NHL draft tracker: Scouting notes, team fits on every first-round pick

The 2024 NHL draft is taking place on Friday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN+) and Saturday (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+) at Sphere in Las Vegas.

From the first round all the way to pick No. 225 in Round 7, this page is your home for every selection, including scouting notes from Rachel Doerrie, and team fit analysis for the 32 players taken in the first round from Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wyshynski.

More: Final mock
Prospect rankings
Profiles: Celebrini
Tij Iginla

Team: Boston University (H-EAST) | Rank: 1
DOB: 06/13/06 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 38 | G: 32 | A: 32 | P: 64

Scouting notes: There is no area of the game where legitimate concerns exist. Simply put, he does not have a weak point. He excels as a 200-foot player, making significant contributions on both ends of the ice.

Offensively, he navigates the middle of the ice, disrupts defensive schemes and finds passing lanes that others cannot. His puck protection skills, willingness to play through contact, spin off defenders and maintain play are qualities that will translate well to the NHL. Even without the puck, he remains a scoring threat due to his ability to find open spaces, keep his stick away from defenders and release the puck quickly. — Doerrie

Team fit: Rebuilds require cornerstone players. Celebrini appears to be just that, considering this year’s draft was commonly referred to as “The Celebrini Draft.” Finishing with the NHL’s worst record meant the Sharks had a number of areas that needed to be addressed. Among them: top-six forward help. Enter Celebrini.

While the possibility exists that Celebrini could return to BU for his sophomore year, he could be step right in to the Sharks’ lineup. Since 2005, the forwards that were selected with the No. 1 pick played the next season. It’s a list that includes Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and last year’s No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard. Furthermore, Celebrini now officially becomes the face of a promising rebuild that already had Thomas Bordeleau, William Eklund, Mario Ferraro, Quinten Musty and the team’s 2023 first-round pick in Will Smith, who is leaving Boston College after one season having signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks. — Clark

Team: Michigan State (BIG10) | Rank: 3
DOB: 10/28/05 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 208 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 38 | G: 9 | A: 26 | P: 35

Scouting notes: The Belarusian is widely regarded as the best defender in the draft class, impressing scouts in many areas. A right-shot defenseman, he imposes himself physically and dictates offensive play. His rapid development has led scouts to believe he could quickly become an impactful two-way defenseman in the NHL. He excels at making good first passes, finding shooting lanes and taking control of the game from the blue line.

Though still raw defensively, he has tremendous upside due to his physical attributes, excellent skating ability and high puck battle success rate. Consistently engaged and a play driver at both ends of the ice, he has the potential to shift momentum. Levshunov could become a top-pairing defenseman who dictates play in transition and tilts the ice in his team’s favor. — Doerrie

Team fit: The Blackhawks found their next foundational player atop last year’s draft in forward Connor Bedard, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year on Thursday. But they also had to strip down their team to the foundations to get him. The duration of the rebuild around Bedard is entirely contingent on the players with whom they surround him. To the end, Levshunov is a huge addition, literally and figuratively.

The Blackhawks have some intriguing young defenseman in their system, but not enough of them. Kevin Korchinski played 76 games as a rookie last season and has some upside. Wyatt Kaiser split time between the Blackhawks and AHL Rockford. Sam Rinzel, selected 25th overall in 2022, had an outstanding first season with the University of Minnesota. But what they have in Levshunov is, for lack of a better label, “The Guy.” The giant blueliner that could be their Victor Hedman. Those dynastic Lightning teams were build on offensive stars like Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but they won Cups thanks to the efforts of Hedman on the back end. This draft could be looked back on as an essential moment of the Bedard Era in Chicago. — Wyshynski

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Artyom Levshunov’s NHL draft profile

Check out the plays that helped make Michigan State’s Artyom Levshunov one of the top prospects in the NHL draft.

Team: Oshawa (OHL) | Rank: 13
DOB: 01/28/06 | Ht: 6-2.25 | Wt: 177 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 63 | G: 27 | A: 41 | P: 68

Scouting notes: Offensively, it is difficult to find a weakness. He is a dual-threat menace in the offensive zone and dropped more jaws in one-on-one play than any other draft-eligible player in the OHL this season. His ability to force defenders into bad spots and manipulate his way around them is terrifying. Not only is he a threat in tight situations, but he’s also a threat in transition. The puck follows him around the ice, and he slices defensive coverage with ease through excellent reads, decisive passing and a quality shot.

Off the puck, he uses his awareness to win pucks back. As the season progressed, he became a nightmare on the forecheck, routinely hemming players in and winning pucks back. For lack of a better word, he’s a gamer. If he wants the puck, he’s more than likely going to end up with it on his stick. He’s not an elite skater, but he gets to where he needs to go, plays two steps ahead of his peers and makes his teammates better. There are teams that have him in their top five, and while that is a little high for me, it is easy to understand why scouts believe Sennecke could be a top-line player. — Doerrie

Team fit: Once again, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek went in a bit of an unexpected direction by taking Beckett Sennecke. The Ducks were in a bit of a tricky situation when it came to adding to their rebuild. Not that they couldn’t have used more forwards, but they already have quite a bit of youth with Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. The same holds true with defensemen of course, with Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov playing as rookies last season and another defenseman, Olen Zellweger, getting nine points in 26 games with the Ducks after spending the majority of the year in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls.

Now that they’ve added Sennecke, the Ducks have another top-six forward with size as the 6-foot-2 Sennecke would be someone who gives the Ducks another option in their attack. — Clark

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Beckett Sennecke has amazing reaction to being drafted No. 3 by the Ducks

Beckett Sennecke is chosen by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.

Team: Medicine Hat (WHL) | Rank: 4
DOB: 02/03/06 | Ht: 6-3.25 | Wt: 210 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 32 | G: 27 | A: 19 | P: 46

Scouting notes: Lindstrom combines speed, size and skill, making him a dominant force at the junior level. He effectively uses his frame to protect the puck, win battles and play through contact in challenging areas of the ice. His physical package and skating ability make him a formidable opponent on the rush and in puck battles. If he continues to develop his ability to play through contact, he has the tools to be an excellent power forward at the NHL level. His speed in transition keeps defensemen on their heels and he changes gears to create space.

Without the puck, he reads off his linemates well and finds open pockets of space. As a versatile offensive player, he knows when to use his physicality to create scoring chances or hold the puck to set up plays in the offensive zone. Although his injury history is a concern, projections indicate that Lindstrom could become a second-line center with the potential to score 70 points over a long period. He may take longer to develop, but a player with his toolbox is intriguing to many teams. — Doerrie

Team fit: This is the first Blue Jackets draft since 2012 that didn’t have Jarmo Kekalainen running the table. He was dismissed as general manager earlier this season, creating an opening for one of the NHL’s most interesting jobs. Columbus is a place where the bar for success is low and the talent in the prospect pool is high.

It just got higher. New GM Don Waddell, who took over the Blue Jackets after leaving the Carolina Hurricanes, had a number of options after the Ducks shocked the draft by taking Beckett Sennecke third overall. They fought some temptation and added Lindstrom. The Medicine Hat center joins center Adam Fantilli, the third overall pick in 2023 who had 27 points in 49 games this season; Kent Johnson, another Michigan alum, who is entering his fourth NHL season; and the big body and booming shot of defenseman David Jiricek as the next generation of the Blue Jackets. With Cole Sillinger also up the middle, the days of the Blue Jackets being the NHL’s donut — nothing in the middle — appear over. — Wyshynski

Team: SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) | Rank: 2
DOB: 12/10/05 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 181 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 30 | G: 23 | A: 37 | P: 60

Scouting notes: Offensively, he’s the complete package and is projected to be a top-six difference-maker in the NHL. His dynamic ability to create offense combines an outstanding release, elite vision and elite puckhandling skills, perhaps the best in this draft class. He’s bigger and more physically mature than originally thought, which drew attention at the Florida showcase. Capable of driving play offensively, Demidov consistently took over games in the playoffs, earning the MVP award.

He ranks in the top 5% for shooting and passing metrics and is a transition threat. He drives the middle from the outside and consistently gets himself to the dangerous scoring areas. As a versatile offensive player, Demidov has the potential to be a 40-goal, 40-assist producer and is the only player with a ceiling close to Celebrini’s. — Doerrie

Team fit: Prior to the draft, it appeared that getting a forward was going to be the move for the Canadiens. And they fulfilled that in taking Demidov. They were in a position to take a forward last year but passed on Matvei Michkov before taking defenseman David Reinbacher. With Reinbacher being the pick last season, he added to a defensive setup that already included Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble.

Concentrating on defensemen the last few years created that opening to take a forward for the second time in three years, having selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick in 2022. Now the Canadiens have another top-six forward in Demidov who at some point will make the trek to North America. And when he does, he’ll join Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield as another homegrown player that’s looking to take the Habs back to prominence in the Eastern Conference. — Clark

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Celine Dion announces Canadiens’ No. 5 pick in NHL draft

Celine Dion announces the Montreal Canadiens’ fifth overall pick, Ivan Demidov.

Team: Kelowna (WHL) | Rank: 7
DOB: 08/04/06 | Ht: 5-11.75 | Wt: 182 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 64 | G: 47 | A: 37 | P: 84

Scouting notes: His natural offensive instincts and lethal wrist shot make him a serious goal-scoring threat both with and without the puck. His puck skill steadily improved this season, and he became a serious offensive threat. When he has possession, Iginla displays excellent puckhandling, strong protection, and a release that surprises goaltenders. He has a unique understanding of how to blend competitive physicality with elite skill, a dangerous combination.

Without the puck, he finds open spaces, forechecks tenaciously and exhibits the competitiveness his father Jarome was known for. Although he needs to improve his defensive play, his combination of skating, puck skills, tenacity and shooting ability should enable him to contribute consistently in a top-six role, with a ceiling of a top-line winger. — Doerrie

Team fit: When the Arizona Coyotes were sold to Smith Entertainment Group and relocated to Utah, their history didn’t come with them. So this is the first pick ever made by this franchise.

But their hockey operations staff was imported along with the players. That included GM Bill Armstrong, whose calling card has always been his work in scouting and drafting. That’s enabled Utah to have players like forward Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, who made an impact at the NHL level; as well as center Conor Geekie, defenseman Maveric Lamoureux and KHL defensemen Dmitry Simashev and Daniil But.

Armstrong told me that Utah doesn’t feel pressure to add a “poster on the side of the arena” level star for their first season in Salt Lake City, because there might be some in the organization that could fit that role. They might have another in Tij Iginla. He’s got the hockey legacy of his Hall of Fame father and his own high-end talent. Iginla is an ideal selection given their needs on offense, and as someone who can eventually help sell hockey to a new fan base. — Wyshynski

Team: Calgary (WHL) | Rank: 14
DOB: 09/29/05 | Ht: 6-2.75 | Wt: 201 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 66 | G: 30 | A: 41 | P: 71

Scouting notes: Yakemchuk is an offensive difference-maker at the junior level and showed glimpses of excellent puck distribution. He dictates the power play from the point, but he’ll need to develop the ability to facilitate offence to take advantage of his shot in the NHL. He manipulates defenders with excellent hands, fakes and sheer power. The lack of an explosive skating stride makes him easier to defend than a more elusive skater.

Defensively, he’s a work in progress. His skating mobility needs to improve to be an effective transition defender in the NHL. Scouts and executives love his mean streak, as he hits to leave a mark. He gets caught puck-watching or stepping out of position to be physical. He lacks the skating step to catch opponents when they beat him in those situations, an area he will need to develop before making the jump. — Doerrie

Team fit: Drafting Yakemchuk could prove to be an intriguing move for a few reasons. The first is that this was the first time in two years the Senators used a first-round pick. It’s a bit of a bizarre dynamic for a franchise that’s been trying to shed the title of rebuild and transition into a playoff team, only to miss the postseason for the last seven campaigns.

That said, Yakemchuk gives them a young defenseman which adds to a group that already has Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, Jake Sanderson and Jacob Bernard-Docker, among others. But that also comes with the understanding that Chychrun’s future with the club is in question. He has a year left on his contract before hitting free agency. He could either sign a new deal or the Sens could look to trade him. Either way, they’ll have options, and getting Yakemchuk will now play a big role in that dynamic. — Clark

Team: Spokane (WHL) | Rank: 10
DOB: 01/14/06 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 54 | A: 62 | P: 116

Scouting notes: Catton is one of those “get you out of your seats” players. He’s dynamic with the puck, reading defensive structures, slicing through coverage and a nightmare to defend in one-on-one situations. His ability to manipulate defenders with his speed and skill is pure brilliance. He’s one of the most dangerous transition players in the draft, and even at 5-10, he’s shown an ability to execute high-skill plays in traffic.

As is the case with any player of this skill set, he needs to pick his spots a little better to improve his offensive efficiency. The turnovers are not going to fly at the NHL level, and he’ll need to develop his ability to create offense when he’s not in transition. The same manipulation, stick skill and deception he uses on the rush needs to be applied in smaller areas. If he can take pucks off the wall and get to the middle, there is a better chance he hits his ceiling of a top-six, point producer.

He’s already a dual threat with a promising arsenal of releases and shot types. Given that he understands how to put defenders in vulnerable postures, it is not a stretch to believe his offensive game will continue to improve. I’m not sure he’s a center in the NHL, but the dynamic dual threat should be an entertaining player to watch for years. — Doerrie

Team fit: Entering the draft, the narrative surrounding the Kraken was that they needed to draft a defenseman. Namely, a puck-mover who could help facilitate possession for a team that’s struggled to score goals in two of their first three seasons. Although the argument could be had that they already have that with Ryker Evans.

It still amounted to the Kraken needing prospects who can score or create goals and it led to them choosing Berkly Catton. He addresses their scoring needs provided he scored 54 goals and 116 points for the Spokane Chiefs last season. If the Kraken opt to keep Catton at center, he would join their spine of the future that includes Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. But there’s a chance he could be moved to the wing, with the expectation that he could someday play alongside Beniers on one of the Kraken’s top two lines and on their power play. — Clark

Team: Saginaw (OHL) | Rank: 5
DOB: 02/15/06 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 179 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 66 | G: 33 | A: 63 | P: 96

Scouting notes: Parekh is the top offensive defenseman in the draft, without question. He has all the makings of a game-breaker on the blue line. His statistics and model projections stand out, surpassing every other defenseman except Levshunov. He is clearly in the top tier, projected as a top-4 offensive catalyst with an over 80% chance of playing 200+ NHL games.

Right-handed offensive dynamos are rare and seldom available via trade. Parekh has all the qualities of a top-notch power-play quarterback and even-strength play driver, capable of scoring upward of 60 points per season in the NHL. He had one of the best draft-eligible seasons in CHL history, which should not be overlooked. His elite four-way mobility allows him to evade opponents and create space effortlessly.

His defensive game improved throughout the OHL season, and while it’s not as robust as some might prefer, his skating and hockey sense equip him to defend effectively at the NHL level. His offensive instincts are innate and form the foundation of his play-driving offense. Combine his offensive instincts with demonstrated ability to move pucks to dangerous areas, create shooting opportunities and get pucks through, and Parekh presents an intriguing package. His ceiling is the highest among defensemen in the draft, confidently projecting him as an impactful top-4 defenseman over a lengthy NHL career. — Doerrie

Team fit: The pick wasn’t Tij Iginla and that’s going to be a bummer for a lot of Flames fans. But Zayne Parekh is a solid choice and someone who will certainly help with Calgary’s rebuild … retool … whatever it is that GM Craig Conroy is doing with this franchise, which is content to ship out some veterans (Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane) while hold onto others (like, reportedly, Nazem Kadri). They have some quality young players up front like winger Matt Coronato, who played 35 games in the NHL; center Connor Zary, who had a strong rookie season with 34 points in 63 games; and a big forward in Samuel Honzek.

Now they add Parekh, a player that has electrifying offensive upside. Parekh is the first defenseman the Flames selected in the first round since Juuso Valimaki at No. 16 in 2017. They simply didn’t have a player with his skillset in their pipeline, and this picks a great one for Calgary. — Wyshynski

Team: Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA) | Rank: 8
DOB: 04/11/06 | Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 211 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 63 | G: 3 | A: 8 | P: 11

Scouting notes: At 6-7, this hulking defender played significant minutes for one of the KHL’s better teams, a rarity at age 17, and this greatly enhances his projection. While he isn’t expected to be dynamic in the NHL, his developing offensive skills suggest he could become a 35- to 40-point producer.

He skates very well, with good edgework and agility, which is evident in his defensive transitions and his movement along the offensive blue line. If he can add strength without losing mobility, he could become a high-minute defenseman in the NHL, capable of shutting down the opposition’s best players.

His floor is higher than other top defensive prospects due to his proven ability to succeed in the KHL. Scouts are high on his skating ability, physicality and transition defense. There are concerns about his ability to read the play and make good puck decisions. He will need time to enhance his ability to facilitate breakouts, transition offense and read pressure. —Doerrie

Team fit: There was plenty of speculation that the Devils would move this pick — it was certainly in play in the hours leading up to the draft. But New Jersey kept the pick and added to the deepest part of their prospect pool: the blue line.

Anton Silayev is a 6-7 mountain, a defensive defenseman who has tremendous skating ability and a fantastic reach. They moved 24-year-old Kevin Bahl, who is 6-6, for goalie Jacob Markstrom. Silayev more than fits in as an eventual replacement. He joins Calder Trophy finalist Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec and eventually Seamus Casey as the defensive foundations for years to come. — Wyshynski

Team: London (OHL) | Rank: 11
DOB: 06/07/06 | Ht: 6-2.5 | Wt: 199 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 18 | A: 52 | P: 70

Scouting notes: Dickinson is one of the best all-around skating defensemen in the draft, and it is particularly evident in transition. Offensively, he carries the puck with ease, evades defenders, cuts to the middle and creates scoring chances.

Defensively, he maintains a good gap, matches opponent’s speed and finishes his checks. His shot is above average, but he is unlikely to overpower goalies at the NHL level. His skating and defensive abilities will carry him in the NHL. These are all attributes scouts and coaches love. It is easy to see why the model projects him to be a top-four defender with a puncher’s chance of being a top-pairing guy.

The big question with Dickinson is decision-making on both sides of the puck. At the junior level, he’s so evasive and above his peers in the skating department, that it masks some awareness issues. On the rush, he can skate himself into trouble and make life more complicated when a simpler play exists. In the defensive zone, he gets caught on the wrong side of players and makes questionable decisions with the puck after he wins a battle. He’s a natural athlete who will play in the NHL, but time will tell if he can develop his awareness and reads to take advantage of his toolbox and become a difference maker. — Doerrie

Team fit: When the Sharks traded up to No. 11 on Thursday, it came with the expectation that they were going to use that pick to get a defenseman. Especially considering they already had Celebrini, in addition to forwards such as Bordeleau, Eklund, Musty and Smith. And that’s not including who they took in 2022, center Filip Bystedt.

That belief only intensified considering by the time the Sharks picked at 11, as defensemen such as Zeev Buium and Sam Dickinson were still available when it came time for their second pick of the first round. They chose Dickinson, who now gives them a sizable defenseman who can not only serve in a top-pairing role but can also be at the controls of a power play. A power play that in the coming years could be led by Celebrini, Smith, Dickinson and Eklund. — Clark

Team: Denver (NCHC) | Rank: 6
DOB: 12/07/05 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 42 | G: 11 | A: 39 | P: 50

Scouting notes: One of the best defensemen in college hockey this season, Buium is confidently projected as a top-4 defenseman in the NHL. He consistently stands out by joining the rush, defending well in transition and excelling in man-to-man defense in his own zone. He’s an elite two-way defenseman at the college level, and is likely the most efficient puck mover in this draft class. He shows elite hockey sense and seems to be two to three plays ahead, allowing him to make plays that other players can’t.

Defensively, he maintains a tight gap, adapts to changes in pace and uses excellent edgework to avoid getting beaten in tight situations. His puck skills, combined with various head and shoulder fakes, enable him to create space and passing lanes. If there is a better one-on-one defenseman in this draft, I’ve yet to see him.

Buium elevates his play as games intensify and was one of Team USA’s best players at the World Juniors as an underage player, in addition to being a crucial part of the NCAA champion Denver blue line. With all the qualities of a play-driving, momentum-shifting defenseman, Buium could be ready for the NHL by the end of the 2024-25 college season. — Doerrie

Team fit: GM Bill Guerin got aggressive here to select Zeev Buium, and rightfully so. Buium has a high hockey IQ and can be someone that can run an NHL power play, leading all NCAA defenseman in points last season (50). Denver depended on him big time in winning the national title this season — he played 31 minutes against Boston University in the semifinal and more than 29 minutes against Boston College for the title.

He’s an impact player and the highest defenseman the Wild have taken since Matt Dumba at seventh overall in 2012. — Wyshynski

Team: Guelph (OHL) | Rank: 26
DOB: 08/21/06 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 20 | A: 54 | P: 74

Scouting notes: Luchanko has all the makings of a dream bottom-six role. Given the offensive instincts and abilities he has shown this season, Luchanko has a better ability to drive play than many believe. He’s an excellent two-way player, a rare feat for a very young player in a draft class. The combination of production, development and a later birthday give Luchanko a projection closer to middle six than bottom six.

Luchanko was the main beneficiary of Matthew Poitras‘ move to the Bruins, allowing him to become the primary driver on both sides of the puck. His skating takes the pace of the game to another level, forcing his opponents to play at speeds in which they are uncomfortable. His ability to dictate the play is eye-opening, beating defenders clean with his speed while being a royal pain to deal with on the forecheck and backcheck. He is in the middle of everything that happens, showing off a detail-oriented game that includes awareness, shiftiness and skill that scouts love. — Doerrie

Team fit: Trading down to No. 13 earned some extra draft capital. But they also landed a center in Jett Luchanko that adds to a future that already includes Noah Cates, Joel Farabee, Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov. Even with that many forwards, the Flyers were still in need of a center. That made Luchanko or Konsta Helenius an option.

The last time they drafted a center in the first round was in 2018 when they took Jay O’Brien, who they did not sign (and earned a compensatory pick this year for it). Prior to that, It was 2017 when they took Nolan Patrick with the second pick and Morgan Frost at 27. Patrick was traded, while Frost remains with the club. Luchanko gives the Flyers someone who projects as a two-way option who could be anchoring one of the lines of a rebuild that took a significant step forward in 2023-24. — Clark

Team: Jukurit (FINLAND) | Rank: 12
DOB: 05/11/06 | Ht: 5-10.75 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 51 | G: 14 | A: 22 | P: 36

Scouting notes: Helenius is excellent defensively, and his play is immediately projectable to the NHL. Offensively, he is effective, not flashy. He retrieves pucks, enters the zone with possession, creates space with effective body positioning, and relies on his elite hockey sense to make sound decisions with the puck. The combination of his competitiveness, hockey sense and puck management make him a highly effective and reliable player in all three zones.

He lacks dynamic attributes that other players in the draft class possess, but he makes up for that his in his ability to be the engine of his line. He consistently drives play and showed flashes of offensive creativity, but Helenius does not have a standout offensive attribute. He’s a well-rounded, 200-foot player who will be impactful on both sides of the puck at the NHL level. Scouts see some Mikael Backlund in him, which is high praise for the young Finn.

A second-line center/top penalty killer who can drive play at even strength is something every contender needs. That is Helenius. If his offense develops, there’s a chance he fits the mold of a Joel Eriksson Ek or Elias Lindholm type of player. — Doerrie

Team fit: The Sabres traded down this week, acquiring the Devils’ No. 42 overall pick in their flip-flop with the Sharks. Helenius is a solid two-way center who joins a depth chart that includes Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Matthew Savoie, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund.

Obviously, some of them could shift to the wing, but the bottom line is that the Sabres have a ton of talent on the way up front, to go along with the foundational defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. — Wyshynski

Team: Mora (SWEDEN-2) | Rank: 19
DOB: 10/05/05 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 41 | G: 8 | A: 10 | P: 18

Scouting notes: The Norwegian forward is one of the most well-rounded players in the draft. The blend of grit, skill and in-tight scoring ability has scouts believing he is a Swiss army knife at the NHL level. There is belief that he could be the best two-way forward in the draft not named Celebrini.

Defensively, he may be the best forward in the draft. He is consistently in the right positions, makes excellent reads in defensive transition and reads off his teammates well to support the puck. His ability to retrieve pucks, win puck battles, and position his body in ways that make is nearly impossible to knock him off the puck will only improve has he physically matures and adds strength. He’s unafraid to deliver a board-shaking body check to shift momentum, but does not put himself out of position to do so. He separates opponents from the puck, drives forward and uses his powerful frame to cut to the middle or the net. Truthfully, if there is a weakness in his defensive game, I have yet to find it.

The drawback with Brandsegg-Nygard is that he isn’t dynamic. His ceiling isn’t as high as other players’, but his floor is higher than nearly every forward outside of the top five. There is little doubt he will be a middle-six power forward who will be deployed to shut down opponent’s best players and finish offensive opportunities in tight. As one scout put it, “He isn’t the guy you build around, but certainly the type of player that every contender wants in the middle of their lineup.” — Doerrie

Team fit: What’s this? The Red Wings went into Europe and drafted a player?

In all seriousness, Brandsegg-Nygard was thought to be someone who could have gone in this range, so it wasn’t like the Red Wings reached.

Detroit has used two of its most recent first-round picks to get centers. It’s just that Brandsegg-Nygard gives them another potential top-six winger. And given how the Wings are currently set up with their forward depth, Brandsegg-Nygard has a good chance to break onto the scene in the near future. — Clark

Team: Plzen (CZECHIA) | Rank: 17
DOB: 06/28/06 | Ht: 6-2.5 | Wt: 182 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 19 | G: 0 | A: 1 | P: 1

Scouting notes: The 6-2, right-handed defenseman has been on scouting radars for years, allowing for his game to be put under the microscope. He’s competitive, makes good puck decisions and activates in the play.

Losing nearly a full season of development during the most crucial years makes for a more difficult evaluation and model projection. Jiricek’s numbers are very volatile, and the draft year sample is not large enough for a confident projection. The tools to be an impactful defenseman are there, with good reads, aggressive defensive posture, strong puck retrieval skills and physicality. He needs the skating, which obviously took a developmental hit when he tore his ACL, to improve by a step and half or two to take advantage of his other skills. His stride lacks the explosive and aggressive attributes to complement the rest of his game and will hinder his ability to utilize other skills if he can’t keep pace.

He has a longer runway to develop because he’s rawer and lost nearly a year of development to his injury. There is a real chance he becomes a second-pairing defenseman and an outside shot at the top pair. — Doerrie

Team fit: The Blues really needed to add some talent to their defense prospects — they hadn’t drafted a defenseman in the first round since Jordan Schmaltz in 2012 — and Jiricek is a terrific choice. He gained great experience playing the Czech league, and as a right-shot defenseman he’s a valuable commodity.

Jiricek might not have the ceiling of his brother David, who went sixth overall to the Blue Jackets in 2022, but he’s certainly got some upside. — Wyshynski

Team: Prince George (WHL) | Rank: 30
DOB: 05/28/06 | Ht: 5-11.5 | Wt: 173 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 43 | A: 62 | P: 105

Scouting notes: His production is reminiscent of a player who should be selected in top half of the first round. His skating, like Jason Robertson‘s in 2017, worries scouts. He doesn’t have the physical package of Robertson, but his production is much better. Parascak has all the capabilities to be a dual threat at the NHL level if his skating improves.

Parascak’s instincts on and off the puck are high-end. He understands defensive schemes and how to penetrate them, but his skating holds him back from driving play. This is evident in transition, where he lacks the pace to attack the middle and relies on his instincts to find open space and arrive at the perfect time. When he gets the puck in space, he’s terrifying. His catch and release shot, one-timer and ability to shoot opposite his momentum make him challenging for goalies to stop.

A team taking Parascak is getting a player with an elite hockey sense and many shots in his arsenal. If he can add strength and more power to his skating, there is a real chance he’s a top-six, difference-maker in the NHL. He’s unlikely to be a true play driver, but a complementary piece that can ignite a power play. — Doerrie

Upcoming picks

18. Chicago Blackhawks*
19. Vegas Golden Knights
20. New York Islanders*
21. Los Angeles Kings
22. Nashville Predators
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
24. Colorado Avalanche
25. Boston Bruins
26. Montreal Canadiens*
27. Carolina Hurricanes
28. Calgary Flames*
29. Dallas Stars
30. New York Rangers
31. Anaheim Ducks*
32. Philadelphia Flyers*

* Traded picks:

• The Blackhawks’ selection at No. 18 is the result of a trade involving this pick, the No. 20 pick and other picks with the Islanders.

• The Islanders’ selection at No. 20 is the result of the above trade; the Blackhawks originally acquired the pick via a March 18, 2022 trade that sent Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

• The Canadiens’ pick at No. 21 is the result of the June 28, 2024 trade that sent this trade to Montreal in exchange for picks No. 26, 57 and 198.

• The Kings’ pick at No. 26 is the result of the June 28, 2024 trade above. The Canadiens originally secured it via the Feb. 2, 2024 trade that sent Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets.

• The Flames’ selection at No. 28 is the result of the Jan. 31, 2024 trade that sent Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks.

• The Ducks’ selection at No. 31 is the result of the trade on March 6, 2024 that sent Sam Carrick, Ty Taylor and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Oilers.

• The Flyers’ selection at No. 32 is a result of the trade on March 19, 2022 that sent Claude Giroux, German Rubtsov, Connor Bunnaman to the Panthers, and Owen Tippett to the Flyers.