2 days Ago By Adam Gretz
Even though the Stanley Cup was handed out just a couple of days ago, the offseason is here, with the 2024 NHL draft taking place Friday and Saturday. There isn't much intrigue regarding the No. 1 pick, as we are 99.
9 percent certain the San Jose Sharks will select Macklin Celebrini and use him as a foundation for their rebuild. After that is where mystery starts to kick in. However, the actual draft picks are only a small part of the chaos that comes with draft weekend, as it's also one of the busiest times of the year for trades—especially with the free-agent signing period starting on Monday.
So, with all of that in mind, let's take a look at a few last-minute storylines going into the 2024 draft. While there's no mystery around the top pick, things get a little cloudier after that. After winning last year's draft lottery and selecting Connor Bedard No.
1 overall, the Chicago Blackhawks have the No. 2 selection this year and have a big decision to make. Do they give Bedard an impact forward to be his winger for the next 15 years and select Ivan Demidov? Do they go with center Cayden Lindstrom to try to build a two-headed center monster? Or do they try to find a big-minute, all-around defenseman to build their defense around and go with Artyom Levshunov, who might be one of the most NHL-ready players in this year's class? Levshunov seems the most likely pick, but Demidov might legitimately be the second-best talent in the draft, and the idea of him and Bedard skating side.
