The 2024 NHL Draft weekend is within the books, and it was a busy few days in Sin Metropolis. Not solely had been the longer term stars of the NHL drafted, however groups had been wheeling and dealing behind the scenes.
Just a few golf equipment have to be ok with how the weekend went, particularly the Montreal Canadiens. They acquired one of the highly-coveted gamers on the prime of the primary spherical, and their already sturdy prospect pool seems to be even higher because of this. Along with the Canadiens, the Utah Hockey Membership seems to be much more formidable than it did on Friday morning.
On the opposite aspect of the coin, not everybody was fairly so fortunate. Zeev Buium, one of many prime prospects within the draft, needed to wait just a little longer than anticipated earlier than listening to his title. The Tampa Bay Lightning additionally continued their curious offseason with one other questionable commerce.
Let’s take a deeper have a look at the most important winners and losers from the 2024 NHL Draft weekend.
This was a simple one. The Sharks had been at all times going to be a winner the second they received the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery. With the No. 1 total choose, San Jose chosen Boston College star Macklin Celebrini. Simply 18 years outdated, Celebrini simply tallied 32 objectives and 32 assists in 38 video games with the Terriers. Whether or not Celebrini will make his NHL debut subsequent season continues to be to be decided, however he offers Sharks basic supervisor Mike Grier a cornerstone piece for the rebuild. Now San Jose has a powerful prospect pool with a possible celebrity on the prime.
Loser: Zeev Buium
Within the lead-up to the 2024 NHL Draft, quite a few mock drafts projected Buium going within the prime 10 picks, generally as excessive as No. 5 total. As a substitute, Buium inexplicably fell to the Minnesota Wild at No. 12 total. Maybe some groups had been fearful about Buium’s measurement. At 6 ft and 186 kilos, Buium was just a little smaller than a few of his fellow defensemen on this draft class. The excellent news for Buium is that, in contrast to in different sports activities, the College of Denver defenseman did not lose cash with every passing draft slot. In addition to, going to the Wild could also be scenario for him. Buium simply winds up within the loser class as a result of he was one of the notable fallers of the primary spherical, and his satisfaction might need been just a little bruised.
Winner: Minnesota Wild
That brings us to the Wild, who acquired possibly the most important steal of the primary spherical after Buium fell to them exterior the highest 10. Minnesota already has Brock Faber, the 2024 Calder Trophy runner-up on its blue line, and including now the staff might need its prime pairing for a really very long time. Buium has already proven loads of celebrity potential on the school stage. Final season, Buium posted 11 objectives and 39 assists in 42 video games whereas main Denver to a nationwide championship. Buium might not have been thrilled together with his tumble, however the Wild certain had been.
Loser: Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lighting did not land within the loser class because of their draft picks. They simply made a curious commerce over the weekend, and it left me scratching my head just a little bit. Tampa despatched 26-year-old defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Membership in alternate for J.J. Moser, Conor Geekie, a second-round choose and a fourth-round choose. I perceive the reasoning behind why the Bolts made this deal. They wanted to unlock wage cap area to signal both Jake Guentzel or Steven Stamkos, and Sergachev carries an $8.5 million cap hit. Nonetheless, was delivery Sergachev the neatest technique to unlock area?
Sergachev continues to be comparatively younger and has confirmed he could be a No. 1 defenseman. In the meantime, Tampa already reacquired 35-year-old Ryan McDonagh and his $6.75 million cap hit earlier this summer time. Tampa has now been eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs in two straight seasons, and the staff is simply getting older with these offers.
Winner: Utah Hockey Membership
The staff on the opposite finish of the Sergachev commerce, the Utah Hockey Membership, has considerably improved its blue line over the previous few days. Not solely did Utah land Sergachev at a really cheap worth, but it surely additionally added John Marino (and a fourth-round choose) from the New Jersey Devils in alternate for 2 second-round picks. Utah did a superb job of profiting from groups that wanted to maneuver out cash as a way to make massive free company splashes. The cherry on prime of the weekend was when Utah signed defenseman Sean Durzi to a four-year contract at $24 million. Utah needs to be a stingy staff within the 2024-25 season.
Loser: NHL schedule
The previous week has been a whirlwind for the NHL, particularly for the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. The Stanley Cup Ultimate did not finish till final Monday, then groups went to Las Vegas for the draft. Then groups had only a few days to arrange free of charge company, which begins Monday. There isn’t any respiration room, and never simply because it was over 100 levels in Las Vegas final weekend. The NHL crammed a couple of of its largest tentpole occasions into the span of per week, and now there will likely be a pair months of silence earlier than the following season begins. Shifting ahead, the NHL most likely desires to contemplate a schedule that creates extra room between the Ultimate, the draft and free company in order that anticipation can construct for followers.
Winner: Montreal Canadiens
It isn’t a lot of a secret that a couple of golf equipment had their eye on winger Ivan Demidov, however the Canadiens held their floor and had been in a position to scoop him up at No. 5 total. Demidov is a extremely expert Russian winger, and a few consultants thought he may go as excessive as No. 2 total. To finish their spectacular first spherical, the Habs additionally chosen Michael Hage with the No. 21 total choice. Hage, a middle for the USHL’s Chicago Metal, simply put up 33 objectives and 75 factors final season. Montreal’s already spectacular pipeline simply acquired even deeper and extra expert.