The Draft Analyst: 2024 Mock Draft (Post-Lottery 1-32)

[Steve Kournianos]

2024 NHL Mock Draft: Post-Lottery Edition

The Sharks will take can't-miss prospect Macklin Celebrini to open the 2024 draft, but get ready for some hand-wringing with every pick thereafter.

thedraftanalyst.substack.com

Just remember at least one top-ranked kid from CSB's final list drop every year. Last year it was Wood, Ritchie, and Hameenaho (and Benson to a degree). Before that it was Kemell, LDBB, and Howard. Before that it was a Raty, etc.

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[KickHisAssZegrass]

There's almost no chance the Ducks pick Iginla 3rd.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Tij would be a great pick for Chicago

 

[CallMeShaft]

A goalie at 20th overall? Why do you hate us, Steve?

 

[Juxtaposer]

I have a really hard time seeing the Sharks choose Eiserman with Yakemchuk on the board and us desperately needing defensemen.

 

[BerthMania]

It seems to me like it's your rankings and not your mock draft. For instance, Iginla at 3 might be a justified positioning if we say which player we believe will have a better career, but is it plausible that he's drafted 3rd? He's not close on Bob Mckenzie's list, I've never heard anything about the Ducks scouts particularly loving him. What makes you believe that it's plausible that Iginla goes at 3?

 

[User1996]

Flames will most certainly not pick two defenders in the 1st. Even though I love both defenceman (been touring Zeev as the best D prospect this year since January).

 

[WeThreeKings]

What is this, Reggie?

 

[Hockey Know it all]

No way in H*** the wings select Luchanko with all the other names available lmao.

 

[Castle8130]

This is the wildest mock draft I've seen yet. Almost no way Tij goes top 3 and Catton goes top 5. None the less the Hawks picking a goalie after we picked the first one in last years draft.

I'm pretty sure the Ducks publicly said they are targeting a defenseman. I could be wrong

 

[Gliff]

If the Ducks take Iginla at 3 I will be shocked.

 

[Kearns]

Fun list. Not for it's predictive value, but I liked the surprise pick element. Two lists in one, baby. As others have said, feels more like a ranking than a mock. We will see.

I'm in BC, but Tij going to Calgary feels right. He's first mentioned here in the two spot. I don't see it.

 

[My3Sons]

Lindstrom falling to 12? Hard to see that. But as always thanks for sharing your thoughts. For those that have yet to check out Steve's stuff it's always well produced and thought out.

 

[Guadana]

I was like "cbj? Silayev? Ducks? Iginla? Cmo... Devils are picking Nygard? Its a perfect mock draft."

 

[Kevin Musto]

Almost no way Tij goes top 3

Wouldn't be so sure about that. It's possible.

 

[rt]

People always get so pissy when anyone deviates from the “consensus”. But then the actual draft happens. And it’s always as crazy as any of the “crazy” mock drafts people got offended by.

2024 NHL Mock Draft: Post-Lottery Edition

The Sharks will take can't-miss prospect Macklin Celebrini to open the 2024 draft, but get ready for some hand-wringing with every pick thereafter.

thedraftanalyst.substack.com

Just remember at least one top-ranked kid from CSB's final list drop every year. Last year it was Wood, Ritchie, and Hameenaho (and Benson to a degree). Before that it was Kemell, LDBB, and Howard. Before that it was a Raty, etc.

Fun read. Thanks for unlocking this. I used to really like to read your stuff and listen to your podcast. Unfortunately I have content subscription bankruptcy. Haha if ever you find you can monetize from ads rather than subscriptions, I’ll be happy to consume the content again. I always liked it.

 

[Grinner]

Vanacker would indeed be a surprise pick at14.
The guy is barely a 2nd rounder

 

[DJB]

At this point we are seeing these random people with a website making wild draft predictions just for clicks.

It’s embarrassing

 

[AnThGrt]

At this point we are seeing these random people with a website making wild draft predictions just for clicks.

It’s embarrassing

Anything, but a random individual and website here...

 

[Steve Kournianos]

At this point we are seeing these random people with a website making wild draft predictions just for clicks.

It’s embarrassing

Random people write annual 200-page draft reports and spend 160 hours in three weeks watching film of European junior leagues? Wow. Guess I need to step my game up.
Anyway, enough of you.

Moving on, there is too much front-office turnover to identify trends. Drafting for need is becoming more of a rarity in R1 and teams clearly dont give a shit what fans and analysts think. As expected, draft coverage is an echo chamber where most people stick to a consensus and it’s reflected in mock drafts. f*** that. That doesn’t sound like fun, nor is it realistic on draft day.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Fun list. Not for it's predictive value, but I liked the surprise pick element. Two lists in one, baby. As others have said, feels more like a ranking than a mock. We will see.

I'm in BC, but Tij going to Calgary feels right. He's first mentioned here in the two spot. I don't see it.

Here’s the thing with Iginla — look at the majority of teams in the lottery. The usual suspects and all have loaded systems. The conditions are ripe for Anaheim or New Jersey or Buffalo to trade the pick, and if not, go BPA all the way and in some cases, assume greater risk. I think at least three teams picking ahead of Calgary love Iginla and know the Flames want him, which is why I anticipate a top-5 landing spot.

 

[Peasy]

Zayde Parekh

 

[DJB]

Random people write annual 200-page draft reports and spend 160 hours in three weeks watching film of European junior leagues? Wow. Guess I need to step my game up.
Anyway, enough of you.

Moving on, there is too much front-office turnover to identify trends. Drafting for need is becoming more of a rarity in R1 and teams clearly dont give a shit what fans and analysts think. As expected, draft coverage is an echo chamber where most people stick to a consensus and it’s reflected in mock drafts. f*** that. That doesn’t sound like fun, nor is it realistic on draft day.

Anyone with a website can write anything they want. Doesn’t make them credible.


I also remember you calling me out for my take on Power regarding his questionable hockey IQ.

Take a look at his development and the Sabres forum and most of their complaints regarding him. Seems I was right so far about him as well.

LD Owen Power - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2021 Draft)

Yes, he's probably #1. That said, it's close enough that position will matter. The Sens, for instance, could really use a center and Kent Johnson isn't far behind. Johnson is probably a winger at the NHL level. I really don’t see a forward being taken before Power - personally, I still think...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Steve Kournianos]

It seems to me like it's your rankings and not your mock draft. For instance, Iginla at 3 might be a justified positioning if we say which player we believe will have a better career, but is it plausible that he's drafted 3rd? He's not close on Bob Mckenzie's list, I've never heard anything about the Ducks scouts particularly loving him. What makes you believe that it's plausible that Iginla goes at 3?

1. Ducks never draft Russian leaguers and I think after Demidov and Silayev there is a gap. Could be an ownership thing or a Madden thing, but it’s still a thing.

2. Doubtful you or anyone not working in the NHL scouting community knows what Ducks scouts are thinking.

3. McKenzie’s list after the lock top-4 was slightly off last year. He had Perreault at 10, Simashev at 16, But at 22, Danielson at 16, Willander at 20. Iginla is shooting up all rankings. Even Bob said so. If he’s 10 before the combine and presumably before his scouts saw the U18s, then top-5 is realistic. Someone is going to fall. I think it’s Lindstrom, especially if the top-6 is 3/6 defense

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Anyone with a website can write anything they want. Doesn’t make them credible.


I also remember you calling me out for my take on Power regarding his questionable hockey IQ.

Take a look at his development and the Sabres forum and most of their complaints regarding him. Seems I was right so far about him as well.

LD Owen Power - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2021 Draft)

Yes, he's probably #1. That said, it's close enough that position will matter. The Sens, for instance, could really use a center and Kent Johnson isn't far behind. Johnson is probably a winger at the NHL level. I really don’t see a forward being taken before Power - personally, I still think...

forums.hfboards.com

Self own!!!

“Anyone can write anything on the internet! Doesn’t make them credible. Oh, by the way, here are rando fans on a message board proving my point”