Grading Every Team's 2024 NHL Entry Draft: Pacific Division

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. This is the final part of this four-part series, as we take a look at the Pacific Division.

Anaheim Ducks

Draft Picks

RW Beckett Sennecke: 3rd overall, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
D Stian Solberg: 23rd overall, Valerenga Ishockey (EHL—Norway)
C Lucas Pettersson: 35th overall, Modo Hockey (J20 Nationell)
RW Maxim Massé: 66th overall, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
C Ethan Procyszyn: 68th overall, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
D Tarin Smith: 79th overall, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
LW Alexandre Blais: 100th overall, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
RW Austin Burnevik: 182nd overall, Madison Capitols (USHL)
D Darels Uljanskis: 214th overall, AIK IF (J20 Nationell)

Grade: A-

The Ducks surprised many, including the player they selected, when they took Beckett Sennecke with the third pick, but if this is who Pat Verbeek sees as the best fit for the Ducks’ system, he has a point in drafting him. Sennecke combines playmaking, confident puckhandling, drives to the net-front, and poke checks to turn into steals to control the game, and identifies the right play at the right time. Solberg is a skilled and punishing defenseman, and was one of the biggest risers in the Draft. He pins opponents towards the boards, and knocks them away from the front of the net.

Pettersson is a speedy two-way center who can set up his teammates in scoring positions, and can be relied on for any situation. Massé knows how to play the game off-puck, whether he’s settling for pucks or getting away from opponents. Procyszyn brings physical contact to the corners, winning puck battles, and generates offense, and flashes skill to pass through pressure. Smith dictates the momentum of the game, closes in on opponents physically, and shoves them away from the net-front.

Blais spots gaps in coverage, fakes out multiple defenders, and works quick with his skating and hands. Burnevik is usually the second forward when on the rush, though he cuts to the inside for a better look; however, he usually finds a teammate moving into the slot to draw pressure towards him. Uljanskis is a two-way defenseman and has solid offensive qualities. Massé and Smith have decent NHL projections, though the Ducks are banking on high-end potential to deepen their prospect pool.

Calgary Flames

Draft Picks

D Zayne Parekh: 9th overall, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
RW Matvei Gridin: 28th overall, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
LW Andrew Basha: 41st overall, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
RW Jacob Battaglia: 62nd overall, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
D Henry Mews: 74th overall, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
G Kirill Zarubin: 84th overall, HC AKM (MHL)
C Trevor Hoskin: 106th overall, Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)
C Luke Misa: 150th overall, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
C Hunter Liang: 170th overall, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
D Eric Jamieson: 177th overall, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Grade: A

The Flames selected a lot of quality players in their 2024 Draft, and Craig Conroy made the most of it and then some. Parekh is the team’s power play quarterback of the future, as he is the best pure offensive defenseman of the class. A mix of fakes, look-offs, and stickhandles, he advances to space to envision each play before he makes his decision with the puck. He is also better defensively than credited for. There was some question in Gridin’s offensive abilities translating, but he ended up being the top scorer in the USHL. He initially fakes to open up shooting and passing lanes, blasts powerful one-timers and makes the extra pass for tip-ins.

Basha, Battaglia, and Mews bring in skill that Calgary needs for their rebuild. Basha is fast, dynamic, and possesses both playmaking and scoring abilities, and his energy translates to physical play as a bottom six forward. Battaglia relies on one-touch, quick-possession passes through the middle, and draws pressure towards the boards, then shakes off the check before initiating the rush. Mews is another offensive defenseman who can be relied on for passing lanes to and from his teammates and shooting lanes from the blueline.

Misa is another high-value selection, and he is a heavy speedster, especially in transition. He turns defensive zone retrievals into sustained offensive zone pressure, and attacks defenders with both his speed and crossovers. Laing is both smart off the puck and passing the puck, and when he’s not setting up his teammates from behind the net, he’s at the net-front. Jamieson is more of a shutdown defenseman, though he has high-end physicality, punishing opponents who are in his space. Flames fans should be very happy with this Draft, as the upside for this class is very high.

Edmonton Oilers

Draft Picks

RW Sam O’Reilly: 32nd overall, London Knights (OHL)
G Eemil Vinni: 64th overall, Kiekko-Pojat (Mestis)
LW Connor Clattenburg: 160th overall, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
D Albin Sundin: 183rd overall, Frolunda HC (J20 Nationell)
C Dalyn Wakely: 192nd overall, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
C William Nicholl: 196th overall, London Knights (OHL)
D Bauer Berry: 218th overall, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Grade: C+

The Oilers had a mixed bag of sorts in the Draft. With Ken Holland out of Edmonton, they now can build around their two superstars with the right GM. To start the Draft, they wanted to get back into the first round by any means necessary, and they did. O’Reilly was buried in a deep London Knights roster, but in him the Oilers get a defensive center who is an agitator, a hard worker, and a playmaker who ties up sticks and pins opponents to the wall. Vinni was one of the top goaltenders available at the Draft, though it may not be saying much given goaltending was a weak position in this class. However, he’s well-rounded, and is not afraid to force mistakes from opponents, to go with good edgework.

The rest of the Draft wasn’t anything spectacular. Albin Sundin (no relation to Mats Sundin) is a two-way defender who times his poke checks to break up the attack and can sometimes pose a physical presence, though he needs to work on his skating. Wakely chases after the pucks and is willing to take physical punishment when doing so, and creates space for his teammates. Nicholl shows pace and flashes of offense at the net-front, along the boards, and physically. Berry is a stay-at-home defenseman who plays a physical game. Size was a priority for the Oilers, but nobody outside of O’Reilly truly stands out.

Los Angeles Kings

Draft Picks

RW Liam Greentree: 26th overall, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
G Carter George: 57th overall, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
D Jared Woolley: 164th overall, London Knights (OHL)
RW James Reeder: 198th overall, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Grade: B

While the Kings did not have a lot of picks, they got decent value for their selections. Greentree brings a lot to the table, as he maneuvers around opponents and has good skill and hockey sense. He also has good size that can fit him into Pacific Division play. LA also added George, who they felt had the tools to be a solid NHL goaltender. When under pressure, he makes the smart and quick plays, and his puck-handling ability is what stands out.

Woolley is overpowering defensively, going after opponents with big hits, sets picks, forces opponents out of the net-front, and traps them along the boards. He also looks for the breakout pass and sets up his guys around the slot. Reeder, though undersized, is a dynamic winger who drives down the middle and is an aggressive forward who initiates the give-and-go and can shift defensively before passing to get more space for his teammates. The Kings added around the edges in this class, and should be happy with them.

San Jose Sharks

Draft Picks

C Macklin Celebrini: 1st overall, Boston University Terriers (Hockey East)
D Sam Dickinson: 11th overall, London Knights (OHL)
LW Igor Chernyshov: 33rd overall, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)
D Leo Sahlin Wallenius: 53rd overall, Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
RW Carson Wetsch: 82nd overall, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
G Christian Kirsch: 116th overall, EV Zug (U20-Elit)
D Colton Roberts: 131st overall, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
D Nate Misskey: 143rd overall, Victoria Royals (WHL)
G Yaroslav Korostelyov: 194th overall, SKA-1946 (MHL)

Grade: A+

Though drafting Celebrini instantly makes this a win for the Sharks in the Draft, adding another franchise cornerstone in Dickinson boosts this grade even more. Celebrini is a special player with franchise-changing potential, and any team that were to draft him would get a home run of a pick. He lit up the NCAA with BU, and he is going to change the fortunes of the Sharks with his dynamic playmaking. They got Dickinson after trading up, and he can provide the organization with his defensive range where he takes away space, and is unfazed by forechecking pressure as he carries the puck from zone to zone.

The Sharks also got a first-round talent with the first pick of the second round in Chernyshov, who is a powerful skater and a high-end puck-handler. His ceiling projects to be a middle-six role in the NHL, and he is excellent at anticipating openings, and taking advantage of them with well-timed dekes. Wallenius is a solid passer who can avoid forechecking pressure to get entry and exit passes, and he can disrupt potential scoring plays from the opposition. Wetsch is a fast skater with long strides, taking the puck straight to the net on one end and chasing down the opposing puck carrier the other before launching a big hit.

The later picks were the icing on the cake. While Kirsch has delays when maneuvering through the crease, he makes up for it with his edgework and athleticism. Roberts shows good mobility on puck retrievals, takes away spacing, and can initiate the breakout. Misskey is a heavy hitter who can support the play, times his poke checks well, and forces opponents towards the boards. It’s always nice to take a franchise-caliber center and a top-four defenseman in the Draft, but Mike Grier went the extra mile this year.

Seattle Kraken

Draft Picks

C Berkly Catton: 8th overall, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
C Julius Miettinen: 40th overall, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
C Nathan Villeneuve: 63rd overall, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
D Alexis Bernier: 73rd overall, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
G Kim Saarinen: 88th overall, HPK (U20 SM-sarja)
C Ollie Josephson: 105th overall, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
LW Clarke Caswell: 141st overall, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
D Jakub Fibigr: 202nd overall, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Grade: B+

It’s an interesting route for the Kraken to take centers with their first three picks, but with Catton they got one of the top ones in the Draft. At the NHL level, his offensive tools and ceiling are intriguing, and he will create and score in a top-six role, and has a full kit of releases for shooting opportunities. Miettinen has third line potential in the big league, and he is positionally sound and physical, at the right spot at the right time around the net or pushing opposing attackers wide.

Villeneuve is a high-pace attacker who has a lockdown game defensively. He takes away off-puck threats and puts the puck carrier under duress. When he has the puck, he attacks with speed either down the middle or on the give-and-go. However, the team lacks high-end defensemen on the prospect pool, and this is where Bernier comes in. He finds the open teammates in the attacking zone and can land the stretch pass on the breakout. Saarinen has a combination of size and skill, can make adjustments on either side of the crease, and is a difficult goaltender to beat on clean shots.

Josephson is a defensive-minded center who prioritizes hard work by charging into the play and overwhelming the puck carrier. Caswell forces turnovers and goes down the wall to pick apart his opponents before moving the puck to the middle. Offensively, he plays a supporting role, and waits for a lane to open once he gets the puck. Fibigr doesn’t have a strong chance in the NHL, but his strongest asset is his skating, which he uses in transition, and steps up physically at his own blueline to neutralize the opposing rush. While there isn’t a miss on the Draft, Seattle has to realize they need to take a high-end defenseman in future Drafts.

Vancouver Canucks

Draft Picks

RW Melvin Fernstrom: 93rd overall, Orebro HK (J20 Nationell)
C Riley Patterson: 125th overall, Barrie Colts (OHL)
RW Anthony Romani: 162nd overall, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
D Parker Alcos: 189th overall, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
D Basile Sansonnens: 221st overall, HC Fribourg-Gotteron (U20-Elit)

Grade: C

It does hurt the Canucks’ grade that they didn’t pick until they chose 93rd, and that they had just five picks overall, and none of them are particularly impressive. That said, Fernstrom is a decent value pick, as he anticipates where the next pass will be. He needs work on his shot, though he gets it from the right positions and angles. Patterson displays smooth puck-handling to attack the inside, and also shows a quick wrister.

Though Romani is an overager, he has good value in the 6th round. Most of his offense is off the rush, stretches the ice with his playmaking, and creates space for his teammates with his east-west movements. Alcos is a mobile stay-at-home defenseman who controls contact, and wins races on puck retrievals. There wasn’t much to add to the prospect pool with the late round picks, though Fernstrom could be a steal.

Vegas Golden Knights

Draft Picks

LW Trevor Connelly: 19th overall, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
G Pavel Moysevich: 83rd overall, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)
LW Trent Swick: 180th overall, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
C Lucas Van Vilet: 197th overall, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Grade: B-

And last but not least, the hosts of the Draft. While they lacked picks, they got value for what they needed to take. In an idea world, Connelly’s on-ice skill would be the talk of discussion over his character issues. His skill cannot be denied, as he dictates the momentum on the ice when in a tight gap, and cuts to the inside past the opposing defense, between dangles and speed. This pick will be closely examined and scrutinized, however, given accusations that he made racist comments on and off the ice.

Moysevich put up big numbers last season, and stands as a tall goaltender with quick movements around the crease. Swick is a playmaker, getting open in space, and moves the puck to an open teammate to adjust to the lane. Van Vilet is a good project pick by Vegas for a lower-line role. He is dynamic, the outside speed, and can fire shots off the catch, and has a knack for getting open on the short side in the slot. The Golden Knights have intriguing pieces added to their pool.

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