side.
That all sets them up as the perfect contender for Saginaw’s Zayne Parekh, the reigning OHL ‘Defenseman of the Year’ after scoring 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games, most of any OHL defender.
Parekh’s skill is quickly apparent. He possesses some of the best stickhandling in the class and blends it with very agile skating in all directions.
Those traits give Parekh the tools to beat any of his peers one-on-one, and his quick processing helps him find teammates with sharp passing, but his overall off-puck energy can certainly seem lacking at times. Parekh represents one of many top prospects with boundless upside this year, with Scott Wheeler of The Athletic speaking to the mindset that could make Parekh special.
Even with a golden toolset, Parekh’s game still needs refining, though the sky will be the limit and then some if he’s as determined as he’s claimed.
Other Options: Tij Iginla (LW), Carter Yakemchuk (RHD), Beckett Sennecke (RW)
8. Seattle Kraken – Sam Dickinson (LHD) / London Knights (OHL)
Sam Dickinson was a close runner-up to Zayne Parekh’s OHL ‘D of the Year’ crown, emerging as a star prospect for the London Knights even despite playing second fiddle to a top pair of Isaiah George and Oliver Bonk. Dickinson fought his way into top-line minutes and consistent power-play ice time over the year, playing upwards of 40 minutes a night as London paved through the Memorial Cup.
He continuously rose to the bell, recording a dazzling 70 points in 68 games – a mark that led the London defense, even ahead of Bonk, last year’s 22nd-overall selection. He excels at using his frame and physicality to shut down plays and gain possession quickly, seeing lanes clearly and not hesitating to take chances for his own.
More importantly, Dickinson is popular. He’s been a top prospect for much of his teen years, largely thanks to how quickly he adjusted to his hefty frame.
Seattle has found a way to always land the popular players, boasting a loaded prospect featuring Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus, Carson Rehkopf, Caden Price, and Ty Nelson… and that’s just their CHL names. That trait has helped them quickly build a well-rounded depth chart, though Dickinson’s spot of left defense would give them a star prospect in their shallowest position.
It’s hard to think the Kraken could turn down a chance at adding more CHL acclaim – though they may be more allured by the legendary Iginla family.
Other Options: Tij Iginla (LW), Konsta Helenius (C), Ivan Demidov (RW/C)
9. Calgary Flames – Tij Iginla (LW) / Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
The potential of an Iginla returning to Calgary is undoubtedly romantic. But there’s merit to the pick.
Iginla made his mark as one of the WHL’s most effective scorers this season, potting 47 goals and 84 points in 64 games with Kelowna. He simply couldn’t be left alone in the slot, showing clear control over the high slot and tops of the circles, and showed his prowess lower in the zone with his international play.
And while his style is certainly a bit more immature than his peers, his August 1st birthday lucks him with a bit more time to develop. That, combined with how ready he seems for the next step, should set Tij up for an exciting professional career.
The Flames have the flexibility in their prospect pool to go in any direction and can’t pass up a feel-good story for the fans.
Other Options: Zayne Parekh (RHD), Beckett Sennecke (RW), Konsta Helenius (C)
10. New Jersey Devils – Beckett Sennecke (RW) / Oshawa Generals (OHL)
The New Jersey Devils have been incredibly vocal about shopping this pick around in the name of adding more impactful lineup pieces. But that eagerness could be dwindling after the team spent a 2025 first-round pick to acquire former Vezina Trophy runner-up Jacob Markstrom.
This selection is, hopefully, the last time New Jersey will pick in the top 10 for quite a while, and it’d be a shame to squander the chance at adding one more top prospect to their future Stanley Cup charge. In the name of finding impact, the Devils land Beckett Sennecke here.
Sennecke is the year’s notable late-bloomer, breaking into top-of-the-draft conversation on the back of a powerful drive through the OHL playoffs. He’s always down-and-ready, reacting to play quickly and possessing the skating and hands needed to work out of tight spots.
The Devils have plenty of undersized star power but are in desperate need of more grit and size near the top of the lineup. They’ll hope to get that with the skilled and strong Sennecke.
Other Options: Konsta Helenius (C), Berkly Catton (LW), Carter Yakemchuk (RHD)
11. Buffalo Sabres – Konsta Helenius (C) / Tappara (Liiga, Finland)
Konsta Helenius has been a standout prospect since he was young, earning North American attention with Finland’s U16 team in 2022 and vindicating it with strong performances on every stage. Helenius is among the most potent forwards in this class, coming off 36 points in 51 games in Finland’s Liiga, though he’s been admittedly looked over as NHL teams favor big-frame defensemen over sub-6’0” forwards.
Helenius earns his dues on the back of smart, patient, and abundantly effective playmaking and thus earns a spot with a Sabres team full of creative offensive styles. Like the Devils, Buffalo has been vocal about shopping around their first-round pick. That could move them away from this spot, though Helenius – and dangler Berkly Catton – offer exciting reasons to go to the podium.
Other Options: Berkly Catton (LW), Carter Yakemchuk (RHD), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (LW/C)
12. Philadelphia Flyers – Carter Yakemchuk (RHD) / Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
The Philadelphia Flyers will be a team to watch on draft day after placing plenty of irons in the fire during and after general manager Daniel Briere’s recent press conference on the draft. In the clearing of smoke around Briere’s comments and other rumors around the Flyers came three notable takeaways: the Flyers could be set for a trade with the Senators, that trade could involve the seventh-overall pick, and Philadelphia is a fan of the year’s top right-defensemen, Parekh and Yakemchuk.
Well, in a mock with no trades, they’ll have to settle for the latter – getting the powerful, abrasive, and surprisingly nifty skillset of Carter Yakemchuk, who championed the Calgary Hitmen’s offense from the dropback role, posting 30 goals, 71 points, and 120 penalty minutes along the way.
Other Options: Cole Eiserman (LW), Berkly Catton (LW), Trevor Connelly (LW/C)
13. Minnesota Wild – Cole Eiserman (LW) / USA U-18 (NTDP)
Cole Eiserman may hold the chip for the most interesting
prospect of the year. He’s been a superstar in the hockey world since he was young, setting ablaze every league he’s in and holding the goal-scoring record for both Shattuck St. Mary’s and the USNTDP.
And yet, Eiserman isn’t earning the unrelinquished praise his accolades would suggest. Scouts are instead worried that goal scoring may be all he’s good at, showing major lapses off of the puck or when play isn’t moving through him.
Those concerns certainly don’t diminish what Eiserman has accomplished – though whoever drafts him will need to be prepared for his development. Through rumors and fan optimism, it’s been Minnesota that’s emerged as a favorite to hone Eiserman’s craft.
The Wild could use an offensive boost in whatever way they can find it and certainly had success with the last NTDP left-winger they picked. Right-shot defender Carter Yakemchuk would also serve as a nice fit with the Wild – though with him off the board and Minnesota amid a sea of forwards, they’ll be tied to Eiserman.
Other Options: Carter Yakemchuk (RHD), Berkly Catton (LW)
14. San Jose Sharks (via PIT) – Berkly Catton (LW) / Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
In a year with plenty of players to be excited about, there are always the inevitable forgotten few. Berkly Catton takes on the trope of ‘undersized but overskilled winger’ this year – though he wears it as good as any prospect.
Catton is the real deal, becoming just the third U18 skater since 2000 to break 110 points in the WHL, alongside Connor Bedard and (interestingly) Nic Petan. He is a dazzling puck handler and sees a path to scoring chances from any position. The Sharks have shown no hesitation in drafting smaller-frame players as long as the skill holds true.
In a year where they have plenty of picks to go around, it’d be hard for San Jose to pass up a chance to flank star Celebrini with like company.
Other Options: Carter Yakemchuk (RHD), Igor Chernyshov (LW), Liam Greentree (LW)
15. Detroit Red Wings – Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (LW/C) / Mora IK (HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden)
The Detroit Red Wings have shown no hesitation in drafting top talents from hockey’s smaller countries, setting them up as a great candidate to end the slide of Norwegian forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. He emerged as a top prospect on the back of an ability to infuse offense into the relatively slow HockeyAllsvenskan.
Brandsegg-Nygard scored the most of any draft-year player in the league since 2018 while showing a base of intelligence and fundamentals that make him impactful in all three zones. The Red Wings could use an influx of reliable middle-six talent – the exact role Brandsegg-Nygard seems destined to thrive.
Other Options: Liam Greentree (LW), Trevor Connelly (LW/C), Stian Solberg (LHD)
16. St. Louis Blues – Liam Greentree (LW) / Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
The St. Louis Blues are entering a second straight draft with nine selections – and will want to replicate the hot start they got with the 10th-overall pick last year, selecting Dalibor Dvorsky, who has since scored 45 goals and 88 points in the OHL. Watching Dvorsky would’ve provided plenty of viewings of Liam Greentree, who actually scored more of the pair with 90 points.
He plays a swift, power-forward style with a knack for controlling possession through the neutral zone in a style St. Louis enjoys. The Blues are looking to strike while the iron is hot once again – and Greentree’s stout frame and cerebral scoring is a fine way to start.
Other Options: Trevor Connelly (LW), Stian Solberg (LHD), Adam Jiricek (RHD)
17. Washington Capitals – Trevor Connelly (LW/C) / Tri-City Storm (USHL)
The Washington Capitals have been lacking a certain energy as franchise legends Alexander Ovechkin and Nikita Backstrom have begun slowing down. And while they could go in many different directions with this pick, they’re getting the best energy available in Trevor Connelly, who dominated the USHL with his ability to make plays at full speed.
He’s a burly, gritty forward who sees the ice well and leans into aggression, though that same energy leaves him prone to being burned. Honing his aggression and adjusting to pro pace will be the focus of Connelly’s development, and his upside is sky-high should he find an extra gear.
That could be exciting enough for the Capitals to bite on with a mid-first, though Igor Chernyshov and Liam Greentree – if available – offer more robust projectability should the Capitals want to hedge their bets.
Other Options: Igor Chernyshov (LW), Liam Greentree (LW), Adam Jiricek (RHD)
18. Chicago Blackhawks (via NYI)- Igor Chernyshov (LW) / Dynamo Moskva (KHL, Russia)
The Chicago Blackhawks made a confusingly early swap of first-round picks with the Islanders nearly a month ago, moving their second pick of day one up two spots. That could suggest they have their sights trained on someone specific – potentially a player they don’t want to be stolen by Vegas or New York – though it’s hard to think who that could be, especially with so much speculation surrounding second-overall.
While they could go in many directions, it’s hard to think the Hawks won’t want to leave the first round with a strong option on forward and defense. To that spirit, they land the incredibly projectable Igor Chernyshov – who’s sacrificed flashy upside for hardened fundamentals and already expressed interest in playing in the AHL next season.
For a team full of high-upside prospects, Chernyshov offers a chance to hedge your bets, playing an all-three-zones style that should garner a solid middle-six role.
Other Options: Sacha Boisvert (C), EJ Emery (RHD), Emil Hemming (LW)
19. Vegas Golden Knights – Michael Hage (C) / Chicago Steel (USHL)
The Vegas Golden Knights have become a bit unfamiliar with first-round picks, making just four in the last six years and since trading away three. The only top pick Vegas has clung onto is the highly-skilled Brendan Brisson, who earns his keep with shifty puckhandling through the neutral zone and creative drives to the net.
Well, those are the exact traits that made Hage one of Canada’s premier prospects in this draft class – before serious injury and personal loss derailed his junior career last season. Hage showed incredible resilience through it all and once again emerged as a top prospect in the year’s second half.
He’s an upside buy, to be sure, but he boasts all the skills needed to thrive with Bruce Cassidy’s Golden Knights.
Other Options: Emil Hemming (LW), Cole Beaudoin (LW), EJ Emery (RHD)
20. New York Islanders (via TBL) – Emil Hemming (LW) / TPS (Liiga, Finland)
Emil Hemming stamped his spot as one of the draft’s most projectable and impactful talents this season – showing a great ability to play in his hefty frame, with great physicality and a killer shot. The build has earned him a lot of NHL popularity and now earns him a spot with the New York Islanders built around similar styles.
The Islanders have shown no hesitation in drafting top European prospects who they think will translate – and Hemming appears much more ready for the spotlight than players like Aatu Raty or Ruslan Iskhakov. Though the Islanders’ prospect pool is in need of help at every position, leaving the team plenty of directions they could go with their top-20 pick.
Other Options: Sacha Boisvert (C), Adam Jiricek (RHD), Cole Beaudoin (LW)
21. Los Angeles Kings – Sacha Boisvert (C) / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Sacha Boisvert is among the draft’s most physical presences, standing at an imposing 6’2” and 180lbs while using every bit of it to power to drive the net hard and fight for space in the low slot. He’s as close to a prototypical power forward as this class offers – a trait that will certainly entice a Kings team who just learned their lesson by leaning too far into skill-over-heft.
Boisvert has been a popular draft name all year long and now finds a SoCal home that should welcome his heavy-hitting style.
Other Options: Adam Jiricek (RHD), Emil Hemming (LW), Cole Beaudoin (LW)
22. Nashville Predators – Adam Jiricek (RHD) / HC Plzeň (Czechia Extraliga)
Adam Jiricek has maintained plenty of draft excitement, even despite missing the entire second half of the season with a lower-body injury that he’s still not cleared from and a slow start to the year. But teams can’t ignore the lure Jiricek threw with his fantastic Hlinka Gretzky Cup last season, followed by a strong U17 season, leading some NHL scouts to tell The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler that Jiricek is still challenging the year’s top five defensemen.
The Predators are looking for their next home run swing in the draft and could feel they’re buying cheap on a defender whose family already has NHL precedent.
Other Options: EJ Emery (RHD), Ryder Ritchie (LW), Julius Miettinen (LW)
23. Toronto Maple Leafs – EJ Emery (RHD) / USA U-18 (NTDP)
EJ Emery is a physical specimen. He’s gained notoriety at the NTDP for how hard he works in the gym – a mindset he
inherited from his pro-football veteran father, Eric – and vindicated his off-ice work with a record-setting performance at this year’s NHL Combine.
Some scouts worry about how Emery’s athleticism translates to the ice. He has yet to find his offensive touch, though his long reach and strength make him a fantastic shut-down defender.
The Emery family has been connected to Toronto for many years and should be set for an easy move from Michigan as the Leafs look to bolster their defense, with a specific priority on adding size.
Other Options: Cole Beaudoin (LW), Jett Luchanko (LW/C), Stian Solberg (LHD)
24. Colorado Avalanche – Jesse Pulkkinen (LHD) / JYP (Liiga, Finland)
Jesse Pulkkinen is this year’s top re-entry prospect, having been looked over in last year’s draft but reigniting interest with strong international play this year. Pulkkinen is a heavy, well-rounded defenseman with strong puckhandling and plenty of aggression.
He filled a consistent role in the Liiga for most of the season, intercut by appearances in Finland’s U20 league and the Mestis. And while he never found too strong of a scoring touch – surpassing 10 points in just the U20 league, where he tallied 28 in 18 games – Pulkkinen showed a strong ability to keep opponents outside of the slots and shutdown transition at the blue line.
He’s seemingly pro-made and could be bound for the NHL in just a few years. For an Avalanche team that may soon need to replace Josh Manson, Pulkkinen’s projectability is enough to overlook his age.
Other Options: Julius Miettinen (LW), Cole Beaudoin (LW), Stian Solberg (LHD)
25. Boston Bruins (via OTT) – Cole Beaudoin (LW/C) / Barrie Colts (OHL)
The Boston Bruins acquired this pick from the Ottawa Senators on the same day that this mock released, though the swap doesn’t change our 25th selection, with the Bruins likely also looking for brute and projectability after not making a first-round pick in either of the last two drafts.
That’s what they’ll get in the rough-and-tumble Cole Beaudoin, a combine standout who’s shown an impressive ability to shut down opponents and take quick advantage of scoring opportunities all season long.
He’s already physically built out and projects as a special teams x-factor, though his ultimate ceiling might not be too high. Still, that floor-buy could be exactly what Ottawa is looking for.
Other Options: Ryder Ritchie (LW), Stian Solberg (LHD), Julius Miettinen (LW/C)
26. Montreal Canadiens (via WPG) – Ryder Ritchie (LW) / Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Ryder Ritchie is this year’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’ prospect, showing the lateral agility, heads-up skating, and quick instincts needed to make an impact in any play. That drive can leave him subject to making the first play instead of the right play a bit too often, but his ability to shut down play and work with his teammates could make Ritchie a great utility tool down the lineup.
Montreal already has plenty of top-end talent – and even added to it with Demidov at fifth overall – giving them plenty of room to take the safe option with their second pick.
Other Options: Cole Beaudoin (LW), Jett Luchanko (LW/C), Adam Jiricek (RHD)
27. Carolina Hurricanes – Jett Luchanko (LW/C) / Guelph Storm (OHL)
The Carolina Hurricanes will be entering the draft under new management, with rookie general manager Eric Tulsky replacing Don Waddell after a five-year tenure in the GM chair. That shouldn’t remove Carolina’s patented drafting, though, with the team still being connected to some of the class’ most unique and hard-working prospects.
That includes Jett Luchanko, whose work ethic on the ice drove him to NHL attention. He knows how to make a play in any situation and doesn’t struggle much with physicality, thanks to a built-out frame.
Luchanko doesn’t project as a dynamo scorer but should offer down-the-lineup value that’ll prove invaluable as Carolina tries to build a franchise.
Other Options: Dominik Badinka (RHD), Stian Solberg (LHD), Adam Jiricek (RHD)
28. Calgary Flames (via VAN) – Stian Solberg (LHD) / Vålerenga (EliteHockey Ligaen, Norway)
Stian Solberg has stood as Europe’s biggest riser this season, breaking out with an incredibly high-energy and heavy-hitting season in Norway’s top league. He vindicates the strong play with great international performances, including three points in seven World Championship games.
Solberg has handled a pro role all year long and is set for an even tougher test with the SHL’s Färjestad BK next season. That should be an exciting test of his development – and could help the Flames patch the hole left by Noah Hanifin.
Other Options: Julius Miettinen (LW/C), Nikita Artamonov (LW/C), Ryder Ritchie (LW)
29. Dallas Stars – Julius Miettinen (LW/C) / Everett Silvertips (WHL)
There has been talk of NHL interest in Julius Miettinen all season long, with teams enticed by how effortlessly he’s taken to playmaking in his 6’3”, 201lbs frame. Miettinen moves through the neutral zone well and knows how to play the puck off his teammates, though he can fail to inspire much when attacking defenders head-on.
Dallas is among the first teams that come to mind when discussing powerful Finnish prospects and confident CHL selections – making Miettinen a perfect fit.
Other Options: Ben Danford (LHD), Ryder Ritchie (LW), Jett Luchanko (LW/C)
30. New York Rangers – Dean Letourneau (C) / St. Andrew’s College (CAHS, Canada)
Many have described Dean Letourneau as this year’s unicorn prospect, though the sentiment seems more rooted in his 6’7” height than his on-ice skills. Letourneau spent the season in Canada’s U18 league, thriving to the tune of 61 goals and 127 points in 56 games – dominating the high slot with great puck protection and a killer shot.
With this pick, Letourneau would not only become the first Canadian high schooler since 1989 to be drafted straight into the NHL but the highest selected of any of the seven players to achieve the feat. Those facts make him a hesitant selection, though the Rangers are among the best candidates to overlook it on the back of just how much recent success they’ve had with their giant prospects.
Other Options: Julius Miettinen (LW), Dominik Badinka (RHD)
31/32. Anaheim Ducks (via EDM) – Sam O’Reilly (C/RW) / London Knights (OHL)
The Ducks have had their sights fully trained on the CHL for the last three drafts and will be happy to learn how many Canadians are available on the fringe of this year’s first round. That includes rangy defender Ben Danford and hefty winger Maxim Massé, though the Ducks seem more cut out for true two-way centerman Sam O’Reilly.
O’Reilly has added more and more speed to his game as the year has gone on, blending well with a great hockey IQ to make him as stout of a defensive forward as anyone in this class. The Ducks will hope to round out the top of their offensive depth chart with this year’s first round, with the reliable O’Reilly matching the flashy Lindstrom well.
Other Options: Ben Danford (LHD), Maxim Massé (RW), Linus Eriksson (LW)
31/32. Philadelphia Flyers (via FLA) – Nikita Artamonov (LW/C) / Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL, Russia)
As mentioned, the Flyers are a wildcard team this year. They could go in many different directions and have been tied to many different names, though after landing a defenseman with their first pick of the day, they’ll have a bit more room to take Russian winger Nikita Artamonov, who’s shown great fundamentals in all three zones and a finishing ability among the best in the class – though he’s struggled to use his top traits on the back of a relatively low-energy game.
The Flyers will hope they can rejuvenate that energy by pulling Artamonov to North America quickly.
Other Options: Charlie Elick (RHD), Maxim Massé (RW), Andrew Basha (LW/C)
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Network.
Maple Leafs Hire Marc Savard As Assistant Coach
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Marc Savard as an assistant coach (Twitter link). This news vindicates rumors about Savard’s connection with the team and reunites him with head coach Craig Berube, who Savard supported with the St. Louis Blues in 2019-20. The two will rekindle in Toronto, with Savard expected to assume his usual role as power-play coach.
Savard has become a popular coaching candidate despite just two years as an NHL assistant. But he proved plenty successful in both opportunities, leading the Blues to a 24.2 percent success rate on the power-play in 2019-20, good for third-best in the league. Savard stepped away from St. Louis after one season, moving to a head coaching role with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. Savard would spend two years in Windsor, leading the team to 44 wins in both seasons, and a run to the OHL championship in 2022. He kept his tenure brief, though, taking his talent behind the Calgary Flames bench in the 2023-24 season, where he found significantly less success than in St. Louis. Savard led the Flames power-play to a a 17.9 percent success rate, the seventh-worst in the league.
But for all of his coaching prowess, Savard is still remembered most fondly as a player. Originally selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Draft, Savard won an OHL championship before making the jump to the AHL, and then NHL in the three years following his draft – finding a way to emerge as a top scorer at every step. Savard would move through appearances with the Calgary Flames and Atlanta Thrashers, consistently showcasing plenty of promising scoring and plenty tenacity, though he wasn’t able to play every game of a season until 2005-06. He performed well when fully healthy, recording 28 goals and 97 points and vindicating it with 96 points in 82 more games the next year. The pair of high-scoring seasons, which overlapped Savard’s move to the Boston Bruins, established him as one of the league’s top wingers. He’d carry that title through five years with the Bruins, though repeated injuries eventually caught up to Savard. He famously retired in 2011, citing concussions-related symptoms. He totaled 807 career games across 13 seasons in the league and retired just ahead of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup win, which would have been the first of his career. He’ll now look to chase that title as a coach, taking over a power-play unit featuring Auston Matthews and William Nylander, among plenty of other star offensive talent.
Rutger McGroarty Reportedly Seeking Trade From Jets Organization
Earlier today on 32 Thoughts with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, the former indicated that a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets, Rutger McGroarty, had been brought up in trade talks over the last few days. In a follow-up report, Murat Ates of The Athletic wrote an article at length describing that “The league source tells The Athletic that McGroarty feels his path to the NHL is best suited in another organization.”
McGroarty was drafted by the Jets organization with the 14th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft after future teammate Frank Nazar went one selection ahead of him to the Chicago Blackhawks. Fast forwarding to this season, McGroarty saw Nazar and teammate Gavin Brindley sign entry-level contracts with their respective teams; while McGroarty committed to the University of Michigan for his junior season on April 16th.
The article from Ates illustrated the disconnect primarily came from the Jets organization and McGroarty disagreeing on his level of play, with the latter firmly believing he could immediately contribute to an NHL lineup. With a passing attempt at signing McGroarty to an entry-level contract once the 2023-24 NCAA ended, Winnipeg was unwilling to make any assurances of playing time to McGroarty, leading to him passing up an entry-level deal.
It is difficult to argue with McGroarty’s position, as he is beginning to look like a bargain pick at 14th overall. This past season with the Wolverines, McGroarty finished with 16 goals and 52 points in 36 games which finished second on his team and was good for 9th in the nation. Although there is never a guarantee that McGroarty would have cracked the Jets’ roster, keeping in hindsight the team is likely moving on from Nikolaj Ehlers and Tyler Toffoli this summer, the team could use a cost-effective addition to their top six.
Due to the reality of a few top-six forwards heading for greener pastures this summer, Winnipeg may opt to move McGroarty for immediate help up front in the form of veteran talent, especially given the fact that they do not appear to think he is ready for big minutes in the NHL. Nevertheless, the Jets organization holds most of the cards in any trade negotiations around McGroarty, as he would still need to complete another two seasons in the NCAA to become an unrestricted free agent.
Given the abundance of time ahead for a solution, the team may opt to hold onto McGroarty in the hopes of repairing the relationship. It was only last summer that all signs indicated that the Jets would be parting ways with both Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck until the organization eventually signed the pair to long-term extensions late in the summer.
Blue Jackets Sign Yegor Chinakhov To Two-Year Extension
The Blue Jackets have signed winger Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2MM extension, per a team announcement. The deal carries a $2.1MM cap hit through the 2025-26 season.
Chinakhov, 23, was a pending restricted free agent. The Russian winger was not eligible for salary arbitration and wouldn’t have been until the summer of 2025. Notably, this is Don Waddell‘s first signing since taking over as general manager of the Blue Jackets late last month.
A completely off-the-board first-round pick in 2020, Chinakhov solidified himself as a solid depth scoring option this past season with 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games. His shooting percentage was a tad steep at 14.5%, and he may be a regression candidate next year, but he didn’t look out of place as his minutes ramped up. He averaged 15:10 per game, seventh among Blue Jackets forwards who finished the season on the roster. Chinakhov also had some of the best possession metrics of any Columbus player, finishing fifth on the team with a 49.4 CF% at even strength.
There’s been a lot to like around Chinakhov’s all-around offensive game. In hindsight, his 69 points in 56 Russian junior league games during his draft year should have earned him a tad more consideration from the public scouting world at the time. He had solid results in his lone professional season in Russia, posting 10 goals and 17 points in 32 games for Avangard Omsk in 2020-21 before arriving in Columbus the following year. A dual-threat passer and shooter with a good set of wheels, he averaged 2.1 shots on goal per game this season.
His production provided some great financial value for Columbus this year, spending the campaign on a one-year, $800K extension he inked in April 2023 with his entry-level contract set to expire. It’s a considerable but deserved raise for the Omsk native, who will continue to push for consistent top-six minutes next season under a new head coach. The Blue Jackets still have $21.675MM in projected cap space for 2024-25 with a roster size of 16.
Andrew Cogliano Announces Retirement
2022 Stanley Cup champion Andrew Cogliano is retiring after a 17-year NHL career. The Avalanche announced the news regarding their pending free agent forward in an announcement Friday. He’ll stay in Denver in a wide-spanning player development and scouting role. Cogliano released the following statement through the team:
The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment. I am blessed to have played for so long with some great organizations and amazing teammates. I will miss being with the guys in the dressing room and battling for each other on the ice every night but it’s time to move on. Thank you to everyone I ever played with, played for and all the great fans for all of their support. I am excited to start my new chapter in the front office.
An unlikely first-round pick of the Oilers back in 2005, Cogliano had a peculiar development path as one of the few first-round picks in recent memory to be drafted out of lower-level juniors. After racking up 102 points in 49 games with the OPJHL’s St. Michael’s Buzzers in his draft year, Cogliano walked away from Canadian juniors and embarked on a collegiate career with the University of Michigan, where he again dominated. He turned pro with Edmonton in 2007-08, playing in all 82 games during his rookie season – something that would quickly become a common theme.
That rookie season was a strong one for Cogliano, who finished ninth in Calder Trophy voting after racking up 45 points, a number that would end up standing as a career-high. Suiting up for Edmonton in the early days of their so-called ‘Decade of Darkness,’ Cogliano quickly developed into a respected, versatile two-way skater who could play anywhere he was needed, skating on virtually every line and at every forward position. After four years, 146 points and 328 games of service for Edmonton, never missing a contest since making his NHL debut, he was dealt to the Ducks in the 2011 offseason in exchange for a second-round pick.
The offense never popped consistently for Cogliano in Anaheim, although he did notch his only 20-goal season in the 2013-14 campaign. Still, he remained an incredibly serviceable and adept two-way skater, routinely averaging between 14 and 16 minutes per game while contributing solid secondary scoring. Consistency remained perhaps his greatest asset – his career-opening ironman streak didn’t end until a suspension in the 2017-18 campaign, his 11th one in the NHL and his final full season with the Ducks.
Cogliano remained a strong utility forward with penalty-killing upside even as he aged, giving solid showings for the Stars, Sharks and finally Avalanche as he declined into a solely bottom-six role. Colorado acquired him for just a fifth-round pick from San Jose at the 2022 trade deadline, and he went on to contribute three goals and six points in 16 playoff games as he helped the Avs to their first Stanley Cup in nearly 20 years.
Now 37, Cogliano finishes his career with 1,294 games played, tied for 75th all-time. He tallied 190 goals, 274 assists, and 464 points with a +31 rating and 449 PIMs while averaging 14:06 per game. All of us at PHR extend our best wishes to Cogliano as he begins his front-office career.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Capitals And Kings Swap Pierre-Luc Dubois, Darcy Kuemper
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings are working on a one-for-one swap to see Pierre-Luc Dubois head to Washington and goaltender Darcy Kuemper head to the Kings. LeBrun also mentions that no salary will be retained in the deal. The Kings organization has confirmed the deal.
Although there were no major rumblings that Dubois would be moved this offseason, it makes sense on paper given his no-move clause will start in only a few weeks. The Capitals will now be on the hook for the remaining seven years and $59.5MM remaining on Dubois’ extension.
Washington will now mark the fourth team of Dubois’ career after being involved in two separate trades prior. During the 2020-21 NHL season, Dubois was sent to the Winnipeg Jets in a deal that landed Patrik Laine with the Columbus Blue Jackets. With an apparent distaste for the Jets organization, Dubois was traded to the Kings organization last summer in a deal that saw Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and Rasmus Kupari head to Manitoba.
After posting back-to-back 60-point seasons in Winnipeg, Los Angeles originally thought Dubois would make a perfect addition as the team’s second-line center for many years to come, and even replace Anze Kopitar as the team’s top centerman when he eventually hangs up his skates. However, Dubois failed to deliver on expectations that come with an $8.5MM salary with the Kings, scoring only 16 goals and 40 points this past season.
Dubois’ offensive production was not the only thing to slip in his first season in California, as both his defensive and possession metrics also saw a decline. Nevertheless, although inconsistency has plagued him for much of his career, Dubois is still only 25 years old giving him plenty of time to become a dependable player on any team.
Dubois should have access to a much larger role in Washington given that the team has seen two top-centerman leave the organization in recent years. Nicklas Backstrom has more than likely played his last game in the NHL after failing to fully recover from hip-resurfacing surgery while Evgeny Kuznetsov was shipped off to the Carolina Hurricanes at last year’s deadline after struggling to put up points.
The Capitals will likely start Dubois as the team’s second-line center with Dylan Strome creating solid chemistry with franchise legend Alex Ovechkin, but Dubois gives the team a lot of flexibility at the top of their forward core. Although he is not a very physical player, Dubois carries a big frame which could allow more ice to open up for Ovechkin.
On the other side of the deal, Kuemper’s inclusion in the deal gives Los Angeles some much-needed certainty in the crease while opening up another $3.25MM in cap space. Likewise, this means that the Capitals have firmly committed to Charlie Lindgren as the team’s top goaltender heading into the 2024-25 NHL season. After the swap, the Kings now have $23.45MM in cap space but do have a couple of restricted free agents to bring back into the fold.
It will be interesting to see if Kuemper can rediscover his game in California, as he had not been very consistent throughout his time with the Capitals. In 2021-22, then the starting goal
tender for the Colorado Avalanche, Kuemper backstopped his team to a Stanley Cup Championship which would later earn him a five-year, $26.25MM deal with Washington on the open market.
Throughout his time in the United States capital, Kuemper started in 86 games for the Capitals in two seasons earning a 35-40-10 record while carrying a .902 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average. In any case, Kuemper should benefit from a much stronger defensive core in Los Angeles as the team only allowed 2296 shots against this past season which was good for fourth in the NHL.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report Dubois had been traded to Washington.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun was the first to report that Kuemper was included in the trade.
LeBrun was the first to break the full trade details.
Sharks Claim Barclay Goodrow From Rangers
The Sharks have claimed forward Barclay Goodrow off waivers from the Rangers, reports Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic. The New York Post’s Mollie Walker reported after the Rangers waived him yesterday that San Jose was likely to snag him off the wire.
Goodrow, 31, officially returns to where his NHL career began as an undrafted free agent signing in 2014. He developed into a solid checking center/winger over the course of the next six years in the Bay Area, eventually landing with the Lightning via trade in 2020 and playing an important third-line role in their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
The Toronto native parlayed that into a six-year, $21.85MM deal with New York in 2021, one that hasn’t aged particularly well. Costing $3.642MM against the cap, he had just four goals and 12 points in 80 games in the regular season in 2023-24.
While Goodrow repaired his value in the postseason, tallying six goals in 16 games in the Rangers’ run to the Eastern Conference Final, his cap hit had become affordable for a team in the peak of its contention window looking to make significant additions this summer. He’s never been able to match the two-way impact he had with the Lightning in New York, but he did at least contribute a respectable 30-plus points in each of his first two seasons in the Big Apple.
A major reason for his offensive decline this season was his deployment under head coach Peter Laviolette, who decreased his offensive zone start share at even strength from about 42% through two seasons to a paltry 23.5% in 2023-24, rarely getting him opportunities to contribute on the scoresheet. The Rangers forward with the second-most sparse offensive deployment, Jimmy Vesey, had 30.9% of his in-zone starts at even strength come in the offensive end.
The Sharks, who mustered just 181 goals last season compared to the Rangers’ 282, will rely on Goodrow offensively much more than that. Even if putting up points isn’t his main purpose as a versatile forward deployed in checking situations, it’s feasible that he’ll average north of 15 minutes per game and hover around the career-high 13 goals and 33 points he had with the Rangers in 2021-22.
Today’s claim also has considerable financial benefits for both teams. Most importantly, it leaves the Rangers off the hook for the remainder of Goodrow’s deal, which carried the aforementioned $3.6MM cap hit through 2027. For general manager Chris Drury, it’s a much cleaner and more preferable departure than buying him out, resulting in lasting cap ramifications for the next six years, or giving up assets to trade him away while retaining salary. It’s the closest thing to straight-up releasing a player the NHL has to offer without terminating a contract.
Meanwhile, the Sharks sat over $13MM below next season’s $65MM cap floor before claiming Goodrow. They now have under $10MM worth of cap hits to add to their books next season, a much more attainable figure for a team expected to be only mildly aggressive in free agency as they continue to rebuild.
In 268 games during his previous stint with the Sharks, Goodrow scored 26 goals and 71 points. It’s worth noting that Goodrow had a 15-team no-trade list in his contract but not a no-move clause – meaning he could have blocked a deal to San Jose if they’d been on his list. Instead, because he’s changing hands via waivers, he has no ability to nix the move.
Devils Acquire Jacob Markström
The Devils have their goalie. New Jersey announced the acquisition of Jacob Markström from the Flames for defenseman Kevin Bahl and their 2025 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected. Calgary is retaining 31.25% of Markström’s $6MM cap hit in the trade, bringing it down to $4.125MM for the Devils.
Speculation about New Jersey picking up a high-end starter had run rampant as far back as midseason. The Devils looked like a team on a meteoric rise after last season’s 112-point showing, but below-average performances from all three goalies they started the season with (Nico Daws, Akira Schmid, Vítek Vaněček) were one of the many factors that brought them back below the .500 mark this year.
After shipping out Vaněček to the Sharks at the trade deadline and getting some stopgap solutions in Jake Allen and Kaapo Kähkönen, they now have their bonafide starter. It took the 2008 second-rounder quite a while to break out, but he took over the crease for the Canucks in the 2017-18 season and hasn’t looked back. The 6’6″ netminder has finished top 10 in Vezina balloting in three of the past six seasons, including a second-place finish in 2022. That was a statement year for him and the rest of the Flames, as he tossed up a .922 SV% and a league-leading nine shutouts in 63 starts as Calgary won the Pacific Division title, just its second since 2006.
Things turned south as he regressed to a .892 SV% in 2022-23, but he put together a nice rebound campaign this season despite battling through a handful of injuries. His 23-23-2 record isn’t impressive at first glance, but he returned to being a top-10 goalie in the league in terms of goals saved above expected with 13.7, per MoneyPuck. He had a .905 SV%, 2.78 GAA and two shutouts behind a Flames team that had its worst season defensively in quite some time under first-year head coach Ryan Huska.
Even still, Markström’s results last year were brought down by a poor stretch of post-trade deadline play – an understandable slump given the trade rumors connecting him to New Jersey at the time and the fact he was playing with a lower-body injury. From March 4 onward, he went 2-8-0 with a .869 SV% without putting up an SV% over .900 in any single game. To put it succinctly, Markström had a better year than a quick look at his results would indicate.
Since signing his six-year, $36MM deal with the Flames in free agency in 2020, Markström has a .907 SV% over 212 starts and one relief appearance. That’s good for seven goals saved above average, indicative of the peaks and valleys he’s shown during his time in Alberta. He’s one of four goalies to start more than 200 games over that timeframe, joining perennial Vezina challengers Connor Hellebuyck, Juuse Saros and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Landing Markström at $4.125MM against the cap for the next two seasons is a considerable discount for Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, as it’s much less than he would cost on the open market. He’ll form a formidable veteran one-two punch in net with Allen, who remains under contract with New Jersey next season at a reduced $1.925MM cap hit thanks to the Canadiens retaining salary when trading him at the deadline. The Devils, after dealing with younger, more inconsistent unknowns in Schmid and Vaněček for most of last season, now have an above-average backup and starter for a total of $6.05MM against the cap.
Calling Markström truly elite would likely earn you some pushback, given his year-to-year dips with Calgary, and that pushback would be fair. But he has the most established track record of any goalie the Devils have iced since Cory Schneider‘s run of elite play in the mid-2010s. The deal has them much better positioned to make the playoffs next season and embark on a deeper run than in 2022 when they escaped the first round but were dispatched by the Hurricanes in five games in Round 2. The 23-year-old Daws and 24-year-old Schmid are also afforded some additional development time in the AHL after an inconsistent 2023-24 campaign for both.
Markström, 34, has two years left on his deal. He’ll become a UFA in 2026, and ideally, by that point, one of Daws or Schmid will have developed into dependable NHL options. While on the older side, he fits well with their immediate timeline. They’re now left with $16.05MM in projected cap space with eight open roster spots, per CapFriendly. Versatile forward Dawson Mercer is their only notable RFA in need of a new deal.
New Jersey pulling off this deal without surrendering a top prospect or their 10th overall selection in this year’s draft is a good piece of work by Fitzgerald, especially with the Flames retaining a considerable amount of salary.
Losing Bahl isn’t nothing, though. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick in 2018 out of OHL Ottawa. He did well this season, his first true full-time NHL campaign, posting 11 points in 82 games while averaging 17:24 a night. His 6’6″, 230-lb frame obviously draws appeal for Calgary, and GM Craig Conroy said today he was a “priority player” throughout discussions with the Devils (via Sportsnet’s Eric Francis). However, his possession metrics last season were subpar, logging a 48.3 CF% and 48.7 xGF% at even strength that both fell south of New Jersey team averages.
Bahl is still young, however, and carries legitimate top-four shutdown upside. He’s under contract next season at a reasonable $1.05MM cap hit and will be an arbitration-eligible RFA next summer. In 148 career games with the Devils since making his debut in the 2020-21 season, Bahl has four goals, 21 assists, 25 points and a -1 rating while logging 16:14 per contest.
If the Devils’ 2025 first-rounder does land within the top 10, they’ll transfer their 2026 first-round pick to Calgary instead, regardless of its placement.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
TSN’s Travis Yost was first to report Markström was headed to New Jersey.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was first to report the trade return and salary retention.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic was first to report the 2025 first-round pick was top-10 protected.
Canucks Sign Filip Hronek To Eight-Year Extension
The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Filip Hronek to a maximum eight-year contract extension, shares the team (Twitter link). The deal will carry an annual cap hit of $7.25MM, for a total value of $58MM. This deal will carry Hronek, 26, through his age-34 season in 2031-32. The deal featured signing bonuses in all but one year, costing the Canucks as much as $4MM annually, per Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff (Twitter link). Seravalli also shares that Hronek will carry a full no-move clause from 2025 to 2028 – suggesting the first year of the deal will be clause-free – and a partial no-move clause from 2028 to 2032.
The Canucks take care of a major piece of business with this extension, locking up the first defenseman capable of keeping up with Quinn Hughes. The pair spent nearly every second of their even-strength ice time together – and to good effect, with Hronek posting 48 points in 81 games, both career-highs. It was an incredibly successful start to Hronek’s career in Vancouver, building nicely on his pair of 38-point seasons to end his time with the Detroit Red Wings.
Hronek’s strong scoring slowed down substantially in the postseason – the first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs of his six-year career. He totaled just two points across 13 games, though he did his best to curb the low-scoring with a lofty 25 hits and 15 blocks, respectively ranking second and fourth among Vancouver’s blue-line. The Canucks don’t seem bothered by Hronek’s meager postseason, now solidifying his spot next to Hughes for the foreseeable future.
With this extension, the Canucks are down to $16.83MM in projected cap space with 10 pending free agents. Headlining the list is now forward Elias Lindholm, who Vancouver acquired in exchange for top prospect Hunter Brzustewicz, depth forward Joni Jurmo, and two draft picks earlier this season. Lindholm posted just 12 points in 26 games with the Canucks, never finding a perfect fit in the team’s lineup. He’s been rumored to be asking for a hefty extension for quite some time – something that may be difficult for Vancouver to stomach with less than $17MM to spend.
Lindholm is joined atop Vancouver’s list of pending free agents by defenseman Nikita Zadorov – Vancouver’s other trade acquisition from the Flames this year. Zadorov came into his own with the Canucks, recording 14 points and 102 penalty minutes across 54 games with the team – matching his scoring pace from his 21-point season last year. Zadorov has expressed a very strong interest in returning to Vancouver, though limited cap space could make that a challenge. Of course, Vancouver will be helped along by the ceiling Hronek’s deal sets, giving them a better gauge of what price they could hand out to Zadorov.
Still, the Canucks will likely focus their spending much more on solidifying depth pieces, with late-season breakouts Dakota Joshua and Arturs Silovs both up for new deals as well. Joshua became a core piece of Vancouver’s lineup late into the year, totaling eight points and a team-leading 75 hits in 13 postseason games. His claim as Vancouver’s playoff workhorse is only challenged by Silovs, who recorded five wins and a .898 save percentage in 10 playoff appearances – filling in for Thatcher Demko following an untimely injury.
After weeks of speculation, the Canucks have now made their first big step of the off-season – placing their priority on rounding out their defense rather than their top-six forwards or goaltending duo. With a stake now planted, the Canucks can begin to turn their free agent attention towards the open market, where they’ve already been connected to star winger Jake Guentzel. Guentzel posted 77 points across 67 games this season, adding nine points in 11 postseason games. He could be a fantastic replacement for Lindholm should the Canucks get priced out of the latter’s negotiations.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Canucks Interested In Jake Guentzel
Jake Guentzel‘s pending free agency could lead him to the West Coast. The Hurricanes left winger has yielded strong interest from the Canucks, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports. They’re expected to make a “strong play” for his services amid likely interest from the Capitals, Panthers, Maple Leafs and Rangers, said Seravalli.
An extension in Carolina doesn’t appear to be in the cards for Guentzel, and his signing rights have been made available for trade for teams to get an inside track on a deal before July 1. He’ll have plenty of suitors after drawing a similar level of attention at the trade deadline a few months ago.
Guentzel is nearing the end of a five-year, $30MM extension he signed with the Penguins in December 2018, midway through a breakout campaign that saw him hit the 40-goal and 75-point marks for the first time. His $6MM cap hit since served as a bargain for Pittsburgh as he continued flourishing on Sidney Crosby‘s wing, averaging just north of a point per game over the life of his extension. With the Penguins struggling to stay in the playoff race this season, though, they dealt him to Carolina at the deadline to avoid losing him for nothing this summer – a fate the Hurricanes are also trying to avoid by recouping at least some value for his signing rights.
An upper-body injury limited him to 67 games this season, but it didn’t stop him from having the best offensive campaign of his career on a per-game basis. He finished the season with a sparkling eight goals and 25 points in 17 games for the Canes, bringing his season average up to 1.15 points per game. Only 14 players in the league had more.
In all likelihood, he’ll land a max-term contract this summer, whether it’s a seven-year deal on the open market or an eight-year extension with a team that acquires his signing rights. At age 29, he likely won’t get the chance for another big payday. Seravalli believes his cap hit should come in around $9.5MM per season, close to what we’ll predict on our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents list dropping next week.
That’s something the Canucks can stomach at first glance with $24.078MM in projected cap space next season, which jumps to $26.578MM if you account for defenseman Tucker Poolman‘s likely long-term injured reserve placement, per CapFriendly. But like the team he’s parting ways with in Raleigh, Vancouver has a large slate of pending free agents to re-sign or part ways with. As Seravalli points out, signing Guentzel almost surely means letting Dakota Joshua and Elias Lindholm hit the open market, pawning off most or all of Ilya Mikheyev‘s $4.75MM cap hit in a trade, and making other tough decisions with a defense group that includes Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers and Nikita Zadorov.
Guentzel does seem to fit like a glove in Vancouver’s lineup, though. Arguably their biggest weakness in their breakout 2023-24 campaign was a lack of support for budding superstar center Elias Pettersson, who spent most of the season with depth wingers Nils Höglander, Sam Lafferty and Mikheyev as his linemates. Getting a player with a lengthy history of meshing well with star centers could do wonders for the 25-year-old Swede as he kicks off his massive eight-year, $92.8MM extension.
It’s not as if there’s no history between Guentzel and Vancouver, either. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford was the one who signed Guentzel’s current deal as GM of the Penguins, and the club was one of the finalists for his services at the deadline in March.