Scout Survey: The biggest hits and misses from the 2024 NHL Draft
The 2024 NHL Draft is behind us, but the debate rages on.
Who won the draft? Which picks were the biggest hits? Which missed the mark?
We enlisted the help of nine of our scouts — Donesh Mazloum (Western Canada), Mike Kennedy (Ontario), Nathaniel Duffett (Quebec), Kyle Pereira (United States), Erik Sjolund (Sweden), Arttu Myllymaki (Finland), Jake Janso (Russia), Samuel Tirpak (Central Europe), and David Phillips (Goaltending) — to answer some burning questions coming out of the 2024 draft.
Welcome to our post-draft scout survey.
Who was the biggest steal from your region at the 2024 draft?
MAZLOUM: Adam Jecho at the end of the third round, at No. 95 to the St. Louis Blues, feels like excellent value for a player I considered as an early second round selection. He plays a pro-style game with size and finesse and I think his offensive profile has more growth coming and will translate well to higher levels.
KENNEDY: I believe Liam Greentree was a pretty big steal later in the first round at No. 26 to the Los Angeles Kings. I anticipated that he would go in the middle of the first round. He projects to become an impactful player at the NHL level and I think he will do just that. LA should feel fortunate that he was still available when it was their turn to pick.
DUFFETT: Justin Poirier, at No. 156 to the Carolina Hurricanes, will be the envy of a lot of teams in a few years. It isn’t easy to teach Poirier’s goal-scoring prowess, and it feels like a team should’ve drafted a 51-goal scorer sooner despite some concerns about his game.
PEREIRA: Mac Swanson at No. 207 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s undersized, no doubt about it, but his IQ is off the charts. His ability to read and anticipate plays offensively is very high end, and he produced well in the USHL because of it. His college progression must be watched closely, but if he can translate his skill to a higher level, watch out.
SJOLUND: I wouldn’t say there were any clear steals from the Swedish region this year but personally, I think that Linus Eriksson at No. 58 to the Florida Panthers is great value since I believe he has the two-way intelligence, puck protection skills and work ethic to fit in any role on the lineup. He showed that he can be as effective against men as against junior players and he improved a lot during this season. I am confident that he will become a mainstay NHLer down the line.
MYLLYMAKI: This one’s a no-brainer. I think that the whole hockey community was surprised that Aron Kiviharju was left on the board until No. 122 to the Minnesota Wild. He is undoubtedly one of the smartest prospects of this draft class, great puck-mover and a breakout machine. He’s very likely a top-four defenseman at some point who can run a power-play unit.
JANSO: Normally this is fairly tough, but Igor Chernyshov fell to the San Jose Sharks at No. 33. This was shocking but the Sharks got incredible value out of this pick with a potential top-six winger who’s already playing well in the KHL.
TIRPAK: Miroslav Holinka to me is an example of a team, in this case the Toronto Maple Leafs, recognizing what they are looking for in a player and executing in selecting him before anybody else gets to him in their boards.
PHILLIPS: While I think most goalies were picked in a somewhat reasonable range, Eemil Vinni being the fifth goalie off the board was an awesome pick from the Edmonton Oilers. Ranked as my top goalie, I think Vinni has the highest upside in this draft from a goaltending standpoint. If works on his consistency I can see a very good goalie for years to come for Edmonton.
Who was the biggest reach, in your mind, at the 2024 draft?
MAZLOUM: Seeing Logan Sawyer‘s name called early in the third round was certainly an eyebrow-raiser for me. He is skilled and poised with possession but question marks about his skating had me far lower on him. He’s a long term project but the Montreal Canadiens can afford to be patient and hope he shores up his weaknesses as he heads to the NCAA ranks.
KENNEDY: I feel strongly that Jett Luchanko being selected No. 13 by the Philadelphia Flyers was one of the biggest reaches at the draft. He is a player I saw being taken in the late first round to early second but I did not expect him to go as early as he did. Luchanko is a solid prospect with some nice attributes but I have my doubts that he will put up the value of an early first round selection.
DUFFETT: The Tampa Bay Lightning had a busy second day at the draft, and taking Jan Golicic at No. 118th was one of their strangest moves. We had him ranked 100 spots later, and he has the raw tools to prove us wrong after some development, but the Lightning could have gotten him much later with their picks at No. 128, No. 149, or possibly even No. 181.
PEREIRA: Dean Letourneau at No. 25 by the Boston Bruins. I get it, he’s big, skates well, and lit up AAA hockey last season. But he played AAA hockey and didn’t really stand out in any big way at his two USHL games. It’s a massive leap to the NCAA with Boston College, so he’s another guy that has to be monitored. But it’s a big reach in the first round for my liking.
SJOLUND: I believe that Gabriel Eliasson can become a good defenseman. His size and skating are great attributes to build around, but I believe that he struggles to get the most out of his tools and his actions and I think he needs to learn to play to his strengths better to become more effective on the ice. Before I see that, I won’t value him as a top-40 pick the same way the Ottawa Senators did to take him at No. 39.
MYLLYMAKI: On this side there wasn’t that big of a surprise, but I think that Kasper Pikkarainen at No. 85 to the New Jersey Devils went a little too high and would’ve been available also in later rounds. The size is on his side and there’s some elements to like on his game, like playmaking, but still I would’ve picked him later. He is quite versatile player without major weaknesses or strengths, and I think it’s quite fair to expect him to be a third liner in NHL on one day. I’d like to see him working on his defence and decision-making to make better and more safe plays with the puck.
JANSO: With pick No. 22 the Nashville Predators selected one of my favorite prospects in this class, Yegor Surin. This is definitely a reach, considering he was selected before Chernyshov, but it’s one I fully support as Surin is a true maestro with the puck.
TIRPAK: From my region, there really isn’t a particular one, but if there has to be a name I would go with Leon Muggli — and not necessarily because he is bad, but I’d think he would be available a little later for what he provides. There are serious risks there, however, upside is good for the Washington Capitals at No. 52.
PHILLIPS: I was not a fan of the Calgary Flames taking Kirill Zarubin at No. 84. A guy I once had higher on my board moved down significantly throughout the year for me. His lack of technicality and control really brings down his value as a prospect to me, and I don’t think he warrants a third rounder at all.
Which pick seems to fit his new team best from your region in the 2024 draft?
MAZLOUM: Tarin Smith to the Anaheim Ducks in the third round felt right for both player and team alike. The Ducks have earned a reputation for developing smooth skating and skilled defenseman into responsible two-way threats and I think Smith has the profile to follow in those footsteps.
KENNEDY: Nathan Villeneuve is a player from my region that I feel fits extremely well with his new team. The Seattle Kraken add a versatile forward at No. 63 with a very high level of compete. He projects to develop into a useful middle-six forward and helps diversify the current crop of prospects within the Kraken’s system at the forward position.
DUFFETT: Maxim Masse went much later than expected, but he landed perfectly with Anaheim at No. 66. Masse would never be a play driver at the pro level. However, the young talent he could be surrounded by in Anaheim will make him a significant contributor when he finally lands in Orange County. He was one of three QMJHL players taken by the Ducks.
PEREIRA: I’m inclined to say Zeev Buium with the Wild at No. 12. Between him and Brock Faber, they have two potentially elite elite defenders. Buium is electrifying in the offensive zone and Faber is a rock defensively with lots of offensive ability that he unlocked over the last couple years. Special blue line brewing in Minnesota.
SJOLUND: Stian Solberg to the Ducks at No. 23 felt like a great match right of the bat. I think the Ducks have added some great offensive talent over the last couple of years with the likes of Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson up front and Pavel Mintyukov on defense. Solberg plays with an edge and brings defensive stability to the Ducks which adds some balance to the future of their organization.
MYLLYMAKI: For a long time, Dallas Stars has made a great job finding excellent players that fit well in their team whether it’s a late first-round or even later round pick. This year they added another player to join their Finnish crew when selecting Emil Hemming at No. 29. He is a great power forward with some pure goalscoring ability. I can clearly see a place for him in Dallas’ lineup in a couple of years also offering a one-timer threat to their power play on the left point. I wouldn’t be too surprised if this pick turned out to be one of the biggest steals in the first round.
JANSO: The Hurricanes picked a lot of solid players from Russia but the one I like for them the most is Alexander Siryatsky at No. 124, a defenseman I’ve been a big fan of this year. Siryatsky projects as a versatile two-way defenseman who may require a bit more work and time to fully realize his potential, which the Hurricanes seem aware of.
TIRPAK: Holinka in Toronto. The types that seem to go along further in Toronto are the smart two-way types that provide more than just one thing and boy oh boy, is he that. I think with the Leafs post-draft development quality in forwards, he could be a factor into NHL plans within the next four or five years.
PHILLIPS: Early in the second round at No. 38 was a bit high for my liking when it comes to Ilya Nabokov, but I love the fit with the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado lacks a top goalie prospect and also lacks in goaltending as a whole, so going out and getting an older prospect in Nabokov, who is already 21, could find himself slotting into the Avalanche’s opening day lineup as soon as next season.
Who were you surprised to see go unselected from your region?
MAZLOUM: I wouldn’t say I was particularly surprised by any of the unselected players in my region. My top -anked players who went undrafted, Jesse Heslop, Josh Zakreski, and Gavin Hodnett are all undersized forwards with question marks in their ability to translate to the highest levels. Small forwards without unimpeachable skill level are often casualties at the NHL draft table.
KENNEDY: I was definitely surprised to see that Frankie Marrelli of the Ottawa 67’s was not selected at the 2024 draft. I felt he displayed enough skill and well-rounded ability to earn a selection this year. Hopefully this adds fuel to his fire and he really starts to shine over the next two seasons in the OHL .
DUFFETT: Thomas Desruisseaux had some flaws in his game this season, but I thought a team would take him on as a project. He was often the fastest on the ice and demonstrated elite playmaking skills despite too many turnovers on overzealous passes. I’d take a guy with the self-confidence to make those passes rather than someone afraid of the moment.
PEREIRA: Brendan McMorrow. He has good size, a good motor. Flashes some puck skill with a heavy shot. Wasn’t anticipating a high pick, but expected someone to take a chance on the kind of player he is. Landon Resendes was another one, he ranked higher on my board but I’m a bit less surprised. Excellent skater with good hands, he has some upside. But the size factor played a role. Still, expected someone to bank on upside there.
SJOLUND: Alexander Zetterberg. Yes, there are some question marks surrounding him regarding if he will be able to translate his game to the senior level and be as effective as in the juniors, but he is very talented, and I am surprised that no organization took a swing on him.
MYLLYMAKI: Even though I’m not a big fan of Daniel Nieminen because of some defensive issues and concerns, I was sure some organization was going to shoot their shot on him somewhere on the sixth or seventh rounds. If he can add another layer on his offensive game, especially in the offensive zone, and make a huge bounce on the defensive side, he’ll be selected next year.
JANSO: Artyom Shchuchinov was a player I was hoping someone would take a swing on, but unfortunately no one did. He’s a cerebral defender who excels at finding his teammates in space and played in the KHL all season.
TIRPAK: Tomas Galvas. His size is a concern, he is a great skater, some potential raw two-way qualities, but mostly a high-upside, low-floor offense-based defender. That surprised me a lot, because teams often snatch up these guys due to potential.
PHILLIPS: I was led to believe that Samuel St-Hilaire’s solid play for Sherbrooke as well as his Team Canada selection for the World Juniors would put him on a team’s board, and I was surprised to see him remain undrafted. St-Hilaire’s technical ability and control of the game from the crease is recognizable, and I thought he was a sure-fire mid-to-late round goalie selection.
Which NHL team, in your mind, had the best draft?
MAZLOUM: It feels like a bit of a copout to pick the team with the first overall pick but it’s hard to look past the haul that the Sharks came away with. With Macklin Celebrini and Sam Dickinson they have added top-line and top-pairing weapons, Chernyshov and Leo Sahlin Wallenius are great value where they were selected and project as nice secondary pieces. Carson Wetsch, Colton Roberts, and Nate Misskey are all WHL skaters that I think are tailor made for lower line depth roles with development, and they finished off the draft with two goaltending prospects to boot. It would not shock me to see a half-dozen of their picks become full time NHLers and I think San Jose nailed it both in the individual players they drafted and the roles they drafted for. If they had taken Buium over Dickinson it may have been a perfect draft for me.
KENNEDY: The easiest answer is that the Sharks knocked it out of the park and had the best draft. They absolutely added many nice pieces and the future is looking bright. However, I also feel that the Kraken had a great draft. They were able to add to their stockpile of prospects with top-six forward potential and addressed some of their needs for defense and goaltending.
DUFFETT: The Canadiens could’ve passed on the rest of their picks after the first three and had one of the best drafts. Ivan Demidov will prove to be a steal at fifth overall, and Michael Hage played like a top-10 talent in the second half of the season after getting through some personal grief. The Canadiens taking Aatos Koivu, Saku’s son, was just a bonus and the cherry on top in the third round.
PEREIRA: It’s a bit redundant, but the Sharks. It’s hard to not like their class with Celebrini and Dickinson at the top of it all. But to then add Chernyshov, Sahlin Wallenius and Wetsch later in the draft added not just a cherry on top, but sprinkles and chocolate drizzle too.
SJOLUND: I’m impressed with what San Jose came away with. Not just because they got the best player in the draft but Dickinson at No. 11, Chernyshov at No. 33 and Sahlin Wallenius at No. 53 all seem like great value picks. An honorable mention to the Wild who walked away with Buium at No. 12 who I had ranked in the top-5, and also Ryder Ritchie and Kiviharju who both went later than projected.
MYLLYMAKI: Any team with high pick like San Jose or Montreal would be too boring answer, doesn’t it? I think Wild had the best draft. They added some quality, high-ceiling defensemen in their system with picks like Buium, Kiviharju and Sebastian Soini. And also, in addition to these they got Richie with the No. 45 pick who is maybe one of the top-10 or so most skilled players in the draft. With not many picks Wild was able to hit great, good-value players, who should turn around NHLers, some of them in a big role and someone in a smaller role.
JANSO: The Sharks really nailed it this year with their draft. Obviously, it’s hard to miss with Celebrini at No. 1 but landing Dickinson, Chernyshov, and Sahlin Wallenius gives them four players with real NHL upside.
TIRPAK: Sharks and the New York Islanders. The Sharks selected great players later than I expected. Mainly looking at Dickinson and Chernyshov as examples of this. New York selected a bunch of players I really liked and who are excellent depth picks for a team that looks to contend. Getting Cole Eiserman at No. 20 is a robbery, in my opinion. Excellent decisions all throughout the draft, some potential steals on both ends.
PHILLIPS: I really liked what the Wild got done this year. Buium at No. 12 was an awesome pick, trading up one spot to secure a hopeful future d-partner for Faber. They followed it up with a nice value pick in Ritchie at No. 45. Ritchie’s flashes of brilliance are enough to have me convinced that he’s a valuable player for the mid-second round. Kiviharju at No. 122 is a nice upside pick, betting on his hockey IQ and passing abilities with a mid-rounder is perfectly fine by me.