2024 NHL Mock Draft (Top 16)

2024 NHL Mock Draft (Top 16)

in today’s video we’re taking a look at the 2024 NHL draft we’re going to complete a mock draft for the top 16 selections and that’s coming up next so welcome back to another video here at Top Shelf hockey as I mentioned today we’re doing a mock draft it’s going to be our first full mock draft since the night of the NHL draft lottery when the draft lottery was completed we did do a video discussing the results and the uh you official draft order for the top of the draft since it was confirmed and I did throw together a quick mock draft of who I thought you know teams would take at that point that was obviously a couple weeks ago now and obviously at this point some of those prospects are still playing some are not uh so some of the you know I guess consensus around them have changed a little bit and now that we’ve had more time to kind of think about um what each team kind of needs and what these players and how they might fit these organizations my opinions have changed a little bit on what I think is going to go down uh so some pick might be the same but there’s a fair bit here that I think is going to be different so I thought it’d be a wise time to uh to do a new mock draft I might do one more of these again uh before the draft like maybe in a few weeks time heading into June perhaps uh there’s still some like said some players playing we got the Memorial Cup coming up um there’s bound to be a you know a few different opinions on a few players maybe change here or there um and then of course there could be some movement at the draft as well between teams in the in the top part of the draft you know either moving up or down or whatnot which could change the order again and kind of think what we need to do so um so let’s take a look now at what I think as of today will be your top 16 selections selecting first overall of course we have the fortunate San Jose Sharks who won the lottery and there’s no doubt they’re going to take mlin Cabrini here been a consensus number one overall pick for quite a long time uh which is great that he has links to the area as well of course his dad works for Golden State Warriors He’s played some youth hockey in the area as well well which is great um complete player draws comparison a little bit of Sydney Crosby in his game but more so a Jonathan Taves type where he’s going to be uh pretty solid 200 foot player a really smart player can drive to play franchise altering player I’m not sure we can call him generational but certainly uh franchise altering will take the the San Jose Sharks a long ways out of this rebuild lots of talent and will be a Topline Center for this team for many years to come come picking next at second overall of the Chicago Blackhawks and I have them taking the big rightand defenseman Aram Love shov Now lunov is a great player here and then some might argue that they’re going to go with Ivan demidov and they might I demov is definitely going to be the second best player in this draft it’s just a lot of people are concerned with getting him over from Russia and there’s lots of these other players that are really Lots likee as well I mean love shav’s already playing in the US at Michigan State uh 6’2 200 lb he’s right shot um you know had a solid year he led the Spartans and scoring as a freshman defenseman which is not real common um you know certainly good at both ends of the ice as well uh he was a plus 26 um in the regular season for his college team I mean just the way he can jump up into play is skating the offense the defense there’s just too much here not to like and it’s a safer pick uh so to me Chicago builds their back in which is a big part of winning championships down the road and takes the big right-handed defenseman at third overall we have the Anaheim Ducks and I have them taking the massive Russian defenseman Anton silv now silv is a a pretty pretty big defenseman here obviously 6′ 7 over 210 lbs um a lot of people feel he’s deserving of a of a top five ranking um you know obviously this case he’s a fantastic skater not going to be a ton of offense out of this guy he’s going to be a top four um defenseman who can really be a shutdown type of guy uh doesn’t seem to have any problem defending against the rush and lots of speed coming at him um you know certainly has lots of agility great skater huge size big wingspan uh the the ducks have already built a lot of their offensive part of their game they got a lot of big young uh you talented forwards in that group already and selia would really give them a type of Defense when they don’t have they have some exciting Young Defenders back there in the Ducks Prospect pool too but nothing like this it’s just the size and everything that comes with it it’s too much to pass up next up at Fourth overall we have the Columbus Blue Jackets and I have them taking big defenseman Sam Dickinson from the London Knights of the OHL now this might be a pick that some disagree with uh certainly Dickinson’s going to be a high pick we know that uh he’s a top one of the top demon in the draft this organization has a lot of ties to the London Knights uh via Rick knack um there is also a possibility as of I record this video they have not named a new general manager yet but the one of the names we’re hearing that’s in in the mix is Mark hunter from London so if he became GM of the of the Blue Jackets I have no doubt he’d be very high and one of the players he helped developed and helped work with here over the last number of years but Dickinson has high-end offensive upside ability to quarterback of power play um great skater as well um and pretty good Defender for his age so there’s certainly not a lot to dislike here and could be a terrific fit for this Blue Jackets team uh they do have a variety of needs within the organization they have to go with what I think they feel is the best player available and I can see there being a lot select with this guy for this organization at number five we have the Montreal Canadians and I have them taking the big centerman from the Western Hockey League Kaden lindström now to me he’s the perfect pick for Montreal uh they can certainly use some more depth down the middle and and some more size down the middle a lot of their other top young forwards in the organization you look at Suzuki you look at Coffield some of the other guys coming they don’t have a ton of size and you need size down the middle and you need some size on the back end to ultimately be the most successful and this guy ex has that along with a lot of the other tools that you’re looking for now he did miss a fair bit of time this year due to injury so it could affect his rating a little bit but he’s a power forward who’s a more of a goal scorer um you know so he’s a goalscoring centerman is less than a playmaker basically so you have a good playmaking Winger with him that would great make for a great onew punch but like I said putting him behind Suzuki on the center depth to me makes a ton of sense um it could be a good a good fit in their top six to really add some size and strength there at number six I’m using the Arizona logo but it’s team Utah cuz we don’t have a new logo for them yet and I have them taking tjla now this is going to probably be you know sad for Flames fans to see but I’m not sure gin is going to be there when the Flames are picking at nine unless they trade up uh ainla has been a highriser all year uh for right now you know he he’s just been going up and up and up and up and on his rankings here I mean he’s he’s a great skater great scorer really smart plays the game well not a liability at all defensively had a terrific u8 tournament for Team Canada um obviously uh you know you can have a ginla playing with Don in Utah which I know is you know obviously sheane Don and Jerome ginla been great friends for a long time so clearly um you know he’s a great pick and I don’t know that Calgary is going to be able to get him at nine like I said he’s just been a highriser his value keeps skyrocketing and to me he’s a great player with good name value that would be great for the new Utah franchise to bring in as their first round pick at seven we have the Ottawa senator and I have them taking right shot defenseman zann perak who from the sagonos spirit who’s might be one of the top offensive players in this draft period uh he’s had a phenomenal campaign of course Saga uh as well also going to be participating in the Memorial Cup which is going to be fun to watch too but uh perk is one of the most creative players in this draft uh Power Play quarterback uh the offense that he’s put up has been absolutely phenomenal um you know and obviously From ottawa’s perspective they’re going to want to take the best player available but you have a defenseman that scored over 30 goals and almost 100 points 96 points hard not to consider him the best player available right now I know demov has not been picked yet but they like I said I think some teams are going to be cautiously avoiding it just because of the Russian factor and the unsureness of when he’s going to come over but per not only is arguably one of the best players available in this draft at this spot but he fits perfectly into what the autot Senators need right now and could be a terrific top pair defenseman longterm for Jake Sanderson next up at number eight we have the Seattle Kraken and the slide ends here uh Ivan demov becomes the selection I don’t see him sliding down too far um obviously this is you know CU he really could go two or three and he still might you never know I could be wrong here I just have a feeling that some of these teams are going to like some of these other players and not have to deal with the Russian factor of when’s he coming over is he going to come over at all uh you know we’ve seen some issues with some of those players lately that’s kind of delayed things and there’s some question marks there I mean obviously it could happen to Sev too but I don’t think that that’s as likely going to happen but Devon off to Seattle would be huge they need offense they need scoring this guy’s an offensive Dynamo uh will be a terrific fit on any team to add an offensive minded player so to me he could be uh great to sell jerseys great to put butts in seats and great to generate a lot of offense at the Kraken are missing they will have to be patient though cuz it’s unclear when he’ll come to North America at number nine we have the Calgary Flames and even though they might be upset they couldn’t get a ginla they’re going to take Berkeley katton kon’s a very capable player as well also from the Western Hockey League a little bit smaller in Stater 511 163 but had a heck of a season scoring 54 goals and 116 points uh there’s lots to like about his game for sure uh Kon is kind of consider a dynamic offensive forward but he does have a strong commitment on the defensive side of the puck as well he was a player that his coach was comfortable putting out there in all situations was a plus player uh and you know he could go higher than this to be honest I I don’t think Calgary should look at him as a downgrade to not getting TJ ginla um and some of the teams ahead of them might even like Ken more than I’ve anticipated here and he could go even higher than this he could go you know 5 six nothing would surprise me very very solid offensively gifted player here next up at number 10 we have the New Jersey Devils and I have them selecting cona helenius the finished player to me would be a terrific mix here fit in greatly with what New Jersey already been able to accumulate over the last number of years uh obviously playing at the highest level in Finland represented his country for the world juniors uh player who plays the game really fast with a lot of speed uh he can work well in the power play leading the team with the Breakout um likes to attack the offensive zone with a lot of speed and it’s seen as being very difficult uh to defend here uh obviously today’s game is very much a Speed game and he fits in quite nicely with that but to me he can also be a player who can play in multiple situations and help them defend well so to me he could be a great addition to the middle six for that team next up at number 11 we have the Buffalo Sabers and they’re going to take defenseman Carter yakimchuk on this draft from the Western hock Ley Calgary Hitman another top right shot defenseman 30 goal guy lots of offense in his stick and even though Buffalo has a lot of good young blue liners if I had to select like the right side is a little weaker than the left side and one of their top four right defenseman mtia Samuelson who’s really good uh and they signed to a longer term contract it tends to get hurt a lot and has been a struggle that since to me this is some insurance in longer term they might even like Yim Che more than samelson to say but he’s a great player you have to take what’s given to you here and to me uh he’d be too much for Buffalo to pass up on next up on number 12 we get the Philadelphia Flyers and I have them selecting another top defenseman here from the University of Denver zeve boam now boam is going to be coming into the nhls at least a one time if not multiple National Champion he’s got good size 6 feet tall 183 um he had just a really really solid season played on Team USA gold medal winning World Junior Team as well very competitive fast player um certainly good in his own end as well but has what many consider Elite offensive skills and talents here which is going to allow him to likely be a top pair or at least top four for sure but I’d say top pair defenseman at the NHL uh who can kind of be relied upon on both ends of the ice so for a team like Philadelphia to get a player like this at 12 I think they’d be a static the 13th overall selection is the Minnesota Wild and I have them selecting Cole Eiserman Eiserman is a player who has a lot of different opinions of him out there some say and I would agree that he has potential to be the top goalscoring forward in this draft has a wicked shot I can score goals there’s no doubt uh but there’s certainly parts of his game that seems to be a bit of a concern really good one-timer uh like I said his shot by far his strongest suit but defensively there’s certainly lots of lots of work to be done you could say uh there’s also some that think um his IQ might not be the highest the way he reads and reacts to plays is something that he needs to kind of get better at and improve upon as well to kind of earn more trust from his coach to uh be responsible out there but eerin has a like I said he might be a one trick pony goal scorer but that’s the hardest thing to do in the NHL and if he can do it in strong bunches like he has at the lower levels then he should still be a great addition to the top six at 14th overall by way of Pittsburgh we have the sharks with their second first rounder and I have them kind of going a little bit of a stretch here but taking defenseman Cole Hudson Hudson is ranked a little bit lower here this would be a small stretch based on rankings but he’s a dynamic player that I think Mike Greer would absolutely love and would certainly have a lot of intel on considering where he’s coming from here he’s going to Boston University in the fall obviously as tyel at school player that he would you know be able to get a lot of easy updates on power play quarterback his obviously Brother Lane went lower than this and he slipped in the draft too and I don’t think that’s going to happen here with Cole he’s not going to slip as much but power play quarterback terrific skater can make himself very elusive to getting away from pressure um you know just the absolute joy to watch a dynamic defenseman for sure uh of course his brother Lane went to beu as well just signed with the Montreal Canadian so they won’t play together uh next here but at the same time Cole Hudson will be able to take over for his brother and have that top spot so to me small stretch but big win for San Jose they get a star forward and top centerman and they can get themselves a top defenseman here as well with the 15th pick we have the Detroit Red Wings and I have them selecting another forward here from the OHL Liam Green Tree now green tree from the Windsor Spitfires has pretty good size 6’2 210 lb uh certainly has potential I think to be a solid top six forward he plays a power style of game obviously his size allows him to do that uh the numbers aren’t quite as big as some of the other forwards ahead of him but still I think there’s lots to like here about his uh about his game and about just the overall makeup of this player I think he’s a player that will likely see NHL games faster than some of the guys that are taking ahead of him I think he’s going to be he’s got the size and the strength already which is obviously something that a lot of these guys have to work at over time uh but I think gream tree here could be a terrific nice solid uh good siiz forward that can play a power style role if fit in well with the Red Wings top six here the number 16th selection bongs to the St Louis Blues and I have them selecting Michael Brans neard now I believe I’ve Had the Blues taken him in previous drops as well and to me he’s just a good fit there and a real solid player for the middle part of the first round uh the Norwegian player played for Norway the world juniors putting up three goals and two assists which was good to see as well his skating has come a long way his speed’s gone to another level over this past year um hardworking player doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff on the ice and the battles on the boards and in the corners uh which is great to see along with a bit of an offensive flare so to me he’s a good mixture of a variety of skill set here can be uh really I think a good utility player here for the blues down the road so those are my top 16 picks for the draft as of right now like I said things in my opinions could change some of these players may end up uh you know in different spots but this is my opinion as of right now so let me know what you think on these prospects in these selections and the fit for each team down in the comments we’ll discuss further if you’re new to the channel of course make sure you subscribe and stick around we’ll keep you up to date with all the other details around a 2024 NHL draft as well as all the news and rumors around all 32 NHL teams thank you very much for watching I’ll catch you next time [Music]

2024 NHL Mock Draft (Top 16)

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