Here's a quick mini-mock. Maybe I'll do something more in-depth if I free up some time in the coming weeks.
The important thing we need to keep in mind is that 2024 might be the toughest year in recent NHL mock drafting history. We know Celebrini is going #1, but after that? Well, there's literally 5-6 players who are in the running at #2, and probably 10 players in the running at #3. You have guys like Eiserman and Catton who could go high as top 4 or fall out of the top 15 altogether. It's literally a mess.
That being said, I think this can create an interesting dialogue on why teams will or won't draft which prospects...
1 SJ C M. Celebrini -- whomever wins the lottery is getting a franchise center.
2 CHI C/RW C. Lindstrom -- I think the Hawks would love a big, skilled power F to line up beside Bedard more than they would love a 4-5 year wait for Demidov
3 ANH RD A. Levshunov -- Levshunov playing in Michigan lowers the wait time, and he's one hell of a prospect at the extremely coveted RD position
4 CLB W I. Demidov --the Jackets have prospect depth everywhere, but if there's one need it's high-end talent on the wing. Demidov's immense scoring upside cannot be understated.
5 MTL LD S. Dickinson -- almost a left-handed version of their #1 pick of Reinbacher last year, a do-everything-well D who lacks elite scoring upside, but a can't-miss NHLer
6 ARI LD A. Silayev -- the Coyotes have focused in recent drafts on big, talented D and Russian prospects, Silayev is a 6'7 giant with upside to match his stature
7 OTT RD C. Yakemchuk -- Ottawa has a big need at RD, opting for Yakemchuk's physical, two-way style over Parekh's all-out offense
8 SEA LD Z. Buium -- though the Kraken have built a solid blueline, no one in the organization offers the offensive upside of Buium, the most electrifying scoring generator from the blueline in the 2024 class
9 CGY W T. Iginla -- it's just too much to pass up on the son of the biggest star in franchise history, and this high-scoring, high-character, high-compete kid is also a tremendous prospect in his own right
10 NJ C/RW K. Helenius -- Helenius is a high-compete, high-IQ two-way player who can fit in NJ's near-future as either a top-6 wing or an elite 3C behind Hischier and Hughes
11 BUF RD Z. Parekh -- loaded all over the organization with high-end talent, Buffalo still has needs at RD and G. Parekh has some questions, but in this scenario there is little doubt he offers more upside than any remaining RD.
12 PHI RW L. Greentree -- not a pick I'd be in love with, but after the "forced" Gauthier trade, it's safe to say the closest thing the Flyers pipeline has to a power forward in future bottom-6er Devin Kaplan.
13 SJ (from PIT) W B. Catton -- Catton's offensive pure abilities might be behind just Celebrini, Lindstrom, Demidov and Buium in this draft, but lack of size and elite skating could drop him.
14 MIN W I. Chernyshov -- the Wild have shown excellent recent acuity identifying high-end talent and they are not afraid to draft out of Russia -- Chernyshov is a top 10 talent who has been underrated by most draft pundits who are asleep at the wheel when it comes to this tenacious and talented young player
15 DET RW M. Brantsegg-Nygard -- another player whom I feel is underrated due to his nationality alone, the young Norwegian is a can't miss, two way power F combining great skating with an elite combo of size/IQ/shooting
16 STL RD A. Jiricek -- I know some people are going to ask why Cole Eiserman is not included in a 16-pick mini-mock, but Jiricek is a better player at a more valuable position. He's going to be a steal in the mid-to-late first round for some lucky team.