1st Round 2024 NHL Mock Draft | The Hockey Writers Prospect Corner 

Agreed, also Anaheim needs elite D before going for another forward.

Don't kid yourself, they will be drafting top 5 for at least the next 3 years.

Exactly how do you not draft the best player available for the hawks and then say the senators who everyone says needs a defenseman give them a winger idk

Next years draft is suppose to be a generational one as well. The top 5 is loaded with star talent. This draft ain’t it…. It’s not it at all. Levshunov is a very good RHD with top pairing potential

@@jwhite514don’t worry there’s mocks having Anaheim selecting Silayev at 3 overall whos a defensive defenseman who’s signed for 2 more years in Russia…. No one drafts that player that high with no control whatsoever

@@jwhite514 Hey, guy who made those picks here. I think there's a valid debate as to who is the next best after Celebrini. Don't get me wrong, Demidov is incredible, but he's not flawless. There's some risk to his game, and he's not as good as Michkov was in his draft year. Levshunov also has some risk, but I think he fits better into the Blackhawks' future. Same kind of debate goes for the Senators. Yes, a lot of people have been saying they'll go for a defenceman, and I think that would be fine. Parekh, Dickinson, or Buium would be great fits with the organization. But they too won't necessarily be the best players available, and there's rumours that the Senators are really high on Iginla, which makes me think that they might be looking at other forwards as well. I know both picks aren't necessarily the most popular, but I think, given where both teams are, they make sense. In any case, I'm interested to see how the actual draft shakes down!

Helenius would be an excellent pick if he's available.

Согласен! У Детройта есть силовые 2-сторонние ребята,нужен акцент в сторону Скила и созидания!!! Сенекке/Айзерман/каттон,надеюсь кого-то из них получится урвать🙏🏻 Но если все эти ребята будут не доступны,Стив может удивить в очередной раз и взять защитника норвежца

Hey, Dayton here. Historically, at the top of most drafts is a guy who can put up big points but lacks some defensive skills. Demidov is not a generational talent. There will be more, and the Blackhawks will be back in the top 5 or 10. One of those guys (and probably better) will be around next year. Why pass on a top-pairing defenceman when you can always select a top forward early? The 2024 Draft is somewhat of an anomaly with so many top defencemen available early. In my opinion, the Hawks would be better suited going for Levshunov, but I'm well aware I am not in the majority and may be wrong. Just my take.

@@00DLR00 I respect that. My point is that unless you get Hagens.. the other forwards are inferior to Demidov. In the flip side levshunov brings zero elite traits to table. Defenseman like him can be doing throughout every draft. Look at the past 14 Norris winners.. most were taken in the 40s-50s draft spots. Lane Hutson? Brock Faber? Duncan Keith? Seabrook? Forwards are so much more projectable than dmen. It seems you have to just draft abunch and develop them.

Agree. They take yakemcuk right?

Honestly I hope they don’t get yakemchuk because I want Mn to take him

@@italian1ist they need to trade the pick for an established player like Necas and then go after Pesce in free agency. This team doesn't need another young player that won't play in buffalo for years.

Buffalo has next to no Right Shot Defenseman. With a draft loaded with high-end Defenseman. It's an obvious choice if they keep the pick.

Such stupidity.. the guy hasn't even proven himself against real competition. And people say 120 pts now. Why? Because of Kucherov??? Please.

And now Seattle with their highest pick since Beniers ... Shane Wright drafted 4th just 2 years ago. It's like you know prospects like the palm of your hand but know nothing about the NHL. Just a couple of episodes ago I think I remember one of you saying Habs needed LHD (While having Matheson, Hutson, Guhle, Xhekaj, Harris, Struble & Engstrom)

Yeah there’s no way he goes that late. These guys are goofy

I feel like they need a big RHD more than anything. Their forward group is absolutely stacked

@@italian1ist I agree Ducks need a RHD. They don't have in the pipe a Defensive defensive to protect our goalie and one who is very physical. There's some good ones like 'Anton Silayev'. But, 'Artyon Levshunov' is our RHD. Can't wait for draft and pray Duck's make the right pick. 🌴

Lots of talk that he might be a Seider type of prospect. He is quite physical, but you may not be getting first pair D (without cleaning up something like skating or other trait) at pick 15 generally.

I feel like jiricek would be better than solberg

@@italian1ist forgot him there. Would be a good option assuming the knee injury is on schedule and recovering well. Could be a steal there if he fully recovers.

I dont want either, the Blues have a number of second pair D in their system already, Theo Lindstein just last year. They need a top pair D or don't waste a first rounders on D.