The NHL offseason is now in full swing with the 2024 NHL Draft getting underway on Friday evening in Las Vegas.
After winning the draft lottery last month, the San Jose Sharks kicked off the festivities by selecting Boston University star Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick. The Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild after trading veteran players like Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl over the past year.
Celebrini was the youngest player in college hockey this past season at just 17 years old. That didn’t seem to play too much of a factor as Celebrini became the youngest player to ever win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in Division I. The talented center racked up 64 points (32 goals & 32 assists) in 38 games during his freshman season at Boston University.
In fact, he was the only player to tally 30+ goals and 30+ assists in Division I. His 1.7 goals-per-game were the second-most in Division I behind Boston College standout and future Sharks teammate Will Smith
Following Celebrini going to the Sharks, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick. Levshunov tallied 35 points (nine goals and 26 assists) in 38 games for the Spartans this past season. Levshunov had the second-most points-per-game (0.94) among NCAA defensemen, which is more than the likes of Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, and Noah Hanifin in their draft year.
In what could be described as the first surprise of the draft, Oshawa (OHL) winger Beckett Sennecke was taken by the Anaheim Ducks. The Columbus Blue Jackets, who reportedly turned down multiple trade offers for the No. 4 selection, selected Medicine Hat (WHL) forward Cayden Lindstrom with the pick. The Montreal Canadiens rounded out the top five by nabbing SKA St. Petersburg Jr. winger Ivan Demidov at No. 5.
CBS Sports will have you covered with all of the action from Las Vegas throughout the night.
How to watch the 2024 NHL Draft
- Date: Friday, June 28 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Sphere — Las Vegas
- TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)
Round 1
1. San Jose Sharks — Macklin Celebrini (C, Boston University, NCAA)
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Artyom Levshunov (D, Michigan State, NCAA)
3. Anaheim Ducks — Beckett Sennecke (RW, Oshawa, OHL)
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Cayden Lindstrom (C, Medicine Hat, WHL)
5. Montreal Canadiens — Ivan Demidov (RW, SKA St. Petersburg Jr., MHL)
6. Utah Hockey Club
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Calgary Flames
10. New Jersey Devils
11. San Jose Sharks
12. Philadelphia Flyers
13. Minnesota Wild
14. Buffalo Sabres
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. St. Louis Blues
17. Washington Capitals
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Vegas Golden Knights
20. New York Islanders
21. Montreal Canadiens
22. Nashville Predators
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
24. Colorado Avalanche
25. Boston Bruins
26. Los Angeles Kings
27. Carolina Hurricanes
28. Calgary Flames
29. Dallas Stars
30. New York Rangers
31. Anaheim Ducks
32. Philadelphia Flyers
The NHL Draft is one of the most exciting events in the hockey world, as teams have the opportunity to select top prospects to add to their rosters. The 2024 NHL Draft is no exception, with the San Jose Sharks making a splash by selecting Macklin Celebrini as the No. 1 overall pick.
The draft is set to take place on June 21, 2024, with the start time scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The event will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and will be broadcast live on television and online for fans to follow along.
The draft order is determined by the reverse order of the previous season’s standings, with the worst-performing teams having the highest picks. The Sharks, who finished at the bottom of the standings in the 2023-2024 season, earned the coveted No. 1 overall pick.
Macklin Celebrini, a highly-touted prospect from Canada, is a dynamic forward known for his speed, skill, and scoring ability. The Sharks saw great potential in Celebrini and decided to make him their top pick in the draft.
As the draft progresses, teams will have the opportunity to make their selections in each round, with a total of seven rounds taking place over two days. The draft results will be updated in real-time, allowing fans to see which players are chosen by their favorite teams.
The NHL Draft is not only an exciting time for teams and players, but also for fans who eagerly anticipate seeing how their team’s roster will be shaped for the upcoming season. With the Sharks selecting Macklin Celebrini as the No. 1 overall pick, there is sure to be plenty of buzz and excitement surrounding the team as they look to build for the future.
