In every NHL Entry Draft, the common discussion is whether picks will pan out on the team they were drafted to and if they will adapt to the system that the team has at the current moment. From a front office standpoint, it can help the team with some picks, while for others, with patience and development, they can pan out through time. To continue on in part three of our four-part series of the 2024 NHL Draft, we move over to the Central Division.

• Part One: Atlantic Division
• Part Two: Metropolitan Division
• Part Four: Pacific Division

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks

Draft Picks

• D Artyom Levshunov: 2nd overall, Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten)
• C Sacha Boisvert: 18th overall, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
• LW Marek Vanacker: 27th overall, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
• LW John Mustard: 67th overall, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
• RW AJ Spellacy: 72nd overall, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
• RW Jack Pridham: 92nd overall, West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)
• LW Joel Svensson: 138th overall, Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
• D Ty Henry: 163rd overall, Erie Otters (OHL)

Grade: A

The Blackhawks boosted their already stacked prospect pool with a similarly forward-heavy Draft this season. To kick off the Draft, they had three first round picks, and they started off nicely by getting their no. 1 defenseman of the future in Levshunov. With such speed and mobility, he is quick, explosive, and can also fire in stride and is always a threat to make magic happen on the ice. Boisvert fills a need, as he’s a big center who can not only pass but has a great goal-scoring ability. Vanacker was a bit of a reach, but Chicago really liked his game where he turns steals into odd-man rushes, and transitions well in stride. The latter two have real chances to be middle-six forwards.

What Chicago is wanting to do is build the fastest team in the NHL, and Mustard adds that speed to the prospect pool. He also shoots the puck a lot with powerful wristers. Spellacy also fits the speed department, as he is a powerful skater in stride, and defends down low. Pridham plays a north-south game and leverages on speed, edge work, and high-end motor. Svensson excels on his skating and reading the gaps, while Henry, who stands 6′ 4″, brings NHL-caliber skating and presses opponents against the boards. Chicago will likely have at least three players make it to the NHL from this Draft class, which speaks to another great Draft from Kyle Davidson.

Colorado Avalanche

Draft Picks

• G Ilya Nabokov: 38th overall, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
• C Will Zellers: 76th overall, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Sabres (USHS)
• C Jake Fisher: 121st overall, Fargo Force (USHL)
• G Louka Cloutier: 132nd overall, Chicago Steel (USHL)
• G Ivan Yunin: 137th overall, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
• C Max Curran: 161st overall, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
• D Tory Pitner: 185th overall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
• C Christian Humphreys: 215th overall, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
• C Nikita Prishchepov: 217th overall, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

Grade: C+

The Avalanche traded back several times for a total of nine picks, but with no selections in the first round combined with no true significant upside, it makes for a less than impressive Draft for them. Nabokov (no relation to Evgeni Nabokov) was spoken highly of by goalie scouts, and he’s coming off a successful season in the KHL where he won playoffs MVP. Goaltenders, however, are hard to project, and taking a shot at one of the best, if not the best, goalies in the Draft is not a bad idea if Chris MacFarland believes that the prospect pipeline needs a goalie prospect.

Yegorov is the standout pick from the Avs’ Draft. The only other intriguing pick is Zellers, as he relies a lot on opened up space he uses for scoring chances. It’s a bold strategy by Colorado to take three goaltenders in a Draft that is projected to be weak at that position, but once again, it’s never a bad idea to get depth goaltenders.

Curran is one to spot a pass to a teammate with speed, and while he’s a playmaker, he can also shoot. Pitner is a strong defender who locks opponents to the outside, and Humphreys goes to the inside of the attacking zone and goes for the poke-checks when on the defensive. The likeliest scenario for the Avs is that they’ll wait a couple of years to see if either one of their goalies from this Draft pan out.

Dallas Stars

Draft Picks

• RW Emil Hemming: 29th overall, HC TPS (Liiga)
• D Niilopekka Muhonen: 158th overall, KalPa (U20 SM-sarja)
• C William Samuelsson: Sodertalje SK (J20 Nationell)

Grade: C+

While the Stars had just three picks at the Draft, they cashed out by getting Hemming. Jim Nill has successfully found key pieces to the Stars franchise in the late first round or middle rounds, and in a few years down the line, this is likely going to continue with this selection. Hemming can shoot from anywhere with a variety of shot types, and plays a game reminiscent of the modern-day power forward. Through contact, driving to the net, and sets up his teammates on breakouts and is a hard worker.

While the other two picks were in the fifth and seventh rounds, it is worth mentioning that Muhonen is a solid skater, and combined with his physical edge and his 6′ 4″ frame, to go with his neutral zone carries, he is an interesting project pick. Samuelsson is a defensive forward, whether it be backchecking or dominating the boards. It wasn’t a busy Draft for Dallas, but Hemming instantly improves the pipeline.

Minnesota Wild

Draft Picks

• D Zeev Buium: 12th overall, Denver Pioneers (NCHC)
• RW Ryder Ritchie: 45th overall, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
• D Aron Kiviharju: 122nd overall, HIFK (Liiga)
• D Sebastian Soini: 140th overall, Ilves (U20 SM-sarja)
• G Chase Wutzke: 142nd overall, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
• D Stevie Leskovar: 174th overall, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Grade: A

The Wild won this Draft for getting two defensemen who fell lower than they should have been. There is also the chance that their first three picks make it to the NHL as top four defensemen and a middle six forward. Buium could likely be Brock Faber’s defensive partner down the stretch. He is one of the most creative defensemen in the Draft, whether it be generating breakouts or rush chances. Ritchie is always a threat to either score or pass to an open teammate, and opens up gaps and fooling the opposing defense. Kiviharju being taken in the fourth round was a surprise, as he is a wizard on the breakout, which also extends to his power play quarterbacking abilities.

Soini has solid mobility and can beat forecheckers before making the initial pass. While the Wild have Jesper Wallstedt in the goalie prospect system, Wutzke is another addition on the depth chart, and his mobility in the crease stands out to go with his strength on his edgework. There is still upside from the latter three picks, but the highest upside is with the first three.

Nashville Predators

Draft Picks

• C Yegor Surin: 22nd overall, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
• C Teddy Stiga: 55th overall, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
• D Viggo Gustafsson: 77th overall, HV71 (J20 Nationell)
• RW Miguel Marques: 87th overall, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
• RW Hiroki Gosjic: 94th overall, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
• G Jakub Milota: 99th overall, Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL)
• LW Viktor Norringer: 127th overall, Frolunda HC (J20 Nationell)
• C Erik Pahlsson: 213th overall, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Grade: B

Nashville wanted to get more skill at the Draft, and they did exactly that. Surin is a workhorse, and wins battles along the boards, and drives between the dots, and cuts right through traffic while keeping possession. Stiga is a nice Day 2 selection, and can get himself open in space, and reads the play ahead of him to generate give-and-go and tic-tac-toe plays. Gustafsson is the prototypical stay-at-home defenseman, as he takes away huge chunks of the ice in open space, and is rarely caught out of position.

Marques brings his offense to the system, opening passing lanes and connects on them. Gojsic is a powerful winger with a heavy shot, and is at his best when he coasts down the wing and drives to the net through defenders. Milota follows the play when below the goal line, though his best attributes are his footwork and skating around the posts. Pahlsson is a scoring threat showing creativity as a playmaker and has a nice touch of defense to go with him. The Preds have made their prospect pool better with the Draft.

St. Louis Blues

Draft Picks

• D Adam Jiricek: 16th overall, HC Skoda Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
• D Colin Ralph: 48th overall, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Sabres (USHS)
• D Lukas Fischer: 56th overall, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
• RW Ondrej Kos: 81st overall, Ilves (U20 SM-sarja)
• C Adam Jecho: 95th overall, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
• C Tomas Mrsic: 113th overall, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
• D William McIsaac: 145th overall, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
• C Antoine Dorion: 209th overall, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
• C Matvei Korotky: 211th overall, SKA-1946 (MHL)

Grade: B+

Team defense was one of the many weaknesses the Blues needed to address, and they went with defensemen with their first three picks. Adam Jiricek, the younger brother of David Jiricek, has the potential to be a steal of the Draft. He is one of the better blueliners in his class, as he knows where the right play is, and can sneak the best of passes through traffic. Ralph has high-end defensive qualities, defends the rush well, jumps into passing lanes, takes away the breakouts, and shuts off opponents on angle-offs. Fischer—whose father, Jiri, used to be an NHL defenseman—is a hard defenseman to play against, as he covers the larger areas of the ice and closes his gaps on opponents.

Kos showcases his skill with his work along the boards, and making passes off of them, to go with his motor and skating output. Jecho is one of the highlights of the late-round picks by the Blues. He stands 6′ 5″, but what stands out is his powerful skating—albeit with it needing improvement—him shooting in stride, and turning the hardest of passes into a two-touch wrister.

Mrsic uses his speed to split the defense and then take a return pass to look to capitalize on a scoring chance, where he has a good shot. McIsaac has the size and mobility of an NHL defensive defenseman, and he can keep up with fast-moving attacks, and throw well-timed poke checks. Korotky relies a lot on his shooting, moving into the dangerous areas of the ice. The Blues added size to their prospect pool, and it showed.

Utah Hockey Club

Draft Picks

• C Tij Iginla: 6th overall, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
• C Cole Beaudoin: 24th overall, Barrie Colts (OHL)
• D Will Skahan: 65th overall, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
• D Tomas Lavoie: 89th overall, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
• D Veeti Vaisanen: 96th overall, KooKoo (Liiga)
• D Gregor Biber: 98th overall, Rogle BK (J20 Nationell)
• C Gabe Smith: 103rd overall, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
• C Owen Allard: 135th overall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
• D Aleš Cech: 153rd overall, BK Mlada Boleslav (Czech Extraliga)
• C Vojtech Hradec: 167th overall, BK Mlada Boleslav (Czech Extraliga)
• D Ludvig Lafton: 190th overall, Farjestad BK (J20 Nationell)

Grade: A

With the plethora of picks that Utah has in the Draft, Bill Armstrong made the most of it. Starting off with a bang, they chose Tij Iginla, who will be a star for the franchise the moment he steps foot on the ice. The son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, he brings a physically engaging style of play, knocking opponents off balance, jumps on the puck, and traps opponents with stick lifts defensively. Trading up to select Beaudoin was a smart move, as he brings a gritty two-way style, get the puck out of traffic, wins net battles, crushing opponents along the boards, and makes a difference on all three zones of the ice.

Utah’s next four picks were defensemen. Skahan is an old-school physical defenseman, forcing opponents to keep their head up, and defends the zone with intense pressure on the opposition, clearing the front of the net. Lavoie covers large areas of the ice, and if he sets his gap, opposing attackers avoid driving towards his way. Vaisanen is fast enough to get back to his own zone in most situations, maintaining his gap, making contact and going shoulder to shoulder for puck retrievals.

Smith thrives in a checking-line role, deflecting shots and winning puck battles, and is very physical. Allard thrives on motor and physical play, sprinting after each puck, and is willing to battle for space to get deflection and rebound opportunities. Cech positions himself nicely at his own end, engaging with opponents along the boards and near the net, limiting their movements, and is both a hitter and passer. Hradec locks down the defensive zone, and is strong to pin opponents to the wall, and when on the attack, he’s at his best at the net-front. While losing Conor Geekie hurts the prospect pool, they’ve more than made up for it with this Draft.

Winnipeg Jets

Draft Picks

• D Alfons Freij: 37th overall, Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
• LW Kevin He: 109th overall, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
• C Markus Loponen: 155th overall, Karpat (U20 SM-sarja)
• C Kieron Walton: 187th overall, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Grade: D+

Draft week was harsh for the Jets. With just four picks, with none of them being in the first round, and trade rumors surrounding Rutger McGroarty growing louder, it was not that great for them. Selecting Freij at 37th overall was alright for them, as he’s a good puck-moving defenseman for a middle-pairing defender, and he makes it hard for the opposition to stay with him. While his skating is what stands out, his hockey sense still needs work.

Kevin He, the highest-drafted Chinese-born NHL player, is a skilled player with a strong motor, with a knack for stealing the puck at the blueline and explosive open ice hits, and he turns that into offense. He could get more jam to his game, however. Loponen has different types of shots, with his catch-and-release being the shot that has impressed scouts. He still needs to translate this into the bigger leagues, however, as he noticeably struggled there. Walton shows solid passing, vision, and puck skills for his frame (6′ 6″). Winnipeg didn’t have the picks to stand out in the Draft, and they didn’t really impress.

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