The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft is in the books.
The Sphere in Las Vegas was the site for the first 32 selections of this year’s entry-level draft, where a number of prospects had their dreams come true, hearing their name called by an NHL organization.
As is the case every year, there were winners, and there were losers. Some clubs made out like kings, landing a prized possession as a building block for the future. Other teams made puzzling decisions when their time came to pick a player.
Who won the first round of the draft, and who will be looking back with disappointment? Here are The Sporting News’ winners and losers for Round 1 of the 2024 NHL Draft.
2024 NHL DRAFT: RESULTS | GRADES
Winners, losers of 2024 NHL Draft
Winner: Beckett Sennecke
When the Ducks announced their selection of Beckett Sennecke at No. 3, everyone in the Sphere was stunned, but no one was more surprised than Sennecke himself.
Beckett Sennecke was SHOCKED when his name was called by the Ducks at #3 overall 👀 pic.twitter.com/JsmBcSalf8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 28, 2024
The Oshawa center was expected to be a fringe top-10 candidate. Instead, he heard his name taken third overall. It’s hard not to find a bigger individual winner than Sennecke.
Loser: Anaheim Ducks
While Sennecke was a winner for going higher than expected, the other side of the coin is a puzzling decision by the Ducks. As mentioned, Sennecke was projected to potentially go in the top 10, but no one thought he’d enter the top five. Instead, he goes in the top three with Anaheim taking the Oshawa center.
He’s a big winger who brings a different skillset than the other forwards that Anaheim has in its deep prospect pool. The Ducks are overflowing with young talent, so if there’s a club that can afford a riskier pick in the first round, it’s them. Still, passing on the likes of Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, Zeev Buium, and others is a head-scratching decision by Pat Verbeek.
MORE: Best prospects available for Day 2 of 2024 NHL Draft
Winner: Minnesota Wild
Zeev Buium had no business falling out of the top 10. The University of Denver defenseman went unselected until the Wild moved up one spot to take Buium at No. 12, and it may end up being the steal of the draft.
There is a chance that Buium ends up being the best blue-liner in the draft. He handles the puck with ease, he works a blue line better than most his age, and he’s dangerous in 1-on-1 attacks. Buium’s skating is a big part of why he’s successful, and he has all the tools to excel at the NHL level.
A blue line consisting of Buium and Brock Faber for the foreseeable future? Yes, please. This was a slam dunk pick for the Wild.
Loser: Flames/Iginla fans
Oh, what could have been. For Flames fans, there was the possibility of an Iginla Era 2.0 starting tonight, as Tij Iginla, the son of longtime Calgary captain Jarome Iginla, was one of the top prospects in the draft class. With the Flames holding the No. 9 pick, there was a good chance that they would land the kin of their former star.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Utah used its first-ever draft selection on Iginla, bringing the talented center to the NHL’s newest franchise. The Flames ended up with Zayne Parekh at No. 9, the offensive defenseman from Saginaw, which is a great consolation prize. Still, it’s understandable if Calgary fans were a bit disappointed that Iginla wasn’t made a Flame.
MORE: Everything to know about Tij Iginla and his relation to Jarome Iginla
Winner: San Jose Sharks
The Sharks already were set to walk away as winners of the draft when they won the No. 1 pick and got the right to take Macklin Celebrini first overall. He immediately gives them a franchise No. 1, and the duo of him and Will Smith should be deadly.
But San Jose wasn’t done. Somehow, Sam Dickinson fell out of the top 10, and the Sharks made the smart decision to take him at No. 11. The London defenseman is as well-rounded of a prospect as they come and projects to be a steady, top-pairing option at the pro level. He gives the Sharks a great prospect on the blue line. Well done, Mike Grier.
MORE: Explaining Macklin Celebrini and his family’s connection to the Golden State Warriors
Loser: Ottawa Senators
I’ll start by saying Carter Yakemchuk is a solid pick. The offensive defenseman selected No. 7 overall was viewed in the top group of defensemen in the class and had a chance to go in the top 10. He should be a great option for the Senators’ blue line, and in a different reality, he would have made the most sense given where Ottawa was in the draft.
However, the Senators passed up on taking other defensemen viewed in a higher regard than Yakemchuk. Zeev Buium, Sam Dickinson, Anton Silayev, and Zayne Parekh all made more sense to take at No. 7 than Yakemchuk. With a run on forwards early, it gave Ottawa the option to take its pick of the litter for the blue line. Yakemchuk may end up being a solid pick, but it’s hard not to feel as though some of the other prospects have higher ceilings than the newest Senators selection.
Winner: Montreal Canadiens
Sitting at No. 5, the Canadiens’ draft strategy could have gone in a number of different directions. Instead, the decision was practically made for them.
Montreal landed Ivan Demidov fifth overall, as the Russian winger was passed over by the Blackhawks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets. When the prospect is dubbed the second coming of Nikita Kucherov, it’s a slam dunk of a pick. Demidov possesses immense offensive skill, and he could be the game-changer that the Habs have been looking for in their rebuild. If Buium is the steal to the Wild, then Demidov to the Canadiens is a close runner-up.
MORE: Singer Celine Dion makes surprise appearance to announce Canadiens’ draft pick
Loser: Fans of the draft
Having the 2024 NHL Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas was incredibly cool, offering a different in-person experience than the normal venue. With that said, it’s hard not to feel bittersweet considering it’s the final draft where all the teams will be in one location.
After this year, the NHL is electing to go to a virtual format. Rather than having all 32 clubs work the draft floor, the personnel all will be in their respective “war rooms” around North America. It’s one of the few things unique to the NHL and makes for a better viewing experience. It’s a shame that the format will be taken away starting in 2025.
Winner: Norway
History was made on Friday night, as Michael Brandsegg-Nygard became the first Norwegian-born player to be selected in the first round, taken by the Red Wings at No. 15 overall.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygärd is the FIRST Norwegian ever selected in the first round of the NHL Draft 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/1WuP2Sih3X
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 29, 2024
Eight picks later, another Norwegian was taken off the board, as the Ducks traded up to No. 23 to select defenseman Stian Solberg, becoming the second player from the country selected in the first round.
Great night for Norwegian hockey.🇳🇴 Stian Solberg has been selected by Anaheim Ducks as the second player from Norway in the first #NHLDraft round.💪 @norskishockey @anaheimducks pic.twitter.com/oOuDLCbgqL
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 29, 2024
It marked a great night for Norway hockey, which has improved and expanded over the years.
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