The Chicago Steel were one of the biggest winners in the USHL Phase I and II Draft, coming away with two top tier tender signings and three former NTDP players. More about the 2024 draft class.

For the second time in three years, the Chicago Steel went into Canada and came away with perhaps the two best draft prospects, signing them to tender agreements.

At the end of February, the Steel landed talented defenseman Callum Croskery. The Oakville, Ontario, native, who is listed at six feet tall and 161 pounds, finished with 12 goals and 40 assists for the Oakville Rangers U16 squad this past season. Croskery's 52 points were the most among blueliners on the team.

The Steel invited the young defenseman to their Development Camp last summer, where they were able to see Croskery's skill set on full display. As the season unfolded, it became clear that he was the primary target to be signed.

"Callum is an extremely well-rounded defenseman," Steel head coach and general manager Mike Garman told The Hockey News. "He's very talented, he can move pucks, and he's good defensively. He's an extremely high-caliber player, but I think more than anything, just the type of person he is, he's really going to thrive in our environment and how we do things. He'll get so much better just based on his approach and how he does things."

At the end of April, Chicago signed forward Adam Valentini, who was taken 13th overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Draft. The Toronto native, listed at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, was named Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) Player of the Year, tallying 31 goals and 67 points in only 32 games played.

Leaning more toward the collegiate route, Valentini came down to Chicago for a visit to meet with the staff and some of the current players. Like Croskery, it was an obvious fit for both parties.

"He felt like this would just set him up for success better than anything," Garman said. "He's a play-making, goal-scoring forward. He's very dynamic, and he's also just got a great competitiveness to his game and a real honest, quality work ethic. So, we are pumped to have him."

As for Chicago's relationship with Canada after taking two of its best draft prospects?

"I don't think Hockey Canada is going to send us any fruit baskets," Garman joked.

Here is a look at the Chicago Steel's entire 2024 USHL Phase I Draft class:

USHL Phase I Draft

Round 1, 5th Overall: Callum Croskery, D

Round 2, 20th Overall: Adam Valentini, F

Round 3, 35th Overall: Timothy Kazda, F

Round 3, 45th Overall: Alexander Hage, F

Round 4, 50th Overall: Easton Walos, F

Round 4, 53rd Overall: Jason Rothstein, F

Round 4, 60th Overall: Joseph Salandra, F

Round 5, 65th Overall: Rhys Medved, D

Round 7, 95th Overall: Nathan Chorlton, F

Round 8, 110th Overall: Drew Simonich, D

Round 8, 111th Overall: Luca Cannata, F

Round 9, 125th Overall: Alexandre Taillefer, D

Round 10, 140th Overall: Viggo Björck, F

Round 10, 143rd Overall: Max Brocklehurst, F

Like most teams, the Chicago Steel targeted players who can help them right now in the Phase II portion of the USHL Draft. With how college hockey has evolved, including the wide use of the transfer portal, this year, more than ever, has seen U.S. National Team Development Program players return for a third USHL season.

With the fifth overall pick, Chicago took forward Charlie Pardue, who tallied seven goals and 15 points with the NTDP U18s last year, including four goals and three assists in USHL play.

The Steel moved up with their next pick to grab defenseman Noah Lapointe. The Arizona State commit should step into a much larger role with Chicago, who is expected to see a fair amount of turnover along the blue line this offseason. Lapointe had a goal and nine points in 53 games for the NTDP U18 team this past year.

Chicago also found goaltending help in Jack Parsons, who registered a 3.71 goals-against average and 0.864 save percentage in 33 games for the U18s in 2023-24.

"We got the forward and the (defenseman) that we really wanted and goalie, for that matter," Garman said. "Not that one was higher ranked for us than the other, but we wanted to fill those three positions, and fortunately for us, with our three picks, we were able to do that.

"They're players that will be coming to us. They will kind of step right into our lineup. They have essentially played in the league for two years, and we think that we have really high-quality people as well. We're thrilled to be able to get all three of those guys."

The Steel are also expecting Louka Cloutier to return for his second season, giving Chicago outstanding depth in net.

Here is a look at the Chicago Steel's entire 2024 USHL Phase II Draft class:

USHL Phase II Draft

Round 1, 5th Overall: Charlie Pardue, F

Round 1, 10th Overall, Noah Lapointe, D

Round 4, 50th Overall: Jack Parsons, G

Round 5, 65th Overall: Eric Nilson, F

Round 8, 112th Overall: Wilson Björck, F

Round 9, 127th Overall: Marco Senerchia, D

Round 10, 142nd Overall: Benson Grande, F

Round 11, 157th Overall: Indiana Grossbard, F

Round 12, 172nd Overall: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, F

Round 13, 187th Overall: Zach Spagnuolo, F