McLean Celebrini was considered a clear draft favorite even before the start of the season, and proved that status during the season. The center forward became the youngest hockey player ever to be recognized as the best player in the NCAA. While representing Boston University, Celebrini scored 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games. Thus, he became only the fourth rookie to be named MVP of the college hockey season. Before Celebrini, Paul Curry, Jack Eikel and Adam Fantilli had done it.
Celebrini also represented Canada’s U20 team, recording four goals and four assists in five games at the World Championships in Gothenburg. He showed the most effective performance in the victory against Latvia (10:0) – a goal and four assists. Celebrini was also expected to play at the senior world championships in May and was able to play in Canada’s test match, but before the tournament the decision was made to exclude the youngest player from the team.
Former center Joe Thornton, who represented the team from 2005 to 2020, took the stage in Las Vegas to announce the Sharks’ selection.
If Celebrini was a clear favorite, then the second number was divided. The Chicago Blackhawks selected 18-year-old defenseman Artyom Levshunov, who also spent a season in the NCAA representing Michigan State University. Chicago’s choice was announced by Connor Bedard, who was drafted with the number one pick last year and just received the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie.
The Utah club participated in the draft for the first time, changing the location to the former Arizona “Coyotes” team in the offseason. Utah drafted Tyge Iginla, the son of former NHL player Jerome Iginla, with the sixth pick. Jerome played 21 seasons and accumulated 1,300 points in 1,554 games, becoming the league’s leading scorer twice and the most points collected once.
In the first round of the draft, 18 Canadians, four Americans, two Finns and Norwegians, one Czech and five citizens of aggressor countries were selected. If last year six Swedes were selected in the first round, then this year became the first since 2010 when Sweden remained without a first round pick.
The draft continues tonight at 6:30 p.m., with teams selecting players in the second through seventh rounds. There are also several Latvians among the candidates.
That’s a wrap on the first round of the 2024 #NHLDraft! 🎬
📺: The 2024 Upper Deck #NHLDraft continues tomorrow at 11:30a ET on @ESPNPlus, @NHLNetwork, @SportsnetSN1, Sportsnet+, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/nmdekaaWsD
— NHL (@NHL) June 29, 2024
