NHL Draft Lottery 2024 Top Picks

Gain access to the Boston University centre of your choice Celebrateini; the Blackhawks secure the second overall pick, while the Ducks secure the third.

After Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery, the San Jose Sharks were awarded the top choice in the 2024 Upper Deck Draft.

With the second overall selection going to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Anaheim Ducks will be drafting third.

For the first time in franchise history, the Sharks—who had the best lottery odds at 18.5%—would choose No. 1. On three separate instances, they have selected the number two spot: Andrei Zyuzin in 1996, Patrick Marleau in 1997, and Pat Falloon in 1991.

Sphere, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, will host the 2024 draft. On June 28, we will have the first round, and on June 29, we will have rounds 2-7.

The sixteen clubs that did not make it to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs participated in the drawing, which took place at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. Following the reverse order of the regular season’s standings, the odds for each of the sixteen teams were determined. The first overall selection was up for grabs among the eleven winningest teams in the lottery.

The lottery only decided on the top two choices. After that, the teams were rearranged according to their final standings. Postseason outcomes will dictate selections 17–32.

At the fourth overall pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets will be joined by the Montreal Canadiens at the fifth spot.

Centre Macklin Celebrini, who was ranked first among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, might be selected by San Jose (19-54-9), which finished 32nd in the NHL, with the first overall pick. This season, the 17-year-old left-handed shooter from Boston University in Hockey East made history by becoming the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award, given yearly to the best men’s ice hockey player in the NCAA. He is also the youngest player to compete in NCAA Division I men’s hockey.

“There were definitely some nerves,” shared Mike Grier, general manager of the Sharks. “… Having the chance to potentially choose someone like Macklin is intriguing.

“After this year, it’s almost like a nice prize.”

Someone wanted to know if Grier was already set on taking Celebrini with the first overall choice.

In his opinion, it was likely so. He swung two hundred feet. He may only be seventeen years old, but he already has a strong physique and what seems like an air of professionalism about him. Coach Jay Pandolfo of Boston University told me that they have to remove him from the rink on occasion.

I believe it’s a product of his game style; he gives it his all in both the offensive and defensive zones. All things considered, we believe he’s in a strong position to be ready for the National Hockey League.

Celebrini became just the fourth player in Hockey East history to win both the Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year titles in the same season, joining Jack Eichel (2015), Paul Kariya (1993) and Brian Leetch (1987). He finished second among NCAA players with 32 goals and third with 64 points in 38 games played for the Terriers. Tim Taylor’s National Rookie of the Year Award was another honour bestowed upon Celebrini.