Breaking down how the top 16 picks could go in the 2024 draft Artyom Levshunov [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MjkwOTI1OTIyNTU5NzYz/usatsi_22796373_168393426_lowres.jpg] Artyom Levshunov The San Jose Sharks have won the draft lottery and the right to select Macklin Celebrini first overall. But what should happen after the Fins take the Boston University star? There's a whole lot of intrigue to uncover there when the festivities go down at The Sphere in Las Vegas at the end of June. This year's NHL draft cohort features incredible parity after the first pick, so any team in the top 10 could probably get one of their top targets. It will also be interesting to see if that means more trades in the first round. Last year, we didn't see any teams move up or down because, as one GM told me at the time, teams didn't want to miss their guy. This year, teams may be more confident that they could grab an extra asset while still getting a player they covet. But now it's time for a mock draft. There were 16 NHL teams involved in the lottery, and now we know where they will be selecting. Here's a mock draft and what I think could happen based on team needs and preferences. 1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): This is automatic for GM Mike Grier. Celebrini is the best player in the class by a fair margin and the youngest Hobey Baker Award winner ever. He's a skilled and competitive center that will give the Sharks a great 1-2 punch down the middle for the future, alongside Will Smith. 2. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 (Rus.): I know some Hawks fans want a D-man here (and I see the argument), but Demidov would be an incredible future linemate for Connor Bedard. Demidov is a wicked offensive force with smarts and great hands, creating offensive chances on every shift. You wouldn't even have to wait that long; his contract ends in the spring of 2025. 3. Anaheim Ducks: Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (Rus.): The Ducks have a pretty great youth corps already, but Silayev could help their blueline in the future thanks to his huge frame and mobility. Scouts see shades of Victor Hedman in the big Russian, who will only get stronger in the coming years. 4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA): Buium had an incredible freshman year with the Pioneers, helping them to a national championship. His puckmoving game and high-end two-way contributions would add to a young group of elite blueliners in the organization that already includes David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk. 5. Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL): This may be one of the best fits outside of Celebrini and San Jose. The Habs need a true No. 1 center of the future and Lindstrom has that potential. He's big, skilled and can also play physical. Give him a little more time to dominate junior and what's not to like? 6. Utah The Team: Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL): I'm going off the board! But GM Bill Armstrong proved last year he wasn't easy to predict when he took Dmitri Simashev and Danil But in the first round, so I'm following suit. Iginla has been on a steady upward trajectory all season and would give Utah a major scoring threat to help out Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller in the future. 7. Ottawa Senators: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA): A bit of a gift for the Sens, since Levshunov could easily go top-three, but that's how deep the top end of the draft is. Nearly a point-per-gamer as a freshman with the Spartans, the blueliner has size and a pretty good defensive game already. 8. Seattle Kraken: Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL): Dickinson's tremendous season has almost been lost amongst some of his blueline peers, but he might win an OHL championship after putting up great offensive numbers in the regular season. Big, physical and defensively staunch, Dickinson has a lot of great traits. 9. Calgary Flames: Konsta Helenius, C, HIFK (Fin.): The Flames need help down the middle for the future, as they enter a very uncertain time. Helenius will need a couple years to get stronger, but his offensive game is awesome already and while he's not big, he did earn an invite to play for Finland's World Championship team. 10. New Jersey Devils: Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL): Think of this as a bonus pick for a team that wouldn't have been here had it not been for injuries and goalie woes. Parekh is an incredible offensive defenseman whose defensive game continues to improve. He can play through tough competition, too. 11. Buffalo Sabres: Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL): Sennecke has been an absolute monster in the OHL playoffs and his combination of size, creativity and slick hands make him an offensive threat every shift. Now almost 6-foot-4, he had a massive growth spurt and this season has shown that he's finally caught up to that change. 12. Philadelphia Flyers: Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL): They lost a pivot in Cutter Gauthier, but could gain one in Catton, who put up huge numbers for the Chiefs without much talent surrounding him. A character kid with great hands, vision and elusiveness, he may not be the biggest, but he definitely has upside. 13. Minnesota Wild: Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL): The Wild always seem to need scoring and nobody does it like Eiserman. The Boston U. commit just broke the NTDP record for career goals, beating out Cole Caufield's old mark in the process. He's got a good frame and can score in a variety of ways but will need time to round out the rest of his game. 14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT): Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL): Since they took a center with their first pick, let's go with a blueliner for San Jose's second first-rounder. Yakemchuk put up awesome offensive numbers from the back end with the Hitmen and he's got a very projectible NHL frame. 15. Detroit Red Wings: Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL): I'm not being cute by giving Detroit a player from across the river in Windsor; the Red Wings could actually use a scoring winger for the future. Greentree has power forward potential with the bonus of finesse in his hands. Big and deceptively quick. 16. St. Louis Blues: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Swe.): The Blues can add to their great pipeline by making Brandsegg-Nygard the highest-drafted Norwegian ever with this selection. The kid has size, strength and a great shot. He's getting good experience in Sweden's pro ranks right now. The San Jose Sharks are the big winners of the 2024 NHL draft lottery, receiving the opportunity to select Macklin Celebrini first overall. 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