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2024 NHL Mock Draft - Predicting the Top 5 Picks
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Jun 19, 2024
Host Matthew Zator gets together with William Espy (San Jose Sharks), Brooke LoFurno (Chicago Blackhawks), Charlie Hiller (Anaheim Ducks), Mark Scheig (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Ryan Szporer (Montreal Canadiens) to do a mock draft of the top-5 picks in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. THW's 2024 NHL Draft Guide (prospect profiles, rankings, features, top-10 lists & more) - https://thehockeywriters.com/2024-nhl-draft-guide/ Check out our panel's writing: William Espy - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/wespy/ Brooke LoFurno - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/blofurno/ Charlie Hiller - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/chiller/ Mark Scheig - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/mscheig/ Ryan Szporer - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/rszporer/ Follow The Hockey Writers: Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheHockeyWriter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thehockeywriters_ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheHockeyWriters Substack - https://thehockeywriters.substack.com/ Graphics by Vince Richard - https://www.behance.net/vincergraphics
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hello, everybody. Welcome into another draft video here at the Hockey Writers YouTube channel
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as we get ready for the 2024 NHL draft. And we're going to be doing a top five mock with
0:13
our top five teams. And I've got a representative from every team in the top five got William
0:19
Espy covering the San Jose Sharks, Brooklyn Fernal, Chicago Blackhawks. I'm not going
0:24
in order here. I'm just looking who's on here. Mark Shagg for Columbus, Charlie Hiller for
0:28
the Anaheim Ducks and Ryan Sporrer for the Montreal Canadiens. The top five teams in
0:33
this year's draft as we get down to it at the Sphere, which is going to be fun to see
0:39
what how they all kind of do it. But thanks. Thanks, everyone for for joining me on this video
0:45
Yeah, I'm excited. It's gonna be a fun draft, I think. I think so. There's some uncertainty in the top five, apart from Athlon Salabrini, that
0:54
is. But beyond that, there could be some surprising names in the top five. As we we
1:00
found out during the scouting combine, there's some names that weren't anticipated. And we'll
1:05
see if any of them come up in this top five mock. So without further ado, let's get going
1:10
And I'm the commissioners, don't boo me. As we get started the 2024 NHL draft mock. And
1:17
the first overall pick belongs to the San Jose Sharks. I mean, it's pretty clear, right? I think I got to go a Cole Weisman in here. There's
1:25
nobody else who makes sense. So in actuality, we all know Macklin Salabrini is going to
1:33
be a San Jose Shark, as Mike Greer basically said the other day
1:38
Yeah, well, Macklin Salabrini, I think is pretty far gone conclusion that he will be
1:43
in San Jose. So, William, what is he going to bring to the San Jose Sharks? I'm not going
1:49
to ask you why you picked him. But you know, what is he going to bring? Is he the, I don't
1:55
want to say quote unquote, end of the rebuild already. But is it something that he is definitely
2:01
the guy they're going to build around? So yeah, definitely. I think he is going to, everybody was thinking Will Smith was going
2:08
to be that first line center of the future. Now you have Salabrini going into that role
2:12
instead, I would say, which gives you a strong one-two punch. But even behind that, now you
2:17
have Philip Bice that the power forward who can be your third line center of the future
2:20
They're building a really deep center court and Salabrini is going to be the key part of that. I mean, he brings that star power that you need in a rebuild
2:27
You may not be Conor Bedard, but he's still a very high end player who is going to make
2:33
a big difference at the NHL level. And in terms of the rebuild, I wouldn't say it's
2:39
close to finalizing it yet. They have a lot of good forwards who can make an impact, but
2:43
the defense is still very weak in terms of the amount of high end talent. You have Shakir
2:48
Mukomedulan, who's going to be great, it seems. But other than that, you're looking at, I
2:53
would say, maybe fourth, fifth, sixth defensemen are who the rest of your prospects start
2:58
You don't have like a straight number two or straight number three. You kind of need
3:02
to add a few more high end talents back there as well. Yeah, I mean, Salabrini is a great start and I think he definitely number one center. He's
3:11
going to be there. And Will Smith, definitely a good supporter, a supporting player to build
3:17
round two. And yeah, they've got a good foundation, I think, moving forward. But I think their
3:21
defense definitely needs some boosting. We'll see if they do that in this draft. They do
3:25
have another first round pick, so they may end up picking a defenseman down there. We'll
3:30
see how that all plays out. All right. Second overall pick, the Chicago Blackhawks in this position again, not in
3:39
the top three. So Brooke, you're on the clock. Who are the Blackhawks picking here
3:44
So I want to say, first of all, that I think a lot of Blackhawks fans are very like staunchly
3:48
in either team Demidov or team Levchnov. And this is like one pick where I'm like, I'm
3:54
honestly happy if they pick either. I don't think there's a wrong pick, but I was telling
3:57
Mark the other day when I was talking to him, I was like, I will actually fall out of my chair in shock if they do not pick Artem Levchnov just because it just seems like that's the
4:05
way it probably looks like it might go. Yeah. So they get their, I'd say definitely top pairing defenseman. Why would you go a
4:16
defenseman over, you know, a guy like Ivan Demidov? Like you said, this guy's going to
4:21
be a bonafide top line goal scoring winger. You know, they definitely be a good pick too
4:26
but why are you going Levchnov? I think it's more of, it seems like the Blackhawks, they have a lot of defense prospects. They
4:34
have Wyatt Kaiser, they got Alex Flassick, they got Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allen. They
4:38
have a lot of prospects. I don't know. And even Sam Renzel, but I'm not sure how many
4:42
of them they actually think are game breakers. I think they have hope of their potential
4:46
but I'm not sure. Like I said, that they think that there will be game breakers, even though
4:50
that's the hope. So, and I think like we've been talking about all season, that right
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handed defensemen are a hot commodity in the NHL. So it kind of fits a lot of needs there
4:59
One, a really big need to build their defense. And then also, cause it's such a rarity, you
5:03
can't really find it in many places. So it's more like if it falls in their lap, it sounds
5:07
like something that they might do. It seems like they really like big, strong defensemen
5:11
So that's kind of where I'm thinking that's why they might go. Even though I really liked Demi Duff and I think he'll be amazing. And like I said, I don't think there's a wrong
5:17
pick. I'm happy either way. While being the second overall pick, you're getting, you're getting the pick of everyone
5:24
and that's, you know, it's pretty big. I mean, Levchnov is definitely the best defenseman
5:30
in the strapped class. So yeah, I could see Blackhawks picking him too. All right. Third
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overall, Anaheim Ducks. Charlie, who are you picking for the Ducks? I mean, is there going
5:40
to be a surprise here? There has been talk that there could be a name that surprises everyone
5:45
Yeah. I mean, annually, I feel like Anaheim is a bit of a surprise pick. I would say Levchnov
5:51
would be a tremendous pick for the Ducks if he were available. I think the Jamie Drysdale
5:55
trade cut out a right hand, a right shot defenseman that is now sorely needed in the
6:01
roster. I think only Tristan Luneau is like the only, the only right-hand shot that's really
6:06
NHL ready right now. That being said, the, the forward group isn't, is, is far from, far from
6:12
complete. And so I think a guy like Caden Lindstrom really seems like a Pat Verbeek kind of
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type, big power forward, six foot three, kind of follows the same as like Leo Carlson, six foot
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four power forward cutter, goatee, a six foot three power forward. So it just seems like it
6:26
would be par for the course for Anaheim to go with a Caden Lindstrom type. Yeah. Well, Caden
6:31
Lindstrom is a, I mean, he had lost a lot of this season to injury. Yeah. The, the, the back issue
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is the back issue is a big concern, but if he, if he's good and honestly the, the combine sounded
6:44
like he, he did well enough in the combine and if the Ducks aren't concerned, then I'm not concerned
6:50
So definitely would add a lot to the Ducks as depth down the middle. And I mean, that's
6:56
that's something that I think, like you say, the forward group is someone that something that
7:00
could definitely need to still need a boost, even though they've got some great names already
7:06
Right. So, but yeah, great, great pick for the Ducks. I don't know if that's a big surprise
7:11
changing, but he's definitely a top, you know, top five pick. But now the Columbus Blue Jackets
7:17
have got a pretty good day forward available. We'll see if Mark, Mark, who you go in with the
7:22
Columbus Blue Jacks at fourth overall. So do you remember last year when the Ducks took Leo
7:29
Carlson and Adam Fantilli was handed to them on a silver platter in this scenario, the same thing
7:36
would happen to hand the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ivan Demidoff would be handing him on a silver
7:42
platter. And if that's what's on the board, I mean, they'll consider Anton Slayev, they'll
7:49
consider the D, but if Demidoff is there for, especially given that he was just in Florida with
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the Dan Milstein and already replaced six foot one. And reportedly the buzz down there is he's
8:01
going to be in the NHL, not this coming season, but the season after that, which means he could
8:05
be in North America by the end of next season, given all the Russians already on the blue jacket
8:11
So there would be a comfortable bubble that would be a same pick the project would take
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that adopted. Yeah. I mean, that, that'd be a pretty big, especially we've been taught there
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was talk of Demidoff second overall for sure. And now that's not for sure anymore. And, you know
8:28
blue jackets getting tempered off town, I not down, I mean, fourth overall is still pretty high
8:33
but yeah, that, that's a guy that would definitely add a lot to the team. And, you know, blue jackets
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are now very changing franchise. Now, again, a new, new coach coming in a new GM, maybe a new
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direction. So we'll see if Demidoff is the pick at four. All right. Finally, Ryan, you've got the
8:53
fifth overall pick Montreal Canadians, lots of great names still on the board. Who are you going
8:58
with? I think at this point, the Canadians would go with Tisha. I honestly believe they would have
9:07
taken Lindstrom had he still been available. So just based on the chatter and everything
9:13
if they're still picking fifth, though, I think the it's again, love, but if Lindstrom is taken
9:17
I wouldn't put it past Jim can't use to maybe look to trade down and look at taking Beckett's neck
9:26
instead. Because I do believe that they are interested in him as well. But if they're still
9:34
picking five, I think they have no choice but to go with again. And it's, it's, there are a lot of
9:41
high profile, highly talented defenseman still available, obviously, at this point. But I think
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they kind of made their bed when they picked David Ryan backer. Last year at number five overall
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they picked their defenseman, and therefore group needs a lot of work. So I think they have no
10:00
choice but to go forward. And again, I think is the best player available at this stage
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What is again, I'll bring to the I mean, the Canadians prospect pool, because there is quite a
10:12
they've got quite a few good forwards. I got, of course, Nick Suzuki as being that still that
10:18
top line center. How far out do you think again, what is to be contributing to that
10:24
the rebuild as it is right now? Based on what I'm reading right now, just a few years at most one or two years
10:34
I think it's just like the other to their top line set. So it's Nick Suzuki, Cole Caulfield
10:40
and Yura Islevkovsky. Kirby Dock should be the second line center. And they've got Alex Newhook
10:46
who proved himself at center last year, but you know, with Christian Dvorak still there
10:53
With Jake Evans still there, their center, they're pretty much set down the middle for
10:59
next season. So Newhook was probably going to be a winger next season. I'm not suggesting that
11:05
again, love would make the jump directly to the NHL. But it's just, they need help on wing
11:12
especially if New York is eventually going to migrate to the center position, which is a possibility. There's not much beyond, you know, the names I've already mentioned
11:22
I feel like if Josh Anderson had panned out more than he has, all due respect to him
11:30
we might be having a different conversation. But he's kind of progressed to the point where
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he's maybe fourth best right wing option on the team, unfortunately. Yeah, and Brendan Gallagher isn't the player he was
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Again, he's more than a name. I think he's proven that with the playoffs he had. So he brings
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effectively, much new goal scoring to a team that if I remember correctly, finished 26th last year
12:01
in the goal scoring. Yeah, I think again, let's he's been a big riser. Now it's I don't know if
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anyone's talking about him as a top five pick. I mean, rankings were around that maybe the Calgary
12:12
Flames area, which is nine and I don't think they're going to like it that he's not going to
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be available at nine. I think he will be going in this range. So on that note, quickly, I'll start
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with you, Mark. What do you think about this top five? Is this something that you could could see
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on draft day? Is this the top five? Yeah, I definitely could. I mean, there's a couple guys
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that could make a run at it like the booyah somebody that I think could slip into the top
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five, especially with the Anaheim pick. That would be a great story because he's from California
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actually right near Anaheim. So if he's able to make that a hometown story, you know, there's a
12:53
lot of there's some Souths out there that believe that he can be one of the best defensemen in this
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draft and is already a 200 foot player. So he could slip in. Suleev could slip in, being six
13:05
foot seven as well. So while a couple guys could make the top five, that seems pretty reasonable
13:12
The Iginla thing, I think he's being a little bit underrated. And if the board follows that way
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I agree with what Ryan's saying that Montreal would very much consider him in that spot
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It's very possible it could play out that way one way or another. William, what do you think? Do you think this is a good top five or do you see some changes here
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I would say based on the information we had here, it seems definitely like a good top five
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Personally, I don't have specific names, but knowing these managers, I feel like there might
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be one surprise that's bigger than we projected here. But like I said, it's a surprise. So there's
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not really a way to predict it. We've seen it so many times in the past, but you just never know
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what's going to happen. But I would say based on the information we have, this definitely makes
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sense to me. Yeah. Brooke, what do you think about this top five? Is this something that could happen
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Yeah, I think from last year, I think it's interesting because everyone
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in the last year was so set. Everyone knew that it really mattered. Those were the top four
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And this year, I feel like what you were just talking about, I didn't see what was going to
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go on on the draft floor. Yeah, we always see at least one surprise. I mean, like you say
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the Leo Carlson one, no one anticipated that. Everyone was saying Fantilli was second overall
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it's going to happen. Then Anaheim goes, no, we like Leo Carlson better
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Charlie, do you think that could happen where Anaheim messes this top five up
14:57
Absolutely. I've seen Anton Slaev, I've seen Sam Dickinson, I've seen Carter Yakinchuk
15:02
like you name it. I've seen that person going three in some mock draft. The amount of variance
15:09
is absurd. And like for this mock draft, I think it all feels good. It all sounds good
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Four forwards and one defenseman in like a notoriously deep defensive class doesn't feel
15:20
right. But this all feels right. I don't know. It's true. I mean, so many defenseman stole the
15:26
board and and only one went in this top five. So yeah, yeah, like we talked about the boom being
15:34
potentially being a top five pick. Yeah, I don't know. We'll find out. But thanks, guys
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for coming on this mock draft. We'll see if we come back on June 29. And this is the top five
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or we see a surprise name in there. But make sure to check out all of our stuff, talkers.com
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From everyone here on the panel, I got draft coverage for every team. The targets I know
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Charlie, you've got the Ducks team has a bunch of target pieces out mentioning a lot of these
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names. So check all that out. We've got all of our coverage on the site. And of course
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the substack has that as well. But make sure checking out all of our videos as we keep going
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counting down to the draft, which is just a few days away. So stay tuned and we'll see you next time
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