The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is set to take place June 28–29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The 2024 draft class has been overshadowed by last year’s stacked class, headlined by Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, and Matvei Michkov. Nonetheless, many prospects in this draft are worth getting excited about – who of the bunch is closest to reaching the NHL?
1. Macklin Celebrini
The consensus first-overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, is all but guaranteed to make his NHL debut next season. After scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games with Boston University this season, he has shown he is ready to take the next step in his journey. The San Jose Sharks hold the first-overall selection, and Celebrini is expected to return to the city where he played much of his youth hockey.
Related: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Guide
The Sharks were the worst team in the NHL this season, so Celebrini is expected to immediately join the top six to play alongside forwards William Eklund, Will Smith, Logan Couture, and Mikhael Granlund. San Jose could also follow the Chicago Blackhawks’ lead from last offseason and add veterans like Nick Foligno and Taylor Hall to help Celebrini’s development.
Given the state of San Jose’s roster, it will likely be hard for Celebrini to find his footing in his rookie season. He will be squaring off against top lines while adjusting to professional hockey with a new coaching staff. There is no doubt he is capable of playing in the NHL, but it may be a season or two until he puts up the point totals expected from a first-overall pick.
2. Konsta Helenius
Konsta Helenius spent most of the past two seasons in the top five draft rankings due to his maturity and experience at the professional level. He has been Jukurit of the Finnish Liiga’s top-line center for those two seasons, driving offense while providing stable defense. The concern with him is that he lacks a dominant trait, but that should not keep him from reaching the NHL soon.
Related: 2024 NHL Draft: Baracchini’s Mock Draft
This could also be a blessing in disguise as it would allow him to fall to a team selecting in the 10-15 range that is closer to competing than teams selecting in the top five. He is NHL-ready, but making his debut this season will be dictated by which team drafts him.
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