With the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching there’s been a lot of talk about the depth of the 2024 draft class.
Traditionally, first round picks have been the going rate for high-end rental player acquisitions and that strategy remains part of the cost of doing business. But this year’s draft isn’t as deep as some of the more recent cycles. It’s something to be aware of as your favourite team looks to add to its roster in hopes of a deep playoff run, or stock up on additional draft capital to assist with accelerating their retool or rebuild.
I personally feel the top half of the first round, including consensus number one overall Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), rising talent Carter Yakemchuk (WHL Calgary), and the very skilled Sacha Boisvert (USHL Muskegon), can hold its own in comparison to recent draft classes.
It’s around pick 20 that my opinion on first-round quality, and interest in certain player types, starts to waver. There are several good prospects in the back half of the first round, but I don’t currently envision a Wyatt Johnston (23rd to Dallas in 2021) or a Jimmy Snuggerud (23rd to St. Louis in 2022) or a Bradley Nadeau (30th to Carolina in 2023) diamond to be found between picks 20–32.
By the time the second and third rounds happen, it’s more likely teams will be stockpiling their prospect pool with serviceable third-line forwards and middle/bottom pairing defencemen. The goalies in this draft are still evolving. Time will tell on the netminders.
The point is, I’m curious to see what strategies unfold between now and the trade deadline. Are more teams going to be asking for prospects, instead of late first-round picks, in this draft cycle? Could they possibly take a longer approach and request first-round picks in the 2025 draft, based on intel from their scouting staffs that next year’s class is deeper than 2024?
