By Stretch Jenkinson
NHL Public Relations
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is set to achieve a first when it takes to Sphere in Las Vegas for the first sports event and first live television broadcast from the world-famous venue. All 32 teams will be on hand to select 224 prospects across two days, beginning with Round 1 on Friday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet and TVA Sports) and concluding with Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 29 (11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT on ESPN+, NHL Network, Sportsnet and SN1).
* The hometown Golden Knights, who have made a first-round selection in five of the previous seven Drafts, are slated to select 19th overall in front of the home crowd. Vegas has only had an earlier selection four times, with three of them coming in the franchise’s inaugural Draft in 2017: Cody Glass (No. 6 in 2017), Nick Suzuki (No. 13 in 2017), Erik Brannstrom (No. 15 in 2017) and Peyton Krebs (No. 17 in 2019).
WITH THE FIRST-OVERALL PICK, THE SHARKS SELECT. . .
The Sharks own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft as a result of the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery on May 7 – the first time in franchise history the Sharks will step up to the podium first. San Jose – the 24th different franchise in NHL history to select with the No. 1 pick – has selected second overall three times: 1991 (Pat Falloon), 1996 (Andrei Zyuzin) and 1997 (Patrick Marleau).
* Marleau, the most recent of those selections 27 years ago, went on to become the most productive Sharks draft pick in franchise history. In addition to holding multiple all-time franchise records, including for goals (522) and points (1,111), Marleau owns the NHL’s all-time games played record (1,779) which included 1,607 appearances in a Sharks uniform.
OTHER TEAMS WITH A TOP-FIVE PICK LOOK TO ADD FUTURE STAR
In addition to the Sharks, the Blackhawks (No. 2), Ducks (No. 3), Blue Jackets (No. 4) and Canadiens (No. 5) own a top-five pick. Nineteen of 24 NHL Drafts since 2000 have seen multiple top-five selections appear in at least 10 games in the ensuing regular season. The only ones without: 2022, 2021, 2007, 2005 and 2001.
* CLICK HERE for notable picks by every franchise at their current slot in Round 1.
* Chicago has chosen second overall once before (Andy Culligan in 1965). After selecting Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in 2023, the 2024 NHL Draft will mark the first time the Blackhawks have selected among the top-three picks in consecutive seasons since drafting Jonathan Toews (No. 3 in 2006) and Patrick Kane (No. 1 in 2007). Toews and Kane went on to capture three Stanley Cups and win multiple individual awards with the franchise.
* The Ducks have selected third overall once before (Mason McTavish: No. 3 in 2021). Since making his debut on Oct. 13, 2021, when he became the youngest player in franchise history to score a goal (18 years, 256 days), McTavish has gone on to record the most points by a player before age 21 in Ducks history (32-44—76 in 131 GP). Anaheim owns a top-three pick in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history (Leo Carlsson: No. 2 in 2023).
* The Blue Jackets hold the fourth overall pick for the fourth time after selecting Ryan Johansen (2010), Nikolay Zherdev (2003) and Rostislav Klesla (2000) in that slot previously. Klesla, the first-ever Blue Jackets Draft selection, went on to play 10 seasons with the club and ranks in the top ten among defensemen in goals, assists and points in franchise history. After taking Adam Fantilli with the third overall pick in 2023, Columbus owns a selection within the first five picks in consecutive years for just the second time in franchise history (Rick Nash: No. 1 in 2002 & Nikolay Zherdev: No. 4 in 2003).
* The Canadiens will select fifth overall for the eighth time in franchise history and second consecutive year after taking David Reinbacher No. 5 in 2023. Montreal has had success in the fifth slot, where they selected all-time franchise wins leader Carey Price in 2005. Price went on to win the Hart Trophy (2014-15), Vezina Trophy (2014-15), Ted Lindsay Award (2014-15), Jennings Trophy (2014-15) and Masterton Trophy (2021-22).
CELEBRINI ENTERS AS TOP-RANKED NORTH AMERICAN SKATER
Macklin Celebrini, a forward with Boston University of the NCAA, enters as the top-ranked North American skater for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft after a standout freshman season with the Terriers that saw the then 17-year-old freshman lead his team and finish third in the nation with 32-32—64 in 38 GP. He can become just the second NCAA forward to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft (Joe Murphy: 1986 by DET).
As the youngest freshman in the NCAA in 2023-24, Celebrini was named the winner of the 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Hockey East Player of the Year and Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Celebrini became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker (age 17) and the fourth player to win Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Hockey East Player of the Year in the same season following Jack Eichel (2014-15), Paul Kariya (1992-93) and Brian Leetch (1986-87).
* The North Vancouver, B.C., native, who celebrated his 18th birthday on June 13, comes from an athletic background. His mother and father both played soccer, with his dad, Rick, a former member of Canada’s national team. Rick is currently the VP of Player Health and Performance with the Golden State Warriors (NBA) and did previous stints with the Canucks and Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) on their medical staff. His brother, Aiden, is a defenseman and a sixth-round pick by the Canucks in 2023 (171st overall) who skated alongside his brother at Boston University in 2023-24.
* CLICK HEREfor the all-time history of No. 1 picks from Records.NHL.com.
LEVSHUNOV, BUIUM ALSO CONTINUE TREND OF TOP PROSPECTS FROM NCAA
In addition to Macklin Celebrini (No. 1-ranked N.A. Skater), Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov (No. 2-ranked N.A. Skater) and University of Denver blueliner Zeev Buium (No. 4-ranked N.A. Skater) make up three of the top four-ranked North American skaters heading into the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
* There have been only two draft years in NHL history in which three U.S. college players were selected among the top 10 picks, both within the last 10 years: 2015 and 2021.
* Levshunov (9-26—35 in 38 GP) tied for ninth among NCAA defensemen in points while also being named Big Ten Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in addition to helping Michigan State earn Big Ten regular-season and postseason titles.
* Buium (11-39—50 in 42 GP) won a national championship with the University of Denver as a freshman and finished the season with the most points among NCAA blueliners in 2023-24. He also helped Team USA win gold at the 2024 World Junior Championship and 2023 Under-18 World Championship.
WINNING PEDIGREE KEY TO TOP PROSPECTS ON BLUE LINE
There are a bevy of defensemen among the top-ranked prospects for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, with four of the top seven ranked North American skaters and two of the top-four ranked international skaters listed as defenders.
* On the North American side, the top four ranked defensemen all come with a winning reputation: No. 2-ranked Artyom Levshunov won Big Ten regular-season and postseason titles with Michigan State; No. 4-ranked Zeev Buium won the NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver and a pair of gold medals with Team USA (2024 World Junior Championship & 2023 Under-18 World Championship); No. 5-ranked Zayne Parekh led all OHL defensemen with 96 points in the 2023-24 regular season and then helped the host Saginaw Spirit capture the 2024 Memorial Cup; and No. 7-ranked Sam Dickinson won an OHL Championship with the London Knights in 2023-24.
* On the international side, No. 1-ranked Anton Silayev is a towering 6’7” blueliner who played a full season of professional hockey in the KHL, while No. 4-ranked Adam Jiricek, who is the brother of Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek, spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with Plzen in Czechia’s top men’s league.
* CLICK HERE to view 100 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles.
* The most defensemen selected in the top-10 of an NHL Draft is eight in 2012, which featured Ryan Murray being selected second overall by the Blue Jackets followed by seven defensemen selected from picks 4-10. Those defensemen included: Griffin Reinhart (No. 4 by NYI), Morgan Rielly (No. 5 by TOR), Hampus Lindholm (No. 6 by ANA), Mathew Dumba (No. 7 by MIN), Derrick Pouliot (No. 8 by PIT), Jacob Trouba (No. 9 by WPG) and Slater Koekkoek (No. 10 by TBL).
FOLLOWING IN THEIR FATHERS’ FOOTSTEPS
Many of the ranked prospects for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft can rely on the experiences of family members when they head to Vegas, including fathers, siblings, uncles and cousins. Below are some notable players who are looking to follow in their fathers’ footsteps on Draft day.
* Tij Iginla of the Kelowna Rockets is the No. 9-ranked North American Skater after a breakout 2023-24 campaign that saw him finish sixth in the WHL with 47 goals and tie a franchise record for goals in a single playoff series (8). His father is Hockey Hall of Fame member Jarome Iginla, who was selected 11th overall by the Stars in 1995 before a 20-year NHL career (625-675— 1,300 in 1,554 GP) that saw him win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (twice), Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. Jarome is also the Flames’ all-time franchise leader in career goals and points.
Aatos Koivu (No. 27-ranked ITL skater) of TPS’s junior team is the son of former Canadiens captain and Ducks forward Saku Koivu. Saku, who ranks fourth all-time among Finnish-born players with 832 career points, was named the recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2001-02 and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2006-07.
* A pair of Red Wings Stanley Cup champions will hope to hear the name of their son called on Draft day. Lukas Fischer (No. 45-ranked NA skater), a defenseman for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, is the son of former Detroit first-round pick and 2002 Stanley Cup champion Jiri Fischer. Noah Lapointe (No. 198-ranked N.A. skater), a defenseman for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, is the son of Martin Lapointe, who was also a first-round pick by the Red Wings and went on to win a pair of Stanley Cups with the franchise (1997 & 1998).
* Max Plante (No. 43-ranked NA skater), a forward for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, is the son of former NHL forward Derek Plante. Derek was an eighth-round pick by the Sabres in 1989 (161st overall) who skated in 450 career NHL games and helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999. Derek served as an assistant coach for the Blackhawks in 2023-24.
* Miroslav Satan (No. 51-ranked ITL skater), a forward who plays in Slovakia for Bratislava’s junior team, is the son of the longtime NHL forward of the same name. The eldest Miroslav was a fifth-round pick by the Oilers in the 1993 NHL Draft (111th overall) who recorded 363-372—735 in 1,050 career NHL games and helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009.
* CLICK HEREfor NHL Ties & Bloodlines which includes more prospects with NHL family connections.
AROUND THE WORLD AT THE 2024 NHL DRAFT
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft could feature some special selections from countries around the world that are not always as associated with hockey or producing a long list of NHL players. Below are some ranked prospects who could make history should their name be called on Draft day.
* Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Oslo, Norway),the No. 5-ranked International skater who played men’s second division hockey in Sweden in 2023-24, can become the first Norwegian-born player selected in the first round of an NHL Draft. Overall, Norway can become the 26th country to have at least one player selected in the first round of an NHL Draft.
* A few noteworthy players who are the first from their birth country to be selected in the opening round of an NHL Draft include: Anze Kopitar (Slovenia) 11th overall by Los Angeles in 2005, Thomas Vanek (Austria) fifth overall by Buffalo in 2003 and Teemu Selanne (Finland) 10th overall by Winnipeg in 1988.
Harrison Brunicke of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, the No. 52-ranked North American skater, was born in Johanesseburg, South Africa, and grew his game in Western Canada. Brunicke can become the first South-African born skater selected in an NHL Draft and the second player born in the country overall after goaltender Olie Kolzig (No. 19 in 1989 by WSH). To date, Kolzig, who represented Germany internationally, tops multiple franchise lists and has a trophy case that includes the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (2005-06), the NHL Foundation Player Award (2000-01) and a Vezina Trophy (1999-00).
* Kevin He (Beijing, China), the No. 78-ranked North American skater and a forward for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs, can join Andong Song (Beijing, China) as the second player born in China selected in an NHL Draft. Song was selected 172nd overall by the Islanders in 2015.
* Jaromir Perez Lisa (Barcelona, Spain), the No. 78-ranked International skater, can become the first player born in Spain to be selected in an NHL Draft. Perez Lisa’s father is from Spain and his mother from Czechia. Perez Lisa’s mother named him after NHL and Czechia hockey icon Jaromir Jagr, and the prospect moved to Czechia at age seven to pursue hockey. He is currently playing for Liberec in Czechia’s top men’s league.
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS & NHLmedia.com
