Highlights from the first round of the 2024 Draft, and the latest on Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Sam Reinhart, Sidney Crosby, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2024 NHL DRAFT
NHL.COM: The San Jose Sharks selected Macklin Celebrini with the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday evening. You can see the full list of first-round picks by following the link provided.
Macklin Celebrini (right) poses with Joe Thornton after being chosen first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft (NHL.com).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here. Celebrini was the consensus top player among prospect evaluators. Sharks general manager Mike Grier has recently mentioned the Boston University center among his top prospects. Celebrini and promising Will Smith should give the Sharks a solid one-two punch at center in the coming years.
The Anaheim Ducks selected Oshawa Generals winger Beckett Sennecke third overall. He projects to be a top-six winger alongside one of the Ducks’ promising young centers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This one was a surprise as most evaluators expected Sennecke to be chosen in the middle of this round. However, a strong second half and postseason bolstered his stock. The Ducks are loaded with young centers like Leo Carlsson, Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish. Sennecke could one day line up alongside one of them.
Russian winger Ivan Demidov was chosen fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans were angry about their club passing over Matvei Michkov in the first round of last year’s draft but they should be pleased with this choice. Demidov was projected to go second overall by many evaluators. However, the Chicago Blackhawks took defenseman Artyom Levshunov with that pick, the Ducks chose Beckett Sennecke and the Columbus Blue Jackets went with center Cayden Lindstrom.
The 18-year-old Russian winger has been compared to Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov. If he develops as projected, the Canadiens could have a scoring superstar on their hands.
The Utah Hockey Club selected Tij Iginla with the sixth overall pick, the first since the teams relocated from Arizona this spring.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Iginla is the son of Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla and is a goalscorer like his father. A versatile forward, Iginla can play center or on the wing. He faces heightened expectations because of his famous dad but has the potential to become an NHL star in his own right.
University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium was chosen 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild. They traded up from 13th overall with the Buffalo Sabres to land him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This year’s draft was notable for a crop of high-quality defense prospects including Buium, Levshunov, Carter Yakemchuk (chosen seventh by the Ottawa Senators), Zayne Parekh (ninth overall, Calgary Flames), Anton Silayev (10th, New Jersey Devils), and Sam Dickinson (taken 11th by the Sharks).
I expected Buium to be chosen among the top 10. He helped Denver win the Frozen Four tournament and was part of Team USA’s gold-medal squad at the 2024 World Juniors. This pick could end up becoming a steal for the Wild.
The New York Islanders selected Cole Eiserman of the USNTDP with the 20th overall pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Concerns about Eiserman’s defensive play sent the young scoring winger’s stock tumbling. However, this could work out well for the Islanders as they attempt to restock their depleted prospect pool. Eiserman broke Cole Caufield’s record for most goals in a USNTDP career. This kid has the potential to become an NHL scorer.
History was made in this draft as two Norwegians were chosen in the opening round for the first time. The Detroit Red Wings selected winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard with the 15th overall pick while the Ducks chose defenseman Stian Stolberg at No. 23.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I love it when players from smaller hockey nations get chosen in the opening round of the NHL Draft. It shows how much the game is growing internationally.
Several notable prospects projected to go in the first round remain available heading into Day 2 of the draft on Saturday beginning at 11:30 am ET. They include KHL forward Igor Chernyshow, Prince Albert Raiders forward Ryder Ritchie, Medicine Hat Tigers winger Andrew Basha, Swedish defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius, and Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Charlie Elick.
HEADLINES
TAMPA BAY TIMES: After 16 seasons, Steven Stamkos could be leaving the Lightning. General manager Julien BriseBois said Friday morning he’s uncertain if a deal can be done to keep the 34-year-old winger from heading to the free-agent market on Monday.
The issue is limited salary-cap space. The Lightning have 18 players under contract for 2024-25 with $5.335 million in cap space. That alone isn’t enough to re-sign Stamkos, let alone fill out the rest of the roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports Stamkos’ agent said his client is heading to market on July 1. It will be remembered that he appeared to be going to market in 2016 before signing an eight-year extension at the last minute. That doesn’t seem likely this time unless the Bolts free up sufficient cap space to make it happen.
BriseBois seems more optimistic about signing Victor Hedman to a contract extension. The 33-year-old defenseman has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $7.875 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Stamkos departs, it will be interesting to see how that affects the Lightning’s efforts to re-sign Hedman.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Panthers could have a deal in place to re-sign Sam Reinhart. It’s expected to be worth $9 million annually and would have to be announced on June 30 if it’s to be for a maximum of eight years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Negotiations between the Reinhart camp and Panthers management have been ongoing for months. The 28-year-old winger has repeatedly expressed his wish to remain in Florida. It appears he’ll get his wish, taking one of the biggest names off this summer’s free-agent market.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby indicated preliminary contract extension discussions with Penguins management have begun. The 36-year-old Penguins captain has one year remaining on his contract. He declined to elaborate but said they’ve had some conversations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby’s not going anywhere. He’ll likely get a four-year deal for around his current annual cap hit of $8.7 million and finish his career as a Penguin.
NHL.COM: The initial 24 players for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face Off were announced on Friday.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand, and Lightning forward Brayden Point make up the first six of Canada’s roster.
Team USA’s first six players include Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, and Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Sweden’s first six include the Lightning’s Victor Hedman, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling.
Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, and Dallas Stars defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell are Finland’s first six players.
The rest of the rosters will be announced between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. The tournament will be held in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20, 2025.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers will buy out the final year of Cam Atkinson’s contract.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov will head to free agency on July 1.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed backup goaltender Calvin Pickard to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1 million.
STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues acquired Alexandre Texier from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Blue signed the 24-year-old forward to a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.1 million.