NHL Mock Draft 2024: Order of Selections and 1st-Round Predictions

The 2023-24 NHL season is complete. The Florida Panthers are the Stanley Cup champions. And now, it's time for the offseason to go into full swing.

That also means the 2024 NHL draft is just around the corner. The two-day event will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend, with the first round taking place Friday and the final six rounds occurring Saturday.

The San Jose Sharks own the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history. They previously had the No. 2 selection three times (1991, 1996, 1997), but they've never been the NHL team to be on the clock first at the draft.

Here's a look at the full selection order for the first round of the 2024 draft, along with predictions for each of those 32 picks.

1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State University

3. Anaheim Ducks: Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg

4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers

5. Montreal Canadiens: Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

6. Utah Hockey Club: Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw Spirit

7. Ottawa Senators: Sam Dickinson, LHD, London Knights

8. Seattle Kraken: Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver

9. Calgary Flames: Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals

10. New Jersey Devils: Tij Iginla, C/LW, Kelowna Rockets

11. Buffalo Sabres: Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs

12. Philadelphia Flyers: Konsta Helenius, C, HIFK

13. Minnesota Wild: Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen

14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins): Stian Solberg, LHD, Valerenga

15. Detroit Red Wings: Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP

16. St. Louis Blues: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora IK

17. Washington Capitals: Adam Jiricek, RHD, HC Plzen

18. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders): Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel

19. Vegas Golden Knights: Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm

20. New York Islanders (via Tampa Bay Lightning): Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks

21. Los Angeles Kings: Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City Storm

22. Nashville Predators: Sam O'Reilly, C, London Knights

23. Toronto Maple Leafs: Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow

24. Colorado Avalanche: Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires

25. Ottawa Senators (via Boston Bruins): Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie Colts

26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets): Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew's College

27. Carolina Hurricanes: Dominik Badinka, RHD, Malmo Redhawks

28. Calgary Flames (via Vancouver Canucks): Cole Hutson, LHD, U.S. NTDP

29. Dallas Stars: Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders

30. New York Rangers: Egor Surin, C, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

31. Anaheim Ducks (via Edmonton Oilers): Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon Wheat Kings

32. Philadelphia Flyers (via Florida Panthers): Adam Kleber, RHD, Lincoln Stars

Some years, it's not obvious which player will get taken No. 1 overall in the draft. However, it's fairly clear how the event will begin in 2024.

It would be quite a surprise if the Sharks don't use the franchise's first No. 1 pick on Macklin Celebrini, an 18-year-old forward who plays for Boston University. He's widely considered the top player in this year's draft class, and he has the potential to become a star in the NHL.

What makes Celebrini this year's best prospect? The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently wrote a simple breakdown:

"He is one of the few players I've seen without a true flaw," Pronman wrote. "He's a great skater, puck handler, passer, shooter and competitor. He looks like a no-doubt two-way star center."

Celebrini had a remarkable first season at Boston University, recording 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games. The Vancouver native became only the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award (given to the top NCAA player each season), and he did so as the youngest player in college hockey.

San Jose needs a player like Celebrini to build around. The Sharks have missed the playoffs each of the past five seasons, and they only won 19 games during the 2023-24 campaign, as they trended in the wrong direction.

With Celebrini in the fold, the Sharks should move one big step closer to having success again.

The NHL draft can often be unpredictable. While Celebrini to San Jose at No. 1 seems to be as close to a lock as possible, there's much uncertainty regarding how the rest of the opening round could unfold. It's not even clear who Chicago will take at No. 2.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler shared that the Blackhawks like the trio of Artyom Levshunov, Cayden Lindstrom and Anton Silayev. Wheeler also listed Ivan Demidov in the mix. Each of those four players should get drafted fairly early.

But it could make the most sense for Chicago to select Levshunov, an 18-year-old out of Michigan State University. The right-handed defenseman had an impressive debut season for the Spartans, as he tallied nine goals and 26 assists in 40 games from the blue line.

Demidov and Lindstrom could end up going to Anaheim and Columbus, respectively. Or that could be flipped, or one of them could go to the Blackhawks at No. 2. There are quite a few possibilities for how the board unfolds.

But these are all talented players who should have bright futures. And these franchises that are position to land the top prospects should all benefit in the long run.